China vs North Korea: how the neighbours compare
| Indicator | China | North Korea | Ranks |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population | |||
| Population | 1.4bn2025 | 26.6m2025 | 2 · 56 |
| Area | 9,562,910 km²2024 | 120,540 km²2024 | 4 · 100 |
| Density | 150.12024 | 220.12024 | 76 · 63 |
| Urban share | 66.3%2025 | 64.2%2025 | 101 · 109 |
| Fertility | 1.012024 | 1.782024 | 210 · 120 |
| Aged 65+ | 14.9%2025 | 12.7%2025 | 68 · 78 |
| Economy | |||
| GDP | $19.5tn2025 | — | 2 · — |
| GDP per capita | $13,8622025 | — | 93 · — |
| GDP per capita, PPP | $29,3332025 | — | 81 · — |
| GDP growth | 5.0%2025 | — | 53 · — |
| Agriculture share | 6.7%2025 | — | 95 · — |
| Industry share | 35.6%2025 | — | 29 · — |
| Services share | 57.7%2025 | — | 101 · — |
| Prices & public finance | |||
| Inflation | 0.1%2025 | — | 167 · — |
| Tax revenue | 7.0%2024 | — | 133 · — |
| Military spending | 1.72%2025 | — | 78 · — |
| Trade & investment | |||
| Exports | 21.1%2025 | — | 145 · — |
| FDI inflows | 0.4%2025 | — | 163 · — |
| Labour | |||
| Unemployment | 4.6%2025 | 3.5%2025 | 112 · 128 |
| Aid, poverty & equality | |||
| Women in parliament | 26.5%2025 | 17.6%2025 | 93 · 138 |
| Education | |||
| Tertiary enrolment | 76.9%2024 | 26.7%2018 | 38 · 114 |
| Education spending | 3.9%2023 | — | 105 · — |
| Health | |||
| Life expectancy | 78.0 yrs2024 | 73.7 yrs2024 | 70 · 119 |
| Infant mortality | 4.12024 | 13.32024 | 154 · 94 |
| Health spending | 5.9%2023 | — | 106 · — |
| Physicians | 3.112022 | — | 56 · — |
| Digital & energy access | |||
| Internet users | 91.6%2025 | — | 47 · — |
| Fixed broadband | 47.22024 | — | 9 · — |
| Electricity access | 100.0%2024 | 61.4%2024 | 24 · 185 |
| Environment | |||
| CO₂ per person | 9.32 t2024 | 2.50 t2024 | 22 · 106 |
| Renewable energy | 15.2%2021 | 14.7%2021 | 122 · 125 |
| Forest cover | 24.0%2024 | 64.1%2024 | 122 · 24 |
Higher value in each row is highlighted; it is not always the better one (think inflation or emissions). Ranks are world positions.
Source: World Bank, World Development Indicators (CC BY 4.0)
more head-to-heads