North Korea vs United Kingdom: Compare Statistics
Side-by-side comparison of 125 key metrics across economy, population, geography, and more — latest data through 2026.
Summary
United Kingdom has 2.6 times as many people as North Korea (69.96 million vs 26.64 million).
Comparing North Korea and United Kingdom: North Korea leads on Refined Petroleum Products Consumption (18,000) against United Kingdom (1.58); North Korea leads on Oil Imports (15,810) against United Kingdom (1.45); North Korea leads on Refined Petroleum Products Production (11,270) against United Kingdom (1.29). Across 125 compared metrics, North Korea wins on 39 and United Kingdom wins on 74.
- Communications: 7 metrics compared
- Economy: 37 metrics compared
- Environment: 11 metrics compared
- Geography: 7 metrics compared
- Government: 8 metrics compared
- Health: 18 metrics compared
- Military and Security: 2 metrics compared
- People and Society: 32 metrics compared
- Transportation: 3 metrics compared
Communications
7 metrics| Metric | 🇰🇵 North Korea | 🇬🇧 United Kingdom | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| Internet Penetration Rate (%) | 0 % | 65.61 %★ | |
| Internet Usage Rate by Country (% of Population) | 0 % | 87.48 %★ | |
| Internet Users | 8 | 8.11★ | |
| Press Freedom Index Score | 12.64 points | 78.89 points★ | |
| Radios | 3.36 | 84.5★ | |
| Televisions | 1.2 | 30.5★ | |
| Waterways | 2,250 | 3,200★ |
Economy
37 metricsEnvironment
11 metrics| Metric | 🇰🇵 North Korea | 🇬🇧 United Kingdom | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| Annual CO₂ Emissions Growth (abs) | 525,276★ | 5.08M | |
| Annual Forest Area Change Rate | 11,356.06 % | 12,600 %★ | |
| Average Annual Temperature | 8.33 °C | 10.37 °C★ | |
| Carbon Dioxide Emissions | 55.74★ | 340.94 | |
| Global Precipitation Distribution | 1,236.6 mm★ | 962.53 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 core of the population lies in and around London, with significant clusters found in central Britain around Manchester and Liverpool, in the Scottish lowlands between Edinburgh and Glasgow, in southern Wales in and around Cardiff, and in far-eastern N | |
| Protected Land Area for Adaptation | 2.4 sq km | 28.58 sq km★ | |
| Protected Land Area Percentage | 2.4 % | 28.4 %★ | |
| Total Renewable Groundwater Resources by Country | 13 Cubic meters per year★ | 9.8 Cubic meters per year | |
| Total Renewable Water Resources | 77.15 | 147★ | |
| Total Threatened Mammal Species | 10 species | 4 species★ |
Geography
7 metrics| Metric | 🇰🇵 North Korea | 🇬🇧 United Kingdom | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| Percentage of land area by degree of urbanization | 4.47 % | 9.75 %★ | |
| Above-Ground Biomass in Forest (tonnes/ha) | 62.3 | 115★ | |
| Agricultural land | 25,933.8 sq. km | 172,448.2 sq. km★ | |
| Airports per 1,000 Sq Km | 120,410 | 241,930★ | |
| Coastline Length (km) | 2,495 km | 12,429 km★ | |
| Dam capacity per capita | 793.79 cubic meters per inhabitant★ | 75.83 cubic meters per inhabitant | |
| Irrigated Land | 14,600★ | 718 |
Government
8 metrics| Metric | 🇰🇵 North Korea | 🇬🇧 United Kingdom | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rule of Law Index by Country | 5.81 % | 86.77 %★ | |
| Administrative Divisions | 9 | England: 24 two-tier counties, 32 London boroughs and 1 City of London or Greater London, 36 metropolitan districts, 59 unitary authorities (including 4 single-tier counties*) two-tier counties: Cambridgeshire, Cumbria, Derbyshire, Devon, East Sussex, Ess | |
| Corruption Perception Index | 15 index★ | 71 index | |
| Corruption Perceptions Index Score | 15 index | 71 index★ | |
| Independence | 15 | no official date of independence: 927 (minor English kingdoms unite); 3 March 1284 (enactment of the Statute of Rhuddlan uniting England and Wales); 1536 (Act of Union incorporates England and Wales); 1 May 1707 (Acts of Union unite England, Scotland, and | |
| LGBT Rights Index Score | 2.07 | 10.98★ | |
| Public Sector Corruption Perception | 15★ | 71 | |
| Suffrage Participation Rate | 17 | 18★ |
Health
18 metrics| Metric | 🇰🇵 North Korea | 🇬🇧 United Kingdom | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| Access to Safe Drinking Water | 66.61 % | 99.83 %★ | |
| Average BMI for Adults | 24.2 kg/m² | 27.3 kg/m²★ | |
| Change in Measles Immunization Rate | 99 %★ | 89 % | |
| Diabetes Prevalence (% of Population) | 9.9★ | 7.4 | |
| Female Life Expectancy Leaders | 73.74 years | 81.39 years★ | |
| Global Stillbirth Rate Trends | 0.82 per 1,000 births | 0.25 per 1,000 births★ | |
| Health Coverage Index Score | 77 score | 88 score★ | |
| Health Expenditure (% of GDP) | 2 % of GDP | 9.3 % of GDP★ | |
| Highest Male Life Expectancy | 73.74 years | 81.39 years★ | |
| HIV/AIDS Adult Prevalence Rate | NA | NA | |
| Hospital Bed Density | 13.2 people/sq km★ | 2.5 people/sq km | |
| Hospital Beds per Capita | 12.8 beds per 1,000★ | 2.48 beds per 1,000 | |
| Maternal Mortality Ratio (%) | 67 % | 8 %★ | |
| Nurses and Midwives Density | 4.38 per 1,000 people | 8.27 per 1,000 people★ | |
| Obesity Adult Prevalence Rate (%) | 6.8 %★ | 27.8 % | |
| People Living With HIV/AIDS | NA | NA | |
| Total Number of Doctors | 3.63★ | 2.8 | |
| Underweight Children Under 5 | 9.3 | 0.6★ |
Military and Security
2 metrics| Metric | 🇰🇵 North Korea | 🇬🇧 United Kingdom | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| Active Military Personnel | 1.28M personnel★ | 150,000 personnel | |
| Total Armed Forces Personnel (PPP) | 1.47M★ | 153,000 |
People and Society
32 metrics| Metric | 🇰🇵 North Korea | 🇬🇧 United Kingdom | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| Currently married (Percent) | 71.23 %★ | 46.59 % | |
| Life expectancy at birth | 76.14 years | 83.69 years★ | |
| Median age of population | 36.78 years | 40.33 years★ | |
| Population Change | 60,580.4 persons | 377,688.2 persons★ | |
| Population density | 221.44 per sq. km★ | 288.63 per sq. km | |
| Total population | 26.64M persons | 69.96M persons★ | |
| Academic Freedom Index | 0.04 | 0.67★ | |
| Beer Consumption per Capita | 0.15 liters | 3.54 liters★ | |
| Birth Rate (%) | 12.99 %★ | 10.76 % | |
| Contraceptive Prevalence Rate | 70.2 % | 76.1 %★ | |
| Crude Birth Rate | 12.86 per 1,000 people★ | 9.89 per 1,000 people | |
| Death Rate (%) | 9.01 %★ | 9.25 % | |
| Education Expenditure (% of GDP) | 14.6 % of GDP★ | 5.9 % of GDP | |
| Female population of reproductive age | 6.08M persons | 15.28M persons★ | |
| Female Tertiary Enrollment Rate (%) | 17.96 % | 70.45 %★ | |
| Global Average Sex Ratio at Birth | 105.65 male/female★ | 105.42 male/female | |
| Labor Force Participation Rate | 17.64 | 35.36★ | |
| Major Urban Areas Population | 3.16 people | 9.65 people★ | |
| Mean Male Height (cm) | 171.99 | 177.49★ | |
| 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) | 16 | |
| Old-Age Dependency Ratio | 17.43 %★ | 30.33 % | |
| Percentage of population by degree of urbanization | 86.47 % | 86.48 %★ | |
| Physician Density | 3.63 people/sq km★ | 3.3 people/sq km | |
| Population Growth Rate | 0.4 % | 0.4 % | |
| Population living in slums | 23.04 %★ | 0.16 % | |
| Primary School Pupil-Teacher Ratio | 22 | 17.96★ | |
| Total deaths | 269,232.3 persons★ | 675,626.2 persons | |
| Total demand for family planning (Percent) | 68.61 % | 75.07 %★ | |
| Total fertility rate | 1.76 per woman★ | 1.53 per woman | |
| Total net-migration | -3,031.8 persons | 375,700.7 persons★ | |
| Under-five mortality rate | 16.3 per live births | 4.03 per live births★ | |
| Urban Population Annual Growth Rate | 0.79 %★ | 0.39 % |
Transportation
3 metrics| Metric | 🇰🇵 North Korea | 🇬🇧 United Kingdom | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| Air Travel Trips Per Capita (PPP) | 0 | 2.25★ | |
| Airports | 81 | 1,057★ | |
| Heliports | 8 | 139★ |
Frequently Asked Questions About North Korea vs United Kingdom
Which has a larger population, North Korea or United Kingdom?▾
United Kingdom. United Kingdom has 2.6 times as many people as North Korea (69.96 million vs 26.64 million). Data for 2026.