Share of the population using improved sanitation facilities in North Korea
North Korea: Share of the population using improved sanitation facilities was 85.5% in 2023. ▲ Rising
Share of the population 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 %.
Analysis
North Korea recorded 85.5% for share of the population using improved sanitation facilities in 2023. That is the highest value across all 22 years on record.
The figure is up 0.1% on the previous year and up 2.9% over ten years.
Over the whole period, share of the population using improved sanitation facilities in North Korea peaked at 85.5% in 2023 and was at its lowest, 80.5%, in 2002.
That places North Korea 179th out of 232 countries with data for 2023, putting it in the bottom quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 22 years of available data.
Share of the population using improved sanitation facilities in North Korea, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2002 | 80.5% | — |
| 2003 | 80.5% | +0.0% |
| 2004 | 80.5% | +0.0% |
| 2005 | 80.5% | +0.0% |
| 2006 | 80.5% | +0.0% |
| 2007 | 80.9% | +0.4% |
| 2008 | 81.2% | +0.4% |
| 2009 | 81.6% | +0.4% |
| 2010 | 81.9% | +0.4% |
| 2011 | 82.3% | +0.4% |
| 2012 | 82.7% | +0.4% |
| 2013 | 83.0% | +0.4% |
| 2014 | 83.4% | +0.4% |
| 2015 | 83.7% | +0.4% |
| 2016 | 84.1% | +0.4% |
| 2017 | 84.5% | +0.4% |
| 2018 | 84.9% | +0.4% |
| 2019 | 85.2% | +0.4% |
| 2020 | 85.3% | +0.1% |
| 2021 | 85.3% | +0.1% |
| 2022 | 85.4% | +0.1% |
| 2023 | 85.5% | +0.1% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 80.8% | 80.5% | 81.6% | 8 |
| 2010s | 83.6% | 81.9% | 85.2% | 10 |
| 2020s | 85.4% | 85.3% | 85.5% | 4 |
Countries ranked near North Korea
More economy & growth data for North Korea
- Tax revenue vs. Electoral Democracy Index 0.083 (2025)
- Human Rights Index vs. GDP per capita 0.024 (2025)
- Share of imports by region of origin 99.91 million current US$ (2024)
- Where China ranks among a country’s import partners 1 rank (2024)
- Vaccination coverage against diphtheria, tetanus, and pertussis vs. GDP per capita 99.0% (2024)
- Imports by region of origin 99.91 million current US$ (2024)
- Foreign aid received per capita vs. GDP per capita 0.4916 constant 2024 US$ (2024)
- Milk supply per person 3.5 kilograms per year per capita (2018)
- Per capita egg consumption 4.41 kilograms per year per capita (2018)
- Fruit consumption vs. GDP per capita 58.61 kilograms per year per capita (2018)
Frequently asked questions
- What is share of the population using improved sanitation facilities in North Korea?
- Share of the population using improved sanitation facilities in North Korea was 85.5% 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 improved sanitation facilities recorded in North Korea?
- The highest recorded value was 85.5% in 2023.
- What is the lowest share of the population using improved sanitation facilities recorded in North Korea?
- The lowest recorded value was 80.5% in 2002.
- How does North Korea rank for share of the population using improved sanitation facilities?
- North Korea ranks 179th out of 232 countries with data for 2023.
- Is share of the population using improved sanitation facilities rising or falling in North Korea?
- Over the last ten years it is up 2.9%. 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 improved sanitation facilities. 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, regardless of whether they are shared with other households.