COUNTRY PROFILE / PRK
North Korea
North Korea is a World Bank reporting economy in East Asia & Pacific. Its reported capital is Pyongyang. Explore its demographic, economic and social trends using 9 available indicators.
Latest country indicators
Population
GDP
GDP per capita
Life expectancy
Internet adoption
Unemployment
What changed?
A decade of change, measured from each indicator’s latest available year.
Population
+3.9%2015 → 2025GDP per capita
—Exact 10-year comparison unavailableInternet adoption
—Exact 10-year comparison unavailableLife expectancy
+1.3 years2014 → 2024Changes describe direction, not performance. Percentage-point differences apply to percentage indicators; currency changes use current US dollars.
THE LONG VIEW
North Korea, through the years
Explore each indicator. Select a time range or open the underlying data table.
Demographics
Demographics / people
Population in North Korea
Interactive chart loading…
Population changed by +3.9% between 2015 and 2025.
View data table
| Year | North Korea |
|---|---|
| 2025 | 26,571,036 |
| 2024 | 26,498,823 |
| 2023 | 26,418,204 |
| 2022 | 26,328,845 |
| 2021 | 26,232,534 |
| 2020 | 26,136,312 |
| 2019 | 26,037,632 |
| 2018 | 25,931,147 |
| 2017 | 25,817,709 |
| 2016 | 25,698,326 |
| 2015 | 25,575,350 |
| 2014 | 25,451,262 |
| 2013 | 25,329,451 |
| 2012 | 25,211,728 |
| 2011 | 25,097,874 |
| 2010 | 24,987,258 |
| 2009 | 24,878,332 |
| 2008 | 24,764,618 |
| 2007 | 24,646,383 |
| 2006 | 24,524,507 |
| 2005 | 24,396,433 |
| 2004 | 24,254,943 |
| 2003 | 24,090,380 |
| 2002 | 23,943,973 |
| 2001 | 23,815,358 |
| 2000 | 23,665,910 |
| 1999 | 23,497,599 |
| 1998 | 23,311,564 |
| 1997 | 23,110,830 |
| 1996 | 22,895,746 |
| 1995 | 22,669,304 |
| 1994 | 22,393,975 |
| 1993 | 22,073,352 |
| 1992 | 21,750,911 |
| 1991 | 21,428,638 |
| 1990 | 21,112,137 |
| 1989 | 20,804,367 |
| 1988 | 20,503,161 |
| 1987 | 20,205,483 |
| 1986 | 19,910,855 |
| 1985 | 19,620,388 |
| 1984 | 19,335,043 |
| 1983 | 19,054,034 |
| 1982 | 18,776,357 |
| 1981 | 18,501,295 |
| 1980 | 18,236,786 |
| 1979 | 17,983,470 |
| 1978 | 17,735,995 |
| 1977 | 17,492,798 |
| 1976 | 17,243,450 |
| 1975 | 16,971,055 |
| 1974 | 16,673,121 |
| 1973 | 16,350,367 |
| 1972 | 15,975,069 |
| 1971 | 15,572,457 |
| 1970 | 15,172,775 |
| 1969 | 14,767,615 |
| 1968 | 14,365,596 |
| 1967 | 13,958,350 |
| 1966 | 13,569,094 |
| 1965 | 13,219,369 |
| 1964 | 12,889,770 |
| 1963 | 12,567,057 |
| 1962 | 12,262,882 |
| 1961 | 11,990,713 |
| 1960 | 11,722,953 |
The total number of residents, based on the de facto definition of population and midyear estimates. Explore population across countries →
Demographics / %
Population growth in North Korea
Interactive chart loading…
Population growth changed by -0.2 percentage points between 2015 and 2025.
View data table
| Year | North Korea |
|---|---|
| 2025 | 0.27% |
| 2024 | 0.3% |
| 2023 | 0.34% |
| 2022 | 0.37% |
| 2021 | 0.37% |
| 2020 | 0.38% |
| 2019 | 0.41% |
| 2018 | 0.44% |
| 2017 | 0.46% |
| 2016 | 0.48% |
| 2015 | 0.49% |
| 2014 | 0.48% |
| 2013 | 0.47% |
| 2012 | 0.45% |
| 2011 | 0.44% |
| 2010 | 0.44% |
| 2009 | 0.46% |
| 2008 | 0.48% |
| 2007 | 0.5% |
| 2006 | 0.52% |
| 2005 | 0.58% |
| 2004 | 0.68% |
| 2003 | 0.61% |
| 2002 | 0.54% |
| 2001 | 0.63% |
| 2000 | 0.71% |
| 1999 | 0.79% |
| 1998 | 0.86% |
| 1997 | 0.94% |
| 1996 | 0.99% |
| 1995 | 1.22% |
| 1994 | 1.44% |
| 1993 | 1.47% |
| 1992 | 1.49% |
| 1991 | 1.49% |
| 1990 | 1.47% |
| 1989 | 1.46% |
| 1988 | 1.46% |
| 1987 | 1.47% |
| 1986 | 1.47% |
| 1985 | 1.47% |
| 1984 | 1.46% |
| 1983 | 1.47% |
| 1982 | 1.48% |
| 1981 | 1.44% |
| 1980 | 1.4% |
| 1979 | 1.39% |
| 1978 | 1.38% |
| 1977 | 1.44% |
| 1976 | 1.59% |
| 1975 | 1.77% |
| 1974 | 1.95% |
| 1973 | 2.32% |
| 1972 | 2.55% |
| 1971 | 2.6% |
| 1970 | 2.71% |
| 1969 | 2.76% |
| 1968 | 2.88% |
| 1967 | 2.83% |
| 1966 | 2.61% |
| 1965 | 2.52% |
| 1964 | 2.54% |
| 1963 | 2.45% |
| 1962 | 2.24% |
| 1961 | 2.26% |
The annual exponential rate of growth in the midyear population, expressed as a percentage. Explore population growth across countries →
Demographics / %
Urban population in North Korea
Interactive chart loading…
Urban population changed by +2.9 percentage points between 2015 and 2025.
View data table
| Year | North Korea |
|---|---|
| 2025 | 64.19% |
| 2024 | 63.86% |
| 2023 | 63.54% |
| 2022 | 63.23% |
| 2021 | 62.93% |
| 2020 | 62.64% |
| 2019 | 62.35% |
| 2018 | 62.08% |
| 2017 | 61.82% |
| 2016 | 61.57% |
| 2015 | 61.32% |
| 2014 | 61.09% |
| 2013 | 60.88% |
| 2012 | 60.68% |
| 2011 | 60.48% |
| 2010 | 60.31% |
| 2009 | 60.15% |
| 2008 | 60.03% |
| 2007 | 59.93% |
| 2006 | 59.83% |
| 2005 | 59.75% |
| 2004 | 59.68% |
| 2003 | 59.61% |
| 2002 | 59.54% |
| 2001 | 59.48% |
| 2000 | 59.42% |
| 1999 | 59.36% |
| 1998 | 59.29% |
| 1997 | 59.23% |
| 1996 | 59.15% |
| 1995 | 59.07% |
| 1994 | 58.98% |
| 1993 | 58.87% |
| 1992 | 58.75% |
| 1991 | 58.6% |
| 1990 | 58.44% |
| 1989 | 58.26% |
| 1988 | 58.07% |
| 1987 | 57.89% |
| 1986 | 57.7% |
| 1985 | 57.53% |
| 1984 | 57.36% |
| 1983 | 57.21% |
| 1982 | 57.08% |
| 1981 | 56.97% |
| 1980 | 56.9% |
| 1979 | 56.85% |
| 1978 | 56.82% |
| 1977 | 56.8% |
| 1976 | 56.76% |
| 1975 | 56.7% |
| 1974 | 56.51% |
| 1973 | 56.12% |
| 1972 | 55.57% |
| 1971 | 54.91% |
| 1970 | 54.2% |
| 1969 | 53.25% |
| 1968 | 51.97% |
| 1967 | 50.49% |
| 1966 | 48.95% |
| 1965 | 47.5% |
| 1964 | 46.22% |
| 1963 | 45% |
| 1962 | 43.74% |
| 1961 | 42.31% |
| 1960 | 40.6% |
The share of the total population living in urban areas, as defined by national statistical offices. Explore urban population across countries →
Demographics / births per woman
Fertility rate in North Korea
Interactive chart loading…
Fertility rate changed by -0.1 births per woman between 2014 and 2024.
View data table
| Year | North Korea |
|---|---|
| 2024 | 1.78 births |
| 2023 | 1.78 births |
| 2022 | 1.8 births |
| 2021 | 1.81 births |
| 2020 | 1.82 births |
| 2019 | 1.83 births |
| 2018 | 1.83 births |
| 2017 | 1.85 births |
| 2016 | 1.86 births |
| 2015 | 1.86 births |
| 2014 | 1.87 births |
| 2013 | 1.88 births |
| 2012 | 1.88 births |
| 2011 | 1.88 births |
| 2010 | 1.89 births |
| 2009 | 1.91 births |
| 2008 | 1.97 births |
| 2007 | 1.94 births |
| 2006 | 1.94 births |
| 2005 | 1.87 births |
| 2004 | 1.9 births |
| 2003 | 1.91 births |
| 2002 | 1.92 births |
| 2001 | 1.94 births |
| 2000 | 1.94 births |
| 1999 | 1.97 births |
| 1998 | 1.99 births |
| 1997 | 2.03 births |
| 1996 | 2.09 births |
| 1995 | 2.15 births |
| 1994 | 2.18 births |
| 1993 | 2.22 births |
| 1992 | 2.29 births |
| 1991 | 2.35 births |
| 1990 | 2.39 births |
| 1989 | 2.41 births |
| 1988 | 2.47 births |
| 1987 | 2.53 births |
| 1986 | 2.59 births |
| 1985 | 2.65 births |
| 1984 | 2.71 births |
| 1983 | 2.78 births |
| 1982 | 2.85 births |
| 1981 | 2.92 births |
| 1980 | 2.84 births |
| 1979 | 2.85 births |
| 1978 | 2.79 births |
| 1977 | 2.77 births |
| 1976 | 2.84 births |
| 1975 | 3.05 births |
| 1974 | 3.14 births |
| 1973 | 3.35 births |
| 1972 | 3.89 births |
| 1971 | 3.74 births |
| 1970 | 3.85 births |
| 1969 | 3.86 births |
| 1968 | 3.87 births |
| 1967 | 4.05 births |
| 1966 | 3.71 births |
| 1965 | 3.56 births |
| 1964 | 3.55 births |
| 1963 | 3.63 births |
| 1962 | 3.41 births |
| 1961 | 3.26 births |
| 1960 | 3.57 births |
The number of children a woman would have if she experienced current age-specific fertility rates throughout her childbearing years. Explore fertility rate across countries →
Economy
Economy / USD
GDP in North Korea
Interactive chart loading…
Missing observations are shown as gaps, never as zero.
View data table
| Year | North Korea |
|---|
Gross domestic product measures the value of goods and services produced in an economy, in current US dollars. Explore gdp across countries →
Economy / USD
GDP per capita in North Korea
Interactive chart loading…
Missing observations are shown as gaps, never as zero.
View data table
| Year | North Korea |
|---|
Gross domestic product divided by the midyear population, expressed in current US dollars. Explore gdp per capita across countries →
Economy / %
GDP growth in North Korea
Interactive chart loading…
Missing observations are shown as gaps, never as zero.
View data table
| Year | North Korea |
|---|
Annual percentage growth of GDP at market prices based on constant local currency. Explore gdp growth across countries →
Economy / %
Inflation in North Korea
Interactive chart loading…
Missing observations are shown as gaps, never as zero.
View data table
| Year | North Korea |
|---|
The annual percentage change in the cost of a basket of goods and services for the average consumer. Explore inflation across countries →
Economy / %
Unemployment in North Korea
Interactive chart loading…
Unemployment changed by +0 percentage points between 2015 and 2025.
View data table
| Year | North Korea |
|---|---|
| 2025 | 3.55% |
| 2024 | 3.54% |
| 2023 | 3.46% |
| 2022 | 3.46% |
| 2021 | 3.69% |
| 2020 | 3.62% |
| 2019 | 3.44% |
| 2018 | 3.41% |
| 2017 | 3.5% |
| 2016 | 3.57% |
| 2015 | 3.52% |
| 2014 | 3.51% |
| 2013 | 3.57% |
| 2012 | 3.54% |
| 2011 | 3.52% |
| 2010 | 3.42% |
| 2009 | 3.48% |
| 2008 | 3.48% |
| 2007 | 3.55% |
| 2006 | 3.55% |
| 2005 | 3.58% |
| 2004 | 3.62% |
| 2003 | 3.67% |
| 2002 | 3.64% |
| 2001 | 3.68% |
| 2000 | 3.65% |
| 1999 | 3.67% |
| 1998 | 3.46% |
| 1997 | 3.25% |
| 1996 | 3.15% |
| 1995 | 3.11% |
| 1994 | 3.09% |
| 1993 | 2.98% |
| 1992 | 2.88% |
| 1991 | 2.85% |
The share of the labor force without work but available for and seeking employment, using modeled ILO estimates. Explore unemployment across countries →
Health
Health / years
Life expectancy in North Korea
Interactive chart loading…
Life expectancy changed by +1.3 years between 2014 and 2024.
View data table
| Year | North Korea |
|---|---|
| 2024 | 73.74 years |
| 2023 | 73.64 years |
| 2022 | 73.64 years |
| 2021 | 73.44 years |
| 2020 | 72.78 years |
| 2019 | 72.93 years |
| 2018 | 73.02 years |
| 2017 | 73.03 years |
| 2016 | 72.97 years |
| 2015 | 72.83 years |
| 2014 | 72.45 years |
| 2013 | 71.87 years |
| 2012 | 71.32 years |
| 2011 | 70.77 years |
| 2010 | 70.25 years |
| 2009 | 69.7 years |
| 2008 | 69.3 years |
| 2007 | 69.02 years |
| 2006 | 69.06 years |
| 2005 | 69.17 years |
| 2004 | 69.29 years |
| 2003 | 69.4 years |
| 2002 | 60.88 years |
| 2001 | 60.89 years |
| 2000 | 60.91 years |
| 1999 | 60.91 years |
| 1998 | 60.89 years |
| 1997 | 60.87 years |
| 1996 | 60.82 years |
| 1995 | 60.77 years |
| 1994 | 70.47 years |
| 1993 | 70.79 years |
| 1992 | 71.01 years |
| 1991 | 70.72 years |
| 1990 | 70.48 years |
| 1989 | 70.27 years |
| 1988 | 70.05 years |
| 1987 | 69.77 years |
| 1986 | 69.54 years |
| 1985 | 69.23 years |
| 1984 | 68.88 years |
| 1983 | 68.5 years |
| 1982 | 68.09 years |
| 1981 | 67.66 years |
| 1980 | 67.21 years |
| 1979 | 66.75 years |
| 1978 | 66.29 years |
| 1977 | 65.81 years |
| 1976 | 65.33 years |
| 1975 | 64.83 years |
| 1974 | 64.34 years |
| 1973 | 63.82 years |
| 1972 | 63.25 years |
| 1971 | 62.66 years |
| 1970 | 62.05 years |
| 1969 | 61.41 years |
| 1968 | 60.76 years |
| 1967 | 60.09 years |
| 1966 | 59.42 years |
| 1965 | 58.79 years |
| 1964 | 58.17 years |
| 1963 | 57.58 years |
| 1962 | 57 years |
| 1961 | 56.41 years |
| 1960 | 55.81 years |
The years a newborn would live if prevailing patterns of mortality at birth remained the same throughout life. Explore life expectancy across countries →
Health / %
Health expenditure in North Korea
Interactive chart loading…
Missing observations are shown as gaps, never as zero.
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| Year | North Korea |
|---|
Current health expenditure as a share of GDP, including public and private spending on healthcare goods and services. Explore health expenditure across countries →
Technology
Technology / %
Internet adoption in North Korea
Interactive chart loading…
Missing observations are shown as gaps, never as zero.
View data table
| Year | North Korea |
|---|---|
| 2004 | 0% |
| 2003 | 0% |
| 2002 | 0% |
| 2001 | 0% |
| 2000 | 0% |
| 1999 | 0% |
| 1998 | 0% |
| 1997 | 0% |
| 1990 | 0% |
The percentage of individuals who have used the Internet from any location in the last three months. Explore internet adoption across countries →
Environment
Environment / %
Renewable energy in North Korea
Interactive chart loading…
Renewable energy changed by -0.1 percentage points between 2011 and 2021.
View data table
| Year | North Korea |
|---|---|
| 2021 | 14.7% |
| 2020 | 11.2% |
| 2019 | 10% |
| 2018 | 11.9% |
| 2017 | 10.2% |
| 2016 | 24% |
| 2015 | 22.6% |
| 2014 | 18.5% |
| 2013 | 20.8% |
| 2012 | 15.4% |
| 2011 | 14.8% |
| 2010 | 11% |
| 2009 | 10.4% |
| 2008 | 10.2% |
| 2007 | 10.9% |
| 2006 | 9% |
| 2005 | 9.2% |
| 2004 | 9.4% |
| 2003 | 9.3% |
| 2002 | 9% |
| 2001 | 8.6% |
| 2000 | 8.7% |
| 1999 | 9.4% |
| 1998 | 9.9% |
| 1997 | 9.6% |
| 1996 | 10.2% |
| 1995 | 9.6% |
| 1994 | 9% |
| 1993 | 8% |
| 1992 | 7.7% |
| 1991 | 7.5% |
| 1990 | 7.2% |
Renewable energy consumption as a share of total final energy consumption. Explore renewable energy across countries →
Environment / %
Access to electricity in North Korea
Interactive chart loading…
Access to electricity changed by +23.6 percentage points between 2014 and 2024.
View data table
| Year | North Korea |
|---|---|
| 2024 | 61.4% |
| 2023 | 57.5% |
| 2022 | 54.7% |
| 2021 | 52.6% |
| 2020 | 50.5% |
| 2019 | 48.4% |
| 2018 | 46.3% |
| 2017 | 44.2% |
| 2016 | 42.1% |
| 2015 | 40% |
| 2014 | 37.8% |
| 2013 | 35.7% |
| 2012 | 33.6% |
| 2011 | 31.4% |
| 2010 | 29.3% |
| 2009 | 26% |
The percentage of the population with access to electricity, based on household surveys and other sources. Explore access to electricity across countries →
Trade
Trade / %
Trade in North Korea
Interactive chart loading…
Missing observations are shown as gaps, never as zero.
View data table
| Year | North Korea |
|---|
The sum of exports and imports of goods and services, measured as a share of gross domestic product. Explore trade across countries →
Source: World Bank · World Development IndicatorsRetrieved 2026-09-23
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