Merchandise exports by the reporting economy (current US$) in North Korea
North Korea: Merchandise exports by the reporting economy (current US$) was 375.04 million current US$ in 2023. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2023)
375.04 million current US$
Change on year
up 24.1%
World rank
172nd
of 206 countries
All-time high
3.85 billion current US$
in 2014
All-time low
174.42 million current US$
in 2021
Years of data
43
1981–2023
Merchandise exports by the reporting economy in North Korea, 1981–2023
Source: Staff estimates, World Bank (WB). Measured in current US$.
Analysis
In 2023, merchandise exports by the reporting economy in North Korea stood at 375.04 million current US$.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 24.1% on the previous year and down 89.2% over ten years.
Over the whole period, merchandise exports by the reporting economy in North Korea peaked at 3.85 billion current US$ in 2014 and was at its lowest, 174.42 million current US$, in 2021.
North Korea ranks 172nd of 206 countries on this measure, in the bottom quarter.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Merchandise exports by the reporting economy (current US$) in North Korea, year by year
| Year | current US$ | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1981 | 664.87 million current US$ | — |
| 1982 | 708.62 million current US$ | +6.6% |
| 1983 | 630.02 million current US$ | -11.1% |
| 1984 | 646.49 million current US$ | +2.6% |
| 1985 | 609.19 million current US$ | -5.8% |
| 1986 | 635.51 million current US$ | +4.3% |
| 1987 | 760.28 million current US$ | +19.6% |
| 1988 | 913.90 million current US$ | +20.2% |
| 1989 | 818.26 million current US$ | -10.5% |
| 1990 | 890.28 million current US$ | +8.8% |
| 1991 | 669.78 million current US$ | -24.8% |
| 1992 | 825.72 million current US$ | +23.3% |
| 1993 | 875.83 million current US$ | +6.1% |
| 1994 | 837.67 million current US$ | -4.4% |
| 1995 | 821.18 million current US$ | -2.0% |
| 1996 | 1.01 billion current US$ | +23.2% |
| 1997 | 881.26 million current US$ | -12.9% |
| 1998 | 880.67 million current US$ | -0.1% |
| 1999 | 784.07 million current US$ | -11.0% |
| 2000 | 1.16 billion current US$ | +47.8% |
| 2001 | 1.04 billion current US$ | -9.9% |
| 2002 | 949.46 million current US$ | -9.0% |
| 2003 | 902.94 million current US$ | -4.9% |
| 2004 | 1.25 billion current US$ | +38.0% |
| 2005 | 1.76 billion current US$ | +41.6% |
| 2006 | 1.55 billion current US$ | -12.4% |
| 2007 | 2.62 billion current US$ | +69.6% |
| 2008 | 2.00 billion current US$ | -23.7% |
| 2009 | 1.40 billion current US$ | -30.1% |
| 2010 | 2.15 billion current US$ | +54.0% |
| 2011 | 3.74 billion current US$ | +73.5% |
| 2012 | 3.19 billion current US$ | -14.6% |
| 2013 | 3.47 billion current US$ | +8.9% |
| 2014 | 3.85 billion current US$ | +10.9% |
| 2015 | 3.06 billion current US$ | -20.5% |
| 2016 | 3.54 billion current US$ | +15.8% |
| 2017 | 1.89 billion current US$ | -46.8% |
| 2018 | 651.68 million current US$ | -65.4% |
| 2019 | 421.48 million current US$ | -35.3% |
| 2020 | 192.86 million current US$ | -54.2% |
| 2021 | 174.42 million current US$ | -9.6% |
| 2022 | 302.30 million current US$ | +73.3% |
| 2023 | 375.04 million current US$ | +24.1% |
North Korea compared with similar countries
- North Korea's 375.04 million current US$ is below the median for low income countries, which is 992.04 million current US$, 38% of the median. (25 countries reporting)
- North Korea's 375.04 million current US$ is below the median for East Asia & Pacific, which is 5.00 billion current US$, 8% of the median. (36 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1980s | 709.68 million current US$ | 609.19 million current US$ | 913.90 million current US$ | 9 |
| 1990s | 847.85 million current US$ | 669.78 million current US$ | 1.01 billion current US$ | 10 |
| 2000s | 1.46 billion current US$ | 902.94 million current US$ | 2.62 billion current US$ | 10 |
| 2010s | 2.60 billion current US$ | 421.48 million current US$ | 3.85 billion current US$ | 10 |
| 2020s | 261.15 million current US$ | 174.42 million current US$ | 375.04 million current US$ | 4 |
Countries ranked near North Korea
- 169 Afghanistan 438.77 million current US$ compare
- 170 Guinea-Bissau 426.52 million current US$ compare
- 171 Solomon Islands 399.34 million current US$ compare
- 173 Barbados 320.52 million current US$ compare
- 174 Belize 252.98 million current US$ compare
- 175 Micronesia (country) 234.60 million current US$ compare
More private sector data for North Korea
- Merchandise imports 2.87 billion current US$ (2025)
- Merchandise exports 611.00 million current US$ (2025)
- Merchandise exports (current US$), per capita 23 current US$ per person (2025)
- Merchandise exports (current US$), annual growth rate 69.72 % change on previous year (2025)
- Merchandise imports (current US$), per capita 107.97 current US$ per person (2025)
- Merchandise imports (current US$), annual growth rate 22.61 % change on previous year (2025)
- Merchandise imports from economies in the Arab World 0.0% (2023)
- Merchandise imports from high-income economies 0.2% (2023)
- Merchandise imports from low- and middle-income economies outside 2.7% (2023)
- Merchandise imports from low- and middle-income economies in East 97.1% (2023)
Frequently asked questions
- What is merchandise exports by the reporting economy in North Korea?
- Merchandise exports by the reporting economy in North Korea was 375.04 million current US$ in 2023, according to Staff estimates, World Bank (WB).
- What is the highest merchandise exports by the reporting economy recorded in North Korea?
- The highest recorded value was 3.85 billion current US$ in 2014.
- What is the lowest merchandise exports by the reporting economy recorded in North Korea?
- The lowest recorded value was 174.42 million current US$ in 2021.
- How does North Korea rank for merchandise exports by the reporting economy?
- North Korea ranks 172nd out of 206 countries with data for 2023.
- Is merchandise exports by the reporting economy rising or falling in North Korea?
- Over the last ten years it is down 89.2%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this North Korea data come from?
- The figures come from Staff estimates, World Bank (WB), published as part of Merchandise exports by the reporting economy (current US$). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Merchandise exports by the reporting economy are the total merchandise exports by the reporting economy to the rest of the world, as reported in the IMF's Direction of trade database. Data are in current US$.