Employment in agriculture vs. urban population in North Korea
North Korea: Employment in agriculture vs. urban population was 46.8% in 2023. ▼ Falling
Employment in agriculture vs. urban population in North Korea, 1991–2023
Source: ILO via World Bank – processed by Our World in Data. Measured in %.
Analysis
In 2023, employment in agriculture vs. urban population in North Korea stood at 46.8%. That is the lowest value across all 33 years on record.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 0.8% on the previous year and down 6.7% over ten years.
Over the whole period, employment in agriculture vs. urban population in North Korea peaked at 57.1% in 1992 and was at its lowest, 46.8%, in 2023.
North Korea ranks 26th of 186 countries on this measure, in the top quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 33 years of available data.
Employment in agriculture vs. urban population in North Korea, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1991 | 57.1% | — |
| 1992 | 57.1% | +0.1% |
| 1993 | 57.1% | -0.0% |
| 1994 | 57.1% | -0.0% |
| 1995 | 57.1% | -0.0% |
| 1996 | 57.1% | -0.0% |
| 1997 | 57.1% | +0.0% |
| 1998 | 57.0% | -0.3% |
| 1999 | 56.5% | -0.7% |
| 2000 | 56.2% | -0.6% |
| 2001 | 55.7% | -0.9% |
| 2002 | 55.3% | -0.8% |
| 2003 | 54.7% | -1.0% |
| 2004 | 54.3% | -0.9% |
| 2005 | 53.7% | -1.1% |
| 2006 | 53.3% | -0.7% |
| 2007 | 52.9% | -0.8% |
| 2008 | 52.3% | -1.0% |
| 2009 | 51.9% | -0.8% |
| 2010 | 51.5% | -0.8% |
| 2011 | 51.1% | -0.8% |
| 2012 | 50.7% | -0.9% |
| 2013 | 50.2% | -1.0% |
| 2014 | 49.7% | -1.0% |
| 2015 | 49.3% | -0.8% |
| 2016 | 48.7% | -1.2% |
| 2017 | 48.5% | -0.5% |
| 2018 | 48.3% | -0.5% |
| 2019 | 47.8% | -1.0% |
| 2020 | 47.8% | +0.0% |
| 2021 | 47.6% | -0.3% |
| 2022 | 47.2% | -1.0% |
| 2023 | 46.8% | -0.8% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 57.0% | 56.5% | 57.1% | 9 |
| 2000s | 54.0% | 51.9% | 56.2% | 10 |
| 2010s | 49.6% | 47.8% | 51.5% | 10 |
| 2020s | 47.4% | 46.8% | 47.8% | 4 |
Countries ranked near North Korea
- 23 Armenia 52.3% compare
- 24 Moldova 51.1% compare
- 25 Guinea-Bissau 50.0% compare
- 27 Afghanistan 45.5% compare
- 28 Cote d'Ivoire 45.2% compare
- 29 Myanmar 45.2% compare
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 employment in agriculture vs. urban population in North Korea?
- Employment in agriculture vs. urban population in North Korea was 46.8% in 2023, according to ILO via World Bank – processed by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest employment in agriculture vs. urban population recorded in North Korea?
- The highest recorded value was 57.1% in 1992.
- What is the lowest employment in agriculture vs. urban population recorded in North Korea?
- The lowest recorded value was 46.8% in 2023.
- How does North Korea rank for employment in agriculture vs. urban population?
- North Korea ranks 26th out of 186 countries with data for 2023.
- Is employment in agriculture vs. urban population rising or falling in North Korea?
- Over the last ten years it is down 6.7%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this North Korea data come from?
- The figures come from ILO via World Bank – processed by Our World in Data, published as part of Employment in agriculture vs. urban population. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 33 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data).
About this data
The share of people employed in agriculture includes working-age people with a job in farming, forestry, fishing, and related activities, including those temporarily absent.