North Korea vs Thailand: Compare Statistics

Side-by-side comparison of 97 key metrics across economy, population, geography, and more — latest data through 2026.

Summary

Comparing North Korea and Thailand: North Korea leads on Refined Petroleum Products Consumption (18,000) against Thailand (1.33); North Korea leads on Refined Petroleum Products Production (11,270) against Thailand (1.33); Thailand leads on Oil Production (406,800) against North Korea (118). Across 97 compared metrics, North Korea wins on 23 and Thailand wins on 62.

  • Communications: 7 metrics compared
  • Economy: 35 metrics compared
  • Environment: 6 metrics compared
  • Geography: 6 metrics compared
  • Government: 5 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🇹🇭 ThailandShare
Internet Penetration Rate (%)0 %10.68 %
Internet Usage Rate by Country (% of Population)0 %26.46 %
Internet Users83.4
Press Freedom Index Score12.64 points56.72 points
Radios3.3613.96
Televisions1.215.19
Waterways2,2504,000

Economy

35 metrics
Metric🇰🇵 North Korea🇹🇭 ThailandShare
Agriculture Value Added as a Share of GDP by Country3.34B $45.86B $
Current Health Expenditure (% of GDP)NA3.8 % of GDP
Electricity Consumption13.89187.7
Electricity Exports02.27
Electricity from Fossil Fuels4576
Electricity from Hydroelectric Plants558
Electricity from Nuclear Fuels00
Electricity from Other Renewables016
Electricity Imports019.83
Electricity Installed Capacity10.0144.89
Electricity Production16.57181.5
Energy Consumption per Capita (USD)23.83 USD per capita80.6 USD per capita
Gross National SavingNA34.1
Industrial Production Growth Rate (%)4.3 %-2.27 %
Inflation Rate (Consumer Prices)NA1.23 %
Military Expenditures (% of GDP)defense spending is a regime priority; between 2010 and 2020, military expenditures accounted for an estimated 20-30% of North Korea's GDP annually; spending estimates ranged from $7 billion to $11 billion annually; in 2024, North Korea announced that it 1.1 % of GDP
Natural Gas Consumption052.64
Natural Gas Exports00
Natural Gas Imports014.41
Natural Gas Production038.59
Natural Gas Proved Reserves0193.4
Oil Consumption13,000988,000
Oil Exports0269,100
Oil Imports15,810807,100
Oil Production118406,800
Oil Proved Reserves0435
Population Below Poverty LineNA9.9 people
Real GDP Growth Rate (USD)-1.1 USD1.88 USD
Refined Petroleum Products Consumption18,0001.33
Refined Petroleum Products Exports0278,300
Refined Petroleum Products Imports8,260134,200
Refined Petroleum Products Production11,2701.33
Taxes and Other Revenues11.414.48
Unemployment Rate2.9 %0.7 %
Youth Labor Force Participation Rate82.15 %66.68 %

Environment

6 metrics
Metric🇰🇵 North Korea🇹🇭 ThailandShare
Annual CO₂ Emissions Growth (abs)525,2763.03M
Carbon Dioxide Emissions55.74336.69
Population Distributionpopulation 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 Hunhighest population density is found in and around Bangkok; significant population clusters throughout large parts of the country, particularly north and northeast of Bangkok and in the extreme southern region of the country
Protected Land Area for Adaptation2.4 sq km18.37 sq km
Total Renewable Groundwater Resources by Country13 Cubic meters per year41.9 Cubic meters per year
Total Renewable Water Resources77.15438.61

Geography

6 metrics
Metric🇰🇵 North Korea🇹🇭 ThailandShare
Percentage of land area by degree of urbanization4.47 %5.23 %
Above-Ground Biomass in Forest (tonnes/ha)62.3142.5
Agricultural land25,933.8 sq. km243,086.8 sq. km
Coastline Length (km)2,495 km3,219 km
Dam capacity per capita793.79 cubic meters per inhabitant1,098 cubic meters per inhabitant
Irrigated Land14,60064,150

Government

5 metrics
Metric🇰🇵 North Korea🇹🇭 ThailandShare
Rule of Law Index by Country5.81 %56.88 %
Administrative Divisions976
Independence15123
Political Stability Index30 index36 index
Suffrage Participation Rate1718

Health

8 metrics
Metric🇰🇵 North Korea🇹🇭 ThailandShare
Diabetes Prevalence (% of Population)9.910.2
Health Expenditure (% of GDP)2 % of GDP4.3 % of GDP
HIV/AIDS Adult Prevalence RateNA1 %
Hospital Bed Density13.2 people/sq km2.1 people/sq km
Maternal Mortality Ratio (%)67 %34 %
Obesity Adult Prevalence Rate (%)6.8 %10 %
People Living With HIV/AIDSNA500,000
Underweight Children Under 59.36.7

Military and Security

1 metric
Metric🇰🇵 North Korea🇹🇭 ThailandShare
Total Armed Forces Personnel (PPP)1.47M455,000

People and Society

26 metrics
Metric🇰🇵 North Korea🇹🇭 ThailandShare
Currently married (Percent)71.23 %50.17 %
Life expectancy at birth76.14 years80.78 years
Median age of population36.78 years41.03 years
Population Change60,580.4 persons-87,807.2 persons
Population density221.44 per sq. km140.16 per sq. km
Total population26.64M persons71.57M persons
Academic Freedom Index0.040.38
Birth Rate (%)12.99 %9.82 %
Contraceptive Prevalence Rate70.2 %73 %
Death Rate (%)9.01 %8.08 %
Education Expenditure (% of GDP)14.6 % of GDP2.5 % of GDP
Female population of reproductive age6.08M persons16.94M persons
Labor Force Participation Rate17.6440.62
Major Urban Areas Population3.16 people11.07 people
Mean Male Height (cm)171.99169.16
Military Manpower at Military Age1818
Military Service Age and Obligationcompulsory 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 urbanization86.47 %62.64 %
Physician Density3.63 people/sq km0.54 people/sq km
Population Growth Rate0.4 %0.13 %
Population living in slums23.04 %2 %
Total deaths269,232.3 persons685,767.7 persons
Total demand for family planning (Percent)68.61 %44.11 %
Total fertility rate1.76 per woman1.18 per woman
Total net-migration-3,031.8 persons36,266.2 persons
Under-five mortality rate16.3 per live births10.25 per live births

Transportation

3 metrics
Metric🇰🇵 North Korea🇹🇭 ThailandShare
Air Travel Trips Per Capita (PPP)01.01
Airports81105
Heliports85

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North Korea vs Thailand: Compare Key Statistics and Facts | Geo Factbook