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North Korea vs Vietnam statistics compared

Updated on by Georank team

North Korea has a population of 26.5M (ranked 56/197), compared with 101M in Vietnam (ranked 16/197). North Korea's land area is 46,491 sq mi versus 121,016 sq mi for Vietnam (ranked 97th vs. 67th).

By GDP, North Korea ranks 106/197 ($34.9B) and Vietnam ranks 33/197 ($476B). By GDP per capita, North Korea ranks 168/197 ($1,319), while Vietnam ranks 122/197 ($4,717).

Main facts and rankings

North Korea Vietnam
Population
26659144
102365351
Population rank 57/197 16/197
GDP
$34.9B
2024
$476B
2024
GDP rank 106/197 33/197
GDP per capita
$1,319
2024
$4,717
2024
GDP per capita rank 168/197 122/197
GDP per capita, PPP
$1,700
2015
$16,386
2024
Government debt n/a
$149B
2024
Debt-to-GDP ratio n/a
31.3%
2024
Government debt per person n/a
$1,475
2024
Government debt per person rank n/a 132/185
Average annual personal income after taxes
$1,426
2026
$4,020
2026
Land area 46,491 sq mi 121,016 sq mi
Population density
573 ppl/mi²
2026
845 ppl/mi²
2026
Fertility rate
1.78
2023
1.91
2023
Median age
37.3 years
2024
33.9 years
2024
Life expectancy
74 years
2026
75 years
2026

North Korea and Vietnam: Comparison Charts

North Korea and Vietnam economies compared

GDP
North Korea

Vietnam
1x
Year GDP
North Korea Vietnam
2024 $34,943,120,000 $476,388,230,307
2023 $32,155,360,000 $433,857,681,378
2022 $28,971,360,000 $413,445,230,669
2021 $32,301,720,000 $366,474,752,771
2020 $27,728,240,000 $346,615,738,538
2019 $28,222,880,000 $334,365,270,497
2018 $28,536,400,000 $310,106,478,395
2017 $29,105,440,000 $281,353,605,987
2016 $28,882,640,000 $257,096,001,178
2015 $30,723,030,000 $239,258,328,382
2014 $30,554,460,000 $233,451,469,643
2013 $30,588,922,000 $213,708,811,665
2012 $29,890,710,000 $195,590,661,129
2011 $29,005,020,000 $172,595,049,184
2010 $25,995,513,000 $147,201,173,197
2009 $23,356,470,000 $106,014,659,565
2008 - $99,130,304,099
2007 - $77,414,425,532
2006 - $66,371,664,817
2005 - $57,633,255,738
2004 - $45,427,854,693
2003 - $39,552,513,232
2002 - $35,064,105,501
2001 - $32,685,198,809
2000 - $31,172,518,403
1999 - $28,683,659,007
1998 - $27,209,602,050
1997 - $26,843,700,442
1996 - $24,657,470,575
1995 - $20,736,164,459
1994 - $16,286,433,533
1993 - $13,180,953,598
1992 - $9,866,990,236
1991 - $9,613,369,520
1990 - $6,471,740,806
1989 - $6,293,304,975
1988 - $25,423,812,649
1987 - $36,658,108,850
1986 - $26,336,616,250
1985 - $14,094,687,821

Data sources: World Bank | Economy & Growth (1985–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06).

GeoRank.org/facts/north-korea/vietnam | CC BY

North Korea and Vietnam economies compared

GDP per capita
North Korea

Vietnam
1x
Year GDP per capita
North Korea Vietnam
2024 $1,319 $4,717
2023 $1,217 $4,323
2022 $1,100 $4,148
2021 $1,231 $3,704
2020 $1,061 $3,534
2019 $1,084 $3,441
2018 $1,100 $3,222
2017 $1,127 $2,956
2016 $1,124 $2,735
2015 $1,201 $2,578
2014 $1,201 $2,546
2013 $1,208 $2,360
2012 $1,186 $2,185
2011 $1,156 $1,951
2010 $1,040 $1,683
2009 $939 $1,226
2008 - $1,164
2007 - $926
2006 - $808
2005 - $711
2004 - $565
2003 - $497
2002 - $445
2001 - $419
2000 - $404
1999 - $376
1998 - $361
1997 - $362
1996 - $337
1995 - $287.8
1994 - $229.9
1993 - $189.4
1992 - $144.5
1991 - $143.7
1990 - $98.8
1989 - $98.1
1988 - $405
1987 - $595
1986 - $436
1985 - $238.6

Data sources: World Bank | Health (1985–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06).

GeoRank.org/facts/north-korea/vietnam | CC BY

North Korea vs. Vietnam life expectancy calculator

Life expectancy
North Korea

Vietnam
1x
Year Life expectancy, years
North Korea Vietnam
2026 74 75
2025 73.9 74.9
2024 73.7 74.7
2023 73.6 74.6
2022 73.6 74.5
2021 73.4 74.1
2020 72.8 75.4
2019 72.9 74.2
2018 73 74.1
2017 73 74
2016 73 74
2015 72.8 74
2014 72.5 73.9
2013 71.9 73.8
2012 71.3 73.8
2011 70.8 73.7
2010 70.2 73.6
2009 69.7 73.5
2008 69.3 73.5
2007 69 73.4
2006 69.1 73.3
2005 69.2 73.2
2004 69.3 73.1
2003 69.4 73.2
2002 60.9 73.1
2001 60.9 73
2000 60.9 72.7
1999 60.9 72.6
1998 60.9 72.3
1997 60.9 71.7
1996 60.8 71.3
1995 60.8 70.9
1994 70.5 70.4
1993 70.8 70
1992 71 69.6
1991 70.7 69.3
1990 70.5 69
1989 70.3 68.8
1988 70.1 68.6
1987 69.8 68
1986 69.5 67.6
1985 69.2 67.2
1984 68.9 66.9
1983 68.5 66.5
1982 68.1 66.2
1981 67.7 65.8
1980 67.2 65.3
1979 66.7 65
1978 66.3 64.5
1977 65.8 64.1
1976 65.3 63.7
1975 64.8 61.9
1974 64.3 54.8
1973 63.8 55.7
1972 63.3 51.9
1971 62.7 55.6
1970 62 54.9
1969 61.4 54.8
1968 60.8 52.7
1967 60.1 56.7
1966 59.4 56.9
1965 58.8 57
1964 58.2 57.5
1963 57.6 56.9
1962 57 58.2
1961 56.4 58.5
1960 55.8 58
1959 55.2 57.4
1958 54.5 56.8
1957 53.7 56.2
1956 52.8 55.5
1955 51.8 54.8
1954 50.6 52
1953 40.3 50
1952 32.8 49.4
1951 17.7 48.7
1950 14.2 48

Data sources: United Nations | World Population Prospects (1950–2026, retrieved 2026-03-10).

GeoRank.org/facts/north-korea/vietnam | CC BY

North Korea and Vietnam population clocks and comparison

Population
North Korea

Vietnam
1x
Year Population
North Korea Vietnam
2024 26,498,823 100,987,686
2023 26,418,204 100,352,192
2022 26,328,845 99,680,655
2021 26,232,534 98,935,098
2020 26,136,312 98,079,191
2019 26,037,632 97,173,776
2018 25,931,147 96,237,319
2017 25,817,709 95,176,977
2016 25,698,326 94,000,117
2015 25,575,350 92,823,254
2014 25,451,262 91,679,578
2013 25,329,451 90,573,104
2012 25,211,728 89,510,356
2011 25,097,874 88,468,314
2010 24,987,258 87,455,152
2009 24,878,332 86,460,018
2008 24,764,618 85,175,788
2007 24,646,383 83,633,375
2006 24,524,507 82,167,897
2005 24,396,433 81,088,313
2004 24,254,943 80,338,971
2003 24,090,380 79,563,777
2002 23,943,973 78,772,224
2001 23,815,358 77,969,361
2000 23,665,910 77,154,011
1999 23,497,599 76,287,452
1998 23,311,564 75,299,660
1997 23,110,830 74,226,889
1996 22,895,746 73,156,447
1995 22,669,304 72,049,940
1994 22,393,975 70,854,391
1993 22,073,352 69,586,384
1992 21,750,911 68,260,337
1991 21,428,638 66,891,775
1990 21,112,137 65,504,552
1989 20,804,367 64,147,348
1988 20,503,161 62,843,228
1987 20,205,483 61,584,651
1986 19,910,855 60,347,048
1985 19,620,388 59,060,622
1984 19,335,043 57,706,067
1983 19,054,034 56,337,921
1982 18,776,357 55,011,289
1981 18,501,295 53,738,141
1980 18,236,786 52,490,101
1979 17,983,470 51,378,211
1978 17,735,995 50,249,552
1977 17,492,798 48,954,872
1976 17,243,450 47,684,931
1975 16,971,055 46,482,903
1974 16,673,121 45,413,537
1973 16,350,367 44,409,861
1972 15,975,069 43,429,168
1971 15,572,457 42,449,276
1970 15,172,775 41,475,230
1969 14,767,615 40,582,096
1968 14,365,596 39,734,609
1967 13,958,350 38,895,080
1966 13,569,094 38,024,836
1965 13,219,369 37,129,656
1964 12,889,770 36,201,563
1963 12,567,057 35,249,101
1962 12,262,882 34,288,560
1961 11,990,713 33,409,059
1960 11,722,953 32,531,933

Data sources: World Bank | Health (1960–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06).

GeoRank.org/facts/north-korea/vietnam | CC BY

Fertility rates in North Korea and Vietnam

Fertility rate
North Korea

Vietnam
1x
Year Fertility rate
North Korea Vietnam
2023 1.78 1.91
2022 1.8 1.93
2021 1.81 1.94
2020 1.82 1.96
2019 1.83 1.94
2018 1.83 1.88
2017 1.85 1.99
2016 1.86 2
2015 1.86 2.1
2014 1.87 2.09
2013 1.88 1.98
2012 1.88 1.97
2011 1.88 1.93
2010 1.89 1.91
2009 1.91 1.92
2008 1.97 1.93
2007 1.94 1.91
2006 1.94 1.87
2005 1.87 1.89
2004 1.9 1.97
2003 1.91 2
2002 1.92 2.01
2001 1.94 2.02
2000 1.94 2.03
1999 1.97 2
1998 1.99 2.1
1997 2.03 2.27
1996 2.09 2.47
1995 2.15 2.7
1994 2.18 2.94
1993 2.22 3.17
1992 2.29 3.35
1991 2.35 3.52
1990 2.39 3.6
1989 2.41 3.64
1988 2.47 3.62
1987 2.53 3.72
1986 2.59 3.96
1985 2.65 4.21
1984 2.71 4.41
1983 2.78 4.52
1982 2.85 4.59
1981 2.92 4.67
1980 2.84 4.8
1979 2.85 4.94
1978 2.79 5.1
1977 2.77 5.29
1976 2.84 5.46
1975 3.05 5.62
1974 3.14 5.78
1973 3.35 6.11
1972 3.89 6.1
1971 3.74 6.07
1970 3.85 6.02
1969 3.86 6.01
1968 3.87 6.03
1967 4.05 5.88
1966 3.71 5.97
1965 3.56 6.16
1964 3.55 6.29
1963 3.63 6.39
1962 3.41 6.26
1961 3.26 5.48
1960 3.57 6.27

Data sources: World Bank | Health (1960–2023, retrieved 2026-04-06).

GeoRank.org/facts/north-korea/vietnam | CC BY

North Korea and Vietnam demographics compared

Median age
North Korea

Vietnam
1x
Year Median age, years
North Korea Vietnam
2024 37.3 33.9
2023 37.1 33.4
2022 36.8 33
2021 36.6 32.5
2020 36.4 32.1
2019 36.2 31.6
2018 35.9 31.2
2017 35.7 30.8
2016 35.4 30.5
2015 35.2 30.2
2014 35 29.8
2013 34.7 29.4
2012 34.5 29
2011 34.3 28.7
2010 34 28.3
2009 33.7 27.9
2008 33.3 27.4
2007 32.9 26.9
2006 32.5 26.3
2005 32.1 25.8
2004 31.8 25.4
2003 31.4 25
2002 31 24.6
2001 30.5 24.2
2000 30.1 23.7
1999 29.6 23.3
1998 29.2 22.9
1997 28.8 22.4
1996 28.3 22
1995 28 21.7
1994 27.6 21.4
1993 27.2 21.1
1992 26.8 20.9
1991 26.4 20.7
1990 26 20.5
1989 25.6 20.4
1988 25.1 20.2
1987 24.8 20.1
1986 24.5 20
1985 24.2 19.9
1984 23.9 19.8
1983 23.5 19.7
1982 23.1 19.6
1981 22.8 19.5
1980 22.5 19.4
1979 22.2 19.3
1978 21.8 19.1
1977 21.4 19
1976 21.1 18.8
1975 20.9 18.7
1974 20.7 18.6
1973 20.7 18.5
1972 20.9 18.5
1971 21.2 18.4
1970 21.4 18.4
1969 21.4 18.4
1968 21.4 18.4
1967 21.4 18.5
1966 21.3 18.7
1965 21.2 18.9
1964 21 19.2
1963 20.8 19.7
1962 20.6 20.2
1961 20.2 20.7
1960 19.9 21.2

Data sources: World Bank | Health (1960–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06).

GeoRank.org/facts/north-korea/vietnam | CC BY

Interactive Maps

Use the buttons below to switch between world maps comparing statistics for North Korea and Vietnam.

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National statistics comparison

Finance

North Korea Vietnam
GNI, Atlas method n/a
$454B
2024
Government expenditure, % of GDP n/a
19.1%
2024
Education expenditure, % of GDP n/a
2.89%
2022
Military expenditure, % of GDP n/a
1.81%
2018
Armed forces personnel
1,469,000
2020
522,000
2020
Deficit/surplus, % of GDP n/a
-1.54%
2024
Unemployment rate
25.6%
2013
1.53%
2024
Services, % of GDP n/a
42.4%
2024
Industry, % of GDP n/a
37.6%
2024
Economic freedom index
3.1
2026
64.4
2026
Income share by richest 10% n/a
28.1%
2022
Income share by poorest 10% n/a
2.6%
2022
Number of billionaires n/a
5
2025
Percentage of billionaires n/a
0.000007%
2025
Listed domestic companies n/a
393
2024
Market capitalization of domestic companies n/a
$205B
2024
Total reserves including gold n/a
$83.1B
2024
Personal remittances received n/a
$16B
2024
International tourist arrivals n/a
3,837,000
2020
International tourism as share of exports n/a
1.11%
2020
Banked people share n/a
70.6%
2024

Energy

North Korea Vietnam
Energy use, kg of oil equivalent per capita
641 kg
2022
1,023 kg
2022
GDP PPP per kg equivalent of energy use n/a
$13.6
2022
Carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions
66.2 megatons
2024
431 megatons
2024
CO2 emissions per capita
2.5 tons
2024
4.27 tons
2024
Fossil fuel energy use share
85.1%
2022
79.4%
2022
Renewable energy use share
14.7%
2021
24.2%
2021
Alternative and nuclear energy use share
8.5%
2022
11.3%
2022
Net energy imports use share
4.9%
2022
34%
2022
Electric power consumption per capita
830 kWh
2022
2,624 kWh
2022
Renewable electricity output share
63.2%
2021
41.2%
2021
Hydroelectric share
62.7%
2022
34.7%
2022
Nuclear share
0%
2021
0%
2021
Electricity access
57.5%
2023
99.8%
2023

Society

North Korea Vietnam
% of world population
0.33%
2024
1.24%
2024
Annual migration change
-2,787
2025
-48,171
2025
Urban population
63.9%
2024
38.5%
2024
Male:Female ratio
49.5:50.5
2024
49:51
2024
Average male height
5.73 ft
2025
5.54 ft
2025
Average female height
5.29 ft
2025
5.2 ft
2025
Quality of life index
10.1
2026
48.9
2026
Corruption Perceptions Index
15
2025
41
2025
Higher education index
10
2026
54
2026
Homicides per 100K people
4.4
2015
1.54
2011
Road traffic mortality per 100K people
24.2
2019
30.6
2019
Visa free countries
48
2025
67
2025
Adult literacy rate
100%
2018
96.1%
2022
English speaking
0%
2025
16%
2025
People using the Internet
0%
2012
84.2%
2024

Health

North Korea Vietnam
Government health expenditure per capita n/a
$197.2
2023
Out-of-pocket health expenditure per capita n/a
$77.3
2023
Life expectancy
74 years
2026
75 years
2026
Foreign aid share of health expenditure n/a
1.15%
2023
Physicians per 1,000 people
3.63
2017
1.11
2021
Maternal mortality per 100K births
67
2023
48
2023
Mortality rate before reaching 5 years of age
18
2023
20
2023
Obesity rate
11.1%
2022
2.04%
2022
Diabetes prevalence
9.9%
2024
3.4%
2024
Air quality index
42
2026
20
2026
Tobacco use prevalence
16.5%
2022
22.5%
2022
Pure alcohol consumption per capita
3.87 liters
2020
8.04 liters
2020

Territory

North Korea Vietnam
% of world land
0.08%
2026
0.21%
2026
Land area per capita
1,754 sq mi
2024
1,198 sq mi
2024
Agricultural land area
10,021 sq mi
2026
47,456 sq mi
2026
Forest area
23,036 sq mi
2026
57,416 sq mi
2026
Roads length
15,879 mi
2006
354,460 mi
2019

In-depth comparisons

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Data sources:

  1. World Bank | Health (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-04-06)
  2. United Nations | World Population Prospects (1950–2026, retrieved 2026-03-10)
  3. U.S. Census Bureau (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-02-08)
  4. Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) (2000–2019, retrieved 2026-02-20)
  5. International Monetary Fund (IMF) | Fiscal Monitor (2024, retrieved 2026-02-20)
  6. LivingCost (2026, retrieved 2025-10-14)
  7. World Obesity Federation (2022, retrieved 2026-02-08)
  8. Passport Index (2025, retrieved 2026-02-08)
  9. Transparency International (2025, retrieved 2026-02-10)
  10. The Heritage Foundation | Economic Freedom Index (2026, retrieved 2026-03-09)
  11. EduRank (2026, retrieved 2025-10-13)

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