North Korea has a population of 26.5M (ranked 56/197), compared with 1K in The Vatican (ranked 197/197). North Korea's land area is 46,491 sq mi versus 0.17 sq mi for The Vatican (ranked 97th vs. 197th).
By GDP, North Korea ranks 106/197 ($34.9B) and The Vatican ranks 197/197 ($19.8M). By GDP per capita, North Korea ranks 168/197 ($1,319), while The Vatican ranks 59/197 ($19,800).
Main facts and rankings
North Korea
|
Vatican
|
|
|---|---|---|
| Population |
26659144
|
936
|
| Population rank | 57/197 | 197/197 |
| GDP |
$34.9B
2024 |
$19.8M
2025 |
| GDP rank | 106/197 | 197/197 |
| GDP per capita |
$1,319
2024 |
$19,800
2025 |
| GDP per capita rank | 168/197 | 59/197 |
| GDP per capita, PPP |
$1,700
2015 |
$39,191
2025 |
| Average annual personal income after taxes |
$1,426
2026 |
$18,169
2026 |
| Land area | 46,491 sq mi | 0.17 sq mi |
| Population density |
573 ppl/mi²
2026 |
5,493 ppl/mi²
2026 |
| Fertility rate |
1.78
2023 |
n/a |
| Median age |
37.3 years
2024 |
n/a |
| Life expectancy |
74 years
2026 |
83.4 years
2026 |
North Korea and Vatican: Comparison Charts
North Korea vs. Vatican life expectancy calculator
| Year | Life expectancy, years | |
|---|---|---|
|
North Korea
|
Vatican
|
|
| 2026 | 74 | 83.4 |
| 2025 | 73.9 | 83.3 |
| 2024 | 73.7 | 83.1 |
| 2023 | 73.6 | 83 |
| 2022 | 73.6 | 83.3 |
| 2021 | 73.4 | 82.9 |
| 2020 | 72.8 | 83 |
| 2019 | 72.9 | 83.6 |
| 2018 | 73 | 83.3 |
| 2017 | 73 | 82.7 |
| 2016 | 73 | 82.9 |
| 2015 | 72.8 | 82.5 |
| 2014 | 72.5 | 82.6 |
| 2013 | 71.9 | 82.5 |
| 2012 | 71.3 | 82 |
| 2011 | 70.8 | 81.7 |
| 2010 | 70.2 | 81.5 |
| 2009 | 69.7 | 81.3 |
| 2008 | 69.3 | 81.4 |
| 2007 | 69 | 81.3 |
| 2006 | 69.1 | 81.2 |
| 2005 | 69.2 | 80.6 |
| 2004 | 69.3 | 80.2 |
| 2003 | 69.4 | 79.8 |
| 2002 | 60.9 | 80 |
| 2001 | 60.9 | 79.9 |
| 2000 | 60.9 | 79.3 |
| 1999 | 60.9 | 78.7 |
| 1998 | 60.9 | 78.3 |
| 1997 | 60.9 | 78.2 |
| 1996 | 60.8 | 78.5 |
| 1995 | 60.8 | 77.8 |
| 1994 | 70.5 | 77.7 |
| 1993 | 70.8 | 77 |
| 1992 | 71 | 77.3 |
| 1991 | 70.7 | 76.9 |
| 1990 | 70.5 | 76.9 |
| 1989 | 70.3 | 76.8 |
| 1988 | 70.1 | 76.4 |
| 1987 | 69.8 | 76.2 |
| 1986 | 69.5 | 75.7 |
| 1985 | 69.2 | 75.5 |
| 1984 | 68.9 | 75.1 |
| 1983 | 68.5 | 74.7 |
| 1982 | 68.1 | 74.8 |
| 1981 | 67.7 | 74.3 |
| 1980 | 67.2 | 74.1 |
| 1979 | 66.7 | 74 |
| 1978 | 66.3 | 73.7 |
| 1977 | 65.8 | 73.3 |
| 1976 | 65.3 | 72.9 |
| 1975 | 64.8 | 72.6 |
| 1974 | 64.3 | 72.7 |
| 1973 | 63.8 | 71.9 |
| 1972 | 63.3 | 72 |
| 1971 | 62.7 | 71.7 |
| 1970 | 62 | 71.5 |
| 1969 | 61.4 | 70.7 |
| 1968 | 60.8 | 70.7 |
| 1967 | 60.1 | 70.9 |
| 1966 | 59.4 | 70.9 |
| 1965 | 58.8 | 70.1 |
| 1964 | 58.2 | 70.3 |
| 1963 | 57.6 | 69.3 |
| 1962 | 57 | 69.2 |
| 1961 | 56.4 | 69.8 |
| 1960 | 55.8 | 69.2 |
| 1959 | 55.2 | 69.2 |
| 1958 | 54.5 | 68.7 |
| 1957 | 53.7 | 67.5 |
| 1956 | 52.8 | 67.3 |
| 1955 | 51.8 | 67.8 |
| 1954 | 50.6 | 67.5 |
| 1953 | 40.3 | 66.3 |
| 1952 | 32.8 | 65.7 |
| 1951 | 17.7 | 65.3 |
| 1950 | 14.2 | 65.9 |
Data sources: United Nations | World Population Prospects (1950–2026, retrieved 2026-03-10).
GeoRank.org/facts/north-korea/vatican | CC BY 
North Korea and Vatican population clocks and comparison
| Year | Population | |
|---|---|---|
|
North Korea
|
Vatican
|
|
| 2024 | 26,498,823 | - |
| 2023 | 26,418,204 | - |
| 2022 | 26,328,845 | - |
| 2021 | 26,232,534 | - |
| 2020 | 26,136,312 | - |
| 2019 | 26,037,632 | 1,000 |
| 2018 | 25,931,147 | - |
| 2017 | 25,817,709 | 1,000 |
| 2016 | 25,698,326 | - |
| 2015 | 25,575,350 | 1,000 |
| 2014 | 25,451,262 | 842 |
| 2013 | 25,329,451 | 839 |
| 2012 | 25,211,728 | 836 |
| 2011 | 25,097,874 | 832 |
| 2010 | 24,987,258 | 829 |
| 2009 | 24,878,332 | 826 |
| 2008 | 24,764,618 | 824 |
| 2007 | 24,646,383 | 821 |
| 2006 | 24,524,507 | 932 |
| 2005 | 24,396,433 | 921 |
| 2004 | 24,254,943 | 921 |
| 2003 | 24,090,380 | 911 |
| 2002 | 23,943,973 | 900 |
| 2001 | 23,815,358 | 890 |
| 2000 | 23,665,910 | 880 |
| 1999 | 23,497,599 | - |
| 1998 | 23,311,564 | - |
| 1997 | 23,110,830 | - |
| 1996 | 22,895,746 | - |
| 1995 | 22,669,304 | - |
| 1994 | 22,393,975 | - |
| 1993 | 22,073,352 | - |
| 1992 | 21,750,911 | - |
| 1991 | 21,428,638 | - |
| 1990 | 21,112,137 | - |
| 1989 | 20,804,367 | - |
| 1988 | 20,503,161 | - |
| 1987 | 20,205,483 | - |
| 1986 | 19,910,855 | - |
| 1985 | 19,620,388 | - |
| 1984 | 19,335,043 | - |
| 1983 | 19,054,034 | - |
| 1982 | 18,776,357 | - |
| 1981 | 18,501,295 | - |
| 1980 | 18,236,786 | - |
| 1979 | 17,983,470 | - |
| 1978 | 17,735,995 | - |
| 1977 | 17,492,798 | - |
| 1976 | 17,243,450 | - |
| 1975 | 16,971,055 | - |
| 1974 | 16,673,121 | - |
| 1973 | 16,350,367 | - |
| 1972 | 15,975,069 | - |
| 1971 | 15,572,457 | - |
| 1970 | 15,172,775 | - |
| 1969 | 14,767,615 | - |
| 1968 | 14,365,596 | - |
| 1967 | 13,958,350 | - |
| 1966 | 13,569,094 | - |
| 1965 | 13,219,369 | - |
| 1964 | 12,889,770 | - |
| 1963 | 12,567,057 | - |
| 1962 | 12,262,882 | - |
| 1961 | 11,990,713 | - |
| 1960 | 11,722,953 | - |
Data sources: World Bank | Health (1960–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06); Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) (2000–2019, retrieved 2026-02-20).
GeoRank.org/facts/north-korea/vatican | CC BY
Interactive Maps
Use the buttons below to switch between world maps comparing statistics for North Korea and the Vatican.
National statistics comparison
Finance
|
North Korea
|
Vatican
|
|
|---|---|---|
| Armed forces personnel |
1,469,000
2020 |
n/a |
| Unemployment rate |
25.6%
2013 |
n/a |
| Economic freedom index |
3.1
2026 |
65
2025 |
Energy
|
North Korea
|
Vatican
|
|
|---|---|---|
| Energy use, kg of oil equivalent per capita |
641 kg
2022 |
n/a |
| Carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions |
66.2 megatons
2024 |
n/a |
| CO2 emissions per capita |
2.5 tons
2024 |
n/a |
| Fossil fuel energy use share |
85.1%
2022 |
n/a |
| Renewable energy use share |
14.7%
2021 |
n/a |
| Alternative and nuclear energy use share |
8.5%
2022 |
n/a |
| Net energy imports use share |
4.9%
2022 |
n/a |
| Electric power consumption per capita |
830 kWh
2022 |
n/a |
| Renewable electricity output share |
63.2%
2021 |
n/a |
| Hydroelectric share |
62.7%
2022 |
n/a |
| Nuclear share |
0%
2021 |
n/a |
| Electricity access |
57.5%
2023 |
n/a |
Society
|
North Korea
|
Vatican
|
|
|---|---|---|
| % of world population |
0.33%
2024 |
0.00001%
2024 |
| Annual migration change |
-2,787
2025 |
n/a |
| Urban population |
63.9%
2024 |
n/a |
| Male:Female ratio |
49.5:50.5
2024 |
n/a |
| Average male height |
5.73 ft
2025 |
n/a |
| Average female height |
5.29 ft
2025 |
n/a |
| Quality of life index |
10.1
2026 |
78.4
2026 |
| Corruption Perceptions Index |
15
2025 |
60
2025 |
| Higher education index |
10
2026 |
34
2026 |
| Homicides per 100K people |
4.4
2015 |
0
2023 |
| Road traffic mortality per 100K people |
24.2
2019 |
0.5
2025 |
| Visa free countries |
48
2025 |
149
2025 |
| Adult literacy rate |
100%
2018 |
100%
2013 |
| English speaking |
0%
2025 |
20%
2025 |
| People using the Internet |
0%
2012 |
n/a |
Health
|
North Korea
|
Vatican
|
|
|---|---|---|
| Life expectancy |
74 years
2026 |
83.4 years
2026 |
| Physicians per 1,000 people |
3.63
2017 |
n/a |
| Maternal mortality per 100K births |
67
2023 |
n/a |
| Mortality rate before reaching 5 years of age |
18
2023 |
n/a |
| Obesity rate |
11.1%
2022 |
n/a |
| Diabetes prevalence |
9.9%
2024 |
n/a |
| Air quality index |
42
2026 |
72
2026 |
| Tobacco use prevalence |
16.5%
2022 |
n/a |
| Pure alcohol consumption per capita |
3.87 liters
2020 |
n/a |
Territory
|
North Korea
|
Vatican
|
|
|---|---|---|
| % of world land |
0.08%
2026 |
0.0000003%
2026 |
| Land area per capita |
1,754 sq mi
2024 |
169.9 sq mi
2019 |
| Agricultural land area |
10,021 sq mi
2026 |
n/a |
| Forest area |
23,036 sq mi
2026 |
n/a |
| Roads length |
15,879 mi
2006 |
5.59 mi
2003 |
In-depth comparisons
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Data sources:
- World Bank | Health (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-04-06)
- United Nations | World Population Prospects (1950–2026, retrieved 2026-03-10)
- U.S. Census Bureau (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-02-08)
- Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) (2000–2025, retrieved 2026-02-20)
- LivingCost (2026, retrieved 2025-10-14)
- Passport Index (2025, retrieved 2026-02-08)
- EduRank (2026, retrieved 2025-10-13)
- World Obesity Federation (2022, retrieved 2026-02-08)
- Transparency International (2025, retrieved 2026-02-10)
- The Heritage Foundation | Economic Freedom Index (2026, retrieved 2026-03-09)
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