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FDIstats

Country profile

North Korea

East Asia & Pacific · Low income · Capital: Pyongyang

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Key figures, 1989

FDI inflows 1989

$200 k

+100%vs 1988

Inflows % of GDP

—

No data

FDI outflows

—

No data

Net FDI

—

Needs both flows

FDI % of investment

—

No GFCF data

In 1989, North Korea recorded FDI net inflows of $200 k, up 100% from $100 k in 1988. That is 20% above its 1986–1988 average of $167 k. By value, that ranks 128th of 159 economies with data for 1989.

About this summary

Generated automatically from World Bank data. Figures are balance-of-payments net flows in current US$; 1989 is the latest year with broad coverage across economies.

Trends

FDI flows over time

FDI inflows and outflows, North Korea

Net flows, current US$ (balance-of-payments basis)

Source: World Bank, World Development Indicators (CC BY 4.0). Indicators BX.KLT.DINV.CD.WD and BM.KLT.DINV.CD.WD.

No FDI-to-GDP series

GDP or FDI data are not published for North Korea.

External financing mix not available

Remittance, aid and portfolio-equity series are too sparse for North Korea to chart alongside FDI.

Economy at a glance

The economy behind the investment

The macroeconomic, trade and workforce indicators investors and trade officials look at alongside FDI — latest year, 15-year trend and regional and world benchmarks.

Size & growth

Population

26.6 m2025

56th of 217

Population growth

0.3%2025

155th of 217Region 0.1%World 0.9%

Macro stability

Unemployment rate

3.5%2025

123rd of 182Region 3.8%World 4.8%

Workforce & innovation

Labour force

17.7 m2025

38th of 182

Internet users, % of population

0.0%2004

198th of 198

Source: World Bank, World Development Indicators. Latest available year shown for each indicator; ranks are among economies reporting that year (highest = 1st). Region = World Bank regional aggregate. Growth, inflation, unemployment, the current account and government debt are shown in the IMF table above where the IMF covers the economy.

Who invests

Source and destination economies

Direct investment positions (stocks) by immediate counterpart economy, as reported to the OECD.

Explore bilateral data

No bilateral positions for this economy

Bilateral FDI positions are available for OECD-reporting economies. See who invests where to explore partners of reporting economies, which include many investors in North Korea.
Investment relationship with AustraliaTwo-way direct investment between Australia and North Korea, from ABS and OECD data.

Structure & policy

Sectors and FDI openness

Inward FDI positions by sector

No sector breakdown

Positions by industry are published for OECD-reporting economies only, and not every reporter releases a full breakdown.

FDI Regulatory Restrictiveness

Index

Not covered by the index

The OECD FDI Regulatory Restrictiveness Index covers OECD members and around 30 other economies. See covered economies.

Peers

Similar-sized economies in East Asia & Pacific

The six economies in the same World Bank region with the closest GDP, ranked by FDI inflows as a share of GDP (2024).

Peer comparison unavailable

GDP data are needed to identify comparable economies.

Sources & notes

World Bank, World Development Indicators

  • FDI net inflows — BX.KLT.DINV.CD.WD
  • FDI net outflows — BM.KLT.DINV.CD.WD
  • FDI net inflows, % of GDP — BX.KLT.DINV.WD.GD.ZS
  • Gross fixed capital formation — NE.GDI.FTOT.CD
  • Personal remittances received — BX.TRF.PWKR.CD.DT
  • Net official development assistance received — DT.ODA.ODAT.CD
  • Portfolio equity net inflows — BX.PEF.TOTL.CD.WD
  • Real GDP growth — NY.GDP.MKTP.KD.ZG
  • Inflation (annual average) — FP.CPI.TOTL.ZG
  • Unemployment rate — SL.UEM.TOTL.ZS
  • Current account balance, % of GDP — BN.CAB.XOKA.GD.ZS
  • Exports of goods & services — NE.EXP.GNFS.CD
  • Central government debt, % of GDP — GC.DOD.TOTL.GD.ZS

OECD: FDI statistics by partner economy and by industry (Benchmark Definition, 4th edition) and the FDI Regulatory Restrictiveness Index.

Flows vs positions. Charts on this page show annual balance-of-payments flows. Bilateral and sector figures are positions (accumulated stocks) and are not directly comparable.

Negative values. Net flows can be negative when foreign investors withdraw capital or intra-company loans are repaid faster than new investment arrives.

Timing. Headline figures use 1989, the latest year with broad coverage across economies; charts also show any newer early estimates. Rankings cover economies only, not aggregates.

Counterparts. Bilateral data record the immediate counterpart, so financial centres and conduit economies can appear larger than the ultimate investors behind them.

WDI data updated 2026-07-13Sources & methods