North Korea

In brief

Mobile subscriptions per 100 people: 24 (2022). World rank 209 of 210; in Asia, 49 of 49. Air passengers per year: 3.7K (2023). World rank 157 of 163; in Asia, 47 of 47. Patent applications by residents: 6,936 (2024). World rank 13 of 140; in Asia, 7 of 41. From 2014 to 2024: access to electricity 37.8% → 61.4%, electricity use 715 → 794 (kWh per person), and electricity from fossil fuels 39.8% → 38.1%. Better than all its neighbours (China, South Korea, and Russia): electricity from renewables and electricity from fossil fuels. Worse than all its neighbours (China, South Korea, and Russia): access to electricity.