Number of airline passengers per year in North Korea
North Korea: Number of airline passengers per year was 3,690 in 2023. ◆ Volatile
Number of airline passengers per year in North Korea, 1970–2023
Source: International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO), via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data.
Analysis
The most recent figure for number of airline passengers per year in North Korea is 3,690, measured in 2023.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 604.5% on the previous year and down 99.0% over ten years.
Over the whole period, number of airline passengers per year in North Korea peaked at 371,004 in 2013 and was at its lowest, 523.76, in 2021.
North Korea ranks 173rd of 183 countries on this measure, in the bottom quarter.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Number of airline passengers per year in North Korea, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1970 | 165,000 | — |
| 1971 | 166,000 | +0.6% |
| 1977 | 165,000 | -0.6% |
| 1978 | 166,000 | +0.6% |
| 1979 | 184,000 | +10.8% |
| 1980 | 192,200 | +4.5% |
| 1981 | 184,400 | -4.1% |
| 1982 | 185,000 | +0.3% |
| 1983 | 196,000 | +5.9% |
| 1984 | 197,500 | +0.8% |
| 1985 | 202,000 | +2.3% |
| 1986 | 200,000 | -1.0% |
| 1987 | 205,000 | +2.5% |
| 1988 | 217,500 | +6.1% |
| 1989 | 220,400 | +1.3% |
| 1990 | 222,700 | +1.0% |
| 1991 | 222,700 | +0.0% |
| 1992 | 235,100 | +5.6% |
| 1993 | 241,800 | +2.8% |
| 1994 | 241,800 | +0.0% |
| 1995 | 254,000 | +5.0% |
| 1996 | 254,000 | +0.0% |
| 1997 | 280,000 | +10.2% |
| 1998 | 64,000 | -77.1% |
| 1999 | 76,700 | +19.8% |
| 2000 | 82,953 | +8.2% |
| 2001 | 78,805 | -5.0% |
| 2002 | 84,321 | +7.0% |
| 2003 | 75,046 | -11.0% |
| 2004 | 93,808 | +25.0% |
| 2005 | 101,313 | +8.0% |
| 2006 | 105,366 | +4.0% |
| 2007 | 110,634 | +5.0% |
| 2008 | 108,974 | -1.5% |
| 2009 | 101,237 | -7.1% |
| 2010 | 73,052 | -27.8% |
| 2011 | 78,559 | +7.5% |
| 2012 | 100,113 | +27.4% |
| 2013 | 371,004 | +270.6% |
| 2014 | 90,336 | -75.7% |
| 2015 | 87,082 | -3.6% |
| 2016 | 94,919 | +9.0% |
| 2017 | 103,560 | +9.1% |
| 2018 | 94,245 | -9.0% |
| 2019 | 109,095 | +15.8% |
| 2020 | 3,563 | -96.7% |
| 2021 | 523.76 | -85.3% |
| 2023 | 3,690 | +604.5% |
North Korea compared with similar countries
- North Korea's 3,690 is below the median for low income countries, which is 48,278, 8% of the median. (24 countries reporting)
- North Korea's 3,690 is below the median for East Asia & Pacific, which is 2.05 million, 0% of the median. (29 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Number of airline passengers per year 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | +604.5% | 523.76 | 3,690 |
| 2013 | +270.6% | 100,113 | 371,004 |
| 2020 | -96.7% | 109,095 | 3,563 |
| 2021 | -85.3% | 3,563 | 523.76 |
| 1998 | -77.1% | 280,000 | 64,000 |
| 2014 | -75.7% | 371,004 | 90,336 |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 169,200 | 165,000 | 184,000 | 5 |
| 1980s | 200,000 | 184,400 | 220,400 | 10 |
| 1990s | 209,280 | 64,000 | 280,000 | 10 |
| 2000s | 94,246 | 75,046 | 110,634 | 10 |
| 2010s | 120,196 | 73,052 | 371,004 | 10 |
| 2020s | 2,592 | 523.76 | 3,690 | 3 |
Countries ranked near North Korea
More reference data data for North Korea
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Agricultural Soils 1.75 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (CO2eq) from N2O (AR5) - Manure applied 316.45 (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 N2O (AR5) - Manure left on 1,003 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (CO2eq) from N2O (AR5) - Manure Management 330.76 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (CO2eq) from CH4 (AR5) - Manure Management 325.47 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure applied to Soils 1.19 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (CH4) - Burning - Crop residues 3.54 (2050)
Frequently asked questions
- What is number of airline passengers per year in North Korea?
- Number of airline passengers per year in North Korea was 3,690 in 2023, according to International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO), via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest number of airline passengers per year recorded in North Korea?
- The highest recorded value was 371,004 in 2013.
- What is the lowest number of airline passengers per year recorded in North Korea?
- The lowest recorded value was 523.76 in 2021.
- How does North Korea rank for number of airline passengers per year?
- North Korea ranks 173rd out of 183 countries with data for 2023.
- Is number of airline passengers per year rising or falling in North Korea?
- Over the last ten years it is down 99.0%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this North Korea data come from?
- The figures come from International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO), via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data, published as part of Number of airline passengers per year. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 48 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data).
About this data
This represents the total rather than unique passenger activity: this means a person who makes multiple trips is counted multiple times.