Rural population (% of total population) (Rural World Urbanization) in North Korea
North Korea: Rural population (% of total population) (Rural World Urbanization) was 35.8% in 2025. ▼ Falling
Rural population in North Korea, 1960–2025
Source: World Urbanization Prospects, United Nations (UN). Measured in % of total population.
Analysis
North Korea recorded 35.8% for rural population in 2025. That is the lowest value across all 66 years on record.
The figure is down 0.9% on the previous year and down 7.4% over ten years.
Over the whole period, rural population in North Korea peaked at 59.4% in 1960 and was at its lowest, 35.8%, in 2025.
North Korea ranks 110th of 218 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 66 years of available data.
Rural population (% of total population) (Rural World Urbanization) in North Korea, year by year
| Year | % of total population | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1960 | 59.4% | — |
| 1961 | 57.7% | -2.9% |
| 1962 | 56.3% | -2.5% |
| 1963 | 55.0% | -2.2% |
| 1964 | 53.8% | -2.2% |
| 1965 | 52.5% | -2.4% |
| 1966 | 51.0% | -2.8% |
| 1967 | 49.5% | -3.0% |
| 1968 | 48.0% | -3.0% |
| 1969 | 46.7% | -2.7% |
| 1970 | 45.8% | -2.0% |
| 1971 | 45.1% | -1.6% |
| 1972 | 44.4% | -1.5% |
| 1973 | 43.9% | -1.2% |
| 1974 | 43.5% | -0.9% |
| 1975 | 43.3% | -0.4% |
| 1976 | 43.2% | -0.1% |
| 1977 | 43.2% | -0.1% |
| 1978 | 43.2% | -0.1% |
| 1979 | 43.1% | -0.1% |
| 1980 | 43.1% | -0.1% |
| 1981 | 43.0% | -0.2% |
| 1982 | 42.9% | -0.2% |
| 1983 | 42.8% | -0.3% |
| 1984 | 42.6% | -0.4% |
| 1985 | 42.5% | -0.4% |
| 1986 | 42.3% | -0.4% |
| 1987 | 42.1% | -0.4% |
| 1988 | 41.9% | -0.4% |
| 1989 | 41.7% | -0.4% |
| 1990 | 41.6% | -0.4% |
| 1991 | 41.4% | -0.4% |
| 1992 | 41.3% | -0.4% |
| 1993 | 41.1% | -0.3% |
| 1994 | 41.0% | -0.3% |
| 1995 | 40.9% | -0.2% |
| 1996 | 40.8% | -0.2% |
| 1997 | 40.8% | -0.2% |
| 1998 | 40.7% | -0.2% |
| 1999 | 40.6% | -0.2% |
| 2000 | 40.6% | -0.2% |
| 2001 | 40.5% | -0.1% |
| 2002 | 40.5% | -0.2% |
| 2003 | 40.4% | -0.2% |
| 2004 | 40.3% | -0.2% |
| 2005 | 40.2% | -0.2% |
| 2006 | 40.2% | -0.2% |
| 2007 | 40.1% | -0.2% |
| 2008 | 40.0% | -0.3% |
| 2009 | 39.8% | -0.3% |
| 2010 | 39.7% | -0.4% |
| 2011 | 39.5% | -0.4% |
| 2012 | 39.3% | -0.5% |
| 2013 | 39.1% | -0.5% |
| 2014 | 38.9% | -0.5% |
| 2015 | 38.7% | -0.6% |
| 2016 | 38.4% | -0.6% |
| 2017 | 38.2% | -0.7% |
| 2018 | 37.9% | -0.7% |
| 2019 | 37.6% | -0.7% |
| 2020 | 37.4% | -0.7% |
| 2021 | 37.1% | -0.8% |
| 2022 | 36.8% | -0.8% |
| 2023 | 36.5% | -0.8% |
| 2024 | 36.1% | -0.9% |
| 2025 | 35.8% | -0.9% |
North Korea compared with similar countries
- North Korea's 35.8% is below the median for low income countries, which is 65.5%, 55% of the median. (25 countries reporting)
- North Korea's 35.8% is above the median for East Asia & Pacific, which is 34.6%, 1.0× the median. (37 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 53.0% | 46.7% | 59.4% | 10 |
| 1970s | 43.9% | 43.1% | 45.8% | 10 |
| 1980s | 42.5% | 41.7% | 43.1% | 10 |
| 1990s | 41.0% | 40.6% | 41.6% | 10 |
| 2000s | 40.3% | 39.8% | 40.6% | 10 |
| 2010s | 38.7% | 37.6% | 39.7% | 10 |
| 2020s | 36.6% | 35.8% | 37.4% | 6 |
Countries ranked near North Korea
More agriculture & rural data for North Korea
- Cropland extent over the long-term, annual growth rate -0.0256 % change on previous year (2025)
- Rural population 9.52 million (2025)
- Rural population growth -0.6% (2025)
- Rural population, per capita 0.3581 units per person (2025)
- Rural population, annual growth rate -0.6454 % change on previous year (2025)
- Agricultural area over the long-term, per capita 0.0976 hectares per person (2025)
- Cropland extent over the long-term, per capita 0.0957 hectares per person (2025)
- Agricultural area over the long-term, annual growth rate -0.0251 % change on previous year (2025)
- Seafood production: wild fish catch vs. aquaculture 685,700 metric tons (2024)
- Milk per animal 2,342 kilograms per animal (2024)
Frequently asked questions
- What is rural population in North Korea?
- Rural population in North Korea was 35.8% in 2025, according to World Urbanization Prospects, United Nations (UN).
- What is the highest rural population recorded in North Korea?
- The highest recorded value was 59.4% in 1960.
- What is the lowest rural population recorded in North Korea?
- The lowest recorded value was 35.8% in 2025.
- How does North Korea rank for rural population?
- North Korea ranks 110th out of 218 countries with data for 2025.
- Is rural population rising or falling in North Korea?
- Over the last ten years it is down 7.4%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this North Korea data come from?
- The figures come from World Urbanization Prospects, United Nations (UN), published as part of Rural population (% of total population). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Rural population refers to people living in rural areas as defined by national statistical offices. It is calculated as the difference between total population and urban population.