North Korea vs India: Compare Statistics
Side-by-side comparison of 128 key metrics across economy, population, geography, and more — latest data through 2026.
Summary
India has 55.4 times as many people as North Korea (1.48 billion vs 26.64 million).
Comparing North Korea and India: India leads on Oil Production (954,000) against North Korea (118); North Korea leads on Oil Imports (15,810) against India (3.06); North Korea leads on Oil Consumption (13,000) against India (3.18). Across 128 compared metrics, North Korea wins on 46 and India wins on 71.
- Communications: 7 metrics compared
- Economy: 37 metrics compared
- Environment: 11 metrics compared
- Geography: 7 metrics compared
- Government: 9 metrics compared
- Health: 19 metrics compared
- Military and Security: 2 metrics compared
- People and Society: 33 metrics compared
- Transportation: 3 metrics compared
Communications
7 metrics| Metric | 🇰🇵 North Korea | 🇮🇳 India | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| Internet Penetration Rate (%) | 0 % | 1.98 %★ | |
| Internet Usage Rate by Country (% of Population) | 0 % | 11.1 %★ | |
| Internet Users | 8★ | 6.75 | |
| Press Freedom Index Score | 12.64 points | 32.96 points★ | |
| Radios | 3.36 | 116★ | |
| Televisions | 1.2 | 63★ | |
| Waterways | 2,250 | 14,500★ |
Economy
37 metricsEnvironment
11 metrics| Metric | 🇰🇵 North Korea | 🇮🇳 India | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| Annual CO₂ Emissions Growth (abs) | 525,276★ | 130.72M | |
| Annual Forest Area Change Rate | 11,356.06 % | 86,000 %★ | |
| Average Annual Temperature | 8.33 °C | 24.23 °C★ | |
| Carbon Dioxide Emissions | 55.74 | 2.82★ | |
| Global Precipitation Distribution | 1,236.6 mm | 1,404.35 mm★ | |
| Population Distribution | population concentrated in the plains and lowlands; least-populated regions are the mountainous provinces adjacent to the Chinese border; largest concentrations are in the western provinces, particularly the municipal district of Pyongyang, and around Hun | a very high population density exists throughout most of the country, with the notable exception of the deserts in the northwest and the mountain fringe in the north; the core of the population is in the north along the banks of the Ganges, with other riv | |
| Protected Land Area for Adaptation | 2.4 sq km | 7.76 sq km★ | |
| Protected Land Area Percentage | 2.4 % | 7.7 %★ | |
| Total Renewable Groundwater Resources by Country | 13 Cubic meters per year | 432 Cubic meters per year★ | |
| Total Renewable Water Resources | 77.15★ | 1.91 | |
| Total Threatened Mammal Species | 10 species★ | 99 species |
Geography
7 metrics| Metric | 🇰🇵 North Korea | 🇮🇳 India | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| Percentage of land area by degree of urbanization | 4.47 % | 21.46 %★ | |
| Above-Ground Biomass in Forest (tonnes/ha) | 62.3 | 68.7★ | |
| Agricultural land | 25,933.8 sq. km | 1.78M sq. km★ | |
| Airports per 1,000 Sq Km | 120,410 | 2.97M★ | |
| Coastline Length (km) | 2,495 km | 7,000 km★ | |
| Dam capacity per capita | 793.79 cubic meters per inhabitant★ | 167.04 cubic meters per inhabitant | |
| Irrigated Land | 14,600 | 754,562★ |
Government
9 metrics| Metric | 🇰🇵 North Korea | 🇮🇳 India | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rule of Law Index by Country | 5.81 % | 59.13 %★ | |
| Administrative Divisions | 9 | 28★ | |
| Corruption Perception Index | 15 index★ | 38 index | |
| Corruption Perceptions Index Score | 15 index | 38 index★ | |
| Independence | 15 | 15 | |
| LGBT Rights Index Score | 2.07 | 2.07 | |
| Political Stability Index | 30 index★ | 21 index | |
| Public Sector Corruption Perception | 15★ | 38 | |
| Suffrage Participation Rate | 17 | 18★ |
Health
19 metrics| Metric | 🇰🇵 North Korea | 🇮🇳 India | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| Access to Safe Drinking Water | 66.61 % | 74.73 %★ | |
| Average BMI for Adults | 24.2 kg/m²★ | 21.7 kg/m² | |
| Change in Measles Immunization Rate | 99 %★ | 97 % | |
| Diabetes Prevalence (% of Population) | 9.9 | 10.5★ | |
| Female Life Expectancy Leaders | 73.74 years★ | 72.24 years | |
| Global Stillbirth Rate Trends | 0.82 per 1,000 births★ | 1.18 per 1,000 births | |
| Health Coverage Index Score | 77 score★ | 69 score | |
| Health Expenditure (% of GDP) | 2 % of GDP | 2.4 % of GDP★ | |
| Highest Male Life Expectancy | 73.74 years★ | 72.24 years | |
| HIV/AIDS Adult Prevalence Rate | NA | 0.2 % | |
| Hospital Bed Density | 13.2 people/sq km★ | 0.5 people/sq km | |
| Hospital Beds per Capita | 12.8 beds per 1,000★ | 1.64 beds per 1,000 | |
| Malaria Incidence Rate | 0.51 cases per 1,000★ | 1.48 cases per 1,000 | |
| Maternal Mortality Ratio (%) | 67 %★ | 80 % | |
| Nurses and Midwives Density | 4.38 per 1,000 people★ | 2.13 per 1,000 people | |
| Obesity Adult Prevalence Rate (%) | 6.8 % | 3.9 %★ | |
| People Living With HIV/AIDS | NA | 2.3 | |
| Total Number of Doctors | 3.63★ | 0.77 | |
| Underweight Children Under 5 | 9.3★ | 31.5 |
Military and Security
2 metrics| Metric | 🇰🇵 North Korea | 🇮🇳 India | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| Active Military Personnel | 1.28M personnel | 1.46M personnel★ | |
| Total Armed Forces Personnel (PPP) | 1.47M | 3.07M★ |
People and Society
33 metrics| Metric | 🇰🇵 North Korea | 🇮🇳 India | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| Currently married (Percent) | 71.23 % | 71.87 %★ | |
| Life expectancy at birth | 76.14 years★ | 76.09 years | |
| Median age of population | 36.78 years★ | 29.19 years | |
| Population Change | 60,580.4 persons | 14.13M persons★ | |
| Population density | 221.44 per sq. km★ | 496.42 per sq. km | |
| Total population | 26.64M persons | 1.48B persons★ | |
| Academic Freedom Index | 0.04 | 0.14★ | |
| Beer Consumption per Capita | 0.15 liters | 0.21 liters★ | |
| Birth Rate (%) | 12.99 % | 15.91 %★ | |
| Contraceptive Prevalence Rate | 70.2 %★ | 66.7 % | |
| Crude Birth Rate | 12.86 per 1,000 people | 15.98 per 1,000 people★ | |
| Death Rate (%) | 9.01 % | 8.7 %★ | |
| Education Expenditure (% of GDP) | 14.6 % of GDP★ | 4.1 % of GDP | |
| Female population of reproductive age | 6.08M persons | 389.10M persons★ | |
| Female Tertiary Enrollment Rate (%) | 17.96 % | 29.14 %★ | |
| Global Average Sex Ratio at Birth | 105.65 male/female | 107.28 male/female★ | |
| Labor Force Participation Rate | 17.64 | 607.69★ | |
| Major Urban Areas Population | 3.16 people | 32.94 people★ | |
| Mean Male Height (cm) | 171.99★ | 164.95 | |
| Military Manpower at Military Age | 18★ | 17 | |
| Military Service Age and Obligation | compulsory military service for men (17-30 years of age) and women (17-23 years of age); service obligation is reportedly up to 10 years for men and up to 7 years for women (2025) | ages vary by branch of service and positions, but generally 17-27 years of age for voluntary military service for men and women; no conscription (2025) note 1: in 2022, the Indian Government began recruiting men aged 17.5-21 annually to serve on 4-year co | |
| Old-Age Dependency Ratio | 17.43 % | 10.17 %★ | |
| Percentage of population by degree of urbanization | 86.47 %★ | 84.2 % | |
| Physician Density | 3.63 people/sq km★ | 0.72 people/sq km | |
| Population Growth Rate | 0.4 % | 0.72 %★ | |
| Population living in slums | 23.04 %★ | 5.41 % | |
| Primary School Pupil-Teacher Ratio | 20.53★ | 31.49 | |
| Total deaths | 269,232.3 persons★ | 8.28M persons | |
| Total demand for family planning (Percent) | 68.61 %★ | 57.51 % | |
| Total fertility rate | 1.76 per woman | 1.93 per woman★ | |
| Total net-migration | -3,031.8 persons★ | -632,939 persons | |
| Under-five mortality rate | 16.3 per live births★ | 26.01 per live births | |
| Urban Population Annual Growth Rate | 0.79 % | 1.76 %★ |
Transportation
3 metrics| Metric | 🇰🇵 North Korea | 🇮🇳 India | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| Air Travel Trips Per Capita (PPP) | 0 | 0.14★ | |
| Airports | 81 | 315★ | |
| Heliports | 8 | 289★ |
Frequently Asked Questions About North Korea vs India
Which has a larger population, North Korea or India?▾
India. India has 55.4 times as many people as North Korea (1.48 billion vs 26.64 million). Data for 2026.