Country Profile: Korea, North

Korea, North, officially known as the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK), is located in Eastern Asia on the northern half of the Korean Peninsula, bordered by China and South Korea. The country has a population of approximately 26.3 million people and is characterized by a centrally planned economy that faces significant challenges, including isolationist policies and reliance on China. North Korea is governed as a single-party communist state, where governance is highly centralized under the leadership of Kim Jong Un. The nation is marked by a complex military and security apparatus, aimed at maintaining regime stability amidst ongoing international tensions.

Geography

Korea, North has a total area of 120,538 square kilometers, slightly larger than Virginia. The geography is predominantly mountainous with deep valleys and some wide coastal plains, especially on the western side. It has a coastline of 2,495 kilometers bordered by the Korea Bay and the Sea of Japan, with significant natural resources such as coal, iron ore, and graphite.

Geographic Coordinates: 40° N, 127° E
Coastline Length: 2,495 km
Land Boundaries: 1,607 km (China 1,352 km, South Korea 237 km, Russia 18 km)
Highest Point: Paektu-san at 2,744 m
Climate: Temperate with long, bitter winters and summer rainfall.

People and Society

The population of Korea, North is estimated at 26,298,666 in 2024, with a gender distribution of approximately 49% male and 51% female. The nation is ethnically homogeneous, primarily Korean, with minimal presence of other ethnic groups. The official language is Korean, and the society traditionally follows Buddhist and Confucian practices, though religious expression is heavily suppressed.

Urban Population: 63.2% (2023)
Median Age: 35.9 years (2024)
Birth Rate: 13.2 births per 1,000 population (2024)
Life Expectancy: 73.5 years (2024)
Dependency Ratio: 45.1% (2024)

Economy

Korea, North has one of the last centrally planned economies, significantly impacted by COVID-19, international sanctions, and crop failures. The economy largely relies on agricultural production coupled with military-related industries.

Real GDP (PPP): $15.416 billion (2023)
Real GDP per Capita: $600 (2023)
Unemployment Rate: 2.9% (2024)
Major Exports: Fake hair, iron alloys, electricity (2023)
Agricultural Land Use: 21.6% (2023)

Government

The government of Korea, North operates as a dictatorship under the control of the Korean Workers' Party. The capital is Pyongyang, and the current leader, Kim Jong Un, has held power since 2011. The political landscape is marked by a lack of pluralism, with all candidate nominations controlled by the party.

Government Type: Dictatorship, single-party communist state
Capital: Pyongyang
Legal System: Civil law system based on the Prussian model
Suffrage Age: 17 years
International Participation: Non-party state to the ICCt

Military and Security

Korea, North maintains one of the largest military forces in the world, comprising the Korean People's Army. Military expenditure is a priority, accounting for 20-30% of GDP annually.

Active-Duty Personnel: Approximately 1.3 million (2025 est.)
Military Expenditures: Estimated $7 billion to $11 billion annually between 2010 and 2020
Military Service Age: 17 years (compulsory)
Military Equipment: Relies on older systems from the Soviet Union and domestically produced hardware
Paramilitary Forces: Includes Worker Peasant Red Guard and Red Youth Guard

Energy

North Korea's energy sector is characterized by limited electricity access and a strong reliance on fossil fuels and hydroelectric sources for power generation.

Installed Generating Capacity: 8.357 million kW (2023)
Electricity Consumption: 22.448 billion kWh (2023)
Electricity Access: 54.7% of the population (2022)
Coal Production: 21.928 million metric tons (2023)
Renewable Water Resources: 77.15 billion cubic meters (2022)

Environment

The country faces significant environmental challenges, including water pollution and soil degradation, exacerbated by industrial practices and deforestation.

Environmental Issues: Water pollution, inadequate potable water, deforestation
Total Water Withdrawal: 8.66 billion cubic meters (2022)
Carbon Dioxide Emissions: 55.744 million metric tons (2023)
Forest Cover: 64% of land area (2023)
Participation in Environmental Agreements: Includes Climate Change treaties and Desertification

Transportation

Korea, North has a diverse transportation network, including a significant railway system and an increasing number of airports.

Total Railways: 7,435 km (2014)
Airports: 81 (2025)
Merchant Marine Vessels: 264 (2023)
Key Ports: Includes Ch'ongjin, Haeju Hang, and Wonsan
Heliports: 8 (2025)

Communications

The communications landscape in Korea, North is heavily state-controlled, with little to no independent media.

Fixed Telephone Subscriptions: 1.18 million (2021)
Mobile Cellular Subscriptions: 6 million (2021)
Internet Country Code: .kp
Broadcast Media: No independent media; all channels controlled by the state
Subscription Rate: 23 mobile subscriptions per 100 inhabitants (2021)

Key Metrics

Metric	Value	Note
Population	26,298,666 (2024 est.)
Area	120,538 sq km
Real GDP (PPP)	$15.416 billion (2023)
Real GDP per Capita	$600 (2023)
Unemployment Rate	2.9% (2024)
Birth Rate	13.2 births/1,000	2024 est.
Life Expectancy	73.5 years (2024 est.)
Energy Consumption per Capita	23.83 million Btu/person	2023 est.
Electricity Access	54.7% (2022)
Total Water Withdrawal	8.66 billion cubic meters (2022)