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North Korea vs Yemen statistics compared

Updated on by Georank team

North Korea has a population of 26.5M (ranked 56/197), compared with 40.6M in Yemen (ranked 38/197). North Korea's land area is 46,491 sq mi versus 203,850 sq mi for Yemen (ranked 97th vs. 49th).

By GDP, North Korea ranks 106/197 ($34.9B) and Yemen ranks 125/197 ($21.6B). By GDP per capita, North Korea ranks 168/197 ($1,319), while Yemen ranks 191/197 ($634).

Main facts and rankings

North Korea Yemen
Population
26659144
43325643
Population rank 57/197 37/197
GDP
$34.9B
2024
$21.6B
2018
GDP rank 106/197 125/197
GDP per capita
$1,319
2024
$634
2018
GDP per capita rank 168/197 191/197
GDP per capita, PPP
$1,700
2015
$3,164
2013
Government debt n/a
$18.8B
2018
Debt-to-GDP ratio n/a
70.9%
2024
Government debt per person n/a
$551
2018
Government debt per person rank n/a 165/185
Average annual personal income after taxes
$1,426
2026
$1,127
2026
Land area 46,491 sq mi 203,850 sq mi
Population density
573 ppl/mi²
2026
210.9 ppl/mi²
2026
Fertility rate
1.78
2023
4.59
2023
Median age
37.3 years
2024
19.3 years
2024
Life expectancy
74 years
2026
69.7 years
2026

North Korea and Yemen: Comparison Charts

North Korea and Yemen economies compared

GDP
North Korea

Yemen
1x
Year GDP
North Korea Yemen
2024 $34,943,120,000 -
2023 $32,155,360,000 -
2022 $28,971,360,000 -
2021 $32,301,720,000 -
2020 $27,728,240,000 -
2019 $28,222,880,000 -
2018 $28,536,400,000 $21,606,160,663
2017 $29,105,440,000 $26,842,229,045
2016 $28,882,640,000 $31,317,825,274
2015 $30,723,030,000 $42,444,490,074
2014 $30,554,460,000 $43,228,585,321
2013 $30,588,922,000 $40,415,233,436
2012 $29,890,710,000 $35,401,331,610
2011 $29,005,020,000 $32,726,417,878
2010 $25,995,513,000 $30,906,749,533
2009 $23,356,470,000 $25,130,278,213
2008 - $26,910,855,807
2007 - $21,650,528,674
2006 - $19,063,143,370
2005 - $16,731,566,717
2004 - $13,867,634,371
2003 - $11,777,532,662
2002 - $10,693,430,511
2001 - $9,852,990,693
2000 - $9,679,316,770
1999 - $7,639,325,296
1998 - $6,322,175,566
1997 - $6,838,298,531
1996 - $6,496,163,616
1995 - $12,796,345,679
1994 - $28,019,483,764
1993 - $21,736,802,664
1992 - $17,959,367,194
1991 - $14,665,445,462
1990 - $12,643,821,569

Data sources: World Bank | Economy & Growth (1990–2018, retrieved 2026-04-06).

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

North Korea and Yemen economies compared

GDP per capita
North Korea

Yemen
1x
Year GDP per capita
North Korea Yemen
2024 $1,319 -
2023 $1,217 -
2022 $1,100 -
2021 $1,231 -
2020 $1,061 -
2019 $1,084 -
2018 $1,100 $634
2017 $1,127 $811
2016 $1,124 $975
2015 $1,201 $1,362
2014 $1,201 $1,430
2013 $1,208 $1,379
2012 $1,186 $1,245
2011 $1,156 $1,186
2010 $1,040 $1,155
2009 $939 $969
2008 - $1,072
2007 - $890
2006 - $810
2005 - $734
2004 - $628
2003 - $549
2002 - $513
2001 - $487
2000 - $493
1999 - $401
1998 - $343
1997 - $383
1996 - $375
1995 - $764
1994 - $1,735
1993 - $1,397
1992 - $1,198
1991 - $1,016
1990 - $910

Data sources: World Bank | Health (1990–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06).

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

North Korea vs. Yemen life expectancy calculator

Life expectancy
North Korea

Yemen
1x
Year Life expectancy, years
North Korea Yemen
2026 74 69.7
2025 73.9 69.6
2024 73.7 69.4
2023 73.6 69.3
2022 73.6 68
2021 73.4 66
2020 72.8 66.4
2019 72.9 66.6
2018 73 65.9
2017 73 67.1
2016 73 67.1
2015 72.8 66.8
2014 72.5 68
2013 71.9 68
2012 71.3 67.6
2011 70.8 67.4
2010 70.2 67.2
2009 69.7 66.9
2008 69.3 66.6
2007 69 66.2
2006 69.1 65.8
2005 69.2 65.4
2004 69.3 64.9
2003 69.4 64.4
2002 60.9 63.8
2001 60.9 63.3
2000 60.9 62.8
1999 60.9 62.3
1998 60.9 61.8
1997 60.9 61.3
1996 60.8 60.9
1995 60.8 60.5
1994 70.5 59.8
1993 70.8 59.7
1992 71 59.3
1991 70.7 58.8
1990 70.5 58.5
1989 70.3 58
1988 70.1 57.4
1987 69.8 56.8
1986 69.5 54
1985 69.2 55.4
1984 68.9 54.6
1983 68.5 53.6
1982 68.1 52.4
1981 67.7 51.7
1980 67.2 50.6
1979 66.7 49.5
1978 66.3 48.5
1977 65.8 47.4
1976 65.3 46.4
1975 64.8 45.5
1974 64.3 44.5
1973 63.8 43.6
1972 63.3 42.7
1971 62.7 41.8
1970 62 40.6
1969 61.4 39.6
1968 60.8 38
1967 60.1 37.1
1966 59.4 36.3
1965 58.8 35.6
1964 58.2 34.9
1963 57.6 33.4
1962 57 33.7
1961 56.4 34.1
1960 55.8 33.5
1959 55.2 32.9
1958 54.5 32.4
1957 53.7 31.8
1956 52.8 31.3
1955 51.8 30.8
1954 50.6 30.4
1953 40.3 30
1952 32.8 29.6
1951 17.7 29.3
1950 14.2 28.9

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

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

North Korea and Yemen population clocks and comparison

Population
North Korea

Yemen
1x
Year Population
North Korea Yemen
2024 26,498,823 40,583,164
2023 26,418,204 39,390,799
2022 26,328,845 38,222,876
2021 26,232,534 37,140,230
2020 26,136,312 36,134,863
2019 26,037,632 35,111,408
2018 25,931,147 34,085,182
2017 25,817,709 33,090,921
2016 25,698,326 32,109,010
2015 25,575,350 31,159,379
2014 25,451,262 30,226,309
2013 25,329,451 29,312,952
2012 25,211,728 28,433,647
2011 25,097,874 27,582,897
2010 24,987,258 26,754,387
2009 24,878,332 25,927,724
2008 24,764,618 25,111,941
2007 24,646,383 24,318,082
2006 24,524,507 23,543,083
2005 24,396,433 22,790,085
2004 24,254,943 22,095,167
2003 24,090,380 21,456,379
2002 23,943,973 20,835,086
2001 23,815,358 20,226,147
2000 23,665,910 19,624,141
1999 23,497,599 19,029,420
1998 23,311,564 18,446,013
1997 23,110,830 17,873,936
1996 22,895,746 17,313,177
1995 22,669,304 16,740,058
1994 22,393,975 16,149,147
1993 22,073,352 15,563,914
1992 21,750,911 14,989,494
1991 21,428,638 14,430,201
1990 21,112,137 13,887,862
1989 20,804,367 13,364,174
1988 20,503,161 12,859,708
1987 20,205,483 12,369,912
1986 19,910,855 11,901,040
1985 19,620,388 11,453,825
1984 19,335,043 11,025,597
1983 19,054,034 10,621,499
1982 18,776,357 10,241,006
1981 18,501,295 9,882,362
1980 18,236,786 9,543,358
1979 17,983,470 9,224,194
1978 17,735,995 8,926,586
1977 17,492,798 8,648,222
1976 17,243,450 8,384,113
1975 16,971,055 8,133,598
1974 16,673,121 7,896,783
1973 16,350,367 7,672,796
1972 15,975,069 7,460,068
1971 15,572,457 7,257,462
1970 15,172,775 7,065,279
1969 14,767,615 6,875,859
1968 14,365,596 6,690,524
1967 13,958,350 6,516,444
1966 13,569,094 6,351,494
1965 13,219,369 6,195,593
1964 12,889,770 6,048,006
1963 12,567,057 5,911,135
1962 12,262,882 5,782,221
1961 11,990,713 5,655,232
1960 11,722,953 5,532,301

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

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

Fertility rates in North Korea and Yemen

Fertility rate
North Korea

Yemen
1x
Year Fertility rate
North Korea Yemen
2023 1.78 4.59
2022 1.8 4.59
2021 1.81 4.6
2020 1.82 4.6
2019 1.83 4.6
2018 1.83 4.61
2017 1.85 4.61
2016 1.86 4.61
2015 1.86 4.62
2014 1.87 4.62
2013 1.88 4.62
2012 1.88 4.63
2011 1.88 4.63
2010 1.89 4.81
2009 1.91 5
2008 1.97 5.11
2007 1.94 5.26
2006 1.94 5.41
2005 1.87 5.56
2004 1.9 5.71
2003 1.91 5.84
2002 1.92 5.97
2001 1.94 6.14
2000 1.94 6.32
1999 1.97 6.49
1998 1.99 6.64
1997 2.03 6.82
1996 2.09 7
1995 2.15 7.53
1994 2.18 7.8
1993 2.22 8.05
1992 2.29 8.27
1991 2.35 8.46
1990 2.39 8.61
1989 2.41 8.71
1988 2.47 8.79
1987 2.53 8.83
1986 2.59 8.86
1985 2.65 8.86
1984 2.71 8.85
1983 2.78 8.83
1982 2.85 8.79
1981 2.92 8.75
1980 2.84 8.71
1979 2.85 8.67
1978 2.79 8.5
1977 2.77 8.47
1976 2.84 8.42
1975 3.05 8.37
1974 3.14 8.33
1973 3.35 8.29
1972 3.89 8.27
1971 3.74 8.26
1970 3.85 8.23
1969 3.86 8.22
1968 3.87 8.19
1967 4.05 8.17
1966 3.71 8.14
1965 3.56 8.1
1964 3.55 8.07
1963 3.63 8.03
1962 3.41 8.01
1961 3.26 8
1960 3.57 7.99

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

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

North Korea and Yemen demographics compared

Median age
North Korea

Yemen
1x
Year Median age, years
North Korea Yemen
2024 37.3 19.3
2023 37.1 19.2
2022 36.8 19.2
2021 36.6 19.1
2020 36.4 19.1
2019 36.2 19.1
2018 35.9 19
2017 35.7 18.9
2016 35.4 18.8
2015 35.2 18.7
2014 35 18.5
2013 34.7 18.3
2012 34.5 18.1
2011 34.3 17.9
2010 34 17.7
2009 33.7 17.4
2008 33.3 17.2
2007 32.9 16.9
2006 32.5 16.7
2005 32.1 16.4
2004 31.8 16.2
2003 31.4 16
2002 31 15.8
2001 30.5 15.6
2000 30.1 15.4
1999 29.6 15.2
1998 29.2 15
1997 28.8 14.9
1996 28.3 14.8
1995 28 14.7
1994 27.6 14.6
1993 27.2 14.6
1992 26.8 14.6
1991 26.4 14.6
1990 26 14.6
1989 25.6 14.6
1988 25.1 14.7
1987 24.8 14.8
1986 24.5 14.9
1985 24.2 15
1984 23.9 15.1
1983 23.5 15.3
1982 23.1 15.5
1981 22.8 15.7
1980 22.5 15.9
1979 22.2 16.1
1978 21.8 16.3
1977 21.4 16.6
1976 21.1 16.8
1975 20.9 17
1974 20.7 17.3
1973 20.7 17.6
1972 20.9 17.8
1971 21.2 18.1
1970 21.4 18.4
1969 21.4 18.7
1968 21.4 18.9
1967 21.4 19.1
1966 21.3 19.2
1965 21.2 19.3
1964 21 19.4
1963 20.8 19.5
1962 20.6 19.6
1961 20.2 19.6
1960 19.9 19.7

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

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

Interactive Maps

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National statistics comparison

Finance

North Korea Yemen
GNI, Atlas method n/a
$25.3B
2018
Government expenditure, % of GDP n/a
8.91%
2024
Education expenditure, % of GDP n/a
5.46%
2012
Military expenditure, % of GDP n/a
3.97%
2014
Armed forces personnel
1,469,000
2020
40,000
2020
Deficit/surplus, % of GDP n/a
-2.48%
2024
Unemployment rate
25.6%
2013
13.5%
2014
Services, % of GDP n/a
41.8%
2018
Industry, % of GDP n/a
25.4%
2018
Economic freedom index
3.1
2026
53.7
2015
Income share by richest 10% n/a
29.4%
2014
Income share by poorest 10% n/a
3%
2014
Total reserves including gold n/a
$1.25B
2022
Personal remittances received n/a
$3.43B
2024
International tourist arrivals n/a
398,000
2015
International tourism as share of exports n/a
12.4%
2016
Banked people share n/a
11.9%
2022

Energy

North Korea Yemen
Energy use, kg of oil equivalent per capita
641 kg
2022
68.9 kg
2022
GDP PPP per kg equivalent of energy use n/a
$11.2
2013
Carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions
66.2 megatons
2024
10.6 megatons
2024
CO2 emissions per capita
2.5 tons
2024
0.26 tons
2024
Fossil fuel energy use share
85.1%
2022
93.1%
2022
Renewable energy use share
14.7%
2021
3.7%
2021
Alternative and nuclear energy use share
8.5%
2022
1.64%
2022
Net energy imports use share
4.9%
2022
-11%
2022
Electric power consumption per capita
830 kWh
2022
54 kWh
2022
Renewable electricity output share
63.2%
2021
21.1%
2021
Hydroelectric share
62.7%
2022
0%
2021
Nuclear share
0%
2021
0%
2021
Electricity access
57.5%
2023
83.6%
2023

Society

North Korea Yemen
% of world population
0.33%
2024
0.5%
2024
Annual migration change
-2,787
2025
-16,291
2025
Urban population
63.9%
2024
36.8%
2024
Male:Female ratio
49.5:50.5
2024
50.7:49.3
2024
Average male height
5.73 ft
2025
5.39 ft
2025
Average female height
5.29 ft
2025
5.08 ft
2025
Quality of life index
10.1
2026
17.2
2026
Corruption Perceptions Index
15
2025
13
2025
Higher education index
10
2026
17
2026
Homicides per 100K people
4.4
2015
6.31
2013
Road traffic mortality per 100K people
24.2
2019
29.4
2019
Visa free countries
48
2025
44
2025
Adult literacy rate
100%
2018
54.1%
2004
English speaking
0%
2025
9%
2023
People using the Internet
0%
2012
13.8%
2020

Health

North Korea Yemen
Government health expenditure per capita n/a
$47.8
2023
Out-of-pocket health expenditure per capita n/a
$33
2023
Life expectancy
74 years
2026
69.7 years
2026
Foreign aid share of health expenditure n/a
21.1%
2023
Physicians per 1,000 people
3.63
2017
0.1
2023
Age at first childbirth n/a
20.8 years
2025
Maternal mortality per 100K births
67
2023
118
2023
Mortality rate before reaching 5 years of age
18
2023
39.3
2023
Obesity rate
11.1%
2022
14.1%
2022
Diabetes prevalence
9.9%
2024
5.5%
2024
Air quality index
42
2026
31
2026
Tobacco use prevalence
16.5%
2022
21.4%
2022
Pure alcohol consumption per capita
3.87 liters
2020
0.04 liters
2020

Territory

North Korea Yemen
% of world land
0.08%
2026
0.35%
2026
Land area per capita
1,754 sq mi
2024
5,023 sq mi
2024
Agricultural land area
10,021 sq mi
2026
90,549 sq mi
2026
Forest area
23,036 sq mi
2026
2,120 sq mi
2026
Roads length
15,879 mi
2006
n/a

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) (2000–2025, retrieved 2026-02-20)
  5. International Monetary Fund (IMF) | Fiscal Monitor (2018–2024, retrieved 2026-02-20)
  6. LivingCost (2026, retrieved 2025-10-14)
  7. The Heritage Foundation | Economic Freedom Index (2015–2026, retrieved 2026-03-09)
  8. World Obesity Federation (2022, retrieved 2026-02-08)
  9. Passport Index (2025, retrieved 2026-02-08)
  10. Transparency International (2025, retrieved 2026-02-10)
  11. EduRank (2026, retrieved 2025-10-13)

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