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North Korea life expectancy & odds of living to calculator

Updated on by Georank team

North Korea ranks 104/197 for average life expectancy at birth, with 71.8 years for males, 76.2 years for females, and 74 years for both sexes combined.

North Korea life expectancy at birth by year

Average
Male
Female
1x
Year Life expectancy, years
Total Male Female
2026 74 71.8 76.2
2025 73.9 71.7 76
2024 73.7 71.6 75.9
2023 73.6 71.5 75.7
2022 73.6 71.5 75.7
2021 73.4 71.3 75.5
2020 72.8 69.9 75.7
2019 72.9 69.9 75.9
2018 73 70.3 75.6
2017 73 70.4 75.5
2016 73 70.5 75.2
2015 72.8 70.4 75
2014 72.5 70 74.7
2013 71.9 69.2 74.3
2012 71.3 68.5 73.9
2011 70.8 67.7 73.6
2010 70.2 67 73.3
2009 69.7 66.2 73
2008 69.3 65.6 72.8
2007 69 65.2 72.6
2006 69.1 65.2 72.7
2005 69.2 65.3 72.8
2004 69.3 65.4 72.9
2003 69.4 65.5 72.9
2002 60.9 57.6 63.9
2001 60.9 57.6 63.9
2000 60.9 57.6 63.9
1999 60.9 57.6 63.9
1998 60.9 57.6 63.8
1997 60.9 57.5 63.8
1996 60.8 57.5 63.7
1995 60.8 57.4 63.6
1994 70.5 66.5 73.7
1993 70.8 67 73.8
1992 71 67.5 73.8
1991 70.7 67.6 73.3
1990 70.5 67.4 73
1989 70.3 67.2 72.8
1988 70.1 67 72.5
1987 69.8 66.7 72.2
1986 69.5 66.6 71.9
1985 69.2 66.3 71.6
1984 68.9 66 71.2
1983 68.5 65.6 70.8
1982 68.1 65.2 70.3
1981 67.7 64.8 69.9
1980 67.2 64.4 69.4
1979 66.7 64 68.9
1978 66.3 63.6 68.4
1977 65.8 63.1 67.9
1976 65.3 62.7 67.4
1975 64.8 62.2 66.9
1974 64.3 61.8 66.3
1973 63.8 61.3 65.8
1972 63.3 60.8 65.2
1971 62.7 60.2 64.6
1970 62 59.6 63.9
1969 61.4 59 63.3
1968 60.8 58.4 62.6
1967 60.1 57.7 61.9
1966 59.4 57.1 61.3
1965 58.8 56.5 60.6
1964 58.2 55.9 60
1963 57.6 55.3 59.4
1962 57 54.8 58.8
1961 56.4 54.2 58.2
1960 55.8 53.6 57.6
1959 55.2 53 56.9
1958 54.5 52.3 56.2
1957 53.7 51.5 55.5
1956 52.8 50.6 54.6
1955 51.8 49.6 53.6
1954 50.6 48.5 52.5
1953 40.3 34.5 45.4
1952 32.8 26.3 39.6
1951 17.7 13.7 25.3
1950 14.2 11.4 21.1

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

GeoRank.org/life-expectancy/north-korea | CC BY

Life expectancy is the average age of death for a hypothetical cohort of newborns if they experienced the age-specific mortality rates of one particular year throughout their entire lives. It's a snapshot reflecting mortality rates in a given year that does not account for any future changes in those rates.

In North Korea, healthy life expectancy at birth, defined by the World Health Organization as the average number of years a person can expect to live in full health, is 63.2 years for men and 66.4 for women, with a combined average of 64.7 years. People who reach 60 can expect an additional 14.9 healthy years, 13.9 for males and 15.8 for females.

North Korea life expectancy calculator

This life expectancy calculator shows the odds of living to 100, 95, 90, and below based on current age for both males and females in North Korea, along with mean and median age of death. The calculations are based on the 2026 life tables (actuarial tables) from the UN World Population Prospects.


Mean remaining life expectancy: 46.6 Years

Mean expected age of death: 76.6 Years

Median expected age of death: 79.1 Years

Odds of living to

Target age Survival probability
Average Male Female
40 98.1% 97.7% 98.6%
50 95.2% 94.1% 96.3%
60 89.2% 86.9% 91.5%
65 83.9% 80.7% 87.2%
70 75.8% 71.2% 80.5%
75 63.7% 57.7% 69.7%
80 46.7% 39.9% 53.2%
85 27.1% 21.2% 32.3%
90 11.1% 7.7% 13.9%
95 2.8% 1.7% 3.6%
100 0.4% 0.2% 0.5%

Odds of dying at each age

Average
Male
Female
1x
Age Probability of dying
Average Male Female
100 39.3% 42% 39%
99 37.3% 40% 37%
98 35.4% 38.3% 35%
97 33.5% 36.4% 33%
96 31.5% 34.5% 31%
95 29.6% 32.4% 29.1%
94 27.7% 30.3% 27.1%
93 25.8% 28.2% 25.2%
92 24% 26.4% 23.4%
91 22.3% 24.6% 21.6%
90 20.7% 22.9% 20%
89 19.2% 21.3% 18.4%
88 17.7% 19.7% 16.9%
87 16.2% 18.2% 15.4%
86 14.9% 16.7% 14.1%
85 13.6% 15.4% 12.8%
84 12.4% 14.1% 11.6%
83 11.3% 12.9% 10.4%
82 10.3% 11.8% 9.42%
81 9.31% 10.7% 8.45%
80 8.35% 9.7% 7.51%
79 7.45% 8.7% 6.63%
78 6.65% 7.81% 5.86%
77 5.94% 7.02% 5.19%
76 5.31% 6.3% 4.58%
75 4.74% 5.65% 4.04%
74 4.24% 5.07% 3.58%
73 3.79% 4.55% 3.16%
72 3.38% 4.08% 2.79%
71 3.01% 3.66% 2.46%
70 2.69% 3.28% 2.17%
69 2.4% 2.95% 1.92%
68 2.18% 2.69% 1.72%
67 1.99% 2.46% 1.56%
66 1.81% 2.23% 1.42%
65 1.64% 2.02% 1.29%
64 1.49% 1.82% 1.18%
63 1.34% 1.63% 1.07%
62 1.2% 1.45% 0.96%
61 1.07% 1.29% 0.86%
60 0.96% 1.15% 0.77%
59 0.86% 1.04% 0.69%
58 0.79% 0.95% 0.63%
57 0.73% 0.89% 0.58%
56 0.69% 0.85% 0.54%
55 0.66% 0.81% 0.51%
54 0.63% 0.78% 0.48%
53 0.59% 0.74% 0.45%
52 0.55% 0.68% 0.42%
51 0.5% 0.62% 0.38%
50 0.45% 0.56% 0.35%
49 0.41% 0.5% 0.32%
48 0.37% 0.45% 0.29%
47 0.34% 0.41% 0.27%
46 0.32% 0.38% 0.26%
45 0.3% 0.36% 0.24%
44 0.29% 0.35% 0.23%
43 0.28% 0.34% 0.22%
42 0.27% 0.32% 0.21%
41 0.25% 0.31% 0.2%
40 0.24% 0.29% 0.18%
39 0.22% 0.27% 0.17%
38 0.21% 0.26% 0.16%
37 0.2% 0.25% 0.15%
36 0.19% 0.24% 0.14%
35 0.18% 0.23% 0.13%
34 0.18% 0.23% 0.13%
33 0.18% 0.22% 0.13%
32 0.17% 0.22% 0.13%
31 0.17% 0.22% 0.13%
30 0.17% 0.21% 0.12%
29 0.17% 0.21% 0.12%
28 0.16% 0.2% 0.12%
27 0.16% 0.2% 0.12%
26 0.16% 0.2% 0.11%
25 0.15% 0.19% 0.11%
24 0.15% 0.19% 0.11%
23 0.15% 0.19% 0.1%
22 0.15% 0.19% 0.1%
21 0.14% 0.19% 0.1%
20 0.14% 0.18% 0.09%
19 0.13% 0.16% 0.09%
18 0.11% 0.14% 0.08%
17 0.1% 0.12% 0.07%
16 0.08% 0.1% 0.06%
15 0.07% 0.08% 0.06%
14 0.06% 0.07% 0.05%
13 0.05% 0.06% 0.04%
12 0.05% 0.06% 0.04%
11 0.05% 0.06% 0.04%
10 0.05% 0.06% 0.04%
9 0.06% 0.07% 0.04%
8 0.06% 0.07% 0.05%
7 0.07% 0.08% 0.05%
6 0.07% 0.08% 0.06%
5 0.08% 0.09% 0.06%
4 0.08% 0.09% 0.07%
3 0.08% 0.09% 0.08%
2 0.08% 0.08% 0.09%
1 0.09% 0.08% 0.1%
0 1.28% 1.37% 1.19%

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

GeoRank.org/life-expectancy/north-korea | CC BY

This chart displays the probability of dying at any given age, as mortality rates vary throughout a lifetime.

In North Korea, the risk of dying is lowest at age 11 and increases afterward. The annual chance of dying is 1.28% in the birth year, 0.17% at age 30, 0.96% at 60, and 8.35% at 80.

Aging is often defined as the increasing probability of death with age. If a 20-year-old in North Korea never aged and faced the same risk of dying every year, their life expectancy would be 741 years — 565 for males and 1,099 for females.

Life expectancy by current age

Average
Male
Female
1x
Current age, years Total life expectancy, years
Average Male Female
100 101.9 101.8 102
99 101 100.9 101
98 100.1 100 100.2
97 99.3 99.1 99.3
96 98.4 98.2 98.4
95 97.5 97.3 97.6
94 96.7 96.5 96.7
93 95.9 95.6 95.9
92 95.1 94.8 95.1
91 94.3 94 94.3
90 93.5 93.2 93.6
89 92.7 92.4 92.8
88 92 91.6 92.1
87 91.2 90.9 91.4
86 90.5 90.2 90.7
85 89.9 89.4 90
84 89.2 88.7 89.4
83 88.5 88.1 88.8
82 87.9 87.4 88.2
81 87.3 86.8 87.6
80 86.8 86.2 87.1
79 86.2 85.6 86.6
78 85.7 85 86.1
77 85.2 84.5 85.7
76 84.8 84 85.2
75 84.3 83.5 84.8
74 83.9 83.1 84.5
73 83.5 82.6 84.1
72 83.1 82.2 83.8
71 82.8 81.8 83.5
70 82.5 81.5 83.2
69 82.1 81.1 83
68 81.8 80.8 82.7
67 81.6 80.4 82.5
66 81.3 80.1 82.2
65 81 79.8 82
64 80.8 79.5 81.8
63 80.6 79.3 81.6
62 80.3 79 81.4
61 80.1 78.8 81.3
60 79.9 78.6 81.1
59 79.8 78.4 81
58 79.6 78.2 80.8
57 79.4 78 80.7
56 79.3 77.8 80.6
55 79.1 77.7 80.4
54 79 77.5 80.3
53 78.8 77.3 80.2
52 78.7 77.1 80.1
51 78.5 77 80
50 78.4 76.8 79.9
49 78.3 76.7 79.8
48 78.2 76.6 79.7
47 78.1 76.5 79.6
46 78 76.3 79.5
45 77.9 76.2 79.4
44 77.8 76.1 79.3
43 77.7 76 79.3
42 77.6 75.9 79.2
41 77.5 75.8 79.1
40 77.4 75.7 79
39 77.3 75.6 79
38 77.2 75.5 78.9
37 77.2 75.4 78.8
36 77.1 75.3 78.8
35 77 75.2 78.7
34 76.9 75.1 78.7
33 76.9 75 78.6
32 76.8 74.9 78.5
31 76.7 74.8 78.5
30 76.6 74.7 78.4
29 76.5 74.6 78.4
28 76.5 74.6 78.3
27 76.4 74.5 78.2
26 76.3 74.4 78.2
25 76.2 74.3 78.1
24 76.2 74.2 78.1
23 76.1 74.1 78
22 76 74 78
21 75.9 73.9 77.9
20 75.8 73.8 77.9
19 75.8 73.7 77.8
18 75.7 73.6 77.8
17 75.7 73.6 77.7
16 75.6 73.5 77.7
15 75.6 73.4 77.6
14 75.5 73.4 77.6
13 75.5 73.4 77.6
12 75.5 73.3 77.6
11 75.4 73.3 77.5
10 75.4 73.3 77.5
9 75.4 73.2 77.5
8 75.3 73.2 77.4
7 75.3 73.1 77.4
6 75.2 73.1 77.4
5 75.2 73 77.3
4 75.1 72.9 77.3
3 75.1 72.9 77.2
2 75 72.8 77.2
1 74.9 72.8 77.1
0 74 71.8 76.2

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

GeoRank.org/life-expectancy/north-korea | CC BY

Life expectancy is often mistaken for the average lifespan of an adult. However, an adult has already survived the causes of early-age mortality and can expect to live longer than the figure calculated at birth.

In North Korea, a 65-year-old has a total life expectancy of 81 years, rising to 82.5 at 70, 84.3 at 75, and 86.8 at 80 — all higher than the 74 years calculated at birth.

The chart above accounts for remaining lifespan and displays total life expectancy by age and gender in North Korea.

Probability of surviving to a given age

Average
Male
Female
1x
Age Survival probability
Average Male Female
100 0.35% 0.16% 0.47%
99 0.55% 0.27% 0.75%
98 0.86% 0.44% 1.15%
97 1.29% 0.7% 1.72%
96 1.88% 1.07% 2.49%
95 2.67% 1.58% 3.51%
94 3.69% 2.26% 4.82%
93 4.98% 3.15% 6.45%
92 6.55% 4.28% 8.42%
91 8.43% 5.68% 10.7%
90 10.6% 7.37% 13.4%
89 13.2% 9.36% 16.4%
88 16% 11.7% 19.8%
87 19.1% 14.2% 23.4%
86 22.4% 17.1% 27.2%
85 26% 20.2% 31.2%
84 29.6% 23.5% 35.3%
83 33.4% 27% 39.4%
82 37.2% 30.6% 43.5%
81 41% 34.3% 47.6%
80 44.8% 38% 51.4%
79 48.4% 41.6% 55.1%
78 51.8% 45.1% 58.5%
77 55.1% 48.5% 61.7%
76 58.2% 51.8% 64.7%
75 61.1% 54.9% 67.4%
74 63.8% 57.8% 69.9%
73 66.3% 60.6% 72.2%
72 68.6% 63.1% 74.2%
71 70.8% 65.5% 76.1%
70 72.7% 67.8% 77.8%
69 74.5% 69.8% 79.3%
68 76.2% 71.7% 80.7%
67 77.7% 73.6% 82%
66 79.1% 75.2% 83.2%
65 80.4% 76.8% 84.2%
64 81.7% 78.2% 85.2%
63 82.8% 79.5% 86.2%
62 83.8% 80.7% 87%
61 84.7% 81.7% 87.7%
60 85.5% 82.7% 88.4%
59 86.2% 83.6% 89%
58 86.9% 84.4% 89.6%
57 87.6% 85.1% 90.1%
56 88.2% 85.8% 90.6%
55 88.8% 86.6% 91.1%
54 89.3% 87.2% 91.5%
53 89.9% 87.9% 91.9%
52 90.4% 88.5% 92.3%
51 90.8% 89% 92.7%
50 91.2% 89.5% 93%
49 91.6% 90% 93.3%
48 91.9% 90.4% 93.6%
47 92.3% 90.8% 93.8%
46 92.6% 91.1% 94.1%
45 92.8% 91.4% 94.3%
44 93.1% 91.8% 94.5%
43 93.4% 92.1% 94.7%
42 93.6% 92.4% 94.9%
41 93.9% 92.7% 95.1%
40 94.1% 92.9% 95.3%
39 94.3% 93.2% 95.5%
38 94.5% 93.4% 95.6%
37 94.7% 93.7% 95.7%
36 94.9% 93.9% 95.9%
35 95% 94.1% 96%
34 95.2% 94.3% 96.1%
33 95.4% 94.5% 96.3%
32 95.5% 94.7% 96.4%
31 95.7% 94.9% 96.5%
30 95.9% 95.2% 96.6%
29 96% 95.3% 96.7%
28 96.2% 95.5% 96.9%
27 96.3% 95.7% 97%
26 96.5% 95.9% 97.1%
25 96.6% 96.1% 97.2%
24 96.8% 96.3% 97.3%
23 96.9% 96.5% 97.4%
22 97.1% 96.7% 97.5%
21 97.2% 96.8% 97.6%
20 97.3% 97% 97.7%
19 97.5% 97.2% 97.8%
18 97.6% 97.3% 97.8%
17 97.7% 97.4% 97.9%
16 97.7% 97.5% 98%
15 97.8% 97.6% 98%
14 97.9% 97.7% 98.1%
13 97.9% 97.7% 98.1%
12 98% 97.8% 98.1%
11 98% 97.9% 98.2%
10 98.1% 97.9% 98.2%
9 98.1% 98% 98.3%
8 98.2% 98.1% 98.3%
7 98.2% 98.1% 98.4%
6 98.3% 98.2% 98.4%
5 98.4% 98.3% 98.5%
4 98.5% 98.4% 98.6%
3 98.5% 98.5% 98.6%
2 98.6% 98.6% 98.7%
1 98.7% 98.6% 98.8%

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

GeoRank.org/life-expectancy/north-korea | CC BY

This chart shows the odds of living to each age from birth. In North Korea, 85.5% of newborns are expected to live past 60, 72.7% past 70, 44.8% past 80, 10.6% past 90, and only 0.35% past 100.

For longevity rates starting from a different age, use the calculator provided above.

Compare North Korea Life expectancy vs other countries

Death rate by age in North Korea

Total
Male
Female
1x
Age Death rate
Total Male Female
100 27.9 0 50.8
99 206.6 109.9 276.7
98 303 170.2 403
97 431 254.9 567
96 593 368 773
95 790 511 1,021
94 1,022 685 1,308
93 1,285 890 1,627
92 1,574 1,129 1,969
91 1,883 1,398 2,325
90 2,203 1,688 2,682
89 2,521 1,991 3,027
88 2,825 2,296 3,343
87 3,101 2,589 3,616
86 3,339 2,862 3,835
85 3,531 3,104 3,992
84 3,672 3,307 4,083
83 3,768 3,474 4,116
82 3,826 3,610 4,102
81 3,819 3,684 4,017
80 3,741 3,684 3,860
79 3,605 3,618 3,650
78 3,446 3,523 3,427
77 3,273 3,406 3,199
76 3,088 3,262 2,962
75 2,896 3,099 2,725
74 2,704 2,932 2,498
73 2,510 2,756 2,279
72 2,318 2,577 2,069
71 2,133 2,399 1,873
70 1,955 2,223 1,689
69 1,790 2,058 1,522
68 1,657 1,927 1,389
67 1,544 1,809 1,278
66 1,429 1,681 1,177
65 1,320 1,552 1,086
64 1,214 1,425 1,003
63 1,108 1,296 919
62 1,004 1,170 836
61 907 1,055 755
60 819 953 681
59 744 869 616
58 685 805 562
57 642 759 521
56 609 726 489
55 584 702 463
54 561 677 440
53 533 646 415
52 498 605 387
51 458 555 357
50 415 501 325
49 375 450 296.5
48 341 407 272.2
47 315 373 253.7
46 296.1 350 240.1
45 283 334 230.1
44 272.8 322 221.6
43 263 311 212.6
42 251.7 299.4 201.7
41 238.5 285.9 188.8
40 223.9 270.8 174.8
39 209.5 255.8 161.1
38 196.7 242.2 149
37 186.5 231.3 139.5
36 179.1 223.4 132.6
35 174.2 218.1 128.2
34 171.1 214.5 125.5
33 168.9 211.7 124
32 167 208.9 123
31 164.8 205.5 122
30 162.2 201.7 120.6
29 159.1 197.5 118.7
28 155.8 193.5 116.1
27 152.8 190.4 113.2
26 150.1 188.3 109.9
25 147.9 187.2 106.5
24 145.8 186.4 103
23 143.8 185.7 99.7
22 141.3 183.9 96.4
21 137.5 179.7 93
20 131.4 171.8 88.9
19 122.1 158.6 83.6
18 109.8 140.8 77.1
17 95.6 120.3 69.6
16 81.3 99.8 61.8
15 68.7 82.2 54.4
14 58.8 68.8 48.2
13 52.2 60.3 43.6
12 48.7 56.2 40.8
11 48.1 56 39.8
10 50.2 59.5 40.4
9 54.2 65.3 42.4
8 59.2 72 45.6
7 64.5 78.2 50
6 69.7 83.3 55.3
5 74.4 86.5 61.5
4 77.9 86.8 68.5
3 80.4 84.3 76.3
2 83.2 81.1 85.3
1 87.6 79 96.8
0 1,281 1,366 1,190

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

GeoRank.org/life-expectancy/north-korea | CC BY

This chart shows the number of deaths by age up to 100 for 3 cohorts of 100,000 newborns each — male, female, and both combined — illustrating how expected mortality is distributed throughout life.

In North Korea, the most probable age of death — the age at which the highest number of deaths occur — is 82 for both sexes combined, 81 for males, and 83 for females. Vertical lines mark the median age of death: 76.5 for men, 80.4 for women, and 78.5 combined, meaning only half of each cohort is expected to live past that age.

Note that this chart does not show rates per 100,000 population, as those would be skewed by age structure and reflect North Korea's demographics more than its death rate.

Life expectancy in other countries

1x

Data sources: United Nations | World Population Prospects (1960–2026, retrieved 2026-03-10).

GeoRank.org/life-expectancy/north-korea | CC BY

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Data sources:

  1. United Nations | World Population Prospects (1950–2026, retrieved 2026-03-10)
  2. World Health Organization (WHO) | Global Health Observatory (2021, retrieved 2026-02-08)

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