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A woman prepares a bouquet to sell at a flower shop in Pyongyang. (AFP/Yonhap News)

North Korea’s economic growth rate for 2016 surpassed South Korea’s for the first time in eight years, Statistics Korea data show. But analysts predict its 2017 growth will be hindered by historic drought conditions and international economic sanctions.

A report on “Major North Korean Statistics Indicators for 2017” published on Dec. 15 by Statistics Korea estimated North Korea’s population at 24.9 million people, or roughly half South Korea’s population of 51.25 million. North Korea’s gross national income of 36.373 trillion won (US$33.5 billion) was approximately 1/45 that of South Korea (1.639665 quadrillion won/US$1.51 trillion).

Per capita gross national income was 1.46 million won (US$1,340), or around 1/22 the 31.98 million won (U$29,430) total for South Korea. North Korea’s growth rate last year was 3.9%, putting it ahead of South Korea’s 2.8%. It was the first time North Korea’s growth rate outpaced South Korea’s since 2008, when its rate was 3.1% to the South’s 2.8%. North Korea’s high growth rate for last year was attributed to a baseline effect after drought conditions in 2015 severely reduced food and power production, resulting in negative growth. But signs for the North Korean economy in 2018 are not encouraging.

“North Korea suffered its worst drought in 16 years this year, and with factors such as a reduction in trade with China due to international economic sanctions, most predictions have it unable to achieve a high growth rate like last year’s,” said Kim Gyu-cheol, a senior research fellow with the Korea Development Institute’s North Korean economy department.

North Korea’s mobile phone-subscribed population totaled 3,606,000 people, indicating that around 14 out of every 100 residents use a mobile phone. Total road length was 26,176 km, or roughly one-quarter South Korea’s 108,780 km, while total railway length was 5,226 km, or 1.3 times larger than South Korea’s 3,918 km. North Korea’s estimated total fertility rate for 2015–2020 was 1.94, falling below 2 for the first time but still outpacing South Korea’s 1.33.

By Heo Seung, staff reporter

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