https://www.humantruth.info/north_korea.html
By Vexen Crabtree 2013
North Korea Democratic People's Republic of Korea | ![]() |
---|---|
Status | Independent State |
Social and Moral Index | 165th best |
Capital | Pyongyang |
Land Area | 120 410km21 |
Location | Asia |
Population | 25.5m2 |
Life Expectancy | 73.28yrs (2017)3 |
GNI | |
ISO3166-1 Codes | KP, PRK, 4084 |
Internet Domain | .kp5 |
Currency | Won (KPW)6 |
Telephone | +8507 |
“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.”
Social & Moral Development Index10 | ||
---|---|---|
Pos. | Lower is better Avg Rank10 | |
1 | Denmark | 28.3 |
2 | Norway | 28.5 |
3 | Finland | 31.7 |
... | ||
162 | Djibouti | 115.3 |
163 | Ivory Coast | 115.4 |
164 | Marshall Islands | 116.0 |
165 | N. Korea | 116.1 |
166 | Swaziland | 116.2 |
167 | Guinea | 117.2 |
168 | Mozambique | 117.4 |
169 | Liberia | 117.8 |
Asia Avg | 86.8 | |
World Avg | 87.1 | |
q=196. |
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: Which are the Best Countries in the World? The Social and Moral Development Index.
#birth_control #demographics #health #immigration #life_expectancy #longevity #migration #overpopulation #population
Population:
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.Population2 | ||
---|---|---|
Pos. | 2018 Population2 | |
1 | China | 1.4b |
2 | India | 1.4b |
3 | USA | 327.1m |
... | ||
49 | Yemen | 28.5m |
50 | Nepal | 28.1m |
51 | Madagascar | 26.3m |
52 | N. Korea | 25.5m |
53 | Cameroon | 25.2m |
54 | Ivory Coast | 25.1m |
55 | Australia | 24.9m |
56 | Niger | 22.4m |
World Avg | 39.0m | |
q=195. |
Life Expectancy Higher is better11 | ||
---|---|---|
Pos. | 2021 Years11 | |
1 | Monaco | 85.9 |
2 | Hong Kong | 85.5 |
3 | Japan | 84.8 |
... | ||
79 | Latvia | 73.6 |
80 | Mauritius | 73.6 |
81 | Palestine | 73.5 |
82 | N. Korea | 73.3 |
83 | Trinidad & Tobago | 73.0 |
84 | Colombia | 72.8 |
85 | Dominica | 72.8 |
86 | Samoa | 72.8 |
World Avg | 71.28 | |
q=195. |
Fertility Rate 2.0 is best12 | ||
---|---|---|
Pos. | 201312 | |
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. |
Old-Age Dependency Ratio Lower is better13 | ||
---|---|---|
Pos. | 2016 Per 10013 | |
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. |
Migration:
Immigrants14 | ||
---|---|---|
Pos. | 2017 %14 | |
1 | UAE | 88.4% |
2 | Kuwait | 75.5% |
3 | Qatar | 65.2% |
... | ||
185 | Colombia | 0.3% |
186 | Morocco | 0.3% |
187 | Philippines | 0.2% |
188 | N. Korea | 0.2% |
189 | Sri Lanka | 0.2% |
190 | Myanmar (Burma) | 0.1% |
191 | Madagascar | 0.1% |
192 | Indonesia | 0.1% |
World Avg | 9.4% | |
q=195. |
Emigrants15 | ||
---|---|---|
Pos. | 2010 %15 | |
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. |
#equality #gender_equality #homosexuality #human_rights #morals #north_korea #north_korea_homosexuality #politics #prejudice #tolerance
Human Rights, Equality & Tolerance (2020)16 | ||
---|---|---|
Pos. | Lower is better Avg Rank16 | |
1 | Sweden | 9.0 |
2 | Norway | 14.5 |
3 | Denmark | 14.5 |
... | ||
190 | Swaziland | 141.8 |
191 | Mauritania | 144.4 |
192 | Cook Islands | 144.5 |
193 | N. Korea | 146.5 |
194 | Brunei | 147.1 |
195 | Sudan | 148.6 |
Asia Avg | 99.9 | |
World Avg | 87.9 | |
q=199. |
For tables, charts and commentary, see:
#alcohol #birth_control #demographics #health #life_expectancy #longevity #obesity #overpopulation #parenting #population #smoking #vaccines
Compared to Asia (2020)26 | ||
---|---|---|
Pos. | Lower is better Avg Rank26 | |
1 | Hong Kong | 18.3 |
2 | Maldives | 41.0 |
3 | Singapore | 42.6 |
... | ||
9 | Brunei | 62.6 |
10 | Malaysia | 62.8 |
11 | Oman | 62.9 |
12 | N. Korea | 65.0 |
13= | Thailand | 65.3 |
14 | Bangladesh | 66.8 |
15 | Kuwait | 67.1 |
16 | Uzbekistan | 68.4 |
17 | Saudi Arabia | 69.3 |
Asia Avg | 80.1 | |
q=50. |
Health (2020)26 | ||
---|---|---|
Pos. | Lower is better Avg Rank26 | |
1 | Monaco | 13.0 |
2 | Hong Kong | 18.3 |
3 | Maldives | 41.0 |
... | ||
12 | Malaysia | 62.8 |
13 | Oman | 62.9 |
14 | Mauritius | 64.5 |
15 | N. Korea | 65.0 |
16= | Thailand | 65.3 |
16= | Finland | 65.3 |
18 | Switzerland | 65.6 |
19 | Bangladesh | 66.8 |
World Avg | 93.5 | |
q=196. |
The countries with the best overall approach to public health, in terms of both public policy and individual lifestyle choices, are Monaco, Hong Kong and The Maldives27. These countries are worth emulating. And, although often through no fault of the average citizen, the worst countries are The Marshall Islands, S. Sudan and Palau27.
The data sets used to calculate points for each country are its average life expectancy, its alcohol consumption rate, its fertility rate, its smoking rate, its suicide rate, its food aid and health contributions and WHO compliance, the prevalence of overweight adults, its adolescent birth rate and its immunizations take-up. The regions with the best average results per country are Scandinavia, Asia and The Mediterranean27, whereas the worst are Micronesia, Australasia and Africa27.
For more, see:
Health:
Public health in North Korea is very good. N. Korea does the best for its fertility rate12 and in its adolescent birth rate28. It does better than average for its alcohol consumption rate29 (but bad for Asia), its average life expectancy11 and in its immunizations take-up30 (but low for Asia). N. Korea doesn't do so well in other areas. N. Korea does worse than average for its smoking rate31 (still good for Asia). The number of overweight adults has increased by 14% over the past 40 years. Life expectancy in North Korea improved by just +3yrs in the 30 years from 1990, significantly less than almost everywhere else in the world.Life Expectancy Higher is better11 | ||
---|---|---|
Pos. | 2021 Years11 | |
1 | Monaco | 85.9 |
2 | Hong Kong | 85.5 |
3 | Japan | 84.8 |
... | ||
79 | Latvia | 73.6 |
80 | Mauritius | 73.6 |
81 | Palestine | 73.5 |
82 | N. Korea | 73.3 |
83 | Trinidad & Tobago | 73.0 |
84 | Colombia | 72.8 |
85 | Dominica | 72.8 |
86 | Samoa | 72.8 |
Asia Avg | 73.48 | |
World Avg | 71.28 | |
q=195. |
Alcohol Consumption Lower is better29 | ||
---|---|---|
Pos. | 2016 Per Capita29 | |
1 | Bangladesh | 0.0 |
2 | Kuwait | 0.0 |
3 | Libya | 0.0 |
... | ||
65= | Gambia | 3.8 |
65= | Israel | 3.8 |
65= | 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 |
Asia Avg | 3.9 | |
World Avg | 6.2 | |
q=189. |
Fertility Rate 2.0 is best12 | ||
---|---|---|
Pos. | 201312 | |
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 |
Asia Avg | 2.46 | |
World Avg | 2.81 | |
q=180. |
Smoking Rates Lower is better31 | ||
---|---|---|
Pos. | 201431 | |
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 |
Asia Avg | 1 035 | |
World Avg | 819 | |
q=182. |
Overweight Adults Lower is better32 | ||
---|---|---|
Pos. | 2016 %32 | |
1 | Vietnam | 18.3 |
2 | India | 19.7 |
3 | Bangladesh | 20.0 |
... | ||
52 | Ghana | 32.0 |
53= | China | 32.3 |
53= | 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 |
Asia Avg | 44.3 | |
World Avg | 49.0 | |
q=191. |
Children's Health:
Adolescent Birth Rate Lower is better28 | ||
---|---|---|
Pos. | 2015 Per 100028 | |
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 |
Asia Avg | 29.9 | |
World Avg | 47.9 | |
q=185. |
Infant Immunizations 2011-2015 Higher is better30 | ||
---|---|---|
Pos. | 2015 Avg %30 | |
1= | Hungary | 99.0 |
1= | 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 |
Asia Avg | 90.5 | |
World Avg | 88.3 | |
q=194. |
#biodiversity #climate_change #deforestation #food #meat #over-exploitation #the_environment #veganism #vegetarianism
Compared to Asia (2023)33 | ||
---|---|---|
Pos. | Lower is better Avg Rank33 | |
1 | Japan | 33.2 |
2 | Philippines | 45.0 |
3 | Sri Lanka | 49.0 |
4 | Maldives | 55.0 |
5 | Jordan | 56.5 |
6 | N. Korea | 57.5 |
7 | Indonesia | 62.4 |
8 | S. Korea | 62.8 |
9 | Bangladesh | 67.0 |
10= | India | 68.6 |
11 | Lebanon | 68.8 |
12= | Nepal | 68.8 |
13 | Armenia | 69.5 |
Asia Avg | 88.8 | |
q=51. |
Responsibility Towards The Environment (2023)33 | ||
---|---|---|
Pos. | Lower is better Avg Rank33 | |
1 | Japan | 33.2 |
2 | Philippines | 45.0 |
3 | Uruguay | 48.0 |
... | ||
17 | Jordan | 56.5 |
18 | Portugal | 57.0 |
19 | Kenya | 57.4 |
20 | N. Korea | 57.5 |
21= | Spain | 57.6 |
21= | Zambia | 57.6 |
23 | Venezuela | 58.0 |
24= | Colombia | 58.8 |
World Avg | 85.7 | |
q=188. |
Forest Area Change 2000-2020 Higher is better35 | ||
---|---|---|
Pos. | Total35 | |
1 | Guernsey | 82.6% |
2 | Bahrain | 75.2% |
3 | Iceland | 64.7% |
... | ||
180 | Venezuela | -6.0% |
181 | Honduras | -6.3% |
182 | Equatorial Guinea | -6.5% |
183 | N. Korea | -6.7% |
184 | Mauritius | -7.5% |
185 | Liberia | -7.5% |
186 | Bolivia | -7.9% |
187 | Singapore | -7.9% |
Asia Avg | 3.2% | |
World Avg | -0.1% | |
q=234. |
Convention on Biological Diversity Earlier is better | ||
---|---|---|
Pos. | Total Signed | |
1= | China | 1993 Dec 29 |
1= | Guinea | 1993 Dec 29 |
1= | Cook Islands | 1993 Dec 29 |
... | ||
92 | Bolivia | 1995 Jan 01 |
93 | Senegal | 1995 Jan 15 |
94 | Cameroon | 1995 Jan 17 |
95 | N. Korea | 1995 Jan 24 |
96 | San Marino | 1995 Jan 26 |
97 | Swaziland | 1995 Feb 07 |
98 | Zimbabwe | 1995 Feb 09 |
99 | Vietnam | 1995 Feb 14 |
Asia Avg | 1899 Dec 30 | |
World Avg | 1899 Dec 30 | |
q=197. |
Meat Consumption Lower is better34 | ||
---|---|---|
Pos. | 2021 kg34 | |
1 | Congo, DR | 03.0 |
2 | Burundi | 03.5 |
3 | Bangladesh | 04.3 |
... | ||
18 | Tanzania | 12.1 |
19 | Ivory Coast | 12.6 |
20 | Cambodia | 12.6 |
21 | N. Korea | 12.8 |
22 | Bhutan | 13.6 |
23 | Cameroon | 14.6 |
24 | Guinea-Bissau | 14.7 |
25 | Djibouti | 14.8 |
Asia Avg | 46.7 | |
World Avg | 52.5 | |
q=185. |
Modernity and Education:
Length of Schooling Higher is better36 | ||
---|---|---|
Pos. | 2021 Years36 | |
1 | Australia | 21.1 |
2 | New Zealand | 20.3 |
3 | Greece | 20.0 |
... | ||
149 | Rwanda | 11.2 |
150 | Zambia | 10.9 |
151 | Myanmar (Burma) | 10.9 |
152 | N. Korea | 10.8 |
153 | Benin | 10.8 |
154 | Burundi | 10.7 |
155 | Kenya | 10.7 |
156 | Ivory Coast | 10.7 |
Asia Avg | 13.5 | |
World Avg | 13.5 | |
q=193. |
#corruption #north_korea #politics #somalia
Corruption Higher is better37 | ||
---|---|---|
Pos. | 2022 Points37 | |
1 | Denmark | 90.0 |
2= | Finland | 87.0 |
2= | New Zealand | 87.0 |
... | ||
169 | Turkmenistan | 19.0 |
170= | Chad | 19.0 |
171 | Equatorial Guinea | 17.0 |
172= | N. Korea | 17.0 |
172= | Libya | 17.0 |
172= | Haiti | 17.0 |
172= | Burundi | 17.0 |
176 | Yemen | 16.0 |
Asia Avg | 39.98 | |
World Avg | 42.98 | |
q=180. |
On average through the 2010s, North Korea scored the second-worst on the Corruption Perception Index (after Somalia).
#human_development #peace #politics
Global Peace Index Lower is better38 | ||
---|---|---|
Pos. | 2023 Score38 | |
1 | Iceland | 1.12 |
2 | Denmark | 1.31 |
3 | Ireland | 1.31 |
... | ||
146 | Pakistan | 2.75 |
147= | Iran | 2.80 |
147= | Turkey | 2.80 |
149 | N. Korea | 2.85 |
150 | Burkina Faso | 2.87 |
151 | Ethiopia | 2.87 |
152 | Central African Rep. | 2.93 |
153 | Mali | 2.96 |
Asia Avg | 2.17 | |
World Avg | 2.07 | |
q=163. |
#health #inequality #life_expectancy
Inequality in Life Expectancy Lower is better39 | ||
---|---|---|
Pos. | 201939 | |
1 | Iceland | 2.40 |
2= | Singapore | 2.50 |
2= | Hong Kong | 2.50 |
... | ||
90 | Kyrgyzstan | 11.30 |
91= | St Vincent & Grenadines | 11.30 |
92 | Ecuador | 11.50 |
93= | N. Korea | 11.50 |
94 | Egypt | 11.60 |
95= | Panama | 12.00 |
95= | Palestine | 12.00 |
97 | Solomon Islands | 12.10 |
Asia Avg | 11.80 | |
World Avg | 14.59 | |
q=184. |
#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 below40:
Christian | 2% |
Muslim | 0.1% |
Hindu | 0.1% |
Buddhist | 1.5% |
Folk Religion | 12.3% |
Jewish | 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 freedom41.
Links: