North Korea is about the size of Pennsylvania but packed with twice as many people (around 26 million), all squeezed together in a place where only 22% of the land can grow anything. The country has the world’s 4th largest military. Nearly 1.3 million active military personnel for a population of 26 million means about 1 in 20 North Koreans is actively serving.
The average North Korean consumes about 1,640 calories daily, which falls short of the recommended 2,100 calories, making it one of the most food-insecure places on Earth. Meanwhile, the average height difference between North and South Koreans has grown to about 2 inches (5cm) due to chronic malnutrition.
Electricity is more of a suggestion than a utility, with the average North Korean experiencing about 4-5 hours of power daily. Satellite images of nighttime Korea show a brilliantly lit South and an almost completely dark North.
North Korea: Where statistics are made up and the points don’t matter – but the consequences certainly do.
