North Korea in numbers - military, economy, cities

At a glance

The country

26.6m

People

2025 estimate. Source

Life expectancy (years)

2021 figure. Source

$1,317

Income per person a year

GDP per head, 2025 estimate. Source

46%

Don't get enough to eat

About 11.8 million people, 2020-22, UN. Source

The military, in depth

Nuclear weapons, missiles, the army, navy and air force - and a map of 35 bases and the DMZ.

Go to Military

Economy and hunger

The money

A small, sanctioned economy that depends almost completely on China.

$34bn

Size of the economy

2025 estimate - smaller than many single cities. Source

+3.5%

Growth in 2025

Bank of Korea estimate. Source

99%

Of imports come from China

2024 figure. Source

11.8m

Undernourished people

45.5% of the population, 2020-22. Source

1,024

Public internet addresses

For the whole country. Source

819 kWh

Electricity per person a year

2008 - down from 1,247 in 1990. Source

Escape

Defectors reaching South Korea

34,538 people have arrived since records began - about seven in ten of them women. Covid border closures cut the flow to almost nothing.

Arrivals per year, 2001-2025. Source: South Korea's Ministry of Unification via Wikipedia.

Where people live

Biggest cities

Population from the 2008 census, the last one published.

#	City	People	Province	Known for
1	Pyongyang	3,255,288	Capital	The showcase city - you need permission to live here
2	Hamhung	768,551	South Hamgyong	Chemical and industrial hub on the east coast
3	Chongjin	667,929	North Hamgyong	Steel city and port in the far north-east
4	Nampo	366,341	Special city	Pyongyang's port on the west coast
5	Wonsan	363,127	Kangwon	East-coast port, Kim's beach compound and the Kalma resort
6	Sinuiju	359,341	North Pyongan	Border city facing Dandong in China across the Yalu
7	Tanchon	345,876	South Hamgyong	Mining town - magnesite and zinc
8	Kaechon	319,554	South Pyongan	Industrial city north of Pyongyang
9	Kaesong	308,440	Special city	Ancient capital beside the DMZ; former joint factory park with the South
10	Sariwon	307,764	North Hwanghae	Provincial capital south of Pyongyang
11	Sunchon	297,317	South Pyongan	Cement and chemical industry
12	Pyongsong	284,386	South Pyongan	Science city just outside Pyongyang

Source: List of cities in North Korea (2008 census).

Getting around

Transport

Few cars, slow trains and one airline.

110m

Depth of the Pyongyang Metro

Among the deepest in the world. 2 lines, 16 stations, opened 1973. Source

6 hrs

Pyongyang to Kaesong by train

190 km. Over 80% of the 6,400 km network is electrified - but badly maintained. Source

7.5%

Of roads are paved

1999 estimate, of about 31,000 km. Source

Car per household

The legal limit since private ownership was allowed in 2024-25. Source

National airline

Air Koryo: 19 Soviet and Russian planes. Flights to Beijing, Shenyang and Vladivostok - and Moscow on Russia's Nordwind since 2025. Source

Oct 2026

New Yalu River Bridge opens

The road bridge to Dandong in China opened after a decade of delay. Kim Jong Un crossed it today. Source

Who runs North Korea?

The Kim family tree and the officials around Kim Jong Un.

Meet them