North Korea vs Laos: Compare Statistics
Side-by-side comparison of 92 key metrics across economy, population, geography, and more — latest data through 2026.
Summary
Comparing North Korea and Laos: Laos leads on Major Urban Areas Population (721,000 people) against North Korea (3.16 people); Laos leads on Radios (730,000) against North Korea (3.36); Laos leads on Televisions (52,000) against North Korea (1.20). Across 92 compared metrics, North Korea wins on 33 and Laos wins on 39.
- Communications: 6 metrics compared
- Economy: 34 metrics compared
- Environment: 5 metrics compared
- Geography: 6 metrics compared
- Government: 4 metrics compared
- Health: 8 metrics compared
- Military and Security: 1 metric compared
- People and Society: 26 metrics compared
- Transportation: 2 metrics compared
Communications
6 metrics| Metric | 🇰🇵 North Korea | 🇱🇦 Laos | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| Internet Usage Rate by Country (% of Population) | 0 % | 10.75 %★ | |
| Internet Users | 8 | 1,532★ | |
| Press Freedom Index Score | 12.64 points | 33.22 points★ | |
| Radios | 3.36 | 730,000★ | |
| Televisions | 1.2 | 52,000★ | |
| Waterways | 2,250 | 4,600★ |
Economy
34 metricsEnvironment
5 metrics| Metric | 🇰🇵 North Korea | 🇱🇦 Laos | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| Annual CO₂ Emissions Growth (abs) | 525,276 | 242,858★ | |
| Carbon Dioxide Emissions | 55.74 | 23.41★ | |
| 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 | most densely populated area is in and around the capital city of Vientiane; large communities are primarily found along the Mekong River along the southwestern border; overall density is considered one of the lowest in Southeast Asia | |
| Total Renewable Groundwater Resources by Country | 13 Cubic meters per year | 37.9 Cubic meters per year★ | |
| Total Renewable Water Resources | 77.15 | 333.5★ |
Geography
6 metrics| Metric | 🇰🇵 North Korea | 🇱🇦 Laos | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| Percentage of land area by degree of urbanization | 4.47 %★ | 1.15 % | |
| Above-Ground Biomass in Forest (tonnes/ha) | 62.3 | 121.5★ | |
| Agricultural land | 25,933.8 sq. km★ | 21,486.6 sq. km | |
| Coastline Length (km) | 2,495 km★ | 0 km | |
| Dam capacity per capita | 793.79 cubic meters per inhabitant | 1,319.14 cubic meters per inhabitant★ | |
| Irrigated Land | 14,600★ | 4,410 |
Government
4 metrics| Metric | 🇰🇵 North Korea | 🇱🇦 Laos | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rule of Law Index by Country | 5.81 % | 29.3 %★ | |
| Administrative Divisions | 9 | 17★ | |
| Independence | 15 | 19★ | |
| Suffrage Participation Rate | 17 | 18★ |
Health
8 metrics| Metric | 🇰🇵 North Korea | 🇱🇦 Laos | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| Diabetes Prevalence (% of Population) | 9.9★ | 6.7 | |
| Health Expenditure (% of GDP) | 2 % of GDP | 6.5 % of GDP★ | |
| HIV/AIDS Adult Prevalence Rate | NA | 0.3 % | |
| Hospital Bed Density | 13.2 people/sq km★ | 1.5 people/sq km | |
| Maternal Mortality Ratio (%) | 67 %★ | 112 % | |
| Obesity Adult Prevalence Rate (%) | 6.8 % | 5.3 %★ | |
| People Living With HIV/AIDS | NA | 15,000 | |
| Underweight Children Under 5 | 9.3★ | 24.3 |
Military and Security
1 metric| Metric | 🇰🇵 North Korea | 🇱🇦 Laos | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Armed Forces Personnel (PPP) | 1.47M★ | 129,000 |
People and Society
26 metrics| Metric | 🇰🇵 North Korea | 🇱🇦 Laos | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| Currently married (Percent) | 71.23 %★ | 61.45 % | |
| Life expectancy at birth | 76.14 years★ | 72.32 years | |
| Median age of population | 36.78 years★ | 25.25 years | |
| Population Change | 60,580.4 persons | 102,278.9 persons★ | |
| Population density | 221.44 per sq. km | 34.57 per sq. km★ | |
| Total population | 26.64M persons★ | 7.98M persons | |
| Academic Freedom Index | 0.04 | 0.12★ | |
| Birth Rate (%) | 12.99 % | 19.22 %★ | |
| Contraceptive Prevalence Rate | 70.2 %★ | 54.1 % | |
| Death Rate (%) | 9.01 % | 6.07 %★ | |
| Education Expenditure (% of GDP) | 14.6 % of GDP★ | 1.2 % of GDP | |
| Female population of reproductive age | 6.08M persons★ | 2.16M persons | |
| Labor Force Participation Rate | 17.64★ | 3.59 | |
| Major Urban Areas Population | 3.16 people | 721,000 people★ | |
| Mean Male Height (cm) | 171.99★ | 160.52 | |
| Military Manpower at Military Age | 18 | 18 | |
| 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 %★ | 32.65 % | |
| Physician Density | 3.63 people/sq km★ | 0.33 people/sq km | |
| Population Growth Rate | 0.4 % | 1.22 %★ | |
| Population living in slums | 23.04 % | 47.45 %★ | |
| Total deaths | 269,232.3 persons | 47,791 persons★ | |
| Total demand for family planning (Percent) | 68.61 %★ | 48.69 % | |
| Total fertility rate | 1.76 per woman | 2.33 per woman★ | |
| Total net-migration | -3,031.8 persons★ | -10,536.3 persons | |
| Under-five mortality rate | 16.3 per live births★ | 34.16 per live births |
Transportation
2 metrics| Metric | 🇰🇵 North Korea | 🇱🇦 Laos | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| Air Travel Trips Per Capita (PPP) | 0 | 0.26★ | |
| Airports | 81★ | 20 |