North Korea: health and care

What is the life expectancy in North Korea?

Life expectancy at birth in North Korea was 73.7 years in 2024, according to World Bank data based on UN Population Division estimates. The total fertility rate was 1.78 births per woman in 2024, according to the same source.

Life expectancy at birth is the average number of years a newborn would live if death rates at each age stayed as they were in that year. The WHO publishes its own health estimates for the country on its country data page.

Official sources: World Bank: Life expectancy at birth, DPRK · World Bank: Fertility rate, DPRK · WHO: DPR Korea country data

What is the infant mortality rate in North Korea?

North Korea's infant mortality rate was 13.3 deaths per 1,000 live births in 2024, according to World Bank data from the UN Inter-agency Group for Child Mortality Estimation. The maternal mortality ratio was 67 deaths per 100,000 live births in 2023, according to the maternal mortality series.

Both are modelled estimates by UN agencies that combine the available survey, census and registration data. Infant mortality counts deaths before a child's first birthday. Because few new data points are available for the DPRK, the estimates for recent years rely heavily on modelled trends.

Official sources: World Bank: Infant mortality rate, DPRK · World Bank: Maternal mortality ratio, DPRK

How many doctors are there in North Korea?

North Korea had 3.63 physicians per 1,000 people in 2017, the latest year in World Bank data from the WHO's Global Health Workforce Statistics.

The figure counts medical doctors, including generalists and specialists, as reported to the WHO. It is several years old and does not show any change since 2017. The WHO's country data page for the DPRK gives further health system indicators. No current health workforce figures were found on the official DPRK sites naenara.com.kp, kcna.kp, rodong.rep.kp and mfa.gov.kp, which returned errors or could not be reached when checked on 15 October 2026.

Official sources: World Bank: Physicians per 1,000 people, DPRK · WHO: DPR Korea country data

What share of children in North Korea are vaccinated?

99% of children aged 12 to 23 months in North Korea had received a measles vaccine in 2024, according to World Bank data from the WHO and UNICEF estimates of national immunisation coverage.

The WHO and UNICEF produce these estimates each year from government reports and surveys, and they are the standard international measure of vaccination coverage. A child counts as vaccinated if they received at least one dose of measles-containing vaccine by the survey age. UNICEF reports on child health in the DPRK on its DPR Korea country site.

Official sources: World Bank: Measles immunisation, DPRK · UNICEF DPR Korea

What is the average life expectancy in North Korea?

73.7 years: that is life expectancy at birth in North Korea for 2024, according to the UN Population Division. It is the top of the series, which starts in 2005. Across East Asia & Pacific the middle value was 71.5 years, and North Korea placed 11th highest of 30. Worldwide: 98th of 193.

What is the infant mortality rate in North Korea?

The latest figure from the UN Inter-agency Group for Child Mortality Estimation, for 2024, is 13.3 per 1,000. No year since 2005 has been lower. It is 16th highest of 30 in East Asia & Pacific, where the median is 13.9 per 1,000. World rank, highest first: 93rd of 192.

How many women die in childbirth in North Korea?

The WHO puts the maternal mortality ratio in North Korea at 67.0 per 100,000 in 2023. Its high point since 2005 was 2006, at 80.0 per 100,000; its low point was 2019, at 66.0 per 100,000. It is 17th highest of 30 in East Asia & Pacific, where the median is 82.0 per 100,000. World rank, highest first: 80th of 192.

What is the doctor to patient ratio in North Korea?

The latest figure from the WHO, for 2017, is 3.6 per 1,000. It was 3.2 per 1,000 in 2008. Across East Asia & Pacific the middle value was 1.8 per 1,000, and North Korea placed 2nd highest of 17. Worldwide: 25th of 138.

How many hospital beds does North Korea have?

The latest figure from the WHO, for 2018, is 12.8 per 1,000. It was 14.3 per 1,000 in 2010. Across East Asia & Pacific the middle value was 2.3 per 1,000, and North Korea placed 2nd highest of 16. Of 137 countries with 2018 data, 2nd highest.

What is the measles vaccination rate in North Korea?

In 2024, measles vaccination among children aged 12 to 23 months in North Korea was 99.0%, according to WHO and UNICEF. No year since 2005 has been higher. East Asia & Pacific median: 91.0%; North Korea is 1st highest of 30. Of 191 countries with 2024 data, 1st highest.