Female unemployment rate in North Korea
North Korea: Female unemployment rate was 3.7% in 2025. ▲ Rising
Female unemployment rate in North Korea, 1991–2025
Source: ILO Modelled Estimates, via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data. Measured in %.
Analysis
North Korea recorded 3.7% for female unemployment rate in 2025.
The figure is down 0.1% on the previous year and up 0.7% over ten years.
Over the whole period, female unemployment rate in North Korea peaked at 3.9% in 2001 and was at its lowest, 3.1%, in 1991.
North Korea ranks 135th of 186 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 35 years of available data.
Female unemployment rate in North Korea, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1991 | 3.1% | — |
| 1992 | 3.1% | +0.7% |
| 1993 | 3.2% | +3.5% |
| 1994 | 3.4% | +3.9% |
| 1995 | 3.4% | +0.6% |
| 1996 | 3.4% | +0.6% |
| 1997 | 3.5% | +2.9% |
| 1998 | 3.7% | +5.2% |
| 1999 | 3.9% | +5.7% |
| 2000 | 3.9% | -0.5% |
| 2001 | 3.9% | +1.2% |
| 2002 | 3.9% | -1.3% |
| 2003 | 3.9% | +1.3% |
| 2004 | 3.9% | -0.7% |
| 2005 | 3.9% | -1.0% |
| 2006 | 3.8% | -1.7% |
| 2007 | 3.8% | +0.1% |
| 2008 | 3.7% | -3.3% |
| 2009 | 3.6% | -0.8% |
| 2010 | 3.6% | -1.9% |
| 2011 | 3.7% | +3.0% |
| 2012 | 3.6% | -1.2% |
| 2013 | 3.7% | +0.9% |
| 2014 | 3.6% | -2.3% |
| 2015 | 3.6% | +1.2% |
| 2016 | 3.7% | +3.2% |
| 2017 | 3.7% | -1.1% |
| 2018 | 3.6% | -3.7% |
| 2019 | 3.6% | +0.4% |
| 2020 | 3.7% | +4.0% |
| 2021 | 3.8% | +1.9% |
| 2022 | 3.6% | -6.1% |
| 2023 | 3.6% | +0.6% |
| 2024 | 3.7% | +2.0% |
| 2025 | 3.7% | -0.1% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 3.4% | 3.1% | 3.9% | 9 |
| 2000s | 3.8% | 3.6% | 3.9% | 10 |
| 2010s | 3.6% | 3.6% | 3.7% | 10 |
| 2020s | 3.7% | 3.6% | 3.8% | 6 |
Countries ranked near North Korea
- 132 Trinidad and Tobago 3.9% compare
- 133 Malaysia 3.9% compare
- 134 Bangladesh 3.7% compare
- 136 Bahrain 3.6% compare
- 137 El Salvador 3.6% compare
- 138 Congo, Democratic Republic of the 3.5% 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 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)
- Persons outside the labour force (ILO modelled estimates) (15+) 0.3313 % change on previous year (2027)
- Labor force participation rate, male (% of male population ages 15-64) 91.2% (2025)
- Labor force participation rate for ages 15-24, female (%) 81.9% (2025)
- Labor force participation rate, female (% of female population ages) 87.3% (2025)
- Labor force participation rate for ages 15-24, male (%) 75.2% (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is female unemployment rate in North Korea?
- Female unemployment rate in North Korea was 3.7% in 2025, according to ILO Modelled Estimates, via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest female unemployment rate recorded in North Korea?
- The highest recorded value was 3.9% in 2001.
- What is the lowest female unemployment rate recorded in North Korea?
- The lowest recorded value was 3.1% in 1991.
- How does North Korea rank for female unemployment rate?
- North Korea ranks 135th out of 186 countries with data for 2025.
- Is female unemployment rate rising or falling in North Korea?
- Over the last ten years it is up 0.7%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this North Korea data come from?
- The figures come from ILO Modelled Estimates, via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data, published as part of Female unemployment rate. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Share of the female labor force without work, but actively looking for a job and available to start soon.