North Korea vs United States: Compare Statistics
Side-by-side comparison of 126 key metrics across economy, population, geography, and more — latest data through 2026.
Summary
United States has 13.1 times as many people as North Korea (349.13 million vs 26.64 million).
Comparing North Korea and United States: North Korea leads on Refined Petroleum Products Imports (8,260) against United States (2.17); North Korea leads on Oil Imports (15,810) against United States (10.27); United States leads on Heliports (8,130) against North Korea (8). Across 126 compared metrics, North Korea wins on 40 and United States wins on 75.
- Communications: 7 metrics compared
- Economy: 37 metrics compared
- Environment: 11 metrics compared
- Geography: 7 metrics compared
- Government: 9 metrics compared
- Health: 17 metrics compared
- Military and Security: 2 metrics compared
- People and Society: 33 metrics compared
- Transportation: 3 metrics compared
Communications
7 metrics| Metric | 🇰🇵 North Korea | 🇺🇸 United States | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| Internet Penetration Rate (%) | 0 % | 64.76 %★ | |
| Internet Usage Rate by Country (% of Population) | 0 % | 74.7 %★ | |
| Internet Users | 8 | 505★ | |
| Press Freedom Index Score | 12.64 points | 65.49 points★ | |
| Radios | 3.36 | 575★ | |
| Televisions | 1.2 | 219★ | |
| Waterways | 2,250 | 41,009★ |
Economy
37 metricsEnvironment
11 metrics| Metric | 🇰🇵 North Korea | 🇺🇸 United States | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| Annual CO₂ Emissions Growth (abs) | 525,276 | -14.29M★ | |
| Annual Forest Area Change Rate | 11,356.06 %★ | -72,000 % | |
| Average Annual Temperature | 8.33 °C | 10.43 °C★ | |
| Carbon Dioxide Emissions | 55.74 | 4.8★ | |
| Global Precipitation Distribution | 1,236.6 mm★ | 810.4 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 | large urban clusters are spread throughout the eastern half of the US (particularly the Great Lakes area, northeast, east, and southeast) and the western-tier states; mountainous areas such as the Rocky Mountains and Appalachians, deserts in the southwest | |
| Protected Land Area for Adaptation | 2.4 sq km | 12.85 sq km★ | |
| Protected Land Area Percentage | 2.4 % | 12.9 %★ | |
| Total Renewable Groundwater Resources by Country | 13 Cubic meters per year | 1,383 Cubic meters per year★ | |
| Total Renewable Water Resources | 77.15★ | 3.07 | |
| Total Threatened Mammal Species | 10 species★ | 43 species |
Geography
7 metrics| Metric | 🇰🇵 North Korea | 🇺🇸 United States | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| Percentage of land area by degree of urbanization | 4.47 %★ | 2.11 % | |
| Above-Ground Biomass in Forest (tonnes/ha) | 62.3 | 94.67★ | |
| Agricultural land | 25,933.8 sq. km | 4.17M sq. km★ | |
| Airports per 1,000 Sq Km | 120,410 | 9.15M★ | |
| Coastline Length (km) | 2,495 km | 19,924 km★ | |
| Dam capacity per capita | 793.79 cubic meters per inhabitant | 2,113 cubic meters per inhabitant★ | |
| Irrigated Land | 14,600 | 234,782★ |
Government
9 metrics| Metric | 🇰🇵 North Korea | 🇺🇸 United States | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rule of Law Index by Country | 5.81 % | 88.3 %★ | |
| Administrative Divisions | 9 | 50★ | |
| Corruption Perception Index | 15 index★ | 65 index | |
| Corruption Perceptions Index Score | 15 index | 65 index★ | |
| Independence | 15★ | 4 | |
| LGBT Rights Index Score | 2.07 | 7.08★ | |
| Political Stability Index | 30 index | 47 index★ | |
| Public Sector Corruption Perception | 15★ | 65 | |
| Suffrage Participation Rate | 17 | 18★ |
Health
17 metrics| Metric | 🇰🇵 North Korea | 🇺🇸 United States | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| Access to Safe Drinking Water | 66.61 % | 97.57 %★ | |
| Average BMI for Adults | 24.2 kg/m² | 28.8 kg/m²★ | |
| Change in Measles Immunization Rate | 99 %★ | 92 % | |
| Diabetes Prevalence (% of Population) | 9.9 | 13.7★ | |
| Female Life Expectancy Leaders | 73.74 years | 78.89 years★ | |
| Global Stillbirth Rate Trends | 0.82 per 1,000 births | 0.27 per 1,000 births★ | |
| Health Coverage Index Score | 77 score | 88 score★ | |
| Health Expenditure (% of GDP) | 2 % of GDP | 16.2 % of GDP★ | |
| Highest Male Life Expectancy | 73.74 years | 78.89 years★ | |
| HIV/AIDS Adult Prevalence Rate | NA | NA | |
| Hospital Bed Density | 13.2 people/sq km★ | 2.9 people/sq km | |
| Hospital Beds per Capita | 12.8 beds per 1,000★ | 2.76 beds per 1,000 | |
| Maternal Mortality Ratio (%) | 67 % | 17 %★ | |
| Nurses and Midwives Density | 4.38 per 1,000 people | 11.55 per 1,000 people★ | |
| Obesity Adult Prevalence Rate (%) | 6.8 %★ | 36.2 % | |
| People Living With HIV/AIDS | NA | NA | |
| Underweight Children Under 5 | 9.3 | 0.4★ |
Military and Security
2 metrics| Metric | 🇰🇵 North Korea | 🇺🇸 United States | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| Active Military Personnel | 1.28M personnel | 1.36M personnel★ | |
| Total Armed Forces Personnel (PPP) | 1.47M★ | 1.40M |
People and Society
33 metrics| Metric | 🇰🇵 North Korea | 🇺🇸 United States | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| Currently married (Percent) | 71.23 %★ | 51.38 % | |
| Life expectancy at birth | 76.14 years | 83.22 years★ | |
| Median age of population | 36.78 years | 38.79 years★ | |
| Population Change | 60,580.4 persons | 2.26M persons★ | |
| Population density | 221.44 per sq. km | 38.15 per sq. km★ | |
| Total population | 26.64M persons | 349.13M persons★ | |
| Academic Freedom Index | 0.04 | 0.4★ | |
| Beer Consumption per Capita | 0.15 liters | 3.86 liters★ | |
| Birth Rate (%) | 12.99 %★ | 10.75 % | |
| Contraceptive Prevalence Rate | 70.2 % | 73.9 %★ | |
| Crude Birth Rate | 12.86 per 1,000 people★ | 10.6 per 1,000 people | |
| Death Rate (%) | 9.01 % | 8.76 %★ | |
| Education Expenditure (% of GDP) | 14.6 % of GDP★ | 5.4 % of GDP | |
| Female population of reproductive age | 6.08M persons | 78.56M persons★ | |
| Female Tertiary Enrollment Rate (%) | 17.96 % | 102.35 %★ | |
| Global Average Sex Ratio at Birth | 105.65 male/female★ | 104.75 male/female | |
| Labor Force Participation Rate | 17.64 | 174.17★ | |
| Major Urban Areas Population | 3.16 people | 18.94 people★ | |
| Mean Male Height (cm) | 171.99 | 177.13★ | |
| 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) | 17 | |
| Old-Age Dependency Ratio | 17.43 %★ | 26.8 % | |
| Percentage of population by degree of urbanization | 86.47 %★ | 74.52 % | |
| Physician Density | 3.63 people/sq km | 3.68 people/sq km★ | |
| Population Growth Rate | 0.4 % | 0.45 %★ | |
| Population living in slums | 23.04 %★ | 0.05 % | |
| Primary School Pupil-Teacher Ratio | 20.53 | 14.46★ | |
| Total deaths | 269,232.3 persons★ | 2.87M persons | |
| Total demand for family planning (Percent) | 68.61 %★ | 65.73 % | |
| Total fertility rate | 1.76 per woman★ | 1.61 per woman | |
| Total net-migration | -3,031.8 persons | 1.49M persons★ | |
| Under-five mortality rate | 16.3 per live births | 5.52 per live births★ | |
| Urban Population Annual Growth Rate | 0.79 %★ | 0.61 % |
Transportation
3 metrics| Metric | 🇰🇵 North Korea | 🇺🇸 United States | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| Air Travel Trips Per Capita (PPP) | 0 | 2.06★ | |
| Airports | 81 | 16,116★ | |
| Heliports | 8 | 8,130★ |
Frequently Asked Questions About North Korea vs United States
Which has a larger population, North Korea or United States?▾
United States. United States has 13.1 times as many people as North Korea (349.13 million vs 26.64 million). Data for 2026.