North Korea vs South Korea
North Korea vs South Korea: Depression
Depression in 2017: 3.09% in North Korea and 3.17% in South Korea, by IHME estimates. In 2017 the value was higher in South Korea, by 0.07 percentage points, or 1.02 times that in North Korea.
% of people · IHME
What the numbers say
- South Korea has been higher since 2015, when it overtook North Korea.
- In 2017, North Korea ranked 135 and South Korea ranked 124 of 195 countries, counting from the highest.
- The world as a whole: 3.44% in 2017.
Every year
% of people · IHME
| Year | North Korea | South Korea | World |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2017 | 3.09 | 3.17 | 3.44 |
| 2016 | 3.1 | 3.14 | 3.44 |
| 2015 | 3.1 | 3.11 | 3.44 |
| 2014 | 3.1 | 3.09 | 3.44 |
| 2013 | 3.11 | 3.06 | 3.44 |
| 2012 | 3.11 | 3.04 | 3.44 |
| 2011 | 3.12 | 3.01 | 3.44 |
| 2010 | 3.12 | 2.99 | 3.44 |
| 2009 | 3.13 | 2.96 | 3.45 |
| 2008 | 3.14 | 2.93 | 3.48 |
| 2007 | 3.14 | 2.9 | 3.5 |
| 2006 | 3.15 | 2.88 | 3.52 |
| 2005 | 3.16 | 2.86 | 3.53 |
| 2004 | 3.17 | 2.86 | 3.53 |
| 2003 | 3.17 | 2.86 | 3.53 |
| 2002 | 3.18 | 2.86 | 3.53 |
| 2001 | 3.19 | 2.85 | 3.53 |
| 2000 | 3.2 | 2.85 | 3.53 |
| 1999 | 3.21 | 2.85 | 3.54 |
| 1998 | 3.22 | 2.84 | 3.54 |
| 1997 | 3.23 | 2.84 | 3.54 |
| 1996 | 3.24 | 2.83 | 3.55 |
| 1995 | 3.24 | 2.83 | 3.55 |
| 1994 | 3.24 | 2.82 | 3.55 |
| 1993 | 3.24 | 2.82 | 3.55 |
| 1992 | 3.24 | 2.82 | 3.55 |
| 1991 | 3.23 | 2.82 | 3.55 |
| 1990 | 3.22 | 2.82 | 3.54 |
Each country on its own
Good to know
- The share of people living with a depressive disorder, as the Global Burden of Disease study estimates it.
- Source: IHME, Global Burden of Disease, via Our World in Data.
- Ranks count the 195 countries with a value in 2017, 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 South Korea
Health
- Life expectancyNorth Korea: 73.6 years in 2023South Korea: 84.3 years in 2023
- Child mortalityNorth Korea: 1.7 per 100 live births in 2024South Korea: 0.3 per 100 live births in 2024
- Infant mortalityNorth Korea: 14.5 per 1,000 live births in 2023South Korea: 2.1 per 1,000 live births in 2023
- Safe drinking waterNorth Korea: 66.5% in 2022South Korea: 99.3% in 2022
- Suicide rateNorth Korea: 11.1 per 100,000 people in 2017South Korea: 20.8 per 100,000 people in 2017
People
- PopulationNorth Korea: 26.4 million people in 2023South Korea: 51.8 million people in 2023
- Population growthNorth Korea: 0.32% a year in 2023South Korea: -0.04% a year in 2023
- Fertility rateNorth Korea: 1.78 births per woman in 2023South Korea: 0.72 births per woman in 2023
- Urban populationNorth Korea: 64.2% in 2025South Korea: 81.2% in 2025
- Median ageNorth Korea: 36.1 years in 2023South Korea: 44.5 years in 2023
- People aged 65 and overNorth Korea: 12% in 2023South Korea: 18.3% in 2023
- Net migration rateNorth Korea: -0.1 per 1,000 people in 2023South Korea: 1.7 per 1,000 people in 2023
Education
Politics
Conflict
Military
- Military spending per personNorth Korea: $62 in 2018South Korea: $924 in 2025
- Armed forces personnelNorth Korea: 1.47 million people in 2020South Korea: 569,000 people in 2020
- National powerNorth Korea: 1.41% of world capability in 2022South Korea: 2% of world capability in 2022
- Armed forces, share of workersNorth Korea: 8.62% of the labour force in 2020South Korea: 2.01% of the labour force in 2020
- Arms importsNorth Korea: 1 million TIV in 2010South Korea: 222 million TIV in 2025
- Arms exportsNorth Korea: 44 million TIV in 2025South Korea: 2.02 billion TIV in 2025