Vulnerable employment — all countries

Vulnerable employment — North Korea

Vulnerable employment in North Korea in 2025 — 56.77%. Ranked 137 in the world out of 182. Since 1991, the indicator has risen by 1.83 pp.

2025 56.77% −0.07 pp vs 2024
World rank 137of 182
Period maximum 57.51%2020
Period minimum 54.94%1991

Trend over time

1991–2025 · % of employment

Vulnerable employment — North Korea, 1991–2025545556575819911995199920032007201120152019202320251991: 54.94%1992: 55.25%1993: 55.58%1994: 55.9%1995: 56.18%1996: 56.47%1997: 56.77%1998: 56.99%1999: 57.03%2000: 57.04%2001: 56.97%2002: 56.88%2003: 56.77%2004: 56.66%2005: 56.52%2006: 56.43%2007: 56.39%2008: 56.31%2009: 56.28%2010: 56.26%2011: 56.26%2012: 56.25%2013: 56.23%2014: 56.22%2015: 56.24%2016: 56.18%2017: 56.21%2018: 56.29%2019: 56.32%2020: 57.51%2021: 56.95%2022: 56.99%2023: 56.89%2024: 56.84%2025: 56.77%
Change over the period: +1.83 pp Annual average: 0.05 pp

Comparison, 2025

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

North Korea 56.77%
World 42.38%
Eastern Asia computed 31.19%
Low-income countries computed 75.71%
Vulnerable employment — North Korea, by year North Korea All countries CSV XLSX
Year % Change, pp
2025 56.77 −0.07 pp
2024 56.84 −0.05 pp
2023 56.89 −0.1 pp
2022 56.99 +0.04 pp
2021 56.95 −0.56 pp
2020 57.51 +1.19 pp
2019 56.32 +0.03 pp
2018 56.29 +0.08 pp
2017 56.21 +0.03 pp
2016 56.18 −0.05 pp
2015 56.24 +0.02 pp
2014 56.22 −0.01 pp
2013 56.23 −0.02 pp
2012 56.25 −0.01 pp
2011 56.26 −0 pp
2010 56.26 −0.02 pp
2009 56.28 −0.03 pp
2008 56.31 −0.07 pp
2007 56.39 −0.05 pp
2006 56.43 −0.08 pp
2005 56.52 −0.15 pp
2004 56.66 −0.11 pp
2003 56.77 −0.11 pp
2002 56.88 −0.09 pp
2001 56.97 −0.07 pp
2000 57.04 +0.01 pp
1999 57.03 +0.04 pp
1998 56.99 +0.22 pp
1997 56.77 +0.3 pp
1996 56.47 +0.28 pp
1995 56.18 +0.29 pp
1994 55.9 +0.32 pp
1993 55.58 +0.33 pp
1992 55.25 +0.31 pp
1991 54.94

Eastern Asia, 2025

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

About the indicator

The share of own-account workers and contributing family workers in total employment. The ILO devised the category as a substitute for informal employment where informality is not measured: such workers usually have no employment contract, no social insurance and no protection against dismissal, and their income depends directly on what they produce. In the poorest countries this share exceeds three quarters of the employed — wage work there is closer to an exception.

Important: Not the same as informal employment: an employee without a contract does not fall into this category, though they are no better protected. The indicator understates informality in countries where off-the-books hiring is widespread.

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