North Korea vs Thailand
North Korea vs Thailand: Life expectancy
Life expectancy in 2023: 73.6 years in North Korea and 76.4 years in Thailand, by UN estimates. In 2023 the value was higher in Thailand, by 2.8 years, or 1.04 times that in North Korea.
years · UN
What the numbers say
- Thailand has been higher since 1995, when it overtook North Korea.
- In 2023, North Korea ranked 126 and Thailand ranked 96 of 229 countries, counting from the highest.
- The UN projection (medium variant) puts North Korea at 83.8 years and Thailand at 88.4 years in 2100.
- The world as a whole: 73.2 years in 2023.
Every year
years · UN
| Year | North Korea | Thailand | World |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | 73.6 | 76.4 | 73.2 |
| 2022 | 73.6 | 75.3 | 72.6 |
| 2021 | 73.4 | 77.6 | 70.9 |
| 2020 | 72.8 | 77.3 | 71.9 |
| 2019 | 72.9 | 77.2 | 72.6 |
| 2018 | 73 | 77.2 | 72.4 |
| 2017 | 73 | 77 | 72.1 |
| 2016 | 73 | 76.8 | 71.9 |
| 2015 | 72.8 | 76.6 | 71.6 |
| 2014 | 72.5 | 76.3 | 71.4 |
| 2013 | 71.9 | 76 | 71.1 |
| 2012 | 71.3 | 75.6 | 70.8 |
| 2011 | 70.8 | 75.3 | 70.4 |
| 2010 | 70.3 | 75 | 70.1 |
| 2009 | 69.7 | 74.7 | 69.7 |
| 2008 | 69.3 | 74.2 | 69.3 |
| 2007 | 69 | 73.8 | 69 |
| 2006 | 69.1 | 73.3 | 68.6 |
| 2005 | 69.2 | 72.9 | 68.1 |
| 2004 | 69.3 | 72.1 | 67.7 |
| 2003 | 69.4 | 72.1 | 67.4 |
| 2002 | 60.9 | 71.8 | 67.1 |
| 2001 | 60.9 | 71.5 | 66.8 |
| 2000 | 60.9 | 71.2 | 66.4 |
| 1999 | 60.9 | 71 | 66 |
| 1998 | 60.9 | 70.7 | 65.7 |
| 1997 | 60.9 | 70.4 | 65.5 |
| 1996 | 60.8 | 69.9 | 65.2 |
| 1995 | 60.8 | 69.8 | 64.9 |
| 1994 | 70.5 | 69.7 | 64.3 |
| 1993 | 70.8 | 69.6 | 64.4 |
| 1992 | 71 | 69.4 | 64.3 |
| 1991 | 70.7 | 69.1 | 64.1 |
| 1990 | 70.5 | 68.9 | 64 |
| 1989 | 70.3 | 68.6 | 63.8 |
| 1988 | 70.1 | 68.2 | 63.4 |
| 1987 | 69.8 | 67.8 | 63.2 |
| 1986 | 69.5 | 67.3 | 62.7 |
| 1985 | 69.2 | 66.5 | 62.2 |
| 1984 | 68.9 | 65.6 | 61.9 |
| 1983 | 68.5 | 64.5 | 61.5 |
| 1982 | 68.1 | 63.6 | 61.3 |
| 1981 | 67.7 | 62.9 | 60.9 |
| 1980 | 67.2 | 62.2 | 60.5 |
| 1979 | 66.8 | 61.7 | 60.2 |
| 1978 | 66.3 | 61.3 | 59.5 |
| 1977 | 65.8 | 60.9 | 59.2 |
| 1976 | 65.3 | 60.4 | 58.6 |
| 1975 | 64.8 | 59.7 | 58.3 |
| 1974 | 64.3 | 59 | 58.1 |
| 1973 | 63.8 | 58.3 | 57.7 |
| 1972 | 63.3 | 57.8 | 57.2 |
| 1971 | 62.7 | 57.1 | 56 |
| 1970 | 62.1 | 56.5 | 56.3 |
| 1969 | 61.4 | 55.7 | 56 |
| 1968 | 60.8 | 55 | 55.6 |
| 1967 | 60.1 | 54.3 | 55.1 |
| 1966 | 59.4 | 53.7 | 54.6 |
| 1965 | 58.8 | 53.1 | 54 |
| 1964 | 58.2 | 52.5 | 54.3 |
| 1963 | 57.6 | 52 | 53.7 |
| 1962 | 57 | 51.4 | 53.2 |
| 1961 | 56.4 | 51.1 | 50.4 |
| 1960 | 55.8 | 50.6 | 47.8 |
| 1959 | 55.2 | 50.1 | 49.6 |
| 1958 | 54.5 | 49.6 | 51.6 |
| 1957 | 53.7 | 49.1 | 51.1 |
| 1956 | 52.8 | 48.6 | 50.7 |
| 1955 | 51.8 | 48.1 | 50.2 |
| 1954 | 50.6 | 47.6 | 49.7 |
| 1953 | 40.3 | 47.1 | 48.8 |
| 1952 | 32.8 | 46.5 | 48.2 |
| 1951 | 17.7 | 45.9 | 47.1 |
| 1950 | 14.2 | 45.2 | 46.4 |
| 1948 | – | 49.9 | – |
| 1947 | – | 41.8 | – |
| 1942 | 44.9 | – | – |
| 1941 | – | 38.3 | – |
| 1938 | 42.6 | – | – |
| 1937 | – | 40.3 | – |
| 1933 | 37.4 | – | – |
| 1928 | 33.6 | – | – |
| 1923 | 29.5 | – | – |
| 1918 | 27 | – | – |
| 1913 | 25 | – | – |
| 1908 | 23.5 | – | – |
- 12.3Estimates, Our World in Data
UN projection (medium variant) · 2024–2100
| Year | North Korea | Thailand | World |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 73.772.5–74.9 | 76.675.6–77.6 | 73.3 |
| 2025 | 73.972.1–75.6 | 76.875.3–78.2 | 73.5 |
| 2026 | 7471.8–76 | 77.175.3–78.8 | 73.8 |
| 2027 | 74.171.6–76.4 | 77.375.3–79.3 | 73.9 |
| 2028 | 74.271.4–76.7 | 77.575.2–79.7 | 74.1 |
| 2029 | 74.371.4–77 | 77.775.2–80.1 | 74.2 |
| 2030 | 74.571.2–77.3 | 77.975.2–80.5 | 74.4 |
| 2031 | 74.671.2–77.7 | 78.175.2–80.9 | 74.5 |
| 2032 | 74.770.9–78 | 78.375–81.2 | 74.7 |
| 2033 | 74.870.9–78.4 | 78.575.1–81.7 | 74.8 |
| 2034 | 7570.7–78.7 | 78.775.2–81.9 | 75 |
| 2035 | 75.170.8–79.1 | 78.975.2–82.2 | 75.1 |
| 2036 | 75.270.8–79.3 | 79.175.2–82.6 | 75.3 |
| 2037 | 75.370.7–79.7 | 79.375.3–82.9 | 75.4 |
| 2038 | 75.570.6–80 | 79.575.4–83.2 | 75.5 |
| 2039 | 75.670.7–80.3 | 79.775.3–83.4 | 75.7 |
| 2040 | 75.770.7–80.4 | 79.975.5–83.7 | 75.8 |
| 2041 | 75.970.5–80.5 | 80.175.7–84 | 75.9 |
| 2042 | 7670.6–80.7 | 80.375.7–84.2 | 76.1 |
| 2043 | 76.170.5–80.9 | 80.576–84.4 | 76.2 |
| 2044 | 76.370.6–81.3 | 80.775.9–84.6 | 76.3 |
| 2045 | 76.470.5–81.5 | 80.976–84.9 | 76.5 |
| 2046 | 76.570.5–81.7 | 8176–85 | 76.6 |
| 2047 | 76.770.5–82 | 81.276–85.2 | 76.7 |
| 2048 | 76.870.4–82.3 | 81.476.3–85.3 | 76.8 |
| 2049 | 76.970.3–82.5 | 81.676.3–85.6 | 76.9 |
| 2050 | 77.170.3–82.7 | 81.776.3–85.9 | 77 |
| 2051 | 77.270.3–83 | 81.976.4–86.1 | 77.1 |
| 2052 | 77.370.3–83.2 | 82.176.6–86.5 | 77.2 |
| 2053 | 77.570.4–83.4 | 82.276.4–86.6 | 77.3 |
| 2054 | 77.670.4–83.4 | 82.476.5–86.8 | 77.4 |
| 2055 | 77.770.5–83.8 | 82.576.7–87.2 | 77.6 |
| 2056 | 77.970.9–84 | 82.776.8–87.3 | 77.7 |
| 2057 | 7870.7–84.1 | 82.876.8–87.5 | 77.8 |
| 2058 | 78.170.7–84.2 | 8377–87.8 | 77.9 |
| 2059 | 78.370.6–84.3 | 83.177.2–88 | 78 |
| 2060 | 78.471–84.8 | 83.377.4–88.3 | 78.1 |
| 2061 | 78.670.9–84.8 | 83.477.5–88.4 | 78.2 |
| 2062 | 78.770.9–85.1 | 83.677.7–88.5 | 78.3 |
| 2063 | 78.871.2–85.3 | 83.777.7–88.7 | 78.4 |
| 2064 | 7971.1–85.5 | 83.977.6–89 | 78.5 |
| 2065 | 79.171.1–85.6 | 8477.8–89.1 | 78.6 |
| 2066 | 79.271–85.8 | 84.178–89.3 | 78.7 |
| 2067 | 79.471.1–86.1 | 84.378.2–89.6 | 78.8 |
| 2068 | 79.571.3–86.2 | 84.478.4–89.7 | 78.9 |
| 2069 | 79.771.3–86.1 | 84.678.3–89.8 | 79 |
| 2070 | 79.871.3–86.4 | 84.778.4–90 | 79.1 |
| 2071 | 79.971.4–86.6 | 84.878.6–90.3 | 79.2 |
| 2072 | 80.171.1–86.6 | 8578.7–90.6 | 79.3 |
| 2073 | 80.271.1–86.9 | 85.178.6–90.7 | 79.4 |
| 2074 | 80.471.2–87.1 | 85.279–91.1 | 79.4 |
| 2075 | 80.571.3–87.1 | 85.479–91.3 | 79.5 |
| 2076 | 80.671.2–87.4 | 85.579.1–91.3 | 79.6 |
| 2077 | 80.871.2–87.6 | 85.679.1–91.6 | 79.7 |
| 2078 | 80.971.4–87.8 | 85.779.2–91.7 | 79.8 |
| 2079 | 8171.2–87.9 | 85.979.4–91.9 | 79.9 |
| 2080 | 81.271.5–88.1 | 8679.4–92 | 80 |
| 2081 | 81.371.5–88.5 | 86.179.6–92.2 | 80.1 |
| 2082 | 81.471.7–88.6 | 86.279.7–92.3 | 80.2 |
| 2083 | 81.671.7–88.4 | 86.480–92.6 | 80.3 |
| 2084 | 81.771.9–88.7 | 86.580–92.7 | 80.3 |
| 2085 | 81.871.9–88.8 | 86.680–93 | 80.4 |
| 2086 | 8272–89 | 86.780.1–93.1 | 80.5 |
| 2087 | 82.171.9–89.1 | 86.980.1–93.2 | 80.6 |
| 2088 | 82.372–89.2 | 8780.3–93.5 | 80.7 |
| 2089 | 82.472–89.3 | 87.180.5–93.5 | 80.8 |
| 2090 | 82.572.2–89.6 | 87.280.5–93.9 | 80.9 |
| 2091 | 82.672.1–89.7 | 87.480.8–93.9 | 81 |
| 2092 | 82.872.2–89.9 | 87.580.9–94 | 81 |
| 2093 | 82.971.9–89.9 | 87.681.1–94.1 | 81.1 |
| 2094 | 8372.2–90.1 | 87.781.1–94.5 | 81.2 |
| 2095 | 83.272.3–90.3 | 87.881.2–94.7 | 81.3 |
| 2096 | 83.372.4–90.6 | 8881.3–94.9 | 81.4 |
| 2097 | 83.472.2–90.7 | 88.181.2–95.1 | 81.5 |
| 2098 | 83.572.3–90.9 | 88.281.3–95.2 | 81.6 |
| 2099 | 83.772.4–91 | 88.381.7–95.5 | 81.7 |
| 2100 | 83.872.6–91.2 | 88.481.5–95.5 | 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 Thailand
Health
- Child mortalityNorth Korea: 1.7 per 100 live births in 2024Thailand: 0.9 per 100 live births in 2024
- Infant mortalityNorth Korea: 14.5 per 1,000 live births in 2023Thailand: 6.2 per 1,000 live births in 2023
- DepressionNorth Korea: 3.09% in 2017Thailand: 3.09% in 2017
- Suicide rateNorth Korea: 11.1 per 100,000 people in 2017Thailand: 10.4 per 100,000 people in 2017
People
- PopulationNorth Korea: 26.4 million people in 2023Thailand: 71.7 million people in 2023
- Population growthNorth Korea: 0.32% a year in 2023Thailand: -0.04% a year in 2023
- Fertility rateNorth Korea: 1.78 births per woman in 2023Thailand: 1.21 births per woman in 2023
- Urban populationNorth Korea: 64.2% in 2025Thailand: 62.8% in 2025
- Median ageNorth Korea: 36.1 years in 2023Thailand: 39.7 years in 2023
- People aged 65 and overNorth Korea: 12% in 2023Thailand: 14.7% in 2023
- Net migration rateNorth Korea: -0.1 per 1,000 people in 2023Thailand: 0.3 per 1,000 people in 2023
Education
Politics
Conflict
Military
- Military spending per personNorth Korea: $62 in 2018Thailand: $84 in 2025
- Armed forces personnelNorth Korea: 1.47 million people in 2020Thailand: 455,000 people in 2020
- National powerNorth Korea: 1.41% of world capability in 2022Thailand: 0.79% of world capability in 2022
- Armed forces, share of workersNorth Korea: 8.62% of the labour force in 2020Thailand: 1.13% of the labour force in 2020
- Arms importsNorth Korea: 1 million TIV in 2010Thailand: 33 million TIV in 2025
- Arms exportsNorth Korea: 44 million TIV in 2025Thailand: 15 million TIV in 2024