Employment-to-population ratio — all countries

Employment-to-population ratio — North Korea

Employment-to-population ratio in North Korea in 2025 — 79.24%. Ranked 8 in the world out of 182. Since 1991, the indicator has fallen by 0.04 pp.

2025 79.24% −0.02 pp vs 2024
World rank 8of 182
Period maximum 79.59%1997
Period minimum 77.7%2020

Trend over time

1991–2025 · % of population aged 15+

Employment-to-population ratio — North Korea, 1991–202577.57878.57979.58019911995199920032007201120152019202320251991: 79.28%1992: 79.42%1993: 79.44%1994: 79.41%1995: 79.49%1996: 79.54%1997: 79.59%1998: 79.45%1999: 79.19%2000: 79.21%2001: 79.14%2002: 79.15%2003: 79.11%2004: 79.13%2005: 79.11%2006: 79.16%2007: 79.19%2008: 79.2%2009: 79.22%2010: 79.29%2011: 79.2%2012: 79.17%2013: 79.14%2014: 79.17%2015: 79.19%2016: 79.09%2017: 79.22%2018: 79.38%2019: 79.35%2020: 77.7%2021: 77.73%2022: 79.31%2023: 79.32%2024: 79.26%2025: 79.24%
Change over the period: −0.04 pp Annual average: 0 pp

Comparison, 2025

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

North Korea 79.24%
World 58.06%
Eastern Asia computed 61.88%
Low-income countries computed 60.99%
Employment-to-population ratio — North Korea, by year North Korea All countries CSV XLSX
Year % Change, pp
2025 79.24 −0.02 pp
2024 79.26 −0.06 pp
2023 79.32 +0.01 pp
2022 79.31 +1.58 pp
2021 77.73 +0.03 pp
2020 77.7 −1.66 pp
2019 79.35 −0.02 pp
2018 79.38 +0.16 pp
2017 79.22 +0.13 pp
2016 79.09 −0.1 pp
2015 79.19 +0.02 pp
2014 79.17 +0.04 pp
2013 79.14 −0.03 pp
2012 79.17 −0.04 pp
2011 79.2 −0.09 pp
2010 79.29 +0.07 pp
2009 79.22 +0.02 pp
2008 79.2 +0.01 pp
2007 79.19 +0.03 pp
2006 79.16 +0.05 pp
2005 79.11 −0.02 pp
2004 79.13 +0.02 pp
2003 79.11 −0.04 pp
2002 79.15 +0.02 pp
2001 79.14 −0.07 pp
2000 79.21 +0.02 pp
1999 79.19 −0.26 pp
1998 79.45 −0.14 pp
1997 79.59 +0.05 pp
1996 79.54 +0.05 pp
1995 79.49 +0.08 pp
1994 79.41 −0.03 pp
1993 79.44 +0.02 pp
1992 79.42 +0.14 pp
1991 79.28

Eastern Asia, 2025

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

About the indicator

The ratio of the employed to the population aged 15 and over. Unlike the unemployment rate it does not depend on whether a person is looking for work, so it captures the actual involvement of the population in the economy better. Employment and unemployment together give the full picture: low unemployment alongside low employment means mass withdrawal from the labor force.

Source: ILOSTAT (ILO), license CC BY 4.0.