Korea, North (Democratic People's Republic of Korea)

North Korea Democratic People's Republic of Korea
Status	Independent State
Capital	Pyongyang
Land Area	120 410km21
Location	Asia
Population	24.6m (2011)2
Life Expectancy	70.52yrs (2017)3
GNI
ISO3166-1 Codes	KP, PRK, 4084
Internet Domain	.kp5
Currency	Won (KPW)6
Telephone	+8507

1. Overview
2. North Korea National and Social Development
3. Population and Demographics
4. Human Rights, Equality and Freedom
5. Peace Versus Instability
6. Religion and Beliefs
7. Public Health Issues
8. Children's Health
9. More Charts and Comparisons to Other Countries
10. Links

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1. Overview

“An independent kingdom for much of its long history, Korea was occupied by Japan beginning in 1905 following the Russo-Japanese War. Five years later, Japan formally annexed the entire peninsula. Following World War II, Korea was split with the northern half coming under Soviet-sponsored Communist control. After failing in the Korean War (1950-53) to conquer the US-backed Republic of Korea (ROK) in the southern portion by force, North Korea (DPRK), under its founder President KIM Il Sung, adopted a policy of ostensible diplomatic and economic "self-reliance" as a check against outside influence. The DPRK demonized the US as the ultimate threat to its social system through state-funded propaganda, and molded political, economic, and military policies around the core ideological objective of eventual unification of Korea under Pyongyang's control. KIM Il Sung's son, KIM Jong Il, was officially designated as his father's successor in 1980, assuming a growing political and managerial role until the elder KIM's death in 1994. KIM Jong Un was publicly unveiled as his father's successor in September 2010. Following KIM Jong Il's death in December 2011, the regime began to take actions to transfer power to KIM Jong Un and KIM has now assumed many his father's former titles and duties. After decades of economic mismanagement and resource misallocation, the DPRK since the mid-1990s has relied heavily on international aid to feed its population. The DPRK began to ease restrictions to allow semi-private markets, starting in 2002, but then sought to roll back the scale of economic reforms in 2005 and 2009. North Korea's history of regional military provocations; proliferation of military-related items; long-range missile development; WMD programs including tests of nuclear devices in 2006, 2009, and 2013; and massive conventional armed forces are of major concern to the international community.”

CIA's The World Factbook (2013)₈

“Most people form their opinions of North Korea from news reports and James Bond movies, but there´s more to the Democratic People´s Republic than military parades and stand-offs with the UN. No country in the world provokes a similar reaction to North Korea. Now on its third hereditary ruler, this nominally communist state and by-product of the Cold War has defied all expectation and survived a quarter of a century since perestroika dismantled the rest of the once-vast Soviet empire.

Most people don´t even know that it´s possible to travel here, and indeed the compromises required to do so are significant. You´ll be accompanied by two government minders at all times and only hear a one-sided account of history. Those who can´t accept this might be better off staying away - but those who can will have a fascinating trip into another, unsettling world.

With your official minders, you can roam mountain resorts and ancient capitals, though the main attractions remain the bombastic iconography of the North Korean regime and the surreal existence of ordinary people in this troubled, autocratic state.”

"The World" by Lonely Planet (2014)₉

2. North Korea National and Social Development

#human_development

Social & Moral Development Index10
Pos.		Higher is better Points10
1	Denmark	83.6
2	Finland	83.1
3	Sweden	82.6
	...
135	Micronesia	49.0
136	Comoros	49.0
137	Kiribati	49.0
138	N. Korea	48.9
139	Solomon Islands	48.7
140	Palau	48.7
141	Laos	48.4
142	Togo	48.3
	World Avg	55.4
q=198.

The Social and Moral Development Index concentrates on moral issues and human rights, violence, public health, equality, tolerance, freedom and effectiveness in climate change mitigation and environmentalism, and on some technological issues. A country scores higher for achieving well in those areas, and for sustaining that achievement in the long term. Those countries towards the top of this index can truly said to be setting good examples and leading humankind onwards into a bright, humane, and free future. See: What is the Best Country in the World? An Index of Morality, Conscience and Good Life.

3. Population and Demographics

#birth_control #demographics #health #immigration #life_expectancy #longevity #North_Korea #overpopulation #population

Old-Age Dependency Ratio (2016)11
Pos.		Lower is better Per 10011
1	Uganda	04.3
2	Mali	04.5
3	Chad	04.7
	...
107	Brunei	16.2
108	El Salvador	17.3
109	Panama	17.7
110	N. Korea	17.8
111	Turkey	18.0
112	Vietnam	18.3
113	Tunisia	18.6
114	Azerbaijan	18.7
	World Avg	18.3
q=185.

Emigrants (2010)12
Pos.		%12
1	Dominica	104.8%
2	Palestine	68.4%
3	Samoa	67.3%
	...
166	Cameroon	1.4%
167	Malawi	1.4%
168	Congo, DR	1.3%
169	N. Korea	1.3%
170	Thailand	1.2%
171	UAE	1.2%
172	Mongolia	1.2%
173	Kenya	1.1%
	World Avg	11.5%
q=192.

Fertility Rate (2013)13
Pos.		2.0 is best13
1	N. Korea	2.00
2	Brunei	1.99
3	St Vincent & Grenadines	2.01
4	France	1.99
5	Turkey	2.04
6	Australia	1.96
7	Uruguay	2.05
8	Norway	1.95
9	Myanmar (Burma)	1.95
10	Indonesia	2.07
11	Sweden	1.93
12	Tunisia	1.93
	World Avg	2.81
q=180.

The fertility rate is, in simple terms, the average amount of children that each woman has. The higher the figure, the quicker the population is growing, although, to calculate the rate you also need to take into account morbidity, i.e., the rate at which people die. If people live healthy and long lives and morbidity is low, then, 2.0 approximates to the replacement rate, which would keep the population stable. If all countries had such a fertility rate, population growth would end. The actual replacement rate in most developed countries is around 2.1.

Immigrants (2010)12
Pos.		%12
1	Qatar	86.5%
2	Monaco	71.6%
3	UAE	70.0%
	...
183	Colombia	0.2%
184	Madagascar	0.2%
185	Myanmar (Burma)	0.2%
186	N. Korea	0.2%
187	Morocco	0.2%
188	Cuba	0.1%
189	Peru	0.1%
190	Vietnam	0.1%
	World Avg	9.2%
q=192.

Life Expectancy (2015)14
Pos.		Higher is better Years14
1	Hong Kong	84.16
2	Japan	83.68
3	Italy	83.34
	...
111	Ukraine	71.13
112	Azerbaijan	70.90
113	Kyrgyzstan	70.79
114	N. Korea	70.52
115	Trinidad & Tobago	70.52
116	Russia	70.26
117	Fiji	70.15
118	Belize	70.08
	World Avg	71.27
q=190.

Population (2012)15
Pos.		Population15
1	China	1.4b
2	India	1.3b
3	USA	315.8m
	...
46	Uzbekistan	28.1m
47	Yemen	25.6m
48	Ghana	25.5m
49	N. Korea	24.6m
50	Mozambique	24.5m
51	Australia	22.9m
52	Madagascar	21.9m
53	Romania	21.4m
	World Avg	36.0m
q=195.

North Korea's population is predicted to rise to 26.18 million by 2030. This rise is despite a low fertility rate, meaning, that this country is helping to alleviate problems with growing population in neighbouring countries by accepting immigrants, very likely as a requirement of maintaining an active workforce. This country has a fertility rate of 2.00. The fertility rate is, in simple terms, the average amount of children that each woman has. The higher the figure, the quicker the population is growing, although, to calculate the rate you also need to take into account morbidity, i.e., the rate at which people die. If people live healthy and long lives and morbidity is low, then, 2.0 approximates to the replacement rate, which would keep the population stable. If all countries had such a fertility rate, population growth would end. The actual replacement rate in most developed countries is around 2.1.

• The Population of the Earth
• Abortion, Birth Control and Contraception

4. Human Rights, Equality and Freedom

#equality #freedom #human_rights #north_korea #politics #tolerance

This is a fully totalitarian dictatorship with no pretence to embrace any modern concept of human rights nor personal freedom_16,17. N. Korea does better than average in terms of the year from which women could participate in democracy₁₈. But unfortunately N. Korea gets most other things wrong. It does worse than average when it comes to LGBT equality₁₉. It sits amongst the bottom 20 in commentary in Human Rights Watch reports₂₀ (amongst the lowest in Asia), its Global Peace Index rating₂₁ (amongst the highest in Asia) and in its nominal commitment to Human Rights₂₂. It is second-from-the-bottom when it comes to fighting corruption₂₃ and in supporting press freedom₂₄. And finally, it is the worst in eliminating modern slavery₂₅. Of the millions of North Koreans subject to slavery, the "clear majority" are being held in forced labour by the state itself₂₆. The Lonely Planet guide for traveller says that visiting North Korea is "a fascinating trip into another, unsettling world... with your official minders, you can roam mountain resorts and ancient capitals, though the main attractions remain the bombastic iconography of the North Korean regime and the surreal existence of ordinary people in this troubled, autocratic state"₉.

For tables, charts and commentary, see:

• Human Rights and Freedom in Korea, North

5. Peace Versus Instability

#human_development #North_Korea #peace #politics

Global Peace Index (2012)21
Pos.		Lower is better21
1	Iceland	1.11
2	New Zealand	1.24
3	Denmark	1.24
	...
148	Pakistan	2.83
149	Israel	2.84
150	Central African Rep.	2.87
151	N. Korea	2.93
152	Russia	2.94
153	Congo, DR	3.07
154	Iraq	3.19
155	Sudan	3.19
	World Avg	2.02
q=157.

"The 2012 Global Peace Index is the sixth edition of the world's leading study on global levels of peacefulness. The GPI ranks 158 nations using 23 qualitative and quantitative indicators from highly respected sources, which gauge three broad themes: the level of safety and security in society; the extent of domestic or international conflict; and the degree of militarisation. By generating new information on the state of peace at the national and global level, the Institute for Economics and Peace hopes to make a valuable contribution to better understanding how civil society, researchers, policymakers, and government can create a more peaceful society"₂₁. The most peaceable countries in the world are Iceland, New Zealand and Denmark₂₁ and the worst are Somalia, Afghanistan and Sudan₂₁.

6. Religion and Beliefs

#buddhism #christianity #hinduism #islam #judaism

Data from the Pew Forum, a professional polling outfit, states that in 2010 the religious makeup of this country was as follows in the table below₂₇:

Christian	2%
Muslim	0.1%
Hindu	0.1%
Buddhist	1.5%
Folk Religion	12.3%
Jew	0.1%
Unaffiliated	71.3%

The CIA World Factbook has slightly different data, and states: traditionally Buddhist and Confucianist, some Christian and syncretic Chondogyo (Religion of the Heavenly Way). note: autonomous religious activities now almost nonexistent; government-sponsored religious groups exist to provide illusion of religious freedom₂₈.

Links:

• A List of All Religions and Belief Systems

7. Public Health Issues

#alcohol #genetics #health #North_Korea #obesity #public_health #smoking #sociology #UK

North Korea does relatively well in encouraging good health, compared to many other countries. N. Korea performs the best in terms of its adolescent birth rate₂₉. It does better than average for the prevalence of overweight adults₃₀, its alcohol consumption rate₃₁ (but high for Asia) and in its immunizations take-up₃₂ (but bad for Asia). N. Korea does not succeed in everything, however. It does worse than average when it comes to its smoking rate₃₃ (still low for Asia). The prevalence of overweight adults has increased by 14% during the last 40 years.

Alcohol Consumption (2016)31
Pos.		Lower is better Per Capita31
1	Bangladesh	0.0
2	Kuwait	0.0
3	Libya	0.0
	...
65	Gambia	3.8
66	Israel	3.8
67	UAE	3.8
68	N. Korea	3.9
69	Honduras	4.0
70	Jamaica	4.2
71	Sri Lanka	4.3
72	Bahamas	4.4
	World Avg	6.2
q=189.

There is nothing wrong with drinking modest and sensible amounts of alcohol but fitness, physical health, mental health and long-term health all suffer as a result of medium- or heavy- drinking₃₄ and the health risks to the baby when pregnant mothers drink₃₅ are well-known. Aside from the effects on the individual, alcohol misuse impacts on entire economies₃₆ via increased health service costs, policing costs and lost days' work. Worldwide, alcohol misuse is "among the top five risk factors for disease, disability and death" and is a "cause of more than 200 disease and injury conditions in individuals, most notably alcohol dependence, liver cirrhosis, cancers and injuries"₃₇. "In 2012... 5.9% of all global deaths, were attributable to alcohol consumption"₃₈. Deaths from chronic alcohol misuse have been rising for decades, and so has violence, abuse, vandalism and crime all associated with alcohol over-use. The aggression and crime associated with alcohol in some Western countries infringes on the human rights of those who want nothing to do with such behaviour. Many of the social effects of alcohol are psychological and cultural; i.e., people don't have to behave criminally or destructively whilst drunk - it is a culturally learned behaviour. Experiments have shown that behaviour can be controlled: Those who do not wish to behave badly whilst drunk, will not do so.

Overweight Adults (2016)30
Pos.		Lower is better %30
1	Vietnam	18.3
2	India	19.7
3	Bangladesh	20.0
	...
52	Ghana	32.0
53	China	32.3
54	Mauritius	32.3
55	N. Korea	32.4
56	Thailand	32.6
57	Cameroon	33.6
58	Mauritania	34.4
59	Cape Verde	34.8
	World Avg	49.0
q=191.

About one third of the global population is overweight or obese₃₉. Most Western countries are facing an obesity epidemic. Our cultures are having to change to compensate for widespread ill-health. It is costing our health systems a massive amount of money, and is having negative effects on national economies. The situation has persisted for a suitable length of time for our very perceptions to change; opinions on "normal weights" for people and "average sizes" for clothes has shot up₄₀. Over 2 in 3 adults in the UK are overweight₄₀ and this costs the NHS £5.1 billion per year₄₁ and "costs Britain's economy £47bn a year; more than war, terrorism or armed violence"₄₂. We are forgetting how to be healthy.

The causes are not genetic. Most people who say obesity "runs in their family" are wrong. The rate of increase in obesity is many, many times too fast to be accounted for by a change in inherited genes₄₃. Our culture and lifestyle choices are to blame. The causes of the modern obesity epidemic are processed foods, low levels of physical exercise, over-indulgence, poor choices in food products, poor knowledge of nutrition. Most of this is made much worse by well-funded advertising campaigns by food manufacturers selling cheaper mass-produced food. Even some so-called "health foods" contain well over recommended limits of fat, salt and sugar₄₄.

Smoking Rates (2014)33
Pos.		Lower is better33
1	Guinea	15
2	Solomon Islands	26
3	Kiribati	28
	...
94	Malaysia	584
95	Seychelles	590
96	Jamaica	593
97	N. Korea	610
98	Fiji	618
99	Cambodia	645
100	Equatorial Guinea	649
101	Singapore	652
	World Avg	819
q=182.

8. Children's Health

#health #North_Korea #parenting #population #vaccines

Adolescent Birth Rate (2015)29
Pos.		Lower is better Per 100029
1	N. Korea	0.5
2	S. Korea	1.6
3	Switzerland	2.9
4	Hong Kong	3.2
5	Slovenia	3.8
6	Singapore	3.8
7	Netherlands	4.0
8	Denmark	4.0
9	Japan	4.1
10	Cyprus	5.0
11	Sweden	5.7
12	Norway	5.9
	World Avg	47.9
q=185.

Infant Immunizations 2011-2015 (2015)32
Pos.		Higher is better Avg %32
1	Hungary	99.0
2	China	99.0
3	Uzbekistan	98.9
	...
82	Germany	94.0
83	Lithuania	93.9
84	Estonia	93.9
85	N. Korea	93.8
86	Italy	93.8
87	Austria	93.8
88	Argentina	93.7
89	Bulgaria	93.7
	World Avg	88.3
q=194.

9. More Charts and Comparisons to Other Countries

There isn't much information in the database for North Korea, most likely because it is either a part of another country (i.e., a territory or posession) and therefore most international statistics are counted for the country as a whole, or, this is such an exotic place that little data exists about it.