North Korea vs Malaysia: Compare Statistics
Side-by-side comparison of 128 key metrics across economy, population, geography, and more — latest data through 2026.
Summary
Malaysia has 37% more people than North Korea (36.4 million vs 26.64 million).
Comparing North Korea and Malaysia: Malaysia leads on Internet Users (422,470) against North Korea (8); Malaysia leads on Oil Production (664,800) against North Korea (118); North Korea leads on Population living in slums (23.04 %) against Malaysia (0.20 %). Across 128 compared metrics, North Korea wins on 36 and Malaysia wins on 82.
- 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 | 🇲🇾 Malaysia | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| Internet Penetration Rate (%) | 0 % | 42.25 %★ | |
| Internet Usage Rate by Country (% of Population) | 0 % | 65.8 %★ | |
| Internet Users | 8 | 422,470★ | |
| Press Freedom Index Score | 12.64 points | 56.09 points★ | |
| Radios | 3.36 | 10.9★ | |
| Televisions | 1.2 | 10.8★ | |
| Waterways | 2,250 | 7,200★ |
Economy
37 metricsEnvironment
11 metrics| Metric | 🇰🇵 North Korea | 🇲🇾 Malaysia | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| Annual CO₂ Emissions Growth (abs) | 525,276★ | 13.93M | |
| Annual Forest Area Change Rate | 11,356.06 %★ | -60,000 % | |
| Average Annual Temperature | 8.33 °C | 25.87 °C★ | |
| Carbon Dioxide Emissions | 55.74★ | 260.01 | |
| Global Precipitation Distribution | 1,236.6 mm | 3,150.09 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 highly uneven distribution, with over 80% of the population residing on the Malay Peninsula | |
| Protected Land Area for Adaptation | 2.4 sq km | 13.3 sq km★ | |
| Protected Land Area Percentage | 2.4 % | 13.3 %★ | |
| Total Renewable Groundwater Resources by Country | 13 Cubic meters per year | 64 Cubic meters per year★ | |
| Total Renewable Water Resources | 77.15 | 580★ | |
| Total Threatened Mammal Species | 10 species★ | 80 species |
Geography
7 metrics| Metric | 🇰🇵 North Korea | 🇲🇾 Malaysia | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| Percentage of land area by degree of urbanization | 4.47 %★ | 4.11 % | |
| Above-Ground Biomass in Forest (tonnes/ha) | 62.3 | 209.87★ | |
| Agricultural land | 25,933.8 sq. km | 85,710 sq. km★ | |
| Airports per 1,000 Sq Km | 120,410 | 328,550★ | |
| Coastline Length (km) | 2,495 km | 4,675 km★ | |
| Dam capacity per capita | 793.79 cubic meters per inhabitant★ | 611.58 cubic meters per inhabitant | |
| Irrigated Land | 14,600★ | 4,420 |
Government
9 metrics| Metric | 🇰🇵 North Korea | 🇲🇾 Malaysia | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rule of Law Index by Country | 5.81 % | 67.87 %★ | |
| Administrative Divisions | 9 | 13★ | |
| Corruption Perception Index | 15 index★ | 50 index | |
| Corruption Perceptions Index Score | 15 index | 50 index★ | |
| Independence | 15 | 31★ | |
| LGBT Rights Index Score | 2.07★ | -2.46 | |
| Political Stability Index | 30 index | 51 index★ | |
| Public Sector Corruption Perception | 15★ | 50 | |
| Suffrage Participation Rate | 17 | 18★ |
Health
19 metrics| Metric | 🇰🇵 North Korea | 🇲🇾 Malaysia | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| Access to Safe Drinking Water | 66.61 % | 94.62 %★ | |
| Average BMI for Adults | 24.2 kg/m² | 25.3 kg/m²★ | |
| Change in Measles Immunization Rate | 99 %★ | 96 % | |
| Diabetes Prevalence (% of Population) | 9.9 | 21.1★ | |
| Female Life Expectancy Leaders | 73.74 years | 76.82 years★ | |
| Global Stillbirth Rate Trends | 0.82 per 1,000 births | 0.48 per 1,000 births★ | |
| Health Coverage Index Score | 77 score | 80 score★ | |
| Health Expenditure (% of GDP) | 2 % of GDP | 8 % of GDP★ | |
| Highest Male Life Expectancy | 73.74 years | 76.82 years★ | |
| HIV/AIDS Adult Prevalence Rate | NA | 0.3 % | |
| Hospital Bed Density | 13.2 people/sq km★ | 1.9 people/sq km | |
| Hospital Beds per Capita | 12.8 beds per 1,000★ | 1.9 beds per 1,000 | |
| Malaria Incidence Rate | 0.46 cases per 1,000 | 0.07 cases per 1,000★ | |
| Maternal Mortality Ratio (%) | 67 % | 26 %★ | |
| Nurses and Midwives Density | 4.38 per 1,000 people★ | 4.04 per 1,000 people | |
| Obesity Adult Prevalence Rate (%) | 6.8 %★ | 15.6 % | |
| People Living With HIV/AIDS | NA | 92,000 | |
| Total Number of Doctors | 3.63★ | 1.79 | |
| Underweight Children Under 5 | 9.3★ | 15.3 |
Military and Security
2 metrics| Metric | 🇰🇵 North Korea | 🇲🇾 Malaysia | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| Active Military Personnel | 1.28M personnel★ | 113,000 personnel | |
| Total Armed Forces Personnel (PPP) | 1.47M★ | 136,000 |
People and Society
33 metrics| Metric | 🇰🇵 North Korea | 🇲🇾 Malaysia | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| Currently married (Percent) | 71.23 %★ | 58.88 % | |
| Life expectancy at birth | 76.14 years | 80.87 years★ | |
| Median age of population | 36.78 years★ | 31.44 years | |
| Population Change | 60,580.4 persons | 428,622.9 persons★ | |
| Population density | 221.44 per sq. km | 110.8 per sq. km★ | |
| Total population | 26.64M persons | 36.40M persons★ | |
| Academic Freedom Index | 0.04 | 0.29★ | |
| Beer Consumption per Capita | 0.15 liters | 0.51 liters★ | |
| Birth Rate (%) | 12.99 % | 14.05 %★ | |
| Contraceptive Prevalence Rate | 70.2 %★ | 52.2 % | |
| Crude Birth Rate | 12.86 per 1,000 people★ | 12.36 per 1,000 people | |
| Death Rate (%) | 9.01 % | 5.8 %★ | |
| Education Expenditure (% of GDP) | 14.6 % of GDP★ | 3.5 % of GDP | |
| Female population of reproductive age | 6.08M persons | 9.69M persons★ | |
| Female Tertiary Enrollment Rate (%) | 17.96 % | 50.35 %★ | |
| Global Average Sex Ratio at Birth | 105.65 male/female | 106.37 male/female★ | |
| Labor Force Participation Rate | 17.64 | 18.26★ | |
| Major Urban Areas Population | 3.16 people | 8.62 people★ | |
| Mean Male Height (cm) | 171.99★ | 167.88 | |
| Military Manpower at Military Age | 18 | 21★ | |
| 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) | 17 | |
| Old-Age Dependency Ratio | 17.43 % | 10.6 %★ | |
| Percentage of population by degree of urbanization | 86.47 %★ | 83.21 % | |
| Physician Density | 3.63 people/sq km★ | 2.34 people/sq km | |
| Population Growth Rate | 0.4 % | 0.97 %★ | |
| Population living in slums | 23.04 %★ | 0.2 % | |
| Primary School Pupil-Teacher Ratio | 20.53 | 11.52★ | |
| Total deaths | 269,232.3 persons | 179,998.3 persons★ | |
| Total demand for family planning (Percent) | 68.61 %★ | 42.17 % | |
| Total fertility rate | 1.76 per woman★ | 1.53 per woman | |
| Total net-migration | -3,031.8 persons | 162,673.4 persons★ | |
| Under-five mortality rate | 16.3 per live births | 5.53 per live births★ | |
| Urban Population Annual Growth Rate | 0.79 % | 1.79 %★ |
Transportation
3 metrics| Metric | 🇰🇵 North Korea | 🇲🇾 Malaysia | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| Air Travel Trips Per Capita (PPP) | 0 | 1.58★ | |
| Airports | 81 | 100★ | |
| Heliports | 8 | 24★ |
Frequently Asked Questions About North Korea vs Malaysia
Which has a larger population, North Korea or Malaysia?▾
Malaysia. Malaysia has 37% more people than North Korea (36.4 million vs 26.64 million). Data for 2026.