Merchandise imports from low- and middle-income economies in South in North Korea
North Korea: Merchandise imports from low- and middle-income economies in South was 0.1% in 2023. ◆ Volatile
Merchandise imports from low- and middle-income economies in South in North Korea, 1981–2023
Source: Staff estimates, World Bank (WB). Measured in % of total merchandise imports.
Analysis
The most recent figure for merchandise imports from low- and middle-income economies in south in North Korea is 0.1%, measured in 2023.
The figure is down 30.7% on the previous year and down 98.5% over ten years.
Over the whole period, merchandise imports from low- and middle-income economies in south in North Korea peaked at 25.8% in 2008 and was at its lowest, 0.1%, in 2021.
North Korea ranks 203rd of 205 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 from low- and middle-income economies in South in North Korea, year by year
| Year | % of total merchandise imports | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1981 | 0.7% | — |
| 1982 | 1.6% | +128.2% |
| 1983 | 1.5% | -6.2% |
| 1984 | 1.4% | -4.8% |
| 1985 | 1.1% | -26.5% |
| 1986 | 1.4% | +29.6% |
| 1987 | 2.5% | +81.6% |
| 1988 | 2.3% | -5.8% |
| 1989 | 2.8% | +20.7% |
| 1990 | 1.4% | -51.9% |
| 1991 | 4.0% | +190.6% |
| 1992 | 1.5% | -60.9% |
| 1993 | 1.6% | +2.0% |
| 1994 | 3.5% | +119.7% |
| 1995 | 3.7% | +6.6% |
| 1996 | 1.5% | -59.5% |
| 1997 | 2.6% | +77.0% |
| 1998 | 2.4% | -8.4% |
| 1999 | 5.2% | +115.3% |
| 2000 | 8.3% | +58.2% |
| 2001 | 5.9% | -28.4% |
| 2002 | 9.1% | +53.4% |
| 2003 | 9.3% | +2.1% |
| 2004 | 6.4% | -30.6% |
| 2005 | 2.9% | -55.1% |
| 2006 | 3.2% | +11.3% |
| 2007 | 21.8% | +578.4% |
| 2008 | 25.8% | +18.1% |
| 2009 | 10.9% | -57.6% |
| 2010 | 13.1% | +19.7% |
| 2011 | 6.1% | -53.5% |
| 2012 | 6.6% | +8.5% |
| 2013 | 4.8% | -26.3% |
| 2014 | 2.0% | -59.0% |
| 2015 | 3.0% | +52.3% |
| 2016 | 1.8% | -40.2% |
| 2017 | 1.8% | -2.2% |
| 2018 | 1.1% | -35.9% |
| 2019 | 0.3% | -71.9% |
| 2020 | 0.5% | +43.1% |
| 2021 | 0.1% | -85.7% |
| 2022 | 0.1% | +66.1% |
| 2023 | 0.1% | -30.7% |
North Korea compared with similar countries
- North Korea's 0.1% is below the median for low income countries, which is 7.4%, 1% of the median. (25 countries reporting)
- North Korea's 0.1% is below the median for East Asia & Pacific, which is 1.0%, 8% of the median. (36 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Merchandise imports from low- and middle-income economies in South 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2007 | +578.4% | 3.2% | 21.8% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1980s | 1.7% | 0.7% | 2.8% | 9 |
| 1990s | 2.7% | 1.4% | 5.2% | 10 |
| 2000s | 10.4% | 2.9% | 25.8% | 10 |
| 2010s | 4.1% | 0.3% | 13.1% | 10 |
| 2020s | 0.2% | 0.1% | 0.5% | 4 |
Countries ranked near North Korea
- 200 Nauru 0.1% compare
- 201 San Marino 0.1% compare
- 202 Palau 0.1% compare
- 204 Tuvalu 0.0% compare
- 205 Marshall Islands 0.0% 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 from low- and middle-income economies in south in North Korea?
- Merchandise imports from low- and middle-income economies in south in North Korea was 0.1% in 2023, according to Staff estimates, World Bank (WB).
- What is the highest merchandise imports from low- and middle-income economies in south recorded in North Korea?
- The highest recorded value was 25.8% in 2008.
- What is the lowest merchandise imports from low- and middle-income economies in south recorded in North Korea?
- The lowest recorded value was 0.1% in 2021.
- How does North Korea rank for merchandise imports from low- and middle-income economies in south?
- North Korea ranks 203rd out of 205 countries with data for 2023.
- Is merchandise imports from low- and middle-income economies in south rising or falling in North Korea?
- Over the last ten years it is down 98.5%. 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 imports from low- and middle-income economies in South Asia (% of total merchandise imports). 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 imports from low- and middle-income economies in South Asia are the sum of merchandise imports by the reporting economy from low- and middle-income economies in the South Asia region according to the World Bank classification of economies. Data are expressed as a percentage of total merchandise imports by the economy. Data are computed only if at least half of the economies in the partner country group had non-missing data.