People using improved sanitation facilities in North Korea
North Korea: People using improved sanitation facilities was 22.58 million people in 2023. ▲ Rising
People using improved sanitation facilities in North Korea, 2002–2023
Source: WHO/UNICEF Joint Monitoring Programme for Water Supply, Sanitation and Hygiene (2025) – processed by Our World in Data. Measured in people.
Analysis
In 2023, people using improved sanitation facilities in North Korea stood at 22.58 million people. That is the highest value across all 22 years on record.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 0.4% on the previous year and up 7.4% over ten years.
Over the whole period, people using improved sanitation facilities in North Korea peaked at 22.58 million people in 2023 and was at its lowest, 19.27 million people, in 2002.
That places North Korea 52nd out of 232 countries with data for 2023, putting it in the top quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 22 years of available data.
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 19.74 million people | 19.27 million people | 20.29 million people | 8 |
| 2010s | 21.33 million people | 20.47 million people | 22.20 million people | 10 |
| 2020s | 22.44 million people | 22.29 million people | 22.58 million people | 4 |
Countries ranked near North Korea
More population data for North Korea
- World population growth -0.7% (2100)
- Population density 162.05 people per km² (2100)
- Number of children under 5, by world region 794,407 people (2100)
- Population growth rate, by level of development -0.7% (2100)
- Total fertility rate vs. contraceptive prevalence 1.78 births per woman (2024)
- Fertility rate vs. unmet need for contraception 1.78 births per woman (2024)
- Total fertility rate vs. wanted fertility rate 1.78 births per woman (2024)
- Fertility rate vs. Share of people who are religious 1.78 live births per woman (2023)
- Fertility rate accounting for survival until childbearing age 1.72 children per women (2023)
- Birth rate by women's age group 0.512 live births per 1,000 women aged 15-19 (2023)
Frequently asked questions
- What is people using improved sanitation facilities in North Korea?
- People using improved sanitation facilities in North Korea was 22.58 million people in 2023, according to WHO/UNICEF Joint Monitoring Programme for Water Supply, Sanitation and Hygiene (2025) – processed by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest people using improved sanitation facilities recorded in North Korea?
- The highest recorded value was 22.58 million people in 2023.
- What is the lowest people using improved sanitation facilities recorded in North Korea?
- The lowest recorded value was 19.27 million people in 2002.
- How does North Korea rank for people using improved sanitation facilities?
- North Korea ranks 52nd out of 232 countries with data for 2023.
- Is people using improved sanitation facilities rising or falling in North Korea?
- Over the last ten years it is up 7.4%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this North Korea data come from?
- The figures come from WHO/UNICEF Joint Monitoring Programme for Water Supply, Sanitation and Hygiene (2025) – processed by Our World in Data, published as part of People using improved sanitation facilities. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Number of people using improved sanitation facilities, regardless of whether they are shared with other households.