Labor force participation rate for ages 15-24, total … 15-24 modeled in North Korea
North Korea: Labor force participation rate for ages 15-24, total … 15-24 modeled was 78.5% in 2025. ▬ Flat
Latest (2025)
78.5%
Change on year
up 0.0%
World rank
3rd
of 187 countries
All-time high
78.7%
in 1998
All-time low
76.0%
in 1990
Years of data
36
1990–2025
Labor force participation rate for ages 15-24, total (%) in North Korea, 1990–2025
Source: ILO Modelled Estimates database (ILOEST), International Labour Organization (ILO).
Analysis
In 2025, labor force participation rate for ages 15-24, total (%) in North Korea stood at 78.5%.
That represents a change of up 0.6% over ten years.
Over the whole period, labor force participation rate for ages 15-24, total (%) in North Korea peaked at 78.7% in 1998 and was at its lowest, 76.0%, in 1990.
North Korea ranks 3rd of 187 countries on this measure, in the top 10%.
Labor force participation rate for ages 15-24, total … 15-24 modeled in North Korea, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1990 | 76.0% | — |
| 1991 | 76.3% | +0.5% |
| 1992 | 76.9% | +0.7% |
| 1993 | 77.3% | +0.5% |
| 1994 | 77.5% | +0.3% |
| 1995 | 77.9% | +0.4% |
| 1996 | 78.1% | +0.3% |
| 1997 | 78.6% | +0.6% |
| 1998 | 78.7% | +0.1% |
| 1999 | 78.4% | -0.4% |
| 2000 | 78.4% | +0.0% |
| 2001 | 78.2% | -0.2% |
| 2002 | 78.2% | -0.0% |
| 2003 | 78.1% | -0.1% |
| 2004 | 78.1% | -0.1% |
| 2005 | 77.9% | -0.2% |
| 2006 | 78.0% | +0.1% |
| 2007 | 78.1% | +0.1% |
| 2008 | 77.9% | -0.2% |
| 2009 | 78.0% | +0.1% |
| 2010 | 78.1% | +0.1% |
| 2011 | 78.0% | -0.0% |
| 2012 | 78.0% | -0.1% |
| 2013 | 78.0% | -0.0% |
| 2014 | 77.9% | -0.0% |
| 2015 | 78.0% | +0.1% |
| 2016 | 77.9% | -0.2% |
| 2017 | 78.1% | +0.3% |
| 2018 | 78.4% | +0.4% |
| 2019 | 78.4% | +0.0% |
| 2020 | 76.9% | -1.9% |
| 2021 | 77.3% | +0.5% |
| 2022 | 78.5% | +1.6% |
| 2023 | 78.5% | -0.1% |
| 2024 | 78.5% | +0.0% |
| 2025 | 78.5% | +0.0% |
North Korea compared with similar countries
- North Korea's 78.5% is above the median for low income countries, which is 51.8%, 1.5× the median. (25 countries reporting)
- North Korea's 78.5% is above the median for East Asia & Pacific, which is 39.6%, 2.0× the median. (29 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 77.6% | 76.0% | 78.7% | 10 |
| 2000s | 78.1% | 77.9% | 78.4% | 10 |
| 2010s | 78.1% | 77.9% | 78.4% | 10 |
| 2020s | 78.0% | 76.9% | 78.5% | 6 |
Countries ranked near North Korea
- 1 Netherlands 83.3% compare
- 2 Iceland 82.1% compare
- 4 Madagascar 72.4% compare
- 5 Solomon Islands 70.8% compare
- 6 Niger 70.8% 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, total (%) in North Korea?
- Labor force participation rate for ages 15-24, total (%) in North Korea was 78.5% 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, total (%) recorded in North Korea?
- The highest recorded value was 78.7% in 1998.
- What is the lowest labor force participation rate for ages 15-24, total (%) recorded in North Korea?
- The lowest recorded value was 76.0% in 1990.
- How does North Korea rank for labor force participation rate for ages 15-24, total (%)?
- North Korea ranks 3rd out of 187 countries with data for 2025.
- Is labor force participation rate for ages 15-24, total (%) rising or falling in North Korea?
- Over the last ten years it is up 0.6%. 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, total (%) (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.