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North Korea vs Zambia statistics compared

Updated on by Georank team

North Korea has a population of 26.5M (ranked 56/197), compared with 21.3M in Zambia (ranked 63/197). North Korea's land area is 46,491 sq mi versus 287,024 sq mi for Zambia (ranked 97th vs. 37th).

By GDP, North Korea ranks 106/197 ($34.9B) and Zambia ranks 116/197 ($25.3B). By GDP per capita, North Korea ranks 168/197 ($1,319), while Zambia ranks 169/197 ($1,187).

Main facts and rankings

North Korea Zambia
Population
26659144
22697916
Population rank 57/197 62/197
GDP
$34.9B
2024
$25.3B
2024
GDP rank 106/197 116/197
GDP per capita
$1,319
2024
$1,187
2024
GDP per capita rank 168/197 169/197
GDP per capita, PPP
$1,700
2015
$4,215
2024
Government debt n/a
$29.1B
2024
Debt-to-GDP ratio n/a
114.9%
2024
Government debt per person n/a
$1,365
2024
Government debt per person rank n/a 134/185
Average annual personal income after taxes
$1,426
2026
$1,349
2026
Land area 46,491 sq mi 287,024 sq mi
Population density
573 ppl/mi²
2026
78.5 ppl/mi²
2026
Fertility rate
1.78
2023
4.1
2023
Median age
37.3 years
2024
18.8 years
2024
Life expectancy
74 years
2026
66.9 years
2026

North Korea and Zambia: Comparison Charts

North Korea and Zambia economies compared

GDP
North Korea

Zambia
1x
Year GDP
North Korea Zambia
2024 $34,943,120,000 $25,303,185,342
2023 $32,155,360,000 $27,577,956,471
2022 $28,971,360,000 $29,163,782,140
2021 $32,301,720,000 $22,096,416,932
2020 $27,728,240,000 $18,137,764,931
2019 $28,222,880,000 $23,308,667,781
2018 $28,536,400,000 $26,311,507,274
2017 $29,105,440,000 $25,873,601,261
2016 $28,882,640,000 $20,958,412,538
2015 $30,723,030,000 $21,251,216,799
2014 $30,554,460,000 $27,141,023,558
2013 $30,588,922,000 $28,037,239,463
2012 $29,890,710,000 $25,503,060,420
2011 $29,005,020,000 $23,459,515,276
2010 $25,995,513,000 $20,265,559,484
2009 $23,356,470,000 $15,328,342,304
2008 - $17,910,858,638
2007 - $14,056,957,976
2006 - $12,756,858,899
2005 - $8,331,870,169
2004 - $6,221,110,219
2003 - $4,901,869,764
2002 - $4,193,850,445
2001 - $4,094,441,301
2000 - $3,600,632,111
1999 - $3,404,284,891
1998 - $3,537,741,942
1997 - $4,303,288,480
1996 - $3,597,220,962
1995 - $3,806,983,413
1994 - $3,656,806,166
1993 - $3,273,505,344
1992 - $3,182,810,841
1991 - $3,376,806,697
1990 - $3,288,381,797
1989 - $3,994,673,161
1988 - $3,728,878,149
1987 - $2,265,250,972
1986 - $1,664,413,508
1985 - $2,252,454,500
1984 - $2,719,518,933
1983 - $3,321,048,451
1982 - $3,871,117,093
1981 - $4,008,126,497
1980 - $3,884,530,854
1979 - $3,353,445,378
1978 - $2,811,032,473
1977 - $2,515,296,940
1976 - $2,742,859,263
1975 - $2,442,672,141
1974 - $2,910,981,262
1973 - $2,434,255,237
1972 - $1,872,416,680
1971 - $1,653,259,341
1970 - $1,788,779,285
1969 - $1,926,399,230
1968 - $1,573,739,371
1967 - $1,340,639,464
1966 - $1,238,999,505
1965 - $1,061,199,576
1964 - $822,639,671
1963 - $704,339,719
1962 - $679,279,729
1961 - $682,359,727
1960 - $698,739,721

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

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

North Korea and Zambia economies compared

GDP per capita
North Korea

Zambia
1x
Year GDP per capita
North Korea Zambia
2024 $1,319 $1,187
2023 $1,217 $1,331
2022 $1,100 $1,447
2021 $1,231 $1,127
2020 $1,061 $952
2019 $1,084 $1,259
2018 $1,100 $1,464
2017 $1,127 $1,483
2016 $1,124 $1,239
2015 $1,201 $1,296
2014 $1,201 $1,707
2013 $1,208 $1,821
2012 $1,186 $1,710
2011 $1,156 $1,625
2010 $1,040 $1,451
2009 $939 $1,136
2008 - $1,376
2007 - $1,119
2006 - $1,052
2005 - $711
2004 - $549
2003 - $446
2002 - $394
2001 - $397
2000 - $359
1999 - $350
1998 - $373
1997 - $466
1996 - $400
1995 - $433
1994 - $426
1993 - $391
1992 - $389
1991 - $423
1990 - $422
1989 - $526
1988 - $504
1987 - $315
1986 - $238.2
1985 - $332
1984 - $413
1983 - $520
1982 - $627
1981 - $670
1980 - $669
1979 - $595
1978 - $514
1977 - $474
1976 - $533
1975 - $490
1974 - $601
1973 - $518
1972 - $410
1971 - $372
1970 - $414
1969 - $459
1968 - $387
1967 - $341
1966 - $325
1965 - $287.4
1964 - $230
1963 - $203.2
1962 - $202.3
1961 - $209.7
1960 - $221.6

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

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

North Korea vs. Zambia life expectancy calculator

Life expectancy
North Korea

Zambia
1x
Year Life expectancy, years
North Korea Zambia
2026 74 66.9
2025 73.9 66.7
2024 73.7 66.5
2023 73.6 66.3
2022 73.6 65.3
2021 73.4 62.4
2020 72.8 63.4
2019 72.9 62.9
2018 73 62.1
2017 73 61.6
2016 73 61.1
2015 72.8 60.7
2014 72.5 60.1
2013 71.9 59.4
2012 71.3 58.7
2011 70.8 57.8
2010 70.2 56.9
2009 69.7 55.9
2008 69.3 54.8
2007 69 53.7
2006 69.1 52.7
2005 69.2 51.6
2004 69.3 50.5
2003 69.4 49.6
2002 60.9 48.5
2001 60.9 47.4
2000 60.9 46.6
1999 60.9 45.9
1998 60.9 45.7
1997 60.9 45.7
1996 60.8 45.8
1995 60.8 46.1
1994 70.5 46.3
1993 70.8 46.7
1992 71 47
1991 70.7 47.4
1990 70.5 48.2
1989 70.3 48.9
1988 70.1 49.7
1987 69.8 50.4
1986 69.5 51.1
1985 69.2 52
1984 68.9 52.9
1983 68.5 53.7
1982 68.1 54.4
1981 67.7 55
1980 67.2 55.5
1979 66.7 56
1978 66.3 56.3
1977 65.8 56.3
1976 65.3 56.1
1975 64.8 55.7
1974 64.3 55.4
1973 63.8 54.9
1972 63.3 54.4
1971 62.7 53.9
1970 62 53.4
1969 61.4 53
1968 60.8 52.7
1967 60.1 52.5
1966 59.4 52.3
1965 58.8 52.1
1964 58.2 51.2
1963 57.6 51.6
1962 57 51.3
1961 56.4 51
1960 55.8 50.6
1959 55.2 50.3
1958 54.5 49.9
1957 53.7 49.5
1956 52.8 49.1
1955 51.8 48.8
1954 50.6 48.4
1953 40.3 48
1952 32.8 47.6
1951 17.7 47.2
1950 14.2 46.8

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

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

North Korea and Zambia population clocks and comparison

Population
North Korea

Zambia
1x
Year Population
North Korea Zambia
2024 26,498,823 21,314,956
2023 26,418,204 20,723,965
2022 26,328,845 20,152,938
2021 26,232,534 19,603,607
2020 26,136,312 19,059,395
2019 26,037,632 18,513,839
2018 25,931,147 17,973,569
2017 25,817,709 17,441,320
2016 25,698,326 16,914,423
2015 25,575,350 16,399,089
2014 25,451,262 15,895,315
2013 25,329,451 15,398,997
2012 25,211,728 14,913,629
2011 25,097,874 14,437,796
2010 24,987,258 13,965,594
2009 24,878,332 13,490,389
2008 24,764,618 13,021,324
2007 24,646,383 12,565,085
2006 24,524,507 12,129,553
2005 24,396,433 11,718,819
2004 24,254,943 11,338,198
2003 24,090,380 10,983,595
2002 23,943,973 10,647,949
2001 23,815,358 10,325,185
2000 23,665,910 10,017,631
1999 23,497,599 9,740,005
1998 23,311,564 9,482,408
1997 23,110,830 9,237,063
1996 22,895,746 9,004,053
1995 22,669,304 8,785,763
1994 22,393,975 8,576,269
1993 22,073,352 8,373,921
1992 21,750,911 8,176,680
1991 21,428,638 7,981,650
1990 21,112,137 7,786,169
1989 20,804,367 7,589,216
1988 20,503,161 7,391,440
1987 20,205,483 7,191,282
1986 19,910,855 6,986,471
1985 19,620,388 6,780,953
1984 19,335,043 6,580,490
1983 19,054,034 6,381,038
1982 18,776,357 6,178,637
1981 18,501,295 5,983,289
1980 18,236,786 5,802,833
1979 17,983,470 5,631,728
1978 17,735,995 5,465,374
1977 17,492,798 5,302,480
1976 17,243,450 5,143,842
1975 16,971,055 4,990,086
1974 16,673,121 4,842,746
1973 16,350,367 4,702,693
1972 15,975,069 4,569,309
1971 15,572,457 4,442,525
1970 15,172,775 4,321,718
1969 14,767,615 4,197,116
1968 14,365,596 4,065,593
1967 13,958,350 3,936,343
1966 13,569,094 3,812,003
1965 13,219,369 3,692,086
1964 12,889,770 3,577,017
1963 12,567,057 3,465,907
1962 12,262,882 3,358,099
1961 11,990,713 3,254,086
1960 11,722,953 3,153,729

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

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

Fertility rates in North Korea and Zambia

Fertility rate
North Korea

Zambia
1x
Year Fertility rate
North Korea Zambia
2023 1.78 4.1
2022 1.8 4.18
2021 1.81 4.25
2020 1.82 4.32
2019 1.83 4.42
2018 1.83 4.49
2017 1.85 4.57
2016 1.86 4.67
2015 1.86 4.78
2014 1.87 4.89
2013 1.88 5.01
2012 1.88 5.14
2011 1.88 5.26
2010 1.89 5.36
2009 1.91 5.45
2008 1.97 5.53
2007 1.94 5.61
2006 1.94 5.68
2005 1.87 5.7
2004 1.9 5.7
2003 1.91 5.71
2002 1.92 5.77
2001 1.94 5.85
2000 1.94 5.92
1999 1.97 6
1998 1.99 6.07
1997 2.03 6.12
1996 2.09 6.18
1995 2.15 6.23
1994 2.18 6.26
1993 2.22 6.3
1992 2.29 6.35
1991 2.35 6.46
1990 2.39 6.57
1989 2.41 6.64
1988 2.47 6.7
1987 2.53 6.8
1986 2.59 6.87
1985 2.65 6.93
1984 2.71 6.97
1983 2.78 7.01
1982 2.85 7.04
1981 2.92 7.07
1980 2.84 7.14
1979 2.85 7.22
1978 2.79 7.29
1977 2.77 7.35
1976 2.84 7.39
1975 3.05 7.42
1974 3.14 7.36
1973 3.35 7.34
1972 3.89 7.3
1971 3.74 7.26
1970 3.85 7.22
1969 3.86 7.18
1968 3.87 7.18
1967 4.05 7.15
1966 3.71 7.14
1965 3.56 7.12
1964 3.55 7.09
1963 3.63 7.06
1962 3.41 7.01
1961 3.26 6.98
1960 3.57 6.95

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

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

North Korea and Zambia demographics compared

Median age
North Korea

Zambia
1x
Year Median age, years
North Korea Zambia
2024 37.3 18.8
2023 37.1 18.6
2022 36.8 18.4
2021 36.6 18.2
2020 36.4 18
2019 36.2 17.9
2018 35.9 17.7
2017 35.7 17.5
2016 35.4 17.4
2015 35.2 17.2
2014 35 17.1
2013 34.7 17
2012 34.5 16.9
2011 34.3 16.8
2010 34 16.7
2009 33.7 16.6
2008 33.3 16.5
2007 32.9 16.4
2006 32.5 16.3
2005 32.1 16.3
2004 31.8 16.2
2003 31.4 16.1
2002 31 16
2001 30.5 15.9
2000 30.1 15.9
1999 29.6 15.8
1998 29.2 15.8
1997 28.8 15.8
1996 28.3 15.8
1995 28 15.8
1994 27.6 15.8
1993 27.2 15.8
1992 26.8 15.8
1991 26.4 15.7
1990 26 15.7
1989 25.6 15.7
1988 25.1 15.6
1987 24.8 15.6
1986 24.5 15.5
1985 24.2 15.5
1984 23.9 15.4
1983 23.5 15.4
1982 23.1 15.3
1981 22.8 15.3
1980 22.5 15.2
1979 22.2 15.3
1978 21.8 15.3
1977 21.4 15.4
1976 21.1 15.4
1975 20.9 15.5
1974 20.7 15.7
1973 20.7 15.8
1972 20.9 15.9
1971 21.2 16.1
1970 21.4 16.2
1969 21.4 16.4
1968 21.4 16.4
1967 21.4 16.5
1966 21.3 16.5
1965 21.2 16.6
1964 21 16.6
1963 20.8 16.7
1962 20.6 16.8
1961 20.2 16.9
1960 19.9 17

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

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

Interactive Maps

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National statistics comparison

Finance

North Korea Zambia
GNI, Atlas method n/a
$25.9B
2024
Government expenditure, % of GDP n/a
25.5%
2024
Education expenditure, % of GDP n/a
4.07%
2023
Military expenditure, % of GDP n/a
1.33%
2024
Armed forces personnel
1,469,000
2020
16,000
2020
Deficit/surplus, % of GDP n/a
-3.32%
2024
Unemployment rate
25.6%
2013
5.86%
2023
Services, % of GDP n/a
57.2%
2024
Industry, % of GDP n/a
35.2%
2024
Economic freedom index
3.1
2026
51.9
2026
Income share by richest 10% n/a
39.1%
2022
Income share by poorest 10% n/a
1.5%
2022
Listed domestic companies n/a
20
2024
Market capitalization of domestic companies n/a
$7.77B
2024
Total reserves including gold n/a
$4.09B
2024
Personal remittances received n/a
$334M
2024
International tourist arrivals n/a
502,000
2020
Banked people share n/a
72.7%
2024

Energy

North Korea Zambia
Energy use, kg of oil equivalent per capita
641 kg
2022
801 kg
2022
GDP PPP per kg equivalent of energy use n/a
$4.8
2022
Carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions
66.2 megatons
2024
11.6 megatons
2024
CO2 emissions per capita
2.5 tons
2024
0.54 tons
2024
Fossil fuel energy use share
85.1%
2022
18.4%
2022
Renewable energy use share
14.7%
2021
83%
2021
Alternative and nuclear energy use share
8.5%
2022
9.18%
2022
Net energy imports use share
4.9%
2022
9.03%
2022
Electric power consumption per capita
830 kWh
2022
704 kWh
2022
Renewable electricity output share
63.2%
2021
92.1%
2021
Hydroelectric share
62.7%
2022
87.7%
2022
Nuclear share
0%
2021
0%
2021
Electricity access
57.5%
2023
51.1%
2023

Society

North Korea Zambia
% of world population
0.33%
2024
0.26%
2024
Annual migration change
-2,787
2025
+6,562
2025
Urban population
63.9%
2024
45.5%
2024
Male:Female ratio
49.5:50.5
2024
49.5:50.5
2024
Average male height
5.73 ft
2025
5.5 ft
2025
Average female height
5.29 ft
2025
5.16 ft
2025
Quality of life index
10.1
2026
30.2
2026
Corruption Perceptions Index
15
2025
37
2025
Higher education index
10
2026
47
2026
Homicides per 100K people
4.4
2015
5.25
2015
Road traffic mortality per 100K people
24.2
2019
20.5
2019
Visa free countries
48
2025
74
2025
Adult literacy rate
100%
2018
82%
2023
English speaking
0%
2025
16%
2023
People using the Internet
0%
2012
33%
2023

Health

North Korea Zambia
Government health expenditure per capita n/a
$79.6
2023
Out-of-pocket health expenditure per capita n/a
$8.18
2023
Life expectancy
74 years
2026
66.9 years
2026
Foreign aid share of health expenditure n/a
47.9%
2023
Physicians per 1,000 people
3.63
2017
0.32
2022
Age at first childbirth n/a
19.2 years
2025
Maternal mortality per 100K births
67
2023
85
2023
Mortality rate before reaching 5 years of age
18
2023
44.7
2023
Obesity rate
11.1%
2022
11.2%
2022
Diabetes prevalence
9.9%
2024
10.3%
2024
Air quality index
42
2026
30
2026
Tobacco use prevalence
16.5%
2022
14.6%
2022
Pure alcohol consumption per capita
3.87 liters
2020
3.62 liters
2020

Territory

North Korea Zambia
% of world land
0.08%
2026
0.5%
2026
Land area per capita
1,754 sq mi
2024
13,466 sq mi
2024
Agricultural land area
10,021 sq mi
2026
92,043 sq mi
2026
Forest area
23,036 sq mi
2026
170,848 sq mi
2026
Roads length
15,879 mi
2006
42,049 mi
2018

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 (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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