Growth rate of real gdp per employed person in North Korea
North Korea: Growth rate of real gdp per employed person was 0.42 in 2025. ◆ Volatile
Growth rate of real gdp per employed person in North Korea, 2000–2025
Source: Our World in Data.
Analysis
In 2025, growth rate of real gdp per employed person in North Korea stood at 0.42.
The figure is up 82.6% on the previous year and up 121.1% over ten years.
Over the whole period, growth rate of real gdp per employed person in North Korea peaked at 3.19 in 2016 and was at its lowest, -4.94, in 2018.
That places North Korea 149th out of 187 countries with data for 2025, putting it in the bottom quarter.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Growth rate of real gdp per employed person in North Korea, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2000 | -0.63 | — |
| 2001 | 2.82 | -547.6% |
| 2002 | 0.21 | -92.6% |
| 2003 | 0.79 | +276.2% |
| 2004 | 0.89 | +12.7% |
| 2005 | 2.62 | +194.4% |
| 2006 | -2.18 | -183.2% |
| 2007 | -2.29 | +5.0% |
| 2008 | 2.01 | -187.8% |
| 2009 | -1.95 | -197.0% |
| 2010 | -1.55 | -20.5% |
| 2011 | -0.09 | -94.2% |
| 2012 | 0.38 | -522.2% |
| 2013 | 0.17 | -55.3% |
| 2014 | 0.1 | -41.2% |
| 2015 | -1.99 | -2090.0% |
| 2016 | 3.19 | -260.3% |
| 2017 | -4.32 | -235.4% |
| 2018 | -4.94 | +14.4% |
| 2019 | -0.16 | -96.8% |
| 2020 | -2.91 | +1718.8% |
| 2021 | -0.49 | -83.2% |
| 2022 | -2.54 | +418.4% |
| 2023 | 2.64 | -203.9% |
| 2024 | 0.23 | -91.3% |
| 2025 | 0.42 | +82.6% |
North Korea compared with similar countries
- North Korea's 0.42 is below the median for low income countries, which is 0.74, 57% of the median. (25 countries reporting)
- North Korea's 0.42 is below the median for East Asia & Pacific, which is 2.31, 18% of the median. (29 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Growth rate of real gdp per employed person in North Korea changed far more than this series normally does. A large move can be a real event or a change in how the figure was measured — the source note below says who published it.
| Year | Change | From | To |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2015 | -2090.0% | 0.1 | -1.99 |
| 2020 | -1718.8% | -0.16 | -2.91 |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 0.229 | -2.29 | 2.82 | 10 |
| 2010s | -0.921 | -4.94 | 3.19 | 10 |
| 2020s | -0.4417 | -2.91 | 2.64 | 6 |
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)
- Unemployment rate (ILO modelled estimates) 3.56 (2027)
- Labour dependency ratio 0.555 (2027)
- Persons outside the labour force (ILO modelled estimates) (15+) 0.3313 % change on previous year (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)
- Output per worker, GDP constant 2021 international $ at PPP 3,086 (2027)
- Employment-to-population ratio (ILO modelled estimates) 79.21 (2027)
Frequently asked questions
- What is growth rate of real gdp per employed person in North Korea?
- Growth rate of real gdp per employed person in North Korea was 0.42 in 2025, according to Our World in Data.
- What is the highest growth rate of real gdp per employed person recorded in North Korea?
- The highest recorded value was 3.19 in 2016.
- What is the lowest growth rate of real gdp per employed person recorded in North Korea?
- The lowest recorded value was -4.94 in 2018.
- How does North Korea rank for growth rate of real gdp per employed person?
- North Korea ranks 149th out of 187 countries with data for 2025.
- Is growth rate of real gdp per employed person rising or falling in North Korea?
- Over the last ten years it is up 121.1%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this North Korea data come from?
- The figures come from Our World in Data, published as part of Growth rate of real gdp per employed person. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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