AGUACYCLE
East Asia & Pacific

Korea, Dem. People's Rep.

Capital: Pyongyang · Low income · Pop. 26.5 million

66.61%
Safely managed drinking water
Safely managed sanitation
2,545
m³ freshwater / person / yr
13%
Water stress · Low-medium

Source: World Bank Open Data (WHO/UNICEF JMP & FAO AQUASTAT) · drinking water 2023

In Korea, Dem. People's Rep., 66.61% of the population uses safely managed drinking water — an improved source, located on premises, available when needed, and free from contamination (2023 estimate). That leaves roughly 8.8 million people without safely managed drinking water at home.

Korea, Dem. People's Rep. has about 2,545 cubic meters of renewable internal freshwater per person each year. It withdraws the equivalent of 13% of those internal resources annually (low-medium water stress).

Agriculture accounts for about 76% of Korea, Dem. People's Rep.'s water withdrawals, the rest going to households and industry.

Common questions

How many people in Korea, Dem. People's Rep. have safe drinking water?

66.61% of Korea, Dem. People's Rep.'s population uses safely managed drinking water (2023), per WHO/UNICEF data; about 8.8 million people do not.

Does Korea, Dem. People's Rep. have enough freshwater?

Korea, Dem. People's Rep. has roughly 2,545 m³ of renewable internal freshwater per person per year, and uses about 13% of it annually (low-medium stress).

Elsewhere in East Asia & Pacific