Quick Data on North Korea
Short Name | North Korea |
Capital | Pyongyang |
Long Name | Democratic People’s Republic of Korea |
Country Code | KN |
Continent | Asia |
Total Area | 120,538 sq km |
Population | 25,643,466 |
Language | Korean |
Nationality | Korean(s) |
Geography of North Korea
As a country in East Asia/Southeast Asia, with coordinates at 40 00 N, 127 00 E, North Korea neighbors China 1352 km, South Korea 237 km, Russia 18 km. The terrain in North Korea is described as mostly hills and mountains separated by deep, narrow valleys; wide coastal plains in west, discontinuous in east, with an average elevation point of 600 m. The climate of North Korea: temperate, with rainfall concentrated in summer; long, bitter winters.
Surface Total | 120,538 sq km |
Land Surface | 120,408 sq km |
Water Surface | 130 sq km |
Land Boundaries | 1,607 km |
Neighbor Countries | China 1352 km, South Korea 237 km, Russia 18 km |
Coastline | 2,495 km |
Lowest Elevation Point | Sea of Japan 0 m |
Highest Elevation Point | Paektu-san 2,744 m |
Resources of North Korea
The country enjoys many types of natural resources, with the main ones being coal, iron ore, limestone, magnesite, graphite, copper, zinc, lead, precious metals, hydropower. The agricultural land occupies 21.80% of North Korea, while the land covered with forests is estimated at 46.00%.
Percent of Total Land | Surface Sq km | Data | |
Agricultural Land | 21.80% | 26,249 sq km | 2011 est. |
Irrigated Land | 14,600 sq km | 2012 | |
Forest Land | 46.00% | 55,388 sq km | 2011 est. |
Other Land | 32.20% | 38,771 sq km | 2011 est. |
Population of North Korea
The population of the country is estimated at 25,643,466 people, with the biggest urban area having 3.084 million PYONGYANG (capital) (2020). Known as Korean(s), the people from North Korea come from diversified ethnic groups such as racially homogeneous; there is a small Chinese community and a few ethnic Japanese. The official language is Korean. Religions: traditionally Buddhist and Confucianist, some Christian and syncretic Chondogyo (Religion of the Heavenly Way).
Population | 25,643,466 |
Nationality | Korean(s) |
Official Language | Korean |
Other Languages | Korean |
Birth Rate | 14.5 births / 1000 population (2020 est.) |
Death Rate | 9.4 deaths / 1000 population (2020 est.) |
Urban Population | 62.40% of total population (2020) |
Physicians Density | 3.68 physicians/1,000 population (2017) |
Hospital Beds Density | 13.2 beds/1,000 population (2012) |
Governing Type of North Korea
North Korea is a dictatorship, single-party state; official state ideology of “Juche” or “national self-reliance”. The legal system makes use of civil law system based on the Prussian model; system influenced by Japanese traditions and Communist legal theory.
Governing Type | dictatorship, single-party state; official state ideology of “Juche” or “national self-reliance” |
Citizenship by Birth | no |
Citizenship by Descent | at least one parent must be a citizen of North Korea |
Dual Citizenship | no |
Residency Requirement for Naturalization | unknown |
Suffrage Vote | 17 years of age; universal and compulsory |
Economy of North Korea
From a population total of 25,643,466, the labor force is 14 million (2014 est.). The main products in agriculture are: rice, corn, potatoes, wheat, soybeans, pulses, beef, pork, eggs, fruit, nuts. Among the main industries considerable for the economy are: military products; machine building, electric power, chemicals; mining (coal, iron ore, limestone, magnesite, graphite, copper, zinc, lead, and precious metals), metallurgy; textiles, food processing; tourism. Its exports cover minerals, metallurgical products, manufactures (including armaments), textiles, agricultural and fishery products. The main import products are: petroleum, coking coal, machinery and equipment, textiles, grain.
Exports | $222 million (2018) |
Imports | $2.32 billion (2018 est.) |
Export Partners | China 86.3% (2017) |
Import Partners | China 91.9% (2017) |
GDP / Capita | $1,700 (2015 est.) |
Electricity Production | 16.57 billion kWh (2016 est.) |
Electrification Rate | population without electricity: 19 million (2017) |
Internet Users | n/a |
Internet Penetration Rate | n/a (n/a) |
For latest imports and exports data we recommend checking the website for the National Bank of North Korea, statistics sectio