Country

North Korea in charts

The figure for North Korea on 5 Chartly charts that compare the countries, each next to the world figure and linked to its chart, where you'll find its source, its date and every country's numbers.

Key numbers

  • Population

    People · 2025

    26.6M

    World: 8.22B
    56th highest of 217

  • Life expectancy

    Life expectancy at birth, years · 2024

    73.7

    World: 73.5
    Tied for 119th highest of 217

  • Access to electricity

    People with access to electricity, % of population · 2024

    61.4%

    World: 91.9%
    185th highest of 215

  • Unemployment

    Unemployment rate, % of labor force · 2025

    3.5%

    World: 4.8%
    Tied for 123rd highest of 182

  • Carbon emissions per person

    Carbon dioxide emissions, tonnes per person · 2024

    2.5

    World: 4.7
    Tied for 103rd highest of 203

Each year's figure from the World Bank, next to the world's (dashed) where a world figure means something.

Internet use in North Korea, 1990 to 2004

North Korea: From 0% in 1990 to 0% in 2004.

The interactive chart needs JavaScript.

Every country's internet use · Source: World Bank, IT.NET.USER.ZS (CC BY 4.0)

Life expectancy in North Korea and the world, 1990 to 2024

North Korea: Up from 70.5 years in 1990 to 73.7 years in 2024. The world: 73.5 years in 2024.

The interactive chart needs JavaScript.

Every country's life expectancy · Source: World Bank, SP.DYN.LE00.IN (CC BY 4.0)

Population in North Korea, 1990 to 2025

North Korea: Up from 21.1 million people in 1990 to 26.6 million people in 2025.

The interactive chart needs JavaScript.

Every country's population · Source: World Bank, SP.POP.TOTL (CC BY 4.0)

Compare North Korea with other countries

Figures are from the World Bank's World Development Indicators (CC BY 4.0), for the newest year most countries have reported; many are estimates, and they are revised as new data comes in. GDP per person is in US dollars at each year's exchange rates, not adjusted for differences in prices, and so is health spending. Ranks count every country and territory on the chart.