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Sheet 126 of 195 · AsiaPRK · 40.0°N 126.4°E

North Korea

Democratic People's Republic of Korea · 조선민주주의인민공화국

Capital
Pyongyang
Population
26.6 million 2025
Area
120,538 km²
Neighbours
3
Locator map of North KoreaNORTH KOREAPyongyangCHINASOUTH KOREASea of JapanYellow Sea0200 km
North Korea hatched, Pyongyang marked with a triangle, land neighbours shaded. Orthographic projection centred on 40.4°N 127.5°E; the scale bar is true at the centre.

North Korea is a country in Eastern Asia bordered by China, Russia and South Korea. Its area of 120,538 km² puts it 97th in the world and 29th of 47 in Asia.

About 26.6 million people lived in North Korea in 2025, according to the World Bank, 56th of 194 countries. That works out at 220 people per km². The urban share of the population was 64.2% in 2025.

The World Bank has no GDP per capita figure for North Korea. Newborns in 2024 had a life expectancy of 73.7 years. Forest covers 64.1% of its land (2024). The latest World Bank figure for internet use (2004) is older than 2018, so it appears in the table with its year but is not ranked or compared here.

Its main landmass lies entirely in the Northern and Eastern hemispheres. From 37.7°N to 43.0°N, it spans about 587 km north to south. The point on the opposite side of the Earth from Pyongyang lies in the South Atlantic Ocean, about 300 km from the nearest land, Argentina.

How it compares Asia: 47 countries

MeasureFigureWorldAsia
Population26,571,0362025, World Bank56th of 19421st of 47
Area120,538 km²world-countries97th of 19529th of 47
GDP—No data——
GDP per capita—No data——
Population density220 per km²population 2025, World Bank; area, world-countries45th of 19417th of 47
Life expectancy73.7 years2024, World Bank98th of 19427th of 47
Urban population64.2%2025, World Bank93rd of 19424th of 47
Forest area64.1% of land2024, World Bank22nd of 1946th of 47
Population growth+0.27% a year2025, World Bank146th of 19439th of 47
Internet users0.0%2004, World Bank; older than 2018, not ranked——
Fertility rate1.78 births per woman2024, World Bank112th of 19431st of 47
Land neighbours3world-countries; among the 19583rd of 19523rd of 47
 Ranks run from the largest value (1st) among the countries with data; equal values share a rank.

Closest in areaMalawi, Eritrea and Benin

Closest in populationSyria, Australia and Niger

Neighbours 3 countries by land, nearest capital first

  • South Korea195 km
    Pyongyang to Seoul, capital to capital
  • China810 km
    Pyongyang to Beijing, capital to capital
  • Russia6,414 km
    Pyongyang to Moscow, capital to capital

Where on Earth main landmass

Hemispheres
Northern and Eastern
Capital
Pyongyang
39.02°N 125.75°E
Northernmost latitude
43.00°N
Southernmost latitude
37.72°N
Westernmost longitude
124.35°E
Easternmost longitude
130.69°E
North to south
about 587 km
Antipode of Pyongyang
39.02°S 54.25°W
in the South Atlantic Ocean, about 300 km from the nearest land (Argentina)