Access to electricity in North Korea

North Korea: Access to electricity was 39.2% in 2016. ◆ Volatile

Latest (2016)
39.2%
Change on year
up 4.8%
World rank
192nd
of 217 countries
All-time high
39.2%
in 2016
All-time low
0.0%
in 1990
Years of data
27
1990–2016

Access to electricity in North Korea, 1990–2016

0102030401990200320161990: 0.01 % of total population1991: 0.029 % of total population1992: 0.168 % of total population1993: 0.641 % of total population1994: 1.2 % of total population1995: 3 % of total population1996: 4.7 % of total population1997: 6.5 % of total population1998: 8.2 % of total population1999: 10 % of total population2000: 11.6 % of total population2001: 13.3 % of total population2002: 15 % of total population2003: 16.6 % of total population2004: 18.3 % of total population2005: 20 % of total population2006: 21.6 % of total population2007: 23.3 % of total population2008: 25 % of total population2009: 26 % of total population2010: 28.5 % of total population2011: 30.3 % of total population2012: 32.1 % of total population2013: 33.9 % of total population2014: 35.6 % of total population2015: 37.4 % of total population2016: 39.2 % of total population

Source: World Bank Global Electrification Database 2012. Measured in % of total population.

Analysis

The most recent figure for access to electricity in North Korea is 39.2%, measured in 2016. That is the highest value across all 27 years on record.

Compared with earlier readings it is up 4.8% on the previous year and up 81.4% over ten years.

Over the whole period, access to electricity in North Korea peaked at 39.2% in 2016 and was at its lowest, 0.0%, in 1990.

North Korea ranks 192nd of 217 countries on this measure, in the bottom quarter.

The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.

Access to electricity in North Korea, year by year

Annual values for Access to electricity (% of total population) in North Korea, 1990 to 2016.
Year % of total population Change
1990 0.0%
1991 0.0% +185.5%
1992 0.2% +487.4%
1993 0.6% +282.1%
1994 1.2% +86.8%
1995 3.0% +148.9%
1996 4.7% +59.4%
1997 6.5% +36.9%
1998 8.2% +26.7%
1999 10.0% +20.8%
2000 11.6% +17.0%
2001 13.3% +14.4%
2002 15.0% +12.5%
2003 16.6% +11.0%
2004 18.3% +9.9%
2005 20.0% +9.1%
2006 21.6% +8.4%
2007 23.3% +7.8%
2008 25.0% +7.3%
2009 26.0% +3.9%
2010 28.5% +9.7%
2011 30.3% +6.2%
2012 32.1% +5.9%
2013 33.9% +5.6%
2014 35.6% +5.3%
2015 37.4% +5.0%
2016 39.2% +4.8%

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
1990s 3.4% 0.0% 10.0% 10
2000s 19.1% 11.6% 26.0% 10
2010s 33.9% 28.5% 39.2% 7

Countries ranked near North Korea

  1. 189 Mauritania 41.7% compare
  2. 190 Benin 41.4% compare
  3. 191 Angola 40.5% compare
  4. 193 Haiti 38.7% compare
  5. 194 Sudan 38.5% compare
  6. 195 Zimbabwe 38.1% compare

See the full ranking of 219 places →

More reference data data for North Korea

All data for North Korea →

Frequently asked questions

What is access to electricity in North Korea?
Access to electricity in North Korea was 39.2% in 2016, according to World Bank Global Electrification Database 2012.
What is the highest access to electricity recorded in North Korea?
The highest recorded value was 39.2% in 2016.
What is the lowest access to electricity recorded in North Korea?
The lowest recorded value was 0.0% in 1990.
How does North Korea rank for access to electricity?
North Korea ranks 192nd out of 217 countries with data for 2016.
Is access to electricity rising or falling in North Korea?
Over the last ten years it is up 81.4%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
Where does this North Korea data come from?
The figures come from World Bank Global Electrification Database 2012, published as part of Access to electricity (% of total population). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.

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Access to electricity in North Korea. Statizoid, drawing on World Bank Global Electrification Database 2012. Retrieved 28 August 2026, from https://reference.statizoid.com/stat/access-to-electricity-percent-of-total-population/korea-dem-people-s-rep/

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About this data

Indicator
Access to electricity (% of total population)
Unit
% of total population
Source
World Bank Global Electrification Database 2012
Licence
CC BY 4.0 (World Bank Open Data)
Coverage
219 places, 5,824 data points, 1990–2016
Last refreshed

Access to electricity is the percentage of population with access to electricity.