Korea, Democratic People’s Republic of Agriculture Employment
Employment in agriculture SL.AGR.EMPL.ZS
Korea, Democratic People’s Republic of's agriculture employment was 54.08% in 2025, ranked 164th globally. This represents a 0.4% decrease from 2024. Data from World Bank, covering 1991–2025.
Overview
Korea, Democratic People’s Republic of's agriculture employment stood at 54.08% in 2025, a decline of +0.22% from 2024. Based on recent trends, this figure is projected to reach 53.77% by 2026. Korea, Democratic People’s Republic of ranked 164th globally.
Agricultural employment in the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea has remained relatively stable over the 35‑year series, rising modestly from 52.54 % of the labor force in 1991 to 54.08 % in 2025, a figure that places the country 164th globally. The sector’s share peaked at 56.49 % in 1998 before slipping to a trough of 52.39 % in 2016, indicating limited volatility despite broader economic reforms. Compared with peer economies of similar rank, the DPRK’s 2025 level is slightly lower than Zimbabwe’s 54.31 % and Zambia’s 54.53 % but higher than Angola’s 51.95 % and Burkina Faso’s 51.78 %. The persistence of a high agricultural labor share reflects the continued dominance of subsistence farming and limited industrial diversification. If structural reforms expand manufacturing and services, the proportion of workers in agriculture could gradually decline, steering the economy toward a more balanced employment profile.
Data & projection
| Year | Agriculture Employment | YoY change | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2028* trend | 53.23% | - | - |
| 2027* trend | 53.50% | - | - |
| 2026* trend | 53.77% | - | - |
| 2025 | 54.08% | −0.22% | #164 |
| 2024 | 54.30% | −0.20% | #164 |
| 2023 | 54.49% | −0.48% | #165 |
| 2022 | 54.97% | −0.13% | #166 |
| 2021 | 55.10% | +0.63% | #166 |
| 2020 | 54.47% | +1.55% | #166 |
| 2019 | 52.92% | −0.21% | #166 |
| 2018 | 53.13% | +0.40% | #165 |
| 2017 | 52.73% | +0.34% | #163 |
| 2016 | 52.39% | −0.52% | #161 |
| 2015 | 52.91% | +0.01% | #163 |
| 2014 | 52.90% | −0.23% | #162 |
| 2013 | 53.12% | −0.23% | #161 |
| 2012 | 53.35% | −0.22% | #160 |
| 2011 | 53.58% | −0.13% | #159 |
Analysis
Korea, Democratic People’s Republic of's agriculture employment was 54.08% in 2025, a decline of −0.22% from 2024. Based on trends, estimated 53.77% by 2026.
Frequently Asked Questions
Korea, Democratic People’s Republic of's agriculture employment was 54.08% in 2025. Ranked 164th globally. This represents a 0.4% decrease from the previous year.
Korea, Democratic People’s Republic of's agriculture employment peaked at 56.49% in 1998.
The lowest agriculture employment in Korea, Democratic People’s Republic of was 52.39% in 2016.
Korea, Democratic People’s Republic of ranks 164th globally in agriculture employment as of 2025.
The World Bank indicator code is SL.AGR.EMPL.ZS. Data sourced from World Bank.
Korea, Democratic People’s Republic of's agriculture employment is projected to reach 53.77% by 2026 based on trend extrapolation.
The agriculture employment of Korea, Democratic People’s Republic of in 2025 was 54.08%. This ranks 164th in the world.
Cite this page
@misc{historysaid_korea-democratic-people-s-republic-of_agriculture-employment,
title = {Korea, Democratic People’s Republic of Agriculture Employment},
url = {https://historysaid.com/korea-democratic-people-s-republic-of/agriculture-employment/},
publisher = {HistorySaid},
year = {2026}
}