East Asia & Pacific (excluding high income) vs North Korea: Labor force participation rate, total (% of total population ages 15+)
East Asia & Pacific (excluding high income)
65.4%
in 2025
North Korea
82.2%
in 2025
East Asia & Pacific (excluding high income) rank
9th
North Korea rank
7th
Labor force participation rate, total (% of total population ages 15+) over time
- East Asia & Pacific (excluding high income)
- North Korea
How they compare
North Korea currently reports 82.2% against 65.4% in East Asia & Pacific (excluding high income), a difference of 16.8%.
That makes North Korea's figure about 1.3 times East Asia & Pacific (excluding high income)'s.
Across all 36 years both countries report, North Korea has been ahead every year.
East Asia & Pacific (excluding high income) ranks 9th and North Korea ranks 7th of 47 groups.
North Korea has averaged higher in every one of the 4 decades both report.
Head to head by decade
| Decade | East Asia & Pacific (excluding high income) | North Korea | Difference | Ahead |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 74.8% | 82.0% | 7.2% | North Korea |
| 2000s | 71.4% | 82.1% | 10.7% | North Korea |
| 2010s | 69.0% | 82.1% | 13.1% | North Korea |
| 2020s | 66.0% | 81.7% | 15.7% | North Korea |
Averages of every year both report within each decade.
Frequently asked questions
- Which has higher labor force participation rate, total (% of total population ages 15+), East Asia & Pacific (excluding high income) or North Korea?
- North Korea, at 82.2% against 65.4% in East Asia & Pacific (excluding high income) as of 2025.
- What is the difference in labor force participation rate, total (% of total population ages 15+) between East Asia & Pacific (excluding high income) and North Korea?
- 16.8%, with North Korea ahead.
- How many years of comparable data are there for East Asia & Pacific (excluding high income) and North Korea?
- 36 years are reported by both, from 1990 to 2025.
- How do East Asia & Pacific (excluding high income) and North Korea rank globally for labor force participation rate, total (% of total population ages 15+)?
- East Asia & Pacific (excluding high income) ranks 9th and North Korea ranks 7th of 47 groups.
- Where does this data come from?
- ILO Modelled Estimates database (ILOEST), International Labour Organization (ILO), published as Labor force participation rate, total (% of total population ages 15+) (modeled ILO estimate). Statizoid refreshes it automatically from the source and publishes the full history for both places.
Individual pages
About this data
Labor force participation rate is the proportion of the population ages 15 and older that is economically active: all people who supply labor for the production of goods and services during a specified period.