EASTERN ASIA · INVESTMENT GUIDE

North Korea: investment climate and market data

North Korea scores 25 out of 100 on the Invest Global investability score (high), ranking 192 of 199 countries. Its strongest pillar is macro and financial stability (97) and its weakest is institutions and rule of law (11). The score is capped: comprehensive sanctions or an investment ban: not investable by ordinary routes.

25/ 100 · High · grade D · Low confidence
Population
26.6 million
2025 · World Bank

Why North Korea scores 25

Institutions and rule of law25%11
Openness to foreign investment20%No data
Macro and financial stability18%97
Political stability and security10%63
Growth and upside12%44
Market depth and infrastructure15%36

Six weighted pillars from World Bank, OECD and IMF indicators. See the method, weights and every country.

Where North Korea is most exposed by sector

Renewables and Utilities
60
High exposure
Real Estate
52
Moderate exposure
Telecommunications
39
Low exposure

Exposure scores show how important each sector is to the economy, not how attractive it is to invest in. Browse all sectors.

Natural resources

14 mines and deposits are mapped in North Korea. It produces 2.3% of world tungsten. Power capacity is 9.2 GW. See the minerals, mines and power plants.

Go deeper on North Korea

The interactive profile adds ownership rules, residency routes, FDI flows and infrastructure. The Terminal lets you screen and compare 199 markets side by side and export the data. Need a tailored view of one market?

Educational research, not investment, legal or tax advice. Scores are screening tools built from public data and are not forecasts or ratings. Figures are the latest available from the named source and may lag. Confirm everything with local advisers before committing capital. Sources: World Bank WDI and WGI, IMF World Economic Outlook, OECD. Data as of 2026-10-09.