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Navy comparison: Flag of Iran Iran vs Flag of North Korea North Korea

North Korea's 391 warships outnumber Iran's 77 (5.1:1 advantage). Counting auxiliaries, reserve and non-commissioned hulls, the fleets number 120 and 420.

SEAS (Sea Equipment Aggregate Strength) Index face-off Full ranking →
Naval ensign of Iran IranWorld #55 6.9
SEAS Index / 100

North Korea leads on 6 of 8 categories

Naval ensign of North Korea North KoreaWorld #26 18.0
  • 0 Destroyersweight ×50 · size, era 2
  • 2 Submarinesweight ×45 · size, era 21
  • 0 Frigatesweight ×30 · size, era 2
  • 0 Corvettesweight ×15 · size, era 9
  • 12 Amphibiousweight ×12 · size, era 0
  • 1 Mine warfareweight ×5 · size, era 0
  • 23 Patrol boatsweight ×2 · size, era 181
  • 39 Coastal boatsweight ×1 · size, era 176
  • 29 Support shipsnot scored 1
  • 14 Other shipsnot scored 1
Iran North Korea Bars: weighted contribution to the SEAS Index (hulls × category weight × size, era and propulsion factors, minor vessels capped at 30 % of the combatant points; the air-wing, sustainment, armament and availability multipliers apply on top) · figures: active hulls at each side's latest inventory year · Methodology
Key figures as of 2026
Iran North Korea Ratio
Official name Islamic Republic of Iran Navy Korean People's Army Naval Force
Total ships 120 420 🇰🇵 3.5×
Active ships 120 393 🇰🇵 3.3×
On order / planned 0 3 🇰🇵
Submarines 2 21 🇰🇵 10×
Principal surface combatants 0 4 🇰🇵
Amphibious ships 12 0 🇮🇷
Show full breakdown · 5 more rowsHide the 5 extra rows
Corvettes 0 9 🇰🇵
Patrol boats 23 181 🇰🇵 7.9×
Mine warfare 1 0 🇮🇷
Coastal boats 39 176 🇰🇵 4.5×
Auxiliaries 43 2 🇮🇷 22×
Backbone classes one per tier held
🇮🇷 IranKilo-class ×2
🇰🇵 North KoreaRomeo-class ×20Choe Hyon-class ×2Najin-class ×2
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Iran vsIsraelUnited StatesSaudi ArabiaIndonesiaUnited Arab Emirates
North Korea vsSouth KoreaUnited StatesTaiwanVietnamSaudi Arabia

Frequently Asked Questions

Which country has more naval ships, Iran or North Korea?
North Korea has a larger navy with 391 warships in service compared to Iran's 77.
Which navy has more submarines, Iran or North Korea?
North Korea operates more submarines with 21 compared to Iran's 2.
Which navy has more destroyers, Iran or North Korea?
North Korea operates 2 destroyers compared to Iran's 0.
Which navy has more frigates, Iran or North Korea?
North Korea operates 2 frigates compared to Iran's 0.
How do the Iran and North Korea navies compare in size?
North Korea's navy is 5.1 times larger than Iran's in terms of total ships (391 vs 77).