North Korea vs Thailand: Compare Statistics
Side-by-side comparison of 127 key metrics across economy, population, geography, and more — latest data through 2026.
Summary
Thailand has 2.7 times as many people as North Korea (71.57 million vs 26.64 million).
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 127 compared metrics, North Korea wins on 37 and Thailand wins on 78.
- Communications: 7 metrics compared
- Economy: 37 metrics compared
- Environment: 11 metrics compared
- Geography: 7 metrics compared
- Government: 9 metrics compared
- Health: 18 metrics compared
- Military and Security: 2 metrics compared
- People and Society: 33 metrics compared
- Transportation: 3 metrics compared
Communications
7 metrics| Metric | 🇰🇵 North Korea | 🇹🇭 Thailand | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| Internet Penetration Rate (%) | 0 % | 10.68 %★ | |
| Internet Usage Rate by Country (% of Population) | 0 % | 26.46 %★ | |
| Internet Users | 8★ | 3.4 | |
| Press Freedom Index Score | 12.64 points | 56.72 points★ | |
| Radios | 3.36 | 13.96★ | |
| Televisions | 1.2 | 15.19★ | |
| Waterways | 2,250 | 4,000★ |
Economy
37 metricsEnvironment
11 metrics| Metric | 🇰🇵 North Korea | 🇹🇭 Thailand | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| Annual CO₂ Emissions Growth (abs) | 525,276★ | 3.03M | |
| Annual Forest Area Change Rate | 11,356.06 %★ | -138,016.02 % | |
| Average Annual Temperature | 8.33 °C | 26.31 °C★ | |
| Carbon Dioxide Emissions | 55.74★ | 336.69 | |
| Global Precipitation Distribution | 1,236.6 mm | 1,756.8 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 | highest 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 Adaptation | 2.4 sq km | 18.37 sq km★ | |
| Protected Land Area Percentage | 2.4 % | 18.4 %★ | |
| Total Renewable Groundwater Resources by Country | 13 Cubic meters per year | 41.9 Cubic meters per year★ | |
| Total Renewable Water Resources | 77.15 | 438.61★ | |
| Total Threatened Mammal Species | 10 species★ | 64 species |
Geography
7 metrics| Metric | 🇰🇵 North Korea | 🇹🇭 Thailand | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| Percentage of land area by degree of urbanization | 4.47 % | 5.23 %★ | |
| Above-Ground Biomass in Forest (tonnes/ha) | 62.3 | 142.5★ | |
| Agricultural land | 25,933.8 sq. km | 243,086.8 sq. km★ | |
| Airports per 1,000 Sq Km | 120,410 | 510,890★ | |
| Coastline Length (km) | 2,495 km | 3,219 km★ | |
| Dam capacity per capita | 793.79 cubic meters per inhabitant | 1,098 cubic meters per inhabitant★ | |
| Irrigated Land | 14,600 | 64,150★ |
Government
9 metrics| Metric | 🇰🇵 North Korea | 🇹🇭 Thailand | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rule of Law Index by Country | 5.81 % | 56.88 %★ | |
| Administrative Divisions | 9 | 76★ | |
| Corruption Perception Index | 15 index★ | 34 index | |
| Corruption Perceptions Index Score | 15 index | 34 index★ | |
| Independence | 15 | 123★ | |
| LGBT Rights Index Score | 2.07 | 6.07★ | |
| Political Stability Index | 30 index | 36 index★ | |
| Public Sector Corruption Perception | 15★ | 34 | |
| Suffrage Participation Rate | 17 | 18★ |
Health
18 metrics| Metric | 🇰🇵 North Korea | 🇹🇭 Thailand | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average BMI for Adults | 24.2 kg/m²★ | 23.9 kg/m² | |
| Change in Measles Immunization Rate | 99 %★ | 93 % | |
| Diabetes Prevalence (% of Population) | 9.9 | 10.2★ | |
| Female Life Expectancy Leaders | 73.74 years | 76.56 years★ | |
| Global Stillbirth Rate Trends | 0.82 per 1,000 births | 0.39 per 1,000 births★ | |
| Health Coverage Index Score | 77 score | 82 score★ | |
| Health Expenditure (% of GDP) | 2 % of GDP | 4.3 % of GDP★ | |
| Highest Male Life Expectancy | 73.74 years | 76.56 years★ | |
| HIV/AIDS Adult Prevalence Rate | NA | 1 % | |
| Hospital Bed Density | 13.2 people/sq km★ | 2.1 people/sq km | |
| Hospital Beds per Capita | 12.8 beds per 1,000★ | 2.1 beds per 1,000 | |
| Malaria Incidence Rate | 0.51 cases per 1,000★ | 0.58 cases per 1,000 | |
| Maternal Mortality Ratio (%) | 67 % | 34 %★ | |
| Nurses and Midwives Density | 4.38 per 1,000 people★ | 2.88 per 1,000 people | |
| Obesity Adult Prevalence Rate (%) | 6.8 %★ | 10 % | |
| People Living With HIV/AIDS | NA | 500,000 | |
| Total Number of Doctors | 3.63★ | 0.79 | |
| Underweight Children Under 5 | 9.3 | 6.7★ |
Military and Security
2 metrics| Metric | 🇰🇵 North Korea | 🇹🇭 Thailand | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| Active Military Personnel | 1.28M personnel★ | 361,000 personnel | |
| Total Armed Forces Personnel (PPP) | 1.47M★ | 455,000 |
People and Society
33 metrics| Metric | 🇰🇵 North Korea | 🇹🇭 Thailand | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| Currently married (Percent) | 71.23 %★ | 50.17 % | |
| Life expectancy at birth | 76.14 years | 80.78 years★ | |
| Median age of population | 36.78 years | 41.03 years★ | |
| Population Change | 60,580.4 persons★ | -87,807.2 persons | |
| Population density | 221.44 per sq. km | 140.16 per sq. km★ | |
| Total population | 26.64M persons | 71.57M persons★ | |
| Academic Freedom Index | 0.04 | 0.38★ | |
| Beer Consumption per Capita | 0.15 liters | 2.01 liters★ | |
| Birth Rate (%) | 12.99 %★ | 9.82 % | |
| Contraceptive Prevalence Rate | 70.2 % | 73 %★ | |
| Crude Birth Rate | 12.86 per 1,000 people★ | 8.12 per 1,000 people | |
| Death Rate (%) | 9.01 % | 8.08 %★ | |
| Education Expenditure (% of GDP) | 14.6 % of GDP★ | 2.5 % of GDP | |
| Female population of reproductive age | 6.08M persons | 16.94M persons★ | |
| Female Tertiary Enrollment Rate (%) | 17.96 % | 53.98 %★ | |
| Global Average Sex Ratio at Birth | 105.65 male/female | 106.24 male/female★ | |
| Labor Force Participation Rate | 17.64 | 40.62★ | |
| Major Urban Areas Population | 3.16 people | 11.07 people★ | |
| Mean Male Height (cm) | 171.99★ | 169.16 | |
| 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 %★ | 20.94 % | |
| Percentage of population by degree of urbanization | 86.47 %★ | 62.64 % | |
| Physician Density | 3.63 people/sq km★ | 0.54 people/sq km | |
| Population Growth Rate | 0.4 %★ | 0.13 % | |
| Population living in slums | 23.04 %★ | 2 % | |
| Primary School Pupil-Teacher Ratio | 20.3 | 16.64★ | |
| Total deaths | 269,232.3 persons★ | 685,767.7 persons | |
| Total demand for family planning (Percent) | 68.61 %★ | 44.11 % | |
| Total fertility rate | 1.76 per woman★ | 1.18 per woman | |
| Total net-migration | -3,031.8 persons | 36,266.2 persons★ | |
| Under-five mortality rate | 16.3 per live births | 10.25 per live births★ | |
| Urban Population Annual Growth Rate | 0.79 % | 1.43 %★ |
Transportation
3 metrics| Metric | 🇰🇵 North Korea | 🇹🇭 Thailand | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| Air Travel Trips Per Capita (PPP) | 0 | 1.01★ | |
| Airports | 81 | 105★ | |
| Heliports | 8★ | 5 |
Frequently Asked Questions About North Korea vs Thailand
Which has a larger population, North Korea or Thailand?▾
Thailand. Thailand has 2.7 times as many people as North Korea (71.57 million vs 26.64 million). Data for 2026.