Unemployment Rate in North Korea increased to 2.90 percent in 2024 from 2.80 percent in 2023. This dataset provides - North Korea Unemployment Rate - actual values, historical data, forecast, chart, statistics, economic calendar and news.

Actual value and historical data chart for North Korea Unemployment Total Percent Of Total Labor Force

Historical dataset showing North Korea unemployment rate by year from 1991 to 2024.

North Korea: Unemployment rate for females: The latest value from 2024 is 2.97 percent, an increase from 2.93 percent in 2023. In comparison, the world average is 8.08 percent, based on data from 176 countries. Historically, the average for North Korea from 1991 to 2024 is 3.01 percent. The minimum value, 2.54 percent, was reached in 1991 while the maximum of 3.3 percent was recorded in 2001.

Graph and download economic data for Youth Unemployment Rate for the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (SLUEM1524ZSPRK) from 1991 to 2024 about North Korea, 15 to 24 years, unemployment, and rate.

North Korea: Unemployment rate for males: The latest value from 2024 is 2.76 percent, an increase from 2.74 percent in 2023. In comparison, the world average is 6.29 percent, based on data from 176 countries. Historically, the average for North Korea from 1991 to 2024 is 2.66 percent. The minimum value, 2.07 percent, was reached in 1991 while the maximum of 2.91 percent was recorded in 2021.

Historical dataset showing North Korea youth unemployment rate by year from 1991 to 2024.

Dataset of the North Korea Annual Unemployment Rate, including historical data, latest releases, and long-term trends from 1991-12-31 to 2024-12-31. Available for free download in CSV format.

North Korea KP: Unemployment: Modeled ILO Estimate: Youth: % of Total Labour Force Aged 15-24 data was reported at 11.667 % in 2017. This records a decrease from the previous number of 11.730 % for 2016. North Korea KP: Unemployment: Modeled ILO Estimate: Youth: % of Total Labour Force Aged 15-24 data is updated yearly, averaging 11.341 % from Dec 1991 (Median) to 2017, with 27 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 17.259 % in 1992 and a record low of 10.743 % in 1999. North Korea KP: Unemployment: Modeled ILO Estimate: Youth: % of Total Labour Force Aged 15-24 data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by World Bank. The data is categorized under Global Database’s North Korea – Table KP.World Bank: Employment and Unemployment. Youth unemployment refers to the share of the labor force ages 15-24 without work but available for and seeking employment.; ; International Labour Organization, ILOSTAT database. Data retrieved in November 2017.; Weighted average; Data up to 2016 are estimates while data from 2017 are projections. National estimates are also available in the WDI database. Caution should be used when comparing ILO estimates with national estimates.

Unemployment, youth total (% of total labor force ages 15-24) (modeled ILO estimate) in North Korea was reported at 6.757 % in 2024, according to the World Bank collection of development indicators, compiled from officially recognized sources. North Korea - Unemployment, youth total (% of total labor force ages 15-24) - actual values, historical data, forecasts and projections were sourced from the World Bank on November of 2025.

North Korea KP: Unemployment: Modeled ILO Estimate: % of Total Labour Force data was reported at 4.776 % in 2017. This records an increase from the previous number of 4.721 % for 2016. North Korea KP: Unemployment: Modeled ILO Estimate: % of Total Labour Force data is updated yearly, averaging 4.562 % from Dec 1991 (Median) to 2017, with 27 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 8.346 % in 1992 and a record low of 4.421 % in 2001. North Korea KP: Unemployment: Modeled ILO Estimate: % of Total Labour Force data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by World Bank. The data is categorized under Global Database’s North Korea – Table KP.World Bank: Employment and Unemployment. Unemployment refers to the share of the labor force that is without work but available for and seeking employment.; ; International Labour Organization, ILOSTAT database. Data retrieved in November 2017.; Weighted average; Data up to 2016 are estimates while data from 2017 are projections. National estimates are also available in the WDI database. Caution should be used when comparing ILO estimates with national estimates.

North Korea KP: Unemployment: Modeled ILO Estimate: Male: % of Male Labour Force data was reported at 5.530 % in 2017. This records an increase from the previous number of 5.515 % for 2016. North Korea KP: Unemployment: Modeled ILO Estimate: Male: % of Male Labour Force data is updated yearly, averaging 5.355 % from Dec 1991 (Median) to 2017, with 27 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 9.967 % in 1992 and a record low of 5.228 % in 2001. North Korea KP: Unemployment: Modeled ILO Estimate: Male: % of Male Labour Force data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by World Bank. The data is categorized under Global Database’s North Korea – Table KP.World Bank: Employment and Unemployment. Unemployment refers to the share of the labor force that is without work but available for and seeking employment.; ; International Labour Organization, ILOSTAT database. Data retrieved in November 2017.; Weighted average; Data up to 2016 are estimates while data from 2017 are projections. National estimates are also available in the WDI database. Caution should be used when comparing ILO estimates with national estimates.

According to a survey conducted among South Koreans in 2024, over half of the respondents believed that the unemployment situation would deteriorate following unification with North Korea. Only about 23 percent were optimistic that the employment situation would improve.

North Korea KP: Unemployment: Modeled ILO Estimate: Female: % of Female Labour Force data was reported at 3.952 % in 2017. This records an increase from the previous number of 3.855 % for 2016. North Korea KP: Unemployment: Modeled ILO Estimate: Female: % of Female Labour Force data is updated yearly, averaging 3.702 % from Dec 1991 (Median) to 2017, with 27 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 6.659 % in 1992 and a record low of 3.555 % in 2001. North Korea KP: Unemployment: Modeled ILO Estimate: Female: % of Female Labour Force data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by World Bank. The data is categorized under Global Database’s North Korea – Table KP.World Bank: Employment and Unemployment. Unemployment refers to the share of the labor force that is without work but available for and seeking employment.; ; International Labour Organization, ILOSTAT database. Data retrieved in September 2018.; Weighted average; Data up to 2016 are estimates while data from 2017 are projections. National estimates are also available in the WDI database. Caution should be used when comparing ILO estimates with national estimates.

North Korea KP: Employment In Agriculture: Modeled ILO Estimate: % of Total Employment data was reported at 67.118 % in 2017. This records a decrease from the previous number of 67.226 % for 2016. North Korea KP: Employment In Agriculture: Modeled ILO Estimate: % of Total Employment data is updated yearly, averaging 67.144 % from Dec 1991 (Median) to 2017, with 27 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 69.303 % in 2000 and a record low of 62.602 % in 1991. North Korea KP: Employment In Agriculture: Modeled ILO Estimate: % of Total Employment data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by World Bank. The data is categorized under Global Database’s North Korea – Table KP.World Bank.WDI: Employment and Unemployment. Employment is defined as persons of working age who were engaged in any activity to produce goods or provide services for pay or profit, whether at work during the reference period or not at work due to temporary absence from a job, or to working-time arrangement. The agriculture sector consists of activities in agriculture, hunting, forestry and fishing, in accordance with division 1 (ISIC 2) or categories A-B (ISIC 3) or category A (ISIC 4).; ; International Labour Organization, ILOSTAT database. Data retrieved in September 2018.; Weighted average; Data up to 2016 are estimates while data from 2017 are projections.

North Korea KP: Employment In Industry: Modeled ILO Estimate: % of Total Employment data was reported at 17.508 % in 2017. This records a decrease from the previous number of 17.602 % for 2016. North Korea KP: Employment In Industry: Modeled ILO Estimate: % of Total Employment data is updated yearly, averaging 17.389 % from Dec 1991 (Median) to 2017, with 27 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 21.898 % in 1991 and a record low of 15.181 % in 2002. North Korea KP: Employment In Industry: Modeled ILO Estimate: % of Total Employment data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by World Bank. The data is categorized under Global Database’s North Korea – Table KP.World Bank.WDI: Employment and Unemployment. Employment is defined as persons of working age who were engaged in any activity to produce goods or provide services for pay or profit, whether at work during the reference period or not at work due to temporary absence from a job, or to working-time arrangement. The industry sector consists of mining and quarrying, manufacturing, construction, and public utilities (electricity, gas, and water), in accordance with divisions 2-5 (ISIC 2) or categories C-F (ISIC 3) or categories B-F (ISIC 4).; ; International Labour Organization, ILOSTAT database. Data retrieved in September 2018.; Weighted average; Data up to 2016 are estimates while data from 2017 are projections.

North Korea KP: Employers: Modeled ILO Estimate: % of Total Employment data was reported at 1.080 % in 2017. This records an increase from the previous number of 1.078 % for 2016. North Korea KP: Employers: Modeled ILO Estimate: % of Total Employment data is updated yearly, averaging 1.112 % from Dec 1991 (Median) to 2017, with 27 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 2.522 % in 1991 and a record low of 0.819 % in 1998. North Korea KP: Employers: Modeled ILO Estimate: % of Total Employment data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by World Bank. The data is categorized under Global Database’s North Korea – Table KP.World Bank.WDI: Employment and Unemployment. Employers are those workers who, working on their own account or with one or a few partners, hold the type of jobs defined as a 'self-employment jobs' i.e. jobs where the remuneration is directly dependent upon the profits derived from the goods and services produced), and, in this capacity, have engaged, on a continuous basis, one or more persons to work for them as employee(s).; ; International Labour Organization, ILOSTAT database. Data retrieved in September 2018.; Weighted average; Data up to 2016 are estimates while data from 2017 are projections.

The statistic shows gross domestic product (GDP) of South Korea from 1987 to 2024, with projections up until 2030. GDP or gross domestic product is the sum of all goods and services produced in a country in a year; it is a strong indicator of economic strength. In 2024, South Korea's GDP was around 1.9 trillion U.S. dollars. See global GDP for a global comparison. South Korea’s economy South Korea is doing quite well economically. It is among the leading export countries worldwide, it mainly exports electronics, automobiles and machinery. South Korea is also one of the leading import countries worldwide. Additionally, it is one of the leading countries with the largest proportion of global domestic product / GDP based on Purchasing Power Parity (PPP). Its GDP has been increasing for the last few years, while the gross domestic product / GDP growth in South Korea has not been steady but increasing since 2009. South Korea is an OECD member and a member of the G20 states. Among the latter, its GDP growth was higher than that of the United States or the European Union in 2013. South Korea is one of the fastest-growing economies worldwide. Its standard of living is also considered to be quite high, the unemployment rate, which is one key factor, has been at around 3 percent, give or take a few percentage points, for the past decade. As a comparison, the United States’ unemployment rate was almost twice, sometimes three times as high as in South Korea during the same period. As for employment, South Korea’s rate is almost the same as that of the United States or France, with more than 60 percent of employed persons in the population.

North Korea KP: Employment In Agriculture: Modeled ILO Estimate: Female: % of Female Employment data was reported at 70.406 % in 2017. This records a decrease from the previous number of 70.469 % for 2016. North Korea KP: Employment In Agriculture: Modeled ILO Estimate: Female: % of Female Employment data is updated yearly, averaging 70.469 % from Dec 1991 (Median) to 2017, with 27 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 72.779 % in 2002 and a record low of 65.610 % in 1991. North Korea KP: Employment In Agriculture: Modeled ILO Estimate: Female: % of Female Employment data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by World Bank. The data is categorized under Global Database’s North Korea – Table KP.World Bank.WDI: Employment and Unemployment. Employment is defined as persons of working age who were engaged in any activity to produce goods or provide services for pay or profit, whether at work during the reference period or not at work due to temporary absence from a job, or to working-time arrangement. The agriculture sector consists of activities in agriculture, hunting, forestry and fishing, in accordance with division 1 (ISIC 2) or categories A-B (ISIC 3) or category A (ISIC 4).; ; International Labour Organization, ILOSTAT database. Data retrieved in September 2018.; Weighted average; Data up to 2016 are estimates while data from 2017 are projections.

Corée, République démocratique de: Unemployment rate: Pour cet indicateur, La Banque mondiale fournit des données pour la Corée, République démocratique de de 1991 à 2024. La valeur moyenne pour Corée, République démocratique de pendant cette période était de 2.83 pour cent avec un minimum de 2.3 pour cent en 1991 et un maximum de 3.07 pour cent en 2001.