LIFE EXPECTANCY in North Korea has fallen, with increases in infant and maternal mortality, according to a census offering a rare glimpse into conditions in the country.
The survey, which is the first in 15 years, also suggests the country’s military has far fewer than its reputed one million-plus soldiers.
While it is impossible to know how reliable the data is, it is unusual for North Korea to issue official statistics.
The figures have been published by the United Nations’ statistical division; the UN’s population fund helped with the survey and sent teams to monitor the work.
In the 15 years since the previous census, life expectancy dropped by 3.4 years, with men living to only 65.6 and women to only 72.7 years on average.
Infant mortality rose, from 14 deaths in 1,000 live births to 19, while maternal mortality rose by about 30 per cent, to 77 maternal deaths in 100,000 live births.
The period between the two studies included the devastating mid-90s famine estimated to have killed at least 600,000 North Koreans. Some believe the death toll was more than 1 million, and even now the country remains heavily dependent on food aid.
The North Korean media reported that the census showed a population increase of almost 3 million over 15 years, taking the total to just over 24 million.
The US state department says the country’s army has been estimated at 1.2 million, but the study puts the number working for the government or military at about 700,000. – (Guardian service)