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North Korea vs Zimbabwe statistics compared

Updated on by Georank

North Korea has a population of 26.6M (ranked 56/197), compared with 17M in Zimbabwe (ranked 74/197). North Korea's land area is 46,491 sq mi versus 149,364 sq mi for Zimbabwe (ranked 97th vs. 60th).

By GDP, North Korea ranks 109/197 ($34.9B) and Zimbabwe ranks 95/197 ($51.2B). By GDP per capita, North Korea ranks 169/197 ($1,319), while Zimbabwe ranks 146/197 ($3,021).

Main facts and rankings

North Korea Zimbabwe
Population
26668308
17443108
Population rank 57/197 74/197
GDP
$34.9B
2024
$51.2B
2025
GDP rank 109/197 95/197
GDP per capita
$1,319
2024
$3,021
2025
GDP per capita rank 169/197 146/197
GDP per capita, PPP
$1,700
2015
$5,928
2024
Government debt n/a
$22.4B
2025
Debt-to-GDP ratio n/a
43.8%
2025
Government debt per person n/a
$1,322
2025
Government debt per person rank n/a 134/185
Average annual personal income after taxes
$1,707
2026
$2,800
2026
Land area 46,491 sq mi 149,364 sq mi
Population density
573 ppl/mi²
2026
115.7 ppl/mi²
2026
Fertility rate
1.78
2024
3.67
2024
Median age
37.6 years
2025
19.2 years
2025
Life expectancy
74 years
2026
63.6 years
2026

North Korea and Zimbabwe: Comparison Charts

North Korea and Zimbabwe economies compared

GDP
North Korea

Zimbabwe
1x
Year GDP
North Korea Zimbabwe
2025 - $51,215,643,906
2024 $34,943,120,000 $41,521,975,830
2023 $32,155,360,000 $35,871,781,303
2022 $28,971,360,000 $40,757,585,309
2021 $32,301,720,000 $41,287,852,524
2020 $27,728,240,000 $31,979,753,645
2019 $28,222,880,000 $33,360,632,553
2018 $28,536,400,000 $34,141,666,667
2017 $29,105,440,000 $51,035,657,371
2016 $28,882,640,000 $20,559,250,000
2015 $30,723,030,000 $19,973,250,000
2014 $30,554,460,000 $19,505,500,000
2013 $30,588,922,000 $19,100,750,000
2012 $29,890,710,000 $17,123,500,000
2011 $29,005,020,000 $14,109,000,000
2010 $25,995,513,000 $12,047,750,000
2009 $23,356,470,000 $9,670,750,000
2008 - $4,418,000,000
2007 - $5,294,750,000
2006 - $5,446,750,000
2005 - $5,758,250,000
2004 - $5,808,500,000
2003 - $5,730,500,000
2002 - $6,345,250,000
2001 - $6,780,750,000
2000 - $6,693,250,000
1999 - $6,861,500,000
1998 - $6,405,250,000
1997 - $8,534,000,000
1996 - $8,557,500,000
1995 - $7,115,000,000
1994 - $6,894,250,000
1993 - $6,567,250,000
1992 - $6,755,000,000
1991 - $8,646,000,000
1990 - $8,788,301,546
1989 - $8,290,553,535
1988 - $7,818,774,177
1987 - $6,744,657,033
1986 - $6,220,698,247
1985 - $5,640,137,575
1984 - $6,355,369,172
1983 - $7,768,031,182
1982 - $8,544,060,905
1981 - $8,015,464,252
1980 - $6,682,278,300
1979 - $5,180,102,910
1978 - $4,353,822,343
1977 - $4,366,610,469
1976 - $4,320,576,877
1975 - $4,373,532,601
1974 - $3,984,194,614
1973 - $3,311,043,292
1972 - $2,679,096,597
1971 - $2,179,828,710
1970 - $1,885,168,339
1969 - $1,748,891,294
1968 - $1,480,355,355
1967 - $1,397,715,282
1966 - $1,282,403,936
1965 - $1,312,105,394
1964 - $1,217,759,447
1963 - $1,160,103,724
1962 - $1,118,172,226
1961 - $1,097,206,526
1960 - $1,053,528,036

Data sources: World Bank | Economy & Growth (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08).

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

North Korea and Zimbabwe economies compared

GDP per capita
North Korea

Zimbabwe
1x
Year GDP per capita
North Korea Zimbabwe
2025 - $3,021
2024 $1,319 $2,496
2023 $1,217 $2,195
2022 $1,100 $2,536
2021 $1,231 $2,614
2020 $1,061 $2,060
2019 $1,084 $2,185
2018 $1,100 $2,271
2017 $1,127 $3,445
2016 $1,124 $1,408
2015 $1,201 $1,387
2014 $1,201 $1,373
2013 $1,208 $1,363
2012 $1,186 $1,239
2011 $1,156 $1,038
2010 $1,040 $902
2009 $939 $736
2008 - $341
2007 - $414
2006 - $431
2005 - $461
2004 - $470
2003 - $468
2002 - $525
2001 - $566
2000 - $563
1999 - $582
1998 - $552
1997 - $751
1996 - $767
1995 - $648
1994 - $634
1993 - $605
1992 - $631
1991 - $831
1990 - $867
1989 - $840
1988 - $816
1987 - $726
1986 - $693
1985 - $649
1984 - $757
1983 - $959
1982 - $1,096
1981 - $1,069
1980 - $949
1979 - $779
1978 - $665
1977 - $677
1976 - $687
1975 - $717
1974 - $674
1973 - $579
1972 - $483
1971 - $406
1970 - $361
1969 - $346
1968 - $302
1967 - $294.4
1966 - $278.7
1965 - $294.3
1964 - $281.9
1963 - $277.1
1962 - $275.7
1961 - $279.2
1960 - $276.6

Data sources: World Bank | Health (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08).

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

North Korea vs. Zimbabwe life expectancy calculator

Life expectancy
North Korea

Zimbabwe
1x
Year Life expectancy, years
North Korea Zimbabwe
2026 74 63.6
2025 73.9 63.3
2024 73.7 63.1
2023 73.6 62.8
2022 73.6 62.4
2021 73.4 60.1
2020 72.8 61.5
2019 72.9 61.1
2018 73 60.9
2017 73 60.3
2016 73 59.8
2015 72.8 59
2014 72.5 58.1
2013 71.9 56.8
2012 71.3 55.4
2011 70.8 53.9
2010 70.2 51.9
2009 69.7 49.7
2008 69.3 48.5
2007 69 47.6
2006 69.1 47.1
2005 69.2 46.6
2004 69.3 46
2003 69.4 45.4
2002 60.9 45.9
2001 60.9 44.5
2000 60.9 46
1999 60.9 46.4
1998 60.9 47.6
1997 60.9 48.5
1996 60.8 49
1995 60.8 51.1
1994 70.5 52.5
1993 70.8 54
1992 71 55.6
1991 70.7 57
1990 70.5 58.3
1989 70.3 59.4
1988 70.1 60.2
1987 69.8 60.7
1986 69.5 61
1985 69.2 60.9
1984 68.9 60.6
1983 68.5 60
1982 68.1 59.9
1981 67.7 59.4
1980 67.2 59.1
1979 66.7 54.9
1978 66.3 54.7
1977 65.8 57
1976 65.3 57.6
1975 64.8 58.2
1974 64.3 58.2
1973 63.8 58.1
1972 63.3 58.2
1971 62.7 58
1970 62 57.8
1969 61.4 57.5
1968 60.8 57.1
1967 60.1 56.8
1966 59.4 56.4
1965 58.8 55.9
1964 58.2 55.4
1963 57.6 54.9
1962 57 54.5
1961 56.4 54
1960 55.8 53.5
1959 55.2 53
1958 54.5 52.6
1957 53.7 52.2
1956 52.8 51.8
1955 51.8 51.4
1954 50.6 51
1953 40.3 50.6
1952 32.8 50.2
1951 17.7 49.8
1950 14.2 49.4

Data sources: United Nations | World Population Prospects (1950–2026, retrieved 2026-07-08).

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

North Korea and Zimbabwe population clocks and comparison

Population
North Korea

Zimbabwe
1x
Year Population
North Korea Zimbabwe
2025 26,571,036 16,950,795
2024 26,498,823 16,634,373
2023 26,418,204 16,340,822
2022 26,328,845 16,069,056
2021 26,232,534 15,797,210
2020 26,136,312 15,526,888
2019 26,037,632 15,271,368
2018 25,931,147 15,034,452
2017 25,817,709 14,812,482
2016 25,698,326 14,600,294
2015 25,575,350 14,399,013
2014 25,451,262 14,207,359
2013 25,329,451 14,013,808
2012 25,211,728 13,817,887
2011 25,097,874 13,595,424
2010 24,987,258 13,356,548
2009 24,878,332 13,142,790
2008 24,764,618 12,959,149
2007 24,646,383 12,804,058
2006 24,524,507 12,636,445
2005 24,396,433 12,483,432
2004 24,254,943 12,365,896
2003 24,090,380 12,232,323
2002 23,943,973 12,087,653
2001 23,815,358 11,971,901
2000 23,665,910 11,892,055
1999 23,497,599 11,783,458
1998 23,311,564 11,594,297
1997 23,110,830 11,369,827
1996 22,895,746 11,158,360
1995 22,669,304 10,974,599
1994 22,393,975 10,873,148
1993 22,073,352 10,860,288
1992 21,750,911 10,702,700
1991 21,428,638 10,404,816
1990 21,112,137 10,137,281
1989 20,804,367 9,864,798
1988 20,503,161 9,583,094
1987 20,205,483 9,284,644
1986 19,910,855 8,982,578
1985 19,620,388 8,686,813
1984 19,335,043 8,391,488
1983 19,054,034 8,098,404
1982 18,776,357 7,796,496
1981 18,501,295 7,498,635
1980 18,236,786 7,041,303
1979 17,983,470 6,647,556
1978 17,735,995 6,543,575
1977 17,492,798 6,449,512
1976 17,243,450 6,287,105
1975 16,971,055 6,098,658
1974 16,673,121 5,908,328
1973 16,350,367 5,720,404
1972 15,975,069 5,542,445
1971 15,572,457 5,374,712
1970 15,172,775 5,215,918
1969 14,767,615 5,058,181
1968 14,365,596 4,900,440
1967 13,958,350 4,748,307
1966 13,569,094 4,601,217
1965 13,219,369 4,458,462
1964 12,889,770 4,320,006
1963 12,567,057 4,185,877
1962 12,262,882 4,055,959
1961 11,990,713 3,930,401
1960 11,722,953 3,809,389

Data sources: World Bank | Health (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08).

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

Fertility rates in North Korea and Zimbabwe

Fertility rate
North Korea

Zimbabwe
1x
Year Fertility rate
North Korea Zimbabwe
2024 1.78 3.67
2023 1.78 3.72
2022 1.8 3.77
2021 1.81 3.77
2020 1.82 3.75
2019 1.83 3.75
2018 1.83 3.74
2017 1.85 3.77
2016 1.86 3.83
2015 1.86 3.91
2014 1.87 4.01
2013 1.88 4.11
2012 1.88 4.13
2011 1.88 4.13
2010 1.89 4.04
2009 1.91 3.95
2008 1.97 3.78
2007 1.94 3.68
2006 1.94 3.64
2005 1.87 3.69
2004 1.9 3.78
2003 1.91 3.86
2002 1.92 3.93
2001 1.94 3.98
2000 1.94 4.01
1999 1.97 4.06
1998 1.99 4.07
1997 2.03 4.08
1996 2.09 4.11
1995 2.15 4.15
1994 2.18 4.28
1993 2.22 4.39
1992 2.29 4.57
1991 2.35 4.72
1990 2.39 4.88
1989 2.41 5.07
1988 2.47 5.28
1987 2.53 5.5
1986 2.59 5.69
1985 2.65 5.87
1984 2.71 6.04
1983 2.78 6.2
1982 2.85 6.33
1981 2.92 6.45
1980 2.84 6.52
1979 2.85 6.59
1978 2.79 6.66
1977 2.77 6.71
1976 2.84 6.77
1975 3.05 6.83
1974 3.14 6.88
1973 3.35 6.94
1972 3.89 6.94
1971 3.74 6.94
1970 3.85 6.98
1969 3.86 7.04
1968 3.87 7.11
1967 4.05 7.16
1966 3.71 7.2
1965 3.56 7.23
1964 3.55 7.23
1963 3.63 7.23
1962 3.41 7.23
1961 3.26 7.21
1960 3.57 7.2

Data sources: World Bank | Health (1960–2024, retrieved 2026-07-08).

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

North Korea and Zimbabwe demographics compared

Median age
North Korea

Zimbabwe
1x
Year Median age, years
North Korea Zimbabwe
2025 37.6 19.2
2024 37.3 19
2023 37.1 18.9
2022 36.8 18.7
2021 36.6 18.6
2020 36.4 18.5
2019 36.2 18.3
2018 35.9 18.2
2017 35.7 18.1
2016 35.4 18
2015 35.2 18
2014 35 18
2013 34.7 18
2012 34.5 18.1
2011 34.3 18.2
2010 34 18.3
2009 33.7 18.4
2008 33.3 18.5
2007 32.9 18.5
2006 32.5 18.5
2005 32.1 18.3
2004 31.8 18.3
2003 31.4 18.2
2002 31 18.1
2001 30.5 18
2000 30.1 17.8
1999 29.6 17.7
1998 29.2 17.5
1997 28.8 17.2
1996 28.3 16.9
1995 28 16.6
1994 27.6 16.4
1993 27.2 16.3
1992 26.8 16.4
1991 26.4 16.5
1990 26 16.3
1989 25.6 16.1
1988 25.1 15.9
1987 24.8 15.9
1986 24.5 15.9
1985 24.2 15.9
1984 23.9 15.8
1983 23.5 15.8
1982 23.1 15.8
1981 22.8 15.7
1980 22.5 15.6
1979 22.2 15.6
1978 21.8 15.7
1977 21.4 15.8
1976 21.1 15.8
1975 20.9 15.9
1974 20.7 15.9
1973 20.7 15.8
1972 20.9 15.8
1971 21.2 15.8
1970 21.4 15.7
1969 21.4 15.7
1968 21.4 15.7
1967 21.4 15.7
1966 21.3 15.7
1965 21.2 15.7
1964 21 15.7
1963 20.8 15.8
1962 20.6 16
1961 20.2 16.2
1960 19.9 16.4

Data sources: World Bank | Health (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08).

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

Interactive Maps

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National statistics comparison

Finance

North Korea Zimbabwe
GNI, Atlas method n/a
$45B
2025
Government expenditure, % of GDP n/a
15.5%
2025
Education expenditure, % of GDP n/a
0.38%
2023
Military expenditure, % of GDP n/a
0.35%
2024
Armed forces personnel
1,469,000
2020
51,000
2020
Deficit/surplus, % of GDP n/a
+0.08%
2025
Unemployment rate
25.6%
2013
12.1%
2024
Services, % of GDP n/a
48.2%
2025
Industry, % of GDP n/a
37.1%
2025
Economic freedom index
3.1
2026
35.2
2026
Income share by richest 10% n/a
40.5%
2019
Income share by poorest 10% n/a
1.9%
2019
Number of billionaires n/a
1
2026
Percentage of billionaires n/a
0.00001%
2026
Listed domestic companies n/a
69
1999
Market capitalization of domestic companies n/a
$2.46B
1999
Total reserves including gold n/a
$485M
2024
Personal remittances received n/a
$3.51B
2024
International tourist arrivals n/a
639,000
2020
International tourism as share of exports n/a
1.25%
2020
Banked people share n/a
49.5%
2024

Energy

North Korea Zimbabwe
Energy use, kg of oil equivalent per capita
665 kg
2023
472 kg
2023
GDP PPP per kg equivalent of energy use n/a
$12.3
2023
Carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions
66.2 megatons
2024
12.9 megatons
2024
CO2 emissions per capita
2.5 tons
2024
0.77 tons
2024
Fossil fuel energy use share
85.1%
2022
45.3%
2022
Renewable energy use share
14.7%
2021
82.4%
2021
Alternative and nuclear energy use share
7.77%
2023
4.08%
2023
Net energy imports use share
4.9%
2022
17%
2022
Electric power consumption per capita
789 kWh
2023
504 kWh
2023
Renewable electricity output share
63.1%
2021
88.3%
2021
Hydroelectric share
62.8%
2023
45.1%
2023
Nuclear share
0%
2021
0%
2021
Electricity access
57.5%
2023
62%
2023

Society

North Korea Zimbabwe
% of world population
0.32%
2025
0.21%
2025
Annual migration change
-2,787
2025
-54,555
2025
Urban population
64.2%
2025
40.5%
2025
Male:Female ratio
49.5:50.5
2025
47.7:52.3
2025
Average male height
5.43 ft
2026
5.59 ft
2026
Average female height
5.08 ft
2026
5.26 ft
2026
Quality of life index
9.95
2026
27
2026
Corruption Perceptions Index
15
2025
22
2025
Higher education index
10
2026
45
2026
Homicides per 100K people
4.4
2015
6.76
2022
Road traffic mortality per 100K people
24.2
2019
41.2
2019
Visa free countries
48
2026
69
2026
Adult literacy rate
100%
2018
89.8%
2022
English speaking
0%
2026
82.1%
2026
People using the Internet
0%
2012
41.6%
2024

Health

North Korea Zimbabwe
Government health expenditure per capita n/a
$62.9
2023
Out-of-pocket health expenditure per capita n/a
$6.69
2023
Life expectancy
74 years
2026
63.6 years
2026
Foreign aid share of health expenditure n/a
45%
2023
Physicians per 1,000 people
3.63
2017
0.14
2023
Age at first childbirth n/a
20.3 years
2025
Maternal mortality per 100K births
67
2023
358
2023
Mortality rate before reaching 5 years of age
16.7
2024
64.7
2024
Obesity rate
11.1%
2022
14.2%
2022
Diabetes prevalence
9.9%
2024
1.5%
2024
Air quality index
42
2026
29
2026
Tobacco use prevalence
15.6%
2024
11%
2024
Pure alcohol consumption per capita
3.87 liters
2020
2.67 liters
2020

Territory

North Korea Zimbabwe
% of world land
0.08%
2026
0.26%
2026
Land area per capita
1,750 sq mi
2025
8,812 sq mi
2025
Agricultural land area
10,021 sq mi
2026
62,422 sq mi
2026
Forest area
23,036 sq mi
2026
66,820 sq mi
2026
Roads length
15,879 mi
2006
60,439 mi
2019

In-depth comparisons

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Data sources:

  1. World Bank | Health (1960–2026, retrieved 2026-07-08)
  2. United Nations | World Population Prospects (1950–2026, retrieved 2026-07-08)
  3. U.S. Census Bureau (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08)
  4. Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) (2000–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08)
  5. International Monetary Fund (IMF) | Fiscal Monitor (2025, retrieved 2026-07-08)
  6. LivingCost (2026, retrieved 2026-07-08)
  7. World Obesity Federation (2022, retrieved 2026-07-08)
  8. Transparency International (2025, retrieved 2026-07-08)
  9. The Heritage Foundation | Economic Freedom Index (2026, retrieved 2026-07-08)
  10. Passport Index (2026, retrieved 2026-07-08)
  11. EduRank (2026, retrieved 2026-07-08)

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