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.

Unemployment, total (% of total labor force) (modeled ILO estimate) in North Korea was reported at 2.859 % in 2024, according to the World Bank collection of development indicators, compiled from officially recognized sources. North Korea - Unemployment, total - actual values, historical data, forecasts and projections were sourced from the World Bank on September of 2025.

North Korea: Unemployment rate: The latest value from 2024 is 2.86 percent, an increase from 2.83 percent in 2023. In comparison, the world average is 6.80 percent, based on data from 176 countries. Historically, the average for North Korea from 1991 to 2024 is 2.83 percent. The minimum value, 2.3 percent, was reached in 1991 while the maximum of 3.07 percent was recorded in 2001.

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.

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

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

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.

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.

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.

Unemployment, youth male (% of male labor force ages 15-24) (modeled ILO estimate) in North Korea was reported at 6.076 % in 2024, according to the World Bank collection of development indicators, compiled from officially recognized sources. North Korea - Unemployment, youth male (% of male labor force ages 15-24) - actual values, historical data, forecasts and projections were sourced from the World Bank on August of 2025.

Unemployment, youth female (% of female labor force ages 15-24) (modeled ILO estimate) in North Korea was reported at 7.409 % in 2024, according to the World Bank collection of development indicators, compiled from officially recognized sources. North Korea - Unemployment, youth female (% of female labor force ages 15-24) - actual values, historical data, forecasts and projections were sourced from the World Bank on September of 2025.

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.

Unemployment, male (% of male labor force) (modeled ILO estimate) in North Korea was reported at 2.758 % in 2024, according to the World Bank collection of development indicators, compiled from officially recognized sources. North Korea - Unemployment, male - actual values, historical data, forecasts and projections were sourced from the World Bank on October of 2025.

Unemployment, female (% of female labor force) (modeled ILO estimate) in North Korea was reported at 2.967 % in 2024, according to the World Bank collection of development indicators, compiled from officially recognized sources. North Korea - Unemployment, female - actual values, historical data, forecasts and projections were sourced from the World Bank on October of 2025.

North Korea KP: Employment To Population Ratio: Modeled ILO Estimate: Aged 15-24: Female data was reported at 67.858 % in 2017. This records a decrease from the previous number of 67.998 % for 2016. North Korea KP: Employment To Population Ratio: Modeled ILO Estimate: Aged 15-24: Female data is updated yearly, averaging 69.016 % from Dec 1991 (Median) to 2017, with 27 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 71.338 % in 1996 and a record low of 67.858 % in 2017. North Korea KP: Employment To Population Ratio: Modeled ILO Estimate: Aged 15-24: Female 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. Employment to population ratio is the proportion of a country's population that is employed. Employment is defined as persons of working age who, during a short reference period, were engaged in any activity to produce goods or provide services for pay or profit, whether at work during the reference period (i.e. who worked in a job for at least one hour) or not at work due to temporary absence from a job, or to working-time arrangements. Ages 15-24 are generally considered the youth population.; ; 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: Employment In Services: Modeled ILO Estimate: % of Total Employment data was reported at 15.375 % in 2017. This records an increase from the previous number of 15.172 % for 2016. North Korea KP: Employment In Services: Modeled ILO Estimate: % of Total Employment data is updated yearly, averaging 15.556 % from Dec 1991 (Median) to 2017, with 27 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 16.126 % in 2005 and a record low of 14.761 % in 1997. North Korea KP: Employment In Services: 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: 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 services sector consists of wholesale and retail trade and restaurants and hotels; transport, storage, and communications; financing, insurance, real estate, and business services; and community, social, and personal services, in accordance with divisions 6-9 (ISIC 2) or categories G-Q (ISIC 3) or categories G-U (ISIC 4).; ; International Labour Organization, ILOSTAT database. Data retrieved in November 2017.; Weighted average; Data up to 2016 are estimates while data from 2017 are projections.

Die Arbeitslosenquote in Nordkorea stieg von 2,80 Prozent im Jahr 2023 auf 2,90 Prozent im Jahr 2024. Diese Seite bietet - Nordkorea Arbeitslosenquote - tatsächliche Werte, historische Daten, Prognosen, Diagramm, Statistiken, Wirtschaftskalender und Nachrichten.

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.