Merchandise imports by the reporting economy (current US$) in North Korea
North Korea: Merchandise imports by the reporting economy (current US$) was 2.65 billion current US$ in 2023. ◆ Volatile
Merchandise imports by the reporting economy in North Korea, 1981–2023
Source: Staff estimates, World Bank (WB). Measured in current US$.
Analysis
In 2023, merchandise imports by the reporting economy in North Korea stood at 2.65 billion current US$.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 50.2% on the previous year and down 48.1% over ten years.
Over the whole period, merchandise imports by the reporting economy in North Korea peaked at 5.11 billion current US$ in 2013 and was at its lowest, 719.20 million current US$, in 2021.
North Korea ranks 160th of 206 countries on this measure, in the bottom quarter.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Merchandise imports by the reporting economy (current US$) in North Korea, year by year
| Year | current US$ | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1981 | 1.00 billion current US$ | — |
| 1982 | 1.00 billion current US$ | +0.1% |
| 1983 | 971.06 million current US$ | -3.0% |
| 1984 | 807.72 million current US$ | -16.8% |
| 1985 | 825.26 million current US$ | +2.2% |
| 1986 | 823.36 million current US$ | -0.2% |
| 1987 | 1.14 billion current US$ | +38.6% |
| 1988 | 1.34 billion current US$ | +17.4% |
| 1989 | 1.20 billion current US$ | -10.2% |
| 1990 | 1.29 billion current US$ | +7.0% |
| 1991 | 1.44 billion current US$ | +11.9% |
| 1992 | 1.37 billion current US$ | -4.6% |
| 1993 | 1.52 billion current US$ | +10.6% |
| 1994 | 1.25 billion current US$ | -17.4% |
| 1995 | 1.53 billion current US$ | +22.0% |
| 1996 | 1.97 billion current US$ | +28.7% |
| 1997 | 1.46 billion current US$ | -25.9% |
| 1998 | 1.17 billion current US$ | -19.8% |
| 1999 | 1.22 billion current US$ | +4.5% |
| 2000 | 1.94 billion current US$ | +58.6% |
| 2001 | 3.16 billion current US$ | +63.1% |
| 2002 | 2.14 billion current US$ | -32.4% |
| 2003 | 1.98 billion current US$ | -7.2% |
| 2004 | 2.44 billion current US$ | +23.2% |
| 2005 | 3.21 billion current US$ | +31.2% |
| 2006 | 3.73 billion current US$ | +16.4% |
| 2007 | 3.40 billion current US$ | -8.9% |
| 2008 | 4.59 billion current US$ | +35.0% |
| 2009 | 3.20 billion current US$ | -30.3% |
| 2010 | 3.86 billion current US$ | +20.7% |
| 2011 | 4.12 billion current US$ | +6.8% |
| 2012 | 4.47 billion current US$ | +8.3% |
| 2013 | 5.11 billion current US$ | +14.4% |
| 2014 | 4.73 billion current US$ | -7.5% |
| 2015 | 4.31 billion current US$ | -8.8% |
| 2016 | 4.04 billion current US$ | -6.3% |
| 2017 | 3.86 billion current US$ | -4.5% |
| 2018 | 2.97 billion current US$ | -23.0% |
| 2019 | 3.47 billion current US$ | +17.0% |
| 2020 | 1.02 billion current US$ | -70.6% |
| 2021 | 719.20 million current US$ | -29.6% |
| 2022 | 1.76 billion current US$ | +145.2% |
| 2023 | 2.65 billion current US$ | +50.2% |
North Korea compared with similar countries
- North Korea's 2.65 billion current US$ is below the median for low income countries, which is 3.15 billion current US$, 84% of the median. (25 countries reporting)
- North Korea's 2.65 billion current US$ is below the median for East Asia & Pacific, which is 6.01 billion current US$, 44% of the median. (36 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Merchandise imports by the reporting economy (current US$) 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 | +145.2% | 719.20 million current US$ | 1.76 billion current US$ |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1980s | 1.01 billion current US$ | 807.72 million current US$ | 1.34 billion current US$ | 9 |
| 1990s | 1.42 billion current US$ | 1.17 billion current US$ | 1.97 billion current US$ | 10 |
| 2000s | 2.98 billion current US$ | 1.94 billion current US$ | 4.59 billion current US$ | 10 |
| 2010s | 4.09 billion current US$ | 2.97 billion current US$ | 5.11 billion current US$ | 10 |
| 2020s | 1.54 billion current US$ | 719.20 million current US$ | 2.65 billion current US$ | 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$), annual growth rate 22.61 % change on previous year (2025)
- Merchandise imports from economies in the Arab World 0.0% (2023)
- Merchandise imports from high-income economies 0.2% (2023)
- Merchandise imports from low- and middle-income economies outside 2.7% (2023)
- Merchandise imports from low- and middle-income economies in East 97.1% (2023)
Frequently asked questions
- What is merchandise imports by the reporting economy in North Korea?
- Merchandise imports by the reporting economy in North Korea was 2.65 billion current US$ in 2023, according to Staff estimates, World Bank (WB).
- What is the highest merchandise imports by the reporting economy recorded in North Korea?
- The highest recorded value was 5.11 billion current US$ in 2013.
- What is the lowest merchandise imports by the reporting economy recorded in North Korea?
- The lowest recorded value was 719.20 million current US$ in 2021.
- How does North Korea rank for merchandise imports by the reporting economy?
- North Korea ranks 160th out of 206 countries with data for 2023.
- Is merchandise imports by the reporting economy rising or falling in North Korea?
- Over the last ten years it is down 48.1%. 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 imports by the reporting economy (current US$). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Merchandise imports by the reporting economy are the total merchandise imports by the reporting economy from the rest of the world, as reported in the IMF's Direction of trade database. Data are in current U.S. dollars.