North Korea vs South Africa: Compare Statistics
Side-by-side comparison of 127 key metrics across economy, population, geography, and more — latest data through 2026.
Summary
South Africa has 2.5 times as many people as North Korea (65.49 million vs 26.64 million).
Comparing North Korea and South Africa: South Africa leads on Oil Production (192,100) against North Korea (118); North Korea leads on Electricity from Hydroelectric Plants (55) against South Africa (1); South Africa leads on Refined Petroleum Products Production (487,100) against North Korea (11,270). Across 127 compared metrics, North Korea wins on 43 and South Africa wins on 70.
- Communications: 7 metrics compared
- Economy: 37 metrics compared
- Environment: 11 metrics compared
- Geography: 7 metrics compared
- Government: 8 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 | 🇿🇦 South Africa | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| Internet Penetration Rate (%) | 0 % | 8.43 %★ | |
| Internet Usage Rate by Country (% of Population) | 0 % | 41 %★ | |
| Internet Users | 8★ | 4.76 | |
| Press Freedom Index Score | 12.64 points | 75.71 points★ | |
| Radios | 3.36 | 17★ | |
| Televisions | 1.2 | 6★ | |
| Waterways | 2,253 | NA |
Economy
37 metricsEnvironment
11 metrics| Metric | 🇰🇵 North Korea | 🇿🇦 South Africa | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| Annual CO₂ Emissions Growth (abs) | 525,276★ | 3.23M | |
| Annual Forest Area Change Rate | 11,356.06 % | 87,566.02 %★ | |
| Average Annual Temperature | 8.33 °C | 18.35 °C★ | |
| Carbon Dioxide Emissions | 55.74★ | 446.7 | |
| Global Precipitation Distribution | 1,236.6 mm★ | 652.17 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 | the population is concentrated along the southern and southeastern coast, and inland around Pretoria; the eastern half of the country is more densely populated than the west, as shown in this population distribution map | |
| Protected Land Area for Adaptation | 2.4 sq km | 9.88 sq km★ | |
| Protected Land Area Percentage | 2.4 % | 9.6 %★ | |
| Total Renewable Groundwater Resources by Country | 13 Cubic meters per year★ | 4.8 Cubic meters per year | |
| Total Renewable Water Resources | 77.15★ | 51.35 | |
| Total Threatened Mammal Species | 10 species★ | 33 species |
Geography
7 metrics| Metric | 🇰🇵 North Korea | 🇿🇦 South Africa | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| Percentage of land area by degree of urbanization | 4.47 %★ | 1.94 % | |
| Above-Ground Biomass in Forest (tonnes/ha) | 62.3 | 85.66★ | |
| Agricultural land | 25,933.8 sq. km | 963,410 sq. km★ | |
| Airports per 1,000 Sq Km | 120,410 | 1.21M★ | |
| Coastline Length (km) | 2,495 km | 2,798 km★ | |
| Dam capacity per capita | 793.79 cubic meters per inhabitant★ | 464.7 cubic meters per inhabitant | |
| Irrigated Land | 14,600 | 16,700★ |
Government
8 metrics| Metric | 🇰🇵 North Korea | 🇿🇦 South Africa | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rule of Law Index by Country | 5.81 % | 61.59 %★ | |
| Administrative Divisions | 9 | 9 | |
| Corruption Perception Index | 15 index★ | 41 index | |
| Corruption Perceptions Index Score | 15 index | 41 index★ | |
| Independence | 15 | 31★ | |
| LGBT Rights Index Score | 2.07 | 10.94★ | |
| Public Sector Corruption Perception | 15★ | 41 | |
| Suffrage Participation Rate | 17 | 18★ |
Health
19 metrics| Metric | 🇰🇵 North Korea | 🇿🇦 South Africa | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| Access to Safe Drinking Water | 66.61 % | 68.55 %★ | |
| Average BMI for Adults | 24.2 kg/m² | 25 kg/m²★ | |
| Change in Measles Immunization Rate | 99 %★ | 76 % | |
| Diabetes Prevalence (% of Population) | 9.9★ | 7.2 | |
| Female Life Expectancy Leaders | 73.74 years★ | 66.31 years | |
| Global Stillbirth Rate Trends | 0.82 per 1,000 births★ | 1.87 per 1,000 births | |
| Health Coverage Index Score | 77 score★ | 74 score | |
| Health Expenditure (% of GDP) | 2 % of GDP | 8.5 % of GDP★ | |
| Highest Male Life Expectancy | 73.74 years★ | 66.31 years | |
| HIV/AIDS Adult Prevalence Rate | NA | 18.3 % | |
| Hospital Bed Density | 13.2 people/sq km★ | 2.3 people/sq km | |
| Hospital Beds per Capita | 14.3 beds per 1,000★ | 2.25 beds per 1,000 | |
| Malaria Incidence Rate | 0.51 cases per 1,000 | 0.11 cases per 1,000★ | |
| Maternal Mortality Ratio (%) | 67 %★ | 118 % | |
| Nurses and Midwives Density | 4.38 per 1,000 people★ | 1.29 per 1,000 people | |
| Obesity Adult Prevalence Rate (%) | 6.8 %★ | 28.3 % | |
| People Living With HIV/AIDS | NA | 7.8 | |
| Total Number of Doctors | 3.63★ | 0.78 | |
| Underweight Children Under 5 | 9.3 | 4.9★ |
Military and Security
2 metrics| Metric | 🇰🇵 North Korea | 🇿🇦 South Africa | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| Active Military Personnel | 1.28M personnel★ | 74,000 personnel | |
| Total Armed Forces Personnel (PPP) | 1.47M★ | 89,000 |
People and Society
33 metrics| Metric | 🇰🇵 North Korea | 🇿🇦 South Africa | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| Currently married (Percent) | 71.23 %★ | 33.25 % | |
| Life expectancy at birth | 76.14 years★ | 71.98 years | |
| Median age of population | 36.78 years★ | 29 years | |
| Population Change | 60,580.4 persons | 673,269.7 persons★ | |
| Population density | 221.44 per sq. km | 53.74 per sq. km★ | |
| Total population | 26.64M persons | 65.49M persons★ | |
| Academic Freedom Index | 0.04 | 0.83★ | |
| Beer Consumption per Capita | 0.15 liters | 3.65 liters★ | |
| Birth Rate (%) | 12.99 % | 17.21 %★ | |
| Contraceptive Prevalence Rate | 70.2 %★ | 54.6 % | |
| Crude Birth Rate | 12.86 per 1,000 people | 18.48 per 1,000 people★ | |
| Death Rate (%) | 9.01 % | 6.56 %★ | |
| Education Expenditure (% of GDP) | 14.6 % of GDP★ | 6 % of GDP | |
| Female population of reproductive age | 6.08M persons | 18.20M persons★ | |
| Female Tertiary Enrollment Rate (%) | 17.96 % | 26.52 %★ | |
| Global Average Sex Ratio at Birth | 105.65 male/female★ | 103.52 male/female | |
| Labor Force Participation Rate | 17.64 | 27.77★ | |
| Major Urban Areas Population | 3.16 people | 10.32 people★ | |
| Mean Male Height (cm) | 171.99★ | 166.68 | |
| 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 | |
| Old-Age Dependency Ratio | 17.43 % | 9.65 %★ | |
| Percentage of population by degree of urbanization | 86.47 %★ | 79.63 % | |
| Physician Density | 3.63 people/sq km★ | 0.79 people/sq km | |
| Population Growth Rate | 0.4 % | 1.06 %★ | |
| Population living in slums | 23.04 % | 23.64 %★ | |
| Primary School Pupil-Teacher Ratio | 20.53★ | 30.33 | |
| Total deaths | 269,232.3 persons★ | 540,582.7 persons | |
| Total demand for family planning (Percent) | 68.61 %★ | 62.02 % | |
| Total fertility rate | 1.76 per woman | 2.17 per woman★ | |
| Total net-migration | -3,031.8 persons | 39,599.6 persons★ | |
| Under-five mortality rate | 16.3 per live births★ | 28.89 per live births | |
| Urban Population Annual Growth Rate | 0.79 % | 1.34 %★ |
Transportation
3 metrics| Metric | 🇰🇵 North Korea | 🇿🇦 South Africa | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| Air Travel Trips Per Capita (PPP) | 0 | 0.37★ | |
| Airports | 81 | 573★ | |
| Heliports | 8 | 49★ |
Frequently Asked Questions About North Korea vs South Africa
Which has a larger population, North Korea or South Africa?▾
South Africa. South Africa has 2.5 times as many people as North Korea (65.49 million vs 26.64 million). Data for 2026.