North Korea vs South Korea
North Korea vs South Korea: Safe drinking water
Safe drinking water in 2022: 66.5% in North Korea and 99.3% in South Korea, by WHO/UNICEF estimates. In 2022 the value was higher in South Korea, by 32.8 percentage points, or 1.49 times that in North Korea.
% of people · WHO/UNICEF
What the numbers say
- South Korea has been higher in every year both have figures for since 2002.
- In 2022, North Korea ranked 88 and South Korea ranked 27 of 135 countries, counting from the highest.
- The world as a whole: 72.9% in 2022.
Every year
% of people · WHO/UNICEF
| Year | North Korea | South Korea | World |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 | 66.5 | 99.3 | 72.9 |
| 2021 | 66.5 | 99.2 | 72.5 |
| 2020 | 66.4 | 99.1 | 72.3 |
| 2019 | 66.3 | 99 | 71.7 |
| 2018 | 66.5 | 98.9 | 71 |
| 2017 | 66.6 | 98.8 | 70.4 |
| 2016 | 66.8 | 98.7 | 69.7 |
| 2015 | 67 | 98.6 | 69.1 |
| 2014 | 67.1 | 98.4 | 68.4 |
| 2013 | 67.3 | 98.3 | 67.7 |
| 2012 | 67.5 | 98.1 | 67.1 |
| 2011 | 67.7 | 97.9 | 66.4 |
| 2010 | 67.8 | 97.8 | 65.9 |
| 2009 | 68 | 97.6 | 65.4 |
| 2008 | 68.2 | 97.4 | 64.9 |
| 2007 | 68.4 | 97.3 | 64.6 |
| 2006 | 68.6 | 97.1 | 64 |
| 2005 | 68.8 | 97.1 | 63.7 |
| 2004 | 69 | 97.1 | 63 |
| 2003 | 69.1 | 97.1 | 62.4 |
| 2002 | 69 | 97.1 | 61.8 |
| 2001 | 69 | – | 61.1 |
| 2000 | 69 | – | 60.8 |
Each country on its own
Good to know
- The share of people whose drinking water comes from an improved source at home, there when needed and free of contamination.
- Source: WHO/UNICEF Joint Monitoring Programme, via Our World in Data.
- Ranks count the 135 countries with a value in 2022, 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
- 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
- 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