People not using improved drinking water sources in North Korea
North Korea: People not using improved drinking water sources was 1.43 million people in 2023. ◆ Volatile
People not using improved drinking water sources 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 people.
Analysis
In 2023, people not using improved drinking water sources in North Korea stood at 1.43 million people.
That represents a change of down 0.1% on the previous year and up 66.5% over ten years.
Over the whole period, people not using improved drinking water sources in North Korea peaked at 1.43 million people in 2019 and was at its lowest, 0 people, in 2000.
North Korea ranks 48th of 231 countries on this measure, in the top quarter.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 147,947 people | 0 people | 479,863 people | 10 |
| 2010s | 1.00 million people | 573,665 people | 1.43 million people | 10 |
| 2020s | 1.43 million people | 1.43 million people | 1.43 million people | 4 |
Countries ranked near North Korea
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 people not using improved drinking water sources in North Korea?
- People not using improved drinking water sources in North Korea was 1.43 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 not using improved drinking water sources recorded in North Korea?
- The highest recorded value was 1.43 million people in 2019.
- What is the lowest people not using improved drinking water sources recorded in North Korea?
- The lowest recorded value was 0 people in 2000.
- How does North Korea rank for people not using improved drinking water sources?
- North Korea ranks 48th out of 231 countries with data for 2023.
- Is people not using improved drinking water sources rising or falling in North Korea?
- Over the last ten years it is up 66.5%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- 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 not using improved drinking water sources. 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
Number of people not using improved drinking water sources. These people might use surface water sources or unprotected springs or wells, as no safe and reliable improved drinking water source is available to them.