Statistical information North Korea 1999

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: 21,386,109 (July 1999 est.)
Growth rate: 1.45% (1999 est.)
Below poverty line: NA%
NationalityNoun: Korean(s)
Adjective: Korean
Ethnic groups: racially homogeneous; there is a small Chinese community and a few ethnic Japanese
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: 26% (male 2,800,748; female 2,666,207)
15-64 years: 68% (male 7,143,969; female 7,447,147)
65 years and over: 6% (male 412,161; female 915,877) (1999 est.)
Dependency ratiosMedian agePopulation growth rate: 1.45% (1999 est.)
Birth rate: 21.37 births/1000 population (1999 est.)
Death rate: 6.92 deaths/1000 population (1999 est.)
Net migration rate: 0 migrant(s)/1000 population (1999 est.)
Population distributionUrbanizationMajor urban areasEnvironmentCurrent issues: localized air pollution attributable to inadequate industrial controls; water pollution; inadequate supplies of potable water
International agreements party to: Antarctic Treaty, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Environmental Modification, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution
International agreements signed but not ratified: Antarctic-Environmental Protocol, Law of the Sea
Air pollutantsSex ratioAt birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
Under 15 years: 1.05 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 0.96 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.45 male(s)/female
Total population: 0.94 male(s)/female (1999 est.)
Mothers mean age at first birthMaternal mortality ratioInfant mortality rate: 25.52 deaths/1000 live births (1999 est.)
Life expectancy at birthTotal population: 70.07 years
Male: 67.41 years
Female: 72.86 years (1999 est.)
Total fertility rate: 2.3 children born/woman (1999 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, Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) Foundation Day
Note: 15 August 1945, date of independence from the Japanese and celebrated in North Korea as National Liberation Day
National holiday: Foundation Day, 9 September (1948)
Constitution: adopted 1948, completely revised 27 December 1972, revised again in April 1992 and September 1998
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; note_in September 1998, KIM Chong-il was reelected Chairman of the National Defense Commission, a position accorded the nation's "highest administrative authority"; KIM Young-nam was named President of the Supreme People's Assembly Presidium and given the responsibility of representing the state and receiving diplomatic credentials
Head of government: Premier HONG Song-nam (since 5 September 1998)
Cabinet: renamed DPRK Cabinet (naegak) on 5 September 1998; was previously called the State Administrative Council; Cabinet members, except for the Minister of People's Armed Forces, are appointed by the Supreme People's Assembly
Elections: premier elected by the Supreme People's Assembly
Election results: 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 26 July 1998 (next to be held NA)
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, 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 YI Hyong-chol
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: North Korea is the world's most centrally planned economy. Agricultural land is collectivized, state-owned industry produces nearly all manufactured goods, and heavy and military industries have long been developed at the expense of light and consumer industries. Open-air markets since 1995 have gained increasing importance in the distribution of food and consumer goods but private production remains extremely limited. Total economic output has fallen steadily since 1991_perhaps by as much as one-half_when the country's economic ties to the Soviet Union and Eastern Bloc collapsed. The slide has also been fueled by serious energy shortages, aging industrial facilities, and a lack of maintenance and new investment. The leadership has tried to maintain a high level of military spending but the armed forces have nonetheless been affected by the general economic decline. Although North Korea has long depended on imports to meet food needs, serious fertilizer shortages in recent years have combined with structural constraints_such as a shortage of arable land: and a short growing season_to reduce staple grain output to more than 1 million tons below what the country needs to meet even minimal demand. Widespread famine and disease have cost the lives of hundreds of thousands of North Koreans in 1994-98. The US, China, the international community, and nongovernmental organizations have sent aid but the problems remain extremely serious.
Real gdp purchasing power parityReal gdp growth rate: -5% (1998 est.)
Real gdp per capita: purchasing power parity: $1,000 (1998 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 force: 9.615 million
By occupation agricultural: 36%, nonagricultural 64%
Unemployment rate: NA%
Youth unemploymentPopulation below poverty line: NA%
Gini 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 balanceExports: $743 million (f.o.b., 1997 est.)
Commodities: minerals, metallurgical products, agricultural and fishery products, manufactures (including armaments)
Partners: Japan 28%, South Korea 21%, China 5%, Germany 4%, Russia 1% (1995)
Imports: $1.83 billion (c.i.f., 1997 est.)
Commodities: petroleum, grain, coking coal, machinery and equipment, consumer goods
Partners: China 33%, Japan 17%, Russia 5%, South Korea 4%, Germany 3% (1995)
Reserves of foreign exchange and goldDebt external: $12 billion (1996 est.)
Stock of direct foreign investment at homeStock of direct foreign investment abroadExchange rates: official: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; market:North Korean won (Wn) per US$1_200
top of pageElectricityProduction: 34 billion kWh (1996)
Production by source fossil fuel: 35.29%
Production by source hydro: 64.71%
Production by source nuclear: 0%
Production by source other: 0% (1996)
Consumption: 34 billion kWh (1996)
Exports: 0 kWh (1996)
Imports: 0 kWh (1996)
CoalPetroleumCrude oilRefined petroleumNatural gasCarbon dioxide emissionsEnergy consumption per capitatop of pageTelephones: 1.4 million (1998 est.)
Telephone systemDomestic: system is being expanded with installation of fiber-optic cable nationwide; access traditionally reserved for official and business subscribers; public access is expected to increase
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 (1997 est.)
Percent of gdp: 25% to 33% (1997 est.)
Military and security forcesMilitary service age and obligationSpace programTerrorist groupstop of pageNational air transport systemCivil aircraft registration country code prefixAirports: 49 (1994 est.) (1998 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; petroleum product 180 km
RailwaysBroad gauge: NA km
Total: 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 1.435-m and 1.600-m gauges (three rails) (1996 est.)
RoadwaysWaterways: 2,253 km; mostly navigable by small craft only
Merchant marineTotal: 110 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 691,802 GRT/992,789 DWT
Ships by type: bulk 8, cargo 91, combination bulk 1, multifunction large-load carrier 1, oil tanker 4, passenger 2, passenger-cargo 1, short-sea passenger 2 (1998 est.)
Ports and terminalstop of pageDisputes international: 33-km section of boundary with China in the Paektu-san (mountain) area is indefinite; Demarcation Line with South Korea
Refugees and internally displaced personsIllicit drugs