Share of population not using improved drinking water sources in North Korea
North Korea: Share of population not using improved drinking water sources was 5.4% in 2023. ◆ Volatile
Share of population 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 %.
Analysis
In 2023, share of population not using improved drinking water sources in North Korea stood at 5.4%.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 0.5% on the previous year and up 59.6% over ten years.
Over the whole period, share of population not using improved drinking water sources in North Korea peaked at 5.5% in 2019 and was at its lowest, 0.0%, in 2000.
North Korea ranks 60th of 231 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
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 | 0.6% | 0.0% | 1.9% | 10 |
| 2010s | 3.9% | 2.3% | 5.5% | 10 |
| 2020s | 5.4% | 5.4% | 5.5% | 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 share of population not using improved drinking water sources in North Korea?
- Share of population not using improved drinking water sources in North Korea was 5.4% 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 population not using improved drinking water sources recorded in North Korea?
- The highest recorded value was 5.5% in 2019.
- What is the lowest share of population not using improved drinking water sources recorded in North Korea?
- The lowest recorded value was 0.0% in 2000.
- How does North Korea rank for share of population not using improved drinking water sources?
- North Korea ranks 60th out of 231 countries with data for 2023.
- Is share of population not using improved drinking water sources rising or falling in North Korea?
- Over the last ten years it is up 59.6%. 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 Share of population not using improved drinking water sources. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Proportion 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.