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Labor force participation rate — all countries

Labor force participation rate — North Korea

Labor force participation rate in North Korea in 2025 — 82.15%. Ranked 7 in the world out of 182. Since 1990, the indicator has risen by 0.66 pp.

2025 82.15% −0.01 pp vs 2024
World rank 7of 182
Period maximum 82.3%1998
Period minimum 80.62%2020

Trend over time

1990–2025 · % of population aged 15+

Labor force participation rate — North Korea, 1990–202580.58181.58282.519901994199820022006201020142018202220251990: 81.49%1991: 81.6%1992: 81.77%1993: 81.88%1994: 81.94%1995: 82.05%1996: 82.13%1997: 82.27%1998: 82.3%1999: 82.21%2000: 82.21%2001: 82.16%2002: 82.14%2003: 82.12%2004: 82.1%2005: 82.04%2006: 82.07%2007: 82.1%2008: 82.05%2009: 82.08%2010: 82.09%2011: 82.09%2012: 82.07%2013: 82.06%2014: 82.05%2015: 82.08%2016: 82.02%2017: 82.09%2018: 82.18%2019: 82.18%2020: 80.62%2021: 80.71%2022: 82.15%2023: 82.16%2024: 82.16%2025: 82.15%
Change over the period: +0.66 pp Annual average: 0.02 pp

Comparison, 2025

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

North Korea 82.15%
World 60.98%
East Asia & Pacific 65.16%
Eastern Asia computed 64.7%
Low-income countries computed 64.2%
Labor force participation rate — North Korea, by year North Korea All countries CSV XLSX
Year % Change, pp
2025 82.15 −0.01 pp
2024 82.16 +0 pp
2023 82.16 +0.01 pp
2022 82.15 +1.44 pp
2021 80.71 +0.09 pp
2020 80.62 −1.56 pp
2019 82.18 +0 pp
2018 82.18 +0.09 pp
2017 82.09 +0.07 pp
2016 82.02 −0.06 pp
2015 82.08 +0.03 pp
2014 82.05 −0.01 pp
2013 82.06 −0.01 pp
2012 82.07 −0.02 pp
2011 82.09 −0.01 pp
2010 82.09 +0.02 pp
2009 82.08 +0.03 pp
2008 82.05 −0.05 pp
2007 82.1 +0.03 pp
2006 82.07 +0.03 pp
2005 82.04 −0.06 pp
2004 82.1 −0.03 pp
2003 82.12 −0.02 pp
2002 82.14 −0.01 pp
2001 82.16 −0.05 pp
2000 82.21 +0 pp
1999 82.21 −0.09 pp
1998 82.3 +0.03 pp
1997 82.27 +0.14 pp
1996 82.13 +0.08 pp
1995 82.05 +0.1 pp
1994 81.94 +0.07 pp
1993 81.88 +0.11 pp
1992 81.77 +0.16 pp
1991 81.6 +0.11 pp
1990 81.49 —

Eastern Asia, 2025

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

KP North Korea 82.15 MO Macao 67.85 CN China 64.55 KR South Korea 64.35 JP Japan 63.45 MN Mongolia 59.69 HK Hong Kong 56.36
Full table for all countries

About the indicator

The share of the population aged 15 and over that belongs to the labor force. It shows how fully a country uses its labor potential. The decline in advanced countries comes from an aging population and longer years of schooling, while low values in developing ones usually come from limited participation by women.

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

Other indicators for North Korea

Labor Female labor force participation rate

The share of women aged 15 and over who work or look for work — the main indicator of access to employment.

North Korea by year Labor Labor force

The number of people employed or actively looking for work — the economically active population.

North Korea by year Labor Employment-to-population ratio

The share of the population aged 15 and over that actually works.

North Korea by year Demography Age dependency ratio

How many dependents — children and older people — there are per 100 people of working age.

North Korea by year
All indicators for North Korea