Employment to population ratio, 15+, female (%) (modeled ILO estimate) in North Korea
North Korea: Employment to population ratio, 15+, female (%) (modeled ILO estimate) was 74.9% in 2025. ▬ Flat
Latest (2025)
74.9%
Change on year
down 0.0%
World rank
7th
of 187 countries
All-time high
75.3%
in 1997
All-time low
73.5%
in 2020
Years of data
35
1991–2025
Employment to population ratio, 15+, female (%) in North Korea, 1991–2025
Source: ILO Modelled Estimates database (ILOEST), International Labour Organization (ILO).
Analysis
The most recent figure for employment to population ratio, 15+, female (%) in North Korea is 74.9%, measured in 2025.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 0.1% over ten years.
Over the whole period, employment to population ratio, 15+, female (%) in North Korea peaked at 75.3% in 1997 and was at its lowest, 73.5%, in 2020.
That places North Korea 7th out of 187 countries with data for 2025, putting it in the top 10%.
Employment to population ratio, 15+, female (%) (modeled ILO estimate) in North Korea, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1991 | 74.4% | — |
| 1992 | 74.7% | +0.3% |
| 1993 | 74.8% | +0.1% |
| 1994 | 74.8% | +0.0% |
| 1995 | 75.0% | +0.2% |
| 1996 | 75.1% | +0.2% |
| 1997 | 75.3% | +0.3% |
| 1998 | 75.2% | -0.1% |
| 1999 | 74.9% | -0.5% |
| 2000 | 74.9% | +0.0% |
| 2001 | 74.8% | -0.2% |
| 2002 | 74.8% | +0.0% |
| 2003 | 74.7% | -0.1% |
| 2004 | 74.7% | -0.0% |
| 2005 | 74.6% | -0.1% |
| 2006 | 74.7% | +0.1% |
| 2007 | 74.7% | +0.1% |
| 2008 | 74.7% | +0.0% |
| 2009 | 74.8% | +0.1% |
| 2010 | 74.9% | +0.1% |
| 2011 | 74.8% | -0.1% |
| 2012 | 74.8% | -0.0% |
| 2013 | 74.7% | -0.1% |
| 2014 | 74.8% | +0.1% |
| 2015 | 74.8% | +0.0% |
| 2016 | 74.6% | -0.3% |
| 2017 | 74.7% | +0.2% |
| 2018 | 75.0% | +0.4% |
| 2019 | 75.0% | -0.0% |
| 2020 | 73.5% | -2.0% |
| 2021 | 73.6% | +0.2% |
| 2022 | 74.9% | +1.8% |
| 2023 | 74.9% | +0.0% |
| 2024 | 74.9% | -0.1% |
| 2025 | 74.9% | -0.0% |
North Korea compared with similar countries
- North Korea's 74.9% is above the median for low income countries, which is 59.1%, 1.3× the median. (25 countries reporting)
- North Korea's 74.9% is above the median for East Asia & Pacific, which is 53.5%, 1.4× the median. (29 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 74.9% | 74.4% | 75.3% | 9 |
| 2000s | 74.7% | 74.6% | 74.9% | 10 |
| 2010s | 74.8% | 74.6% | 75.0% | 10 |
| 2020s | 74.4% | 73.5% | 74.9% | 6 |
Countries ranked near North Korea
More work & labour data for North Korea
- Persons outside the labour force (ILO modelled estimates) 3,871 (2027)
- Labour force (ILO modelled estimates) 17,790 (2027)
- Labour force participation rate (ILO modelled estimates) 82.13 (2027)
- Output per worker, GDP constant 2021 international $ at PPP 3,086 (2027)
- Persons outside the labour force (ILO modelled estimates) (15+) 0.3313 % change on previous year (2027)
- Labour dependency ratio 0.555 (2027)
- Labour force (ILO modelled estimates) (15+), annual growth rate 0.2604 % change on previous year (2027)
- Output per worker, GDP constant 2015 US $ 931.04 (2027)
- Unemployment rate (ILO modelled estimates) 3.56 (2027)
- Employment-to-population ratio (ILO modelled estimates) 79.21 (2027)
Frequently asked questions
- What is employment to population ratio, 15+, female (%) in North Korea?
- Employment to population ratio, 15+, female (%) in North Korea was 74.9% in 2025, according to ILO Modelled Estimates database (ILOEST), International Labour Organization (ILO).
- What is the highest employment to population ratio, 15+, female (%) recorded in North Korea?
- The highest recorded value was 75.3% in 1997.
- What is the lowest employment to population ratio, 15+, female (%) recorded in North Korea?
- The lowest recorded value was 73.5% in 2020.
- How does North Korea rank for employment to population ratio, 15+, female (%)?
- North Korea ranks 7th out of 187 countries with data for 2025.
- Is employment to population ratio, 15+, female (%) rising or falling in North Korea?
- Over the last ten years it is up 0.1%. The long-run trend across the full record is flat.
- Where does this North Korea data come from?
- The figures come from ILO Modelled Estimates database (ILOEST), International Labour Organization (ILO), published as part of Employment to population ratio, 15+, female (%) (modeled ILO estimate). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Employment to population ratio is the proportion of a country's population that is employed.