Merchandise exports to low- and middle-income economies outside region in North Korea
North Korea: Merchandise exports to low- and middle-income economies outside region was 20.7% in 2023. ◆ Volatile
Merchandise exports to low- and middle-income economies outside region 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 to low- and middle-income economies outside region in North Korea is 20.7%, measured in 2023.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 59.1% on the previous year and up 69.5% over ten years.
Over the whole period, merchandise exports to low- and middle-income economies outside region in North Korea peaked at 61.5% in 2018 and was at its lowest, 3.4%, in 1984.
That places North Korea 66th out of 206 countries with data for 2023, putting it in the middle of the range.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Merchandise exports to low- and middle-income economies outside region in North Korea, year by year
| Year | % of total merchandise exports | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1981 | 6.4% | — |
| 1982 | 5.6% | -12.3% |
| 1983 | 8.6% | +51.9% |
| 1984 | 3.4% | -60.0% |
| 1985 | 9.5% | +177.3% |
| 1986 | 8.5% | -10.9% |
| 1987 | 9.4% | +11.3% |
| 1988 | 13.1% | +38.9% |
| 1989 | 19.0% | +45.2% |
| 1990 | 26.1% | +37.3% |
| 1991 | 16.5% | -36.9% |
| 1992 | 19.1% | +16.0% |
| 1993 | 8.2% | -57.2% |
| 1994 | 9.0% | +9.8% |
| 1995 | 21.9% | +143.8% |
| 1996 | 13.3% | -39.2% |
| 1997 | 29.9% | +124.5% |
| 1998 | 40.1% | +34.0% |
| 1999 | 40.1% | +0.0% |
| 2000 | 50.9% | +26.7% |
| 2001 | 42.4% | -16.6% |
| 2002 | 23.7% | -44.1% |
| 2003 | 24.5% | +3.2% |
| 2004 | 21.9% | -10.7% |
| 2005 | 49.8% | +127.8% |
| 2006 | 44.0% | -11.7% |
| 2007 | 61.3% | +39.4% |
| 2008 | 39.2% | -36.0% |
| 2009 | 30.3% | -22.8% |
| 2010 | 34.9% | +15.3% |
| 2011 | 23.1% | -33.9% |
| 2012 | 17.8% | -22.8% |
| 2013 | 12.2% | -31.5% |
| 2014 | 26.1% | +114.2% |
| 2015 | 18.3% | -29.9% |
| 2016 | 24.3% | +32.9% |
| 2017 | 11.4% | -53.0% |
| 2018 | 61.5% | +438.7% |
| 2019 | 43.5% | -29.3% |
| 2020 | 52.2% | +19.9% |
| 2021 | 57.0% | +9.2% |
| 2022 | 50.5% | -11.4% |
| 2023 | 20.7% | -59.1% |
North Korea compared with similar countries
- North Korea's 20.7% is above the median for low income countries, which is 19.8%, 1.0× the median. (25 countries reporting)
- North Korea's 20.7% is above the median for East Asia & Pacific, which is 4.1%, 5.0× the median. (36 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Merchandise exports to low- and middle-income economies outside region 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2018 | +438.7% | 11.4% | 61.5% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1980s | 9.3% | 3.4% | 19.0% | 9 |
| 1990s | 22.4% | 8.2% | 40.1% | 10 |
| 2000s | 38.8% | 21.9% | 61.3% | 10 |
| 2010s | 27.3% | 11.4% | 61.5% | 10 |
| 2020s | 45.1% | 20.7% | 57.0% | 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 to low- and middle-income economies outside region in North Korea?
- Merchandise exports to low- and middle-income economies outside region in North Korea was 20.7% in 2023, according to Staff estimates, World Bank (WB).
- What is the highest merchandise exports to low- and middle-income economies outside region recorded in North Korea?
- The highest recorded value was 61.5% in 2018.
- What is the lowest merchandise exports to low- and middle-income economies outside region recorded in North Korea?
- The lowest recorded value was 3.4% in 1984.
- How does North Korea rank for merchandise exports to low- and middle-income economies outside region?
- North Korea ranks 66th out of 206 countries with data for 2023.
- Is merchandise exports to low- and middle-income economies outside region rising or falling in North Korea?
- Over the last ten years it is up 69.5%. 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 to low- and middle-income economies outside region (% of total merchandise exports). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
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About this data
Merchandise exports to low- and middle-income economies outside region are the sum of merchandise exports from the reporting economy to other low- and middle-income economies in other World Bank regions according to the World Bank classification of economies. Data are expressed as a percentage of total merchandise exports by the economy. Data are computed only if at least half of the economies in the partner country group had non-missing data.