Korea, Democratic People’s Republic of Labor Force Participation
Labor force participation rate SL.TLF.CACT.ZS
Korea, Democratic People’s Republic of's labor force participation was 82.15% in 2025, ranked 7th globally. This represents a 0.0% decrease from 2024. Data from World Bank, covering 1990–2025.
Overview
Korea, Democratic People’s Republic of's labor force participation stood at 82.15% in 2025, a decline of +0.01pp from 2024. Based on recent trends, this figure is projected to reach 82.74% by 2026. Korea, Democratic People’s Republic of ranked 7th globally.
North Korea’s labor‑force participation rate has remained remarkably high over the past 36 years, standing at 82.15 percent in 2025, which places the country seventh in the world. The indicator edged upward from its earliest recorded level of 81.49 percent in 1990, reaching an all‑time peak of 82.30 percent in 1998 before slipping to a trough of 80.62 percent in 2020. The modest rise since the 2020 low reflects a gradual re‑engagement of the working‑age population, outpacing peers such as Uganda (80.03 percent) while remaining just below Nigeria’s 82.52 percent. The consistency of participation suggests limited fluctuations in demographic structure or labor‑market policies, yet the narrow margin between peak and current levels indicates little room for substantial expansion without structural reforms. Continued improvement will likely depend on policies that broaden employment opportunities for women and younger workers, which could lift the participation rate beyond its historical ceiling.
Data & projection
| Year | Labor Force Participation | YoY change | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2028* trend | 83.31% | - | - |
| 2027* trend | 83.03% | - | - |
| 2026* trend | 82.74% | - | - |
| 2025 | 82.15% | −0.01pp | #7 |
| 2024 | 82.16% | +0.00pp | #7 |
| 2023 | 82.16% | +0.01pp | #7 |
| 2022 | 82.15% | +1.44pp | #6 |
| 2021 | 80.71% | +0.09pp | #5 |
| 2020 | 80.62% | −1.56pp | #6 |
| 2019 | 82.18% | +0.00pp | #6 |
| 2018 | 82.18% | +0.09pp | #5 |
| 2017 | 82.09% | +0.07pp | #5 |
| 2016 | 82.02% | −0.06pp | #5 |
| 2015 | 82.08% | +0.03pp | #5 |
| 2014 | 82.05% | −0.01pp | #5 |
| 2013 | 82.06% | −0.01pp | #6 |
| 2012 | 82.07% | −0.02pp | #6 |
| 2011 | 82.09% | −0.01pp | #6 |
Analysis
Korea, Democratic People’s Republic of's labor force participation was 82.15% in 2025, a decline of −0.01pp from 2024. Based on trends, estimated 82.74% by 2026.
Frequently Asked Questions
Korea, Democratic People’s Republic of's labor force participation was 82.15% in 2025. Ranked 7th globally. This represents a 0.0% decrease from the previous year.
Korea, Democratic People’s Republic of's labor force participation peaked at 82.30% in 1998.
The lowest labor force participation in Korea, Democratic People’s Republic of was 80.62% in 2020.
Korea, Democratic People’s Republic of ranks 7th globally in labor force participation as of 2025.
The World Bank indicator code is SL.TLF.CACT.ZS. Data sourced from World Bank.
Korea, Democratic People’s Republic of's labor force participation is projected to reach 82.74% by 2026 based on trend extrapolation.
The labor force participation of Korea, Democratic People’s Republic of in 2025 was 82.15%. This ranks 7th in the world.
Cite this page
@misc{historysaid_korea-democratic-people-s-republic-of_labor-force-participation,
title = {Korea, Democratic People’s Republic of Labor Force Participation},
url = {https://historysaid.com/korea-democratic-people-s-republic-of/labor-force-participation/},
publisher = {HistorySaid},
year = {2026}
}