North Korea vs Papua New Guinea
North Korea vs Papua New Guinea: Median age
Median age in 2023: 36.1 years in North Korea and 22.3 years in Papua New Guinea, by UN estimates. In 2023 the value was higher in North Korea, by 13.7 years, or 1.61 times that in Papua New Guinea.
years · UN
What the numbers say
- North Korea has been higher since 1957, when it overtook Papua New Guinea.
- In 2023, North Korea ranked 85 and Papua New Guinea ranked 172 of 229 countries, counting from the highest.
- The UN projection (medium variant) puts North Korea at 48.6 years and Papua New Guinea at 37.2 years in 2100.
- The world as a whole: 30.4 years in 2023.
Every year
years · UN
| Year | North Korea | Papua New Guinea | World |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | 36.1 | 22.3 | 30.4 |
| 2022 | 35.8 | 22.1 | 30.1 |
| 2021 | 35.6 | 21.9 | 29.8 |
| 2020 | 35.4 | 21.7 | 29.6 |
| 2019 | 35.1 | 21.5 | 29.3 |
| 2018 | 34.9 | 21.4 | 29 |
| 2017 | 34.7 | 21.2 | 28.8 |
| 2016 | 34.4 | 21 | 28.5 |
| 2015 | 34.2 | 20.8 | 28.3 |
| 2014 | 34 | 20.6 | 28.1 |
| 2013 | 33.7 | 20.5 | 27.8 |
| 2012 | 33.5 | 20.3 | 27.6 |
| 2011 | 33.3 | 20.1 | 27.4 |
| 2010 | 33.1 | 20 | 27.2 |
| 2009 | 32.8 | 19.8 | 27 |
| 2008 | 32.5 | 19.7 | 26.7 |
| 2007 | 32.1 | 19.5 | 26.5 |
| 2006 | 31.8 | 19.4 | 26.3 |
| 2005 | 31.4 | 19.3 | 26.1 |
| 2004 | 30.9 | 19.2 | 25.9 |
| 2003 | 30.4 | 19 | 25.7 |
| 2002 | 30 | 18.9 | 25.5 |
| 2001 | 29.5 | 18.9 | 25.3 |
| 2000 | 29.1 | 18.8 | 25.1 |
| 1999 | 28.6 | 18.7 | 24.9 |
| 1998 | 28.2 | 18.6 | 24.7 |
| 1997 | 27.8 | 18.4 | 24.4 |
| 1996 | 27.3 | 18.3 | 24.2 |
| 1995 | 26.9 | 18.2 | 24 |
| 1994 | 26.5 | 18.1 | 23.8 |
| 1993 | 26 | 18 | 23.5 |
| 1992 | 25.6 | 17.9 | 23.3 |
| 1991 | 25.3 | 17.7 | 23.1 |
| 1990 | 24.9 | 17.6 | 22.9 |
| 1989 | 24.5 | 17.6 | 22.8 |
| 1988 | 24.1 | 17.5 | 22.6 |
| 1987 | 23.8 | 17.5 | 22.4 |
| 1986 | 23.4 | 17.4 | 22.2 |
| 1985 | 23.1 | 17.3 | 22 |
| 1984 | 22.8 | 17.3 | 21.9 |
| 1983 | 22.5 | 17.2 | 21.8 |
| 1982 | 22.1 | 17.1 | 21.7 |
| 1981 | 21.8 | 17 | 21.6 |
| 1980 | 21.4 | 16.9 | 21.5 |
| 1979 | 20.9 | 16.7 | 21.3 |
| 1978 | 20.5 | 16.5 | 21.1 |
| 1977 | 20.2 | 16.4 | 21 |
| 1976 | 19.9 | 16.2 | 20.8 |
| 1975 | 19.7 | 16.1 | 20.7 |
| 1974 | 19.6 | 16.1 | 20.5 |
| 1973 | 19.7 | 16 | 20.4 |
| 1972 | 20.2 | 16 | 20.4 |
| 1971 | 20.4 | 16.1 | 20.3 |
| 1970 | 20.4 | 16.2 | 20.3 |
| 1969 | 20.5 | 16.3 | 20.3 |
| 1968 | 20.5 | 16.4 | 20.4 |
| 1967 | 20.4 | 16.6 | 20.5 |
| 1966 | 20.4 | 16.7 | 20.6 |
| 1965 | 20.2 | 16.8 | 20.8 |
| 1964 | 20 | 17 | 21 |
| 1963 | 19.8 | 17.1 | 21.2 |
| 1962 | 19.6 | 17.2 | 21.4 |
| 1961 | 19.2 | 17.3 | 21.4 |
| 1960 | 18.9 | 17.5 | 21.5 |
| 1959 | 18.6 | 17.6 | 21.5 |
| 1958 | 18.3 | 17.7 | 21.5 |
| 1957 | 18 | 17.8 | 21.6 |
| 1956 | 17.7 | 17.8 | 21.7 |
| 1955 | 17.3 | 17.8 | 21.8 |
| 1954 | 16.9 | 17.8 | 21.9 |
| 1953 | 16.6 | 17.7 | 22 |
| 1952 | 16.3 | 17.6 | 22.1 |
| 1951 | 16.1 | 17.5 | 22.1 |
| 1950 | 16.3 | 17.3 | 22.2 |
UN projection (medium variant) · 2024–2100
| Year | North Korea | Papua New Guinea | World |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 36.336.2–36.4 | 22.622.5–22.7 | 30.6 |
| 2025 | 36.636.3–36.8 | 22.822.5–23 | 30.9 |
| 2026 | 36.836.5–37.1 | 2322.6–23.4 | 31.1 |
| 2027 | 37.136.6–37.5 | 23.222.6–23.8 | 31.3 |
| 2028 | 37.436.7–38 | 23.522.7–24.2 | 31.6 |
| 2029 | 37.736.9–38.4 | 23.722.7–24.6 | 31.8 |
| 2030 | 3837.1–38.8 | 23.922.8–25 | 32 |
| 2031 | 38.337.3–39.2 | 24.222.9–25.4 | 32.2 |
| 2032 | 38.637.5–39.7 | 24.423–25.8 | 32.4 |
| 2033 | 38.937.7–40.1 | 24.623.1–26.1 | 32.6 |
| 2034 | 39.338–40.6 | 24.923.2–26.5 | 32.8 |
| 2035 | 39.638.2–41.1 | 25.123.4–26.9 | 33 |
| 2036 | 39.938.4–41.5 | 25.323.5–27.3 | 33.2 |
| 2037 | 40.238.6–41.9 | 25.623.6–27.7 | 33.4 |
| 2038 | 40.638.9–42.4 | 25.823.7–28.1 | 33.6 |
| 2039 | 40.939.1–42.8 | 2623.8–28.4 | 33.8 |
| 2040 | 41.239.3–43.2 | 26.323.9–28.8 | 34 |
| 2041 | 41.439.4–43.6 | 26.524.1–29.2 | 34.2 |
| 2042 | 41.739.6–44 | 26.724.2–29.5 | 34.4 |
| 2043 | 41.939.7–44.4 | 2724.3–29.9 | 34.6 |
| 2044 | 42.239.8–44.7 | 27.224.4–30.3 | 34.8 |
| 2045 | 42.339.8–45.1 | 27.424.5–30.6 | 35 |
| 2046 | 42.539.8–45.4 | 27.624.6–31 | 35.2 |
| 2047 | 42.739.8–45.7 | 27.924.8–31.3 | 35.4 |
| 2048 | 42.839.8–45.9 | 28.124.9–31.7 | 35.6 |
| 2049 | 42.939.8–46.2 | 28.325–32 | 35.9 |
| 2050 | 42.939.8–46.4 | 28.525.1–32.3 | 36.1 |
| 2051 | 4339.7–46.7 | 28.825.3–32.6 | 36.3 |
| 2052 | 4339.7–46.9 | 2925.5–32.9 | 36.5 |
| 2053 | 43.139.6–47.1 | 29.225.7–33.2 | 36.7 |
| 2054 | 43.239.5–47.2 | 29.425.8–33.5 | 36.9 |
| 2055 | 43.239.5–47.4 | 29.626–33.8 | 37.1 |
| 2056 | 43.339.4–47.6 | 29.826.1–34.2 | 37.3 |
| 2057 | 43.439.4–47.9 | 3026.3–34.5 | 37.5 |
| 2058 | 43.539.4–48.1 | 30.226.4–34.8 | 37.6 |
| 2059 | 43.639.3–48.3 | 30.426.5–35.1 | 37.8 |
| 2060 | 43.739.3–48.6 | 30.626.6–35.4 | 37.9 |
| 2061 | 43.939.3–48.9 | 30.826.7–35.6 | 38 |
| 2062 | 4439.3–49.1 | 30.926.8–35.8 | 38.1 |
| 2063 | 44.239.3–49.4 | 31.127–36 | 38.3 |
| 2064 | 44.439.4–49.7 | 31.327.1–36.2 | 38.4 |
| 2065 | 44.639.5–50 | 31.527.2–36.4 | 38.5 |
| 2066 | 44.839.8–50.4 | 31.727.3–36.6 | 38.6 |
| 2067 | 4540–50.7 | 31.827.4–36.8 | 38.7 |
| 2068 | 45.240.2–51 | 3227.5–36.9 | 38.8 |
| 2069 | 45.440.4–51.4 | 32.227.6–37.1 | 38.9 |
| 2070 | 45.640.5–51.7 | 32.427.7–37.2 | 39 |
| 2071 | 45.840.7–52 | 32.527.9–37.4 | 39.1 |
| 2072 | 4640.9–52.4 | 32.728–37.5 | 39.2 |
| 2073 | 46.241–52.7 | 32.928.1–37.6 | 39.3 |
| 2074 | 46.341.1–53.1 | 3328.3–37.7 | 39.4 |
| 2075 | 46.541.2–53.4 | 33.228.4–37.8 | 39.5 |
| 2076 | 46.641.2–53.7 | 33.428.6–37.8 | 39.6 |
| 2077 | 46.741.3–54.1 | 33.628.7–37.9 | 39.7 |
| 2078 | 46.841.3–54.4 | 33.728.9–38 | 39.8 |
| 2079 | 46.941.3–54.7 | 33.929.1–38.1 | 40 |
| 2080 | 4741.3–54.9 | 34.129.2–38.2 | 40.1 |
| 2081 | 47.141.3–55 | 34.229.4–38.3 | 40.2 |
| 2082 | 47.141.3–55 | 34.429.5–38.4 | 40.3 |
| 2083 | 47.141.3–55.1 | 34.529.7–38.5 | 40.4 |
| 2084 | 47.241.2–55.1 | 34.729.9–38.6 | 40.5 |
| 2085 | 47.241.2–55.1 | 34.930–38.7 | 40.6 |
| 2086 | 47.241.2–55.1 | 3530.2–38.7 | 40.7 |
| 2087 | 47.241.2–55.1 | 35.230.4–38.8 | 40.9 |
| 2088 | 47.341.2–55.1 | 35.330.6–38.9 | 41 |
| 2089 | 47.341.2–55 | 35.530.8–38.9 | 41.1 |
| 2090 | 47.441.2–55 | 35.730.9–39 | 41.2 |
| 2091 | 47.541.3–55 | 35.831.1–39 | 41.3 |
| 2092 | 47.641.3–54.9 | 3631.3–39 | 41.4 |
| 2093 | 47.741.4–54.9 | 36.131.4–39.1 | 41.5 |
| 2094 | 47.841.5–54.9 | 36.331.6–39.2 | 41.6 |
| 2095 | 47.941.6–55 | 36.431.8–39.2 | 41.7 |
| 2096 | 4841.8–55 | 36.631.9–39.2 | 41.8 |
| 2097 | 48.241.9–55.1 | 36.732.1–39.1 | 41.9 |
| 2098 | 48.342–55.2 | 36.932.2–39 | 42 |
| 2099 | 48.542.2–55.3 | 3732.4–38.9 | 42 |
| 2100 | 48.642.3–55.3 | 37.232.5–38.8 | 42.1 |
Each country on its own
Good to know
- Half the people are older than this age and half are younger.
- Source: UN DESA, World Population Prospects 2024.
- 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
North Korea vs Papua New Guinea
Health
- Life expectancyNorth Korea: 73.6 years in 2023Papua New Guinea: 66.1 years in 2023
- Child mortalityNorth Korea: 1.7 per 100 live births in 2024Papua New Guinea: 3.9 per 100 live births in 2024
- Infant mortalityNorth Korea: 14.5 per 1,000 live births in 2023Papua New Guinea: 32.2 per 1,000 live births in 2023
- DepressionNorth Korea: 3.09% in 2017Papua New Guinea: 3.17% in 2017
- Suicide rateNorth Korea: 11.1 per 100,000 people in 2017Papua New Guinea: 23.1 per 100,000 people in 2017
People
- PopulationNorth Korea: 26.4 million people in 2023Papua New Guinea: 10.4 million people in 2023
- Population growthNorth Korea: 0.32% a year in 2023Papua New Guinea: 1.8% a year in 2023
- Fertility rateNorth Korea: 1.78 births per woman in 2023Papua New Guinea: 3.1 births per woman in 2023
- Urban populationNorth Korea: 64.2% in 2025Papua New Guinea: 15.8% in 2025
- People aged 65 and overNorth Korea: 12% in 2023Papua New Guinea: 3.3% in 2023
- Net migration rateNorth Korea: -0.1 per 1,000 people in 2023Papua New Guinea: -0.1 per 1,000 people in 2023
Education
Politics
Conflict
Military
- Military spending per personNorth Korea: $62 in 2018Papua New Guinea: $10 in 2025
- Armed forces personnelNorth Korea: 1.47 million people in 2020Papua New Guinea: 4,000 people in 2020
- National powerNorth Korea: 1.41% of world capability in 2022Papua New Guinea: 0.03% of world capability in 2022
- Armed forces, share of workersNorth Korea: 8.62% of the labour force in 2020Papua New Guinea: 0.12% of the labour force in 2020
- Arms importsNorth Korea: 1 million TIV in 2010Papua New Guinea: 9 million TIV in 2023