Difference in female and male life expectancy at birth in North Korea
North Korea: Difference in female and male life expectancy at birth was 4.29 in 2023. ▬ Flat
Latest (2023)
4.29
Change on year
up 0.6%
World rank
161st
of 236 countries
All-time high
13.22
in 1952
All-time low
3.9
in 1958
Years of data
74
1950–2023
Difference in female and male life expectancy at birth in North Korea, 1950–2023
Source: Our World in Data.
Analysis
North Korea recorded 4.29 for difference in female and male life expectancy at birth in 2023.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 0.6% on the previous year and down 16.1% over ten years.
Over the whole period, difference in female and male life expectancy at birth in North Korea peaked at 13.22 in 1952 and was at its lowest, 3.9, in 1958.
That places North Korea 161st out of 236 countries with data for 2023, putting it in the middle of the range.
Difference in female and male life expectancy at birth in North Korea, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1950 | 9.76 | — |
| 1951 | 11.61 | +18.9% |
| 1952 | 13.22 | +13.9% |
| 1953 | 10.9 | -17.5% |
| 1954 | 3.97 | -63.6% |
| 1955 | 3.94 | -0.8% |
| 1956 | 3.92 | -0.5% |
| 1957 | 3.92 | -0.1% |
| 1958 | 3.9 | -0.5% |
| 1959 | 3.92 | +0.7% |
| 1960 | 3.96 | +0.9% |
| 1961 | 4.02 | +1.6% |
| 1962 | 4.06 | +1.0% |
| 1963 | 4.1 | +1.0% |
| 1964 | 4.13 | +0.7% |
| 1965 | 4.15 | +0.5% |
| 1966 | 4.17 | +0.5% |
| 1967 | 4.19 | +0.6% |
| 1968 | 4.23 | +0.8% |
| 1969 | 4.26 | +0.8% |
| 1970 | 4.31 | +1.3% |
| 1971 | 4.37 | +1.4% |
| 1972 | 4.43 | +1.4% |
| 1973 | 4.48 | +1.1% |
| 1974 | 4.58 | +2.1% |
| 1975 | 4.65 | +1.7% |
| 1976 | 4.76 | +2.3% |
| 1977 | 4.8 | +0.8% |
| 1978 | 4.88 | +1.5% |
| 1979 | 4.92 | +1.0% |
| 1980 | 5 | +1.6% |
| 1981 | 5.06 | +1.1% |
| 1982 | 5.12 | +1.2% |
| 1983 | 5.18 | +1.2% |
| 1984 | 5.24 | +1.1% |
| 1985 | 5.31 | +1.3% |
| 1986 | 5.37 | +1.2% |
| 1987 | 5.44 | +1.3% |
| 1988 | 5.5 | +1.0% |
| 1989 | 5.56 | +1.2% |
| 1990 | 5.63 | +1.3% |
| 1991 | 5.71 | +1.3% |
| 1992 | 6.28 | +10.1% |
| 1993 | 6.75 | +7.5% |
| 1994 | 7.24 | +7.1% |
| 1995 | 6.14 | -15.2% |
| 1996 | 6.2 | +0.9% |
| 1997 | 6.22 | +0.4% |
| 1998 | 6.26 | +0.6% |
| 1999 | 6.29 | +0.5% |
| 2000 | 6.32 | +0.4% |
| 2001 | 6.33 | +0.3% |
| 2002 | 6.35 | +0.2% |
| 2003 | 7.46 | +17.5% |
| 2004 | 7.51 | +0.6% |
| 2005 | 7.54 | +0.5% |
| 2006 | 7.56 | +0.2% |
| 2007 | 7.42 | -1.8% |
| 2008 | 7.16 | -3.6% |
| 2009 | 6.71 | -6.2% |
| 2010 | 6.25 | -6.9% |
| 2011 | 5.83 | -6.7% |
| 2012 | 5.45 | -6.6% |
| 2013 | 5.11 | -6.1% |
| 2014 | 4.7 | -8.0% |
| 2015 | 4.56 | -3.1% |
| 2016 | 4.66 | +2.2% |
| 2017 | 5.02 | +7.7% |
| 2018 | 5.36 | +6.9% |
| 2019 | 5.92 | +10.4% |
| 2020 | 5.84 | -1.3% |
| 2021 | 4.21 | -28.0% |
| 2022 | 4.26 | +1.4% |
| 2023 | 4.29 | +0.6% |
North Korea compared with similar countries
- North Korea's 4.29 is above the median for low income countries, which is 4.25, 1.0× the median. (25 countries reporting)
- North Korea's 4.29 is below the median for East Asia & Pacific, which is 5, 86% of the median. (37 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Difference in female and male life expectancy at birth in North Korea changed far more than this series normally does. A large move can be a real event or a change in how the figure was measured — the source note below says who published it.
| Year | Change | From | To |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1954 | -63.6% | 10.9 | 3.97 |
| 2021 | -28.0% | 5.84 | 4.21 |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1950s | 6.91 | 3.9 | 13.22 | 10 |
| 1960s | 4.13 | 3.96 | 4.26 | 10 |
| 1970s | 4.62 | 4.31 | 4.92 | 10 |
| 1980s | 5.28 | 5 | 5.56 | 10 |
| 1990s | 6.27 | 5.63 | 7.24 | 10 |
| 2000s | 7.04 | 6.32 | 7.56 | 10 |
| 2010s | 5.28 | 4.56 | 6.25 | 10 |
| 2020s | 4.65 | 4.21 | 5.84 | 4 |
Countries ranked near North Korea
- 158 Faroe Islands 4.33 compare
- 159 Egypt 4.32 compare
- 160 Burkina Faso 4.3 compare
- 162 Democratic Republic of Congo 4.25 compare
- 163 Mayotte 4.24 compare
- 164 Indonesia 4.23 compare
More health data for North Korea
- Un projection of annual infant deaths, annual growth rate -1.16 % change on previous year (2100)
- Un projection of annual infant deaths 767 (2100)
- Heat deaths vs projected death rates, annual growth rate -0.2456 % change on previous year (2090)
- Diphtheria - number of reported cases, gaps filled 0 (2022)
- Measles - number of reported cases, gaps filled 0 (2025)
- Diphtheria - number of reported cases, per capita 0 units per person (2022)
- Population ages 15-64, total, annual growth rate -0.1528 % change on previous year (2025)
- Population ages 15-64, total, per capita 0.6836 units per person (2025)
- Population ages 65 and above, female, per capita 0.073 units per person (2025)
- Population ages 70-74, female, per capita 0.015 units per person (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is difference in female and male life expectancy at birth in North Korea?
- Difference in female and male life expectancy at birth in North Korea was 4.29 in 2023, according to Our World in Data.
- What is the highest difference in female and male life expectancy at birth recorded in North Korea?
- The highest recorded value was 13.22 in 1952.
- What is the lowest difference in female and male life expectancy at birth recorded in North Korea?
- The lowest recorded value was 3.9 in 1958.
- How does North Korea rank for difference in female and male life expectancy at birth?
- North Korea ranks 161st out of 236 countries with data for 2023.
- Is difference in female and male life expectancy at birth rising or falling in North Korea?
- Over the last ten years it is down 16.1%. The long-run trend across the full record is flat.
- Where does this North Korea data come from?
- The figures come from Our World in Data, published as part of Difference in female and male life expectancy at birth. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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