North Korea Population: 24,720,407
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| Background | |
| An independent kingdom for much of its long history, Korea was occupied by Japan beginning in 1905 following the Russo-Japanese War. Five years later, Japan formally annexed the entire peninsula. Following World War II, Korea was split with the northern half coming under Soviet-sponsored Communist control. After failing in the Korean War (1950-53) to conquer the US-backed Republic of Korea (ROK) in the southern portion by force, North Korea (DPRK), under its founder President KIM Il Sung, adopted a policy of ostensible diplomatic and economic "self-reliance" as a check against outside influence. The DPRK demonized the US as the ultimate threat to its social system through state-funded propaganda, and molded political, economic, and military policies around the core ideological objective of eventual unification of Korea under Pyongyang's control. KIM Il Sung's son, KIM Jong Il, was officially designated as his father's successor in 1980, assuming a growing political and managerial role until the elder KIM's death in 1994. KIM Jong Un was publicly unveiled as his father's successor in September 2010. Following KIM Jong Il's death in December 2011, the regime began to take actions to transfer power to KIM Jong Un and KIM has now assumed many his father's former titles and duties. After decades of economic mismanagement and resource misallocation, the DPRK since the mid-1990s has relied heavily on international aid to feed its population. The DPRK began to ease restrictions to allow semi-private markets, starting in 2002, but then sought to roll back the scale of economic reforms in 2005 and 2009. North Korea's history of regional military provocations; proliferation of military-related items; long-range missile development; WMD programs including tests of nuclear devices in 2006, 2009, and 2013; and massive conventional armed forces are of major concern to the international community. |
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| Geography | |
| Strategic location bordering China, South Korea, and Russia; mountainous interior is isolated and sparsely populated | |
| Location: | Eastern Asia, northern half of the Korean Peninsula bordering the Korea Bay and the Sea of Japan, between China and South Korea |
| Geographic coordinates: | 40 00 N, 127 00 E |
| Area: | total: 120,538 sq km land: 120,408 sq km water: 130 sq km Size comparison: slightly smaller than Mississippi |
| Land Boundaries: | total: 1,671.5 km border countries: China 1,416 km, South Korea 238 km, Russia 17.5 km |
| Coastline: | 2,495 km |
| Maritime claims: | territorial sea: 12 nm exclusive economic zone: 200 nm note: military boundary line 50 nm in the Sea of Japan and the exclusive economic zone limit in the Yellow Sea where all foreign vessels and aircraft without permission are banned |
| Climate: | temperate with rainfall concentrated in summer |
| Terrain: | mostly hills and mountains separated by deep, narrow valleys; coastal plains wide in west, discontinuous in east |
| Elevation extremes: | lowest point: Sea of Japan 0 m highest point: Paektu-san 2,744 m |
| Natural resources: | coal, lead, tungsten, zinc, graphite, magnesite, iron ore, copper, gold, pyrites, salt, fluorspar, hydropower |
| Land use: | arable land: 22.4% permanent crops: 1.66% other: 75.94% (2005) |
| Irrigated land: | 14,600 sq km (2003) |
| Natural hazards: | late spring droughts often followed by severe flooding; occasional typhoons during the early fall volcanism: Changbaishan (elev. 2,744 m) (also known as Baitoushan, Baegdu or P'aektu-san), on the Chinese border, is considered historically active |
| Current Environment Issues: | water pollution; inadequate supplies of potable water; waterborne disease; deforestation; soil erosion and degradation |
| International Environment Agreements: | party to: Antarctic Treaty, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution signed, but not ratified: Law of the Sea |
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| People | |
| Population: | 24,720,407 (July 2013 est.) |
| Age structure: | 0-14 years: 21.7% (male 2,726,275/female 2,650,143) 15-24 years: 16.4% (male 2,059,388/female 2,005,987) 25-54 years: 43.8% (male 5,411,221/female 5,415,744) 55-64 years: 8.5% (male 988,922/female 1,108,156) 65 years and over: 9.5% (male 798,363/female 1,556,208) (2013 est.) population pyramid: |
| Median age: | total: 33 years male: 31.4 years female: 34.7 years (2012 est.) |
| Population growth rate: | 0.535% (2012 est.) |
| Birth rate: | 14.51 births/1,000 population (2012 est.) |
| Death rate: | 9.12 deaths/1,000 population (July 2012 est.) |
| Net migration rate: | -0.04 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2012 est.) |
| Sex ratio: | at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1.03 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 0.99 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.51 male(s)/female total population: 0.94 male(s)/female (2011 est.) |
| Infant mortality rate: | total: 26.21 deaths/1,000 live births male: 29.05 deaths/1,000 live births female: 23.24 deaths/1,000 live births (2012 est.) |
| Life expectancy at birth: | total population: 69.2 years male: 65.34 years female: 73.24 years (2012 est.) |
| Total fertility rate: | 1.99 children born/woman (2013 est.) |
| HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate: | NA |
| HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS: | NA |
| HIV/AIDS - deaths: | NA |
| Nationality: | noun: Korean(s) adjective: Korean |
| Ethnic groups: | racially homogeneous; there is a small Chinese community and a few ethnic Japanese |
| Religions: | traditionally Buddhist and Confucianist, some Christian and syncretic Chondogyo (Religion of the Heavenly Way) note: autonomous religious activities now almost nonexistent; government-sponsored religious groups exist to provide illusion of religious freedom |
| Languages: | Korean |
| Literacy: | definition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 99% male: 99% female: 99% (1991 est.) |
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| Government | |
| Country name: | conventional long form: Democratic People's Republic of Korea conventional short form: North Korea local long form: Choson-minjujuui-inmin-konghwaguk local short form: Choson abbreviation: DPRK |
| Government type: | Communist state one-man dictatorship |
| Capital: | name: Pyongyang geographic coordinates: 39 01 N, 125 45 E time difference: UTC+9 (14 hours ahead of Washington, DC during Standard Time) |
| Administrative divisions: | 9 provinces (do, singular and plural) and 2 municipalities (si, singular and plural) provinces: Chagang-do (Chagang), Hamgyong-bukto (North Hamgyong), Hamgyong-namdo (South Hamgyong), Hwanghae-bukto (North Hwanghae), Hwanghae-namdo (South Hwanghae), Kangwon-do (Kangwon), P'yongan-bukto (North P'yongan), P'yongan-namdo (South P'yongan), Yanggang-do (Yanggang) municipalities: Nason-si, P'yongyang-si (Pyongyang) |
| Independence: | 15 August 1945 (from Japan) |
| National holiday: | Founding of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK), 9 September (1948) |
| Constitution: | adopted 1948; revised several times |
| Legal system: | civil law system based on the Prussian model; system influenced by Japanese traditions and Communist legal theory |
| Suffrage: | 17 years of age; universal |
| Executive branch: | chief of state: KIM Jong Un (since 17 December 2011) note - the rubberstamp Supreme People's Assembly (SPA) reelected KIM Yong Nam in 2009 president of its Presidium also with responsibility of representing state and receiving diplomatic credentials head of government: Premier PAK Pong-ju (since 2 April 2013); Vice Premiers: HAN Kwang Bok (since 7 June 2010), JO Pyong Ju (since 7 June 2010), JON Ha Chol (since 7 June 2010), KANG Nung Su (since 7 June 2010), KANG Sok Ju (since 23 September 2010), KIM In Sik (since 13 April 2012), KIM Rak Hui (since 7 June 2010), KIM Yong Jin (since 6 January 2012), PAK Su Gil (since 18 September 2009), RI Chol Man (since 13 April 2012), RI Mu Yong (since 31 May 2011), RI Sung Ho (since 13 April 2012), RO Tu Chol (since 3 September 2003) cabinet: Naegak (cabinet) members, except for Minister of People's Armed Forces, are appointed by SPA (For more information visit the World Leaders website ) elections: last election held in April 2012; date of next election NA election results: KIM Jong Un elected |
| Legislative branch: | unicameral Supreme People's Assembly or Ch'oego Inmin Hoeui (687 seats; members elected by popular vote to serve five-year terms) elections: last held on 8 March 2009 (next to be held in March 2014) election results: percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - NA; ruling party approves a list of candidates who are elected without opposition; a token number of seats are reserved for minor parties |
| Judicial branch: | Central Court (judges are elected by the Supreme People's Assembly) |
| Political parties and leaders: | major party - Korean Workers' Party or KWP [KIM Jong Un]; minor parties - Chondoist Chongu Party [RYU Mi Yong] (under KWP control), Social Democratic Party [KIM Yong Dae] (under KWP control) |
| Political pressure groups and leaders: | none |
| International organization participation: | ARF, FAO, G-77, ICAO, ICC (NGOs), ICRM, IFAD, IFRCS, IHO, IMO, IOC, IPU, ISO, ITSO, ITU, NAM, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNWTO, UPU, WFTU (NGOs), WHO, WIPO, WMO |
| Diplomatic representation in the US: | none; North Korea has a Permanent Mission to the UN in New York |
| Diplomatic representation from the US: | none; note - Swedish Embassy in Pyongyang represents the US as consular protecting power |
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| Economy | |
| North Korea, one of the world's most centrally directed and least open economies, faces chronic economic problems. Industrial capital stock is nearly beyond repair as a result of years of underinvestment, shortages of spare parts, and poor maintenance. Large-scale military spending draws off resources needed for investment and civilian consumption. Industrial and power output have stagnated for years at a fraction of pre-1990 levels. Frequent weather-related crop failures aggravated chronic food shortages caused by on-going systemic problems, including a lack of arable land, collective farming practices, poor soil quality, insufficient fertilization, and persistent shortages of tractors and fuel. Large-scale international food aid deliveries as well as aid from China has allowed the people of North Korea to escape widespread starvation since famine threatened in 1995, but the population continues to suffer from prolonged malnutrition and poor living conditions. Since 2002, the government has allowed private "farmers' markets" to begin selling a wider range of goods. It also permitted some private farming - on an experimental basis - in an effort to boost agricultural output. In December 2009, North Korea carried out a redenomination of its currency, capping the amount of North Korean won that could be exchanged for the new notes, and limiting the exchange to a one-week window. A concurrent crackdown on markets and foreign currency use yielded severe shortages and inflation, forcing Pyongyang to ease the restrictions by February 2010. In response to the sinking of the South Korean destroyer Cheonan and the shelling of Yeonpyeong Island, South Korea's government cut off most aid, trade, and bilateral cooperation activities, with the exception of operations at the Kaesong Industrial Complex. In 2012, KIM Jong Un's first year of leadership, the North displayed increased focus on the economy by renewing its commitment to special economic zones with China, negotiating a new payment structure to settle its $11 billion Soviet-era debt to Russia, and purportedly proposing new agricultural and industrial policies to boost domestic production. The North Korean government often highlights its goal of becoming a "strong and prosperous" nation and attracting foreign investment, a key factor for improving the overall standard of living. Nevertheless, firm political control remains the government's overriding concern, which likely will inhibit fundamental reforms of North Korea's current economic system. | |
| GDP (purchasing power parity): | GDP (purchasing power parity): $40 billion (2011 est.) $40 billion (2010 est.) $40 billion (2009 est.) note: data are in 2011 US dollars; North Korea does not publish reliable National Income Accounts data; the data shown here are derived from purchasing power parity (PPP) GDP estimates for North Korea that were made by Angus MADDISON in a study conducted for the OECD; his figure for 1999 was extrapolated to 2011 using estimated real growth rates for North Korea's GDP and an inflation factor based on the US GDP deflator; the results were rounded to the nearest $10 billion. |
| GDP (official exchange rate): | GDP (official exchange rate): $28 billion (2009 est.) |
| GDP - real growth rate: | 0.8% (2011 est.) -0.5% (2010 est.) -0.9% (2009 est.) |
| GDP - per capita (PPP): | GDP - per capita (PPP): $1,800 (2011 est.) $1,800 (2010 est.) $1,900 (2009 est.) note: data are in 2012 US dollars |
| GDP - composition by sector: | agriculture: 23.1% industry: 47.5% services: 29.4% (2011 est.) |
| Labor force: | 12.2 million note: estimates vary widely (2009 est.) |
| Labor force - by occupation: | agriculture: 35% industry and services: 65% (2008 est.) |
| Unemployment rate: | NA% |
| Population below poverty line: | NA% |
| Household income or consumption by percentage share: | lowest 10%: NA% highest 10%: NA% |
| Inflation rate (consumer prices): | Inflation rate (consumer prices): NA% |
| Budget: | revenues: $3.2 billion expenditures: $3.3 billion (2007 est.) |
| Agriculture - products: | rice, corn, potatoes, soybeans, pulses; cattle, pigs, pork, eggs |
| Industries: | military products; machine building, electric power, chemicals; mining (coal, iron ore, limestone, magnesite, graphite, copper, zinc, lead, and precious metals), metallurgy; textiles, food processing; tourism |
| Industrial production growth rate: | NA% |
| Electricity - production: | 20.45 billion kWh (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 72 |
| Electricity - consumption: | 17.12 billion kWh (2009 est.) |
| Electricity - exports: | 0 kWh (2010 est.) |
| Electricity - imports: | 0 kWh (2010 est.) |
| Natural gas - production: | 0 cu m (2010 est.) |
| Natural gas - consumption: | 0 cu m (2010 est.) |
| Natural gas - exports: | 0 cu m (2010 est.) |
| Natural gas - imports: | 0 cu m (2010 est.) |
| Natural gas - proved reserves: | 0 cu m (1 January 2012 est.) |
| Exports: | $4.707 billion (2011) $4.706 billion (2010 est.) |
| Exports - commodities: | minerals, metallurgical products, manufactures (including armaments), textiles, agricultural and fishery products |
| Exports - partners: | China 67.2%, South Korea 19.4%, India 3.6% (2011 est.) |
| Imports: | $4 billion (2011 est.) $2.934 billion (2010 est.) |
| Imports - commodities: | petroleum, coking coal, machinery and equipment, textiles, grain |
| Imports - partners: | China 61.6%, South Korea 20%, European Union 4% (2011 est.) |
| Debt - external: | $12.5 billion (2001 est.) |
| Exchange rates: | North Korean won (KPW) per US dollar (market rate) 137 (2012 est.) 140 (2011 est.) 145 (2010 est.) 3,630 (December 2008) 140 (2007) |
| Fiscal year: | calendar year |
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| Communications | |
| Telephones in use: | 1.18 million (2011) country comparison to the world: 72 |
| Cellular Phones in use: | 1 million (2011) |
| Telephone system: | general assessment: adequate system; nationwide fiber-optic network; mobile-cellular service expanding beyond Pyongyang domestic: fiber-optic links installed down to the county level; telephone directories unavailable; GSM mobile-cellular service initiated in 2002 but suspended in 2004; Orascom Telecom Holding, an Egyptian company, launched W-CDMA mobile service on December 15, 2008 for the Pyongyang area, has expanded service to several large cities and now has a 1 million person subscriber base international: country code - 850; satellite earth stations - 2 (1 Intelsat - Indian Ocean, 1 Russian - Indian Ocean region); other international connections through Moscow and Beijing (2011) |
| Radio broadcast stations: | |
| Television broadcast stations: | |
| Internet country code: | .kp |
| Internet hosts: | 8 (2012) |
| Internet users: | |
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| Transportation | |
| Airports: | 81 (2012) country comparison to the world: 71 |
| Airports (paved runways): | total: 39 over 3,047 m: 3 2,438 to 3,047 m: 22 1,524 to 2,437 m: 8 914 to 1,523 m: 2 under 914 m: 4 (2012) |
| Airports (unpaved runways): | total: 42 2,438 to 3,047 m: 3 1,524 to 2,437 m: 17 914 to 1,523 m: 14 under 914 m: 8 (2012) |
| Heliports: | 23 (2012) |
| Pipelines: | oil 154 km (2010) |
| Railways: | total: 5,242 km standard gauge: 5,242 km 1.435-m gauge (3,500 km electrified) (2009) |
| Roadways: | total: 25,554 km paved: 724 km unpaved: 24,830 km (2006) |
| Waterways: | 2,250 km (most navigable only by small craft) (2011) |
| Merchant marine: | total: 158 by type: bulk carrier 6, cargo 131, carrier 1, chemical tanker 1, container 4, passenger/cargo 1, petroleum tanker 12, refrigerated cargo 2 foreign-owned: 13 (Belgium 1, China 3, Nigeria 1, Singapore 1, South Korea 1, Syria 4, UAE 2) registered in other countries: 6 (Mongolia 1, Sierra Leone 2, unknown 3) (2010) |
| Ports and terminals: | Ch'ongjin, Haeju, Hungnam (Hamhung), Namp'o, Senbong, Songnim, Sonbong (formerly Unggi), Wonsan |
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| Military | |
| Military branches: | North Korean People's Army: Ground Forces, Navy, Air Force; civil security forces (2005) |
| Military service age and obligation: | 17 years of age (2004) |
| Manpower available for military service: | males age 16-49: 6,515,279 females age 16-49: 6,418,693 (2010 est.) |
| Manpower fit for military service: | males age 16-49: 4,836,567 females age 16-49: 5,230,137 (2010 est.) |
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Source: CIA - The World Factbook