Merchandise exports by the reporting economy, residual in North Korea
North Korea: Merchandise exports by the reporting economy, residual was 2.3% in 2023. ◆ Volatile
Merchandise exports by the reporting economy, residual in North Korea, 1981–2023
Source: Staff estimates, World Bank (WB). Measured in % of total merchandise exports.
Analysis
The most recent figure for merchandise exports by the reporting economy, residual in North Korea is 2.3%, measured in 2023.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 17.2% on the previous year and up 179.0% over ten years.
Over the whole period, merchandise exports by the reporting economy, residual in North Korea peaked at 9.9% in 2007 and was at its lowest, -0.0%, in 1989.
That places North Korea 3rd out of 206 countries with data for 2023, putting it in the top 10%.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Merchandise exports by the reporting economy, residual in North Korea, year by year
| Year | % of total merchandise exports | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1981 | 0.0% | — |
| 1982 | 0.0% | +46.9% |
| 1983 | -0.0% | -146.9% |
| 1984 | 0.0% | -191.0% |
| 1985 | -0.0% | -228.9% |
| 1986 | 0.0% | -167.7% |
| 1987 | -0.0% | -148.8% |
| 1988 | -0.0% | -76.2% |
| 1989 | -0.0% | +1687.0% |
| 1990 | 0.0% | -1498193892797.5% |
| 1991 | 0.0% | +301.9% |
| 1992 | -0.0% | -100.0% |
| 1993 | 0.0% | -27680473782741.8% |
| 1994 | 0.0% | -100.0% |
| 1995 | 0.0% | +11551365040360.7% |
| 1996 | 0.3% | +7534.6% |
| 1997 | 0.0% | -98.5% |
| 1998 | 0.0% | +276.9% |
| 1999 | 0.0% | -100.0% |
| 2000 | 0.2% | +704161443582858.0% |
| 2001 | 0.3% | +13.9% |
| 2002 | 0.1% | -56.7% |
| 2003 | 0.0% | -100.0% |
| 2004 | 0.1% | — |
| 2005 | 0.3% | +116.0% |
| 2006 | 0.0% | -100.0% |
| 2007 | 9.9% | — |
| 2008 | 7.5% | -24.3% |
| 2009 | 4.5% | -40.0% |
| 2010 | 2.1% | -52.8% |
| 2011 | 0.9% | -55.5% |
| 2012 | 1.2% | +31.7% |
| 2013 | 0.8% | -32.1% |
| 2014 | 0.5% | -45.3% |
| 2015 | 0.9% | +94.7% |
| 2016 | 0.4% | -52.6% |
| 2017 | 0.6% | +33.0% |
| 2018 | 2.1% | +262.8% |
| 2019 | 1.2% | -42.6% |
| 2020 | 2.7% | +131.3% |
| 2021 | 3.6% | +33.1% |
| 2022 | 2.8% | -21.8% |
| 2023 | 2.3% | -17.2% |
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Merchandise exports by the reporting economy, residual 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2000 | +704161443582858.0% | 0.0% | 0.2% |
| 1993 | +27680473782741.8% | -0.0% | 0.0% |
| 1995 | +11551365040360.7% | 0.0% | 0.0% |
| 1990 | +1498193892797.5% | -0.0% | 0.0% |
| 1996 | +7534.6% | 0.0% | 0.3% |
| 1989 | -1687.0% | -0.0% | -0.0% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1980s | 0.0% | -0.0% | 0.0% | 9 |
| 1990s | 0.0% | -0.0% | 0.3% | 10 |
| 2000s | 2.3% | 0.0% | 9.9% | 10 |
| 2010s | 1.1% | 0.4% | 2.1% | 10 |
| 2020s | 2.9% | 2.3% | 3.6% | 4 |
Countries ranked near North Korea
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, residual in North Korea?
- Merchandise exports by the reporting economy, residual in North Korea was 2.3% in 2023, according to Staff estimates, World Bank (WB).
- What is the highest merchandise exports by the reporting economy, residual recorded in North Korea?
- The highest recorded value was 9.9% in 2007.
- What is the lowest merchandise exports by the reporting economy, residual recorded in North Korea?
- The lowest recorded value was -0.0% in 1989.
- How does North Korea rank for merchandise exports by the reporting economy, residual?
- North Korea ranks 3rd out of 206 countries with data for 2023.
- Is merchandise exports by the reporting economy, residual rising or falling in North Korea?
- Over the last ten years it is up 179.0%. 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, residual (% of total merchandise exports). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 43 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (World Bank Open Data).
About this data
Merchandise exports by the reporting economy residuals 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, less the sum of exports by the reporting economy to high-, low-, and middle-income economies according to the World Bank classification of economies. Includes trade with unspecified partners or with economies not covered by World Bank classification. Data are as a percentage of total merchandise exports by the economy.