Merchandise exports to low- and middle-income economies within region in North Korea
North Korea: Merchandise exports to low- and middle-income economies within region was 74.2% in 2023. ◆ Volatile
Merchandise exports to low- and middle-income economies within 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 within region in North Korea is 74.2%, measured in 2023.
That represents a change of up 74.1% on the previous year and down 7.2% over ten years.
Over the whole period, merchandise exports to low- and middle-income economies within region in North Korea peaked at 86.1% in 2017 and was at its lowest, 5.2%, in 2000.
North Korea ranks 8th of 203 countries on this measure, in the top 10%.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Merchandise exports to low- and middle-income economies within region in North Korea, year by year
| Year | % of total merchandise exports | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1981 | 37.9% | — |
| 1982 | 42.3% | +11.4% |
| 1983 | 39.9% | -5.6% |
| 1984 | 41.3% | +3.6% |
| 1985 | 40.5% | -2.0% |
| 1986 | 43.4% | +7.2% |
| 1987 | 33.1% | -23.9% |
| 1988 | 30.0% | -9.3% |
| 1989 | 25.2% | -15.9% |
| 1990 | 24.7% | -2.0% |
| 1991 | 20.0% | -19.0% |
| 1992 | 21.9% | +9.6% |
| 1993 | 35.5% | +61.8% |
| 1994 | 27.4% | -22.9% |
| 1995 | 14.0% | -48.8% |
| 1996 | 11.1% | -20.9% |
| 1997 | 16.8% | +51.6% |
| 1998 | 7.9% | -53.2% |
| 1999 | 7.5% | -4.9% |
| 2000 | 5.2% | -30.4% |
| 2001 | 17.6% | +238.8% |
| 2002 | 31.7% | +79.7% |
| 2003 | 46.8% | +47.8% |
| 2004 | 51.5% | +10.0% |
| 2005 | 33.6% | -34.7% |
| 2006 | 33.3% | -0.8% |
| 2007 | 22.4% | -32.8% |
| 2008 | 37.5% | +67.4% |
| 2009 | 55.0% | +46.6% |
| 2010 | 53.5% | -2.7% |
| 2011 | 63.4% | +18.5% |
| 2012 | 76.0% | +19.9% |
| 2013 | 79.9% | +5.2% |
| 2014 | 70.2% | -12.2% |
| 2015 | 77.6% | +10.5% |
| 2016 | 73.8% | -4.8% |
| 2017 | 86.1% | +16.5% |
| 2018 | 32.6% | -62.1% |
| 2019 | 49.6% | +52.1% |
| 2020 | 40.2% | -18.9% |
| 2021 | 32.2% | -19.9% |
| 2022 | 42.6% | +32.4% |
| 2023 | 74.2% | +74.1% |
North Korea compared with similar countries
- North Korea's 74.2% is above the median for low income countries, which is 16.5%, 4.5× the median. (25 countries reporting)
- North Korea's 74.2% is above the median for East Asia & Pacific, which is 35.9%, 2.1× the median. (36 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Merchandise exports to low- and middle-income economies within 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2001 | +238.8% | 5.2% | 17.6% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1980s | 37.1% | 25.2% | 43.4% | 9 |
| 1990s | 18.7% | 7.5% | 35.5% | 10 |
| 2000s | 33.5% | 5.2% | 55.0% | 10 |
| 2010s | 66.3% | 32.6% | 86.1% | 10 |
| 2020s | 47.3% | 32.2% | 74.2% | 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 within region in North Korea?
- Merchandise exports to low- and middle-income economies within region in North Korea was 74.2% in 2023, according to Staff estimates, World Bank (WB).
- What is the highest merchandise exports to low- and middle-income economies within region recorded in North Korea?
- The highest recorded value was 86.1% in 2017.
- What is the lowest merchandise exports to low- and middle-income economies within region recorded in North Korea?
- The lowest recorded value was 5.2% in 2000.
- How does North Korea rank for merchandise exports to low- and middle-income economies within region?
- North Korea ranks 8th out of 203 countries with data for 2023.
- Is merchandise exports to low- and middle-income economies within region rising or falling in North Korea?
- Over the last ten years it is down 7.2%. 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 to low- and middle-income economies within region (% 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 to low- and middle-income economies within region are the sum of merchandise exports from the reporting economy to other low- and middle-income economies in the same World Bank region 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. No figures are shown for high-income economies, because they are a separate category in the World Bank classification of economies.