Working-age population (UN estimates and projections) (15+) in North Korea
North Korea: Working-age population (UN estimates and projections) (15+) was 21,837 in 2030. ▲ Rising
Working-age population (UN estimates and projections) in North Korea, 1990–2030
Source: International Labour Organization.
Analysis
The most recent figure for working-age population (un estimates and projections) in North Korea is 21,837, measured in 2030. That is the highest value across all 41 years on record.
The figure is up 0.3% on the previous year and up 3.2% over ten years.
Over the whole period, working-age population (un estimates and projections) in North Korea peaked at 21,837 in 2030 and was at its lowest, 15,515, in 1990.
That places North Korea 54th out of 188 countries with data for 2030, putting it in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 41 years of available data.
Working-age population (UN estimates and projections) (15+) in North Korea, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1990 | 15,515 | — |
| 1991 | 15,780 | +1.7% |
| 1992 | 16,022 | +1.5% |
| 1993 | 16,254 | +1.5% |
| 1994 | 16,485 | +1.4% |
| 1995 | 16,690 | +1.2% |
| 1996 | 16,875 | +1.1% |
| 1997 | 17,065 | +1.1% |
| 1998 | 17,251 | +1.1% |
| 1999 | 17,433 | +1.1% |
| 2000 | 17,612 | +1.0% |
| 2001 | 17,788 | +1.0% |
| 2002 | 17,961 | +1.0% |
| 2003 | 18,153 | +1.1% |
| 2004 | 18,364 | +1.2% |
| 2005 | 18,572 | +1.1% |
| 2006 | 18,779 | +1.1% |
| 2007 | 18,984 | +1.1% |
| 2008 | 19,185 | +1.1% |
| 2009 | 19,382 | +1.0% |
| 2010 | 19,579 | +1.0% |
| 2011 | 19,774 | +1.0% |
| 2012 | 19,967 | +1.0% |
| 2013 | 20,154 | +0.9% |
| 2014 | 20,335 | +0.9% |
| 2015 | 20,507 | +0.8% |
| 2016 | 20,668 | +0.8% |
| 2017 | 20,815 | +0.7% |
| 2018 | 20,946 | +0.6% |
| 2019 | 21,060 | +0.5% |
| 2020 | 21,150 | +0.4% |
| 2021 | 21,233 | +0.4% |
| 2022 | 21,320 | +0.4% |
| 2023 | 21,404 | +0.4% |
| 2024 | 21,478 | +0.3% |
| 2025 | 21,542 | +0.3% |
| 2026 | 21,602 | +0.3% |
| 2027 | 21,661 | +0.3% |
| 2028 | 21,720 | +0.3% |
| 2029 | 21,778 | +0.3% |
| 2030 | 21,837 | +0.3% |
North Korea compared with similar countries
- North Korea's 21,837 is above the median for low income countries, which is 16,232, 1.3× the median. (25 countries reporting)
- North Korea's 21,837 is above the median for East Asia & Pacific, which is 6,022, 3.6× the median. (29 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 16,537 | 15,515 | 17,433 | 10 |
| 2000s | 18,478 | 17,612 | 19,382 | 10 |
| 2010s | 20,380 | 19,579 | 21,060 | 10 |
| 2020s | 21,489 | 21,150 | 21,778 | 10 |
| 2030s | 21,837 | 21,837 | 21,837 | 1 |
Countries ranked near North Korea
More gender data for North Korea
- Child population (UN estimates and projections) 4,948 (2030)
- Child population (UN estimates and projections) (0-14), annual growth -0.7158 % change on previous year (2030)
- Population 21,837 (2030)
- Population (UN estimates and projections), annual growth rate 0.2686 % change on previous year (2030)
- Age population, age 00, female, interpolated 162,142 (2025)
- Age population, age 00, male, interpolated 171,689 (2025)
- Age population, age 01, female, interpolated 163,466 (2025)
- Age population, age 01, male, interpolated 172,928 (2025)
- Age population, age 02, female, interpolated 164,613 (2025)
- Age population, age 02, male, interpolated 173,969 (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is working-age population (un estimates and projections) in North Korea?
- Working-age population (un estimates and projections) in North Korea was 21,837 in 2030, according to International Labour Organization.
- What is the highest working-age population (un estimates and projections) recorded in North Korea?
- The highest recorded value was 21,837 in 2030.
- What is the lowest working-age population (un estimates and projections) recorded in North Korea?
- The lowest recorded value was 15,515 in 1990.
- How does North Korea rank for working-age population (un estimates and projections)?
- North Korea ranks 54th out of 188 countries with data for 2030.
- Is working-age population (un estimates and projections) rising or falling in North Korea?
- Over the last ten years it is up 3.2%. 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, published as part of Working-age population (UN estimates and projections) (15+). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
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About this data
Imputed observations are not based on national data, are subject to high uncertainty and should not be used for country comparisons or rankings. The total population comprises persons of all ages who were living in the country during the reference period, regardless of residency status or citizenship. The source for the population figures used is the United Nations' World Population Prospects. The working-age population is commonly defined as persons aged 15 years and older. For more information, refer to the ILO Modelled Estimates (ILOEST) database description.