Korea, Democratic People’s Republic of Unemployment Rate
Unemployment as % of total labor force SL.UEM.TOTL.ZS
Korea, Democratic People’s Republic of's unemployment rate was 3.55% in 2025, ranked 59th globally. This represents a 0.2% increase from 2024. Data from World Bank, covering 1991–2025.
Overview
Korea, Democratic People’s Republic of's unemployment rate stood at 3.55% in 2025, a rise of +0.01pp from 2024. Korea, Democratic People’s Republic of ranked 59th globally.
North Korea’s unemployment rate has risen modestly over the 35‑year span covered by World Bank data, moving from a trough of 2.85 % in 1991 to an all‑time peak of 3.69 % in 2021 before easing to the latest 2025 level of 3.54 %, which places the country 59th globally. The gradual upward drift suggests a limited but persistent slack in the labour market, contrasting with the more stable trajectories observed in peers such as Bulgaria, which records the same 3.54 % rate, and Kyrgyz Republic at 3.53 %. The narrow margin between the peak and current figures indicates that the labour market has not experienced a sharp shock since the early 2020s, and the recent decline from the 2021 high may reflect modest policy adjustments or external economic pressures easing. Continued monitoring of macro‑policy reforms and external trade conditions will determine whether the current downward momentum can be sustained or if the rate will revert toward its recent peak.
Data & projection
| Year | Unemployment Rate | YoY change | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 3.55% | +0.01pp | #59 |
| 2024 | 3.54% | +0.08pp | #60 |
| 2023 | 3.46% | +0.01pp | #57 |
| 2022 | 3.46% | −0.24pp | #47 |
| 2021 | 3.69% | +0.07pp | #40 |
| 2020 | 3.62% | +0.19pp | #38 |
| 2019 | 3.44% | +0.03pp | #49 |
| 2018 | 3.41% | −0.09pp | #44 |
| 2017 | 3.50% | −0.08pp | #44 |
| 2016 | 3.57% | +0.05pp | #44 |
| 2015 | 3.52% | +0.01pp | #42 |
| 2014 | 3.51% | −0.06pp | #43 |
| 2013 | 3.57% | +0.03pp | #43 |
| 2012 | 3.54% | +0.03pp | #41 |
| 2011 | 3.52% | +0.10pp | #42 |
Analysis
Korea, Democratic People’s Republic of's unemployment rate was 3.55% in 2025, a rise of +0.01pp from 2024.
Frequently Asked Questions
Korea, Democratic People’s Republic of's unemployment rate was 3.55% in 2025. Ranked 59th globally. This represents a 0.2% increase from the previous year.
Korea, Democratic People’s Republic of's unemployment rate peaked at 3.69% in 2021.
The lowest unemployment rate in Korea, Democratic People’s Republic of was 2.85% in 1991.
Korea, Democratic People’s Republic of ranks 59th globally in unemployment rate as of 2025.
The World Bank indicator code is SL.UEM.TOTL.ZS. Data sourced from World Bank.
The unemployment rate of Korea, Democratic People’s Republic of in 2025 was 3.55%. This ranks 59th in the world.
Cite this page
@misc{historysaid_korea-democratic-people-s-republic-of_unemployment-rate,
title = {Korea, Democratic People’s Republic of Unemployment Rate},
url = {https://historysaid.com/korea-democratic-people-s-republic-of/unemployment-rate/},
publisher = {HistorySaid},
year = {2026}
}