Merchandise imports from low- and middle-income economies outside in North Korea
North Korea: Merchandise imports from low- and middle-income economies outside was 2.7% in 2023. ◆ Volatile
Merchandise imports from low- and middle-income economies outside in North Korea, 1981–2023
Source: Staff estimates, World Bank (WB). Measured in % of total merchandise imports.
Analysis
North Korea recorded 2.7% for merchandise imports from low- and middle-income economies outside in 2023.
That represents a change of down 87.6% on the previous year and down 69.1% over ten years.
Over the whole period, merchandise imports from low- and middle-income economies outside in North Korea peaked at 39.7% in 2008 and was at its lowest, 1.9%, in 1984.
North Korea ranks 186th 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 from low- and middle-income economies outside in North Korea, year by year
| Year | % of total merchandise imports | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1981 | 2.8% | — |
| 1982 | 3.3% | +19.7% |
| 1983 | 3.1% | -5.9% |
| 1984 | 1.9% | -38.9% |
| 1985 | 1.9% | +1.0% |
| 1986 | 4.4% | +127.2% |
| 1987 | 7.5% | +72.3% |
| 1988 | 16.1% | +113.7% |
| 1989 | 6.7% | -58.4% |
| 1990 | 13.6% | +104.0% |
| 1991 | 9.4% | -31.1% |
| 1992 | 6.8% | -27.8% |
| 1993 | 3.2% | -52.9% |
| 1994 | 14.0% | +337.3% |
| 1995 | 12.8% | -8.0% |
| 1996 | 7.7% | -40.4% |
| 1997 | 11.3% | +47.5% |
| 1998 | 11.6% | +2.5% |
| 1999 | 20.8% | +79.9% |
| 2000 | 28.7% | +37.7% |
| 2001 | 24.7% | -14.0% |
| 2002 | 35.1% | +42.4% |
| 2003 | 22.1% | -37.1% |
| 2004 | 19.6% | -11.4% |
| 2005 | 28.4% | +45.0% |
| 2006 | 39.3% | +38.3% |
| 2007 | 37.9% | -3.6% |
| 2008 | 39.7% | +4.8% |
| 2009 | 21.7% | -45.4% |
| 2010 | 28.9% | +33.2% |
| 2011 | 10.7% | -63.0% |
| 2012 | 8.5% | -20.3% |
| 2013 | 8.8% | +3.4% |
| 2014 | 5.6% | -35.9% |
| 2015 | 13.3% | +136.1% |
| 2016 | 7.8% | -41.1% |
| 2017 | 5.0% | -36.4% |
| 2018 | 18.4% | +268.2% |
| 2019 | 6.3% | -65.5% |
| 2020 | 4.6% | -27.7% |
| 2021 | 4.3% | -6.9% |
| 2022 | 21.9% | +413.9% |
| 2023 | 2.7% | -87.6% |
North Korea compared with similar countries
- North Korea's 2.7% is below the median for low income countries, which is 36.9%, 7% of the median. (25 countries reporting)
- North Korea's 2.7% is below the median for East Asia & Pacific, which is 3.1%, 87% of the median. (36 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Merchandise imports from low- and middle-income economies outside 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 | +413.9% | 4.3% | 21.9% |
| 1994 | +337.3% | 3.2% | 14.0% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1980s | 5.3% | 1.9% | 16.1% | 9 |
| 1990s | 11.1% | 3.2% | 20.8% | 10 |
| 2000s | 29.7% | 19.6% | 39.7% | 10 |
| 2010s | 11.3% | 5.0% | 28.9% | 10 |
| 2020s | 8.4% | 2.7% | 21.9% | 4 |
Countries ranked near North Korea
- 183 San Marino 3.3% compare
- 184 Fiji 3.2% compare
- 185 Hong Kong 3.0% compare
- 187 Macao 2.6% compare
- 188 Sint Maarten (Dutch part) 2.5% compare
- 189 Luxembourg 1.9% 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 in East 97.1% (2023)
- Merchandise imports from low- and middle-income economies in Europe & 0.0% (2023)
Frequently asked questions
- What is merchandise imports from low- and middle-income economies outside in North Korea?
- Merchandise imports from low- and middle-income economies outside in North Korea was 2.7% in 2023, according to Staff estimates, World Bank (WB).
- What is the highest merchandise imports from low- and middle-income economies outside recorded in North Korea?
- The highest recorded value was 39.7% in 2008.
- What is the lowest merchandise imports from low- and middle-income economies outside recorded in North Korea?
- The lowest recorded value was 1.9% in 1984.
- How does North Korea rank for merchandise imports from low- and middle-income economies outside?
- North Korea ranks 186th out of 206 countries with data for 2023.
- Is merchandise imports from low- and middle-income economies outside rising or falling in North Korea?
- Over the last ten years it is down 69.1%. 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 from low- and middle-income economies outside region (% of total merchandise imports). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
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About this data
Merchandise imports from low- and middle-income economies outside region are the sum of merchandise imports by the reporting economy from 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 imports by the economy. Data are computed only if at least half of the economies in the partner country group had non-missing data.