North Korea vs Russia
North Korea vs Russia: Life expectancy
Life expectancy in 2023: 73.6 years in North Korea and 73.2 years in Russia, by UN estimates. In 2023 the value was higher in North Korea, by 0.5 years, or 1.01 times that in Russia.
years · UN
What the numbers say
- North Korea has been higher since 2020, when it overtook Russia.
- In 2023, North Korea ranked 126 and Russia ranked 131 of 229 countries, counting from the highest.
- The UN projection (medium variant) puts North Korea at 83.8 years and Russia at 85 years in 2100.
- The world as a whole: 73.2 years in 2023.
Every year
years · UN
| Year | North Korea | Russia | World |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | 73.6 | 73.2 | 73.2 |
| 2022 | 73.6 | 72.5 | 72.6 |
| 2021 | 73.4 | 69.8 | 70.9 |
| 2020 | 72.8 | 71.2 | 71.9 |
| 2019 | 72.9 | 73.1 | 72.6 |
| 2018 | 73 | 72.9 | 72.4 |
| 2017 | 73 | 72.8 | 72.1 |
| 2016 | 73 | 71.9 | 71.9 |
| 2015 | 72.8 | 71.3 | 71.6 |
| 2014 | 72.5 | 70.8 | 71.4 |
| 2013 | 71.9 | 70.6 | 71.1 |
| 2012 | 71.3 | 70.1 | 70.8 |
| 2011 | 70.8 | 69.7 | 70.4 |
| 2010 | 70.3 | 68.2 | 70.1 |
| 2009 | 69.7 | 68.7 | 69.7 |
| 2008 | 69.3 | 67.9 | 69.3 |
| 2007 | 69 | 67.5 | 69 |
| 2006 | 69.1 | 66.6 | 68.6 |
| 2005 | 69.2 | 65.2 | 68.1 |
| 2004 | 69.3 | 65.2 | 67.7 |
| 2003 | 69.4 | 64.7 | 67.4 |
| 2002 | 60.9 | 64.7 | 67.1 |
| 2001 | 60.9 | 65 | 66.8 |
| 2000 | 60.9 | 65 | 66.4 |
| 1999 | 60.9 | 65.6 | 66 |
| 1998 | 60.9 | 66.9 | 65.7 |
| 1997 | 60.9 | 66.6 | 65.5 |
| 1996 | 60.8 | 65.5 | 65.2 |
| 1995 | 60.8 | 64 | 64.9 |
| 1994 | 70.5 | 63.8 | 64.3 |
| 1993 | 70.8 | 65 | 64.4 |
| 1992 | 71 | 67.8 | 64.3 |
| 1991 | 70.7 | 69 | 64.1 |
| 1990 | 70.5 | 69.3 | 64 |
| 1989 | 70.3 | 69.7 | 63.8 |
| 1988 | 70.1 | 69.9 | 63.4 |
| 1987 | 69.8 | 70.1 | 63.2 |
| 1986 | 69.5 | 70 | 62.7 |
| 1985 | 69.2 | 68.3 | 62.2 |
| 1984 | 68.9 | 67.6 | 61.9 |
| 1983 | 68.5 | 68 | 61.5 |
| 1982 | 68.1 | 68.1 | 61.3 |
| 1981 | 67.7 | 67.6 | 60.9 |
| 1980 | 67.2 | 67.5 | 60.5 |
| 1979 | 66.8 | 67.6 | 60.2 |
| 1978 | 66.3 | 67.8 | 59.5 |
| 1977 | 65.8 | 67.9 | 59.2 |
| 1976 | 65.3 | 68.1 | 58.6 |
| 1975 | 64.8 | 68.3 | 58.3 |
| 1974 | 64.3 | 68.7 | 58.1 |
| 1973 | 63.8 | 69 | 57.7 |
| 1972 | 63.3 | 68.9 | 57.2 |
| 1971 | 62.7 | 68.9 | 56 |
| 1970 | 62.1 | 68.7 | 56.3 |
| 1969 | 61.4 | 68.6 | 56 |
| 1968 | 60.8 | 69.1 | 55.6 |
| 1967 | 60.1 | 69.2 | 55.1 |
| 1966 | 59.4 | 69.4 | 54.6 |
| 1965 | 58.8 | 69.3 | 54 |
| 1964 | 58.2 | 69.5 | 54.3 |
| 1963 | 57.6 | 69.1 | 53.7 |
| 1962 | 57 | 68.5 | 53.2 |
| 1961 | 56.4 | 68.6 | 50.4 |
| 1960 | 55.8 | 68.3 | 47.8 |
| 1959 | 55.2 | 67.4 | 49.6 |
| 1958 | 54.5 | 67.7 | 51.6 |
| 1957 | 53.7 | 66.1 | 51.1 |
| 1956 | 52.8 | 66.5 | 50.7 |
| 1955 | 51.8 | 62.1 | 50.2 |
| 1954 | 50.6 | 59.9 | 49.7 |
| 1953 | 40.3 | 58.8 | 48.8 |
| 1952 | 32.8 | 57.6 | 48.2 |
| 1951 | 17.7 | 55.3 | 47.1 |
| 1950 | 14.2 | 55.5 | 46.4 |
| 1949 | – | 55 | – |
| 1948 | – | 52.2 | – |
| 1947 | – | 40.4 | – |
| 1946 | – | 46.1 | – |
| 1942 | 44.9 | – | – |
| 1940 | – | 41.2 | – |
| 1939 | – | 43.6 | – |
| 1938 | 42.6 | 41.4 | – |
| 1937 | – | 39.9 | – |
| 1936 | – | 41.1 | – |
| 1935 | – | 39.6 | – |
| 1934 | – | 38.2 | – |
| 1933 | 37.4 | – | – |
| 1932 | – | 32.8 | – |
| 1931 | – | 35 | – |
| 1930 | – | 36.5 | – |
| 1929 | – | 37.4 | – |
| 1928 | 33.6 | 38.9 | – |
| 1927 | – | 37.5 | – |
| 1926 | – | 38.4 | – |
| 1925 | – | 35.2 | – |
| 1924 | – | 36.1 | – |
| 1923 | 29.5 | 33.6 | – |
| 1922 | – | 24.7 | – |
| 1921 | – | 23.8 | – |
| 1920 | – | 20.5 | – |
| 1918 | 27 | – | – |
| 1913 | 25 | – | – |
| 1908 | 23.5 | – | – |
| 1900 | – | 30.5 | – |
| 1896 | – | 31.9 | – |
- 12.3Estimates, Our World in Data
UN projection (medium variant) · 2024–2100
| Year | North Korea | Russia | World |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 73.772.5–74.9 | 73.372.2–74.5 | 73.3 |
| 2025 | 73.972.1–75.6 | 73.571.9–75 | 73.5 |
| 2026 | 7471.8–76 | 73.771.7–75.7 | 73.8 |
| 2027 | 74.171.6–76.4 | 73.971.5–76.1 | 73.9 |
| 2028 | 74.271.4–76.7 | 74.171.3–76.4 | 74.1 |
| 2029 | 74.371.4–77 | 74.271.4–76.8 | 74.2 |
| 2030 | 74.571.2–77.3 | 74.471.2–77.2 | 74.4 |
| 2031 | 74.671.2–77.7 | 74.671.2–77.5 | 74.5 |
| 2032 | 74.770.9–78 | 74.871.2–77.9 | 74.7 |
| 2033 | 74.870.9–78.4 | 7571.1–78.1 | 74.8 |
| 2034 | 7570.7–78.7 | 75.171.2–78.6 | 75 |
| 2035 | 75.170.8–79.1 | 75.371.5–78.9 | 75.1 |
| 2036 | 75.270.8–79.3 | 75.571.4–79.3 | 75.3 |
| 2037 | 75.370.7–79.7 | 75.771.3–79.6 | 75.4 |
| 2038 | 75.570.6–80 | 75.971.2–79.8 | 75.5 |
| 2039 | 75.670.7–80.3 | 7671.3–80 | 75.7 |
| 2040 | 75.770.7–80.4 | 76.271.5–80.4 | 75.8 |
| 2041 | 75.970.5–80.5 | 76.471.4–80.7 | 75.9 |
| 2042 | 7670.6–80.7 | 76.671.5–80.8 | 76.1 |
| 2043 | 76.170.5–80.9 | 76.771.5–81.1 | 76.2 |
| 2044 | 76.370.6–81.3 | 76.971.6–81.4 | 76.3 |
| 2045 | 76.470.5–81.5 | 77.171.9–81.7 | 76.5 |
| 2046 | 76.570.5–81.7 | 77.371.8–81.9 | 76.6 |
| 2047 | 76.770.5–82 | 77.472–82.2 | 76.7 |
| 2048 | 76.870.4–82.3 | 77.671.8–82.1 | 76.8 |
| 2049 | 76.970.3–82.5 | 77.871.8–82.4 | 76.9 |
| 2050 | 77.170.3–82.7 | 77.971.9–82.6 | 77 |
| 2051 | 77.270.3–83 | 78.172–82.8 | 77.1 |
| 2052 | 77.370.3–83.2 | 78.372.1–83.1 | 77.2 |
| 2053 | 77.570.4–83.4 | 78.472.1–83.2 | 77.3 |
| 2054 | 77.670.4–83.4 | 78.672.2–83.7 | 77.4 |
| 2055 | 77.770.5–83.8 | 78.872.2–83.8 | 77.6 |
| 2056 | 77.970.9–84 | 78.972.4–84 | 77.7 |
| 2057 | 7870.7–84.1 | 79.172.4–84.5 | 77.8 |
| 2058 | 78.170.7–84.2 | 79.272.4–84.4 | 77.9 |
| 2059 | 78.370.6–84.3 | 79.472.5–84.7 | 78 |
| 2060 | 78.471–84.8 | 79.672.5–84.8 | 78.1 |
| 2061 | 78.670.9–84.8 | 79.772.6–85 | 78.2 |
| 2062 | 78.770.9–85.1 | 79.972.7–85.3 | 78.3 |
| 2063 | 78.871.2–85.3 | 8072.9–85.6 | 78.4 |
| 2064 | 7971.1–85.5 | 80.272.9–85.7 | 78.5 |
| 2065 | 79.171.1–85.6 | 80.373.1–85.7 | 78.6 |
| 2066 | 79.271–85.8 | 80.573.1–86.1 | 78.7 |
| 2067 | 79.471.1–86.1 | 80.673–86.3 | 78.8 |
| 2068 | 79.571.3–86.2 | 80.873–86.3 | 78.9 |
| 2069 | 79.771.3–86.1 | 80.973.3–86.5 | 79 |
| 2070 | 79.871.3–86.4 | 81.173.4–86.8 | 79.1 |
| 2071 | 79.971.4–86.6 | 81.273.5–86.9 | 79.2 |
| 2072 | 80.171.1–86.6 | 81.473.5–87 | 79.3 |
| 2073 | 80.271.1–86.9 | 81.573.7–87.2 | 79.4 |
| 2074 | 80.471.2–87.1 | 81.673.7–87.4 | 79.4 |
| 2075 | 80.571.3–87.1 | 81.874–87.5 | 79.5 |
| 2076 | 80.671.2–87.4 | 81.974.1–87.7 | 79.6 |
| 2077 | 80.871.2–87.6 | 8274.2–87.9 | 79.7 |
| 2078 | 80.971.4–87.8 | 82.274.3–88 | 79.8 |
| 2079 | 8171.2–87.9 | 82.374.5–88.1 | 79.9 |
| 2080 | 81.271.5–88.1 | 82.474.5–88.4 | 80 |
| 2081 | 81.371.5–88.5 | 82.674.6–88.5 | 80.1 |
| 2082 | 81.471.7–88.6 | 82.774.6–88.7 | 80.2 |
| 2083 | 81.671.7–88.4 | 82.874.9–88.9 | 80.3 |
| 2084 | 81.771.9–88.7 | 8375.2–89.1 | 80.3 |
| 2085 | 81.871.9–88.8 | 83.175.3–89.3 | 80.4 |
| 2086 | 8272–89 | 83.275.2–89.4 | 80.5 |
| 2087 | 82.171.9–89.1 | 83.475.5–89.4 | 80.6 |
| 2088 | 82.372–89.2 | 83.575.6–89.9 | 80.7 |
| 2089 | 82.472–89.3 | 83.675.7–90 | 80.8 |
| 2090 | 82.572.2–89.6 | 83.875.9–90.2 | 80.9 |
| 2091 | 82.672.1–89.7 | 83.975.8–90.4 | 81 |
| 2092 | 82.872.2–89.9 | 8476–90.6 | 81 |
| 2093 | 82.971.9–89.9 | 84.176.2–90.6 | 81.1 |
| 2094 | 8372.2–90.1 | 84.376.3–90.8 | 81.2 |
| 2095 | 83.272.3–90.3 | 84.476.3–90.9 | 81.3 |
| 2096 | 83.372.4–90.6 | 84.576.3–91.2 | 81.4 |
| 2097 | 83.472.2–90.7 | 84.676.6–91.4 | 81.5 |
| 2098 | 83.572.3–90.9 | 84.776.6–91.6 | 81.6 |
| 2099 | 83.772.4–91 | 84.977–91.7 | 81.7 |
| 2100 | 83.872.6–91.2 | 8577.1–92.1 | 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
North Korea vs Russia
Health
- Child mortalityNorth Korea: 1.7 per 100 live births in 2024Russia: 0.5 per 100 live births in 2024
- Infant mortalityNorth Korea: 14.5 per 1,000 live births in 2023Russia: 3.5 per 1,000 live births in 2023
- Safe drinking waterNorth Korea: 66.5% in 2022Russia: 76.2% in 2022
- DepressionNorth Korea: 3.09% in 2017Russia: 3.71% in 2017
- Suicide rateNorth Korea: 11.1 per 100,000 people in 2017Russia: 25.1 per 100,000 people in 2017
People
- PopulationNorth Korea: 26.4 million people in 2023Russia: 145 million people in 2023
- Population growthNorth Korea: 0.32% a year in 2023Russia: -0.32% a year in 2023
- Fertility rateNorth Korea: 1.78 births per woman in 2023Russia: 1.45 births per woman in 2023
- Urban populationNorth Korea: 64.2% in 2025Russia: 75.3% in 2025
- Median ageNorth Korea: 36.1 years in 2023Russia: 39.5 years in 2023
- People aged 65 and overNorth Korea: 12% in 2023Russia: 16.6% in 2023
- Net migration rateNorth Korea: -0.1 per 1,000 people in 2023Russia: 0.2 per 1,000 people in 2023
Education
Politics
Conflict
Military
- Military spending per personNorth Korea: $62 in 2018Russia: $1,318 in 2025
- Armed forces personnelNorth Korea: 1.47 million people in 2020Russia: 1.45 million people in 2020
- National powerNorth Korea: 1.41% of world capability in 2022Russia: 3.82% of world capability in 2022
- Armed forces, share of workersNorth Korea: 8.62% of the labour force in 2020Russia: 1.98% of the labour force in 2020
- Arms importsNorth Korea: 1 million TIV in 2010Russia: 129 million TIV in 2025
- Arms exportsNorth Korea: 44 million TIV in 2025Russia: 1.94 billion TIV in 2025