Armed forces personnel as a share of the total labor force in North Korea
North Korea: Armed forces personnel as a share of the total labor force was 8.6% in 2020. ▼ Falling
Armed forces personnel as a share of the total labor force in North Korea, 1990–2020
Source: The Military Balance - International Institute for Strategic Studies, via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data. Measured in %.
Analysis
The most recent figure for armed forces personnel as a share of the total labor force in North Korea is 8.6%, measured in 2020.
That represents a change of up 1.5% on the previous year and up 0.4% over ten years.
Over the whole period, armed forces personnel as a share of the total labor force in North Korea peaked at 9.5% in 1990 and was at its lowest, 8.1%, in 1994.
North Korea ranks 2nd of 171 countries on this measure, in the top 10%.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 31 years of available data.
Armed forces personnel as a share of the total labor force in North Korea, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1990 | 9.5% | — |
| 1991 | 9.3% | -1.8% |
| 1992 | 9.2% | -1.7% |
| 1993 | 8.3% | -9.8% |
| 1994 | 8.1% | -1.5% |
| 1995 | 9.1% | +11.5% |
| 1996 | 8.4% | -7.1% |
| 1997 | 8.9% | +5.1% |
| 1998 | 8.8% | -1.1% |
| 1999 | 8.7% | -0.9% |
| 2000 | 8.6% | -1.0% |
| 2001 | 8.7% | +1.2% |
| 2002 | 8.6% | -0.9% |
| 2003 | 8.5% | -1.0% |
| 2004 | 8.6% | +0.8% |
| 2005 | 8.5% | -1.1% |
| 2006 | 8.4% | -1.1% |
| 2007 | 8.3% | -1.1% |
| 2008 | 8.2% | -1.0% |
| 2009 | 8.7% | +5.4% |
| 2010 | 8.6% | -1.0% |
| 2011 | 8.5% | -1.0% |
| 2012 | 8.4% | -0.9% |
| 2013 | 8.3% | -0.9% |
| 2014 | 8.3% | -0.9% |
| 2015 | 8.2% | -0.9% |
| 2016 | 8.7% | +5.8% |
| 2017 | 8.6% | -0.8% |
| 2018 | 8.5% | -0.7% |
| 2019 | 8.5% | -0.5% |
| 2020 | 8.6% | +1.5% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 8.8% | 8.1% | 9.5% | 10 |
| 2000s | 8.5% | 8.2% | 8.7% | 10 |
| 2010s | 8.5% | 8.2% | 8.7% | 10 |
| 2020s | 8.6% | 8.6% | 8.6% | 1 |
Countries ranked near North Korea
More work & labour data for North Korea
- Labour force (ILO modelled estimates) 17,790 (2027)
- Labour force participation rate (ILO modelled estimates) 82.13 (2027)
- Persons outside the labour force (ILO modelled estimates) 3,871 (2027)
- Labour force (ILO modelled estimates) (15+), annual growth rate 0.2604 % change on previous year (2027)
- Employment-to-population ratio (ILO modelled estimates) 79.21 (2027)
- Persons outside the labour force (ILO modelled estimates) (15+) 0.3313 % change on previous year (2027)
- Labor force participation rate, male (% of male population ages 15-64) 91.2% (2025)
- Labor force participation rate for ages 15-24, female (%) 81.9% (2025)
- Labor force participation rate, female (% of female population ages) 87.3% (2025)
- Labor force participation rate for ages 15-24, male (%) 75.2% (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is armed forces personnel as a share of the total labor force in North Korea?
- Armed forces personnel as a share of the total labor force in North Korea was 8.6% in 2020, according to The Military Balance - International Institute for Strategic Studies, via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest armed forces personnel as a share of the total labor force recorded in North Korea?
- The highest recorded value was 9.5% in 1990.
- What is the lowest armed forces personnel as a share of the total labor force recorded in North Korea?
- The lowest recorded value was 8.1% in 1994.
- How does North Korea rank for armed forces personnel as a share of the total labor force?
- North Korea ranks 2nd out of 171 countries with data for 2020.
- Is armed forces personnel as a share of the total labor force rising or falling in North Korea?
- Over the last ten years it is up 0.4%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this North Korea data come from?
- The figures come from The Military Balance - International Institute for Strategic Studies, via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data, published as part of Armed forces personnel as a share of the total labor force. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
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About this data
Armed forces personnel are active duty military personnel, including paramilitary forces if their training, organization, equipment, and control suggest they may be used to support or replace regular military forces.