Labor force participation rate, total (% of total population) … 15+ in North Korea
North Korea: Labor force participation rate, total (% of total population) … 15+ was 82.2% in 2025. ▬ Flat
Labor force participation rate, total (% of total population ages 15+) in North Korea, 1990–2025
Source: ILO Modelled Estimates database (ILOEST), International Labour Organization (ILO).
Analysis
In 2025, labor force participation rate, total (% of total population ages 15+) in North Korea stood at 82.2%.
The figure is up 0.1% over ten years.
Over the whole period, labor force participation rate, total (% of total population ages 15+) in North Korea peaked at 82.3% in 1998 and was at its lowest, 80.6%, in 2020.
That places North Korea 7th out of 187 countries with data for 2025, putting it in the top 10%.
Labor force participation rate, total (% of total population) … 15+ in North Korea, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1990 | 81.5% | — |
| 1991 | 81.6% | +0.1% |
| 1992 | 81.8% | +0.2% |
| 1993 | 81.9% | +0.1% |
| 1994 | 81.9% | +0.1% |
| 1995 | 82.0% | +0.1% |
| 1996 | 82.1% | +0.1% |
| 1997 | 82.3% | +0.2% |
| 1998 | 82.3% | +0.0% |
| 1999 | 82.2% | -0.1% |
| 2000 | 82.2% | +0.0% |
| 2001 | 82.2% | -0.1% |
| 2002 | 82.1% | -0.0% |
| 2003 | 82.1% | -0.0% |
| 2004 | 82.1% | -0.0% |
| 2005 | 82.0% | -0.1% |
| 2006 | 82.1% | +0.0% |
| 2007 | 82.1% | +0.0% |
| 2008 | 82.1% | -0.1% |
| 2009 | 82.1% | +0.0% |
| 2010 | 82.1% | +0.0% |
| 2011 | 82.1% | -0.0% |
| 2012 | 82.1% | -0.0% |
| 2013 | 82.1% | -0.0% |
| 2014 | 82.1% | -0.0% |
| 2015 | 82.1% | +0.0% |
| 2016 | 82.0% | -0.1% |
| 2017 | 82.1% | +0.1% |
| 2018 | 82.2% | +0.1% |
| 2019 | 82.2% | +0.0% |
| 2020 | 80.6% | -1.9% |
| 2021 | 80.7% | +0.1% |
| 2022 | 82.1% | +1.8% |
| 2023 | 82.2% | +0.0% |
| 2024 | 82.2% | +0.0% |
| 2025 | 82.2% | -0.0% |
North Korea compared with similar countries
- North Korea's 82.2% is above the median for low income countries, which is 67.0%, 1.2× the median. (25 countries reporting)
- North Korea's 82.2% is above the median for East Asia & Pacific, which is 64.4%, 1.3× the median. (29 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 82.0% | 81.5% | 82.3% | 10 |
| 2000s | 82.1% | 82.0% | 82.2% | 10 |
| 2010s | 82.1% | 82.0% | 82.2% | 10 |
| 2020s | 81.7% | 80.6% | 82.2% | 6 |
Countries ranked near North Korea
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, total (% of total population ages 15+) in North Korea?
- Labor force participation rate, total (% of total population ages 15+) in North Korea was 82.2% in 2025, according to ILO Modelled Estimates database (ILOEST), International Labour Organization (ILO).
- What is the highest labor force participation rate, total (% of total population ages 15+) recorded in North Korea?
- The highest recorded value was 82.3% in 1998.
- What is the lowest labor force participation rate, total (% of total population ages 15+) recorded in North Korea?
- The lowest recorded value was 80.6% in 2020.
- How does North Korea rank for labor force participation rate, total (% of total population ages 15+)?
- North Korea ranks 7th out of 187 countries with data for 2025.
- Is labor force participation rate, total (% of total population ages 15+) 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 Labor force participation rate, total (% of total population ages 15+) (modeled ILO estimate). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Labor force participation rate is the proportion of the population ages 15 and older that is economically active: all people who supply labor for the production of goods and services during a specified period.