North Korea flag
East Asia · Asia

North Korea

조선민주주의인민공화국
Capital
Pyongyang
Population
25.9M
Area
120,538 km²
Language
Korean

North Korea is a country in East Asia, Asia. Its capital is Pyongyang, with a population of approximately 25.9M and a total area of 120,538 km². The official language is Korean and the currency is the North Korean Won (KPW).

📊 Quick Facts about North Korea

👥
Population
25.9M
total residents
📐
Total Area
120,538 km²
land coverage
🏙️
Pop. Density
215/km²
people per km²
💰
GDP (nominal)
$28B (est.)
total output
💵
GDP per Capita
$1,081 (est.)
per person
💱
Currency
North Korean Won (KPW)
legal tender
🗣️
Language(s)
Korean
official
🌊
Coastline
2,495 km
total shore
🕐
Timezone
UTC+9
UTC offset
🎂
Independence
1948
established
🕐
Local Time in Pyongyang

North Korea covers an area of 120,538 km² with a population density of 215/km² people per km². The country has a GDP of $28B (est.) ($1,081 (est.) per capita) and gained independence in 1948. It has a coastline of 2,495 km.

Did You Know?

North Korea is the world's most isolated country, ordinary citizens cannot access the internet, travel abroad or consume foreign media. The state controls every aspect of life and maintains the world's most extensive personality cult around the Kim dynasty.

See all 14+ facts about North Korea

✈️ Travel Information for North Korea

📅
Best Time to Visit
April–June, September–October
Temperate continental, cold winters, hot summers
💸
Cost of Travel
Mid (state-controlled tourism only)
vs global average
🛂
Visa
Visa required, tourists must join state-approved tours, US citizens banned
entry requirements

⚠️ Visa requirements change frequently. Always verify with the official embassy or consulate before travel.

Full North Korea travel guide: visa, costs, plug, safety →

📍 North Korea on the Map

Street-level photo from Pyongyang
📍 Pyongyang · 1/1
via Mapillary

Google Street View not available here. Showing community photos via Mapillary (CC BY-SA).

🏆 North Korea World Rankings

1st
Most Isolated
World's most secretive and isolated country
1st
Propaganda
Most extensive state propaganda system in the world
1st
Nuclear
One of only 9 countries with nuclear weapons
1st
Press Freedom
Ranked last in the world for press freedom every year

🏛 Must-See Places in North Korea

🗺️ Countries Bordering North Korea

China
China
Beijing
Russia
Russia
Moscow
South Korea
South Korea
Seoul

⚖️ Compare North Korea with another country

See how North Korea stacks up against its neighbours and peers. Each comparison shows population, area, GDP, language, currency and more, side by side.

North KoreavsChina
North Korea vs China
North KoreavsRussia
North Korea vs Russia
North KoreavsSouth Korea
North Korea vs South Korea
North KoreavsJapan
North Korea vs Japan
Or compare any two countries →

❓ Frequently Asked Questions about North Korea

What is the capital of North Korea?

The capital of North Korea is Pyongyang.

What continent is North Korea in?

North Korea is located in Asia, in the East Asia region.

What currency does North Korea use?

North Korea uses the North Korean Won (KPW). The international calling code is +850.

What is the GDP of North Korea?

North Korea has a GDP of $28B (est.), with a GDP per capita of $1,081 (est.).

🌍 Explore More Countries in East Asia

China
China
Beijing
Japan
Japan
Tokyo
South Korea
South Korea
Seoul
Mongolia
Mongolia
Ulaanbaatar

Ready to explore somewhere new?

Share North Korea