Number of deaths in North Korea
North Korea: Number of deaths was 255,828 deaths in 2023. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2023)
255,828 deaths
Change on year
up 2.5%
World rank
37th
of 236 countries
All-time high
816,319 deaths
in 1950
All-time low
111,113 deaths
in 1983
Years of data
74
1950–2023
Number of deaths in North Korea, 1950–2023
Source: UN, World Population Prospects (2024) – processed by Our World in Data. Measured in deaths.
Analysis
The most recent figure for number of deaths in North Korea is 255,828 deaths, measured in 2023.
The figure is up 2.5% on the previous year and up 18.5% over ten years.
Over the whole period, number of deaths in North Korea peaked at 816,319 deaths in 1950 and was at its lowest, 111,113 deaths, in 1983.
That places North Korea 37th out of 236 countries with data for 2023, putting it in the top quarter.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Number of deaths in North Korea, year by year
| Year | deaths | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1950 | 816,319 deaths | — |
| 1951 | 590,820 deaths | -27.6% |
| 1952 | 263,380 deaths | -55.4% |
| 1953 | 194,419 deaths | -26.2% |
| 1954 | 131,839 deaths | -32.2% |
| 1955 | 131,239 deaths | -0.5% |
| 1956 | 129,054 deaths | -1.7% |
| 1957 | 132,660 deaths | +2.8% |
| 1958 | 134,809 deaths | +1.6% |
| 1959 | 131,588 deaths | -2.4% |
| 1960 | 130,735 deaths | -0.6% |
| 1961 | 129,615 deaths | -0.9% |
| 1962 | 130,244 deaths | +0.5% |
| 1963 | 132,295 deaths | +1.6% |
| 1964 | 132,596 deaths | +0.2% |
| 1965 | 132,326 deaths | -0.2% |
| 1966 | 132,672 deaths | +0.3% |
| 1967 | 134,022 deaths | +1.0% |
| 1968 | 132,464 deaths | -1.2% |
| 1969 | 130,709 deaths | -1.3% |
| 1970 | 129,116 deaths | -1.2% |
| 1971 | 126,989 deaths | -1.6% |
| 1972 | 126,051 deaths | -0.7% |
| 1973 | 122,160 deaths | -3.1% |
| 1974 | 119,298 deaths | -2.3% |
| 1975 | 117,413 deaths | -1.6% |
| 1976 | 115,125 deaths | -1.9% |
| 1977 | 113,479 deaths | -1.4% |
| 1978 | 112,429 deaths | -0.9% |
| 1979 | 111,909 deaths | -0.5% |
| 1980 | 111,335 deaths | -0.5% |
| 1981 | 111,320 deaths | -0.0% |
| 1982 | 111,132 deaths | -0.2% |
| 1983 | 111,113 deaths | -0.0% |
| 1984 | 111,454 deaths | +0.3% |
| 1985 | 112,071 deaths | +0.6% |
| 1986 | 113,047 deaths | +0.9% |
| 1987 | 114,578 deaths | +1.4% |
| 1988 | 115,729 deaths | +1.0% |
| 1989 | 117,388 deaths | +1.4% |
| 1990 | 119,294 deaths | +1.6% |
| 1991 | 121,111 deaths | +1.5% |
| 1992 | 122,444 deaths | +1.1% |
| 1993 | 128,521 deaths | +5.0% |
| 1994 | 136,170 deaths | +6.0% |
| 1995 | 227,791 deaths | +67.3% |
| 1996 | 232,245 deaths | +2.0% |
| 1997 | 236,880 deaths | +2.0% |
| 1998 | 242,138 deaths | +2.2% |
| 1999 | 247,466 deaths | +2.2% |
| 2000 | 253,060 deaths | +2.3% |
| 2001 | 259,004 deaths | +2.3% |
| 2002 | 264,788 deaths | +2.2% |
| 2003 | 190,234 deaths | -28.2% |
| 2004 | 198,247 deaths | +4.2% |
| 2005 | 206,416 deaths | +4.1% |
| 2006 | 214,677 deaths | +4.0% |
| 2007 | 220,979 deaths | +2.9% |
| 2008 | 222,783 deaths | +0.8% |
| 2009 | 221,920 deaths | -0.4% |
| 2010 | 219,743 deaths | -1.0% |
| 2011 | 218,316 deaths | -0.6% |
| 2012 | 216,930 deaths | -0.6% |
| 2013 | 215,809 deaths | -0.5% |
| 2014 | 214,256 deaths | -0.7% |
| 2015 | 215,940 deaths | +0.8% |
| 2016 | 220,797 deaths | +2.2% |
| 2017 | 227,686 deaths | +3.1% |
| 2018 | 235,013 deaths | +3.2% |
| 2019 | 242,830 deaths | +3.3% |
| 2020 | 254,078 deaths | +4.6% |
| 2021 | 248,321 deaths | -2.3% |
| 2022 | 249,691 deaths | +0.6% |
| 2023 | 255,828 deaths | +2.5% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1950s | 265,613 deaths | 129,054 deaths | 816,319 deaths | 10 |
| 1960s | 131,768 deaths | 129,615 deaths | 134,022 deaths | 10 |
| 1970s | 119,397 deaths | 111,909 deaths | 129,116 deaths | 10 |
| 1980s | 112,917 deaths | 111,113 deaths | 117,388 deaths | 10 |
| 1990s | 181,406 deaths | 119,294 deaths | 247,466 deaths | 10 |
| 2000s | 225,211 deaths | 190,234 deaths | 264,788 deaths | 10 |
| 2010s | 222,732 deaths | 214,256 deaths | 242,830 deaths | 10 |
| 2020s | 251,980 deaths | 248,321 deaths | 255,828 deaths | 4 |
Countries ranked near North Korea
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)
- Estimated changes in temperature-related death rates compared to projected death rates 1,462 deaths per 1,000 people (2090)
- Deaths in armed conflicts based on where they occurred 0 deaths (2026)
- Deaths in armed conflicts by region 0 deaths (2026)
- Age population, age 16, male, interpolated 166,971 (2025)
- Age population, age 18, female, interpolated 159,845 (2025)
- Age population, age 17, male, interpolated 168,398 (2025)
- Age population, age 17, female, interpolated 160,530 (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is number of deaths in North Korea?
- Number of deaths in North Korea was 255,828 deaths in 2023, according to UN, World Population Prospects (2024) – processed by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest number of deaths recorded in North Korea?
- The highest recorded value was 816,319 deaths in 1950.
- What is the lowest number of deaths recorded in North Korea?
- The lowest recorded value was 111,113 deaths in 1983.
- How does North Korea rank for number of deaths?
- North Korea ranks 37th out of 236 countries with data for 2023.
- Is number of deaths 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 UN, World Population Prospects (2024) – processed by Our World in Data, published as part of Number of deaths. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
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About this data
Number of deaths in a calendar year.