Share of male vs female employment in industry in North Korea
North Korea: Share of male vs female employment in industry was 24.22 in 2025. ▼ Falling
Latest (2025)
24.22
Change on year
down 0.4%
World rank
112th
of 186 countries
All-time high
30.54
in 1991
All-time low
24.22
in 2025
Years of data
35
1991–2025
Share of male vs female employment in industry in North Korea, 1991–2025
Source: Our World in Data.
Analysis
The most recent figure for share of male vs female employment in industry in North Korea is 24.22, measured in 2025. That is the lowest value across all 35 years on record.
The figure is down 0.4% on the previous year and down 4.4% over ten years.
Over the whole period, share of male vs female employment in industry in North Korea peaked at 30.54 in 1991 and was at its lowest, 24.22, in 2025.
North Korea ranks 112th of 186 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 35 years of available data.
Share of male vs female employment in industry in North Korea, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1991 | 30.54 | — |
| 1992 | 29.69 | -2.8% |
| 1993 | 28.99 | -2.4% |
| 1994 | 28.33 | -2.3% |
| 1995 | 27.75 | -2.0% |
| 1996 | 27.17 | -2.1% |
| 1997 | 26.37 | -2.9% |
| 1998 | 25.96 | -1.6% |
| 1999 | 26.33 | +1.4% |
| 2000 | 26.28 | -0.2% |
| 2001 | 26.43 | +0.6% |
| 2002 | 26.45 | +0.1% |
| 2003 | 26.54 | +0.3% |
| 2004 | 26.6 | +0.2% |
| 2005 | 26.82 | +0.8% |
| 2006 | 26.55 | -1.0% |
| 2007 | 26.31 | -0.9% |
| 2008 | 26.36 | +0.2% |
| 2009 | 26.12 | -0.9% |
| 2010 | 25.92 | -0.8% |
| 2011 | 25.76 | -0.6% |
| 2012 | 25.68 | -0.3% |
| 2013 | 25.61 | -0.3% |
| 2014 | 25.56 | -0.2% |
| 2015 | 25.34 | -0.9% |
| 2016 | 25.47 | +0.5% |
| 2017 | 24.94 | -2.1% |
| 2018 | 24.4 | -2.2% |
| 2019 | 24.34 | -0.2% |
| 2020 | 24.31 | -0.1% |
| 2021 | 24.42 | +0.4% |
| 2022 | 24.25 | -0.7% |
| 2023 | 24.42 | +0.7% |
| 2024 | 24.31 | -0.4% |
| 2025 | 24.22 | -0.4% |
North Korea compared with similar countries
- North Korea's 24.22 is above the median for low income countries, which is 12.52, 1.9× the median. (25 countries reporting)
- North Korea's 24.22 is below the median for East Asia & Pacific, which is 25.07, 97% of the median. (29 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 27.91 | 25.96 | 30.54 | 9 |
| 2000s | 26.45 | 26.12 | 26.82 | 10 |
| 2010s | 25.3 | 24.34 | 25.92 | 10 |
| 2020s | 24.33 | 24.22 | 24.42 | 6 |
Countries ranked near North Korea
- 109 Gabon 24.53 compare
- 110 Honduras 24.47 compare
- 111 Hong Kong 24.35 compare
- 113 United Kingdom 23.93 compare
- 114 Sao Tome and Principe 23.83 compare
- 115 Azerbaijan 23.74 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)
- 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)
- Labour force (ILO modelled estimates) (15+), annual growth rate 0.2604 % change on previous year (2027)
- Output per worker, GDP constant 2015 US $ 931.04 (2027)
- Output per worker, GDP constant 2021 international $ at PPP 3,086 (2027)
- Employment-to-population ratio (ILO modelled estimates) 79.21 (2027)
Frequently asked questions
- What is share of male vs female employment in industry in North Korea?
- Share of male vs female employment in industry in North Korea was 24.22 in 2025, according to Our World in Data.
- What is the highest share of male vs female employment in industry recorded in North Korea?
- The highest recorded value was 30.54 in 1991.
- What is the lowest share of male vs female employment in industry recorded in North Korea?
- The lowest recorded value was 24.22 in 2025.
- How does North Korea rank for share of male vs female employment in industry?
- North Korea ranks 112th out of 186 countries with data for 2025.
- Is share of male vs female employment in industry rising or falling in North Korea?
- Over the last ten years it is down 4.4%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this North Korea data come from?
- The figures come from Our World in Data, published as part of Share of male vs female employment in industry. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
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