North Korea

Country in Asia

CountryScope

In brief

Population: 26.6M (2025). World rank 56 of 216; in Asia, 21 of 49. Area: 120,538 km². World rank 100 of 249; in Asia, 29 of 50. Life expectancy: 73.7 years (2024). World rank 118 of 216 (1 = best); in Asia, 29 of 49. From 2015 to 2025: population 25.6M → 26.6M.

State

Official name: Democratic People's Republic of Korea
Local name: 조선
Capital: Pyongyang
Region: Asia
Form of government: Communist party-led state
UN member: Yes
Head of state: Kim Jong-un
Head of government: Pak Thae-song
Independence: August 15, 1945
Women in parliament: 17.6% 2025

Key figures

Population: 26,571,036 2025
Area: 120,538 km²
Life expectancy: 73.7 years 2024

Practical information

Languages: Korean
Currency: North Korean Won (KPW)
Time zones: UTC+9
Calling code: +850
Driving side: Right
Plug types: A, C, F
Mains voltage: 110 / 220 V

Territory

Sea access: Has a coastline
Coastline, km: 2,495
Neighbours: China, South Korea, Russia
Agricultural land: 21.6% 2024

Elevation

Highest point: Baekdu Mountain, 2,744 m
Lowest point: Sea of Japan, 0 m
Mean elevation, m: 600

Climate

Average temperature in the capital, °C: 10
Warmest month in the capital: July, 24°C
Coldest month in the capital: January, -6°C
Precipitation, mm per year: 1,054 2022

Population and migration

Population density: 220.4 per km² 2025
Population growth per year: +0.3% 2025
Living in cities: 64.2% 2025
Net migration per year: -2.8K 2025
Born in another country: 0.2% 2024

Age and life expectancy

Aged 0–14: 18.9% 2025
Aged 15–64: 68.4% 2025
Aged 65 and over: 12.7% 2025
Life expectancy, women: 75.9 years 2024
Life expectancy, men: 71.6 years 2024

Births and deaths

Children per woman: 1.8 2024
Births per 1,000 people: 12.9 2024
Deaths per 1,000 people: 9.9 2024

Quality of governance (100 = best)

Rule of law, score 0–⁠100: 34.1 2025
Control of corruption, score 0–⁠100: 16.7 2025
Government effectiveness, score 0–⁠100: 25.2 2025
Regulatory quality, score 0–⁠100: 21.3 2025
Voice and accountability, score 0–⁠100: 18.7 2025

Income and prices

Income level (World Bank): Low income

Structure and jobs

Unemployment: 3.6% 2025
Youth unemployment, ages 15–24: 7.9% 2025
Women in work or seeking work: 77.7% 2025

Education

Adult literacy: 100% 2008
Primary school enrolment: 92.1% 2018
Secondary school enrolment: 94.3% 2015
Higher education enrolment: 26.7% 2018

Healthcare

Doctors per 1,000 people: 3.6 2017
Nurses and midwives per 1,000 people: 4.4 2017
Hospital beds per 1,000 people: 12.8 2018
Children vaccinated against measles: 99% 2024

Public health

Infant deaths per 1,000 births: 13.3 2024
Deaths under age 5 per 1,000 births: 16.7 2024
Maternal deaths per 100,000 births: 67 2023
Diabetes prevalence, ages 20–79: 9.9% 2024
Overweight adults: 37% 2022
Adults who use tobacco: 15.6% 2024

Living conditions

Access to safe drinking water: 93.9% 2023
Access to basic sanitation: 84.8% 2023
Access to clean cooking fuels: 22% 2024

Safety

Road deaths per 100,000 people: 24.2 2019
Suicides per 100,000 people: 9.3 2021
Political stability and absence of violence, score 0–⁠100: 67.1 2025
Natural hazards: volcanoes, tropical cyclones, floods, and droughts

Air and emissions

Air pollution PM2.5, µg/m³: 21.8 2023
CO₂ emissions, tonnes per person: 2.5 2024
All greenhouse gases, tonnes CO₂e per person: 3.4 2024

Nature and water

Forest cover: 64.1% 2024
Protected areas: 1.3% 2025
Renewable fresh water, m³ per person: 2,545 2022
Water stress, share of fresh water withdrawn: 27.7% 2022

Internet and communications

Using the internet: 0% 2004
Mobile subscriptions per 100 people: 24 2022
Internet domain: .kp

Energy

Access to electricity: 61.4% 2024
Electricity use, kWh per person: 794 2024
Renewable share of energy use: 14.7% 2021
Electricity from renewables: 63.1% 2021
Electricity from fossil fuels: 38.1% 2024

Transport

Air passengers per year: 3,690 2023
Airports: 81 2025
Railways, km: 7,435 2014

Science and innovation

Scientific articles per year: 269 2023
Patent applications by residents: 6,936 2024