GDP
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North Korea
PRKEast Asia & PacificLow incomeCapital: PyongyangEconomy
Fiscal
People
Health
Education
Trade
Energy / Env
Tech
Governance
Equality
Infra
Labor
37/80 indicators · percentile vs world (IMF / WB / WHO)underover
Monthly & quarterly economy
All reviewed economic seriesEach measure keeps its own source, unit and reference period. Open its history for definitions, source evidence and, where the terms allow, downloads.
Inflation
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▶About North Korea
North Korea has a population of 26.6M (2025). Key indicators: life expectancy of 73.7 years (2024). Data sourced from the IMF World Economic Outlook and World Bank World Development Indicators.
▶Trade3 indicators · 2025 · WB
| Indicator | Value | Year | Change | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Merchandise Exports (USD) | $611.0M | 2025 | ▲ 69.7% | WB |
| Merchandise Imports (USD) | $2.87B | 2025 | ▲ 22.6% | WB |
| FDI Net Inflows (USD) | $9.2M | 2025 | ▲ $23.0M | WB |
▶External Debt1 indicator · 2023 · WB
| Indicator | Value | Year | Change | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Net ODA Received (USD) | $14.4M | 2023 | ▲ 6.1% | WB |
▶People23 indicators · 2024 to 2025 · WB
| Indicator | Value | Year | Change | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Population | 26.6M | 2025 | ▲ 0.3% | WB |
| Population Growth (%) | 0.3% | 2025 | 0.0 pp | WB |
| Population Density (per km²) | 220 | 2024 | ▲ 0.3% | WB |
| Surface Area (sq km) | 120,540 | 2024 | 0.0% | WB |
| Land Area (sq km) | 120,410 | 2024 | 0.0% | WB |
| Urban Population (%) | 64.2% | 2025 | ▲ 0.3 pp | WB |
| Urban Population (total) | 17.1M | 2025 | ▲ 0.8% | WB |
| Rural Population (%) | 35.8% | 2025 | ▼ 0.3 pp | WB |
| Life Expectancy at Birth | 73.7 years | 2024 | ▲ 0.1% | WB |
| Life Expectancy, Male | 71.6 years | 2024 | ▲ 0.1% | WB |
| Life Expectancy, Female | 75.9 years | 2024 | ▲ 0.2% | WB |
| Fertility Rate (births per woman) | 1.8 | 2024 | ▲ 0.2% | WB |
| Birth Rate (per 1,000) | 12.9 | 2024 | ▼ 0.7% | WB |
| Death Rate (per 1,000) | 9.9 | 2024 | ▲ 1.8% | WB |
| Net Migration | -2,787 | 2025 | ▼ 314 | WB |
| Population Ages 0–14 (%) | 18.9% | 2025 | 0.0 pp | WB |
| Population Ages 15–64 (%) | 68.4% | 2025 | ▼ 0.3 pp | WB |
| Population Ages 65+ (%) | 12.7% | 2025 | ▲ 0.3 pp | WB |
| Age Dependency Ratio (%) | 46.3% | 2025 | ▲ 0.6 pp | WB |
| Old-Age Dependency Ratio (%) | 18.6% | 2025 | ▲ 0.5 pp | WB |
| Youth Dependency Ratio (%) | 27.7% | 2025 | ▲ 0.1 pp | WB |
| Mortality Rate, Adult Male (per 1,000) | 155.2 | 2024 | ▼ 0.5% | WB |
| Mortality Rate, Adult Female (per 1,000) | 99.9 | 2024 | ▼ 3.2% | WB |
▶Labor17 indicators · 2025 · WB
| Indicator | Value | Year | Change | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Total Labor Force | 17.7M | 2025 | ▲ 0.3% | WB |
| Labor Force Participation (%) | 82.2% | 2025 | 0.0 pp | WB |
| Female Labor Force Participation (%) | 77.7% | 2025 | 0.0 pp | WB |
| Male Labor Force Participation (%) | 86.8% | 2025 | 0.0 pp | WB |
| Unemployment (%) | 3.5% | 2025 | 0.0 pp | WB |
| Female Unemployment (%) | 3.7% | 2025 | 0.0 pp | WB |
| Male Unemployment (%) | 3.4% | 2025 | 0.0 pp | WB |
| Youth Unemployment (%) | 7.9% | 2025 | ▲ 0.1 pp | WB |
| Employment in Agriculture (%) | 54.1% | 2025 | ▼ 0.2 pp | WB |
| Employment in Industry (%) | 22.4% | 2025 | ▼ 0.1 pp | WB |
| Employment in Services (%) | 23.5% | 2025 | ▲ 0.3 pp | WB |
| Vulnerable Employment (%) | 56.8% | 2025 | ▼ 0.1 pp | WB |
| Wage & Salaried Workers (% of total) | 37.9% | 2025 | ▲ 0.1 pp | WB |
| Employers (% of total employment) | 5.3% | 2025 | 0.0 pp | WB |
| Labor Force, Female (% of total) | 48.2% | 2025 | 0.0 pp | WB |
| Employment to Population Ratio (%) | 79.2% | 2025 | 0.0 pp | WB |
| Self-Employed (% of total) | 62.1% | 2025 | ▼ 0.1 pp | WB |
▶Education15 indicators · 2008 to 2025 · WB
| Indicator | Value | Year | Change | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Education Spending (% of govt expenditure) | 14.6% | 2025 | ▲ 0.9 pp | WB |
| Adult Literacy Rate (%) | 100.0% | 2008 | – | WB |
| Female Literacy Rate (%) | 100.0% | 2008 | – | WB |
| Male Literacy Rate (%) | 100.0% | 2008 | – | WB |
| Youth Literacy Rate (%) | 100.0% | 2008 | – | WB |
| Primary School Enrollment (%) | 92.1% | 2018 | ▼ 9.1 ppsince 2009 | WB |
| Secondary School Enrollment (%) | 94.3% | 2015 | – | WB |
| Tertiary School Enrollment (%) | 26.7% | 2018 | ▼ 1.2 ppsince 2015 | WB |
| Primary Completion Rate (%) | 97.1% | 2009 | – | WB |
| Out-of-School Children, Primary | 7,727 | 2009 | – | WB |
| Out-of-School Girls, Primary | 2,893 | 2009 | – | WB |
| Primary School Teachers | 74,274 | 2018 | ▲ 5.7%since 2009 | WB |
| Secondary School Teachers | 123,539 | 2018 | ▲ 0.5%since 2015 | WB |
| Pupil-Teacher Ratio, Primary | 20 | 2018 | ▼ 1.1%since 2015 | WB |
| Pupil-Teacher Ratio, Secondary | 17 | 2015 | – | WB |
▶Health40 indicators · 2017 to 2025 · WHO
▶Energy & Environment18 indicators · 2021 to 2025 · WB / WHO
| Indicator | Value | Year | Change | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| CO₂ Emissions per Capita, Excluding LULUCF (t CO2e) | 2.5 | 2024 | ▲ 0.6% | WB |
| CO₂ Emissions, Excluding LULUCF (Mt CO2e) | 66 | 2024 | ▲ 0.9% | WB |
| Energy Use (kg oil eq. per capita) | 714 | 2024 | ▲ 7.3% | WB |
| Electric Power Consumption (kWh per capita) | 794 | 2024 | ▲ 0.6% | WB |
| Renewable Electricity Output (%) | 63.1% | 2021 | ▲ 9.7 pp | WB |
| Renewable Energy Consumption (%) | 14.7% | 2021 | ▲ 3.5 pp | WB |
| Access to Electricity (%) | 61.4% | 2024 | ▲ 3.9 pp | WB |
| Access to Clean Fuels for Cooking (%) | 22.0% | 2024 | ▲ 2.0 pp | WB |
| PM2.5 Air Pollution (µg/m³) | 21.8 | 2023 | ▲ 4.5% | WB |
| Forest Area (%) | 64.1% | 2024 | ▲ 0.1 pp | WB |
| Forest Area (sq km) | 77,279 | 2025 | ▲ 0.1% | WB |
| Arable Land (%) | 19.1% | 2024 | 0.0 pp | WB |
| Terrestrial and Marine Protected Areas (%) | 1.3% | 2025 | 0.0 pp | WB |
| Marine Protected Areas (%) | 0.0% | 2025 | 0.0 pp | WB |
| Access to Basic Drinking Water (%) | 93.9% | 2023 | 0.0 pp | WHO |
| Access to Basic Sanitation (%) | 84.8% | 2023 | ▲ 0.1 pp | WHO |
| Urban PM2.5 Concentration (WHO) | 24.9 | 2023 | – | WHO |
| Air Pollution Mortality (household + ambient, age-standardized) | 188.5 | 2021 | – | WHO |
▶Agriculture11 indicators · 2018 to 2024 · WB
| Indicator | Value | Year | Change | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Agricultural Land (%) | 21.6% | 2024 | 0.0 pp | WB |
| Cereal Yield (kg per hectare) | 3,610 | 2024 | ▲ 2.0% | WB |
| Food Production Index (2014–2016=100) | 94.9 | 2024 | ▲ 0.6% | WB |
| Crop Production Index (2014–2016=100) | 94.2 | 2024 | ▲ 0.7% | WB |
| Livestock Production Index (2014–2016=100) | 99.7 | 2024 | ▲ 0.3% | WB |
| Land Under Cereal Production (hectares) | 1.4M | 2024 | 0.0% | WB |
| Total Fisheries Production (metric tonnes) | 208,365 | 2024 | ▲ 0.1% | WB |
| Fertilizer Consumption (kg per hectare) | 9.5 | 2024 | ▼ 35.1% | WB |
| Prevalence of Undernourishment (%) | 47.0% | 2018 | ▼ 0.5 pp | WB |
| Annual Freshwater Withdrawals (% of internal) | 12.9% | 2022 | 0.0 pp | WB |
| Cereal Production (metric tons) | 4.9M | 2024 | ▲ 2.1% | WB |
▶Technology6 indicators · 2004 to 2024 · WB
| Indicator | Value | Year | Change | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Internet Users (%) | 0.0% | 2004 | 0.0 pp | WB |
| Mobile Subscriptions (per 100 people) | 24 | 2022 | ▲ 5.5% | WB |
| Secure Internet Servers (per million) | 10.4 | 2024 | ▲ 164.6% | WB |
| Patent Applications, Residents | 6,936 | 2024 | ▲ 0.5% | WB |
| Patent Applications, Non-Residents | 6 | 2020 | ▼ 14.3% | WB |
| Scientific Journal Articles | 269 | 2023 | ▲ 8.7% | WB |
▶Infrastructure4 indicators · 2021 to 2024 · WB
| Indicator | Value | Year | Change | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Air Transport, Passengers Carried | 3,690 | 2023 | ▲ 604.5%since 2021 | WB |
| Air Transport, Freight (million ton-km) | 0 | 2023 | 0 | WB |
| Electricity from Oil (%) | 3.0% | 2024 | ▲ 0.1 pp | WB |
| Electricity from Nuclear (%) | 0.0% | 2021 | 0.0 pp | WB |
▶Gender7 indicators · 2015 to 2025 · WB
| Indicator | Value | Year | Change | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Women in Parliament (%) | 17.6% | 2025 | 0.0 pp | WB |
| Female Wage & Salaried Workers (%) | 36.2% | 2025 | ▲ 0.1 pp | WB |
| Gross Intake to First Primary Grade, Female (%) | 91.8% | 2018 | ▼ 4.8 ppsince 2015 | WB |
| Adolescent Fertility Rate (per 1,000) | 0.5 | 2024 | ▼ 1.4% | WB |
| Gross Intake to First Primary Grade, Total (%) | 92.6% | 2018 | ▼ 4.2 ppsince 2015 | WB |
| Gender Parity Index, Secondary | 1.01 | 2015 | – | WB |
| Gender Parity in Primary Education | 1.00 | 2018 | 0.0%since 2009 | WB |
▶Governance12 indicators · 2025 · WB
| Indicator | Value | Year | Change | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Control of Corruption | -1.55 | 2025 | ▲ 0.01 | WB |
| Government Effectiveness | -1.32 | 2025 | 0 | WB |
| Political Stability | 0.08 | 2025 | 0 | WB |
| Regulatory Quality | -1.99 | 2025 | ▼ 0.05 | WB |
| Rule of Law | -1.49 | 2025 | ▲ 0.03 | WB |
| Voice & Accountability | -2.13 | 2025 | 0 | WB |
| Control of Corruption Score (0-100) | 16.7 | 2025 | ▲ 0.1 | WB |
| Government Effectiveness Score (0-100) | 25.2 | 2025 | ▲ 0.1 | WB |
| Political Stability Score (0-100) | 67.1 | 2025 | ▲ 0.1 | WB |
| Regulatory Quality Score (0-100) | 21.3 | 2025 | ▼ 0.9 | WB |
| Rule of Law Score (0-100) | 34.1 | 2025 | ▲ 0.4 | WB |
| Voice & Accountability Score (0-100) | 18.7 | 2025 | 0 | WB |
▶Military3 indicators · 2018 to 2020 · WB
| Indicator | Value | Year | Change | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Military Expenditure (USD) | $1.60B | 2018 | ▲ 66.9% | WB |
| Armed Forces Personnel | 1.5M | 2020 | 0.0% | WB |
| Armed Forces (% of labor force) | 8.6% | 2020 | ▲ 0.1 pp | WB |
▶Urban Development7 indicators · 2022 to 2025 · WB / WHO
| Indicator | Value | Year | Change | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Urban Population Growth (%) | 0.8% | 2025 | 0.0 pp | WB |
| Population in Largest City | 3.2M | 2025 | ▲ 0.8% | WB |
| Population in Largest City (% of urban) | 18.8% | 2025 | 0.0 pp | WB |
| Population in Agglomerations >1M (% of total) | 12.1% | 2025 | ▲ 0.1 pp | WB |
| Population in Slums (% of urban) | 23.0% | 2022 | – | WB |
| Rural Population Growth (%) | -0.6% | 2025 | ▼ 0.1 pp | WB |
| Access to Safely Managed Drinking Water (%) | 66.6% | 2023 | ▲ 0.1 pp | WHO |
▶About these figures
Each row shows the latest figure available for North Korea up to this year, with the year it refers to. Publishers release on different schedules, so the years differ from row to row.
Change compares a reading with the one before it. Figures measured in percent, such as growth, inflation or a share of GDP, change by percentage points (pp). Amounts and counts, such as GDP or population, change by percent. When either reading is zero or negative, as a current account balance can be, or the figure is a governance score centred on zero, the change is shown in the figure's own unit. When the earlier reading is more than a year older, the year it is measured from is shown. A dash means there is no earlier reading.
