Youth unemployment — all countries

Youth unemployment — North Korea

Youth unemployment in North Korea in 2025 — 7.9%. Ranked 49 in the world out of 182. Since 1991, the indicator has risen by 2.36 pp.

2025 7.9% +0.14 pp vs 2024
World rank 49of 182
Period maximum 8.51%2020
Period minimum 5.54%1991

Trend over time

1991–2025 · % of labor force aged 15–24

Youth unemployment — North Korea, 1991–20255678919911995199920032007201120152019202320251991: 5.54%1992: 5.67%1993: 5.98%1994: 6.32%1995: 6.45%1996: 6.62%1997: 6.91%1998: 7.51%1999: 8.05%2000: 8.01%2001: 8.06%2002: 8%2003: 8.04%2004: 7.96%2005: 7.89%2006: 7.82%2007: 7.73%2008: 7.56%2009: 7.58%2010: 7.46%2011: 7.65%2012: 7.58%2013: 7.69%2014: 7.63%2015: 7.76%2016: 8.09%2017: 7.92%2018: 7.77%2019: 7.61%2020: 8.51%2021: 8.1%2022: 7.61%2023: 7.58%2024: 7.76%2025: 7.9%
Change over the period: +2.36 pp Annual average: 0.07 pp

Comparison, 2025

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

North Korea 7.9%
World 13.41%
Eastern Asia computed 14.37%
Low-income countries computed 8.88%
Youth unemployment — North Korea, by year North Korea All countries CSV XLSX
Year % Change, pp
2025 7.9 +0.14 pp
2024 7.76 +0.19 pp
2023 7.58 −0.03 pp
2022 7.61 −0.49 pp
2021 8.1 −0.41 pp
2020 8.51 +0.9 pp
2019 7.61 −0.16 pp
2018 7.77 −0.16 pp
2017 7.92 −0.17 pp
2016 8.09 +0.33 pp
2015 7.76 +0.13 pp
2014 7.63 −0.06 pp
2013 7.69 +0.11 pp
2012 7.58 −0.08 pp
2011 7.65 +0.19 pp
2010 7.46 −0.12 pp
2009 7.58 +0.02 pp
2008 7.56 −0.17 pp
2007 7.73 −0.09 pp
2006 7.82 −0.06 pp
2005 7.89 −0.07 pp
2004 7.96 −0.08 pp
2003 8.04 +0.04 pp
2002 8 −0.07 pp
2001 8.06 +0.06 pp
2000 8.01 −0.04 pp
1999 8.05 +0.54 pp
1998 7.51 +0.6 pp
1997 6.91 +0.3 pp
1996 6.62 +0.17 pp
1995 6.45 +0.13 pp
1994 6.32 +0.34 pp
1993 5.98 +0.31 pp
1992 5.67 +0.14 pp
1991 5.54

Eastern Asia, 2025

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

About the indicator

The share of the economically active population aged 15–24 that is unemployed. In almost every country youth unemployment runs two to three times above the overall rate: the young have no experience, and their first entry into the labor market puts them up against more qualified workers. A sharp gap with the overall rate points to structural problems in the transition from school to work.

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