Using at least basic drinking water sources in urban vs. rural areas in North Korea
North Korea: Using at least basic drinking water sources in urban vs. rural areas was 96.9% in 2023. ▬ Flat
Using at least basic drinking water sources in urban vs. rural areas 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 using at least basic drinking water sources in urban vs. rural areas in North Korea is 96.9%, measured in 2023. That is the lowest value across all 24 years on record.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 0.9% over ten years.
Over the whole period, using at least basic drinking water sources in urban vs. rural areas in North Korea peaked at 99.1% in 2000 and was at its lowest, 96.9%, in 2019.
That places North Korea 114th out of 188 countries with data for 2023, putting it in the middle of the range.
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 98.9% | 98.4% | 99.1% | 10 |
| 2010s | 97.6% | 96.9% | 98.2% | 10 |
| 2020s | 96.9% | 96.9% | 96.9% | 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 using at least basic drinking water sources in urban vs. rural areas in North Korea?
- Using at least basic drinking water sources in urban vs. rural areas in North Korea was 96.9% 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 using at least basic drinking water sources in urban vs. rural areas recorded in North Korea?
- The highest recorded value was 99.1% in 2000.
- What is the lowest using at least basic drinking water sources in urban vs. rural areas recorded in North Korea?
- The lowest recorded value was 96.9% in 2019.
- How does North Korea rank for using at least basic drinking water sources in urban vs. rural areas?
- North Korea ranks 114th out of 188 countries with data for 2023.
- Is using at least basic drinking water sources in urban vs. rural areas rising or falling in North Korea?
- Over the last ten years it is down 0.9%. 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 Using at least basic drinking water sources in urban vs. rural areas. 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 who use an improved drinking water source, which is either located on their premises, or at a collection point, which takes no more than 30 minutes for a roundtrip.