| Region | Eastern Asia | |
| Population (000, 2025) | 26 571a | |
| Pop. density (per km2, 2025) | 220.7a | |
| Capital city | Pyongyang | |
| Capital city pop. (000, 2025) | 3 060.9c | |
| UN membership date | 17 September 1991 | |
| Surface area (km2) | 120 538b | |
| Sex ratio (m per 100 f) | 98a | |
| National currency | North Korean Won (KPW) | |
| Exchange rate (per US$) | 110d,e |
| 2015 | 2020 | 2025 | |
| GDP: Gross domestic productf (million current US$) | 16 283 | 15 847 | 16 447b |
| GDP growth ratef (annual %, const. 2015 prices) | -1.1 | -4.5 | 3.1b |
| GDP per capitaf (current US$) | 654 | 623 | 640b |
| Economy: Agriculturef (% of Gross Value Added) | 21.6 | 22.4 | 22b |
| Economy: Industryf (% of Gross Value Added) | 46.2 | 43.8 | 47b |
| Economy: Services and other activityf (% of GVA) | 32.2 | 33.8 | 30.9b |
| Employment in agricultureg (% of employed) | 49.3 | 47.8 | 46.8b |
| Employment in industryg (% of employed) | 14.6 | 14.3 | 14.3b |
| Employment in servicesg (% employed) | 36 | 37.9 | 38.8b |
| Unemploymentg (% of labour force) | 2.9 | 2.9 | 2.9 |
| Labour force participation rateg (female/male pop. %) | 77.5 / 86.7 | 76.4 / 85.5 | 77.7 / 86.7 |
| Agricultural production index (2014-2016=100) | 99 | 95 | 91b |
| International trade: exportsg (million current US$) | 3 084 | 193 | 412e |
| International trade: importsg (million current US$) | 3 714 | 1 021 | 1 768e |
| International trade: balanceg (million current US$) | -629 | -828 | - 1 356e |
| 2015 | 2020 | 2025 | |
| Population growth rate (average annual %) | 0.5 | 0.4 | 0.3a |
| Urban population (% of total population) | 61.3 | 62.1c | ... |
| Urban population growth rate (average annual %) | 0.8h | ... | ... |
| Fertility rate, total (live births per woman) | 1.9 | 1.8 | 1.8a |
| Life expectancy at birth (females/males, years) | 75.0 / 70.4 | 75.7 / 69.9 | 76.0 / 71.7a |
| Population age distributioni (0-14/60+ years old, %) | 19.8 / 14.5 | 19.1 / 16.5 | 18.9 / 18.6a |
| International migrant stockj (000/% of total pop.) | 48.5 / 0.2 | 49.5 / 0.2 | 50.4 / 0.2e |
| Under five mortality rate (per 1000 live births) | 21.4 | 17.5 | 16.4a |
| Health: Physicians (per 1 000 pop.) | 3.5k | 3.6l | ... |
| Education: Primary gross enrol. ratio (f/m per 100 pop.) | ... / ... | 92.4 / 91.8m | ... / ... |
| Education: Lowr. sec. gross enrol. ratio (f/m per 100 pop.) | 95.2 / 94.3 | ... / ... | ... / ... |
| Education: Upr. Sec. gross enrol. ratio (f/m per 100 pop.) | 94.6 / 93.0 | 100.0 / 97.5m | ... / ... |
| Seats held by women in national parliaments (%) | 16.3 | 17.6n | 17.6n |
| 2015 | 2020 | 2025 | |
| Threatened species (number) | 64 | 88 | 126e |
| Forested area (% of land area) | 51g | 50.1g | 49.7o |
| CO2 emission estimates (million tons/tons per capita) | 30.0 / 1.2 | 65.5 / 2.5 | 55.6 / 2.1o |
| Energy production, primary (Petajoules) | 862 | 755 | 671o |
| Energy supply per capita (Gigajoules) | 16 | 31 | 27o |
| Important sites for terrestrial biodiversity protected (%) | 0 | 0 | 0e |
| Pop. using safely managed drinking water (urban/rural, %) | 77.4 / 50.4 | 77.0 / 48.8 | 77.0 / 48.8o |
| Pop. using safely managed sanitation (urban/rural, %) | ... / 9.0 | ... / 1.2 | ... / 1.2 |
| Net Official Development Assist. received (% of GNI) | 0.8 | 0.78 | 0.09o |
| Footnotes |
| a | Projected est. (medium fertility variant). | |
| b | 2023 | |
| c | 2019 | |
| d | UN operational exchange rate. | |
| e | 2024 | |
| f | Data compiled in accordance with the System of National Accounts 1968 (1968 SNA). | |
| g | Estimate. | |
| h | Data refers to a 5-year period preceding the reference year. | |
| i | Calculated by the UN Statistics Division. | |
| j | Including refugees. | |
| k | 2014 | |
| l | 2017 | |
| m | 2018 | |
| n | Data at 1 January of the reporting year. | |
| o | 2022 |