Statistical information North Korea 1997

North Korea in the World
top of pageBackground: At the end of World War II, the US and the Soviet Union agreed that US troops would accept the surrender of Japanese forces south of the 38th parallel and the Soviet Union would do so in the north. In 1948, the UN proposed nationwide elections; after P'yongyang's refusal to allow UN inspectors in the north, elections were held in the south and the Republic of Korea was established. The Democratic People's Republic of Korea was established the following month in the north. Communist North Korean forces invaded South Korea in 1950. US and other UN forces intervened to defend the South and Chinese forces intervened on behalf of the North. After a bitter three-year war, an armistice was signed in 1953, establishing a military demarcation line near the 38th parallel. The North's heavy investment in military forces has produced an army of 1 million troops equipped with thousands of tanks and artillery pieces. Despite growing economic hardships, North Korea continues to devote a significant portion of its scarce resources to the military.
top of pageLocation: 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
Map reference:
AsiaAreaTotal: 120,540 km²
Land: 120,410 km²
Water: 130 km²
Comparative: slightly smaller than Mississippi
Land boundariesTotal: 1,673 km
Border countries: (3) China 1,416 km;
, South Korea 238 km;
, Russia 19 kmCoastline: 2,495 km
Maritime claimsTerritorial sea: 12 nm
Exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
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
ElevationExtremes lowest point: Sea of Japan 0 m
Extremes highest point: Paektu-san 2,744 m
Natural resources: coal, lead, tungsten, zinc, graphite, magnesite, iron ore, copper, gold, pyrites, salt, fluorspar, hydropower
Land useArable land: 14%
Permanent crops: 2%
Permanent pastures: 0%
Forests and woodland: 61%
Other: 23% (1993 est.)
Irrigated land: 14,600 km² (1993 est.)
Major riversMajor watersheds area km²Total water withdrawalTotal renewable water resourcesNatural hazards: late spring droughts often followed by severe flooding; occasional typhoons during the early fall
GeographyNote: strategic location bordering China, South Korea, and Russia; mountainous interior is isolated, nearly inaccessible, and sparsely populated
top of pagePopulation: 24,317,004 (July 1997 est.)
Growth rate: 1.68% (1997 est.)
NationalityNoun: Korean(s)
Adjective: Korean
Ethnic groups: racially homogeneous
Languages: Korean
Religions: Buddhism and Confucianism, some Christianity and syncretic Chondogyo
Note: autonomous religious activities now almost nonexistent; government-sponsored religious groups exist to provide illusion of religious freedom
Demographic profileAge structure0-14 years: 30% (male 3,672,851; female 3,528,590)
15-64 years: 66% (male 7,996,814; female 8,068,347)
65 years and over: 4% (male 372,818; female 677,584) (July 1997 est.)
Dependency ratiosMedian agePopulation growth rate: 1.68% (1997 est.)
Birth rate: 22.27 births/1000 population (1997 est.)
Death rate: 5.43 deaths/1000 population (1997 est.)
Net migration rate: 0 migrant(s)/1000 population (1997 est.)
Population distributionUrbanizationMajor urban areasEnvironmentCurrent issues: localized air pollution attributable to inadequate industrial controls; water pollution; inadequate supplies of potable water
Air pollutantsSex ratioAt birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
Under 15 years: 1.04 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 0.99 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.55 male(s)/female
Total population: 0.98 male(s)/female (1997 est.)
Mothers mean age at first birthMaternal mortality ratioInfant mortality rate: 25 deaths/1000 live births (1997 est.)
Life expectancy at birthTotal population: 70.6 years
Male: 67.5 years
Female: 73.85 years (1997 est.)
Total fertility rate: 2.29 children born/woman (1997 est.)
Contraceptive prevalence rateDrinking water sourceCurrent health expenditurePhysicians densityHospital bed densitySanitation facility accessHiv/AidsMajor infectious diseasesObesity adult prevalence rateAlcohol consumptionTobacco useChildren under the age of 5 years underweightEducation expendituresLiteracyDefinition: age 15 and over can read and write Korean
Total population: 99%
Male: 99%
Female: 99% (1990 est.)
School life expectancy primary to tertiary educationYouth unemploymenttop of pageCountry nameConventional long form: Democratic People's Republic of Korea
Conventional short form: North Korea
Local long form: Choson-minjujuui-inmin-konghwaguk
Local short form: none
Note: the North Koreans generally use the term "Choson" to refer to their country
Abbreviation: DPRK
Government type: Communist state; one-man dictatorship
Capital: P'yongyang
Administrative divisions: 9 provinces (do, singular and plural) and 3 special cities* (si, singular and plural; Chagang-do (Chagang Province), Hamgyong-bukto (North Hamgyong Province), Hamgyong-namdo (South Hamgyong Province), Hwanghae-bukto (North Hwanghae Province), Hwanghae-namdo (South Hwanghae Province), Kaesong-si* (Kaesong City), Kangwon-do (Kangwon Province), Namp'o-si* (Namp'o City), P'yongan-bukto (North P'yongan Province), P'yongan-namdo (South P'yongan Province), P'yongyang-si* (P'yongyang City), Yanggang-do (Yanggang Province)
Dependent areasIndependence: 9 September 1948
Note: 15 August 1945, date of independence from the Japanese and celebrated in North Korea as National Liberation Day
National holiday: DPRK Foundation Day, 9 September (1948)
Constitution: adopted 1948, completely revised 27 December 1972, revised again in April 1992
Legal system: based on German civil law system with Japanese influences and Communist legal theory; no judicial review of legislative acts; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
International law organization participationCitizenshipSuffrage: 17 years of age; universal
Executive branchChief of state: KIM Chong-il [de facto]; note - President KIM Il-song was reelected without opposition 24 May 1990 and died 8 July 1994 leaving his son KIM Chong-il as designated successor; however the son has not assumed the titles that his father held and no new elections have been held or scheduled
Head of government: Acting Premier HONG Song-nam (since NA February 1997)
Cabinet: State Administration Council appointed by the Supreme People's Assembly
Elections: premier elected by the Supreme People's Assembly
Election results: HONG Song-nam elected acting premier; percent of Supreme People's Assembly vote - NA
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 7-9 April 1990 (next to be held NA); note - the term of the Assembly expired in April 1995 without a new election and it has not been convened since the death of KIM Il-song in July 1994
Election results: percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - the KWP approves a single list of candidates who are elected without opposition; minor parties hold a few seats
Judicial branch: Central Court, judges are elected by the Supreme People's Assembly
Political parties and leadersInternational organization participation: ESCAP, FAO, G-77, ICAO, ICRM, IFAD, IFRCS, IHO, IMO, Intelsat (nonsignatory user), IOC, ISO, ITU, NAM, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO
Diplomatic representationIn the us: none; note - North Korea has a Permanent Mission to the UN in New York, headed by KIM Hyong-u
From the us: none
Flag description
: three horizontal bands of blue (top), red (triple width), and blue; the red band is edged in white; on the hoist side of the red band is a white disk with a red five-pointed star
National symbolsNational anthemNational heritagetop of pageEconomy overview: More than 90% of this command economy is socialized; agricultural land is collectivized; and state-owned industry produces 95% of manufactured goods. State control of economic affairs is unusually tight even for a communist country because of the small size and homogeneity of the society and the strict rule of KIM Il-song in the past and now his son, KIM Chong-il. Economic growth during the period 1984-88 averaged 2%-3%, but output declined by an average of 4%-5% annually during 1989-96 because of systemic problems and disruptions in socialist-style economic relations and technological links with the former USSR and China. The leadership has insisted on maintaining its high level of military outlays from a shrinking economic pie. Moreover, a serious drawdown in inventories and critical shortages in the energy sector have led to increasing interruptions in industrial production. Abundant mineral resources and hydropower have formed the basis of industrial development since World War II. Manufacturing is centered on heavy industry, including military industry, with light industry lagging far behind. Despite the use of improved seed varieties, expansion of irrigation, and the heavy use of fertilizers, North Korea has not yet become self-sufficient in food production. Indeed, a shortage of arable lands, several years of poor harvests, systemic inefficiencies, a cumbersome distribution system, and extensive floods in 1995-96 have resulted in recurring food shortages. Substantial grain shipments from Japan and South Korea are offsetting a portion of the losses. North Korea remains far behind South Korea in economic development and living standards.
Real gdp purchasing power parityReal gdp growth rate: -5% (1996 est.)
Real gdp per capita: purchasing power parity - $900 (1996 est.)
Gross national savingGdp composition by sector of origin
Gdp composition by end useGdp composition by sector of originAgriculture: 25%
Industry: 60%
Services: 15% (1995 est.)
Agriculture products: rice, corn, potatoes, soybeans, pulses; cattle, pigs, pork, eggs
Industries: military products; machine building, electric power, chemicals; mining (coal, iron ore, magnesite, graphite, copper, zinc, lead, and precious metals), metallurgy; textiles, food processing
Industrial production growth rate: -7% to -9% (1992 est.)
Labor forceTotal: 9.615 million
By occupation agricultural: 36%, nonagricultural 64%
Unemployment rate: NA%
Youth unemploymentPopulation below poverty lineGini indexHousehold income or consumption by percentage shareDistribution of family income gini indexBudgetRevenues: $19.3 billion
Expenditures: $19.3 billion, including capital expenditures of $N/A (1992 est.)
Taxes and other revenuesPublic debtRevenueFiscal year: calendar year
Inflation rate consumer pricesCentral bank discount rateCommercial bank prime lending rateStock of narrow moneyStock of broad moneyStock of domestic creditMarket value of publicly traded sharesCurrent account balanceExportsTotal value: $805 million (f.o.b., 1995 est.)
Commodities: minerals, metallurgical products, agricultural and fishery products, manufactures (including armaments)
Partners: China, Japan, South Korea, Germany, Hong Kong, Russia
ImportsTotal value: $1.24 billion (c.i.f., 1995 est.)
Commodities: petroleum, grain, coking coal, machinery and equipment, consumer goods
Partners: China, Japan, Hong Kong, Germany, Russia, Singapore
Reserves of foreign exchange and goldDebt external: $8 billion (1992 est.)
Stock of direct foreign investment at homeStock of direct foreign investment abroadExchange rates: North Korean won (Wn) per US$1 - 2.15 (May 1994), 2.13 (May 1992), 2.14 (September 1991), 2.1 (January 1990), 2.3 (December 1989)
top of pageElectricityCapacity: 9.5 million kW (1994)
Production: 35.96 billion kWh (1994)
Consumption per capita: 1,394 kWh (1995 est.)
CoalPetroleumCrude oilRefined petroleumNatural gasCarbon dioxide emissionsEnergy consumption per capitatop of pageTelephones: 30,000 (1990 est.)
Telephone system: system is believed to be available principally for government business
Domestic: NA
International: satellite earth stations - 1 Intelsat (Indian Ocean) and 1 Intersputnik (Indian Ocean Region); other international connections through Moscow and Beijing
Broadcast mediaInternetBroadband fixed subscriptionstop of pageMilitary expendituresDollar figure: $5 billion to $7 billion (1995 est.)
Percent of gdp: 25% (1995 est.)
Military and security forcesMilitary service age and obligationSpace programTerrorist groupstop of pageNational air transport systemCivil aircraft registration country code prefixAirports: 49 (1994 est.)
With paved runways total: 22
With paved runways over 3047 m: 2
With paved runways 2438 to 3047 m: 15
With paved runways 15-24 to 2437 m: 2
With paved runways 914 to 1523 m: 1
With paved runways under 914 m: 2 (1994 est.)
With unpaved runways total: 27
With unpaved runways 2438 to 3047 m: 4
With unpaved runways 15-24 to 2437 m: 5
With unpaved runways 914 to 1523 m: 12
With unpaved runways under 914 m: 6 (1994 est.)
HeliportsPipelines: crude oil 37 km
RailwaysTotal: 5,000 km
Standard gauge: 4,095 km 1.435-m gauge (3,500 km electrified; 159 km double track)
Narrow gauge: 665 km 0.762-m gauge
Dual gauge: 240 km (standard and broad gauge) (1996 est.)
RoadwaysWaterways: 2,253 km; mostly navigable by small craft only
Merchant marineTotal: 99 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 641,090 GRT/899,243 DWT
Ships by type: bulk 8, cargo 83, combination bulk 1, oil tanker 2, passenger 2, passenger-cargo 1, short-sea passenger 2
Note: North Korea owns an additional 5 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 58,435 DWT operating under the registries of Cambodia, Honduras, and Poland (1996 est.)
Ports and terminalstop of pageDisputes international: short section of boundary with China is indefinite; Demarcation Line with South Korea
Refugees and internally displaced personsIllicit drugs