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Rural population share — all countries

Rural population share — North Korea

Rural population share in North Korea in 2025 — 35.8%. Ranked 109 in the world out of 217. Since 1960, the indicator has fallen by 23.6 pp.

2025 35.8% −0.3 pp vs 2024
World rank 109of 217
Period maximum 59.4%1960
Period minimum 35.8%2025

Trend over time

1960–2025 · % of population

Rural population share — North Korea, 1960–20253040506019601967197419811988199520022009201620231960: 59.4%1962: 56.3%1964: 53.8%1966: 51%1968: 48%1970: 45.8%1972: 44.4%1974: 43.5%1976: 43.2%1978: 43.2%1980: 43.1%1982: 42.9%1984: 42.6%1986: 42.3%1988: 41.9%1990: 41.6%1992: 41.3%1994: 41%1996: 40.8%1998: 40.7%2000: 40.6%2002: 40.5%2004: 40.3%2006: 40.2%2008: 40%2010: 39.7%2012: 39.3%2014: 38.9%2016: 38.4%2018: 37.9%2020: 37.4%2022: 36.8%2024: 36.1%2025: 35.8%
Change over the period: −23.6 pp Annual average: -0.36 pp

Comparison, 2025

How the value compares with the world and the groups this territory belongs to: North Korea

North Korea 35.8%
World 42.2%
East Asia & Pacific 35.2%
Eastern Asia computed 31.1%
Low-income countries computed 64.4%
Rural population share — North Korea, by year North Korea All countries CSV XLSX
Year % Change, pp
2025 35.8 −0.3 pp
2024 36.1 −0.3 pp
2023 36.5 −0.3 pp
2022 36.8 −0.3 pp
2021 37.1 −0.3 pp
2020 37.4 −0.3 pp
2019 37.6 −0.3 pp
2018 37.9 −0.3 pp
2017 38.2 −0.3 pp
2016 38.4 −0.2 pp
2015 38.7 −0.2 pp
2014 38.9 −0.2 pp
2013 39.1 −0.2 pp
2012 39.3 −0.2 pp
2011 39.5 −0.2 pp
2010 39.7 −0.2 pp
2009 39.8 −0.1 pp
2008 40 −0.1 pp
2007 40.1 −0.1 pp
2006 40.2 −0.1 pp
2005 40.2 −0.1 pp
2004 40.3 −0.1 pp
2003 40.4 −0.1 pp
2002 40.5 −0.1 pp
2001 40.5 −0.1 pp
2000 40.6 −0.1 pp
1999 40.6 −0.1 pp
1998 40.7 −0.1 pp
1997 40.8 −0.1 pp
1996 40.8 −0.1 pp
1995 40.9 −0.1 pp
1994 41 −0.1 pp
1993 41.1 −0.1 pp
1992 41.3 −0.1 pp
1991 41.4 −0.2 pp
1990 41.6 −0.2 pp
1989 41.7 −0.2 pp
1988 41.9 −0.2 pp
1987 42.1 −0.2 pp
1986 42.3 −0.2 pp
1985 42.5 −0.2 pp
1984 42.6 −0.2 pp
1983 42.8 −0.1 pp
1982 42.9 −0.1 pp
1981 43 −0.1 pp
1980 43.1 −0 pp
1979 43.1 −0 pp
1978 43.2 −0 pp
1977 43.2 −0 pp
1976 43.2 −0.1 pp
1975 43.3 −0.2 pp
1974 43.5 −0.4 pp
1973 43.9 −0.5 pp
1972 44.4 −0.7 pp
1971 45.1 −0.7 pp
1970 45.8 −0.9 pp
1969 46.7 −1.3 pp
1968 48 −1.5 pp
1967 49.5 −1.5 pp
1966 51 −1.5 pp
1965 52.5 −1.3 pp
1964 53.8 −1.2 pp
1963 55 −1.3 pp
1962 56.3 −1.4 pp
1961 57.7 −1.7 pp
1960 59.4 —

Eastern Asia, 2025

The same indicator for neighboring countries — with links to their pages

KP North Korea 35.8 CN China 33.7 MN Mongolia 28.9 KR South Korea 18.8 JP Japan 7.7 HK Hong Kong 0 MO Macao 0
Full table for all countries

About the indicator

The share of population living outside urban settlements, as a percent of the total. It is computed as the difference between total and urban population, and therefore inherits every particularity of national definitions of urban areas.

Source: World Population Prospects (UN), license CC BY 3.0 IGO.

Other indicators for North Korea

Demography Rural population

How many people live outside cities — in absolute numbers.

North Korea by year Demography Urban population share

What part of a country's residents lives in cities — the level of urbanization.

North Korea by year Labor Employment in agriculture

The share of workers employed in agriculture, forestry and fishing.

North Korea by year Agriculture Agricultural land share

What part of the territory is used for arable land, permanent crops and pasture.

North Korea by year
All indicators for North Korea