The average North Korean is making less money than in previous years despite living in a country with an improving economic growth rate, according to a new South Korean government report released on Monday.
According to the National Statistical Office (KOSTAT)’s new index, North Korea’s overall economic growth rate improved in 2019 after worsening for two consecutive years. But North Korea’s gross national income (GNI) per capita — the average income per person — fell from around 1.43 million South Korean won, or KRW, in 2018 ($1,306) to 1.41 million ($1,288) in 2019.
In other words, North Koreans have an average
The average North Korean is making less money than in previous years despite living in a country with an improving economic growth rate, according to a new South Korean government report released on Monday.
According to the National Statistical Office (KOSTAT)’s new index, North Korea’s overall economic growth rate improved in 2019 after worsening for two consecutive years. But North Korea’s gross national income (GNI) per capita — the average income per person — fell from around 1.43 million South Korean won, or KRW, in 2018 ($1,306) to 1.41 million ($1,288) in 2019.
Jeongmin Kim is a Lead Correspondent at NK News, based in Seoul. Kim covers inter-Korean and DPRK-related foreign, defense and humanitarian affairs, and has covered the 2022 ROK Presidential election on the ground. Prior to joining NK News, she worked for the CSIS Korea Chair in Washington D.C. and Reuters news agency's Seoul bureau. Follow her on Twitter @jeongminnkim