This report studies household economic activities in North Korea. Specifically, using the 2008 DPRK population census data, it examines the structure and composition of households in North Korea and analyzes their economic activities in terms of job, employment, informal economic activities, housing and energy consumption. In addition, it estimates the level and regional distribution of income in North Korea as well as the real unemployment rate. And the findings of the report are summarized as follows. First, total number of households in North Korea reached 5.9 million in 2008. And an average household had 4.09 household members. Of them, 2.07 members were employed while the remaining 2.02 members were not engaged in working due to studying, retiring and military service etc. Second, in terms of job, household members were largely employed by two sectors: traditional manufacturing and 1st industry such as agriculture and fishery. Both sectors employed about 70% of total household members who were officially employed in 2008. Third, of 5.9 million households, between 3.9 and 5.4 million households were engaged in so-called informal household economic activities including fruit/vegetable gardening and livestock and poultry raising. It means that around up to 92% of total households in North Korea carried out informal economic activities. Fourth, the energy consumption of North Korean households suggest that per capita GDP of North Korea could be estimated between 948 and 1,361 US dollar in terms of PPP. An interesting point is that per capita GDP of Pyongyang, capital city, exceeded those of other regions more than three times. Fifth, using the number of households and their members who were involved in informal household economic activities, the real unemployment rate in North Korea could be estimated as high as 40~70%.

Preface
Executive Summary

Chapter 1 Introduction

Chapter 2 Structure and Composition of North Korean Households
　Section 1 Basic Statistics on North Korean Households
　Section 2 Household Distribution
　Section 3 Household Size and Type
　Section 4 Household Members and Household Heads
　Section 5 Discussion: Typical North Korean Household

Chapter 3 Formal Economic Activities: Employment and Job Functions
　Section 1 Household Labor Force and Employment
　Section 2 Regional Economic Activities of Household Members
　Section 3 Employment Patterns by Age and Gender
　Section 4 Occupational and Functional Economic Activities
　Section 5 Discussion: Formal Economic Activities of North Korean Households

Chapter 4 Informal Economic Activities: Household Economic Participation
　Section 1 Informal Economy and Household Economic Activities
　Section 2 Types and Participants of Household Economic Activities
　Section 3 Household Economic Activities by Age and Gender
　Section 4 Regional Characteristics of Household Economic Activities
　Section 5 Discussion: Estimating Household Participation in Informal Economy

Chapter 5 Housing and Living Environment: Housing, Sanitation, and Heating
　Section 1 Housing and Living Conditions
　Section 2 Water Supply and Sanitation Facilities
　Section 3 Heating and Cooking Facilities
　Section 4 Discussion: Housing and Living Conditions of North Korean Households

Chapter 6 Household Income and Real Employment Rate: Estimates and Implications
　Section 1 Estimating Per Capita Income (GDP) and Its Implications
　Section 2 Estimating the Real Employment Rate and Its Implications

Chapter 7 Conclusion

References
Appendix
ABSTRACT