Share of workers in vulnerable employment in North Korea
North Korea: Share of workers in vulnerable employment was 56.8% in 2025. ▬ Flat
Share of workers in vulnerable employment in North Korea, 1991–2025
Source: International Labour Organization (ILOEST/ILOSTAT) and World Bank staff estimates (2026) – processed by Our World in Data. Measured in %.
Analysis
The most recent figure for share of workers in vulnerable employment in North Korea is 56.8%, measured in 2025.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 0.1% on the previous year and up 0.9% over ten years.
Over the whole period, share of workers in vulnerable employment in North Korea peaked at 57.5% in 2020 and was at its lowest, 54.9%, in 1991.
That places North Korea 47th out of 186 countries with data for 2025, putting it in the top quarter.
Share of workers in vulnerable employment in North Korea, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1991 | 54.9% | — |
| 1992 | 55.3% | +0.6% |
| 1993 | 55.6% | +0.6% |
| 1994 | 55.9% | +0.6% |
| 1995 | 56.2% | +0.5% |
| 1996 | 56.5% | +0.5% |
| 1997 | 56.8% | +0.5% |
| 1998 | 57.0% | +0.4% |
| 1999 | 57.0% | +0.1% |
| 2000 | 57.0% | +0.0% |
| 2001 | 57.0% | -0.1% |
| 2002 | 56.9% | -0.2% |
| 2003 | 56.8% | -0.2% |
| 2004 | 56.7% | -0.2% |
| 2005 | 56.5% | -0.3% |
| 2006 | 56.4% | -0.1% |
| 2007 | 56.4% | -0.1% |
| 2008 | 56.3% | -0.1% |
| 2009 | 56.3% | -0.1% |
| 2010 | 56.3% | -0.0% |
| 2011 | 56.3% | -0.0% |
| 2012 | 56.2% | -0.0% |
| 2013 | 56.2% | -0.0% |
| 2014 | 56.2% | -0.0% |
| 2015 | 56.2% | +0.0% |
| 2016 | 56.2% | -0.1% |
| 2017 | 56.2% | +0.0% |
| 2018 | 56.3% | +0.1% |
| 2019 | 56.3% | +0.1% |
| 2020 | 57.5% | +2.1% |
| 2021 | 56.9% | -1.0% |
| 2022 | 57.0% | +0.1% |
| 2023 | 56.9% | -0.2% |
| 2024 | 56.8% | -0.1% |
| 2025 | 56.8% | -0.1% |
North Korea compared with similar countries
- North Korea's 56.8% is below the median for low income countries, which is 76.9%, 74% of the median. (25 countries reporting)
- North Korea's 56.8% is above the median for East Asia & Pacific, which is 33.6%, 1.7× the median. (29 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 56.1% | 54.9% | 57.0% | 9 |
| 2000s | 56.6% | 56.3% | 57.0% | 10 |
| 2010s | 56.2% | 56.2% | 56.3% | 10 |
| 2020s | 57.0% | 56.8% | 57.5% | 6 |
Countries ranked near North Korea
- 44 Vanuatu 58.0% compare
- 45 Bangladesh 57.3% compare
- 46 Comoros 56.8% compare
- 48 Pakistan 55.5% compare
- 49 Azerbaijan 53.8% compare
- 50 Mauritania 53.3% 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 share of workers in vulnerable employment in North Korea?
- Share of workers in vulnerable employment in North Korea was 56.8% in 2025, according to International Labour Organization (ILOEST/ILOSTAT) and World Bank staff estimates (2026) – processed by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest share of workers in vulnerable employment recorded in North Korea?
- The highest recorded value was 57.5% in 2020.
- What is the lowest share of workers in vulnerable employment recorded in North Korea?
- The lowest recorded value was 54.9% in 1991.
- How does North Korea rank for share of workers in vulnerable employment?
- North Korea ranks 47th out of 186 countries with data for 2025.
- Is share of workers in vulnerable employment rising or falling in North Korea?
- Over the last ten years it is up 0.9%. 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 (ILOEST/ILOSTAT) and World Bank staff estimates (2026) – processed by Our World in Data, published as part of Share of workers in vulnerable employment. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Share of employed population who are working as independent own-account workers (self-employed without staff), or contributing family workers (self-employed in a household business or farm).