North Korea | Nonprofits that help North Korea | PWI
About project world impact
Nonprofit Tools
Contact pwi
Help

DISCOVER AND LEARN ABOUT

North Korea

Learn About North Korea

Get Educated About North Korea

Summary

Due to the authoritarian rule of North Korea’s socialist dictatorship, it is one of the most corrupt and internationally isolated nations in the world. The majority of its citizens live in poverty and lack basic necessities, while a few wealthy elite have luxuries.1 The government restricts almost every area of society, including education, humanitarian aid, and freedom of expression.2 1 http://www.cnn.com/2017/07/17/asia/north-korea-luxury-goods/index.html 2 https://www.hrw.org/world-report/2017/country-chapters/north-korea

Make a Donation

One Time
Monthly
$
Monthly gifts help nonprofits focus on their mission and longterm impact with helping people world wide.

North Korea Demographics

Demographics

Nationality
Korean
Population
24,720,407 (July 2013 est.)
Ethnic Groups
Languages
Religions

Causes in North Korea

Learn more about specific causes in North Korea that you can get involved in.

Environment
Family
Human Rights
Education
Poverty
Religion
Clean Water
Economy
Government
Health
Children
Animals

Environment

Environmental reform is one of the few areas in which North Korea complies with international agreements. It has worked to combat negative effects of climate change, such as environmental degradation, deforestation, and agricultural decline. Its interest in climate change stems from its economy depending heavily on the agricultural sector, so its preservation is needed to ensure the country’s stability.1 North Korea’s forests have been reduced in recent years by at least 17%.2

Family

Domestic abuse and violence against women are rampant in North Korea. This is rooted in the society’s patriarchal traditions that intimidate women and prevent them from speaking out when they are abused.1 Some attribute this rise in domestic violence to the fact that women are increasingly becoming the breadwinners in their households, thus upsetting the gender status quo and angering their husbands. As many as 80% of Korean households now have women has the primary breadwinners.2

Human Rights

North Korea has a long history of egregious human rights violations. The country outlaws and suppresses freedom of expression, religious freedom, free media, and political opposition. Those who exhibit any opposition to the government are subject to placement in detainment camps or execution. All adult workers are assigned different industries for work, and students are required to work certain periods of time every year to maintain government properties and pay for their school facilities. Though these workers are promised pay, they often never receive it.1

Education

Education in North Korea is universal and state funded, although children are forced to engage in productive labor along with their studies.1 Children are assigned to certain schools depending on their social status and then forced to memorize information and phrases that support the government. Textbooks are poorly written and filled with mistakes.2

Poverty

As many as 12 million people in North Korea live in poverty. Although it is difficult to obtain statistics on North Korea, it has been estimated that the GDP per capita is only $1,800, one of the lowest in the world. The majority of workers in North Korea only earn $3 per month from the government.1 North Koreans are at a constant risk of starvation because the country has had intense food shortages for decades. Because of international sanctions and government corruption, needy citizens never receive the help that humanitarian organizations offer.3

Religion

North Koreans traditionally practiced Buddhism and Confucianism, although the state restricts almost all autonomous religious practice today. Government-sponsored religious groups exist only to provide an illusion of religious freedom.1

Clean Water

99% of North Koreans have access to safe drinking water.1 However, problems arise when there are not timely or effective disaster response initiatives to natural disasters that affect access to clean water.1 Floods and droughts leave tens of thousands of citizens without clean drinking water, which leads to consumption of contaminated well water and a vast increase in waterborne diseases. Poor sanitation practices also lead to preventable diseases.2

Economy

North Korea is one of the world’s poorest and most restrictive economies. The dictator refuses to reform the economy, and the state remains closed to private industry. The Communist Party exercises tight regulations and control over the country’s economic processes and foreign trade is limited to only China and South Korea.1 There is a large gap in wealth distribution between the minority elite and the rest of the country. There are no official figures on the percentage of the population living in poverty, but the majority of citizens in rural areas lack enough money to provide even basic necessities. In the capital city of Pyongyang, wealthy citizens can shop for luxuries in cash-only department stores. It is suspected that the profits from these stores fund Read More North Korean nuclear programs.2 Show Less

Government

North Korea is ruled as a totalitarian family dictatorship. North Korea also operates under a Songun policy, which grants the military a primary position within the government structure. The military is essential in formulating domestic policy and regulating international interactions.1 Dictator Kim Jong-un uses fear to force citizens into obedience and limits their knowledge of what really goes on in the country. North Korea’s affairs, including nuclear missile testing, are secretive and relatively unknown to other nations.2 Corruption is rampant at every level of the state, including the judiciary system.3

Health

In North Korea, all medical care is free and provided by the state. However, the government only spends 6% of its GDP on healthcare, and there is a shortage of medical professionals, equipment, and medications. Widespread food scarcities and incidences of malnutrition lead to declining health for North Koreans, as well as poor sanitation and lack of quality pharmaceuticals. Due to the inefficacy of the healthcare system, many people turn to methamphetamines as a form of self-medication. Some also use methamphetamines for the drug’s appetite-suppressing side effects to help them cope with food shortages.1 Additionally, the infant mortality rate and child malnutrition rates are much higher than those in neighboring nations.2

Children

North Korean children are considered among the world’s most endangered children because of the oppressive political state of their country.1 Parents are required to register their children with the government at birth, and they are immediately assigned a social class that will determine where they live and attend school. Starting at a young age, North Korean children are indoctrinated to worship the ruling Kim family. They are forced to work in strenuous labor conditions and are subject to imprisonment if they refuse.2 Children also face dangerous conditions in their travel to and from school and are discriminated against based on their performance in the classroom.3

Animals

Due to deforestation and other human activity, most of North Korea’s native species have been wiped out. Only a few species of birds remain in populated areas. There is an abundance of wildlife in the demilitarized zone that lies between North and South Korea because they are safe from human interference.1 Zoo animals are treated poorly and are not given proper habitats.2
North Korea

North Korea News

Check out the latest news and articles about North Korea.

Loading...

Capture.
Share.
Impact.

Share about your experience with North Korea for the world to see.

PWI STORYTELLER

SHARE YOUR STORY NOW

PWI SWIPE

Give your spare change automatically to help North Korea.

Create a SWIPE ACCOUNT

Swipe.
Give.
Impact.

Connect your card today to start giving your spare change.

Start.
Search.
Give.

The easiest way to make a real difference for North Korea.

PWI SEARCH

Download our browser extension and make every tab you open and ever web search you make will raise money for North Korea.

DOWNLOAD NOW

PWI GROUPGIVE

Create your very own campaign to help raise money for North Korea.

Create a GroupGive Campaign

Create.
Promote.
Grow.

What will you do for North Korea? Start your fundraiser today and make an impact.