Foreign aid received as a share of national income in North Korea
North Korea: Foreign aid received as a share of national income was 0.1% in 2023. ◆ Volatile
Foreign aid received as a share of national income in North Korea, 1978–2023
Source: OECD (2026) – with minor processing by Our World in Data. Measured in % of GNI.
Analysis
In 2023, foreign aid received as a share of national income in North Korea stood at 0.1%.
That represents a change of down 2.3% on the previous year and down 86.9% over ten years.
Over the whole period, foreign aid received as a share of national income in North Korea peaked at 2.4% in 2002 and was at its lowest, 0.0%, in 1986.
That places North Korea 140th out of 169 countries with data for 2023, putting it in the bottom quarter.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Foreign aid received as a share of national income in North Korea, year by year
| Year | % of GNI | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1978 | 0.5% | — |
| 1985 | 0.0% | -91.6% |
| 1986 | 0.0% | -14.6% |
| 1987 | 0.1% | +188.6% |
| 1988 | 0.1% | -44.6% |
| 1989 | 0.0% | -16.1% |
| 1990 | 0.0% | -2.1% |
| 1991 | 0.1% | +19.6% |
| 1992 | 0.1% | +40.0% |
| 1993 | 0.1% | +55.8% |
| 1994 | 0.1% | -49.2% |
| 1995 | 0.3% | +323.0% |
| 1996 | 0.2% | -5.8% |
| 1997 | 0.9% | +253.1% |
| 1998 | 1.0% | +19.6% |
| 1999 | 2.0% | +90.7% |
| 2000 | 0.7% | -64.5% |
| 2001 | 1.1% | +54.3% |
| 2002 | 2.4% | +126.8% |
| 2003 | 1.2% | -51.0% |
| 2004 | 1.4% | +21.4% |
| 2005 | 0.7% | -53.4% |
| 2006 | 0.4% | -40.3% |
| 2007 | 0.7% | +72.6% |
| 2008 | 1.5% | +122.9% |
| 2009 | 0.5% | -65.0% |
| 2010 | 0.5% | -2.6% |
| 2011 | 0.8% | +42.8% |
| 2012 | 0.6% | -18.7% |
| 2013 | 0.7% | +7.2% |
| 2014 | 0.9% | +33.8% |
| 2015 | 0.8% | -8.8% |
| 2016 | 0.7% | -11.3% |
| 2017 | 0.8% | +7.6% |
| 2018 | 0.7% | -10.1% |
| 2019 | 0.8% | +18.8% |
| 2020 | 0.8% | -3.9% |
| 2021 | 0.1% | -84.2% |
| 2022 | 0.1% | -29.0% |
| 2023 | 0.1% | -2.3% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 0.5% | 0.5% | 0.5% | 1 |
| 1980s | 0.1% | 0.0% | 0.1% | 5 |
| 1990s | 0.5% | 0.0% | 2.0% | 10 |
| 2000s | 1.1% | 0.4% | 2.4% | 10 |
| 2010s | 0.7% | 0.5% | 0.9% | 10 |
| 2020s | 0.3% | 0.1% | 0.8% | 4 |
Countries ranked near North Korea
More reference data data for North Korea
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Manure applied to Soils 0.3562 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Manure left on Pasture 0.9593 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Crop Residues 0.4297 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Agricultural Soils 1.75 (2050)
- Temperature anomalies by month -2.22 °C (2026)
- Spring temperature anomalies 2.29 °C (2026)
- Summer temperature anomalies 0.3103 °C (2026)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (CO2eq) from CH4 (AR5) - Enteric 2,573 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (CO2eq) (AR5) - Manure Management 656.23 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (CO2eq) (AR5) - Manure applied to Soils 316.45 (2050)
Frequently asked questions
- What is foreign aid received as a share of national income in North Korea?
- Foreign aid received as a share of national income in North Korea was 0.1% in 2023, according to OECD (2026) – with minor processing by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest foreign aid received as a share of national income recorded in North Korea?
- The highest recorded value was 2.4% in 2002.
- What is the lowest foreign aid received as a share of national income recorded in North Korea?
- The lowest recorded value was 0.0% in 1986.
- How does North Korea rank for foreign aid received as a share of national income?
- North Korea ranks 140th out of 169 countries with data for 2023.
- Is foreign aid received as a share of national income rising or falling in North Korea?
- Over the last ten years it is down 86.9%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this North Korea data come from?
- The figures come from OECD (2026) – with minor processing by Our World in Data, published as part of Foreign aid received as a share of national income. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Official development assistance (ODA) divided by gross national income, expressed as a percentage. Monetary aid is estimated as net disbursements.