North Korea vs Syrian Arab Republic: 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 Syrian Arab Republic: Syrian Arab Republic leads on Oil Production (401,000) against North Korea (118); Syrian Arab Republic leads on Total net-migration (604,061 persons) against North Korea (-3,032 persons); Syrian Arab Republic leads on Internet Users (416) against North Korea (8). Across 96 compared metrics, North Korea wins on 33 and Syrian Arab Republic wins on 46.
- 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 | 🇸🇾 Syrian Arab Republic | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| Internet Penetration Rate (%) | 0 % | 4.32 %★ | |
| Internet Usage Rate by Country (% of Population) | 0 % | 24.3 %★ | |
| Internet Users | 8 | 416★ | |
| Press Freedom Index Score | 12.64 points | 15.82 points★ | |
| Radios | 3.36 | 4.15★ | |
| Televisions | 1.2★ | 1.05 | |
| Waterways | 2,250★ | 900 |
Economy
35 metricsEnvironment
6 metrics| Metric | 🇰🇵 North Korea | 🇸🇾 Syrian Arab Republic | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| Annual CO₂ Emissions Growth (abs) | 525,276 | 104,804★ | |
| Carbon Dioxide Emissions | 55.74 | 20.24★ | |
| 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 | significant population density along the Mediterranean coast; larger concentrations found in the major cities of Damascus, Aleppo (the country's largest city), and Hims (Homs); more than half of the population lives in the coastal plain, the province of H | |
| Protected Land Area for Adaptation | 2.4 sq km★ | 0.7 sq km | |
| Total Renewable Groundwater Resources by Country | 13 Cubic meters per year★ | 6.17 Cubic meters per year | |
| Total Renewable Water Resources | 77.15★ | 16.8 |
Geography
6 metrics| Metric | 🇰🇵 North Korea | 🇸🇾 Syrian Arab Republic | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| Percentage of land area by degree of urbanization | 4.47 %★ | 3.98 % | |
| Above-Ground Biomass in Forest (tonnes/ha) | 62.3★ | 49.98 | |
| Agricultural land | 25,933.8 sq. km | 133,656.6 sq. km★ | |
| Coastline Length (km) | 2,495 km★ | 193 km | |
| Dam capacity per capita | 793.79 cubic meters per inhabitant★ | 748.37 cubic meters per inhabitant | |
| Irrigated Land | 14,600★ | 9,820 |
Government
4 metrics| Metric | 🇰🇵 North Korea | 🇸🇾 Syrian Arab Republic | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rule of Law Index by Country | 5.81 %★ | 1.5 % | |
| Administrative Divisions | 9 | 14★ | |
| Independence | 15 | 17★ | |
| Suffrage Participation Rate | 17 | 18★ |
Health
8 metrics| Metric | 🇰🇵 North Korea | 🇸🇾 Syrian Arab Republic | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| Diabetes Prevalence (% of Population) | 9.9 | 19★ | |
| Health Expenditure (% of GDP) | 2 % of GDP | 2.9 % of GDP★ | |
| HIV/AIDS Adult Prevalence Rate | NA | (2021 est.) <0.1% | |
| Hospital Bed Density | 13.2 people/sq km★ | 1.4 people/sq km | |
| Maternal Mortality Ratio (%) | 67 % | 20 %★ | |
| Obesity Adult Prevalence Rate (%) | 6.8 %★ | 27.8 % | |
| People Living With HIV/AIDS | NA | <1,000 (2020) | |
| Underweight Children Under 5 | 9.3 | NA |
Military and Security
1 metric| Metric | 🇰🇵 North Korea | 🇸🇾 Syrian Arab Republic | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Armed Forces Personnel (PPP) | 1.47M★ | 269,000 |
People and Society
26 metrics| Metric | 🇰🇵 North Korea | 🇸🇾 Syrian Arab Republic | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| Currently married (Percent) | 71.23 %★ | 54.36 % | |
| Life expectancy at birth | 76.14 years★ | 75.31 years | |
| Median age of population | 36.78 years★ | 23.98 years | |
| Population Change | 60,580.4 persons | 1.11M persons★ | |
| Population density | 221.44 per sq. km | 145.09 per sq. km★ | |
| Total population | 26.64M persons★ | 26.57M persons | |
| Academic Freedom Index | 0.04 | 0.2★ | |
| Birth Rate (%) | 12.99 % | 21.26 %★ | |
| Contraceptive Prevalence Rate | 70.2 % | NA | |
| Death Rate (%) | 9.01 % | 3.97 %★ | |
| Education Expenditure (% of GDP) | NA | NA | |
| Female population of reproductive age | 6.08M persons | 7.60M persons★ | |
| Labor Force Participation Rate | 17.64★ | 6.62 | |
| Major Urban Areas Population | 3.16 people★ | 2.59 people | |
| Mean Male Height (cm) | 171.99★ | 170.43 | |
| Military Manpower at Military Age | 18 | 19★ | |
| 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) | under Bashar al-ASAD, Syrian men aged 18-38 were required to serve 18-21 months in the military; conscription continued until ASAD's fall when the interim government announced that mandatory conscription to Syria s armed forces would be abolished and only | |
| Percentage of population by degree of urbanization | 86.47 %★ | 82.39 % | |
| Physician Density | 3.63 people/sq km★ | 1.52 people/sq km | |
| Population Growth Rate | 0.4 % | 1.63 %★ | |
| Population living in slums | 23.04 % | 41.64 %★ | |
| Total deaths | 269,232.3 persons | 130,201.4 persons★ | |
| Total demand for family planning (Percent) | 68.61 %★ | 41.9 % | |
| Total fertility rate | 1.76 per woman | 2.63 per woman★ | |
| Total net-migration | -3,031.8 persons | 604,061 persons★ | |
| Under-five mortality rate | 16.3 per live births★ | 20.62 per live births |
Transportation
3 metrics| Metric | 🇰🇵 North Korea | 🇸🇾 Syrian Arab Republic | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| Air Travel Trips Per Capita (PPP) | 0 | 0.03★ | |
| Airports | 81★ | 42 | |
| Heliports | 8 | 13★ |