North Korea 🇰🇵

North Korea is a sovereign country in Eastern Asia, in the wider region of Asia. Its full official name is Democratic People's Republic of Korea. Its seat of government is Pyongyang.

The population is about 26.5 million, placing it 56th of 250 by population — between Niger above it and Syria below. Measured only against its own subregion, it is 4th of 8 in size and 4th in population.

The land area is 120,538 km², which ranks it 100th of the 250 countries and territories in this dataset — just behind Nicaragua and just ahead of Malawi. Put next to a country most people can picture, it is a fraction smaller than Greece.

North Korea on the map

Its reference point sits at 40.0° north and 127.0° east, which puts it in the northern hemisphere, roughly 4,453 km from the equator, in what geographers would call temperate latitudes.

Countries on the same parallel, far away in longitude, include the United States, Türkiye and Spain.

3 countries share a land border with it: China, South Korea and Russia. The largest of them by area is Russia, while the most populous is China. Together those neighbours hold about 1.60 billion people.

It has both a coastline and land borders, which is the most common arrangement of all.

How crowded North Korea is, and what is spoken there

Spread across 120,538 km², that works out at about 220 people per square kilometre, which makes it densely populated. The median across all 250 entries here is about 90 per square kilometre.

Korean is the only official language. It shares that with South Korea.

The demonym is North Korean, so residents are North Koreans.

Against Asia as a whole it is the 21st most populous of 50 entries, and it accounts for 1.6% of everyone living in Eastern Asia.

Money, codes and practical details

It uses the North Korean won (₩, KPW). That currency appears nowhere else on this list.

The top-level domain is .kp. The international dialling code is +850. In ISO terms it is kp in two letters and PRK in three.

If a quiz asks for the capital of North Korea, the answer is Pyongyang.

North Korea is one of the 193 UN member states in this dataset. The other 57 entries are territories, dependencies or observers, which is why totals on this site run to 250 rather than the familiar 195.

Neighbouring countries

North Korea shares borders with 3 countries:

• 🇨🇳 China
• 🇰🇷 South Korea
• 🇷🇺 Russia

Fun facts about North Korea

• It is 56th of 250 by population, with about 26.5 million residents.
• Its full official name is Democratic People's Republic of Korea.
• Its capital city is Pyongyang.
• People from North Korea are known as North Koreans.
• It lies about 4,453 km from the equator, in temperate latitudes.
• The United States and Türkiye sit at almost the same latitude, on the far side of the globe.
• Within Eastern Asia it is the 4th largest of 8.
• Korean is official here and in 1 other entry worldwide.

North Korea — frequently asked questions

What is the capital of North Korea?

The capital of North Korea is Pyongyang.

What language is spoken in North Korea?

The official language of North Korea is Korean. It is also official in 1 other entry on this list.

What is the population of North Korea?

North Korea has a population of about 26.5 million, which makes it the 56th most populous of the 250 countries and territories listed on this site. Niger sits just above it and Syria just below.

Is North Korea a country?

Yes. North Korea is a sovereign state and one of the 193 UN members listed on this site.

Which countries border North Korea?

North Korea borders 3 countries: China, South Korea and Russia. Russia is the largest of them by area.

How big is North Korea?

North Korea covers 120,538 km², ranking 100th of 250 by land area. That makes it a fraction smaller than Greece.

What currency does North Korea use?

North Korea uses the North Korean won, written ₩ (currency code KPW). No other entry in this dataset uses it.

Where is North Korea located?

North Korea is in Eastern Asia, part of Asia. Its reference coordinates are 40.0° north and 127.0° east, roughly 4,453 km from the equator in temperate latitudes.