North Korea hunger
Last reviewed: 10-07-2008
Korea (North)
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BASIC FACTS
Capital
Pyongyang
Language
Korean
Source: New Internationalist World Guide
Area size
120410 sq. km
Area comparison
Slightly smaller than England
Population
| 2009 | 23.9 million | U.N. Department of Economic and Social Affairs (DESA) Population Division (2009) |
| 2007 | 23.9 million | U.N. Department of Economic and Social Affairs (DESA) Population Division (2006) |
| 2006 | 23.7 million | U.N. DESA (2006) |
| 2005 | 23.6 million | U.N. DESA (2006) |
| 2004 | 23.5 million | U.N. DESA (2006) |
| 2003 | 23.4 million | U.N. DESA (2006) |
| 2002 | 23.3 million | U.N. DESA (2006) |
| 2001 | 23.1 million | U.N. DESA (2006) |
| 2000 | 22.9 million | U.N. DESA (2006) |
Future population estimates
24.6 million (2050)
Source: U.N. DESA (2009)
PEOPLE
Language
Korean
Source: New Internationalist World Guide
Population
Future population estimates
24.6 million (2050)
Source: U.N. DESA (2009)
Ethnic groups
Koreans constitute an homogenous ethnic group; there are no significant minorities.
Source: NI World Guide
Religion
Buddhism, Confucianism and Chondokio are the principal religions and belief systems, though the state limits religious activities.
Source: NI World Guide
Percentage urban population
Year women granted right to vote
1946
Source: U.N. Development Programme (UNDP) Human Development Report
Where two figures are shown, the first refers to a partial recognition of the right to vote and the second to the year women received the right to vote on a universal and equal basis.
Net percentage of girls enrolled in primary education
No data available
Percentage of population under 15
Korean
Source: New Internationalist World Guide
Population
| 2009 | 23.9 million | U.N. Department of Economic and Social Affairs (DESA) Population Division (2009) |
| 2007 | 23.9 million | U.N. Department of Economic and Social Affairs (DESA) Population Division (2006) |
| 2006 | 23.7 million | U.N. DESA (2006) |
| 2005 | 23.6 million | U.N. DESA (2006) |
| 2004 | 23.5 million | U.N. DESA (2006) |
| 2003 | 23.4 million | U.N. DESA (2006) |
| 2002 | 23.3 million | U.N. DESA (2006) |
| 2001 | 23.1 million | U.N. DESA (2006) |
| 2000 | 22.9 million | U.N. DESA (2006) |
Future population estimates
24.6 million (2050)
Source: U.N. DESA (2009)
Ethnic groups
Koreans constitute an homogenous ethnic group; there are no significant minorities.
Source: NI World Guide
Religion
Buddhism, Confucianism and Chondokio are the principal religions and belief systems, though the state limits religious activities.
Source: NI World Guide
Percentage urban population
| 2007 | 62.3 percent | U.N. DESA - World Urbanisation Prospects 2005 |
| 2006 | 61.9 percent | U.N. DESA (2005) |
| 2005 | 61.6 percent | U.N. DESA (2005) |
| 2004 | 61.3 percent | U.N. DESA (2005) |
| 2003 | 61.0 percent | U.N. DESA (2005) |
| 2002 | 60.7 percent | U.N. DESA (2005) |
| 2001 | 60.4 percent | U.N. DESA (2005) |
| 2000 | 60.2 percent | U.N. DESA (2005) |
Year women granted right to vote
1946
Source: U.N. Development Programme (UNDP) Human Development Report
Where two figures are shown, the first refers to a partial recognition of the right to vote and the second to the year women received the right to vote on a universal and equal basis.
Net percentage of girls enrolled in primary education
No data available
Percentage of population under 15
| 2005 | 24.2 percent | U.N. Development Programme (UNDP) 2007 |
| 2004 | 25.4 percent | UNDP 2006 |
| 2003 | 25.8 percent | UNDP 2005 |
| 2001 | No data available percent | |
| 2000 | No data available percent |
USEFUL INFORMATION
Time zone
GMT +9
Climate description
Generally hot summers, severe winters with frequent snow and frost
Currency
Won
Telephone dialling code
(+) 850
Driving (left/right)
Right
GMT +9
Climate description
Generally hot summers, severe winters with frequent snow and frost
Currency
Won
Telephone dialling code
(+) 850
Driving (left/right)
Right
STANDARD OF LIVING
Average life expectancy
Life expectancy - male
Life expectancy - female
Infant mortality
Child mortality - deaths before the age of five
Births attended by skilled personnel
Maternal mortality
Human development index (HDI rank)
No data available (2001)
Percentage of children under weight for age (under age 5)
Percentage of undernourished population
Food intake falls below the minimum requirement.
Population with access to improved water
Population with access to improved sanitation
Literacy - average
Literacy - male
No data available percent
Literacy - female
No data available percent
Landlines telephones
Cellular telephone subscribers
No data available per 1,000 people
Internet users
No data available per 1,000 people
Transparency International corruption ranking (Scale: 1 = least corrupt, >175 = most corrupt)
Signatory of International Convention on the Prevention and Punishment for the crime of Genocide
Yes (1948)
Source: UNDP - Human Development Report
Signatory of the Convention against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment
No (1984)
Source: UNDP - Human Development Report
Signatory of the Convention on the Rights of the Child
Yes (1989)
Source: UNDP - Human Development Report
| 2005 | No data available years | |
| 2004 | 63.3 years | UNDP 2006 |
| 2003 | 63.1 years | UNDP 2005 |
| 2001 | No data available years | |
| 2000 | No data available years |
Life expectancy - male
| 2005 | 64.6 years | U.N. Development Programme (UNDP) 2007 |
| 2004 | 60.5 years | UNDP 2006 |
| 2003 | No data available years |
Life expectancy - female
| 2005 | 68.8 years | U.N. Development Programme (UNDP) 2007 |
| 2004 | 66.4 years | UNDP 2006 |
| 2003 | No data available years | |
| 2000 | No data available years |
Infant mortality
| 2007 | 42 per 1,000 live births | U.N. Children's Fund (UNICEF) - State of the World's Children 2009 |
| 2006 | 42 per 1,000 live births | UNICEF - State of the World's Children 2008 |
| 2005 | 42 per 1,000 live births | U.N. Children's Fund (UNICEF) - State of the World's Children 2007 |
| 2004 | 42 per 1,000 live births | UNICEF - State of the World's Children 2006 |
| 2003 | No data available per 1,000 live births | |
| 2002 | No data available per 1,000 live births | |
| 2001 | 42 per 1,000 live births | UNDP - Human Development Report 2003 |
| 2000 | No data available per 1,000 live births |
Child mortality - deaths before the age of five
| 2007 | 55 per 1,000 live births | U.N. Children's Fund (UNICEF) - State of the World's Children 2009 |
| 2006 | 55 per 1,000 live births | UNICEF - State of the World's Children 2008 |
| 2005 | 55 per 1,000 live births | UNICEF - State of the World's Children 2007 |
| 2004 | 55 per 1,000 live births | UNICEF - State of the World's Children 2006 |
| 2003 | 55 per 1,000 live births | UNDP 2005 |
| 2002 | 55 per 1,000 live births | UNDP Human Development Report 2005 |
Births attended by skilled personnel
| 1997-2005 | 97 percent | U.N. Development Programme (UNDP) 2007 |
| 1996-2004 | 97 percent | UNDP 2006 |
| 1995-2003 | 97 percent | UNDP 2005 |
| 1995-2002 | No data available percent | |
| 1995-2001 | No data available percent | |
| 1995-2000 | No data available percent |
Maternal mortality
| 2005 | No data available per 100,000 live births | |
| 2000 | 67 per 100,000 live births | UNDP 2006 |
Human development index (HDI rank)
No data available (2001)
Percentage of children under weight for age (under age 5)
| 2000-2007 | 23 percent | U.N. Children's Fund (UNICEF) - State of the World's Children 2009 |
| 2000-2006 | 23 percent | UNICEF - State of the World's Children 2008 |
| 1996-2005 | No data available percent | |
| 1996-2004 | 23 percent | UNICEF - State of the World's Children 2006 |
| 1995-2003 | No data available percent | |
| 1995-2002 | No data available percent | |
| 1995-2000 | No data available percent |
Percentage of undernourished population
| 2003-2005 | 32 percent | U.N. Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) 2008 |
| 2002-2004average | 33 percent | U.N. Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) 2006 |
| 2001-2003average | 35 percent | FAO 2006 |
Food intake falls below the minimum requirement.
Population with access to improved water
| 2006 | 100 percent | UNICEF and WHO 2008 |
| 2004 | 100 percent | UNICEF and World Health Organisation (WHO) 2006 |
| 2002 | No data available percent |
Population with access to improved sanitation
| 2006 | No data available percent | |
| 2004 | 59 percent | UNICEF and WHO 2006 |
| 2002 | No data available percent |
Literacy - average
| 2004 | 98.0 percent | UNDP 2006 |
| 2003 | 98.0 percent | UNDP 2005 |
| 2001 | No data available percent | |
| 2000 | No data available percent |
Literacy - male
No data available percent
Literacy - female
No data available percent
Landlines telephones
| 2008 | 50 per 1,000 people | ITU 2009 |
| 2007 | 50 per 1,000 people | ITU 2009 |
| 2006 | 42 per 1,000 people | ITU 2009 |
| 2005 | 43 per 1,000 people | ITU 2009 |
| 2004 | 43 per 1,000 people | ITU 2009 |
| 2003 | 42 per 1,000 people | ITU 2009 |
| 2002 | 40 per 1,000 people | ITU 2009 |
| 2001 | 37 per 1,000 people | ITU 2009 |
| 2000 | 22 per 1,000 people | ITU 2009 |
Cellular telephone subscribers
No data available per 1,000 people
Internet users
No data available per 1,000 people
Transparency International corruption ranking (Scale: 1 = least corrupt, >175 = most corrupt)
| 2008 | Not ranked | |
| 2007 | Not ranked | |
| 2006 | Not ranked |
Signatory of International Convention on the Prevention and Punishment for the crime of Genocide
Yes (1948)
Source: UNDP - Human Development Report
Signatory of the Convention against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment
No (1984)
Source: UNDP - Human Development Report
Signatory of the Convention on the Rights of the Child
Yes (1989)
Source: UNDP - Human Development Report
ECONOMY & AID
Percentage of population living on less than US$1 a day
2.0 percent (1990-2005)
Source: UNDP - Human Development Report 2007/2008
GNI per capita, Atlas method
The purpose of the Atlas conversion factor is to reduce the impact of exchange rate fluctuations in a cross-country comparison of national incomes. The Atlas conversion factor for any year is the average of a country's exchange rate (or alternative conversion factor) for that year and its exchange rates for the two preceding years.
GDP
No data available current US$ billions
Annual GDP growth
No data available percent
Annual inflation
No data available percent
Share of income or consumption (poorest 10 percent)
No data available
Share of income or consumption (richest 10 percent)
No data available
2.0 percent (1990-2005)
Source: UNDP - Human Development Report 2007/2008
GNI per capita, Atlas method
| 2007 | No data available current US$ | |
| 2006 | No data available current US$ | |
| 2005 | No data available current US$ | |
| 2004 | No data available current US$ | |
| 2003 | No data available current US$ | |
| 2002 | No data available current US$ | |
| 2001 | No data available current US$ | |
| 2000 | current US$ | World Bank Data Profile Tables 2008 |
The purpose of the Atlas conversion factor is to reduce the impact of exchange rate fluctuations in a cross-country comparison of national incomes. The Atlas conversion factor for any year is the average of a country's exchange rate (or alternative conversion factor) for that year and its exchange rates for the two preceding years.
GDP
No data available current US$ billions
Annual GDP growth
No data available percent
Annual inflation
No data available percent
Share of income or consumption (poorest 10 percent)
No data available
Share of income or consumption (richest 10 percent)
No data available
HEALTH
Physicians
Percentage HIV+ (adults aged 15-49)
No data available percent
Malaria
Limited malaria risk which is exclusively due to P.vivax and exists in some southern areas.
Source: WHO
TB cases
| 2000-2004 | 329 per 100,000 people | U.N. Development Programme (UNDP) 2007 |
| 1990-2004 | 329 per 100,000 people | UNDP 2006 |
| 1990-2003 | No data available per 100,000 people | |
| 1990-2002 | No data available per 100,000 people |
Percentage HIV+ (adults aged 15-49)
No data available percent
Malaria
Limited malaria risk which is exclusively due to P.vivax and exists in some southern areas.
Source: WHO
TB cases
| 2007 | 344 per 100,000 people | WHO 2009 |
| 2006 | 344 per 100,000 people | WHO 2009 |
| 2005 | 344 per 100,000 people | WHO 2009 |
| 2004 | 344 per 100,000 people | WHO 2009 |
| 2003 | 344 per 100,000 people | WHO 2009 |
| 2002 | 344 per 100,000 people | WHO 2009 |
| 2001 | 344 per 100,000 people | WHO 2009 |
| 2000 | 344 per 100,000 people | WHO 2009 |
CONFLICT & MIGRATION
Number of refugees originating here
Number of refugees residing here
No data available
Number of internally displaced people\Estimate
Landmine casualties per year
Casualty figures may include both civilians and military personnel injured or killed by landmines and unexploded ordnance.
Signatory to landmine convention?
No
Source: Landmine Monitor Report
Percentage of GDP spent on military
No data available percent
Percentage of GDP spent on education
No data available percent
Percentage of GDP spent on health
| 2008 | 886 | UNHCR |
| 2007 | 605 | UNHCR |
| 2006 | 397 | Office of the U.N. High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) |
| 2005 | 288 | UNHCR |
| 2004 | 343 | UNHCR |
| 2002 | No data available | |
| 2001 | No data available | |
| 2000 | No data available |
Number of refugees residing here
No data available
Number of internally displaced people\Estimate
| No data available | |||
Landmine casualties per year
| 2008 | No data available | Landmine Monitor Report 2008 |
| 2007 | No data available | Landmine Monitor Report 2008 |
| 2004 | No data available | Landmine Monitor Report 2005 |
| 2003 | No data available | Landmine Monitor Report 2004 |
Casualty figures may include both civilians and military personnel injured or killed by landmines and unexploded ordnance.
Signatory to landmine convention?
No
Source: Landmine Monitor Report
Percentage of GDP spent on military
No data available percent
Percentage of GDP spent on education
No data available percent
Percentage of GDP spent on health
| 2004 | 3 percent | U.N. Development Programme (UNDP) 2007 |
| 2003-2004 | 5.3 percent | UNDP - Human Development Report 2006 |
| 2002 | 3.5 percent | UNDP 2005 |
| 2001 | No data available percent | |
| 2000 | No data available percent |
• Public Health Promoter – Humanitarian Support Professional (HSP) (Oxfam GB)
Oxfam GB - UK
• Senior International & Relief Service Officer (1-year contract & renewable)
Red Cross - Hong Kong
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