Geo Index
Flag of North Korea

North Korea

Democratic People's Republic of Korea

조선민주주의인민공화국

UN memberEastern Asia, Asia

Locate on Earth — opens the globe, focused on North Korea. This page does not load a map.

Outline of North Korea

Population

26.6 million

· UN WPPProjection

Life expectancy

74 years

· UN WPPProjection

Area

120,410 km²

· World Bank WDIActual

UN WPP 2024 Revision (estimates through 2023; 2024–2100 medium-variant projections). World Bank WDI, 13 July 2026 release. UNDP HDR HDR 2025. UNESCO UIS UIS February 2026. ILOSTAT ILOSTAT December 2025. IMF WEO WEO April 2026. OWID CO₂ OWID CO₂ December 2025.

Overview

North Korea is a UN member state in Eastern Asia, Asia.

Every figure names its source, year, and whether it is an actual value, an estimate, or a projection. Missing values stay missing.

ISO alpha-2
KP
ISO alpha-3
PRK
UN M49
408
Wikidata
Q423

People

Population stocks and demographic rates are from the UN World Population Prospects 2024 medium variant unless another source is named. Years from 2024 onward are projections.

PopulationProjection
26.6 million

2026 · UN WPP · Projection · WPP2024 Demographic Indicators Medium

Population (1 July)Projection
26.6 million

2026 · UN WPP · Projection · WPP2024 Demographic Indicators Medium

Population growth rateProjection
0.2 percent

2026 · UN WPP · Projection · WPP2024 Demographic Indicators Medium

Population densityProjection
221.2 persons per km²

2026 · UN WPP · Projection · WPP2024 Demographic Indicators Medium

North Korea’s density is below the Eastern Asia median of 423.2 (8 profiles with 2026 data), and above the median of 90.1 among 195 core profiles with 2026 data. Unweighted medians of the same-year cohort; not a population-weighted world average.

Median ageProjection
36.8 years

2026 · UN WPP · Projection · WPP2024 Demographic Indicators Medium

North Korea’s median age is below the Eastern Asia median of 43 (8 profiles with 2026 data), and above the median of 29.8 among 195 core profiles with 2026 data. Unweighted medians of the same-year cohort; not a population-weighted world average.

Population sex ratioProjection
98.2 males per 100 females

2026 · UN WPP · Projection · WPP2024 Demographic Indicators Medium

Total fertility rateProjection
1.8 live births per woman

2026 · UN WPP · Projection · WPP2024 Demographic Indicators Medium

North Korea’s tfr is above the Eastern Asia median of 0.9 (8 profiles with 2026 data), and below the median of 2 among 195 core profiles with 2026 data. Unweighted medians of the same-year cohort; not a population-weighted world average.

Crude birth rateProjection
12.3 per 1,000 population

2026 · UN WPP · Projection · WPP2024 Demographic Indicators Medium

Net number of migrantsProjection
−2,809

2026 · UN WPP · Projection · WPP2024 Demographic Indicators Medium

Net migration rateProjection
−0.1 per 1,000 population

2026 · UN WPP · Projection · WPP2024 Demographic Indicators Medium

Urban population
64.2%

2025 · World Bank WDI · Actual · World Development Indicators

North Korea’s urban is below the Eastern Asia median of 81.2% (7 profiles with 2025 data), and close to median of 63.4% among 194 core profiles with 2025 data. Unweighted medians of the same-year cohort; not a population-weighted world average.

Population ages 0–14
18.9%

2025 · World Bank WDI · Actual · World Development Indicators

Population ages 15–64
68.4%

2025 · World Bank WDI · Actual · World Development Indicators

Population ages 65 and above
12.7%

2025 · World Bank WDI · Actual · World Development Indicators

North Korea’s ages 65+ is below the Eastern Asia median of 15.1% (7 profiles with 2025 data), and above the median of 7.4% among 194 core profiles with 2025 data. Unweighted medians of the same-year cohort; not a population-weighted world average.

Population of North Korea, 1950 to 2100 UN World Population Prospects medium variant. Estimates through 2023; dashed line marks projections from 2024. 10 million15 million20 million25 million 19601980200020202040206020802100 Projection
Population of North Korea. Solid line: estimates (1950–2023). Dashed line: medium-variant projections (2024–2100). UN WPP, WPP2024 Demographic Indicators Medium.
Data table
YearPopulationStatus
195011.4 millionestimate
196011.6 millionestimate
197015 millionestimate
198018.1 millionestimate
199021 millionestimate
200023.6 millionestimate
201024.9 millionestimate
202026.1 millionestimate
203026.8 millionprojection
204026.6 millionprojection
205025.8 millionprojection
206024.7 millionprojection
207023.5 millionprojection
208022.2 millionprojection
209020.9 millionprojection
210019.6 millionprojection
210119.4 millionprojection
Age structure of North Korea Share of population by broad age group, World Bank World Development Indicators. 196019932025 Ages 0–14Ages 15–64Ages 65+
Age structure of North Korea as a share of population. World Bank WDI, World Development Indicators.
Data table
YearAges 65+Status
19603.3% aged 65+actual
19653.5% aged 65+actual
19703.5% aged 65+actual
19753.5% aged 65+actual
19803.6% aged 65+actual
19854% aged 65+actual
19904.5% aged 65+actual
19955.2% aged 65+actual
20006.4% aged 65+actual
20058.2% aged 65+actual
20109.8% aged 65+actual
201510.9% aged 65+actual
202011.1% aged 65+actual
202512.7% aged 65+actual

Economy

National accounts and related World Bank series. Totals are not comparable as “averages” across countries; rates such as GDP per capita include same-year cohort medians where coverage allows.

Gross domestic product
—

Figure not published for this entity.

GDP per capita
—

Figure not published for this entity.

Unemployment, totalProjection
3.6 percent of labour force

2026 · ILOSTAT · Projection · ILOSTAT modelled estimates (annual)

North Korea’s unemployment is above the Eastern Asia median of 3.2 (8 profiles with 2026 data), and below the median of 5.1 among 178 core profiles with 2026 data. Unweighted medians of the same-year cohort; not a population-weighted world average.

Access to electricity
61.4%

2024 · World Bank WDI · Actual · World Development Indicators

Individuals using the Internet
0%

2004 · World Bank WDI · Actual · World Development Indicators

Labour force participation rateProjection
82.1 percent of population ages 15+

2026 · ILOSTAT · Projection · ILOSTAT modelled estimates (annual)

North Korea’s lfpr is above the Eastern Asia median of 63.9 (8 profiles with 2026 data), and above the median of 62 among 174 core profiles with 2026 data. Unweighted medians of the same-year cohort; not a population-weighted world average.

Employment-to-population ratioProjection
79.2 percent of population ages 15+

2026 · ILOSTAT · Projection · ILOSTAT modelled estimates (annual)

Youth unemployment rateProjection
8 percent of labour force ages 15–24

2026 · ILOSTAT · Projection · ILOSTAT modelled estimates (annual)

Development

Human development indices are published only from the latest UNDP HDR series. This build does not invent a substitute index.

Human Development Index
No comparable data

No internationally comparable figure in this build.

Inequality-adjusted Human Development Index
No comparable data

No internationally comparable figure in this build.

Gender Development Index
No comparable data

No internationally comparable figure in this build.

Gender Inequality Index
No comparable data

No internationally comparable figure in this build.

Multidimensional Poverty Index
No comparable data

No internationally comparable figure in this build.

Health and education

Life expectancy and mortality are UN WPP series unless labelled otherwise. Education figures are UNESCO UIS (CC BY-SA, isolated) where a comparable series exists; otherwise they stay missing.

Life expectancy at birthProjection
74 years

2026 · UN WPP · Projection · WPP2024 Demographic Indicators Medium

North Korea’s life expectancy is below the Eastern Asia median of 82.4 (8 profiles with 2026 data), and close to median of 74.1 among 195 core profiles with 2026 data. Unweighted medians of the same-year cohort; not a population-weighted world average.

Crude death rateProjection
10.1 per 1,000 population

2026 · UN WPP · Projection · WPP2024 Demographic Indicators Medium

Life expectancy at birth (male)Projection
71.8 years

2026 · UN WPP · Projection · WPP2024 Demographic Indicators Medium

North Korea’s life exp. male is below the Eastern Asia median of 79.9 (8 profiles with 2026 data), and close to median of 70.9 among 195 core profiles with 2026 data. Unweighted medians of the same-year cohort; not a population-weighted world average.

Life expectancy at birth (female)Projection
76.2 years

2026 · UN WPP · Projection · WPP2024 Demographic Indicators Medium

North Korea’s life exp. female is below the Eastern Asia median of 84.8 (8 profiles with 2026 data), and close to median of 77.4 among 195 core profiles with 2026 data. Unweighted medians of the same-year cohort; not a population-weighted world average.

Infant mortality rateProjection
12.8 per 1,000 live births

2026 · UN WPP · Projection · WPP2024 Demographic Indicators Medium

North Korea’s infant mortality is above the Eastern Asia median of 2.7 (8 profiles with 2026 data), and above the median of 11.1 among 195 core profiles with 2026 data. Unweighted medians of the same-year cohort; not a population-weighted world average.

Under-five mortality rateProjection
16.1 per 1,000 live births

2026 · UN WPP · Projection · WPP2024 Demographic Indicators Medium

North Korea’s u5mr is above the Eastern Asia median of 3.7 (8 profiles with 2026 data), and above the median of 12.9 among 195 core profiles with 2026 data. Unweighted medians of the same-year cohort; not a population-weighted world average.

Maternal mortality ratio
67 per 100,000 live births

2023 · World Bank WDI · Actual · World Development Indicators

Immunization, measles
99%

2024 · World Bank WDI · Actual · World Development Indicators

North Korea’s measles immunization is above the Eastern Asia median of 96% (5 profiles with 2024 data), and above the median of 90% among 192 core profiles with 2024 data. Unweighted medians of the same-year cohort; not a population-weighted world average.

Prevalence of undernourishment
47 percent of population

2018 · World Bank WDI · Actual · World Development Indicators

Adult literacy rate
100%

2008 · UNESCO UIS · Actual · UIS Bulk Data Download Service (February 2026)

Youth literacy rate
100%

2008 · UNESCO UIS · Actual · UIS Bulk Data Download Service (February 2026)

Mean years of schooling
No comparable data

No internationally comparable figure in this build.

School life expectancy
11.9 years

2018 · UNESCO UIS · Actual · UIS Bulk Data Download Service (February 2026)

Life expectancy at birth, North Korea Life expectancy at birth. Estimates through 2023; dashed line marks UN WPP medium-variant projections from 2024. 020406080 19601980200020202040206020802100 Projection
Life expectancy at birth in North Korea. Dashed line marks medium-variant projections. UN WPP, WPP2024 Demographic Indicators Medium.
Data table
YearYearsStatus
195014.2estimate
196055.8estimate
197062estimate
198067.2estimate
199070.5estimate
200060.9estimate
201070.2estimate
202072.8estimate
203074.5projection
204075.7projection
205077.1projection
206078.4projection
207079.8projection
208081.2projection
209082.5projection
210083.8projection

Environment

Forest cover is World Bank WDI. CO₂ is the Global Carbon Project series via Our World in Data — not IEA-EDGAR.

Land area
120,410 km²

2023 · World Bank WDI · Actual · World Development Indicators

Surface area
120,540 km²

2023 · World Bank WDI · Actual · World Development Indicators

Forest area
49.6%

2023 · World Bank WDI · Actual · World Development Indicators

North Korea’s forest is close to Eastern Asia median of 49.6% (5 profiles with 2023 data), and above the median of 31.8% among 194 core profiles with 2023 data. Unweighted medians of the same-year cohort; not a population-weighted world average.

CO₂ emissions
62.6 million tonnes

2024 · OWID / Global Carbon Project · Actual · OWID CO2 data (Global Carbon Project)

CO₂ emissions per capita
2.4 tonnes per person

2024 · OWID / Global Carbon Project · Actual · OWID CO2 data (Global Carbon Project)

North Korea’s co₂ / capita is below the Eastern Asia median of 8.2 (8 profiles with 2024 data), and below the median of 2.8 among 192 core profiles with 2024 data. Unweighted medians of the same-year cohort; not a population-weighted world average.

CO₂ emissions, North Korea Annual CO₂ emissions from the Global Carbon Project via Our World in Data. Not IEA-EDGAR. 050100150200 192019401960198020002020
CO₂ emissions of North Korea. Global Carbon Project via Our World in Data. OWID / Global Carbon Project, OWID CO2 data (Global Carbon Project).
Data table
YearMillion tonnesStatus
19050actual
19160.5actual
19251.6actual
19333.3actual
194116.1actual
19491.8actual
195711.3actual
196544.2actual
197397.3actual
1981114actual
1989209actual
199763.7actual
200575actual
201336.1actual
202154actual
202462.6actual

Geography

Region
Asia
Subregion
Eastern Asia
Natural Earth ADM0_A3
PRK
Cartographic size
Tiny state on the 50m globe (point or small polygon)
Outline of North Korea
Outline from Natural Earth 50m Admin 0. Made with Natural Earth. Not a locator map.

Government

Classification is descriptive and is not a recognition of legal claims.Map and status policy.

Status
UN member
Publication tier
Core profile

Sources

United Nations World Population Prospects

WPP2024 Demographic Indicators Medium. Vintage 2024 Revision. CC BY 3.0 IGO. Retrieved 2026-09-03. Source file.

  • Population (2026, projection; series TPopulation1Jan)
  • Life expectancy at birth (2026, projection; series LEx)
  • Population (1 July) (2026, projection; series TPopulation1July)
  • Population growth rate (2026, projection; series PopGrowthRate)
  • Population density (2026, projection; series PopDensity)
  • Median age (2026, projection; series MedianAgePop)
  • Population sex ratio (2026, projection; series PopSexRatio)
  • Total fertility rate (2026, projection; series TFR)
  • Crude birth rate (2026, projection; series CBR)
  • Crude death rate (2026, projection; series CDR)
  • Life expectancy at birth (male) (2026, projection; series LExMale)
  • Life expectancy at birth (female) (2026, projection; series LExFemale)
  • Infant mortality rate (2026, projection; series IMR)
  • Under-five mortality rate (2026, projection; series Q5)
  • Net number of migrants (2026, projection; series NetMigrations)
  • Net migration rate (2026, projection; series CNMR)

World Bank World Development Indicators

World Development Indicators. Vintage 13 July 2026. CC BY 4.0. Retrieved 2026-09-03. Source file.

  • Land area (2023, actual; series AG.LND.TOTL.K2)
  • Maternal mortality ratio (2023, actual; series SH.STA.MMRT)
  • Immunization, measles (2024, actual; series SH.IMM.MEAS)
  • Prevalence of undernourishment (2018, actual; series SN.ITK.DEFC.ZS)
  • Urban population (2025, actual; series SP.URB.TOTL.IN.ZS)
  • Population ages 0–14 (2025, actual; series SP.POP.0014.TO.ZS)
  • Population ages 15–64 (2025, actual; series SP.POP.1564.TO.ZS)
  • Population ages 65 and above (2025, actual; series SP.POP.65UP.TO.ZS)
  • Surface area (2023, actual; series AG.SRF.TOTL.K2)
  • Access to electricity (2024, actual; series EG.ELC.ACCS.ZS)
  • Individuals using the Internet (2004, actual; series IT.NET.USER.ZS)
  • Forest area (2023, actual; series AG.LND.FRST.ZS)
  • Alternate: Population (2025, actual; series SP.POP.TOTL)
  • Alternate: Life expectancy at birth (2024, actual; series SP.DYN.LE00.IN)
  • Alternate: Population growth rate (2025, actual; series SP.POP.GROW)
  • Alternate: Population density (2023, actual; series EN.POP.DNST)
  • Alternate: Total fertility rate (2024, actual; series SP.DYN.TFRT.IN)
  • Alternate: Crude birth rate (2024, actual; series SP.DYN.CBRT.IN)
  • Alternate: Crude death rate (2024, actual; series SP.DYN.CDRT.IN)
  • Alternate: Life expectancy at birth (male) (2024, actual; series SP.DYN.LE00.MA.IN)
  • Alternate: Life expectancy at birth (female) (2024, actual; series SP.DYN.LE00.FE.IN)
  • Alternate: Infant mortality rate (2024, actual; series SP.DYN.IMRT.IN)
  • Alternate: Under-five mortality rate (2024, actual; series SH.DYN.MORT)
  • Alternate: Net number of migrants (2025, actual; series SM.POP.NETM)
  • Alternate: Unemployment, total (2025, actual; series SL.UEM.TOTL.ZS)

ILOSTAT

ILOSTAT modelled estimates (annual). Vintage ILOSTAT December 2025. CC BY 4.0. Retrieved 2026-09-03. Source file.

  • Unemployment, total (2026, projection; series UNE_2EAP_SEX_AGE_RT)
  • Labour force participation rate (2026, projection; series EAP_2WAP_SEX_AGE_RT)
  • Employment-to-population ratio (2026, projection; series EMP_2WAP_SEX_AGE_RT)
  • Youth unemployment rate (2026, projection; series UNE_2EAP_SEX_AGE_RT)

UNESCO Institute for Statistics

UIS Bulk Data Download Service (February 2026). Vintage UIS February 2026. CC BY-SA 3.0 IGO. Retrieved 2026-09-03. Source file.

  • Adult literacy rate (2008, actual; series LR.AG15T99)
  • Youth literacy rate (2008, actual; series LR.AG15T24)
  • School life expectancy (2018, actual; series SLE.1T8)

Our World in Data (Global Carbon Project)

OWID CO2 data (Global Carbon Project). Vintage OWID CO₂ December 2025. CC BY 4.0. Retrieved 2026-09-03. Source file.

  • CO₂ emissions (2024, actual; series co2)
  • CO₂ emissions per capita (2024, actual; series co2_per_capita)

UNDP Human Development Report

HDR 2025 composite indices complete time series. Vintage HDR 2025. CC BY 3.0 IGO. Retrieved 2026-09-03. Source file.

  • Alternate: School life expectancy (2023, actual; series eys)

Names, classifications, and boundaries are for statistical and cartographic use and do not constitute recognition of legal claims.