North Korea

Government
Name	Democratic People’s Republic of Korea
Korean	조선민주주의인민공화국 Chosŏn Minjujuŭi Inmin Konghwaguk
Government type	dictatorship – single-party state
Capital	Pyongyang(3,255,288 (2008))
Currency	Korean People’s won (KPW)
People
Population (2020)	25,778,815 (55th)
Density of population	212 P/km² (65th)
Nationality	Korean
Official languages
Korean
Ethnic groups
racially homogeneous (only small Chinese community and a few ethnic Japanese)
Religions
traditionally Buddhist and Confucianist, some Christian and syncretic Chondogyo (Religion of the Heavenly Way) note: autonomous religious activities now almost nonexistent; government-sponsored religious groups exist to provide illusion of religious freedom
Life expectancy (2020)
Male	67.7 years
Female	75.6 years
Total population	71.6 years (161st)
Homicides
n.a.
Geography
Land area	120,408 km²
water area	130 km²
total area	120,538 km² (100th)
Mean elevation	600 m
Lowest point
Sea of Japan	0 m
Highest point
Paektu-san	2,744 m
Land use (2011)
Agricultural land	21.8%
Arable land	19.5%
Permanent crops	1.9%
Permanent pasture	0.4%
Forest	46%
Other	32.2%
Urbanization
Urban population (2020)	62.4%
Rate of urbanization	0.82% annual rate of change (2015 – 2020)
Economy
Labor force (2014)	14 million (41st)
Labor force by occupation (2008)
Agriculture	37%
Industry and services	63%
Unemployment rate (2013)	25.6% (197th)
GDP (PPP) (estimate 2014)
Total	$40 billion
Per capita	$1,800
GDP (nominal) (estimate 2017)
Total	$30 billion
Per capita	$1,300
GDP by sector (estimate 2017)
Agriculture	22.5%
Industry	47.6%
Services	29.9%
Exports (2017)	$4.582 billion
Exports partners (2017)
China	86.3%
Imports (2018)	$2.32 billion (160th)
Imports partners (2017)
China	91.9%

North Korea on the world map

North Korea top 10 largest cities (2008)

Pyongyang (3,255,288)
Hamhung (768,551)
Chongjin (667,929)
Nampo (366,815)
Wonsan (363,127)
Sinuiju (359,341)
Tanchon (345,875)
Kaechon (319,554)
Kaesong (308,440)
Sariwon (307,764)

Demography

Population pyramid

Age structure data

Estimate for 2020:

0-14 years: 20.47% (male 2,677,578/female 2,571,118)
15-24 years: 14.68% (male 1,894,091/female 1,869,799)
25-54 years: 44% (male 5,659,446/female 5,624,034)
55-64 years: 11.2% (male 1,369,199/female 1,503,086)
65 years and over: 9.65% (male 859,151/female 1,615,964)

Remark: the age structure of a population affects a nation’s key socioeconomic issues. Countries with young populations (high percentage under age 15) need to invest more in schools, while countries with older populations (high percentage ages 65 and over) need to invest more in the health sector. The age structure can also be used to help predict potential political issues. For example, the rapid growth of a young adult population unable to find employment can lead to unrest.

Population from 1950 to 2020

CC BY

Source: United Nations, Department of Economic and Social Affairs, Population Division (2019). World Population Prospects 2019, Online Edition. Rev. 1.

Evolution of the life expectancy from 1960 to 2018

CC BY

Source: World Development Indicators, The World Bank

Economy

Agriculture:

rice, corn, potatoes, wheat, soybeans, pulses, beef, pork, eggs, fruit, nuts

Industries:

military products; machine building, electric power, chemicals; mining (coal, iron ore, limestone, magnesite, graphite, copper, zinc, lead, and precious metals), metallurgy; textiles, food processing; tourism

Exports – commodities:

minerals, metallurgical products, manufactures (including armaments), textiles, agricultural and fishery products