Number of deaths per year in North Korea
North Korea: Number of deaths per year was 255,828 in 2023. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2023)
255,828
Change on year
up 2.5%
World rank
37th
of 236 countries
All-time high
816,319
in 1950
All-time low
111,113
in 1983
Years of data
74
1950–2023
Number of deaths per year in North Korea, 1950–2023
Source: Our World in Data.
Analysis
In 2023, number of deaths per year in North Korea stood at 255,828.
That represents a change of up 2.5% on the previous year and up 18.5% over ten years.
Over the whole period, number of deaths per year in North Korea peaked at 816,319 in 1950 and was at its lowest, 111,113, in 1983.
North Korea ranks 37th 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.
Number of deaths per year in North Korea, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1950 | 816,319 | — |
| 1951 | 590,820 | -27.6% |
| 1952 | 263,380 | -55.4% |
| 1953 | 194,419 | -26.2% |
| 1954 | 131,839 | -32.2% |
| 1955 | 131,239 | -0.5% |
| 1956 | 129,054 | -1.7% |
| 1957 | 132,660 | +2.8% |
| 1958 | 134,809 | +1.6% |
| 1959 | 131,588 | -2.4% |
| 1960 | 130,735 | -0.6% |
| 1961 | 129,615 | -0.9% |
| 1962 | 130,244 | +0.5% |
| 1963 | 132,295 | +1.6% |
| 1964 | 132,596 | +0.2% |
| 1965 | 132,326 | -0.2% |
| 1966 | 132,672 | +0.3% |
| 1967 | 134,022 | +1.0% |
| 1968 | 132,464 | -1.2% |
| 1969 | 130,709 | -1.3% |
| 1970 | 129,116 | -1.2% |
| 1971 | 126,989 | -1.6% |
| 1972 | 126,051 | -0.7% |
| 1973 | 122,160 | -3.1% |
| 1974 | 119,298 | -2.3% |
| 1975 | 117,413 | -1.6% |
| 1976 | 115,125 | -1.9% |
| 1977 | 113,479 | -1.4% |
| 1978 | 112,429 | -0.9% |
| 1979 | 111,909 | -0.5% |
| 1980 | 111,335 | -0.5% |
| 1981 | 111,320 | -0.0% |
| 1982 | 111,132 | -0.2% |
| 1983 | 111,113 | -0.0% |
| 1984 | 111,454 | +0.3% |
| 1985 | 112,071 | +0.6% |
| 1986 | 113,047 | +0.9% |
| 1987 | 114,578 | +1.4% |
| 1988 | 115,729 | +1.0% |
| 1989 | 117,388 | +1.4% |
| 1990 | 119,294 | +1.6% |
| 1991 | 121,111 | +1.5% |
| 1992 | 122,444 | +1.1% |
| 1993 | 128,521 | +5.0% |
| 1994 | 136,170 | +6.0% |
| 1995 | 227,791 | +67.3% |
| 1996 | 232,245 | +2.0% |
| 1997 | 236,880 | +2.0% |
| 1998 | 242,138 | +2.2% |
| 1999 | 247,466 | +2.2% |
| 2000 | 253,060 | +2.3% |
| 2001 | 259,004 | +2.3% |
| 2002 | 264,788 | +2.2% |
| 2003 | 190,234 | -28.2% |
| 2004 | 198,247 | +4.2% |
| 2005 | 206,416 | +4.1% |
| 2006 | 214,677 | +4.0% |
| 2007 | 220,979 | +2.9% |
| 2008 | 222,783 | +0.8% |
| 2009 | 221,920 | -0.4% |
| 2010 | 219,743 | -1.0% |
| 2011 | 218,316 | -0.6% |
| 2012 | 216,930 | -0.6% |
| 2013 | 215,809 | -0.5% |
| 2014 | 214,256 | -0.7% |
| 2015 | 215,940 | +0.8% |
| 2016 | 220,797 | +2.2% |
| 2017 | 227,686 | +3.1% |
| 2018 | 235,013 | +3.2% |
| 2019 | 242,830 | +3.3% |
| 2020 | 254,078 | +4.6% |
| 2021 | 248,321 | -2.3% |
| 2022 | 249,691 | +0.6% |
| 2023 | 255,828 | +2.5% |
North Korea compared with similar countries
- North Korea's 255,828 is above the median for low income countries, which is 183,374, 1.4× the median. (25 countries reporting)
- North Korea's 255,828 is above the median for East Asia & Pacific, which is 10,067, 25.4× the median. (37 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Number of deaths per year 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 | +67.3% | 136,170 | 227,791 |
| 1952 | -55.4% | 590,820 | 263,380 |
| 1954 | -32.2% | 194,419 | 131,839 |
| 2003 | -28.2% | 264,788 | 190,234 |
| 1951 | -27.6% | 816,319 | 590,820 |
| 1953 | -26.2% | 263,380 | 194,419 |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1950s | 265,613 | 129,054 | 816,319 | 10 |
| 1960s | 131,768 | 129,615 | 134,022 | 10 |
| 1970s | 119,397 | 111,909 | 129,116 | 10 |
| 1980s | 112,917 | 111,113 | 117,388 | 10 |
| 1990s | 181,406 | 119,294 | 247,466 | 10 |
| 2000s | 225,211 | 190,234 | 264,788 | 10 |
| 2010s | 222,732 | 214,256 | 242,830 | 10 |
| 2020s | 251,980 | 248,321 | 255,828 | 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 number of deaths per year in North Korea?
- Number of deaths per year in North Korea was 255,828 in 2023, according to Our World in Data.
- What is the highest number of deaths per year recorded in North Korea?
- The highest recorded value was 816,319 in 1950.
- What is the lowest number of deaths per year recorded in North Korea?
- The lowest recorded value was 111,113 in 1983.
- How does North Korea rank for number of deaths per year?
- North Korea ranks 37th out of 236 countries with data for 2023.
- Is number of deaths per year rising or falling in North Korea?
- Over the last ten years it is up 18.5%. 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 Number of deaths per year. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
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