Merchandise imports by the reporting economy (current US$) … annual in North Korea
North Korea: Merchandise imports by the reporting economy (current US$) … annual was 50.23 % change on previous year in 2023. ◆ Volatile
Merchandise imports by the reporting economy (current US$), annual in North Korea, 1982–2023
Source: Statizoid (derived). Measured in % change on previous year.
Analysis
North Korea recorded 50.23 % change on previous year for merchandise imports by the reporting economy (current us$), annual in 2023.
The figure is down 65.4% on the previous year and up 249.7% over ten years.
Over the whole period, merchandise imports by the reporting economy (current us$), annual in North Korea peaked at 145.22 % change on previous year in 2022 and was at its lowest, -70.58 % change on previous year, in 2020.
That places North Korea 6th out of 206 countries with data for 2023, putting it in the top 10%.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Merchandise imports by the reporting economy (current US$) … annual in North Korea, year by year
| Year | % change on previous year | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1982 | 0.117 % change on previous year | — |
| 1983 | -3.04 % change on previous year | -2697.2% |
| 1984 | -16.82 % change on previous year | +453.7% |
| 1985 | 2.17 % change on previous year | -112.9% |
| 1986 | -0.2302 % change on previous year | -110.6% |
| 1987 | 38.64 % change on previous year | -16884.3% |
| 1988 | 17.4 % change on previous year | -55.0% |
| 1989 | -10.21 % change on previous year | -158.7% |
| 1990 | 6.97 % change on previous year | -168.2% |
| 1991 | 11.85 % change on previous year | +70.1% |
| 1992 | -4.59 % change on previous year | -138.7% |
| 1993 | 10.56 % change on previous year | -330.1% |
| 1994 | -17.41 % change on previous year | -264.9% |
| 1995 | 22.02 % change on previous year | -226.5% |
| 1996 | 28.72 % change on previous year | +30.4% |
| 1997 | -25.91 % change on previous year | -190.2% |
| 1998 | -19.81 % change on previous year | -23.5% |
| 1999 | 4.55 % change on previous year | -123.0% |
| 2000 | 58.57 % change on previous year | +1187.5% |
| 2001 | 63.08 % change on previous year | +7.7% |
| 2002 | -32.44 % change on previous year | -151.4% |
| 2003 | -7.18 % change on previous year | -77.9% |
| 2004 | 23.17 % change on previous year | -422.6% |
| 2005 | 31.2 % change on previous year | +34.7% |
| 2006 | 16.37 % change on previous year | -47.5% |
| 2007 | -8.88 % change on previous year | -154.3% |
| 2008 | 35.04 % change on previous year | -494.4% |
| 2009 | -30.31 % change on previous year | -186.5% |
| 2010 | 20.72 % change on previous year | -168.3% |
| 2011 | 6.76 % change on previous year | -67.4% |
| 2012 | 8.31 % change on previous year | +23.0% |
| 2013 | 14.37 % change on previous year | +72.9% |
| 2014 | -7.47 % change on previous year | -152.0% |
| 2015 | -8.83 % change on previous year | +18.2% |
| 2016 | -6.26 % change on previous year | -29.0% |
| 2017 | -4.54 % change on previous year | -27.5% |
| 2018 | -23.03 % change on previous year | +407.0% |
| 2019 | 16.96 % change on previous year | -173.6% |
| 2020 | -70.58 % change on previous year | -516.2% |
| 2021 | -29.58 % change on previous year | -58.1% |
| 2022 | 145.22 % change on previous year | -590.9% |
| 2023 | 50.23 % change on previous year | -65.4% |
North Korea compared with similar countries
- North Korea's 50.23 % change on previous year is above the median for low income countries, which is 3.1 % change on previous year, 16.2× the median. (25 countries reporting)
- North Korea's 50.23 % change on previous year is above the median for East Asia & Pacific, which is -4.04 % change on previous year. (36 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Merchandise imports by the reporting economy (current US$) … annual in North Korea changed far more than this series normally does. A large move can be a real event or a change in how the figure was measured — the source note below says who published it.
| Year | Change | From | To |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1987 | +16884.3% | -0.2302 % change on previous year | 38.64 % change on previous year |
| 1983 | -2697.2% | 0.117 % change on previous year | -3.04 % change on previous year |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1980s | 3.5 % change on previous year | -16.82 % change on previous year | 38.64 % change on previous year | 8 |
| 1990s | 1.7 % change on previous year | -25.91 % change on previous year | 28.72 % change on previous year | 10 |
| 2000s | 14.86 % change on previous year | -32.44 % change on previous year | 63.08 % change on previous year | 10 |
| 2010s | 1.7 % change on previous year | -23.03 % change on previous year | 20.72 % change on previous year | 10 |
| 2020s | 23.82 % change on previous year | -70.58 % change on previous year | 145.22 % change on previous year | 4 |
Countries ranked near North Korea
- 3 Malawi 98.13 % change on previous year compare
- 4 Kazakhstan 97.6 % change on previous year compare
- 5 Congo 64.09 % change on previous year compare
- 7 Armenia 45 % change on previous year compare
- 8 Trinidad and Tobago 43.13 % change on previous year compare
- 9 Guyana 38.42 % change on previous year compare
More private sector data for North Korea
- Merchandise imports 2.87 billion current US$ (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$), annual growth rate 22.61 % change on previous year (2025)
- Merchandise imports from economies in the Arab World 0.0% (2023)
- Merchandise imports from high-income economies 0.2% (2023)
- Merchandise imports from low- and middle-income economies outside 2.7% (2023)
- Merchandise imports from low- and middle-income economies in East 97.1% (2023)
Frequently asked questions
- What is merchandise imports by the reporting economy (current us$), annual in North Korea?
- Merchandise imports by the reporting economy (current us$), annual in North Korea was 50.23 % change on previous year in 2023, according to Statizoid (derived).
- What is the highest merchandise imports by the reporting economy (current us$), annual recorded in North Korea?
- The highest recorded value was 145.22 % change on previous year in 2022.
- What is the lowest merchandise imports by the reporting economy (current us$), annual recorded in North Korea?
- The lowest recorded value was -70.58 % change on previous year in 2020.
- How does North Korea rank for merchandise imports by the reporting economy (current us$), annual?
- North Korea ranks 6th out of 206 countries with data for 2023.
- Is merchandise imports by the reporting economy (current us$), annual rising or falling in North Korea?
- Over the last ten years it is up 249.7%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this North Korea data come from?
- The figures come from Statizoid (derived), published as part of Merchandise imports by the reporting economy (current US$), annual growth rate. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
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How this figure is calculated
The year-on-year percentage change in Merchandise imports by the reporting economy (current US$). Computed from consecutive annual observations; years either side of a gap are skipped rather than bridged.
Computed from
- Merchandise imports by the reporting economy Staff estimates, World Bank (WB)
Statizoid computes this series; the underlying measurements belong to the publishers named above. The arithmetic is applied to every country and year where both inputs report, and nothing is estimated unless the page says so.
About this data
The year-on-year percentage change in Merchandise imports by the reporting economy (current US$). Computed from consecutive annual observations; years either side of a gap are skipped rather than bridged.