Share of the population using at least basic sanitation services in North Korea
North Korea: Share of the population using at least basic sanitation services was 84.8% in 2023. ▲ Rising
Share of the population using at least basic sanitation services 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 %.
Analysis
In 2023, share of the population using at least basic sanitation services in North Korea stood at 84.8%. That is the highest value across all 22 years on record.
The figure is up 0.1% on the previous year and up 5.8% over ten years.
Over the whole period, share of the population using at least basic sanitation services in North Korea peaked at 84.8% in 2023 and was at its lowest, 75.2%, in 2002.
North Korea ranks 160th of 232 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 22 years of available data.
Share of the population using at least basic sanitation services in North Korea, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2002 | 75.2% | — |
| 2003 | 75.2% | +0.0% |
| 2004 | 75.2% | +0.0% |
| 2005 | 75.2% | +0.0% |
| 2006 | 75.2% | +0.0% |
| 2007 | 75.9% | +0.9% |
| 2008 | 76.6% | +0.9% |
| 2009 | 77.3% | +0.9% |
| 2010 | 78.0% | +0.9% |
| 2011 | 78.8% | +0.9% |
| 2012 | 79.5% | +0.9% |
| 2013 | 80.2% | +0.9% |
| 2014 | 80.9% | +0.9% |
| 2015 | 81.7% | +0.9% |
| 2016 | 82.4% | +0.9% |
| 2017 | 83.2% | +0.9% |
| 2018 | 83.9% | +0.9% |
| 2019 | 84.6% | +0.8% |
| 2020 | 84.7% | +0.1% |
| 2021 | 84.7% | +0.1% |
| 2022 | 84.8% | +0.1% |
| 2023 | 84.8% | +0.1% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 75.7% | 75.2% | 77.3% | 8 |
| 2010s | 81.3% | 78.0% | 84.6% | 10 |
| 2020s | 84.7% | 84.7% | 84.8% | 4 |
Countries ranked near North Korea
More population data for North Korea
- Population regions with projections, annual growth rate -0.6538 % change on previous year (2100)
- Urban and rural population 2050, annual growth rate -2.81 % change on previous year (2050)
- Population long run with projections, annual growth rate -0.6538 % change on previous year (2100)
- Un population 2024 vs 2022, annual growth rate -0.5276 % change on previous year (2100)
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 05 - Demographic estimates 25,807 Persons (2050)
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 03 - Annual population 0.1188 Percent per annum (2030)
- Projected population under age 5, annual growth rate -0.7483 % change on previous year (2100)
- 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)
Frequently asked questions
- What is share of the population using at least basic sanitation services in North Korea?
- Share of the population using at least basic sanitation services in North Korea was 84.8% 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 share of the population using at least basic sanitation services recorded in North Korea?
- The highest recorded value was 84.8% in 2023.
- What is the lowest share of the population using at least basic sanitation services recorded in North Korea?
- The lowest recorded value was 75.2% in 2002.
- How does North Korea rank for share of the population using at least basic sanitation services?
- North Korea ranks 160th out of 232 countries with data for 2023.
- Is share of the population using at least basic sanitation services rising or falling in North Korea?
- Over the last ten years it is up 5.8%. 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 Share of the population using at least basic sanitation services. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Proportion of people using improved sanitation facilities, such as toilets or latrines, that are not shared with other households.