CONTENT
Causes of death across North Korea are changing because of Population Increase, Life Expectancy rise and Living Standard.On this below article we provide graphical representation of major causes of death in North Korea.
Highlights of North Korea BMI and Diet Compositions
Comprehensive data on food supply and consumption is published by the UN Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO). Data was analyzed by The Global Graph and is published in these below Highlights, Graphs and Tables (Data Quality & definitions)
- As per United Nations Food and Agricultural Organization (FAO), average person in North Korea gets their caloric supply from :
- Carbohydrates : 82.29%
82.29% - Fat : 17.44%
17.44% - Plant protein : 9.56%
9.56% - Animal protein : 2.14%
2.14% - 11.44% increase in caloric supply : Currently North Korea gets 2094/kilocalories per person per day worth of caloric supply when compared to 1879/kilocalories per person per day in Year 1961
- Cereals & Grains, Oils & Fats and Fruits & Vegetables are three major diet compositions in North Korea
- Rice, Maize and Wheat are three major Cereal preferences in North Korea
- National and World Health Organization (WHO) recommendations on vegetable intake is to range between 200-250g per day and in North Korea average intake is 341.64 grams
- National and World Health Organization (WHO) typically set a guideline of 200g Fruit Intake per day and in North Korea average Fruit intake is 157.29grams
- In North Korea, average male height is in the increasing trend and female height is in increasing trend
- 33.50% of population is suffering from obesity and this trend is continously increasing from last few years
- Average Male BMI in North Korea is in the range of normal and Average Female BMI is in range of normal (BMI = Body Mass Index - The WHO define a BMI <=18.5 as 'underweight'; 18.5 to 25 as 'normal/healthy'; 25.0 to 30.0 as 'obese')
Rank | Cereals | kcal/capita/day |
---|---|---|
1 | Rice | 725 |
2 | Maize | 369 |
3 | Wheat | 158 |
4 | Rye | 19 |
5 | Sorghum | 10 |
6 | Barley | 5 |
7 | Oats | 2 |
Rank | Type | kilocalories per person per day |
---|---|---|
1 | Cereals & Grains | 1302 |
2 | Oils & Fats | 195 |
3 | Fruits & Vegetables | 146 |
4 | Starchy Roots | 134 |
5 | Pulses | 101 |
6 | Meat | 95 |
7 | Alcoholic Beverages | 53 |
8 | Sugar | 38 |
9 | Dairy & Eggs | 25 |
10 | Other | 5 |
Major Cause of Death
Cardiovascular diseases was a major cause of death in North Korea with 88000 registered deaths (in year 2016) i.e. 39% of total deaths. Overall Cardiovascular diseases, Cancers and Respiratory disease were the highest types of death causes in North Korea.
- We see the maximum number of deaths is seen in age group 70+ with 109575 deaths (year 2016).
- 44.32% kids below age 5 years die because of Neonatal disorders.
- Drowning, Road accidents and Cancers are the major cause of death in kids aged 5 - 14 years.
- Cancers, Cardiovascular disease and Road accidents are the major cause of death in people aged 14 - 49 years.
- Cardiovascular diseases, Cancers and Respiratory disease are the major cause of death in people aged over 50 years.
- Overall, it's observed that 39% of people aging over 50 years die because of Cardiovascular diseases.


Major Risk Factors of Death
- Three Major factors of death in North Korea are Smoking, High blood pressure and Household air pollution. Every year around 460 people die due to Smoking.
- Low birth weight and Child wasting are the major risk factor of kids death aging under 5 years.
- Iron deficiency and Household air pollution are the major risk factors of death of people aging between 5 to 14 years.
- Smoking, High blood pressure and Household air pollution are the death risk factors of people aging between 15 to 49 years.
- Smoking, High blood pressure and Household air pollution are the major death risk factors of people aging between 50 to 69 years.
- Smoking is the major death risk factors for people aging more than 70 years.

Cancer Analysis
0.27% of North Korea population was suffering from cancer i.e. 68540 people (average of years 2011-2016). Highest number of cancer patients deaths were recorded due to Stomach cancer (Count : 7852) and Liver cancer was also concerning with 3751 deaths in a year. In last few years it has been observed that, people suffering from Non-melanoma skin cancer have 1% of survival chance.North Korea was really successful in diagnosing Tracheal, bronchus, and lung cancer where 97% of people were cured.Highest number of cancer patients i.e. 33484 people were of age group 50-69 year olds.In 2016, 10707 were suffering from Stomach cancer out of which 7852 people were dead. This means 73.34% death rate of people suffering from Stomach cancer. This below data represents major cancer types in North Korea and number of deaths due to particular cancer types :
- 0.27 % of North Korea population is suffering from cancer
- Highest number of deaths were registered due to Stomach cancer
- Tracheal, bronchus, and lung cancer was most cured cancer in North Korea
- Stomach cancer got lowest survival rate

Tables (Appendix)
Cause of Death | Number of Deaths | % of Total Deaths |
---|---|---|
Dementia | 6098 | 2.7% |
Cardiovascular diseases | 88000 | 38.9% |
Kidney disease | 3573 | 1.58% |
Respiratory disease | 30367 | 13.42% |
Liver disease | 3677 | 1.63% |
Diabetes, blood and endocrine disease | 7920 | 3.5% |
Digestive disease | 3272 | 1.45% |
Hepatitis | 339 | 0.15% |
Cancers | 49006 | 21.66% |
Parkinson's disease | 418 | 0.18% |
Fire | 375 | 0.17% |
Malaria | 2 | 0% |
Drowning | 2206 | 0.98% |
Homicide | 712 | 0.31% |
HIV/AIDS | 649 | 0.29% |
Drug disorder | 650 | 0.29% |
Tuberculosis | 2490 | 1.1% |
Road incidents | 7449 | 3.29% |
Maternal deaths | 488 | 0.22% |
Neonatal deaths | 6667 | 2.95% |
Alcohol disorder | 328 | 0.14% |
Natural disasters | 545 | 0.24% |
Diarrheal diseases | 784 | 0.35% |
Kidney disease | 3573 | 1.58% |
Liver disease | 3677 | 1.63% |
Lower respiratory infections | 5769.26523862 | 2.55% |
Dementia | 6098 | 2.7% |
Neonatal deaths | 6667 | 2.95% |
Road incidents | 7449 | 3.29% |
Diabetes, blood and endocrine disease | 7920 | 3.5% |
Respiratory disease | 30367 | 13.42% |
Cancers | 49006 | 21.66% |
Cardiovascular diseases | 88000 | 38.9% |