Foreign aid received as grants and concessional loans in North Korea
North Korea: Foreign aid received as grants and concessional loans was 14.72 million constant 2024 US$ in 2024. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2024)
14.72 million constant 2024 US$
Change on year
down 1.1%
World rank
156th
of 178 countries
All-time high
437.54 million constant 2024 US$
in 2002
All-time low
8.54 million constant 2024 US$
in 1994
Years of data
40
1985–2024
Foreign aid received as grants and concessional loans in North Korea, 1985–2024
Source: OECD (2026) – with major processing by Our World in Data. Measured in constant 2024 US$.
Analysis
North Korea recorded 14.72 million constant 2024 US$ for foreign aid received as grants and concessional loans in 2024.
That represents a change of down 1.1% on the previous year and down 89.9% over ten years.
Over the whole period, foreign aid received as grants and concessional loans in North Korea peaked at 437.54 million constant 2024 US$ in 2002 and was at its lowest, 8.54 million constant 2024 US$, in 1994.
That places North Korea 156th out of 178 countries with data for 2024, putting it in the bottom quarter.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Foreign aid received as grants and concessional loans in North Korea, year by year
| Year | constant 2024 US$ | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1985 | 15.35 million constant 2024 US$ | — |
| 1986 | 12.37 million constant 2024 US$ | -19.4% |
| 1987 | 18.94 million constant 2024 US$ | +53.1% |
| 1988 | 16.69 million constant 2024 US$ | -11.9% |
| 1989 | 15.82 million constant 2024 US$ | -5.2% |
| 1990 | 13.05 million constant 2024 US$ | -17.5% |
| 1991 | 14.03 million constant 2024 US$ | +7.5% |
| 1992 | 15.93 million constant 2024 US$ | +13.5% |
| 1993 | 21.65 million constant 2024 US$ | +35.9% |
| 1994 | 8.54 million constant 2024 US$ | -60.5% |
| 1995 | 17.80 million constant 2024 US$ | +108.4% |
| 1996 | 34.87 million constant 2024 US$ | +95.8% |
| 1997 | 143.08 million constant 2024 US$ | +310.4% |
| 1998 | 143.84 million constant 2024 US$ | +0.5% |
| 1999 | 334.94 million constant 2024 US$ | +132.9% |
| 2000 | 108.66 million constant 2024 US$ | -67.6% |
| 2001 | 189.86 million constant 2024 US$ | +74.7% |
| 2002 | 437.54 million constant 2024 US$ | +130.5% |
| 2003 | 183.55 million constant 2024 US$ | -58.0% |
| 2004 | 210.76 million constant 2024 US$ | +14.8% |
| 2005 | 102.83 million constant 2024 US$ | -51.2% |
| 2006 | 64.92 million constant 2024 US$ | -36.9% |
| 2007 | 128.47 million constant 2024 US$ | +97.9% |
| 2008 | 272.69 million constant 2024 US$ | +112.3% |
| 2009 | 79.31 million constant 2024 US$ | -70.9% |
| 2010 | 85.96 million constant 2024 US$ | +8.4% |
| 2011 | 113.42 million constant 2024 US$ | +32.0% |
| 2012 | 95.26 million constant 2024 US$ | -16.0% |
| 2013 | 104.80 million constant 2024 US$ | +10.0% |
| 2014 | 146.22 million constant 2024 US$ | +39.5% |
| 2015 | 150.59 million constant 2024 US$ | +3.0% |
| 2016 | 143.26 million constant 2024 US$ | -4.9% |
| 2017 | 140.32 million constant 2024 US$ | -2.1% |
| 2018 | 131.34 million constant 2024 US$ | -6.4% |
| 2019 | 144.33 million constant 2024 US$ | +9.9% |
| 2020 | 139.02 million constant 2024 US$ | -3.7% |
| 2021 | 24.56 million constant 2024 US$ | -82.3% |
| 2022 | 15.77 million constant 2024 US$ | -35.8% |
| 2023 | 14.88 million constant 2024 US$ | -5.7% |
| 2024 | 14.72 million constant 2024 US$ | -1.1% |
North Korea compared with similar countries
- North Korea's 14.72 million constant 2024 US$ is below the median for low income countries, which is 1.16 billion constant 2024 US$, 1% of the median. (25 countries reporting)
- North Korea's 14.72 million constant 2024 US$ is below the median for East Asia & Pacific, which is 192.23 million constant 2024 US$, 8% of the median. (32 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Foreign aid received as grants and concessional loans in North Korea changed far more than this series normally does. A large move can be a real event or a change in how the figure was measured — the source note below says who published it.
| Year | Change | From | To |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1997 | +310.4% | 34.87 million constant 2024 US$ | 143.08 million constant 2024 US$ |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1980s | 15.84 million constant 2024 US$ | 12.37 million constant 2024 US$ | 18.94 million constant 2024 US$ | 5 |
| 1990s | 74.77 million constant 2024 US$ | 8.54 million constant 2024 US$ | 334.94 million constant 2024 US$ | 10 |
| 2000s | 177.86 million constant 2024 US$ | 64.92 million constant 2024 US$ | 437.54 million constant 2024 US$ | 10 |
| 2010s | 125.55 million constant 2024 US$ | 85.96 million constant 2024 US$ | 150.59 million constant 2024 US$ | 10 |
| 2020s | 41.79 million constant 2024 US$ | 14.72 million constant 2024 US$ | 139.02 million constant 2024 US$ | 5 |
Countries ranked near North Korea
- 153 Turks and Caicos Islands 16.61 million constant 2024 US$ compare
- 154 Barbados 16.51 million constant 2024 US$ compare
- 155 Equatorial Guinea 16.38 million constant 2024 US$ compare
- 157 Hong Kong 14.50 million constant 2024 US$ compare
- 158 Tokelau 13.97 million constant 2024 US$ compare
- 159 Saint Vincent and the Grenadines 13.23 million constant 2024 US$ compare
More reference data data for North Korea
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Agricultural Soils 1.75 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (CH4) - Burning - Crop residues 3.54 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Direct emissions (N2O) - Manure applied to Soils 0.838 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Direct emissions (N2O) - IPCC Agriculture 5.57 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Direct emissions (N2O) - Crop Residues 1.91 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (CO2eq) from CH4 (AR5) - IPCC Agriculture 6,873 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (CO2eq) from CH4 (AR5) - Manure Management 325.47 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (CH4) - Manure Management 11.62 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (CO2eq) from N2O (AR5) - Agricultural 1,939 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (CO2eq) from N2O (AR5) - Burning - Crop 24.3 (2050)
Frequently asked questions
- What is foreign aid received as grants and concessional loans in North Korea?
- Foreign aid received as grants and concessional loans in North Korea was 14.72 million constant 2024 US$ in 2024, according to OECD (2026) – with major processing by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest foreign aid received as grants and concessional loans recorded in North Korea?
- The highest recorded value was 437.54 million constant 2024 US$ in 2002.
- What is the lowest foreign aid received as grants and concessional loans recorded in North Korea?
- The lowest recorded value was 8.54 million constant 2024 US$ in 1994.
- How does North Korea rank for foreign aid received as grants and concessional loans?
- North Korea ranks 156th out of 178 countries with data for 2024.
- Is foreign aid received as grants and concessional loans rising or falling in North Korea?
- Over the last ten years it is down 89.9%. 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 major processing by Our World in Data, published as part of Foreign aid received as grants and concessional loans. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 40 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data).
About this data
Official development assistance component that represents grants. Monetary aid is estimated as net disbursements. This data is expressed in US dollars. It is adjusted for inflation.