Poverty in North Korea is extensive, though reliable statistics are hard to come by due to lack of reliable research, pervasive censorship and extensive media manipulation in North Korea. [1] [ unreliable source? ]
Poverty in North Korea has been widely reported by Western media sources [2] [3] [4] with the majority referring to the famine that affected the country in the mid-1990s. [5] A 2006 report suggests that North Korea required an estimated 5.3m tonnes of grain per year while harvesting only an estimated 4.5m tonnes, and thus relies on foreign aid to overcome the deficit. [6] Starvation continues to be a systemic problem. In 2021, there were reports of widespread starvation in North Korea. [7]
Poverty in North Korea has also been attributed to poor governance by the government and sanctions. [8] It is estimated that in 2020, 60% of the North Korean population were living below the poverty line. [9]