Germany and North Korea
Germany and North Korea maintain a diplomatic relationship shaped by nuclear programmes, sanctions and human rights. Cultural and educational activity faces restrictions, and the German embassy was temporarily closed.
Analysis reviewed: 2026-10-08 · Indicators updated: 2026-10-08Cooperation and bilateral issues
Germany promotes negotiations on nuclear and ballistic programmes and human rights dialogue, both bilaterally and within the European framework.
Cooperation and bilateral issues
Germany promotes negotiations on nuclear and ballistic programmes and human rights dialogue, both bilaterally and within the European framework.
Bilateral indicators
Blank cells: data unavailable.
| Indicator | Value | Period |
|---|---|---|
| Goods trade | ||
| Goods: Germany to North Korea | ||
| Goods: North Korea to Germany | ||
| Services trade | ||
| Export share: Germany to North Korea | ||
| Export share: North Korea to Germany | ||
| Investment stock: Germany in North Korea | ||
| Investment stock: North Korea in Germany |
Definitions and sources
Trade adds both directions. Shares refer to the country’s total goods exports; investment is an accumulated stock, not an annual flow. Every figure retains the currency and period of its source. BEA positions are historical-cost estimates based on the immediate counterpart, not market values or investment by ultimate owner. ‘More than’ indicates a lower bound, not an exact amount. A recorded stock does not establish new activity or authorisation to operate under sanctions.
Country comparison
Period and source beside each figure · est. = estimate by the stated institution.
| Indicator | Germany | North Korea |
|---|---|---|
| Nominal GDP | 5.05 trillion USD2025 · WB | |
| GDP per capita | 60,496.44 USD2025 · WB | |
| GDP growth | 0.24 %2025 · WB | |
| Policy interest rate | 2.5 %2026-09-16 · BCE | |
| Inflation · annual average | 2.17 %Annual average · 2025 · WB | |
| Inflation · latest year-on-year figure | 3.3 %provisionalprovisionalYear-on-year · Sept. 2026 · Destatis | |
| Unemployment | 3.71 %ILO est.2025 · WB | 3.55 %ILO est.2025 · World Bank |
| Budget balance (% of GDP) | -2.7 %IMF est.2025 · IMF | |
| Gross public debt (% of GDP) | 62.9 %IMF est.2025 · IMF | |
| Current account balance (% of GDP) | 4.51 %2025 · WB | |
| Population | 83,491,2492025 · WB | 26,571,0362025 · World Bank |
| Area | 357,680 km²2023 · WB | 120,540 km²2023 · World Bank |
| Military expenditure | ||
| Military expenditure (% of GDP) |
Definitions, dates and sources
Blank cells are not zero. Average annual inflation and the latest year-on-year figure appear in separate rows: they are not the same measure. Every annual indicator retains its reference year; when the years differ, the figures are identified as not directly comparable. When a figure is unavailable from the World Bank, an annual IMF estimate is used and identified as such. The latest year-on-year figure is the latest official release verified as of 7 October 2026. This includes advance releases marked as provisional. Mexico may have a fortnightly figure before the full month is published; it is not automatically compared with a monthly figure. The publication date is retained in each source’s details; it does not replace the observation period or the annual average. Policy rates carry their own dates and represent different instruments. Spain and France share the ECB rate. Balances are positive for surpluses and negative for deficits. The IMF may use fiscal years; unemployment retains each source’s definition (ILO estimates, IMF WEO or PCBS), as stated in the details. For Palestine, debt and the fiscal balance cover central government and retain the PCBS definition; they are not presented as consolidated general government. These are economic magnitudes, not measures of relationship quality.
Area retains each source’s territorial coverage; it does not determine sovereignty or effective control. Canada uses an archived national geographic reference. Military expenditure retains the 2024 SIPRI sample distributed by the World Bank: the amount and percentage of GDP use that same definition, which differs from NATO’s. It is not an approved budget or a 2026 figure. Information from the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI). Military expenditure database · Terms of use0
Indicators reviewed: 2026-10-07. Each source retains its original access date; this review does not turn all the data into 2026 observations. Figures may be revised.
- Nominal GDP
- Current USDGermany: 2025 · World Bank
- GDP per capita
- Current USD per personGermany: 2025 · World Bank
- GDP growth
- Annual real change (%)Germany: 2025 · World Bank
- Policy interest rate
- Central bank instrument (%)Germany: 2026-09-16 · ECB: deposit facility; shared euro-area rate · European Central Bank
- Inflation · annual average
- Average annual change in headline CPI (%)Germany: 2025 · Annual average change in the CPI (%) · World Bank
- Inflation · latest year-on-year figure
- Headline CPI relative to the same period of the previous year (%); monthly or fortnightly frequency statedGermany: 2026-09 · Change in headline CPI from the same month of the previous year (%) · Destatis · Published: 2026-09-30 · provisional · Provisional · National headline CPI, year-on-year, not monthly inflation or an annual average. Provisional data or an official advance release; subject to revision.
- Unemployment
- % of the labour force; definition used by the stated institutionGermany: 2025 · World Bank · ILO est.North Korea: 2025 · ILO modelled estimate, percentage of the labour force · World Bank · ILO est. · Official World Bank series; observation period, not download date.
- Budget balance
- General government (% of GDP)Germany: 2025 · IMF — World Economic Outlook · IMF est.
- Gross public debt
- General government (% of GDP)Germany: 2025 · IMF — World Economic Outlook · IMF est.
- Current account balance
- % of GDPGermany: 2025 · World Bank
- Population
- PeopleGermany: 2025 · World BankNorth Korea: 2025 · World Bank · Official World Bank series; observation period, not download date.
- Area
- Total area in km²; territorial coverage of the sourceGermany: 2023 · Area according to the series' coverage; does not determine sovereignty or effective control · World BankNorth Korea: 2023 · World Bank · Official World Bank series; observation period, not download date.
- Military expenditure
- Current USD per year; SIPRI series
- Military expenditure (% of GDP)
- Percentage of GDP; SIPRI definition, not NATO’s definition
Other data specific to this relationship
What they buy and sell
Documented selection, not an exhaustive list. Cells without a figure do not mean zero value; some products are identified without a verified amount.
Germany to North Korea
| Product or sector | Value / share |
|---|---|
North Korea to Germany
| Product or sector | Value / share |
|---|---|
Connections between people
Educational and cultural activity requires official authorisation and is subject to prior censorship. Some German political foundations based in Seoul work on North Korea; this does not mean resident offices inside the country or the opening of a new diplomatic mission. [1]
Residents, study and travel
Blank cells: data unavailable. Each measure retains its definition and period.
| Indicator | Value | Period / source |
|---|---|---|
| Residents from Germany living in North Korea | ||
| Residents from North Korea living in Germany | ||
| Study and training: Germany in North Korea | ||
| Study and training: North Korea in Germany | ||
| Academic stays: Germany in North Korea | ||
| Academic stays: North Korea in Germany | ||
| Travel: Germany to North Korea | ||
| Travel: North Korea to Germany |
What each figure measures
Residents are counted by nationality and the coverage of the stated register, not as people born in the other country or as new arrivals in one year. PERE includes dual nationals and people born outside Spain. Study with OPT and stays carrying academic credit are different measures. Travel may include several visits by the same person; FRONTUR arrivals require an overnight stay, whereas the Canadian survey includes day visits. These figures are neither added together nor automatically compared across directions.
Mobility data added or reviewed: 2026-10-07. Reference periods may be earlier.
Underlying ties
History, institutions and long-standing issues.
History and institutional framework
Diplomatic relations were established on 1 March 2001. The German profile dates the temporary closure of its Pyongyang embassy to 2020. [1]
Recent developments
Recent developments and latest available data · Review: 2026-10-08
Cooperation and bilateral issues
Germany promotes negotiations on nuclear and ballistic programmes and human rights dialogue, both bilaterally and within the European framework. Sanctions have severely limited economic exchanges. Educational and cultural activity requires official authorisation and is subject to prior censorship. Some German political foundations based in Seoul work on North Korea; this does not mean resident offices inside the country or the opening of a new diplomatic mission. [1]
Sources and data
Periods and scope of the figures
Institutional sources and periods accompany each figure. Annual trade, investment positions, residents and visits are distinct measures. Empty cells do not mean zero. Statements of intent are not presented as project implementation or treaties in force.
- Bilateral relations — DEU-PRK
Germany's Federal Foreign Office · Institutional source · Accessed: 2026-10-08