Population, GDP, natural resources, leaders and history of North Korea: the Magna Factbook country file, with its Magna Power score (58.2/100, ranked #51 of 195).
North Korea is a dictatorship, single-party communist state in Eastern Asia, northern half of the Korean Peninsula bordering the Korea Bay and the Sea of Japan, between China and South Korea. The country's capital is Pyongyang; it covers 120,538 sq km. Independence: 15 August 1945 (from Japan). Terrain: mostly hills and mountains separated by deep, narrow valleys; wide coastal plains in west, discontinuous in east. Climate: temperate, with rainfall concentrated in summer; long, bitter winters. Population: 26.4 million (2025 estimate). Population growth: +0.40% per year. Median age: 36.2 years. Life expectancy: 73.5 years (2024 est.). Languages: Korean Religions: traditionally Buddhist and C…
| Capital | Pyongyang |
|---|---|
| Population | 26,402,841 (2025 est.) |
| GDP (PPP) | $15.416 billion (2023 est.) |
| GDP per capita (PPP) | $600 (2023 est.) |
| Unemployment | 2.9% |
| Life expectancy | 73.5 years (2024 est.) |
| Median age | 36.2 |
| Urbanization | 63.2% of total population (2023) |
| Government | dictatorship, single-party communist state |
| Independence | 15 August 1945 (from Japan) |
| Languages | Korean |
POWER 58.2/100 — The Magna Power score is our 0–100 composite of structural national power — five dimensions, 100+ indicators. It is the Bureau's own assessment, not a mirror of World Bank or CIA figures.
Momentum 0 — Quarterly momentum: the Bureau's read on the country's trajectory over the last quarter, from −10 (deteriorating fast) to +10 (accelerating).
No single event defined Jul–Sep 2026. The country's position is the product of long-cycle forces — geography, trade, neighbours — all of which held steady.
Momentum at zero is not stagnation; it is the accurate record of a quarter without a catalyst.
Coal, Iron ore, Graphite, Copper, Zinc, Lead, Hydropower.
Kim Jong-un — Supreme Leader. State Affairs Commission President KIM Jong Un (since 17 December 2011)
North Korea maintains 43 embassies abroad, hosts 21 foreign diplomatic missions, holds permanent missions to UN New York, UN Geneva, UNESCO Paris. The breadth of a diplomatic network is a direct measure of diplomatic power — it shows how far a country’s influence, alliances and interests reach.
| Embassies abroad | 43 |
|---|---|
| Foreign missions hosted | 21 |
| Multilateral missions | UN New York, UN Geneva, UNESCO Paris |
Source: Lowy Institute Global Diplomacy Index 2024 (released 2024-02-25), https://globaldiplomacyindex.lowyinstitute.org/; Wikipedia 'List of diplomatic missions of North Korea', https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_diplomatic_missions_of_North_Korea; '... in North Korea', https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_diplomatic_missions_in_North_Korea
Transport networks are economic power made physical — ports, runways, railways and pipelines decide what a country can move, sell and defend.
| Sea access | Coastal — 2495 km of coastline. |
|---|---|
| Airports (total) | 81 + 8 heliports (registration prefix P) |
| Major seaports | Ch'ongjin, Haeju Hang, Hungnam, Najin, Nampo, Senbong, Wonsan |
| Railways | 7435 km |
Pyongyang Sunan International Airport (FNJ) — Pyongyang; Orang (Chongjin) Airport (RGO) — Hoemun-ri; Sondok Airport (DSO) — Sŏndŏng-ni; Wonsan Kalma Airport (WOS) — Wonsan.
Sources: OurAirports public-domain extract (2026-10-02); per-entry Wikipedia links included; CIA World Factbook via cia_factbook snapshot (2026-09-28)
| Political system | one-party communist state |
|---|---|
| Next election | No election currently scheduled. |
POWER 58.2/100 Ranked #51 of 195 countries in the Magna Country Rankings. Full ranking breakdown for North Korea.
Historical timeline of North Korea
