North Korea: Labor force participation

The latest value from 2025 is 82.15 percent, a decline from 82.16 percent in 2024. In comparison, the world average is 60.86 percent, based on data from 176 countries. Historically, the average for North Korea from 1990 to 2025 is 81.99 percent. The minimum value, 80.62 percent, was reached in 2020 while the maximum of 82.3 percent was recorded in 1998. See the global rankings for that indicator or use the country comparator to compare trends over time.

The labor force participation rate is the percent of the population ages 15 and older that is economically active. That includes the employed and the unemployed individuals.

Definition: Labor force participation rate is the proportion of the population ages 15 and older that is economically active: all people who supply labor for the production of goods and services during a specified period.