North Korea
Pyongyang · East Asia
North Korea is a country in Asia. Its capital city is Pyongyang, the official currency is the North Korean Won, and the main language is Korean.
With a population of roughly 26.2 million people spread over 120,540 km², North Korea is the 56th most populous country in the world and the 97th largest by area. That works out at about 217 people per square kilometre.
North Korea shares land borders with China, Russia and South Korea — 3 neighbours in all. Its largest urban centres are Pyongyang, Hamhung and Chongjin. The highest point in the country is Paektu Mountain, at 2,744 metres.
For scale, it covers almost exactly the same area as Malawi, while its population is closest to that of Niger.
- Capital
- Pyongyang
- Region
- East Asia
- Population
- 26,200,000
- Area
- 120,540 km²
- Currency
- North Korean Won
- Main language
- Korean
- Highest point
- Paektu Mountain
2,744 m - Land borders
- 3
North Korea: things worth knowing
- The Korean Demilitarized Zone separating it from South Korea is among the most heavily fortified borders in the world.
- Paektu Mountain, an active volcano on the Chinese border, holds a central place in national mythology.
- The country uses its own Juche calendar, counting years from the birth of Kim Il-sung in 1912.
North Korea in context
Asia has 48 sovereign countries in total. North Korea ranks 21st among them by population.
See the full list of Asia countries, or browse all 195 countries.