North Korea vs Switzerland: Compare Statistics
Side-by-side comparison of 96 key metrics across economy, population, geography, and more — latest data through 2026.
Summary
Comparing North Korea and Switzerland: North Korea leads on Total Armed Forces Personnel (PPP) (1.47 million) against Switzerland (20,000); Switzerland leads on Oil Production (3,488) against North Korea (118); North Korea leads on Irrigated Land (14,600) against Switzerland (494). Across 96 compared metrics, North Korea wins on 30 and Switzerland wins on 52.
- Communications: 7 metrics compared
- Economy: 35 metrics compared
- Environment: 6 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: 3 metrics compared
Communications
7 metrics| Metric | 🇰🇵 North Korea | 🇨🇭 Switzerland | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| Internet Penetration Rate (%) | 0 % | 67.8 %★ | |
| Internet Usage Rate by Country (% of Population) | 0 % | 85.2 %★ | |
| Internet Users | 8★ | 5.3 | |
| Press Freedom Index Score | 12.64 points | 83.98 points★ | |
| Radios | 3.36 | 7.1★ | |
| Televisions | 1.2 | 3.31★ | |
| Waterways | 2,250★ | 1,292 |
Economy
35 metricsEnvironment
6 metrics| Metric | 🇰🇵 North Korea | 🇨🇭 Switzerland | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| Annual CO₂ Emissions Growth (abs) | 525,276 | 94,222★ | |
| Carbon Dioxide Emissions | 55.74 | 33.31★ | |
| 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 corresponds to elevation, with the northern and western areas far more heavily populated; the higher Alps of the south limit settlement | |
| Protected Land Area for Adaptation | 2.4 sq km | 12.62 sq km★ | |
| Total Renewable Groundwater Resources by Country | 13 Cubic meters per year★ | 2.5 Cubic meters per year | |
| Total Renewable Water Resources | 77.15★ | 53.5 |
Geography
6 metrics| Metric | 🇰🇵 North Korea | 🇨🇭 Switzerland | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| Percentage of land area by degree of urbanization | 4.47 % | 10.55 %★ | |
| Above-Ground Biomass in Forest (tonnes/ha) | 62.3 | 193.06★ | |
| Agricultural land | 25,933.8 sq. km★ | 14,840.06 sq. km | |
| Coastline Length (km) | 2,495 km★ | 0 km | |
| Dam capacity per capita | 793.79 cubic meters per inhabitant★ | 368.47 cubic meters per inhabitant | |
| Irrigated Land | 14,600★ | 494 |
Government
4 metrics| Metric | 🇰🇵 North Korea | 🇨🇭 Switzerland | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rule of Law Index by Country | 5.81 % | 97.65 %★ | |
| Administrative Divisions | 9 | 26★ | |
| Independence | 15★ | 1 | |
| Suffrage Participation Rate | 17 | 18★ |
Health
8 metrics| Metric | 🇰🇵 North Korea | 🇨🇭 Switzerland | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| Diabetes Prevalence (% of Population) | 9.9★ | 5.3 | |
| Health Expenditure (% of GDP) | 2 % of GDP | 11.3 % of GDP★ | |
| HIV/AIDS Adult Prevalence Rate | NA | 0.2 % | |
| Hospital Bed Density | 13.2 people/sq km★ | 4.7 people/sq km | |
| Maternal Mortality Ratio (%) | 67 % | 5 %★ | |
| Obesity Adult Prevalence Rate (%) | 6.8 %★ | 19.5 % | |
| People Living With HIV/AIDS | NA | 17,000 | |
| Underweight Children Under 5 | 9.3 | NA |
Military and Security
1 metric| Metric | 🇰🇵 North Korea | 🇨🇭 Switzerland | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Armed Forces Personnel (PPP) | 1.47M★ | 20,000 |
People and Society
26 metrics| Metric | 🇰🇵 North Korea | 🇨🇭 Switzerland | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| Currently married (Percent) | 71.23 %★ | 56.83 % | |
| Life expectancy at birth | 76.14 years | 86.21 years★ | |
| Median age of population | 36.78 years | 43.24 years★ | |
| Population Change | 60,580.4 persons★ | 31,734.2 persons | |
| Population density | 221.44 per sq. km★ | 226.22 per sq. km | |
| Total population | 26.64M persons★ | 9.01M persons | |
| Academic Freedom Index | 0.04 | 0.77★ | |
| Birth Rate (%) | 12.99 %★ | 10.01 % | |
| Contraceptive Prevalence Rate | 70.2 % | 71.6 %★ | |
| Death Rate (%) | 9.01 % | 8.61 %★ | |
| Education Expenditure (% of GDP) | 14.6 % of GDP★ | 4.9 % of GDP | |
| Female population of reproductive age | 6.08M persons★ | 1.91M persons | |
| Labor Force Participation Rate | 17.64★ | 5.15 | |
| Major Urban Areas Population | 3.16 people★ | 1.43 people | |
| Mean Male Height (cm) | 171.99 | 178.42★ | |
| Military Manpower at Military Age | 18 | 20★ | |
| 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) | every Swiss man 18-30 is obligated to serve in the military or the alternative civilian service; women can serve on a voluntary basis; required military service is 245 days, including 18-21 weeks of basic training generally between the ages of 19-25, foll | |
| Percentage of population by degree of urbanization | 86.47 %★ | 77.26 % | |
| Physician Density | 3.63 people/sq km | 4.48 people/sq km★ | |
| Population Growth Rate | 0.4 % | 0.72 %★ | |
| Population living in slums | 23.04 %★ | 0 % | |
| Total deaths | 269,232.3 persons | 76,930.9 persons★ | |
| Total demand for family planning (Percent) | 68.61 % | 77.1 %★ | |
| Total fertility rate | 1.76 per woman★ | 1.41 per woman | |
| Total net-migration | -3,031.8 persons | 28,963.1 persons★ | |
| Under-five mortality rate | 16.3 per live births | 3.5 per live births★ |
Transportation
3 metrics| Metric | 🇰🇵 North Korea | 🇨🇭 Switzerland | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| Air Travel Trips Per Capita (PPP) | 0 | 3★ | |
| Airports | 81★ | 66 | |
| Heliports | 8 | 52★ |