Canada and North Korea
Canada and North Korea maintain contacts limited by the nuclear programme, rights and sanctions. Non-resident representation provides a limited diplomatic channel.
Analysis reviewed: 2026-10-07 · Indicators updated: 2026-10-07History and institutional framework
Relations began in 2001, but a controlled engagement policy has applied since 2010.
Bilateral indicators
Blank cells: data unavailable.
| Indicator | Value | Period |
|---|---|---|
| Goods trade | ||
| Goods: Canada to North Korea | ||
| Goods: North Korea to Canada | ||
| Services trade | ||
| Export share: Canada to North Korea | ||
| Export share: North Korea to Canada | ||
| Investment stock: Canada in North Korea | ||
| Investment stock: North Korea in Canada |
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 | Canada | North Korea |
|---|---|---|
| Nominal GDP | 2.32 trillion USD2025 · WB | |
| GDP per capita | 55,697.66 USD2025 · WB | |
| GDP growth | 1.74 %2025 · WB | |
| Policy interest rate | 2.25 %2026-09-02 · BoC | |
| Inflation · annual average | 2.07 %Annual average · 2025 · WB | |
| Inflation · latest year-on-year figure | 3 %Year-on-year · Aug. 2026 · StatCan | |
| Unemployment | 6.91 %ILO est.2025 · WB | 3.55 %ILO est.2025 · World Bank |
| Budget balance (% of GDP) | -1.8 %IMF est.2025 · IMF | |
| Gross public debt (% of GDP) | 113.5 %IMF est.2025 · IMF | |
| Current account balance (% of GDP) | -0.95 %2025 · WB | |
| Population | 41,651,6532025 · WB | 26,571,0362025 · World Bank |
| Area | 9,984,670 km²2012 · StatCan | 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 USDCanada: 2025 · World Bank
- GDP per capita
- Current USD per personCanada: 2025 · World Bank
- GDP growth
- Annual real change (%)Canada: 2025 · World Bank
- Policy interest rate
- Central bank instrument (%)Canada: 2026-09-02 · Overnight rate target · Bank of Canada
- Inflation · annual average
- Average annual change in headline CPI (%)Canada: 2025 · Average annual CPI change (%) · World Bank
- Inflation · latest year-on-year figure
- Headline CPI relative to the same period of the previous year (%); monthly or fortnightly frequency statedCanada: 2026-08 · Headline CPI change relative to the same month of the previous year (%) · Statistics Canada · Published: 2026-09-14 · National headline year-on-year CPI, not monthly inflation or an annual average.
- Unemployment
- % of the labour force; definition used by the stated institutionCanada: 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)Canada: 2025 · IMF — World Economic Outlook · IMF est.
- Gross public debt
- General government (% of GDP)Canada: 2025 · IMF — World Economic Outlook · IMF est.
- Current account balance
- % of GDPCanada: 2025 · World Bank
- Population
- PeopleCanada: 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 sourceCanada: 2012 · Total area of Canada, land and water; archived official geographic reference from 2012 · Statistics Canada · Not an annual measurement for 2025. Replaces an API observation that does not match the national reference.North 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.
Canada to North Korea
| Product or sector | Value / share |
|---|---|
North Korea to Canada
| Product or sector | Value / share |
|---|---|
Connections between people
Sweden acts as protecting power in Pyongyang; maintaining relations does not mean a resident Canadian presence or unrestricted trade. [1]
Residents, study and travel
Blank cells: data unavailable. Each measure retains its definition and period.
| Indicator | Value | Period / source |
|---|---|---|
| Residents from Canada living in North Korea | ||
| Residents from North Korea living in Canada | ||
| Study and training: Canada in North Korea | ||
| Study and training: North Korea in Canada | ||
| Academic stays: Canada in North Korea | ||
| Academic stays: North Korea in Canada | ||
| Travel: Canada to North Korea | ||
| Travel: North Korea to Canada |
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
Relations began in 2001, but a controlled engagement policy has applied since 2010. Sweden acts as protecting power in Pyongyang; maintaining relations does not mean a resident Canadian presence or unrestricted trade. [1]
Recent developments
Recent developments and latest available data · Reviewed: 2026-10-07
Areas of the relationship
Non-resident representation provides a limited diplomatic channel. [1]
Representation and limited engagement
Canada recognised North Korea in 2000 and established diplomatic relations in 2001. Contacts are organised through the Canadian embassy in Seoul and North Korea's United Nations mission in New York. Sweden acts as protecting power for Canadian interests in Pyongyang. Since 2010, the controlled engagement policy has limited official discussions to regional security, rights and the humanitarian situation, inter-Korean relations and consular affairs. This limitation does not mean an absolute absence of diplomatic channels. [1]
Sanctions and humanitarian assistance
The 2011 autonomous sanctions include restrictions on imports and exports, new investment, financial services and technical data. They supplement measures arising from the Security Council. Humanitarian exceptions and authorisation mechanisms exist for activities that would otherwise be prohibited. Canadian assistance is channelled through multilateral partners such as the World Food Programme and UNICEF, not as direct funding to the North Korean government. Civilian assistance objectives and economic restrictions are different dimensions of the relationship. [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 — CAN-PRK
Global Affairs Canada · Institutional source · Accessed: 2026-10-07