Drinking water service usage in North Korea
North Korea: Drinking water service usage was 66.6% in 2023. ▬ Flat
Drinking water service usage in North Korea, 2000–2023
Source: WHO/UNICEF Joint Monitoring Programme for Water Supply, Sanitation and Hygiene (2025) – processed by Our World in Data. Measured in %.
Analysis
The most recent figure for drinking water service usage in North Korea is 66.6%, measured in 2023.
The figure is up 0.1% on the previous year and down 1.0% over ten years.
Over the whole period, drinking water service usage in North Korea peaked at 69.1% in 2003 and was at its lowest, 66.3%, in 2019.
North Korea ranks 105th of 163 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 68.7% | 68.0% | 69.1% | 10 |
| 2010s | 67.1% | 66.3% | 67.8% | 10 |
| 2020s | 66.5% | 66.4% | 66.6% | 4 |
Countries ranked near North Korea
- 102 Wallis and Futuna 68.9% compare
- 103 South Africa 68.0% compare
- 104 Guyana 67.2% compare
- 106 Bhutan 65.6% compare
- 107 Honduras 65.5% compare
- 108 Tajikistan 65.1% compare
More environment data for North Korea
- Total greenhouse gas emissions excluding LULUCF 91.25 Mt CO2e (2024)
- Total greenhouse gas emissions excluding LULUCF per capita 3.44 t CO2e/capita (2024)
- Methane (CH4) emissions from Agriculture 3.43 Mt CO2e (2024)
- Methane (CH4) emissions from Building (Energy) 1.16 Mt CO2e (2024)
- Methane (CH4) emissions from Fugitive Emissions (Energy) 10.95 Mt CO2e (2024)
- Methane (CH4) emissions from Industrial Combustion (Energy) 0.0937 Mt CO2e (2024)
- Methane (CH4) emissions (total) excluding LULUCF 20.12 Mt CO2e (2024)
- Methane (CH4) emissions from Power Industry (Energy) 0.003 Mt CO2e (2024)
- Methane (CH4) emissions from Transport (Energy) 0.014 Mt CO2e (2024)
- Methane (CH4) emissions from Waste 4.46 Mt CO2e (2024)
Frequently asked questions
- What is drinking water service usage in North Korea?
- Drinking water service usage in North Korea was 66.6% 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 drinking water service usage recorded in North Korea?
- The highest recorded value was 69.1% in 2003.
- What is the lowest drinking water service usage recorded in North Korea?
- The lowest recorded value was 66.3% in 2019.
- How does North Korea rank for drinking water service usage?
- North Korea ranks 105th out of 163 countries with data for 2023.
- Is drinking water service usage rising or falling in North Korea?
- Over the last ten years it is down 1.0%. The long-run trend across the full record is flat.
- 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 Drinking water service usage. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 24 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data).
About this data
Proportion of people using an improved drinking water source that is located on premises, available when needed and free from faecal and priority chemical contamination.