North Korea vs Malaysia: Labor force, total
Labor force, total over time
- North Korea
- Malaysia
How they compare
Malaysia currently reports 18.72 million against 17.70 million in North Korea, a difference of 1.02 million.
That makes Malaysia's figure about 1.1 times North Korea's.
The two have swapped places 1 time across 36 shared years of data; in 1990 it was North Korea ahead.
North Korea ranks 39th and Malaysia ranks 36th of 187 countries.
Across the 4 decades both report, North Korea averaged higher in 3 and Malaysia in 1.
Head to head by decade
| Decade | North Korea | Malaysia | Difference | Ahead |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 13.56 million | 7.44 million | 6.11 million | North Korea |
| 2000s | 15.17 million | 10.57 million | 4.61 million | North Korea |
| 2010s | 16.73 million | 14.75 million | 1.98 million | North Korea |
| 2020s | 17.44 million | 17.83 million | 395,417 | Malaysia |
Averages of every year both report within each decade.
Frequently asked questions
- Which has higher labor force, total, North Korea or Malaysia?
- Malaysia, at 18.72 million against 17.70 million in North Korea as of 2025.
- What is the difference in labor force, total between North Korea and Malaysia?
- 1.02 million, with Malaysia ahead.
- How many years of comparable data are there for North Korea and Malaysia?
- 36 years are reported by both, from 1990 to 2025.
- How do North Korea and Malaysia rank globally for labor force, total?
- North Korea ranks 39th and Malaysia ranks 36th of 187 countries.
- Where does this data come from?
- International Labour Organization (ILO), type: estimates based on external database, published as Labor force, total. Statizoid refreshes it automatically from the source and publishes the full history for both places.
Individual pages
About this data
Labor force comprises people ages 15 and older who supply labor for the production of goods and services during a specified period. It includes people who are currently employed and people who are unemployed but seeking work as well as first-time job-seekers. Not everyone who works is included, however. Unpaid workers, family workers, and students are often omitted, and some countries do not count members of the armed forces. Labor force size tends to vary during the year as seasonal workers enter and leave.