Korea, North (Democratic People's Republic of Korea)

https://www.humantruth.info/north_korea.html

By Vexen Crabtree 2025

North Korea Democratic People's Republic of Korea
Status	Independent State
Social and Moral Index	144th best
Capital	Pyongyang
Land Area	120 410km²₁
Location	Asia
Population	25.5m₂
Life Expectancy	73.28yrs (2017)₃
GNI
ISO3166-1 Codes	KP, PRK, 408₄
Internet Domain	.kp₅
Currency	Won (KPW)₆
Telephone	+850₇

1. Overview

“An independent kingdom for much of its long history, Korea was occupied by Japan beginning in 1905 following the Russo-Japanese War. Five years later, Japan formally annexed the entire peninsula. Following World War II, Korea was split with the northern half coming under Soviet-sponsored Communist control. After failing in the Korean War (1950-53) to conquer the US-backed Republic of Korea (ROK) in the southern portion by force, North Korea (DPRK), under its founder President KIM Il Sung, adopted a policy of ostensible diplomatic and economic "self-reliance" as a check against outside influence. The DPRK demonized the US as the ultimate threat to its social system through state-funded propaganda, and molded political, economic, and military policies around the core ideological objective of eventual unification of Korea under Pyongyang's control. KIM Il Sung's son, KIM Jong Il, was officially designated as his father's successor in 1980, assuming a growing political and managerial role until the elder KIM's death in 1994. KIM Jong Un was publicly unveiled as his father's successor in September 2010. Following KIM Jong Il's death in December 2011, the regime began to take actions to transfer power to KIM Jong Un and KIM has now assumed many his father's former titles and duties. After decades of economic mismanagement and resource misallocation, the DPRK since the mid-1990s has relied heavily on international aid to feed its population. The DPRK began to ease restrictions to allow semi-private markets, starting in 2002, but then sought to roll back the scale of economic reforms in 2005 and 2009. North Korea's history of regional military provocations; proliferation of military-related items; long-range missile development; WMD programs including tests of nuclear devices in 2006, 2009, and 2013; and massive conventional armed forces are of major concern to the international community.”
CIA's The World Factbook (2013)₈

“Most people form their opinions of North Korea from news reports and James Bond movies, but there´s more to the Democratic People´s Republic than military parades and stand-offs with the UN. No country in the world provokes a similar reaction to North Korea. Now on its third hereditary ruler, this nominally communist state and by-product of the Cold War has defied all expectation and survived a quarter of a century since perestroika dismantled the rest of the once-vast Soviet empire.
Most people don´t even know that it´s possible to travel here, and indeed the compromises required to do so are significant. You´ll be accompanied by two government minders at all times and only hear a one-sided account of history. Those who can´t accept this might be better off staying away - but those who can will have a fascinating trip into another, unsettling world.
With your official minders, you can roam mountain resorts and ancient capitals, though the main attractions remain the bombastic iconography of the North Korean regime and the surreal existence of ordinary people in this troubled, autocratic state.”
"The World" by Lonely Planet (2014)₉

2. North Korea National and Social Development

#human_development

Social & Moral Development Index₁₀
Pos.		Lower is better Avg Rank₁₀
1	Denmark	27.2
2	Norway	29.2
3	Sweden	30.2
	...
141	Samoa	108.9
142	Lesotho	109.0
143	Tanzania	109.6
144	N. Korea	109.9
145	Gabon	110.0
146	Gambia	110.2
147	Micronesia	111.1
148	Timor-Leste (E. Timor)	111.4
	Asia Avg	92.2
	World Avg	89.2
q=200.

The Social and Moral Development Index concentrates on moral issues and human rights, violence, public health, equality, tolerance, freedom and effectiveness in climate change mitigation and environmentalism, and on some technological issues. A country scores higher for achieving well in those areas, and for sustaining that achievement in the long term. Those countries towards the top of this index can truly said to be setting good examples and leading humankind onwards into a bright, humane, and free future. See: Which are the Best Countries in the World? The Social and Moral Development Index.

3. North Korea's Demographics and Migration

#birth_control #demographics #fertility #health #immigration #life_expectancy #longevity #migration #overpopulation #population #yemen

Population Datasets:

North Korea's population is predicted to rise to 26.18 million by 2030. This rise is despite a low fertility rate, meaning, that this country is helping to alleviate problems with growing population in neighbouring countries by accepting immigrants, very likely as a requirement of maintaining an active workforce. This country has a fertility rate of 1.79. The fertility rate is, in simple terms, the average amount of children that each woman has. The higher the figure, the quicker the population will grow, although, to calculate the rate you also need to take into account morbidity - the rate at which people die. If people live healthy and long lives and morbidity is low, then, 2.0 approximates to the replacement rate (two new children for each set of parents who die), which would keep the population stable. If all countries had such a fertility rate, population growth would end. The actual replacement rate in most developed countries is around 2.1, once you take mortality into account₁₁. The highest fertility rate ever detected in a single year was in Yemen in 1985, at 8.86.₁₂

Population₂
Pos.		2018 Population₂
1	China	1.4b
2	India	1.4b
3	USA	327.1m
	...
49	Yemen	28.5m
50	Nepal	28.1m
51	Madagascar	26.3m
52	N. Korea	25.5m
53	Cameroon	25.2m
54	Ivory Coast	25.1m
55	Australia	24.9m
56	Niger	22.4m
	World Avg	39.0m
q=195.

Life Expectancy Higher is better₁₃
Pos.		2021 Years₁₃
1	Monaco	85.9
2	Hong Kong	85.5
3	Japan	84.8
	...
79	Latvia	73.6
80	Mauritius	73.6
81	Palestine	73.5
82	N. Korea	73.3
83	Trinidad & Tobago	73.0
84	Colombia	72.8
85	Dominica	72.8
86	Samoa	72.8
	World Avg	71.28
q=195. Also scored for 1990s-2010s.

Fertility Rate 2.0 is best₁₄
Pos.		2022₁₄
1	US Virgin Islands	2.00
2	Ecuador	2.00
3	Nepal	2.01
	...
28=	Moldova	1.80
29	Bahrain	1.80
30	France	1.79
31	N. Korea	1.79
32	Malaysia	1.79
33	El Salvador	1.79
34	Qatar	1.78
35	Bulgaria	1.78
	World Avg	2.47
q=208. Also scored for 1960s-2010s.

Old-Age Dependency Ratio Lower is better₁₅
Pos.		2016 Per 100₁₅
1	Uganda	04.3
2	Mali	04.5
3=	Chad	04.7
	...
107=	Brunei	16.2
108	El Salvador	17.3
109	Panama	17.7
110	N. Korea	17.8
111	Turkey	18.0
112	Vietnam	18.3
113	Tunisia	18.6
114	Azerbaijan	18.7
	World Avg	18.3
q=185.

Migration Datasets:

Immigrants₁₆
Pos.		2017 %₁₆
1	UAE	88.4%
2	Kuwait	75.5%
3	Qatar	65.2%
	...
185	Colombia	0.3%
186	Morocco	0.3%
187	Philippines	0.2%
188	N. Korea	0.2%
189	Sri Lanka	0.2%
190	Myanmar	0.1%
191	Madagascar	0.1%
192	Indonesia	0.1%
	World Avg	9.4%
q=195.

Emigrants₁₇
Pos.		2010 %₁₇
1	Dominica	104.8%
2	Palestine	68.4%
3	Samoa	67.3%
	...
166	Cameroon	1.4%
167	Malawi	1.4%
168	Congo, DR	1.3%
169	N. Korea	1.3%
170	Thailand	1.2%
171	UAE	1.2%
172	Mongolia	1.2%
173	Kenya	1.1%
	World Avg	11.5%
q=192.

4. Human Rights, Equality & Tolerance

#equality #freedom #gender_equality #human_rights #morals #north_korea #north_korea_human_rights #politics #prejudice #tolerance

Human Rights, Equality & Tolerance (2025)₁₈
Pos.		Lower is better Avg Rank₁₈
1	Sweden	7.5
2	Netherlands	8.6
3	Denmark	9.0
	...
190	Equatorial Guinea	147.3
191	Iran	152.1
192	Sudan	153.0
193	N. Korea	154.9
194	Afghanistan	155.9
195	Brunei	157.8
	Asia Avg	110.11
	World Avg	90.04
q=198.

This is a fully totalitarian dictatorship with no pretence to embrace any modern concept of human rights nor personal freedom₁₉_,₂₀. N. Korea does worse than average in LGBT equality in the 2020s₂₁. It sits amongst the bottom 20 in commentary in Human Rights Watch reports₂₂ (one of the worst in Asia), its nominal commitment to Human Rights₂₃, its average Freedom in the World rating (one of the worst in Asia) and in freethought₂₄ (one of the highest in Asia). It is second-from-the-bottom in terms of supporting press freedom₂₅. And finally, it is the worst in combatting modern slavery₂₆. Of the millions of North Koreans subject to slavery, the "clear majority" are being held in forced labour by the state itself₂₇. The Lonely Planet guide for traveller says that visiting North Korea is "a fascinating trip into another, unsettling world... with your official minders, you can roam mountain resorts and ancient capitals, though the main attractions remain the bombastic iconography of the North Korean regime and the surreal existence of ordinary people in this troubled, autocratic state"₉.

For tables, charts and commentary, see:

Human Rights and Freedom in Korea, North

5. North Korea's Health

#health

Compared to Asia (2025)₂₈
Pos.		Lower is better Avg Rank₂₈
1	Japan	40.8
2	Singapore	43.3
3	S. Korea	53.7
	...
8	Cyprus	64.6
9	Israel	65.2
10	China	65.8
11	N. Korea	69.7
12	Kuwait	69.9
13	Thailand	70.4
14	Bahrain	71.0
15	UAE	75.9
16	Vietnam	77.5
	Asia Avg	90.68
q=50.

Health (2025)₂₈
Pos.		Lower is better Avg Rank₂₈
1	Monaco	10.3
2	Liechtenstein	30.1
3	Japan	40.8
	...
39	USA	68.5
40	Germany	68.6
41	Ireland	68.9
42	N. Korea	69.7
43	British Virgin Islands	69.8
44	Kuwait	69.9
45	Thailand	70.4
46	St Martin	70.9
	World Avg	97.39
q=207.

The countries with the best overall approach to public health, in terms of both public policy and individual lifestyle choices, are Monaco, Liechtenstein and Japan₂₉. These countries are worth emulating. And, although often through no fault of the average citizen, the worst countries are Angola, Somalia and S. Sudan₂₉.

42 datasets are used to calculate points for each country, including multiple decades of data on its average life expectancy, its alcohol consumption rate, its fertility rate, its smoking rate, its suicide rate, its food aid and health contributions and WHO compliance, the prevalence of overweight adults, obesity rate, its adolescent birth rate, delivery rate of infant DTP immunizations, delivery rate of 7x Infant Immunizations 2011-2015 and childhood mortality. The regions with the best average results per country are Scandinavia, Europe and The Mediterranean₂₉, whereas the worst are Micronesia, Africa and Melanesia₂₉.

For more, see:

"Countries With the Healthiest Cultures and Health Policies" by Vexen Crabtree (2025).

5.1. Health Datasets

#2010s #alcohol #birth_control #demographics #health #life_expectancy #longevity #mental_health #north_korea #obesity #overpopulation #parenting #population #smoking #suicide

North Korea does relatively well in encouraging good health, compared to many other countries. N. Korea comes in the best 20 in terms of its adolescent birth rate₃₀ (one of the lowest in Asia) and in delivery rate of infant DTP immunizations in the 2020s₃₁. It does better than average in terms of its fertility rate₁₄, the prevalence of overweight adults₃₂, its smoking rate₃₃, its alcohol consumption rate₃₄ (but high for Asia), its average life expectancy₁₃ and in delivery rate of 7x Infant Immunizations 2011-2015₃₅ (but bad for Asia). N. Korea still has work to do. N. Korea does worse than average in childhood mortality in the 2020s₃₆ and in its suicide rate₃₇. The number of overweight adults has increased by 14% over the last 40 years. Life expectancy in North Korea improved by just +3yrs in the 30 years from 1990, significantly less than almost everywhere else in the world. North Korea's peak fertility rate was 4.05 in 1967.

Life Expectancy Higher is better₁₃
Pos.		2021 Years₁₃
1	Monaco	85.9
2	Hong Kong	85.5
3	Japan	84.8
	...
79	Latvia	73.6
80	Mauritius	73.6
81	Palestine	73.5
82	N. Korea	73.3
83	Trinidad & Tobago	73.0
84	Colombia	72.8
85	Dominica	72.8
86	Samoa	72.8
	Asia Avg	73.48
	World Avg	71.28
q=195. Also scored for 1990s-2010s.

Alcohol Consumption Lower is better₃₄
Pos.		2016 Per Capita₃₄
1	Bangladesh	0.0
2	Kuwait	0.0
3	Libya	0.0
	...
65=	Gambia	3.8
65=	Israel	3.8
65=	UAE	3.8
68	N. Korea	3.9
69	Honduras	4.0
70	Jamaica	4.2
71	Sri Lanka	4.3
72=	Bahamas	4.4
	Asia Avg	3.9
	World Avg	6.2
q=189.

Fertility Rate 2.0 is best₁₄
Pos.		2022₁₄
1	US Virgin Islands	2.00
2	Ecuador	2.00
3	Nepal	2.01
	...
28=	Moldova	1.80
29	Bahrain	1.80
30	France	1.79
31	N. Korea	1.79
32	Malaysia	1.79
33	El Salvador	1.79
34	Qatar	1.78
35	Bulgaria	1.78
	Asia Avg	2.17
	World Avg	2.47
q=208. Also scored for 1960s-2010s.

Smoking in the 2020s Lower is better₃₃
Pos.		Smoking in the 2020s %₃₃
1	Nigeria	3.3%
2	Ghana	3.4%
3	Panama	5.2%
	...
66	Denmark	16.2%
67	Singapore	16.3%
68	Brunei	16.4%
69	N. Korea	16.6%
70	Uzbekistan	16.8%
71	Comoros	17.3%
72	Cambodia	17.3%
73	Palau	17.4%
	Asia Avg	22.8%
	World Avg	20.0%
q=165. Also scored for 2000s-2020s.

Suicide Rate in the 2010s Lower is better₃₇
Pos.		Suicide Rate in the 2010s Per 100k₃₇
1=	Jordan	1.00
1=	Sao Tome & Principe	1.00
1=	Antigua & Barbuda	1.00
	...
117	Fiji	9.67
118	Togo	9.77
119	Kyrgyzstan	10.02
120	N. Korea	10.18
121	Ireland	10.41
122	Chile	10.42
123	Nepal	10.49
124	Bosnia & Herzegovina	10.51
	Asia Avg	7.22
	World Avg	9.24
q=185. Also scored for 2000s-2010s.

Overweight Adults Lower is better₃₂
Pos.		1976 %₃₂
1	Bangladesh	4.7
2	Vietnam	5.1
3	Nepal	5.4
	...
62	Namibia	15.7
63	Swaziland	15.8
64	Zimbabwe	16.3
65=	N. Korea	16.8
65=	Brunei	16.8
67	Mauritius	17.0
68	Seychelles	17.4
69=	Haiti	20.2
	Asia Avg	23.1
	World Avg	27.1
q=191.

Adult Obesity Lower is better₃₈
Pos.		2022 %₃₈
1	Vietnam	2.1%
2	Timor-Leste (E. Timor)	2.2%
3	Ethiopia	2.4%
	...
39	Sri Lanka	10.6%
40	Nigeria	10.8%
41	Djibouti	10.9%
42	N. Korea	10.9%
43	France	10.9%
44	Kenya	11.0%
45	Tanzania	11.4%
46	Indonesia	11.5%
	Asia Avg	21.1%
	World Avg	24.7%
q=199. Also scored for 1990s-2010s.

5.2. Children's Health Datasets

#children's_health #health #japan #parenting #population #vaccines

Adolescent Birth Rate Lower is better₃₀
Pos.		2022 Per 1000₃₀
1	Hong Kong	1.6
2	Denmark	1.8
3	S. Korea	2.1
4	Norway	2.2
5	Switzerland	2.2
6	N. Korea	2.4
7	Singapore	2.5
8	Netherlands	2.7
9	Japan	2.8
10	UAE	2.8
11	Liechtenstein	3.0
12	Sweden	3.3
	Asia Avg	25.9
	World Avg	43.8
q=195. Also scored for 1990s-2010s.

Infant DTP Immunizations (2020s) Higher is better₃₁
Pos.		Infant DTP Immunizations (2020s) Avg %₃₁
1=	Luxembourg	99.0
1=	Oman	99.0
1=	Niue	99.0
	...
6=	Tonga	99.0
6=	Cuba	99.0
6=	Hungary	99.0
12	N. Korea	98.7
13	Iran	98.6
14=	Israel	98.5
14=	Malta	98.5
14=	Nauru	98.5
	Asia Avg	90.6
	World Avg	88.5
q=211. Also scored for 1980s-2020s.

7x Infant Immunizations (2011-2015) Higher is better₃₅
Pos.		2015 Avg %₃₅
1=	Hungary	99.0
1=	China	99.0
3	Uzbekistan	98.9
	...
82=	Germany	94.0
83	Lithuania	93.9
84	Estonia	93.9
85	N. Korea	93.8
86	Italy	93.8
87	Austria	93.8
88	Argentina	93.7
89	Bulgaria	93.7
	Asia Avg	90.5
	World Avg	88.3
q=194.

Infant Mortality (2020s) Lower is better₃₆
Pos.		Infant Mortality (2020s) Per 1000₃₆
1	San Marino	2.11
2	Finland	2.59
3	Luxembourg	2.60
	...
110	Uzbekistan	21.50
111	Vietnam	22.10
112	Fiji	22.11
113	N. Korea	22.55
114	Paraguay	22.61
115	Trinidad & Tobago	22.83
116	Kyrgyzstan	23.23
117	Egypt	23.97
	Asia Avg	23.58
	World Avg	32.19
q=195. Also scored for 1960s-2020s.

In the 1990s, North Korea had the 3rd-lowest adolescent birth rate in the world (on just after Japan), and in the 2000s and 2010s, it had the lowest rate in the world, giving families a great chance to plan, educate and preserve resources for the future.

6. North Korea's Responsibility Towards The Environment

#biodiversity #climate_change #deforestation #environmentalism #food #internationalism #meat #over-exploitation #the_environment #veganism #vegetarianism

Compared to Asia (2025)₃₉
Pos.		Lower is better Avg Rank₃₉
1	Sri Lanka	34.9
2	Nepal	47.9
3	India	49.5
	...
43	Kyrgyzstan	108.7
44	Kazakhstan	109.8
45	Bhutan	115.3
46	Uzbekistan	116.1
47	Tajikistan	128.6
48	Brunei	130.2
49	N. Korea	132.3
50	Turkmenistan	134.1
51	Timor-Leste (E. Timor)	137.5
	Asia Avg	88.09
q=51.

Responsibility Towards The Environment (2025)₃₉
Pos.		Lower is better Avg Rank₃₉
1	Sri Lanka	34.9
2	Uruguay	43.2
3	Switzerland	45.0
	...
189	Niue	129.5
190	Brunei	130.2
191	Somalia	131.0
192	N. Korea	132.3
193	Turkmenistan	134.1
194	Nauru	134.4
195	San Marino	134.9
196	Andorra	136.3
	World Avg	84.93
q=199.

We have known for a long term that we must protect the environment from habitation destruction, over-exploitation, pollution, and the emissions that cause climate change. In 1998, Greenpeace wrote that "Environment can no longer be meaningfully separated from health, quality of life, democracy, education, economy or trade"₄₀. What countries have been doing the right thing, via legislation and national culture? All countries' current and historical approach towards the environment is gauged via 21 datasets, including multiple decades of data on its forested percent change 2000-2020, its environmental performance, energy to GDP efficiency, its sign-up rate to major international accords on protecting the environment, the rate of rational beliefs on the environment in the population, reducing annual meat consumption per person and its score on the Green Future Index.

The countries that do the best (Sri Lanka, Uruguay and Switzerland) tend to have avoided the excesses of early industrial countries, and have not yet repeated the same mistakes of environmental destruction - at least, not on the same scale. The regions with the best average results per country are Central America, South America and Scandinavia. The worst are Eritrea, The Vatican City and Timor-Leste (E. Timor), and the worst regions Micronesia, Australasia and Melanesia.

For more, see:

"Countries With the Best Environmental Records" by Vexen Crabtree (2025).

N. Korea comes 8th-worst in the world in terms of its responsibility towards the environment (one of the highest in Asia). This is computed using 21 data sets. N. Korea does better than average for reducing annual meat consumption per person₄₁. But unfortunately N. Korea gets most other things wrong. It does worse than average in terms of its sign-up rate to major international accords on protecting the environment and in its forested percent change 2000-2020₄₂. And finally, it sits amongst the bottom 20 in terms of energy to GDP efficiency₄₃ (one of the highest in Asia).

Forest Area Change 2000-2020 Higher is better₄₂
Pos.		Total₄₂
1	Guernsey	82.6%
2	Bahrain	75.2%
3	Iceland	64.7%
	...
180	Venezuela	-6.0%
181	Honduras	-6.3%
182	Equatorial Guinea	-6.5%
183	N. Korea	-6.7%
184	Mauritius	-7.5%
185	Liberia	-7.5%
186	Bolivia	-7.9%
187	Singapore	-7.9%
	Asia Avg	3.2%
	World Avg	-0.1%
q=234.

Energy to GDP Efficiency Lower is better₄₃
Pos.		2022 Avg₄₃
1	Rwanda	0.25
2	Chad	0.26
3	Tanzania	0.31
	...
156	Canada	2.29
157	Malta	2.36
158	Mozambique	2.38
159	N. Korea	2.46
160	Laos	2.75
161	Iceland	4.01
162	Venezuela	4.18
163	Bahrain	4.19
	Asia Avg	1.50
	World Avg	1.23
q=165. Also scored for 1960s-2010s.

From the 2000s to the 2010s, North Korea improved its energy-to-GDP efficiency more than any other country in the world.

International Accords on the Environment Higher is better
Pos.		International Accords on the Environment Avg Rate
1	Sweden	83%
2	Canada	82%
3	Norway	81%
	...
167	Bosnia & Herzegovina	45%
168	Laos	44%
169	Myanmar	44%
170	N. Korea	44%
171	Sierra Leone	43%
172	Eritrea	43%
173	Somalia	43%
174	Tonga	43%
	Asia Avg	55.4%
	World Avg	57.5%
q=197. Also scored for 1970s-2020s.

Meat Consumption Lower is better₄₁
Pos.		2021 kg₄₁
1	Congo, DR	03.0
2	Burundi	03.5
3	Bangladesh	04.3
	...
18	Tanzania	12.1
19	Ivory Coast	12.6
20	Cambodia	12.6
21	N. Korea	12.8
22	Bhutan	13.6
23	Cameroon	14.6
24	Guinea-Bissau	14.7
25	Djibouti	14.8
	Asia Avg	46.7
	World Avg	52.5
q=185. Also scored for 2010s.

7. North Korea's Modernity and Learning

#education #modernity #technology #the_internet

Compared to Asia (2025)₄₄
Pos.		Lower is better Avg Rank₄₄
1	S. Korea	23.5
2	Taiwan	25.4
3	Japan	27.4
	...
30	Jordan	88.0
31	Iran	89.6
32	Saudi Arabia	91.7
33	N. Korea	94.5
34	Oman	94.9
35	Sri Lanka	96.6
36	Mongolia	97.7
37	Indonesia	100.1
38	Maldives	107.2
	Asia Avg	86.04
q=51.

Modernity & Learning (2025)₄₄
Pos.		Lower is better Avg Rank₄₄
1	Finland	6.1
2	Iceland	8.1
3	Denmark	8.8
	...
114	Guatemala	92.4
115	Libya	92.8
116	Dominica	94.3
117	N. Korea	94.5
118	Oman	94.9
119	Sri Lanka	96.6
120	Honduras	97.5
121	Mongolia	97.7
	World Avg	84.96
q=197.

The most modern countries, with the best results from education, the highest levels of research, and with the easiest access to information on the Internet, are Finland, Iceland and Denmark₄₅. The worst countries are S. Sudan, Eritrea and Somalia₄₅. Despite improves in global education, access to tertiary (adult) education is becoming increasingly unequal between the rich haves and the poor have-nots₄₆.

“Education, at all levels and ages, is the single most vital support for equality as well as being a country's most vital economic and social resource. [...] Every successful aspirant to modernisation and economic development, from Japan to South Korea, China to Chile, has got there with a big emphasis on education.”
Bill Emmott (2017)₄₇

27 datasets are used to calculate points for each country, including multiple decades of data on Research and Development, Intellectual Endeavours, metric system adoption rate, Religiosity, IQ, Secondary Education, Length of Schooling, Maths, Science & Reading, the percent of citizens with access to the internet, Freedom On The Internet, IT Security, IPv6 Uptake and digital quality of life. The regions with the best average results per country are Scandinavia, Baltic States and Europe₄₅, whereas the worst are Melanesia, Africa and Micronesia₄₅.

For more, see:

" Which Countries are Most Modern, With the Best Education and Internet Access?" by Vexen Crabtree (2025).

7.1. Modernity Datasets

#metric

Metric System Adoption Rate Higher is better₄₈
Pos.		2025 %₄₈
1=	Slovakia	100
1=	Poland	100
1=	Portugal	100
	...
74=	Russia	95
74=	Slovenia	95
74=	Peru	95
74=	N. Korea	95
74=	Panama	95
74=	Lithuania	95
74=	Macedonia	95
74=	Nicaragua	95
	Asia Avg	90
	World Avg	92
q=187. Also scored for 1960s-2020s.

North Korea officially adopted metric in 1948₄₉. Progression:

1960 (70%): Metric official; traditional units common informally.
1970 (85%): Standardization in commerce/education.
1980 (95%): Metric dominant across sectors.
2000 (95%).
2025 (95%).

7.2. Education Datasets

#education

Length of Schooling Higher is better₅₀
Pos.		2021 Years₅₀
1	Australia	21.1
2	New Zealand	20.3
3	Greece	20.0
	...
149	Rwanda	11.2
150	Zambia	10.9
151	Myanmar	10.9
152	N. Korea	10.8
153	Benin	10.8
154	Burundi	10.7
155	Kenya	10.7
156	Ivory Coast	10.7
	Asia Avg	13.5
	World Avg	13.5
q=193. Also scored for 1990s-2010s.

8. North Korea's Culture, Peace and Inequality

#charitability #culture #equality #human_development #inequality #peace

8.1. National Culture Datasets

#corruption #internationalism #north_korea #politics #somalia

Corruption Higher is better₅₁
Pos.		2022 Points₅₁
1	Denmark	90.0
2=	Finland	87.0
2=	New Zealand	87.0
	...
169=	Turkmenistan	19.0
169=	Chad	19.0
171=	Equatorial Guinea	17.0
171=	N. Korea	17.0
171=	Libya	17.0
171=	Haiti	17.0
171=	Burundi	17.0
176	Yemen	16.0
	Asia Avg	39.98
	World Avg	42.98
q=180. Also scored for 1990s-2010s.

On average through the 2010s, North Korea scored the second-worst on the Corruption Perception Index (after Somalia).

Passport Reach (2020s) Higher is better₅₂
Pos.		Passport Reach (2020s) Q₅₂
1	Singapore	192.2
2	Japan	192.0
3	S. Korea	190.7
	...
183	Sri Lanka	42.0
184	S. Sudan	41.8
185	Bangladesh	40.5
186	N. Korea	39.8
187	Libya	39.7
188	Palestine	38.3
189	Nepal	38.0
190	Somalia	34.2
	Asia Avg	85.1
	World Avg	108.8
q=195. Also scored for 2000s-2020s.

8.2. Peace Versus Instability Datasets

#human_development #peace #politics

Global Peace Index Lower is better₅₃
Pos.		2023 Score₅₃
1	Iceland	1.12
2	Denmark	1.31
3	Ireland	1.31
	...
146	Pakistan	2.75
147=	Iran	2.80
147=	Turkey	2.80
149	N. Korea	2.85
150	Burkina Faso	2.87
151	Ethiopia	2.87
152	Central African Rep.	2.93
153	Mali	2.96
	Asia Avg	2.17
	World Avg	2.07
q=163. Also scored for 2010s.

8.3. Economic Inequality and Poverty Datasets

#health #inequality #life_expectancy

Inequality in Life Expectancy Lower is better₅₄
Pos.		2019₅₄
1	Iceland	2.40
2=	Singapore	2.50
2=	Hong Kong	2.50
	...
90=	Kyrgyzstan	11.30
90=	St Vincent & Grenadines	11.30
92=	Ecuador	11.50
92=	N. Korea	11.50
94	Egypt	11.60
95=	Panama	12.00
95=	Palestine	12.00
97	Solomon Islands	12.10
	Asia Avg	11.80
	World Avg	14.59
q=184.

9. Religion and Beliefs

#buddhism #christianity #hinduism #islam #judaism

Pew Forum polling over the decades has found the following adherency rates:₅₅:

	2010	2020
Unaffiliated	72.9%	72.9%
Other	25.2%	25.2%
Buddhist	1.52%	1.52%
Christian	0.398%	0.384%
Muslim	<0.1%	<0.1%
Hindu	<0.1%	<0.1%
Jewish	None	None

The CIA World Factbook has slightly different data, and states: traditionally Buddhist and Confucianist, some Christian and syncretic Chondogyo (Religion of the Heavenly Way). note: autonomous religious activities now almost nonexistent; government-sponsored religious groups exist to provide illusion of religious freedom₅₆.

Links:

A List of All Religions and Belief Systems