Annual death rates in people of different ages, by sex in North Korea
North Korea: Annual death rates in people of different ages, by sex was 12.9 deaths per 1,000 people in 2023. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2023)
12.9 deaths per 1,000 people
Change on year
up 1.6%
World rank
90th
of 236 countries
All-time high
264.39 deaths per 1,000 people
in 1950
All-time low
12.49 deaths per 1,000 people
in 2020
Years of data
74
1950–2023
Annual death rates in people of different ages, by sex in North Korea, 1950–2023
Source: Human Mortality Database (2025); UN, World Population Prospects (2024) – with minor processing by Our World in Data. Measured in deaths per 1,000 people.
Analysis
In 2023, annual death rates in people of different ages, by sex in North Korea stood at 12.9 deaths per 1,000 people.
The figure is up 1.6% on the previous year and down 25.1% over ten years.
Over the whole period, annual death rates in people of different ages, by sex in North Korea peaked at 264.39 deaths per 1,000 people in 1950 and was at its lowest, 12.49 deaths per 1,000 people, in 2020.
That places North Korea 90th out of 236 countries with data for 2023, putting it in the middle of the range.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Annual death rates in people of different ages, by sex in North Korea, year by year
| Year | deaths per 1,000 people | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1950 | 264.39 deaths per 1,000 people | — |
| 1951 | 227.35 deaths per 1,000 people | -14.0% |
| 1952 | 152.31 deaths per 1,000 people | -33.0% |
| 1953 | 129.09 deaths per 1,000 people | -15.2% |
| 1954 | 106.31 deaths per 1,000 people | -17.7% |
| 1955 | 98.92 deaths per 1,000 people | -6.9% |
| 1956 | 92.5 deaths per 1,000 people | -6.5% |
| 1957 | 87.13 deaths per 1,000 people | -5.8% |
| 1958 | 82.77 deaths per 1,000 people | -5.0% |
| 1959 | 79.26 deaths per 1,000 people | -4.2% |
| 1960 | 76.39 deaths per 1,000 people | -3.6% |
| 1961 | 73.91 deaths per 1,000 people | -3.2% |
| 1962 | 71.56 deaths per 1,000 people | -3.2% |
| 1963 | 69.15 deaths per 1,000 people | -3.4% |
| 1964 | 66.58 deaths per 1,000 people | -3.7% |
| 1965 | 63.76 deaths per 1,000 people | -4.2% |
| 1966 | 60.73 deaths per 1,000 people | -4.8% |
| 1967 | 57.56 deaths per 1,000 people | -5.2% |
| 1968 | 54.37 deaths per 1,000 people | -5.5% |
| 1969 | 51.27 deaths per 1,000 people | -5.7% |
| 1970 | 48.34 deaths per 1,000 people | -5.7% |
| 1971 | 45.64 deaths per 1,000 people | -5.6% |
| 1972 | 43.18 deaths per 1,000 people | -5.4% |
| 1973 | 40.95 deaths per 1,000 people | -5.2% |
| 1974 | 38.94 deaths per 1,000 people | -4.9% |
| 1975 | 37.11 deaths per 1,000 people | -4.7% |
| 1976 | 35.44 deaths per 1,000 people | -4.5% |
| 1977 | 33.9 deaths per 1,000 people | -4.3% |
| 1978 | 32.48 deaths per 1,000 people | -4.2% |
| 1979 | 31.16 deaths per 1,000 people | -4.1% |
| 1980 | 29.93 deaths per 1,000 people | -3.9% |
| 1981 | 28.81 deaths per 1,000 people | -3.7% |
| 1982 | 27.82 deaths per 1,000 people | -3.4% |
| 1983 | 27.02 deaths per 1,000 people | -2.9% |
| 1984 | 26.45 deaths per 1,000 people | -2.1% |
| 1985 | 26.18 deaths per 1,000 people | -1.0% |
| 1986 | 26.24 deaths per 1,000 people | +0.2% |
| 1987 | 26.81 deaths per 1,000 people | +2.2% |
| 1988 | 27.27 deaths per 1,000 people | +1.7% |
| 1989 | 28.08 deaths per 1,000 people | +3.0% |
| 1990 | 28.93 deaths per 1,000 people | +3.0% |
| 1991 | 29.65 deaths per 1,000 people | +2.5% |
| 1992 | 30.11 deaths per 1,000 people | +1.6% |
| 1993 | 30.28 deaths per 1,000 people | +0.5% |
| 1994 | 30.14 deaths per 1,000 people | -0.4% |
| 1995 | 63.28 deaths per 1,000 people | +109.9% |
| 1996 | 62.35 deaths per 1,000 people | -1.5% |
| 1997 | 61.34 deaths per 1,000 people | -1.6% |
| 1998 | 60.39 deaths per 1,000 people | -1.5% |
| 1999 | 59.4 deaths per 1,000 people | -1.6% |
| 2000 | 58.45 deaths per 1,000 people | -1.6% |
| 2001 | 57.65 deaths per 1,000 people | -1.4% |
| 2002 | 56.81 deaths per 1,000 people | -1.5% |
| 2003 | 24.71 deaths per 1,000 people | -56.5% |
| 2004 | 24.2 deaths per 1,000 people | -2.1% |
| 2005 | 23.82 deaths per 1,000 people | -1.6% |
| 2006 | 23.41 deaths per 1,000 people | -1.7% |
| 2007 | 23.08 deaths per 1,000 people | -1.4% |
| 2008 | 22.2 deaths per 1,000 people | -3.8% |
| 2009 | 21.44 deaths per 1,000 people | -3.4% |
| 2010 | 20.52 deaths per 1,000 people | -4.3% |
| 2011 | 19.45 deaths per 1,000 people | -5.2% |
| 2012 | 18.35 deaths per 1,000 people | -5.7% |
| 2013 | 17.22 deaths per 1,000 people | -6.2% |
| 2014 | 16.17 deaths per 1,000 people | -6.1% |
| 2015 | 15.26 deaths per 1,000 people | -5.6% |
| 2016 | 14.65 deaths per 1,000 people | -4.0% |
| 2017 | 13.68 deaths per 1,000 people | -6.6% |
| 2018 | 13.14 deaths per 1,000 people | -3.9% |
| 2019 | 12.67 deaths per 1,000 people | -3.6% |
| 2020 | 12.49 deaths per 1,000 people | -1.4% |
| 2021 | 12.49 deaths per 1,000 people | +0.0% |
| 2022 | 12.69 deaths per 1,000 people | +1.6% |
| 2023 | 12.9 deaths per 1,000 people | +1.6% |
North Korea compared with similar countries
- North Korea's 12.9 deaths per 1,000 people is below the median for low income countries, which is 42.18 deaths per 1,000 people, 31% of the median. (25 countries reporting)
- North Korea's 12.9 deaths per 1,000 people is above the median for East Asia & Pacific, which is 11.82 deaths per 1,000 people, 1.1× the median. (37 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Annual death rates in people of different ages, by sex in North Korea changed far more than this series normally does. A large move can be a real event or a change in how the figure was measured — the source note below says who published it.
| Year | Change | From | To |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1995 | +109.9% | 30.14 deaths per 1,000 people | 63.28 deaths per 1,000 people |
| 2003 | -56.5% | 56.81 deaths per 1,000 people | 24.71 deaths per 1,000 people |
| 1952 | -33.0% | 227.35 deaths per 1,000 people | 152.31 deaths per 1,000 people |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1950s | 132 deaths per 1,000 people | 79.26 deaths per 1,000 people | 264.39 deaths per 1,000 people | 10 |
| 1960s | 64.53 deaths per 1,000 people | 51.27 deaths per 1,000 people | 76.39 deaths per 1,000 people | 10 |
| 1970s | 38.71 deaths per 1,000 people | 31.16 deaths per 1,000 people | 48.34 deaths per 1,000 people | 10 |
| 1980s | 27.46 deaths per 1,000 people | 26.18 deaths per 1,000 people | 29.93 deaths per 1,000 people | 10 |
| 1990s | 45.59 deaths per 1,000 people | 28.93 deaths per 1,000 people | 63.28 deaths per 1,000 people | 10 |
| 2000s | 33.58 deaths per 1,000 people | 21.44 deaths per 1,000 people | 58.45 deaths per 1,000 people | 10 |
| 2010s | 16.11 deaths per 1,000 people | 12.67 deaths per 1,000 people | 20.52 deaths per 1,000 people | 10 |
| 2020s | 12.64 deaths per 1,000 people | 12.49 deaths per 1,000 people | 12.9 deaths per 1,000 people | 4 |
Countries ranked near North Korea
- 87 Azerbaijan 13.45 deaths per 1,000 people compare
- 88 Saint Lucia 13.11 deaths per 1,000 people compare
- 89 Solomon Islands 13.09 deaths per 1,000 people compare
- 91 Palestine 12.85 deaths per 1,000 people compare
- 92 Saint Vincent and the Grenadines 12.84 deaths per 1,000 people compare
- 93 Morocco 12.74 deaths per 1,000 people compare
More health data for North Korea
- Heat deaths vs projected death rates, annual growth rate -0.2456 % change on previous year (2090)
- Un projection of annual infant deaths, annual growth rate -1.16 % change on previous year (2100)
- Number of infants who die before age 1 767 deaths (2100)
- Population ages 65 and above, male, per capita 0.0541 units per person (2025)
- Population ages 15-64, total, annual growth rate -0.1528 % change on previous year (2025)
- Population ages 65 and above, male, annual growth rate 3.75 % change on previous year (2025)
- Population ages 65 and above, female, per capita 0.073 units per person (2025)
- Population ages 65 and above, female, annual growth rate 2.07 % change on previous year (2025)
- Population ages 15-64, total, per capita 0.6836 units per person (2025)
- Population ages 15-64, male, per capita 0.3438 units per person (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is annual death rates in people of different ages, by sex in North Korea?
- Annual death rates in people of different ages, by sex in North Korea was 12.9 deaths per 1,000 people in 2023, according to Human Mortality Database (2025); UN, World Population Prospects (2024) – with minor processing by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest annual death rates in people of different ages, by sex recorded in North Korea?
- The highest recorded value was 264.39 deaths per 1,000 people in 1950.
- What is the lowest annual death rates in people of different ages, by sex recorded in North Korea?
- The lowest recorded value was 12.49 deaths per 1,000 people in 2020.
- How does North Korea rank for annual death rates in people of different ages, by sex?
- North Korea ranks 90th out of 236 countries with data for 2023.
- Is annual death rates in people of different ages, by sex rising or falling in North Korea?
- Over the last ten years it is down 25.1%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this North Korea data come from?
- The figures come from Human Mortality Database (2025); UN, World Population Prospects (2024) – with minor processing by Our World in Data, published as part of Annual death rates in people of different ages, by sex. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Death rate, calculated as the number of deaths divided by the average number of people alive during the interval.