Vulnerable employment, male (% of male employment) (modeled ILO) in North Korea
North Korea: Vulnerable employment, male (% of male employment) (modeled ILO) was 52.5% in 2025. ▬ Flat
Latest (2025)
52.5%
Change on year
down 0.1%
World rank
44th
of 187 countries
All-time high
53.2%
in 2020
All-time low
49.4%
in 1991
Years of data
35
1991–2025
Vulnerable employment, male (% of male employment) in North Korea, 1991–2025
Source: ILO Modelled Estimates database (ILOEST), International Labour Organization (ILO).
Analysis
North Korea recorded 52.5% for vulnerable employment, male (% of male employment) in 2025.
That represents a change of down 0.1% on the previous year and up 1.7% over ten years.
Over the whole period, vulnerable employment, male (% of male employment) in North Korea peaked at 53.2% in 2020 and was at its lowest, 49.4%, in 1991.
North Korea ranks 44th of 187 countries on this measure, in the top quarter.
Vulnerable employment, male (% of male employment) (modeled ILO) in North Korea, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1991 | 49.4% | — |
| 1992 | 49.7% | +0.7% |
| 1993 | 50.1% | +0.7% |
| 1994 | 50.4% | +0.7% |
| 1995 | 50.7% | +0.7% |
| 1996 | 51.0% | +0.6% |
| 1997 | 51.4% | +0.8% |
| 1998 | 51.7% | +0.6% |
| 1999 | 51.8% | +0.1% |
| 2000 | 51.8% | +0.1% |
| 2001 | 51.8% | -0.1% |
| 2002 | 51.7% | -0.1% |
| 2003 | 51.6% | -0.1% |
| 2004 | 51.6% | -0.2% |
| 2005 | 51.4% | -0.2% |
| 2006 | 51.4% | -0.1% |
| 2007 | 51.4% | +0.0% |
| 2008 | 51.4% | -0.1% |
| 2009 | 51.4% | +0.0% |
| 2010 | 51.4% | +0.1% |
| 2011 | 51.5% | +0.1% |
| 2012 | 51.5% | +0.1% |
| 2013 | 51.5% | +0.0% |
| 2014 | 51.5% | +0.0% |
| 2015 | 51.6% | +0.1% |
| 2016 | 51.5% | -0.1% |
| 2017 | 51.6% | +0.1% |
| 2018 | 51.7% | +0.3% |
| 2019 | 51.8% | +0.1% |
| 2020 | 53.2% | +2.7% |
| 2021 | 52.7% | -1.0% |
| 2022 | 52.6% | -0.1% |
| 2023 | 52.5% | -0.2% |
| 2024 | 52.5% | -0.0% |
| 2025 | 52.5% | -0.1% |
North Korea compared with similar countries
- North Korea's 52.5% is below the median for low income countries, which is 72.1%, 73% of the median. (25 countries reporting)
- North Korea's 52.5% is above the median for East Asia & Pacific, which is 33.9%, 1.5× the median. (29 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 50.7% | 49.4% | 51.8% | 9 |
| 2000s | 51.5% | 51.4% | 51.8% | 10 |
| 2010s | 51.6% | 51.4% | 51.8% | 10 |
| 2020s | 52.7% | 52.5% | 53.2% | 6 |
Countries ranked near North Korea
- 41 East Timor 53.9% compare
- 42 Ghana 53.7% compare
- 43 Bangladesh 53.6% compare
- 45 Angola 51.5% compare
- 46 Pakistan 50.4% compare
- 47 Azerbaijan 49.3% compare
More work & labour data for North Korea
- Persons outside the labour force (ILO modelled estimates) 3,871 (2027)
- Labour force (ILO modelled estimates) 17,790 (2027)
- Labour force participation rate (ILO modelled estimates) 82.13 (2027)
- Output per worker, GDP constant 2021 international $ at PPP 3,086 (2027)
- Persons outside the labour force (ILO modelled estimates) (15+) 0.3313 % change on previous year (2027)
- Labour dependency ratio 0.555 (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)
- Unemployment rate (ILO modelled estimates) 3.56 (2027)
- Employment-to-population ratio (ILO modelled estimates) 79.21 (2027)
Frequently asked questions
- What is vulnerable employment, male (% of male employment) in North Korea?
- Vulnerable employment, male (% of male employment) in North Korea was 52.5% in 2025, according to ILO Modelled Estimates database (ILOEST), International Labour Organization (ILO).
- What is the highest vulnerable employment, male (% of male employment) recorded in North Korea?
- The highest recorded value was 53.2% in 2020.
- What is the lowest vulnerable employment, male (% of male employment) recorded in North Korea?
- The lowest recorded value was 49.4% in 1991.
- How does North Korea rank for vulnerable employment, male (% of male employment)?
- North Korea ranks 44th out of 187 countries with data for 2025.
- Is vulnerable employment, male (% of male employment) rising or falling in North Korea?
- Over the last ten years it is up 1.7%. The long-run trend across the full record is flat.
- Where does this North Korea data come from?
- The figures come from ILO Modelled Estimates database (ILOEST), International Labour Organization (ILO), published as part of Vulnerable employment, male (% of male employment) (modeled ILO estimate). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Vulnerable employment is contributing family workers and own-account workers as a percentage of total employment.