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 variety 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. North Korean Statistics (Statistics Korea–in Korean only)
3. Department of State profile of North Korea (USA)
4. North Korean Economy on Wikipedia. The usual caveat applies.
5. Bank of Korea (South Korea)
-DPRK Economy 2011: English PDF (2012-7-9)
-DPRK Economy 2010: English PDF (2011-11-3)
-DPRK Economy 2009: English PDF, Korean PDF (2010-6-28)
-DPRK economy 2008 (published 2009-6-28)
-DPRK economy 2007 (published 2008-6-18)
-DPRK economy 2006 (published 2007-8-16)
-DPRK Economy 2002
-DPRK Economy 2001
-DPRK economy 1999
6. Ministry of Unification (South Korea)
-English web page
-North Korea Factbook
-Data and statistics
-Leadership structure
7. Korea Economic Institute
-DPRK economic data visualization project
-DPRK economy through 2008
-DPRK economy through 2007
-DPRK economy through 2006
8. National Committee on North Korea (US)
-US food assistance (2008)
9. 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 “.
10. UNFPA 2008 census of DPRK (Results summary). UNFPA 2008 DPRK census (Full report).
11. US Treasury Department information on North Korea
12. Country Data Report for Korea, North, 1996-2009 (World Bank)
13. International Energy Agency (IEA) data on the DPRK. To access the data, go to the “Countries Beyond the OECD” box and select “Korea, Democratic Peoples Republic of”.
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:
-Foundations of Energy Security for the DPRK: 1990-2009
-2010 DPRK energy and minerals working group: von Hippel, Yoon, Aden, Choi, Hayes/Hippel
-Status and Future of the North Korean Minerals Sector, Edward Yoon
-Trade with China 1995-2009 (June 2011). August 2006 version here.
-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: 2009, 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.
17. DPRK Korea’s Rajin-Songbon Economic and Trade Zone Investment and Business Guide, UNDP, 1998
18. Economic Outlook of the Northeast Asia Region, Tumen secretariat (Part 1, Part 2), UNDP, 2009
19. Criminal Sovereignty: Understanding North Korea’s Illicit International Activities, Strategic Studies Institute (2010)
20. Coming in from the Cold? An Update on North Korea’s External Economic Relations, Institut Francais des Relations Internationales (IFRI)
21. Role of International Financial Institutions in North Korea’s Economic Development, Samsung Economic Research Institute, November 2009
22. Panel of Experts reports to the UNSC: May 2010 (see here also), May 2011 (see more here, here, and here).
23. UNWFP/FAO Special Report (November 2010)
24. North Korea: Migration Patterns and Prospects, Courtland Robinson, JHU
25. The UN World Food Prgram’s Rapid Food Security Assessment Mission (RFSA) (March 2011)
26. DPRK Multiple Indicator Cluster Survey 2009 (UNICEF and DPRK)
27. “Western Aid: The Missing Link for North Korea’s Economic Revival?”, AEI Working Paper, Nicholas Eberstadt
28. Chinese Infrastructure and Natural Resources Investments in North Korea, Daniel Gearin, October 10, 2010
29. “Integration in the Absence of Institutions: China-North Korea Cross-Border Exchange” and “Networks, Trust, and Trade: The Microeconomics of China-North Korea Integration” by Stephan Haggard and Marcus Noland.
30. Korea Development Institute (KDI) published a monthly article in Korean called “KDI North Korea Economic Review” (KDI 북한경제리뷰). It is difficult to link to the set of publications, so you will have to search the KDI web page.
31. DPR Korea State of the Environment: 2003 (PDF). A Joint publication of the DPRK, UNDP, and UNEP.
32. FAO/WFP Crop and Food Security Assessment Mission to the DPRK, 2012-11-12
34. UNICEF: DPRK Preliminary Report of the National Nutrition Survey 2012 (October 2012)
35. Financial Tracking Service (Learn about FTS here)
Data and databases
1. US Census Bureau:
-US-DPRK Trade 1992-20011, also see here.
-U.S. Imports from DPRK-End Use Code (2003-2009)
-U.S. Exports to DPRK-End Use Code (2003-2009)
-Population forecast 1994-2020.
2. UN Statistics division: North Korea
3. UN Comtrade database (merchandise trade data)
5. South Korean Statistical Information Service.
