Share using safely managed drinking water in North Korea
North Korea: Share using safely managed drinking water was 66.6% in 2023. ▬ Flat
Share using safely managed drinking water 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 share using safely managed drinking water in North Korea is 66.6%, measured in 2023.
That represents a change of up 0.1% on the previous year and down 1.0% over ten years.
Over the whole period, share using safely managed drinking water 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.
Share using safely managed drinking water in North Korea, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2000 | 69.0% | — |
| 2001 | 69.0% | +0.0% |
| 2002 | 69.0% | +0.0% |
| 2003 | 69.1% | +0.0% |
| 2004 | 69.0% | -0.0% |
| 2005 | 68.8% | -0.3% |
| 2006 | 68.6% | -0.3% |
| 2007 | 68.4% | -0.3% |
| 2008 | 68.2% | -0.3% |
| 2009 | 68.0% | -0.3% |
| 2010 | 67.8% | -0.3% |
| 2011 | 67.7% | -0.3% |
| 2012 | 67.5% | -0.3% |
| 2013 | 67.3% | -0.3% |
| 2014 | 67.1% | -0.3% |
| 2015 | 67.0% | -0.3% |
| 2016 | 66.8% | -0.3% |
| 2017 | 66.6% | -0.2% |
| 2018 | 66.5% | -0.2% |
| 2019 | 66.3% | -0.2% |
| 2020 | 66.4% | +0.1% |
| 2021 | 66.5% | +0.1% |
| 2022 | 66.5% | +0.1% |
| 2023 | 66.6% | +0.1% |
North Korea compared with similar countries
- North Korea's 66.6% is above the median for low income countries, which is 18.2%, 3.7× the median. (13 countries reporting)
- North Korea's 66.6% is above the median for East Asia & Pacific, which is 64.6%, 1.0× the median. (28 countries reporting)
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
- Historical exposure to drought — Cropland soil moisture anomaly 2.89 Percentage change (2025)
- Historical exposure to drought — Land soil moisture anomaly 3.16 Percentage change (2025)
- Carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions from Industrial Processes (Mt CO2e) 0 Mt CO2e per person (2024)
- Carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions from Industrial Processes (Mt CO2e) 1.25 % change on previous year (2024)
- Carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions (total) excluding LULUCF (Mt CO2e) 0.8843 % change on previous year (2024)
- Carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions (total) excluding LULUCF (Mt CO2e) 0 Mt CO2e per person (2024)
- Carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions from Power Industry (Energy) (Mt) 0.9455 % change on previous year (2024)
- Heating Degree Days 6,917 (2024)
- Cooling Degree Days 854.46 (2024)
- Nitrous oxide (N2O) emissions from Agriculture (Mt CO2e), annual -0.97 % change on previous year (2024)
Frequently asked questions
- What is share using safely managed drinking water in North Korea?
- Share using safely managed drinking water 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 share using safely managed drinking water recorded in North Korea?
- The highest recorded value was 69.1% in 2003.
- What is the lowest share using safely managed drinking water recorded in North Korea?
- The lowest recorded value was 66.3% in 2019.
- How does North Korea rank for share using safely managed drinking water?
- North Korea ranks 105th out of 163 countries with data for 2023.
- Is share using safely managed drinking water 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 Share using safely managed drinking water. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Proportion of people using an improved drinking water source that is located on premises, available when needed and free from fecal and priority chemical contamination.