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North Korea
(information)
Population as of 2020: 25 million 55 of 193
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Region: Asia
Nominal G.D.P. in 2024: $28 - 30 billion (no official estimate exists for this country)
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Top Exports
Total exports: **~$360–500 million (2024)**
**Extremely constrained economy:** exports are **small, heavily sanctioned, and highly concentrated**
| Rank | Export Category | Notes |
| ---- | ------------------------------------------- | --------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |
| 1 | **Hair products (wigs, false eyelashes)**⭐ | #1 export; dominates trade (~$150M+) |
| 2 | **Mineral products (coal, ores)** | Historically dominant; still important despite sanctions |
| 3 | **Ferroalloys (iron alloys)** | Key industrial metal export |
| 4 | **Tungsten ores & concentrates** | Strategic mineral export |
| 5 | **Electricity (power exports)** | Exported regionally (mainly to China) |
| 6 | **Textiles & apparel** | Limited due to sanctions |
| 7 | **Seafood** | Traditional export sector |
| 8 | **Timber & wood products** | Small but present |
| 9 | **Machinery & mechanical parts** | Minor industrial exports |
| 10 | **Chemicals & basic industrial goods** | Small-scale exports |
Key individual export products (by value)
| Rank | Product | Notes |
| ---- | ------------------------------------------------ | --------------------------------------------------------------------- |
| 11 | **Wigs & false eyelashes (human hair products)** | #1 export (~$167M) |
| 12 | **Ferroalloys** | Steelmaking input (~$30M+) |
| 13 | **Tungsten ore** | Important strategic mineral |
| 14 | **Electricity exports** | Regional energy trade |
| 15 | **Watch components** | Manufactured export |
| 16 | **Automobiles (small volume)** | Limited production exports |
| 17 | **Coal (anthracite)** | Previously dominant; restricted by sanctions |
| 18 | **Iron ore & concentrates** | Mining export |
| 19 | **Fish & seafood products** | Traditional export |
| 20 | **Medicaments (pharmaceuticals)** | Small but rising niche export |
Key Takeaways
* 🥇 **Unusual #1 export: hair products**
* Wigs and eyelashes dominate exports due to **low-cost labor and sanctions constraints**
* ⛏️ **Mining still important (but restricted)**
* Coal, iron, and tungsten are key but heavily limited by **UN sanctions**
* ⚡ **Electricity exports are notable**
* One of the few **legal cross-border trades (mainly with China)**
* 🌍 **Extreme dependence on one partner**
* **China accounts for the vast majority of trade (~80–90%+)**
* ⚠️ **Very small and constrained export economy**
* Total exports are **tiny compared to most countries**
* Trade structure is shaped more by **sanctions than market forces**
Top Importers of North Korea’s Exports (2024)
| Rank | Country | Notes |
| ---- | ------------------------ | ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- |
| 1 | **China** | Dominates overwhelmingly (~85–95%+ of exports); wigs, minerals, electricity. |
| 2 | **Russia** | Small but growing partner; limited trade (energy, labor-related goods). |
| 3 | **Vietnam** | Minor trade; small industrial and agricultural goods. |
| 4 | **India** | Very limited; residual trade (chemicals, minerals). |
| 5 | **Thailand** | Small-scale trade (seafood, light manufacturing). |
| 6 | **Bangladesh** | Minor trade links (textiles, basic goods). |
| 7 | **Pakistan** | Small residual trade flows. |
| 8 | **United Arab Emirates** | Minimal, often indirect trade. |
| 9 | **Egypt** | Historically linked; now very limited due to sanctions. |
| 10 | **Nigeria** | Very small and sporadic trade flows. |
Key Patterns
* 🇨🇳 **China dominates almost completely**
* Takes **the vast majority of exports (often 90% or more)**
* Main buyer of:
* wigs and hair products
* minerals
* electricity
* ⚠️ **Sanctions shape everything**
* UN sanctions severely restrict:
* coal exports
* textiles
* arms and industrial goods
* 🌍 **Very limited global integration**
* Trade with other countries is:
* small
* irregular
* often indirect
* 📉 **Extremely concentrated trade structure**
* One of the most concentrated export markets in the world
