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Navy comparison: Flag of North Korea North Korea vs Flag of Saudi Arabia Saudi Arabia

North Korea's 391 warships outnumber Saudi Arabia's 67 (5.8:1 advantage). Counting auxiliaries, reserve and non-commissioned hulls, the fleets number 420 and 69.

SEAS (Sea Equipment Aggregate Strength) Index face-off Full ranking →
Naval ensign of North Korea North KoreaWorld #26 18.0
SEAS Index / 100

Saudi Arabia leads overall, ahead on 3 of 7 categories

Naval ensign of Saudi Arabia Saudi ArabiaWorld #24 18.1
  • 2 Destroyersweight ×50 · size, era 0
  • 21 Submarinesweight ×45 · size, era 0
  • 2 Frigatesweight ×30 · size, era 7
  • 9 Corvettesweight ×15 · size, era 9
  • 0 Mine warfareweight ×5 · size, era 3
  • 181 Patrol boatsweight ×2 · size, era 48
  • 176 Coastal boatsweight ×1 · size, era 0
  • 1 Support shipsnot scored 2
  • 1 Other shipsnot scored 0
North Korea Saudi Arabia 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
North Korea Saudi Arabia Ratio
Official name Korean People's Army Naval Force Royal Saudi Navy
Total ships 420 69 🇰🇵 6.1×
Active ships 393 69 🇰🇵 5.7×
On order / planned 3 7 🇸🇦 2.3×
Submarines 21 0 🇰🇵
Principal surface combatants 4 7 🇸🇦 1.8×
Show full breakdown · 5 more rowsHide the 5 extra rows
Corvettes 9 9 —
Patrol boats 181 48 🇰🇵 3.8×
Mine warfare 0 3 🇸🇦
Coastal boats 176 0 🇰🇵
Auxiliaries 2 2 —
Backbone classes one per tier held
🇰🇵 North KoreaRomeo-class ×20Choe Hyon-class ×2Najin-class ×2
🇸🇦 Saudi ArabiaAl Madinah-class ×4Avante 2200-class ×5
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North Korea vsSouth KoreaUnited StatesTaiwanVietnamIsrael
Saudi Arabia vsUnited StatesIranIsraelTaiwanTurkey

Frequently Asked Questions

Which country has more naval ships, North Korea or Saudi Arabia?
North Korea has a larger navy with 391 warships in service compared to Saudi Arabia's 67.
Which navy has more submarines, North Korea or Saudi Arabia?
North Korea operates more submarines with 21 compared to Saudi Arabia's 0.
Which navy has more destroyers, North Korea or Saudi Arabia?
North Korea operates 2 destroyers compared to Saudi Arabia's 0.
Which navy has more frigates, North Korea or Saudi Arabia?
Saudi Arabia operates 7 frigates compared to North Korea's 2.
How do the North Korea and Saudi Arabia navies compare in size?
North Korea's navy is 5.8 times larger than Saudi Arabia's in terms of total ships (391 vs 67).