Economic statistics
The DPRK ceased publishing economic performance statistics (Net Material Product-NMP tables) in 1967. Since then, the DPRK has released economic data only on rare occasions. Aside from the lack of availability, there are numerous other problems with using the DPRK’s economic data to obtain credible insight into the North Korean economy. As a result, governments, academic organizations, NGOs, think tanks, businesses and journalists compile estimates of North Korea’s economic performance through a vairety of innovative techniques.
Below I list the most frequently cited sources of North Korean economic statistics. Additional suggestions are welcome.
Quick References:
1. Central Intelligence Agency World Fact Book (USA)
2. Department of State profile of North Korea (USA)
3. North Korean Economy on Wikipedia. The usual caveat applies.
4. Bank of Korea (South Korea)
-DPRK economy 2008 (published 6/28/09)
-DPRK economy 2007 (published 6/18/08)
-DPRK economy 2006 (published 8/16/07)
5. Ministry of Unification (South Korea)
-Economic data tables: Food, pop, GNI, trade, energy, industry.
-Leadership structure: KWP, government, and organizations
6. Korea Economic Institute
-DPRK economy through 2007
-DPRK economy through 2006
6. National Committee on North Korea (US)
-US food assistance (2008)
7. Visit Angus Maddison’s web page for table of GDP/per capita GDP over time. His data is in an excel spreadsheet called “Statistics on World Population, GDP and Per Capita GDP, 1-2006 AD “.
8. UNFPA 2008 census of DPRK (Results summary). UNFPA 2008 DPRK census (Full report).
Publications:
1. DPRK Economic Report: US Congressional Research Service (8/26/2008). Other CRS reports on North Korea are here.
2. North Korea 2007: Assisting Development and Change - Nordic Institute of Asian Studies.
3. Assessing the Economic Performance of North Korea, 1954–1989: Byung-Yeon Kim, Suk Jin Kim, Keun Lee
4. Korea Institute for International Economic Policy (link)
-North Korea Development Report 2003/04 (Summary)
-North Korea Development Report 2002/03 (Summary)
5. An Analysis of the Effect of North Korea’s International and Inter-Korean Trade on Its Economic Growth by Yong-Hoon Lee, Bank of Korea (9/5/2005)
6. Angus Maddison: The World Economy: A Millennial Perspective and The World Economy: Historical Statistics.
7. Nautilus Institute:
-Trade with China
-DPRK Briefing Book
8. Regional Surveys of the World: East Asia and Australia.
-DPRK chapter (2006).
-DPRK chapter (2003).
9. The (Non) Impact of UN Sanctions on North Korea (PDF) by Marcus Noland
10. The North Korean Economy by Nicholas Eberstadt
11. Famine in North Korea by Marcus Noland and Stephan Haggard.
12. US Geological Surveys of North Korea: 2008, 2007, 2006, 2005, 2004, 2003, 2002, 2001, 2000, 1999, 1998, 1997, 1996, 1995, 1994.
13. For an analysis of the difficulties of quantifying the North Korean economy, check out the DPRK Economic Statistics Project (March 2009).
14. The US Treasury Department (OFAC) enforces a number of sanctions and trade restrictions with North Korea. Here is a summary of those actions in PDF.
15. Guidebook for European Investors in the DPRK by the EU-Korea Economic Cooperation Agency
16. North Korea Inc., John S. Park, US Institute of Peace.
Data and databases:
1. US Census Bureau:
-US-DPRK Trade 1992-2008,
-U.S. Imports from DPRK-End Use Code (2003-2007)
-U.S. Exports to DPRK-End Use Code (2003-2007)
-Population forecast 1994-2020.
2. UN Statistics division: North Korea
3. UN Comtrade database (merchandise trade data)