Labour income distribution (ILO modelled estimates) (Decile 1) in North Korea
North Korea: Labour income distribution (ILO modelled estimates) (Decile 1) was 0.367 in 2025. ▬ Flat
Labour income distribution (ILO modelled estimates) in North Korea, 2004–2025
Source: International Labour Organization.
Analysis
North Korea recorded 0.367 for labour income distribution (ilo modelled estimates) in 2025.
That represents a change of up 0.3% on the previous year and down 2.7% over ten years.
Over the whole period, labour income distribution (ilo modelled estimates) in North Korea peaked at 0.38 in 2020 and was at its lowest, 0.366, in 2022.
That places North Korea 155th out of 188 countries with data for 2025, putting it in the bottom quarter.
Labour income distribution (ILO modelled estimates) (Decile 1) in North Korea, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2004 | 0.367 | — |
| 2005 | 0.37 | +0.8% |
| 2006 | 0.372 | +0.5% |
| 2007 | 0.374 | +0.5% |
| 2008 | 0.376 | +0.5% |
| 2009 | 0.377 | +0.3% |
| 2010 | 0.378 | +0.3% |
| 2011 | 0.379 | +0.3% |
| 2012 | 0.379 | +0.0% |
| 2013 | 0.379 | +0.0% |
| 2014 | 0.378 | -0.3% |
| 2015 | 0.377 | -0.3% |
| 2016 | 0.377 | +0.0% |
| 2017 | 0.375 | -0.5% |
| 2018 | 0.373 | -0.5% |
| 2019 | 0.371 | -0.5% |
| 2020 | 0.38 | +2.4% |
| 2021 | 0.375 | -1.3% |
| 2022 | 0.366 | -2.4% |
| 2023 | 0.366 | +0.0% |
| 2024 | 0.366 | +0.0% |
| 2025 | 0.367 | +0.3% |
North Korea compared with similar countries
- North Korea's 0.367 is above the median for low income countries, which is 0.333, 1.1× the median. (25 countries reporting)
- North Korea's 0.367 is below the median for East Asia & Pacific, which is 1.17, 31% of the median. (29 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 0.3727 | 0.367 | 0.377 | 6 |
| 2010s | 0.3766 | 0.371 | 0.379 | 10 |
| 2020s | 0.37 | 0.366 | 0.38 | 6 |
Countries ranked near North Korea
- 152 Guinea-Bissau 0.47 compare
- 153 Cape Verde 0.459 compare
- 154 Guinea 0.426 compare
- 155 Yemen 0.367 compare
- 157 South Sudan 0.363 compare
- 158 Eswatini 0.361 compare
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)
- Labour dependency ratio 0.555 (2027)
- Unemployment rate (ILO modelled estimates) 3.56 (2027)
- Output per worker, GDP constant 2021 international $ at PPP 3,086 (2027)
- Output per worker, GDP constant 2015 US $ 931.04 (2027)
- Employment-to-population ratio (ILO modelled estimates) 79.21 (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)
Frequently asked questions
- What is labour income distribution (ilo modelled estimates) in North Korea?
- Labour income distribution (ilo modelled estimates) in North Korea was 0.367 in 2025, according to International Labour Organization.
- What is the highest labour income distribution (ilo modelled estimates) recorded in North Korea?
- The highest recorded value was 0.38 in 2020.
- What is the lowest labour income distribution (ilo modelled estimates) recorded in North Korea?
- The lowest recorded value was 0.366 in 2022.
- How does North Korea rank for labour income distribution (ilo modelled estimates)?
- North Korea ranks 155th out of 188 countries with data for 2025.
- Is labour income distribution (ilo modelled estimates) rising or falling in North Korea?
- Over the last ten years it is down 2.7%. The long-run trend across the full record is flat.
- Where does this North Korea data come from?
- The figures come from International Labour Organization, published as part of Labour income distribution (ILO modelled estimates) (Decile 1). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 22 observations, free to reuse under ILO Terms of Use (attribution required).
About this data
Imputed observations are not based on national data, are subject to high uncertainty and should not be used for country comparisons or rankings. This indicator shows in percentage the share of total labour income that accrues to each decile. Labour income includes the compensation of employees and part of the income of the self-employed. Self-employed workers earn from both their work and capital ownership. Total compensation of employees refers to the remuneration, in cash or in kind, payable by an enterprise to an employee in return for work done by the latter during the accounting period. The labour income of self-employed is imputed on the basis of a statistical analysis of employees of similar characteristics. For more information, refer to the ILO Modelled Estimates (ILOEST) database description.