Birth rates and death rates in North Korea
North Korea: Birth rates and death rates was 9.68 in 2023. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2023)
9.68
Change on year
up 2.1%
World rank
54th
of 236 countries
All-time high
73.43
in 1950
All-time low
5.63
in 1992
Years of data
74
1950–2023
Birth rates and death rates in North Korea, 1950–2023
Source: Our World in Data.
Analysis
In 2023, birth rates and death rates in North Korea stood at 9.68.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 2.1% on the previous year and up 13.7% over ten years.
Over the whole period, birth rates and death rates in North Korea peaked at 73.43 in 1950 and was at its lowest, 5.63, in 1992.
North Korea ranks 54th of 236 countries on this measure, in the top quarter.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Birth rates and death rates in North Korea, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1950 | 73.43 | — |
| 1951 | 55.82 | -24.0% |
| 1952 | 25.69 | -54.0% |
| 1953 | 19.1 | -25.6% |
| 1954 | 12.87 | -32.6% |
| 1955 | 12.62 | -2.0% |
| 1956 | 12.17 | -3.5% |
| 1957 | 12.22 | +0.4% |
| 1958 | 12.08 | -1.2% |
| 1959 | 11.49 | -4.9% |
| 1960 | 11.15 | -2.9% |
| 1961 | 10.81 | -3.1% |
| 1962 | 10.62 | -1.7% |
| 1963 | 10.53 | -0.9% |
| 1964 | 10.29 | -2.3% |
| 1965 | 10.01 | -2.7% |
| 1966 | 9.78 | -2.3% |
| 1967 | 9.6 | -1.8% |
| 1968 | 9.22 | -4.0% |
| 1969 | 8.85 | -4.0% |
| 1970 | 8.51 | -3.9% |
| 1971 | 8.15 | -4.2% |
| 1972 | 7.89 | -3.2% |
| 1973 | 7.47 | -5.3% |
| 1974 | 7.16 | -4.2% |
| 1975 | 6.92 | -3.3% |
| 1976 | 6.68 | -3.5% |
| 1977 | 6.49 | -2.8% |
| 1978 | 6.34 | -2.3% |
| 1979 | 6.22 | -1.8% |
| 1980 | 6.11 | -1.9% |
| 1981 | 6.02 | -1.4% |
| 1982 | 5.92 | -1.6% |
| 1983 | 5.83 | -1.5% |
| 1984 | 5.76 | -1.1% |
| 1985 | 5.71 | -0.9% |
| 1986 | 5.68 | -0.6% |
| 1987 | 5.67 | -0.1% |
| 1988 | 5.64 | -0.5% |
| 1989 | 5.64 | -0.0% |
| 1990 | 5.65 | +0.1% |
| 1991 | 5.65 | +0.0% |
| 1992 | 5.63 | -0.4% |
| 1993 | 5.82 | +3.4% |
| 1994 | 6.08 | +4.4% |
| 1995 | 10.05 | +65.3% |
| 1996 | 10.14 | +0.9% |
| 1997 | 10.25 | +1.0% |
| 1998 | 10.39 | +1.3% |
| 1999 | 10.53 | +1.4% |
| 2000 | 10.69 | +1.5% |
| 2001 | 10.88 | +1.7% |
| 2002 | 11.06 | +1.7% |
| 2003 | 7.9 | -28.6% |
| 2004 | 8.17 | +3.5% |
| 2005 | 8.46 | +3.5% |
| 2006 | 8.75 | +3.5% |
| 2007 | 8.97 | +2.4% |
| 2008 | 9 | +0.3% |
| 2009 | 8.92 | -0.8% |
| 2010 | 8.79 | -1.4% |
| 2011 | 8.7 | -1.1% |
| 2012 | 8.61 | -1.1% |
| 2013 | 8.52 | -1.0% |
| 2014 | 8.42 | -1.2% |
| 2015 | 8.44 | +0.3% |
| 2016 | 8.59 | +1.8% |
| 2017 | 8.82 | +2.6% |
| 2018 | 9.06 | +2.8% |
| 2019 | 9.33 | +2.9% |
| 2020 | 9.72 | +4.2% |
| 2021 | 9.47 | -2.6% |
| 2022 | 9.48 | +0.2% |
| 2023 | 9.68 | +2.1% |
North Korea compared with similar countries
- North Korea's 9.68 is above the median for low income countries, which is 7.05, 1.4× the median. (25 countries reporting)
- North Korea's 9.68 is above the median for East Asia & Pacific, which is 6.87, 1.4× the median. (37 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Birth rates and death rates 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 | +65.3% | 6.08 | 10.05 |
| 1952 | -54.0% | 55.82 | 25.69 |
| 1954 | -32.6% | 19.1 | 12.87 |
| 2003 | -28.6% | 11.06 | 7.9 |
| 1953 | -25.6% | 25.69 | 19.1 |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1950s | 24.75 | 11.49 | 73.43 | 10 |
| 1960s | 10.09 | 8.85 | 11.15 | 10 |
| 1970s | 7.18 | 6.22 | 8.51 | 10 |
| 1980s | 5.8 | 5.64 | 6.11 | 10 |
| 1990s | 8.02 | 5.63 | 10.53 | 10 |
| 2000s | 9.28 | 7.9 | 11.06 | 10 |
| 2010s | 8.73 | 8.42 | 9.33 | 10 |
| 2020s | 9.59 | 9.47 | 9.72 | 4 |
Countries ranked near North Korea
More health data for North Korea
- Un projection of annual infant deaths, annual growth rate -1.16 % change on previous year (2100)
- Un projection of annual infant deaths 767 (2100)
- Heat deaths vs projected death rates, annual growth rate -0.2456 % change on previous year (2090)
- Diphtheria - number of reported cases, gaps filled 0 (2022)
- Measles - number of reported cases, gaps filled 0 (2025)
- Population ages 15-64, total, annual growth rate -0.1528 % change on previous year (2025)
- Diphtheria - number of reported cases, per capita 0 units per person (2022)
- Population ages 15-64, total, per capita 0.6836 units per person (2025)
- Population ages 65 and above, female, per capita 0.073 units per person (2025)
- Population ages 70-74, female, per capita 0.015 units per person (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is birth rates and death rates in North Korea?
- Birth rates and death rates in North Korea was 9.68 in 2023, according to Our World in Data.
- What is the highest birth rates and death rates recorded in North Korea?
- The highest recorded value was 73.43 in 1950.
- What is the lowest birth rates and death rates recorded in North Korea?
- The lowest recorded value was 5.63 in 1992.
- How does North Korea rank for birth rates and death rates?
- North Korea ranks 54th out of 236 countries with data for 2023.
- Is birth rates and death rates rising or falling in North Korea?
- Over the last ten years it is up 13.7%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this North Korea data come from?
- The figures come from Our World in Data, published as part of Birth rates and death rates. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 74 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data).