Labor force participation rate for ages 15-24 … 15-24 female modeled in North Korea
North Korea: Labor force participation rate for ages 15-24 … 15-24 female modeled was 81.9% in 2025. ▬ Flat
Labor force participation rate for ages 15-24, female (%) in North Korea, 1990–2025
Source: ILO Modelled Estimates database (ILOEST), International Labour Organization (ILO).
Analysis
The most recent figure for labor force participation rate for ages 15-24, female (%) in North Korea is 81.9%, measured in 2025. That is the highest value across all 36 years on record.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 0.1% on the previous year and up 1.5% over ten years.
Over the whole period, labor force participation rate for ages 15-24, female (%) in North Korea peaked at 81.9% in 2025 and was at its lowest, 75.6%, in 1990.
North Korea ranks 3rd of 187 countries on this measure, in the top 10%.
Labor force participation rate for ages 15-24 … 15-24 female modeled in North Korea, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1990 | 75.6% | — |
| 1991 | 76.3% | +1.0% |
| 1992 | 77.4% | +1.4% |
| 1993 | 78.2% | +1.0% |
| 1994 | 78.7% | +0.7% |
| 1995 | 79.4% | +0.9% |
| 1996 | 80.0% | +0.7% |
| 1997 | 80.9% | +1.1% |
| 1998 | 81.2% | +0.4% |
| 1999 | 80.8% | -0.5% |
| 2000 | 80.9% | +0.1% |
| 2001 | 80.7% | -0.3% |
| 2002 | 80.7% | -0.0% |
| 2003 | 80.6% | -0.1% |
| 2004 | 80.5% | -0.1% |
| 2005 | 80.2% | -0.3% |
| 2006 | 80.4% | +0.2% |
| 2007 | 80.6% | +0.2% |
| 2008 | 80.3% | -0.3% |
| 2009 | 80.5% | +0.2% |
| 2010 | 80.6% | +0.1% |
| 2011 | 80.6% | -0.0% |
| 2012 | 80.6% | -0.1% |
| 2013 | 80.5% | -0.0% |
| 2014 | 80.5% | -0.0% |
| 2015 | 80.7% | +0.3% |
| 2016 | 80.4% | -0.4% |
| 2017 | 80.8% | +0.5% |
| 2018 | 81.3% | +0.6% |
| 2019 | 81.4% | +0.1% |
| 2020 | 79.9% | -1.8% |
| 2021 | 80.5% | +0.8% |
| 2022 | 81.6% | +1.4% |
| 2023 | 81.7% | +0.1% |
| 2024 | 81.8% | +0.1% |
| 2025 | 81.9% | +0.1% |
North Korea compared with similar countries
- North Korea's 81.9% is above the median for low income countries, which is 45.3%, 1.8× the median. (25 countries reporting)
- North Korea's 81.9% is above the median for East Asia & Pacific, which is 34.4%, 2.4× the median. (29 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 78.9% | 75.6% | 81.2% | 10 |
| 2000s | 80.5% | 80.2% | 80.9% | 10 |
| 2010s | 80.7% | 80.4% | 81.4% | 10 |
| 2020s | 81.2% | 79.9% | 81.9% | 6 |
Countries ranked near North Korea
- 1 Iceland 83.3% compare
- 2 Netherlands 83.3% compare
- 4 Solomon Islands 71.7% compare
- 5 Madagascar 71.0% compare
- 6 Australia 70.2% compare
More work & labour data for North Korea
- Labour force participation rate (ILO modelled estimates) 82.13 (2027)
- Labour force (ILO modelled estimates) 17,790 (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)
- Output per worker, GDP constant 2021 international $ at PPP 3,086 (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)
- Output per worker, GDP constant 2015 US $ 931.04 (2027)
Frequently asked questions
- What is labor force participation rate for ages 15-24, female (%) in North Korea?
- Labor force participation rate for ages 15-24, female (%) in North Korea was 81.9% in 2025, according to ILO Modelled Estimates database (ILOEST), International Labour Organization (ILO).
- What is the highest labor force participation rate for ages 15-24, female (%) recorded in North Korea?
- The highest recorded value was 81.9% in 2025.
- What is the lowest labor force participation rate for ages 15-24, female (%) recorded in North Korea?
- The lowest recorded value was 75.6% in 1990.
- How does North Korea rank for labor force participation rate for ages 15-24, female (%)?
- North Korea ranks 3rd out of 187 countries with data for 2025.
- Is labor force participation rate for ages 15-24, female (%) rising or falling in North Korea?
- Over the last ten years it is up 1.5%. 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 Labor force participation rate for ages 15-24, female (%) (modeled ILO estimate). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
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About this data
Labor force participation rate for ages 15-24 is the proportion of the population ages 15-24 that is economically active: all people who supply labor for the production of goods and services during a specified period.