North Korea vs Ireland: Compare Statistics
Side-by-side comparison of 97 key metrics across economy, population, geography, and more — latest data through 2026.
Summary
Comparing North Korea and Ireland: North Korea leads on Total Armed Forces Personnel (PPP) (1.47 million) against Ireland (9,000); North Korea leads on Electricity from Hydroelectric Plants (55) against Ireland (2); Ireland leads on Academic Freedom Index (0.92) against North Korea (0.04). Across 97 compared metrics, North Korea wins on 31 and Ireland wins on 52.
- Communications: 7 metrics compared
- Economy: 35 metrics compared
- Environment: 6 metrics compared
- Geography: 6 metrics compared
- Government: 4 metrics compared
- Health: 9 metrics compared
- Military and Security: 1 metric compared
- People and Society: 26 metrics compared
- Transportation: 3 metrics compared
Communications
7 metrics| Metric | 🇰🇵 North Korea | 🇮🇪 Ireland | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| Internet Penetration Rate (%) | 0 % | 36.99 %★ | |
| Internet Usage Rate by Country (% of Population) | 0 % | 76.92 %★ | |
| Internet Users | 8★ | 1.39 | |
| Press Freedom Index Score | 12.64 points | 86.92 points★ | |
| Radios | 3.36★ | 2.55 | |
| Televisions | 1.2 | 1.82★ | |
| Waterways | 2,250★ | 956 |
Economy
35 metricsEnvironment
6 metrics| Metric | 🇰🇵 North Korea | 🇮🇪 Ireland | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| Annual CO₂ Emissions Growth (abs) | 525,276 | -257,316★ | |
| Carbon Dioxide Emissions | 55.74 | 35.49★ | |
| 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 | population distribution is weighted to the eastern side of the island, with the largest concentration in and around Dublin; populations in the west are small due to mountainous land, poorer soil, and lack of transport routes | |
| Protected Land Area for Adaptation | 2.4 sq km | 14.24 sq km★ | |
| Total Renewable Groundwater Resources by Country | 13 Cubic meters per year★ | 10.8 Cubic meters per year | |
| Total Renewable Water Resources | 77.15★ | 52 |
Geography
6 metrics| Metric | 🇰🇵 North Korea | 🇮🇪 Ireland | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| Percentage of land area by degree of urbanization | 4.47 %★ | 2.15 % | |
| Above-Ground Biomass in Forest (tonnes/ha) | 62.3 | 111.64★ | |
| Agricultural land | 25,933.8 sq. km | 41,336 sq. km★ | |
| Coastline Length (km) | 2,495 km★ | 1,448 km | |
| Dam capacity per capita | 793.79 cubic meters per inhabitant★ | 162.41 cubic meters per inhabitant | |
| Irrigated Land | 14,600★ | 0 |
Government
4 metrics| Metric | 🇰🇵 North Korea | 🇮🇪 Ireland | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rule of Law Index by Country | 5.81 % | 97.46 %★ | |
| Administrative Divisions | 9 | 28★ | |
| Independence | 15★ | 6 | |
| Suffrage Participation Rate | 17 | 18★ |
Health
9 metrics| Metric | 🇰🇵 North Korea | 🇮🇪 Ireland | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| Access to Safe Drinking Water | 66.61 % | 95.63 %★ | |
| Diabetes Prevalence (% of Population) | 9.9★ | 3.6 | |
| Health Expenditure (% of GDP) | 2 % of GDP | 7.6 % of GDP★ | |
| HIV/AIDS Adult Prevalence Rate | NA | 0.3 % | |
| Hospital Bed Density | 13.2 people/sq km★ | 3 people/sq km | |
| Maternal Mortality Ratio (%) | 67 % | 4 %★ | |
| Obesity Adult Prevalence Rate (%) | 6.8 %★ | 25.3 % | |
| People Living With HIV/AIDS | NA | 7,800 | |
| Underweight Children Under 5 | 9.3 | NA |
Military and Security
1 metric| Metric | 🇰🇵 North Korea | 🇮🇪 Ireland | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Armed Forces Personnel (PPP) | 1.47M★ | 9,000 |
People and Society
26 metrics| Metric | 🇰🇵 North Korea | 🇮🇪 Ireland | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| Currently married (Percent) | 71.23 %★ | 44.92 % | |
| Life expectancy at birth | 76.14 years | 85.07 years★ | |
| Median age of population | 36.78 years | 39.37 years★ | |
| Population Change | 60,580.4 persons★ | 48,816.6 persons | |
| Population density | 221.44 per sq. km | 78.85 per sq. km★ | |
| Total population | 26.64M persons★ | 5.36M persons | |
| Academic Freedom Index | 0.04 | 0.92★ | |
| Birth Rate (%) | 12.99 %★ | 10.95 % | |
| Contraceptive Prevalence Rate | 70.2 % | NA | |
| Death Rate (%) | 9.01 % | 7.43 %★ | |
| Education Expenditure (% of GDP) | 14.6 % of GDP★ | 2.9 % of GDP | |
| Female population of reproductive age | 6.08M persons★ | 1.27M persons | |
| Labor Force Participation Rate | 17.64★ | 2.86 | |
| Major Urban Areas Population | 3.16 people★ | 1.27 people | |
| Mean Male Height (cm) | 171.99 | 178.93★ | |
| 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) | 18 | |
| Percentage of population by degree of urbanization | 86.47 %★ | 55.92 % | |
| Physician Density | 3.63 people/sq km | 3.88 people/sq km★ | |
| Population Growth Rate | 0.4 % | 0.8 %★ | |
| Population living in slums | 23.04 %★ | 8.87 % | |
| Total deaths | 269,232.3 persons | 37,283 persons★ | |
| Total demand for family planning (Percent) | 68.61 % | 70.02 %★ | |
| Total fertility rate | 1.76 per woman★ | 1.53 per woman | |
| Total net-migration | -3,031.8 persons | 36,316.6 persons★ | |
| Under-five mortality rate | 16.3 per live births | 3.03 per live births★ |
Transportation
3 metrics| Metric | 🇰🇵 North Korea | 🇮🇪 Ireland | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| Air Travel Trips Per Capita (PPP) | 0 | 4.17★ | |
| Airports | 81 | 100★ | |
| Heliports | 8 | 10★ |