North Korea vs South Korea
North Korea vs South Korea: People aged 65 and over
People aged 65 and over in 2023: 12% in North Korea and 18.3% in South Korea, by UN estimates. In 2023 the value was higher in South Korea, by 6.3 percentage points, or 1.52 times that in North Korea.
% of people · UN
What the numbers say
- South Korea has been higher since 1972, when it overtook North Korea.
- In 2023, North Korea ranked 88 and South Korea ranked 46 of 229 countries, counting from the highest.
- The UN projection (medium variant) puts North Korea at 30.7% and South Korea at 45.2% in 2100.
- The world as a whole: 10% in 2023.
Every year
% of people · UN
| Year | North Korea | South Korea | World |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | 12 | 18.3 | 10 |
| 2022 | 11.6 | 17.5 | 9.8 |
| 2021 | 11.3 | 16.7 | 9.5 |
| 2020 | 11.1 | 15.8 | 9.3 |
| 2019 | 10.9 | 15.1 | 9.1 |
| 2018 | 10.8 | 14.5 | 8.9 |
| 2017 | 10.9 | 13.9 | 8.7 |
| 2016 | 11 | 13.4 | 8.5 |
| 2015 | 11 | 13 | 8.3 |
| 2014 | 10.8 | 12.5 | 8.1 |
| 2013 | 10.6 | 12.1 | 7.9 |
| 2012 | 10.3 | 11.7 | 7.8 |
| 2011 | 10.1 | 11.4 | 7.7 |
| 2010 | 9.8 | 11 | 7.6 |
| 2009 | 9.5 | 10.6 | 7.5 |
| 2008 | 9.3 | 10.3 | 7.5 |
| 2007 | 8.9 | 9.9 | 7.4 |
| 2006 | 8.6 | 9.4 | 7.3 |
| 2005 | 8.2 | 9 | 7.3 |
| 2004 | 7.9 | 8.6 | 7.2 |
| 2003 | 7.5 | 8.2 | 7.1 |
| 2002 | 7.1 | 7.8 | 7 |
| 2001 | 6.7 | 7.4 | 6.9 |
| 2000 | 6.4 | 7.1 | 6.8 |
| 1999 | 6.1 | 6.8 | 6.8 |
| 1998 | 5.8 | 6.5 | 6.7 |
| 1997 | 5.6 | 6.2 | 6.6 |
| 1996 | 5.4 | 6 | 6.5 |
| 1995 | 5.2 | 5.8 | 6.5 |
| 1994 | 5.1 | 5.6 | 6.4 |
| 1993 | 4.9 | 5.4 | 6.3 |
| 1992 | 4.8 | 5.2 | 6.2 |
| 1991 | 4.6 | 5 | 6.1 |
| 1990 | 4.5 | 4.9 | 6.1 |
| 1989 | 4.4 | 4.8 | 6 |
| 1988 | 4.3 | 4.6 | 6 |
| 1987 | 4.2 | 4.5 | 5.9 |
| 1986 | 4.1 | 4.4 | 5.9 |
| 1985 | 4 | 4.2 | 5.8 |
| 1984 | 3.9 | 4.1 | 5.8 |
| 1983 | 3.8 | 4.1 | 5.8 |
| 1982 | 3.7 | 4 | 5.8 |
| 1981 | 3.7 | 3.9 | 5.8 |
| 1980 | 3.6 | 3.8 | 5.8 |
| 1979 | 3.6 | 3.8 | 5.8 |
| 1978 | 3.6 | 3.7 | 5.7 |
| 1977 | 3.5 | 3.7 | 5.6 |
| 1976 | 3.5 | 3.6 | 5.6 |
| 1975 | 3.5 | 3.6 | 5.5 |
| 1974 | 3.4 | 3.6 | 5.5 |
| 1973 | 3.4 | 3.5 | 5.4 |
| 1972 | 3.4 | 3.5 | 5.4 |
| 1971 | 3.5 | 3.4 | 5.3 |
| 1970 | 3.5 | 3.4 | 5.3 |
| 1969 | 3.5 | 3.3 | 5.2 |
| 1968 | 3.5 | 3.3 | 5.2 |
| 1967 | 3.5 | 3.3 | 5.2 |
| 1966 | 3.5 | 3.3 | 5.1 |
| 1965 | 3.5 | 3.3 | 5.1 |
| 1964 | 3.5 | 3.3 | 5 |
| 1963 | 3.4 | 3.2 | 5 |
| 1962 | 3.4 | 3.2 | 5 |
| 1961 | 3.3 | 3.2 | 5 |
| 1960 | 3.3 | 3.1 | 5 |
| 1959 | 3.2 | 3.1 | 5 |
| 1958 | 3.1 | 3.1 | 5 |
| 1957 | 3.1 | 3 | 5 |
| 1956 | 3 | 3 | 5 |
| 1955 | 2.9 | 2.9 | 5 |
| 1954 | 2.8 | 2.9 | 5 |
| 1953 | 2.7 | 2.8 | 5 |
| 1952 | 2.6 | 2.7 | 5 |
| 1951 | 2.6 | 2.7 | 5 |
| 1950 | 2.7 | 2.7 | 5.1 |
UN projection (medium variant) · 2024–2100
| Year | North Korea | South Korea | World |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 12.4 | 19.3 | 10.2 |
| 2025 | 12.7 | 20.3 | 10.4 |
| 2026 | 13 | 21.4 | 10.6 |
| 2027 | 13.3 | 22.5 | 10.8 |
| 2028 | 13.7 | 23.4 | 11.1 |
| 2029 | 14.2 | 24.2 | 11.5 |
| 2030 | 14.6 | 25.1 | 11.8 |
| 2031 | 15.2 | 25.9 | 12 |
| 2032 | 15.8 | 26.8 | 12.3 |
| 2033 | 16.5 | 27.7 | 12.6 |
| 2034 | 17.1 | 28.6 | 12.8 |
| 2035 | 17.8 | 29.6 | 13.1 |
| 2036 | 18.4 | 30.5 | 13.4 |
| 2037 | 19.1 | 31.4 | 13.7 |
| 2038 | 19.6 | 32.3 | 13.9 |
| 2039 | 20 | 33.1 | 14.1 |
| 2040 | 20.3 | 33.8 | 14.3 |
| 2041 | 20.5 | 34.4 | 14.5 |
| 2042 | 20.6 | 35 | 14.7 |
| 2043 | 20.7 | 35.6 | 14.9 |
| 2044 | 20.7 | 36.2 | 15 |
| 2045 | 20.8 | 36.9 | 15.2 |
| 2046 | 20.9 | 37.6 | 15.4 |
| 2047 | 21 | 38.3 | 15.7 |
| 2048 | 21.2 | 38.9 | 15.9 |
| 2049 | 21.3 | 39.3 | 16.1 |
| 2050 | 21.4 | 39.7 | 16.3 |
| 2051 | 21.6 | 40 | 16.6 |
| 2052 | 21.7 | 40.3 | 16.8 |
| 2053 | 21.9 | 40.6 | 17.1 |
| 2054 | 22.1 | 40.9 | 17.3 |
| 2055 | 22.3 | 41.2 | 17.6 |
| 2056 | 22.5 | 41.6 | 17.8 |
| 2057 | 22.8 | 42.1 | 18 |
| 2058 | 23.1 | 42.7 | 18.2 |
| 2059 | 23.3 | 43.2 | 18.4 |
| 2060 | 23.6 | 43.7 | 18.5 |
| 2061 | 23.9 | 44.2 | 18.7 |
| 2062 | 24.2 | 44.7 | 18.8 |
| 2063 | 24.5 | 45.1 | 19 |
| 2064 | 24.8 | 45.5 | 19.1 |
| 2065 | 25.1 | 45.9 | 19.3 |
| 2066 | 25.3 | 46.2 | 19.4 |
| 2067 | 25.5 | 46.4 | 19.6 |
| 2068 | 25.7 | 46.5 | 19.7 |
| 2069 | 25.9 | 46.6 | 19.9 |
| 2070 | 26 | 46.7 | 20 |
| 2071 | 26.1 | 46.7 | 20.2 |
| 2072 | 26.2 | 46.9 | 20.3 |
| 2073 | 26.3 | 47 | 20.5 |
| 2074 | 26.4 | 47.2 | 20.7 |
| 2075 | 26.5 | 47.4 | 20.9 |
| 2076 | 26.6 | 47.6 | 21.1 |
| 2077 | 26.7 | 47.9 | 21.3 |
| 2078 | 26.8 | 48.1 | 21.5 |
| 2079 | 26.9 | 48.3 | 21.7 |
| 2080 | 27 | 48.5 | 21.9 |
| 2081 | 27.2 | 48.7 | 22.1 |
| 2082 | 27.4 | 48.8 | 22.3 |
| 2083 | 27.6 | 48.8 | 22.4 |
| 2084 | 27.8 | 48.7 | 22.6 |
| 2085 | 28 | 48.5 | 22.7 |
| 2086 | 28.2 | 48.2 | 22.8 |
| 2087 | 28.4 | 47.9 | 22.9 |
| 2088 | 28.7 | 47.6 | 22.9 |
| 2089 | 28.9 | 47.3 | 23 |
| 2090 | 29.2 | 47 | 23.1 |
| 2091 | 29.4 | 46.8 | 23.2 |
| 2092 | 29.6 | 46.5 | 23.3 |
| 2093 | 29.8 | 46.3 | 23.3 |
| 2094 | 30 | 46.1 | 23.4 |
| 2095 | 30.2 | 46 | 23.5 |
| 2096 | 30.3 | 45.8 | 23.6 |
| 2097 | 30.4 | 45.7 | 23.7 |
| 2098 | 30.5 | 45.5 | 23.7 |
| 2099 | 30.6 | 45.4 | 23.8 |
| 2100 | 30.7 | 45.2 | 23.9 |
Each country on its own
Good to know
- The share of the population aged 65 or older.
- Source: UN DESA, World Population Prospects 2024.
- The dashed line is the UN projection (medium variant), a scenario rather than a forecast.
- 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 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
- DepressionNorth Korea: 3.09% in 2017South Korea: 3.17% in 2017
- 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
- 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