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Korea, Dem. People's Rep.
Korea, Dem. People's Rep.
Population
26.5M
Rank #56Source: World Bank
Capital
Pyongyang
Source: REST Countries
Region
Asia
East Asia & Pacific
Source: REST Countries
GDP (Nominal)
$0
Source: World Bank
Land Area
120.5K km²
Rank #98Source: REST Countries
Life Expectancy
73.642 yrs
Source: World Bank
Historical Trends
Population Trend (5-Year)
Source: World Bank
GDP Trend (5-Year, Nominal USD)
No historical GDP data available
Source: World Bank
Geography
Area: 120,538 km²
Landlocked: No
Independent: Yes
Climate: temperate, with rainfall concentrated in summer; long, bitter winters
Terrain: mostly hills and mountains separated by deep, narrow valleys; wide coastal plains in west, discontinuous in east
Elevation: mean elevation: 600 m lowest point: Sea of Japan 0 m highest point: Paektu-san 2,744 m
Natural Hazards: late spring droughts often followed by severe flooding; occasional typhoons during the early fallvolcanism: Changbaishan (2,744 m) (also known as Baitoushan, Baegdu or P'aektu-san), on the Chinese...
Environmental Issues: water pollution; inadequate supplies of potable water; waterborne disease; deforestation; soil erosion and degradation
Land Use: agricultural land: 21.8% (2011 est.) forest: 46% (2011 est.) other: 32.2% (2011 est.)
Geography Note: strategic location bordering China, South Korea, and Russia; mountainous interior is isolated and sparsely populated
Natural Resources
coaliron orelimestonemagnesitegraphitecopperzincleadprecious metalshydropower
People & Society
Fertility Rate
1.78
Population
26.5M
Economy
GDP per Capita
N/A
GDP per Capita PPP
Not Available
GNI per Capita
Not Available
Gini Index
Not Available
Unemployment
3.539%
(2024)
(2024)
Inflation
Not Available
Public Debt
Not Available
Energy
Electricity Access
57.5%
(2023)
(2023)
Renewable Energy
14.7%
(2021)
(2021)
CO₂ Emissions
66.239 Mt
(2024)
(2024)
Energy Intensity
6.48 MJ/$
(2021)
(2021)
Renewable Electricity
63.242%
(2021)
(2021)
Environment
Forest Coverage
49.551% of land
(2023)
(2023)
Communications
Internet Users
Not Available
Mobile Penetration
24.131%
(2022)
(2022)
Broadband Subscribers
Not Available
Transportation
Air Transport Freight
0.008 M ton-km
(2023)
(2023)
Container Port Traffic
Not Available
Airports
74
Rail Lines
N/A
Roads Total
N/A
Military
Military Forces
Korean People's Army (KPA): KPA Ground Forces, KPA Navy, KPA Air Force (includes air defense), KPA Strategic Force (missile forces); Guard Command (protects the Kim family, other senior North Korean...
Personnel Strength
assessments of the size of the Korean People’s Army (KPA) vary widely; approximately 1.1-1.2 million active troops (950,000-1.0 million Army; 110-120,000 Air Force; 60,000 Navy; 10,000 Strategic...
Military Expenditure (USD)
$1.60B
Equipment & Inventories
the KPA is equipped mostly with older weapon systems originally acquired from the former Soviet Union, Russia, and China; North Korea manufactures copies and provides some upgrades to these weapon...
Service Age & Obligation
17 years of age for compulsory male and female military service; service obligation 10 years for men, to age 23 for women
Education
Pre-Primary Enrollment
Not Available
Primary Enrollment
92.065%
(2018)
(2018)
Secondary Enrollment
94.252%
(2015)
(2015)
Tertiary Enrollment
26.721%
(2018)
(2018)
Education Spending
Not Available
Pupil-Teacher Ratio
20.3:1
(2018)
(2018)
Health
Physicians per 1,000
3.628
(2017)
(2017)
Safe Water Access
93.911%
(2023)
(2023)
Safe Drinking Water
66.612%
(2023)
(2023)
Under-5 Mortality
18 per 1,000
(2023)
(2023)
Maternal Mortality (World Bank)
17.386 per 100,000
(2021)
(2021)
Hospital Beds per 1,000
69.755
(2021)
(2021)
UHC Coverage Index
77
(2023)
(2023)
Measles Immunization
99%
(2024)
(2024)
Social Indicators
Extreme Poverty Rate
Not Available
Food Insecurity
47%
(2018)
(2018)
Youth NEET Rate
Not Available
Governance
Women in Government
17.613%
(2024)
(2024)
Voice & Accountability
-1.98
(Weak)
(2023)
(Weak)
(2023)
Political Stability
-0.37
(Below Average)
(2023)
(Below Average)
(2023)
Government Effectiveness
-1.48
(Weak)
(2023)
(Weak)
(2023)
Regulatory Quality
-2.39
(Weak)
(2023)
(Weak)
(2023)
Rule of Law
-1.64
(Weak)
(2023)
(Weak)
(2023)
Control of Corruption
-1.58
(Weak)
(2023)
(Weak)
(2023)
Government
Government Type
dictatorship, single-party state; official state ideology of "Juche" or "national self-reliance"
Legal System
civil law system based on the Prussian model; system influenced by Japanese traditions and Communist legal theory
Executive Branch
chief of state: Supreme People's Assembly President CHOE Ryong Hae (since 11 April 2019); note - functions as the technical head of state and performs related duties, such as receiving ambassadors'...
Legislative Branch
description: unicameral Supreme People's Assembly or Ch'oego Inmin Hoeui (687 seats; members directly elected by majority vote in 2 rounds if needed to serve 5-year terms); note - the Korean Workers'...
Judicial Branch
highest courts: Supreme Court or Central Court (consists of one judge and 2 "People's Assessors" or, for some cases, 3 judges) judge selection and term of office: judges elected by the Supreme...
National Symbols
Flag Description
three horizontal bands of blue (top), red (triple width), and blue; the red band is edged in white; on the hoist side of the red band is a white disk with a red five-pointed star; the broad red band...
National Symbols
red star, chollima (winged horse); national colors: red, white, blue
National Anthem
name: "Aegukka" (Patriotic Song) lyrics/music: PAK Se Yong/KIM Won Gyun note: adopted 1947; both North Korea's and South Korea's anthems share the same name and have a vaguely similar melody but have...
Travel Information
Language(s): Korean
Currency: KPW (₩)
Timezone(s): UTC+09:00
Landlocked: No
Independent: Yes
Driving Side: Right
Calling Code: +850
Car Sign:
Week Starts: Monday
Photos
1 photo available
Data sources: World Bank, UN Data • Updated daily •Learn about our data