Topic 05 of 18 · Country Index 2026
North Korea: Health & Wellbeing
How long, and how well fed, do people live?
North Korea is placed 115th of 200 countries on health & wellbeing in the Country Index 2026, from 3 of its 4 key statistics. Readings behind it: Life Expectancy at Birth 73.64 (2023); Under-Five Mortality Rate 16.67 (2024).
Share
Health & Wellbeing
115th
of 200 countries placed
Placed from 3 of 4 key statistics
Not placed in the Country Index 2026 overall: measured on too few topics.
- 73.64Life Expectancy at Birth, 2023Years a newborn would live at current death rates
- 16.67Under-Five Mortality Rate, 2024Deaths before age five (per 1,000 live births)
- 19.1Stunting Prevalence in Children Under Five, 2024Children under 5 who are stunted (%)
- —Prevalence of Severe Food Insecurity, 2024No reading for this country
01The evidence
The 4 key statistics that decide it
Only these place North Korea on health & wellbeing — one vote each. Every value is the publisher’s own, read at the edition the Country Index 2026 used — or, for a survey-based key, each country’s latest reading; the grey ticks are every other country it was compared with, lowest on the left.
Key 1 of 4
Life Expectancy at Birth
UN DESA Population Division
2023 edition · data for 2023 · CC BY 3.0 IGO
73.64
Years a newborn would live at current death rates
Higher is better
North Korea: 73.64. Across the 222 countries in this edition, values run from 54.46 (Nigeria) to 86.37 (Monaco); the world median is 74.63.
- World median
- 74.63
- Best in Eastern Asia
- 85.51 Hong Kong
- Land neighbours
- China 77.95 · South Korea 84.33 · Russia 73.15
Key 2 of 4
Under-Five Mortality Rate
UN Inter-agency Group for Child Mortality Estimation (UN IGME)
2024 edition · data for 2024 · CC BY 3.0 IGO
16.67
Deaths before age five (per 1,000 live births)
Lower is better
North Korea: 16.67. Across the 200 countries in this edition, values run from 1.26 (San Marino) to 115.65 (Nigeria); the world median is 14.54.
- World median
- 14.54
- Best in Eastern Asia
- 2.434 Japan
- Land neighbours
- China 5.724 · South Korea 2.796 · Russia 5.173
Key 3 of 4
Stunting Prevalence in Children Under Five
UNICEF, WHO and World Bank Group (Joint Malnutrition Estimates)
Latest reading per country, 2014–2024 · North Korea’s is from 2017 · CC BY 3.0 IGO
19.1
Children under 5 who are stunted (%)
Lower is better
North Korea: 19.1. Across the 162 countries at their latest reading, values run from 0.518 (Latvia) to 52.8 (Burundi); the world median is 13.8.
- World median
- 13.8
- Best in Eastern Asia
- 0.852 South Korea
- Land neighbours
- China 4.8 · South Korea 0.852
Key 4 of 4
Prevalence of Severe Food Insecurity
Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO)
2024 edition · data for 2024 · CC BY 4.0
No reading
Population in severe food insecurity (%)
Lower is better
FAO publishes no 2024 figure for North Korea, so the standing rests on the other keys.
Across the 125 countries in this edition, values run from 0.6 (Brazil) to 62.9 (South Sudan); the world median is 4.9.
- World median
- 4.9
- Best in Eastern Asia
- 0.6 Mongolia
- Land neighbours
- South Korea 1.3
02Over time
Which way North Korea is moving
Each key’s published value, edition by edition, beside the world median. The Country Index 2026 is the first edition of the standing, so the standing itself has no history to chart yet.
Life Expectancy at Birth
Years a newborn would live at current death rates · higher is better
North KoreaWorld median
North Korea rose from 60.91 in 2000 to 73.64 in 2023; the world median went from 70.68 to 74.63.
Every year’s figures
Year North Korea World median 2023 73.642 74.630 2022 73.641 74.313 2021 73.437 72.433 2020 72.783 73.063 2019 72.928 74.196 2018 73.020 74.081 2017 73.034 74.029 2016 72.971 74.013 2015 72.825 73.783 2014 72.451 73.330 2013 71.867 73.386 2012 71.317 73.210 2011 70.772 73.003 2010 70.246 72.827 2009 69.702 72.426 2008 69.303 72.264 2007 69.021 72.113 2006 69.062 72.027 2005 69.168 71.876 2004 69.294 71.477 2003 69.399 71.409 2002 60.877 71.173 2001 60.893 70.926 2000 60.911 70.678 Under-Five Mortality Rate
Deaths before age five (per 1,000 live births) · lower is better
North KoreaWorld median
North Korea fell from 100.23 in 2000 to 16.67 in 2024; the world median went from 30.43 to 14.54.
Every year’s figures
Year North Korea World median 2024 16.67 14.5 2023 18.00 15.2 2022 17.72 14.7 2021 17.44 15.1 2020 17.45 15.3 2019 17.70 15.7 2018 18.42 16.3 2017 19.12 16.8 2016 20.61 17.5 2015 21.35 17.9 2014 22.63 18.3 2013 24.11 18.7 2012 25.72 18.8 2011 27.23 19.0 2010 28.66 19.2 2009 29.96 20.8 2008 31.03 20.7 2007 32.40 21.8 2006 32.77 22.8 2005 33.30 24.0 2004 33.80 25.9 2003 34.53 26.9 2002 97.75 28.0 2001 99.02 29.1 2000 100.23 30.4
03In context
North Korea beside its neighbours
A position reads best beside the countries around it. Every position below is a place among all 200 countries on health & wellbeing, never a place within the region.
North Korea and the countries it borders
Standing among all 200; the key columns are the publishers’ own values.
| Country | Standing | Life Expectancy at BirthYears a newborn would live at current death rates | Under-Five Mortality RateDeaths before age five (per 1,000 live births) | Stunting Prevalence in Children Under FiveChildren under 5 who are stunted (%) | Prevalence of Severe Food InsecurityPopulation in severe food insecurity (%) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 South Koreacompare | 5th | 84.33 | 2.796 | 0.852 | 1.3 |
 China | 47th | 77.95 | 5.724 | 4.8 | — |
 Russia | 73rd | 73.15 | 5.173 | — | — |
| North Korea | 115th | 73.64 | 16.67 | 19.1 | — |
“—”: no published reading in that edition. What a standing is
Across Eastern Asia
Every country in the sub-region, by its place among all 200.
Placed either side on health & wellbeing
The countries immediately above and below North Korea in the topic’s list.
04Context, no vote
Where North Korea is ahead of the world, and behind
31 more statistics filed under health & wellbeing, published in full and deliberately given no vote in the standing. Select a row for the publisher, the rank and the links.
Ahead of the world median16
Statistics on which North Korea does better than the middle country measured.
Adolescent Birth Rate (Ages 15–19)UN DESA Population Division · 2023 · world median 27.460.51227.46No real change since 2013
North Korea: 0.512 · world median 27.46 · Live births per 1,000 women aged 15–19. UN DESA Population Division, 2023 edition, data for 2023.
Published values in that edition run from 0.465 to 163.09; lower is better.
Position 221st of 222 · derived, 1st = worst.
Exclusive Breastfeeding Under Six MonthsUNICEF · 2024 · world median 40.7471.440.74No earlier reading
North Korea: 71.4 · world median 40.74 · Infants under 6 months exclusively breastfed (%). UNICEF, 2024 edition, data for 2024.
Published values in that edition run from 3.497 to 83.3; higher is better.
Position 6th of 136 · derived.
Oral Rehydration Salts for Children with DiarrhoeaUNICEF · 2024 · world median 41.574.141.5No earlier reading
North Korea: 74.1 · world median 41.5 · Children under 5 with diarrhoea given oral rehydration salts (%). UNICEF, 2024 edition, data for 2024.
Published values in that edition run from 9.9 to 95.4; higher is better.
Position 6th of 127 · derived.
Immunisation Coverage, Measles First Dose (MCV1)WUENIC · 2025 · world median 909990▲ Improved since 2015
North Korea: 99 · world median 90 · Infants given a first dose of measles vaccine (%). WHO and UNICEF (WUENIC), 2025 edition, data for 2025.
Published values in that edition run from 13 to 99; higher is better.
Immunisation Coverage, DTP3WUENIC · 2025 · world median 919991▲ Improved since 2015
North Korea: 99 · world median 91 · Infants given a third dose of DTP vaccine (%). WHO and UNICEF (WUENIC), 2025 edition, data for 2025.
Published values in that edition run from 39 to 99; higher is better.
Postnatal Care for Newborns Within Two DaysUNICEF · 2025 · world median 82.998.682.9No earlier reading
North Korea: 98.6 · world median 82.9 · Newborns with a health check within 2 days of birth (%). UNICEF, 2025 edition, data for 2025.
Published values in that edition run from 7.3 to 99.9; higher is better.
Position 12th of 109 · derived.
Demand for Family Planning Satisfied by Modern MethodsUN DESA Population Division · 2023 · world median 71.2585.671.25No real change since 2013
North Korea: 85.6 · world median 71.25 · Share of women aged 15–49 wanting to avoid pregnancy who use a modern method (%). UN DESA Population Division, 2023 edition, data for 2023.
Published values in that edition run from 8.4 to 92.4; higher is better.
Position 25th of 196 · derived.
Care-Seeking for Children with Symptoms of PneumoniaUNICEF · 2024 · world median 67.785.667.7No earlier reading
North Korea: 85.6 · world median 67.7 · Children under 5 with pneumonia symptoms taken to a health provider (%). UNICEF, 2024 edition, data for 2024.
Published values in that edition run from 14 to 99.1; higher is better.
Position 19th of 127 · derived.
Overweight Prevalence in Children Under FiveUNICEF, WHO and World Bank Group (Joint Malnutrition Estimates) · 2024 · world median 5.53.3485.5▼ Worsened since 2014
North Korea: 3.348 · world median 5.5 · Children under 5 who are overweight (%). UNICEF, WHO and World Bank Group (Joint Malnutrition Estimates), 2024 edition, data for 2024.
Published values in that edition run from 0.623 to 26.43; lower is better.
Position 133rd of 163 · derived, 1st = worst.
Antenatal Care Coverage, At Least Four VisitsUNICEF · 2025 · world median 8193.781No earlier reading
North Korea: 93.7 · world median 81 · Women with a live birth who had 4+ antenatal visits (%). UNICEF, 2025 edition, data for 2025.
Published values in that edition run from 22.6 to 100; higher is better.
Position 31st of 153 · derived.
Violent Discipline of ChildrenUNICEF · 2025 · world median 75.859.275.8No earlier reading
North Korea: 59.2 · world median 75.8 · Children aged 1-14 experiencing violent discipline (%). UNICEF, 2025 edition, data for 2025.
Published values in that edition run from 37.6 to 94; lower is better.
Position 72nd of 90 · derived, 1st = worst.
Wasting Prevalence in Children Under FiveUNICEF, WHO and World Bank Group (Joint Malnutrition Estimates) · 2024 · world median 3.5462.53.546No earlier reading
North Korea: 2.5 · world median 3.546 · Children under 5 who are wasted (%). UNICEF, WHO and World Bank Group (Joint Malnutrition Estimates), 2024 edition, data for 2024.
Published values in that edition run from 0.1 to 22.74; lower is better.
Position 108th of 163 · derived, 1st = worst.
Days Above 35°CECMWF · 2025 · world median 3.480.353.48▼ Worsened since 2015
North Korea: 0.35 · world median 3.48 · Days a year with a maximum temperature above 35°C, averaged over the country’s land. World Bank Group (Climate Change Knowledge Portal), from Copernicus ERA5 (ECMWF), 2025 edition, data for 2025.
Published values in that edition run from 0 to 222.89; lower is better.
Minimum Dietary Diversity, Children Aged 6–23 MonthsUNICEF · 2025 · world median 37.5746.737.57No earlier reading
North Korea: 46.7 · world median 37.57 · Children aged 6-23 months fed from at least 5 of 8 food groups (%). UNICEF, 2025 edition, data for 2025.
Published values in that edition run from 8.089 to 85.88; higher is better.
Position 45th of 115 · derived.
Malaria Incidence (P. vivax)MAP · 2025 · world median 1.3820.8861.382▲ Improved since 2015
North Korea: 0.886 · world median 1.382 · New P. vivax malaria cases per 1,000 people per year. Malaria Atlas Project (MAP), 2025 edition, data for 2025.
Published values in that edition run from 0.001 to 184.62; lower is better.
Adult Mortality (Probability of Dying Between 15 and 60)UN DESA Population Division · 2023 · world median 133.7130.03133.7No real change since 2013
North Korea: 130.03 · world median 133.7 · Deaths before age 60 per 1,000 people alive at 15, at that year's death rates. UN DESA Population Division, 2023 edition, data for 2023.
Published values in that edition run from 25.15 to 415.44; lower is better.
Position 116th of 222 · derived, 1st = worst.
Behind the world median10
Statistics on which North Korea does worse than the middle country measured.
Stillbirth RateUN IGME · 2023 · world median 8.1638.28.163No real change since 2013
North Korea: 8.2 · world median 8.163 · Stillbirths (per 1,000 total births). UN Inter-agency Group for Child Mortality Estimation (UN IGME), 2023 edition, data for 2023.
Published values in that edition run from 1.18 to 34.9; lower is better.
Position 100th of 200 · derived, 1st = worst.
Infant Mortality RateUN IGME · 2024 · world median 12.2613.3212.26▲ Improved since 2014
North Korea: 13.32 · world median 12.26 · Deaths before age one (per 1,000 live births). UN Inter-agency Group for Child Mortality Estimation (UN IGME), 2024 edition, data for 2024.
Published values in that edition run from 1.214 to 71.87; lower is better.
Position 95th of 200 · derived, 1st = worst.
Neonatal Mortality RateUN IGME · 2024 · world median 8.1348.9458.134▲ Improved since 2014
North Korea: 8.945 · world median 8.134 · Deaths in the first 28 days (per 1,000 live births). UN Inter-agency Group for Child Mortality Estimation (UN IGME), 2024 edition, data for 2024.
Published values in that edition run from 0.544 to 39.47; lower is better.
Position 93rd of 200 · derived, 1st = worst.
Life Expectancy at Age 65UN DESA Population Division · 2023 · world median 16.3915.9916.39No real change since 2013
North Korea: 15.99 · world median 16.39 · Further years a 65-year-old would live at current death rates. UN DESA Population Division, 2023 edition, data for 2023.
Published values in that edition run from 12.13 to 23.21; higher is better.
Position 125th of 222 · derived.
Maternal Mortality RatioMMEIG · 2023 · world median 46.6566.946.65▼ Worsened since 2013
North Korea: 66.9 · world median 46.65 · Maternal deaths per 100,000 live births. UN Maternal Mortality Estimation Inter-Agency Group (MMEIG), 2023 edition, data for 2023.
Published values in that edition run from 0.11 to 992.83; lower is better.
Position 81st of 195 · derived, 1st = worst.
Mortality Rate, Ages 5–14UN IGME · 2024 · world median 2.8583.7132.858▲ Improved since 2014
North Korea: 3.713 · world median 2.858 · Deaths between ages 5 and 14 (per 1,000 children aged 5). UN Inter-agency Group for Child Mortality Estimation (UN IGME), 2024 edition, data for 2024.
Published values in that edition run from 0.392 to 59.04; lower is better.
Position 81st of 200 · derived, 1st = worst.
Institutional DeliveriesUNICEF · 2025 · world median 96.992.296.9No earlier reading
North Korea: 92.2 · world median 96.9 · Live births delivered in a health facility (%). UNICEF, 2025 edition, data for 2025.
Published values in that edition run from 11.5 to 100; higher is better.
Early Initiation of BreastfeedingUNICEF · 2024 · world median 52.9542.552.95No earlier reading
North Korea: 42.5 · world median 52.95 · Newborns put to the breast within one hour of birth (%). UNICEF, 2024 edition, data for 2024.
Published values in that edition run from 7.749 to 93.1; higher is better.
Position 97th of 136 · derived.
PM2.5 Air Pollution ExposureAtmospheric Composition Analysis Group, Washington University in St. Louis · 2023 · world median 14.4522.614.45No real change since 2013
North Korea: 22.6 · world median 14.45 · Population-weighted PM2.5 concentration (µg/m³). Atmospheric Composition Analysis Group, Washington University in St. Louis, 2023 edition, data for 2023.
Published values in that edition run from 2.5 to 68.2; lower is better.
Position 63rd of 220 · derived, 1st = worst.
INFORM Severity IndexACAPS · 2025 · world median 3.13.83.1▼ Worsened since 2020
North Korea: 3.8 · world median 3.1 · INFORM Severity (1–5, most severe crisis). ACAPS, 2025 edition, data for 2025.
Published values in that edition run from 1.3 to 4.7; lower is better.
Position 22nd of 81 · derived, 1st = worst.
No better end5
These describe the shape of a country — more is not better or worse, only different — so they are never ahead or behind.
Modern Contraceptive PrevalenceUN DESA Population Division · 2023 · world median 35.458.135.4No real change since 2013
North Korea: 58.1 · world median 35.4 · Share of all women aged 15–49 using a modern contraceptive method (%). UN DESA Population Division, 2023 edition, data for 2023.
Published values in that edition run from 2 to 73.8.
Contraceptive Prevalence (Any Method)UN DESA Population Division · 2023 · world median 41.2560.941.25Moved since 2013
North Korea: 60.9 · world median 41.25 · Share of all women aged 15–49 using any contraceptive method (%). UN DESA Population Division, 2023 edition, data for 2023.
Published values in that edition run from 6.6 to 78.7.
Average Weekly Hours WorkedILO · 2025 · world median 38.8941.8438.89No real change since 2015
North Korea: 41.84 · world median 38.89 · Average weekly hours actually worked per employed person. International Labour Organization (ILO), 2025 edition, data for 2025.
Published values in that edition run from 23.64 to 54.7.
Position 54th of 182 · derived, counted from the highest value.
Caesarean Section RateUNICEF · 2025 · world median 20.6512.920.65No earlier reading
North Korea: 12.9 · world median 20.65 · Live births delivered by caesarean section (%). UNICEF, 2025 edition, data for 2025.
Published values in that edition run from 0.6 to 72.2.
Children with Functional DifficultiesUNICEF · 2024 · world median 130.913No earlier reading
North Korea: 0.9 · world median 13 · Children aged 5-17 with a functional difficulty (%). UNICEF, 2024 edition, data for 2024.
Published values in that edition run from 0.9 to 35.2.
No current reading for North Korea
Adults Who Have Been Too Anxious or Depressed to Carry On, Agreement That Vaccines Are Safe, Births Attended by Skilled Health Staff (last 2017), Catastrophic Out-of-Pocket Health Spending, Coefficient of Variation of Habitual Caloric Consumption (last 2018), Cost of a Healthy Diet, Dietary Energy Supply (last 2018), Excess Mortality During the COVID-19 Pandemic, Fatal Occupational Injuries, Female Genital Mutilation Prevalence, Fish and Seafood Supply per Person (last 2018), Fruit Supply per Person (last 2018), Gender Inequality Index, Global Multidimensional Poverty Index, Global Report on Food Crises (last 2016), HPV Vaccination Coverage, Girls, Human Capital Index, Human Development Index, Insecticide-Treated Net Use, Low Birthweight Prevalence, Malaria Incidence (P. falciparum), Malaria Mortality (P. falciparum), Meat Supply per Person (last 2018), Pesticide Use per Hectare, Prevalence of Moderate or Severe Food Insecurity, Prevalence of Severe Food Insecurity, Prevalence of Undernourishment (last 2018), Severe Child Food Poverty, Children Aged 6–23 Months, Share of Dietary Energy Supply from Cereals, Roots and Tubers (last 2017), Share of Population Unable to Afford a Healthy Diet and Vegetable Supply per Person (last 2018). Listed rather than hidden, so the page can be checked against it.
“Position · derived” is this site’s ordering of the published values, 1st = best unless the row says otherwise; the publisher ranks no country on it. Rank, position and standing
05Country Index 2026
Health & Wellbeing among North Korea’s 10 topics
Health & Wellbeing is North Korea’s 5th best-placed topic of 10. Strongest first, each marker at its share of that topic’s field.
- Food & Agriculture49th of 1842/4 keys
- Energy51st of 1652/3 keys
- Work & Labour81st of 1824/4 keys
- Peace & Security94th of 1773/4 keys
- Health & Wellbeing115th of 2003/4 keys
- Digital & Technology119th of 1983/4 keys
- Environment & Sustainabilityjoint 121st of 1862/4 keys
- Risk & Resilience147th of 1933/4 keys
- Governance & Institutionsjoint 191st of 1943/4 keys
- Democracy & Civil Liberties196th of 1983/4 keys
No standing on Economy & Innovation, Education & Knowledge, Development & Human Capital, Gender & Equality, Mobility & Trade, Poverty & Inequality: too few of those topics’ key statistics are published for this country.
06The top of the list
Who leads on health & wellbeing
The three countries placed highest of 200, and the leaders North Korea can most readily be measured against.
1
San MarinoSouthern Europe
1st of 200 · 2 of 4 keys
Photo: Matl derivative work: Jjtkk · CC BY-SA 3.0, greyscale
2
MonacoWestern Europe
2nd of 200 · 2 of 4 keys
Photo: Martin Weber derivative work: Jjtkk · CC BY-SA 3.0, greyscale
3
AndorraSouthern Europe
3rd of 200 · 2 of 4 keys
Photo: Tiia Monto derivative work: Jjtkk · CC BY-SA 3.0, greyscale
Placed highest nearby
Highest placed on all 4 keys
South Korea5th4/4 keysThis page
North Korea115th3/4 keys
Positions out of 200 placed on the topic. A country needs readings on enough keys to be placed, and the top of the list is often held on fewer of them.
07Analysis
Charts and analysis about North Korea and health & wellbeing
On health & wellbeing
Global Hunger Index 2025: Countries with the Most Alarming Hunger Crisis
Thirteen countries scored across four editions — 2000, 2008, 2016 and 2025 — and five the report could not score at all. DR Congo and South Sudan share 121st place on 37.5.
On health & wellbeing
World Happiness Report 2025: Finland Leads Again as the US and UK Face Major Declines
The ten highest life evaluations of 2025, drawn on a world map, and the six things the report uses to explain them. Costa Rica and Mexico are the only two outside Europe and the Middle East.
08Questions
North Korea on health & wellbeing: questions answered
Every answer is built from the numbers on this page, so none can say something the page does not.
How does North Korea rank on health & wellbeing?
North Korea is placed 115th of 200 countries on Health & Wellbeing in the Country Index 2026, from 3 of its 4 key statistics (Life Expectancy at Birth, Under-Five Mortality Rate and Stunting Prevalence in Children Under Five). The position is this site’s ordering of published statistics, not a rank any publisher printed.
What is the latest Life Expectancy at Birth figure for North Korea?
73.64 in 2023 (years a newborn would live at current death rates), according to UN DESA Population Division. The world median in the same edition was 74.63.
What is the latest Under-Five Mortality Rate figure for North Korea?
16.67 in 2024 (deaths before age five (per 1,000 live births)), according to UN Inter-agency Group for Child Mortality Estimation (UN IGME). The world median in the same edition was 14.54.
How does North Korea compare with China on health & wellbeing?
China is placed 47th of 200, and North Korea 115th. Life Expectancy at Birth: China 77.95, North Korea 73.64; Under-Five Mortality Rate: China 5.724, North Korea 16.67; Stunting Prevalence in Children Under Five: China 4.8, North Korea 19.1.
How have North Korea’s health & wellbeing figures changed?
Life Expectancy at Birth rose from 60.91 in 2000 to 73.64 in 2023; Under-Five Mortality Rate fell from 100.23 in 2000 to 16.67 in 2024.
Which health & wellbeing statistics are missing for North Korea?
No current reading is published for North Korea on Adults Who Have Been Too Anxious or Depressed to Carry On, Agreement That Vaccines Are Safe, Births Attended by Skilled Health Staff, Catastrophic Out-of-Pocket Health Spending, Coefficient of Variation of Habitual Caloric Consumption, Cost of a Healthy Diet, Dietary Energy Supply, Excess Mortality During the COVID-19 Pandemic, Fatal Occupational Injuries, Female Genital Mutilation Prevalence, Fish and Seafood Supply per Person, Fruit Supply per Person, Gender Inequality Index, Global Multidimensional Poverty Index, Global Report on Food Crises, HPV Vaccination Coverage, Girls, Human Capital Index, Human Development Index, Insecticide-Treated Net Use, Low Birthweight Prevalence, Malaria Incidence (P. falciparum), Malaria Mortality (P. falciparum), Meat Supply per Person, Pesticide Use per Hectare, Prevalence of Moderate or Severe Food Insecurity, Prevalence of Severe Food Insecurity, Prevalence of Undernourishment, Severe Child Food Poverty, Children Aged 6–23 Months, Share of Dietary Energy Supply from Cereals, Roots and Tubers, Share of Population Unable to Afford a Healthy Diet and Vegetable Supply per Person. They are listed rather than hidden, so the evidence on the page can be checked against it.
09Method
Method, sources and how to cite
What this topic does not measure
Health spending, hospital beds and doctors per person are not measured, because more of any of them does not guarantee better outcomes. Mental health and self-reported happiness are not part of this topic. Food supply per person is measured under Food & Agriculture. Maternal mortality and many other indicators are published here as context; maternal mortality is a key in Development & Human Capital instead.
How the Health & Wellbeing standing is decided
A standing is this site’s ordering, named with its edition — never a publisher’s rank. 4 key statistics vote, one vote each; every country’s published value becomes a place within that key’s own field, the places are averaged, and the average is never published. A country needs 2 of the 4 keys to be placed.
The health & wellbeing method, step by stepHow every standing on this site is built
The key statistics and their licences
- Life Expectancy at Birth — UN DESA Population Division, CC BY 3.0 IGO
- Under-Five Mortality Rate — UN Inter-agency Group for Child Mortality Estimation (UN IGME), CC BY 3.0 IGO
- Stunting Prevalence in Children Under Five — UNICEF, WHO and World Bank Group (Joint Malnutrition Estimates), CC BY 3.0 IGO
- Prevalence of Severe Food Insecurity — Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), CC BY 4.0
The other 31 statistics on this page come from 11 publishers, each named beside its numbers, with every edition and licence on the datasets pages.
The standing itself is part of the Country Index 2026, published under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Photographs
North Korea’s banner and the countries placed highest, from their profiles: Wikimedia Commons, shown in greyscale, each used under the licence named.
- San Marino — Matl derivative work: Jjtkk, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Monaco — Martin Weber derivative work: Jjtkk, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Andorra — Tiia Monto derivative work: Jjtkk, CC BY-SA 3.0
Cite this page
Nations Inquiry (2026). North Korea: Health & Wellbeing — standing and statistics, Country Index 2026. https://nationsinquiry.com/countries/north-korea/health