Unemployment rate: young vs. older adults in North Korea
North Korea: Unemployment rate: young vs. older adults was 7.8% in 2024. ▲ Rising
Unemployment rate: young vs. older adults in North Korea, 1991–2024
Source: International Labour Organization (2026) – with major processing by Our World in Data. Measured in %.
Analysis
The most recent figure for unemployment rate: young vs. older adults in North Korea is 7.8%, measured in 2024.
The figure is up 2.5% on the previous year and up 1.8% over ten years.
Over the whole period, unemployment rate: young vs. older adults in North Korea peaked at 8.5% in 2020 and was at its lowest, 5.5%, in 1991.
North Korea ranks 142nd of 188 countries on this measure, in the bottom quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 34 years of available data.
Unemployment rate: young vs. older adults in North Korea, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1991 | 5.5% | — |
| 1992 | 5.7% | +2.4% |
| 1993 | 6.0% | +5.4% |
| 1994 | 6.3% | +5.7% |
| 1995 | 6.5% | +2.0% |
| 1996 | 6.6% | +2.6% |
| 1997 | 6.9% | +4.5% |
| 1998 | 7.5% | +8.6% |
| 1999 | 8.0% | +7.2% |
| 2000 | 8.0% | -0.5% |
| 2001 | 8.1% | +0.7% |
| 2002 | 8.0% | -0.8% |
| 2003 | 8.0% | +0.6% |
| 2004 | 8.0% | -1.0% |
| 2005 | 7.9% | -0.9% |
| 2006 | 7.8% | -0.8% |
| 2007 | 7.7% | -1.2% |
| 2008 | 7.6% | -2.2% |
| 2009 | 7.6% | +0.3% |
| 2010 | 7.5% | -1.5% |
| 2011 | 7.7% | +2.6% |
| 2012 | 7.6% | -1.0% |
| 2013 | 7.7% | +1.5% |
| 2014 | 7.6% | -0.8% |
| 2015 | 7.8% | +1.7% |
| 2016 | 8.1% | +4.3% |
| 2017 | 7.9% | -2.1% |
| 2018 | 7.8% | -2.0% |
| 2019 | 7.6% | -2.1% |
| 2020 | 8.5% | +11.9% |
| 2021 | 8.1% | -4.8% |
| 2022 | 7.6% | -6.0% |
| 2023 | 7.6% | -0.4% |
| 2024 | 7.8% | +2.5% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 6.6% | 5.5% | 8.0% | 9 |
| 2000s | 7.9% | 7.6% | 8.1% | 10 |
| 2010s | 7.7% | 7.5% | 8.1% | 10 |
| 2020s | 7.9% | 7.6% | 8.5% | 5 |
Countries ranked near North Korea
- 139 Switzerland 8.2% compare
- 140 Trinidad and Tobago 8.0% compare
- 141 Democratic Republic of Congo 8.0% compare
- 143 El Salvador 7.5% compare
- 144 Guinea 7.1% compare
- 145 Philippines 7.0% 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 unemployment rate: young vs. older adults in North Korea?
- Unemployment rate: young vs. older adults in North Korea was 7.8% in 2024, according to International Labour Organization (2026) – with major processing by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest unemployment rate: young vs. older adults recorded in North Korea?
- The highest recorded value was 8.5% in 2020.
- What is the lowest unemployment rate: young vs. older adults recorded in North Korea?
- The lowest recorded value was 5.5% in 1991.
- How does North Korea rank for unemployment rate: young vs. older adults?
- North Korea ranks 142nd out of 188 countries with data for 2024.
- Is unemployment rate: young vs. older adults rising or falling in North Korea?
- Over the last ten years it is up 1.8%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this North Korea data come from?
- The figures come from International Labour Organization (2026) – with major processing by Our World in Data, published as part of Unemployment rate: young vs. older adults. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
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About this data
Share of the labor force aged 15-24 without work, but actively looking for a job and available to start soon.