Japan vs North Korea
Japan vs North Korea: Life expectancy
Life expectancy in 2023: 84.7 years in Japan and 73.6 years in North Korea, by UN estimates. In 2023 the value was higher in Japan, by 11.1 years, or 1.15 times that in North Korea.
years · UN
What the numbers say
- Japan has been higher in every year both have figures for since 1950.
- In 2023, Japan ranked 4 and North Korea ranked 126 of 229 countries, counting from the highest.
- The UN projection (medium variant) puts Japan at 94.4 years and North Korea at 83.8 years in 2100.
- The world as a whole: 73.2 years in 2023.
Every year
years · UN
| Year | Japan | North Korea | World |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | 84.7 | 73.6 | 73.2 |
| 2022 | 84.1 | 73.6 | 72.6 |
| 2021 | 84.6 | 73.4 | 70.9 |
| 2020 | 84.7 | 72.8 | 71.9 |
| 2019 | 84.4 | 72.9 | 72.6 |
| 2018 | 84.3 | 73 | 72.4 |
| 2017 | 84.2 | 73 | 72.1 |
| 2016 | 84.1 | 73 | 71.9 |
| 2015 | 83.9 | 72.8 | 71.6 |
| 2014 | 83.6 | 72.5 | 71.4 |
| 2013 | 83.4 | 71.9 | 71.1 |
| 2012 | 83.2 | 71.3 | 70.8 |
| 2011 | 82.7 | 70.8 | 70.4 |
| 2010 | 82.9 | 70.3 | 70.1 |
| 2009 | 83 | 69.7 | 69.7 |
| 2008 | 82.6 | 69.3 | 69.3 |
| 2007 | 82.6 | 69 | 69 |
| 2006 | 82.4 | 69.1 | 68.6 |
| 2005 | 82 | 69.2 | 68.1 |
| 2004 | 82.1 | 69.3 | 67.7 |
| 2003 | 81.9 | 69.4 | 67.4 |
| 2002 | 81.8 | 60.9 | 67.1 |
| 2001 | 81.5 | 60.9 | 66.8 |
| 2000 | 81.2 | 60.9 | 66.4 |
| 1999 | 80.6 | 60.9 | 66 |
| 1998 | 80.7 | 60.9 | 65.7 |
| 1997 | 80.6 | 60.9 | 65.5 |
| 1996 | 80.4 | 60.8 | 65.2 |
| 1995 | 79.7 | 60.8 | 64.9 |
| 1994 | 79.8 | 70.5 | 64.3 |
| 1993 | 79.5 | 70.8 | 64.4 |
| 1992 | 79.3 | 71 | 64.3 |
| 1991 | 79.3 | 70.7 | 64.1 |
| 1990 | 79 | 70.5 | 64 |
| 1989 | 79 | 70.3 | 63.8 |
| 1988 | 78.6 | 70.1 | 63.4 |
| 1987 | 78.6 | 69.8 | 63.2 |
| 1986 | 78.2 | 69.5 | 62.7 |
| 1985 | 77.8 | 69.2 | 62.2 |
| 1984 | 77.5 | 68.9 | 61.9 |
| 1983 | 77.1 | 68.5 | 61.5 |
| 1982 | 77.1 | 68.1 | 61.3 |
| 1981 | 76.6 | 67.7 | 60.9 |
| 1980 | 76.1 | 67.2 | 60.5 |
| 1979 | 76.2 | 66.8 | 60.2 |
| 1978 | 75.7 | 66.3 | 59.5 |
| 1977 | 75.3 | 65.8 | 59.2 |
| 1976 | 74.8 | 65.3 | 58.6 |
| 1975 | 74.4 | 64.8 | 58.3 |
| 1974 | 73.9 | 64.3 | 58.1 |
| 1973 | 73.4 | 63.8 | 57.7 |
| 1972 | 73.3 | 63.3 | 57.2 |
| 1971 | 72.8 | 62.7 | 56 |
| 1970 | 72 | 62.1 | 56.3 |
| 1969 | 71.9 | 61.4 | 56 |
| 1968 | 71.7 | 60.8 | 55.6 |
| 1967 | 71.4 | 60.1 | 55.1 |
| 1966 | 71.1 | 59.4 | 54.6 |
| 1965 | 70.3 | 58.8 | 54 |
| 1964 | 70.2 | 58.2 | 54.3 |
| 1963 | 69.8 | 57.6 | 53.7 |
| 1962 | 68.7 | 57 | 53.2 |
| 1961 | 68.4 | 56.4 | 50.4 |
| 1960 | 67.7 | 55.8 | 47.8 |
| 1959 | 67.5 | 55.2 | 49.6 |
| 1958 | 67 | 54.5 | 51.6 |
| 1957 | 65.4 | 53.7 | 51.1 |
| 1956 | 65.6 | 52.8 | 50.7 |
| 1955 | 65.7 | 51.8 | 50.2 |
| 1954 | 64.5 | 50.6 | 49.7 |
| 1953 | 63.3 | 40.3 | 48.8 |
| 1952 | 63 | 32.8 | 48.2 |
| 1951 | 61 | 17.7 | 47.1 |
| 1950 | 59.3 | 14.2 | 46.4 |
| 1949 | 57.7 | – | – |
| 1948 | 56.8 | – | – |
| 1947 | 51.7 | – | – |
| 1945 | 30.5 | – | – |
| 1942 | – | 44.9 | – |
| 1938 | – | 42.6 | – |
| 1935 | 48.2 | – | – |
| 1933 | – | 37.4 | – |
| 1928 | – | 33.6 | – |
| 1927 | 45.7 | – | – |
| 1923 | – | 29.5 | – |
| 1922 | 42.6 | – | – |
| 1920 | 42 | – | – |
| 1918 | – | 27 | – |
| 1915 | 40.9 | – | – |
| 1913 | – | 25 | – |
| 1910 | 40 | – | – |
| 1908 | – | 23.5 | – |
| 1905 | 39.2 | – | – |
| 1900 | 38.6 | – | – |
| 1895 | 38.1 | – | – |
| 1890 | 37.7 | – | – |
| 1885 | 37.3 | – | – |
| 1880 | 37 | – | – |
| 1875 | 36.8 | – | – |
| 1870 | 36.6 | – | – |
| 1865 | 36.4 | – | – |
- 12.3Estimates, Our World in Data
UN projection (medium variant) · 2024–2100
| Year | Japan | North Korea | World |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 84.984–85.8 | 73.772.5–74.9 | 73.3 |
| 2025 | 8583.7–86.4 | 73.972.1–75.6 | 73.5 |
| 2026 | 85.283.5–86.8 | 7471.8–76 | 73.8 |
| 2027 | 85.383.4–87.3 | 74.171.6–76.4 | 73.9 |
| 2028 | 85.483.3–87.5 | 74.271.4–76.7 | 74.1 |
| 2029 | 85.683.3–87.9 | 74.371.4–77 | 74.2 |
| 2030 | 85.783.3–88.3 | 74.571.2–77.3 | 74.4 |
| 2031 | 85.983.3–88.6 | 74.671.2–77.7 | 74.5 |
| 2032 | 8683.3–88.7 | 74.770.9–78 | 74.7 |
| 2033 | 86.283.3–89.1 | 74.870.9–78.4 | 74.8 |
| 2034 | 86.383.3–89.3 | 7570.7–78.7 | 75 |
| 2035 | 86.483.4–89.6 | 75.170.8–79.1 | 75.1 |
| 2036 | 86.683.4–89.8 | 75.270.8–79.3 | 75.3 |
| 2037 | 86.783.5–90 | 75.370.7–79.7 | 75.4 |
| 2038 | 86.883.5–90.4 | 75.570.6–80 | 75.5 |
| 2039 | 8783.6–90.7 | 75.670.7–80.3 | 75.7 |
| 2040 | 87.183.5–90.9 | 75.770.7–80.4 | 75.8 |
| 2041 | 87.283.4–91.1 | 75.970.5–80.5 | 75.9 |
| 2042 | 87.483.6–91.2 | 7670.6–80.7 | 76.1 |
| 2043 | 87.583.6–91.4 | 76.170.5–80.9 | 76.2 |
| 2044 | 87.683.7–91.7 | 76.370.6–81.3 | 76.3 |
| 2045 | 87.883.8–92.1 | 76.470.5–81.5 | 76.5 |
| 2046 | 87.984–92.2 | 76.570.5–81.7 | 76.6 |
| 2047 | 8883.8–92.4 | 76.770.5–82 | 76.7 |
| 2048 | 88.283.9–92.7 | 76.870.4–82.3 | 76.8 |
| 2049 | 88.384–93.1 | 76.970.3–82.5 | 76.9 |
| 2050 | 88.483.9–93.2 | 77.170.3–82.7 | 77 |
| 2051 | 88.583.9–93.3 | 77.270.3–83 | 77.1 |
| 2052 | 88.784–93.6 | 77.370.3–83.2 | 77.2 |
| 2053 | 88.884–93.6 | 77.570.4–83.4 | 77.3 |
| 2054 | 88.984.1–93.8 | 77.670.4–83.4 | 77.4 |
| 2055 | 8984.2–94 | 77.770.5–83.8 | 77.6 |
| 2056 | 89.284.2–94.4 | 77.970.9–84 | 77.7 |
| 2057 | 89.384.4–94.5 | 7870.7–84.1 | 77.8 |
| 2058 | 89.484.4–94.7 | 78.170.7–84.2 | 77.9 |
| 2059 | 89.584.5–95 | 78.370.6–84.3 | 78 |
| 2060 | 89.784.4–95.2 | 78.471–84.8 | 78.1 |
| 2061 | 89.884.4–95.2 | 78.670.9–84.8 | 78.2 |
| 2062 | 89.984.7–95.6 | 78.770.9–85.1 | 78.3 |
| 2063 | 9084.6–95.8 | 78.871.2–85.3 | 78.4 |
| 2064 | 90.184.6–96 | 7971.1–85.5 | 78.5 |
| 2065 | 90.384.6–96.2 | 79.171.1–85.6 | 78.6 |
| 2066 | 90.484.6–96.4 | 79.271–85.8 | 78.7 |
| 2067 | 90.584.7–96.6 | 79.471.1–86.1 | 78.8 |
| 2068 | 90.684.9–96.8 | 79.571.3–86.2 | 78.9 |
| 2069 | 90.785–97 | 79.771.3–86.1 | 79 |
| 2070 | 90.985–97.2 | 79.871.3–86.4 | 79.1 |
| 2071 | 9185.1–97.4 | 79.971.4–86.6 | 79.2 |
| 2072 | 91.185–97.6 | 80.171.1–86.6 | 79.3 |
| 2073 | 91.285–97.6 | 80.271.1–86.9 | 79.4 |
| 2074 | 91.485.2–98.1 | 80.471.2–87.1 | 79.4 |
| 2075 | 91.585.3–98.2 | 80.571.3–87.1 | 79.5 |
| 2076 | 91.685.5–98.4 | 80.671.2–87.4 | 79.6 |
| 2077 | 91.785.5–98.4 | 80.871.2–87.6 | 79.7 |
| 2078 | 91.885.6–98.5 | 80.971.4–87.8 | 79.8 |
| 2079 | 91.985.6–98.7 | 8171.2–87.9 | 79.9 |
| 2080 | 92.185.8–98.9 | 81.271.5–88.1 | 80 |
| 2081 | 92.285.8–99 | 81.371.5–88.5 | 80.1 |
| 2082 | 92.385.8–99.5 | 81.471.7–88.6 | 80.2 |
| 2083 | 92.485.9–99.5 | 81.671.7–88.4 | 80.3 |
| 2084 | 92.586.1–99.8 | 81.771.9–88.7 | 80.3 |
| 2085 | 92.686.2–99.9 | 81.871.9–88.8 | 80.4 |
| 2086 | 92.785.9–100 | 8272–89 | 80.5 |
| 2087 | 92.986.1–100.1 | 82.171.9–89.1 | 80.6 |
| 2088 | 9386.3–100.2 | 82.372–89.2 | 80.7 |
| 2089 | 93.186.4–100.3 | 82.472–89.3 | 80.8 |
| 2090 | 93.286.4–100.8 | 82.572.2–89.6 | 80.9 |
| 2091 | 93.386.7–100.8 | 82.672.1–89.7 | 81 |
| 2092 | 93.586.4–101.1 | 82.872.2–89.9 | 81 |
| 2093 | 93.686.5–101.4 | 82.971.9–89.9 | 81.1 |
| 2094 | 93.786.5–101.5 | 8372.2–90.1 | 81.2 |
| 2095 | 93.886.4–101.6 | 83.272.3–90.3 | 81.3 |
| 2096 | 93.986.6–101.8 | 83.372.4–90.6 | 81.4 |
| 2097 | 9486.7–102.2 | 83.472.2–90.7 | 81.5 |
| 2098 | 94.286.6–102.3 | 83.572.3–90.9 | 81.6 |
| 2099 | 94.386.7–102.2 | 83.772.4–91 | 81.7 |
| 2100 | 94.486.7–102.4 | 83.872.6–91.2 | 81.7 |
Each country on its own
Good to know
- How long a newborn would live on average if the year’s death rates held all its life.
- Source: UN DESA, World Population Prospects 2024.
- Before 1950: Our World in Data, long-run life expectancy.
- The dashed line is the UN projection (medium variant), a scenario rather than a forecast; the band is its 95% prediction interval.
- Ranks count the 229 countries with a value in 2023, highest first.
- The faint line is the world as a whole, as the same source counts it.
How the layers work, where their data comes from and what they can’t tell you: Countries through time
Japan vs North Korea
Health
- Child mortalityJapan: 0.2 per 100 live births in 2024North Korea: 1.7 per 100 live births in 2024
- Infant mortalityJapan: 1.6 per 1,000 live births in 2023North Korea: 14.5 per 1,000 live births in 2023
- Safe drinking waterJapan: 98.7% in 2022North Korea: 66.5% in 2022
- DepressionJapan: 3.34% in 2017North Korea: 3.09% in 2017
- Suicide rateJapan: 15.7 per 100,000 people in 2017North Korea: 11.1 per 100,000 people in 2017
People
- PopulationJapan: 124 million people in 2023North Korea: 26.4 million people in 2023
- Population growthJapan: -0.48% a year in 2023North Korea: 0.32% a year in 2023
- Fertility rateJapan: 1.21 births per woman in 2023North Korea: 1.78 births per woman in 2023
- Urban populationJapan: 92.3% in 2025North Korea: 64.2% in 2025
- Median ageJapan: 49 years in 2023North Korea: 36.1 years in 2023
- People aged 65 and overJapan: 29.6% in 2023North Korea: 12% in 2023
- Net migration rateJapan: 1.4 per 1,000 people in 2023North Korea: -0.1 per 1,000 people in 2023
Education
Politics
Conflict
Military
- Military spending per personJapan: $504 in 2025North Korea: $62 in 2018
- Armed forces personnelJapan: 261,000 people in 2020North Korea: 1.47 million people in 2020
- National powerJapan: 2.47% of world capability in 2022North Korea: 1.41% of world capability in 2022
- Armed forces, share of workersJapan: 0.38% of the labour force in 2020North Korea: 8.62% of the labour force in 2020
- Arms importsJapan: 1.72 billion TIV in 2025North Korea: 1 million TIV in 2010
- Arms exportsJapan: 28 million TIV in 2025North Korea: 44 million TIV in 2025