Female labor force participation rate — all countries

Female labor force participation rate — North Korea

Female labor force participation rate in North Korea in 2025 — 77.71%. Ranked 6 in the world out of 182. Since 1990, the indicator has risen by 1.08 pp.

2025 77.71% −0.01 pp vs 2024
World rank 6of 182
Period maximum 78.11%1998
Period minimum 76.31%2020

Trend over time

1990–2025 · % of women aged 15+

Female labor force participation rate — North Korea, 1990–20257676.57777.57878.519901994199820022006201020142018202220251990: 76.64%1991: 76.82%1992: 77.1%1993: 77.3%1994: 77.42%1995: 77.61%1996: 77.77%1997: 78.04%1998: 78.11%1999: 77.91%2000: 77.92%2001: 77.81%2002: 77.78%2003: 77.74%2004: 77.69%2005: 77.57%2006: 77.63%2007: 77.68%2008: 77.59%2009: 77.64%2010: 77.66%2011: 77.65%2012: 77.61%2013: 77.58%2014: 77.56%2015: 77.61%2016: 77.48%2017: 77.62%2018: 77.79%2019: 77.79%2020: 76.31%2021: 76.48%2022: 77.69%2023: 77.72%2024: 77.72%2025: 77.71%
Change over the period: +1.08 pp Annual average: 0.03 pp

Comparison, 2025

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

North Korea 77.71%
World 48.94%
Eastern Asia computed 59.08%
Low-income countries computed 54.64%
Female labor force participation rate — North Korea, by year North Korea All countries CSV XLSX
Year % Change, pp
2025 77.71 −0.01 pp
2024 77.72 −0 pp
2023 77.72 +0.03 pp
2022 77.69 +1.21 pp
2021 76.48 +0.18 pp
2020 76.31 −1.48 pp
2019 77.79 −0 pp
2018 77.79 +0.17 pp
2017 77.62 +0.14 pp
2016 77.48 −0.12 pp
2015 77.61 +0.05 pp
2014 77.56 −0.03 pp
2013 77.58 −0.03 pp
2012 77.61 −0.04 pp
2011 77.65 −0.02 pp
2010 77.66 +0.03 pp
2009 77.64 +0.05 pp
2008 77.59 −0.09 pp
2007 77.68 +0.06 pp
2006 77.63 +0.05 pp
2005 77.57 −0.11 pp
2004 77.69 −0.05 pp
2003 77.74 −0.05 pp
2002 77.78 −0.03 pp
2001 77.81 −0.11 pp
2000 77.92 +0.01 pp
1999 77.91 −0.19 pp
1998 78.11 +0.06 pp
1997 78.04 +0.28 pp
1996 77.77 +0.15 pp
1995 77.61 +0.2 pp
1994 77.42 +0.12 pp
1993 77.3 +0.2 pp
1992 77.1 +0.28 pp
1991 76.82 +0.18 pp
1990 76.64

Eastern Asia, 2025

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

About the indicator

The share of women aged 15 and over who belong to the labor force. The spread across countries runs from under 10% to over 80%, and it is one of the strongest dividing lines between socioeconomic models. Historically the rate rose together with falling fertility and wider access to education.

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