Identity
- Official name
- Democratic People's Republic of Korea
- Status
- Sovereign country profile
- Demonym
- North Korean
- Codes
- KP / PRK
Daily discoveryDid you know?
Its international calling code is +850.
KPDemocratic People's Republic of KoreaSovereign country profile
North Korea
North Korea is in Eastern Asia. This profile brings its status, flag, geography, people, languages, and latest available indicators into one clear visual story.
FlagPRK · 135 / 207
🇰🇵 The flag shown for North Korea. Profile code: KP / PRK.
01Population26.6M
UN DESA · 2026 medium projection
02CapitalPyongyang
Democratic People's Republic of Korea
03CurrencyKPW
North Korean won (KPW)
04Life expectancy74.0 years
UN DESA · 2026 medium projection
Basic info
Expanded country facts
Core identity, people, geography, government, and practical reference data in one scan-friendly board.
People
- Population
- 26.6M · UN DESA · 2026 medium projection
- Median age
- 36.8 years · UN DESA 2026 medium projection
- Languages
- Korean
- Largest cities
- Pyongyang
Place
- Region
- Asia
- Subregion
- Eastern Asia
- Area
- 120,538 km²
- Coordinates
- 40.0° N, 127.0° E
Practical
- Currency
- North Korean won (KPW)
- Calling code
- +850
- Time zones
- Profile-specific value pending
- Emergency
- Emergency numbers vary; check official guidance
Government
- Type
- Not published
- Head of state
- Kim Jong-un
- Head of government
- Pak Thae-song
- Constitution
- Comparable date pending
Geography
- Connections
- This profile has coastal access and listed land connections.
- Climate
- Temperate to subtropical zones
- Highest point
- Baekdu Mountain
- Driving side
- Right
Compare profiles
See North Korea
in context.
Start with a neighbor or a similar regional profile, then adjust the matchup across the complete atlas.
At a glance
Meet
North Korea.
North Korea is a world profile in Eastern Asia. Its status is sovereign country profile.
RegionEastern Asia
DemonymNorth Korean
Area120,538 km²
Calling code+850
Economy
The latest available indicators.
Economic values use the latest non-empty World Bank year from 2019–2026, shown below each figure.
GDPNot publishedNo recent value
GDP per personNot publishedNo recent value
GDP growthNot publishedNo recent value
A deeper profile
People, systems
& everyday life.
Comparable facts are shown with clear dates and neutral framing. Gaps stay visible instead of being filled with guesses.
How people live
Urban 64.2%Rural 35.8%
World Bank · 2025- Median age
- 36.8 years
- Languages
- Korean
- Capital / principal city
- Pyongyang
Ethnic and religious categories vary by national census and are not presented without a directly comparable, dated source.
Placed in context
Population0.7× atlas average
GDPNot ranked
Population compares the 207 atlas profiles. GDP ranking includes profiles with a published World Bank value.
A concise timeline
Wikidata records the current state as dating from 1948. Earlier state forms, independence milestones, and later constitutional changes may use different dates, so this is a starting point rather than a complete national timeline.
- Government
- Not published
- Head of state
- Kim Jong-un
- Head of government
- Pak Thae-song
- Current constitution
- Comparable date pending
Land and climate
- Climate
- Temperate to subtropical zones
- Geography
- North Korea is in Eastern Asia and has coastal access. Its listed area is 120,538 km².
- Highest point
- Baekdu Mountain
- Major rivers
- Profile-specific value pending
- Natural resources
- Profile-specific value pending
Practical essentials
- Driving side
- Right
- Calling code
- +850
- Time zones
- Profile-specific value pending
- Plug types
- Profile-specific value pending
- Tipping
- Local customs vary by setting
- Emergency numbers
- Emergency numbers vary; check official guidance
Remember North Korea
- Pyongyang is the capital city.
- North Korea covers 120,538 km².
- North Korea has coastal access.
- It shares land borders with China, South Korea, Russia.
- Listed official languages include Korean.
- Its international calling code is +850.
- The latest published population in this atlas is 26.6M (2025).
- The listed currency code is KPW.
Connected places
Neighboring profiles
Continue exploring across each listed land border or connected geography.
This profile has coastal access and listed land connections.
Visual atlas
North Korea in view
People & place
Country
essentials.
Korean
Languages listed in the open country catalog for North Korea.
3 listed connections
This profile has coastal access and listed land connections.
North Korean won (KPW)
The primary currency code and name used in the country catalog.
Identity card
Four essentials
KPTwo-letter country code
PRKThree-letter country code
PyongyangCapital city
AsiaWorld region
Sources & notes
Numbers you can trace.
Statistics show their reference year because country data changes. Unavailable values are clearly marked instead of estimated.
Verified data & AI projection
North Korea
Special Report.
North Korea is profiled through long-run World Bank indicators covering the economy, population, health, work, technology, and environment. Eastern Asia context, regional connectivity, demographic direction, and long-run development indicators.
Current demographic baselineUN DESA · 2026
Medium projection from World Population Prospects, 2024 Revision
Executive read
What the numbers suggest
- Population has moved up since 2000, giving the report a clear demographic baseline.
- Life expectancy is higher than in 2000, showing the direction of health and longevity conditions.
- Low fertility is a central long-term pressure in the projection scenarios.
Human development pressure
27.6MPopulation base
74.9 yrsLife expectancy
1.68Fertility rate
0.00%Internet access
2035 scenarios are simple educational trend projections from recent historical observations. They are not official forecasts.
people · SP.POP.GROW
HighPopulation growth
20000.71%
20250.27%
2035 base0.05%
Low0.13%Base0.05%High-0.02%
linear trend · % annual
people · SP.POP.TOTL
HighPopulation
200023.7M
202526.6M
2035 base27.6M
Low27.2MBase27.6MHigh28M
compound trend · people
health · SP.DYN.LE00.IN
HighLife expectancy
200060.9 yrs
202473.7 yrs
2035 base74.9 yrs
Low74.5 yrsBase74.9 yrsHigh75.3 yrs
linear trend · years
people · SP.DYN.TFRT.IN
HighFertility rate
20001.94
20241.78
2035 base1.68
Low1.72Base1.68High1.64
linear trend · births per woman
people · SP.URB.TOTL.IN.ZS
HighUrban population
200059.4%
202564.2%
2035 base67.1%
Low66.1%Base67.1%High68.1%
linear trend · % of total
work · SL.UEM.TOTL.ZS
HighUnemployment
20003.65%
20253.54%
2035 base3.52%
Low3.53%Base3.52%High3.52%
recent average · % labor force
environment · EN.GHG.CO2.PC.CE.AR5
HighCO2 per person
20003.12
20242.50
2035 base3.46
Low3.12Base3.46High3.80
linear trend · t CO2e/capita
technology · IT.NET.USER.ZS
LowInternet access
20000.00%
20040.00%
2035 base0.00%
Low0.00%Base0.00%High0.00%
linear trend · % of people
Educational projection, not an official forecast.Historical values are World Bank observations retrieved 2026-08-13. The 2026 demographic baseline is the official UN DESA medium projection from World Population Prospects 2024. The atlas's 2035 scenarios use simple trend math.