Fast Facts

Capital City: Pyongyang

Population: 26,000,000 (99.3% unreached)

People Groups: 5

Unreached People Groups: 2

Frontier People Groups: 0

10/40 Window: Yes

Major People Groups: Korean 99.8%

Religion: Nonreligious 70%, Ethnic religions 15%, Other 13%, Christian 1.5%

Language: Korean

GDP Per Capita: $1,700

Literacy Rate: 100%

Did you know? The tallest building in North Korea is the Ryugyong Hotel in Pyongyang, which has been under construction for over 30 years and is still not open to the public.

Pray for North Korea’s unreached people groups

North Korea only has five people groups and two of them are unreached, but unreached people still make up over 98% of the population.

Below are the two unreached people groups of North Korea:

Pray for Christians being persecuted in North Korea

North Korea was ranked #1 in the 2024 Open Doors World Watch List.

It is an extremely hostile place toward Christians because Christianity is viewed as a threat to the dictator, Kim Jong Un and the dictatorial ideology he represents. Anything that could potentially challenge his leadership is met with severe punishment including prison, labor camps, and even death.

World Watch List

You can learn about Christian persecution and pray for our brothers and sisters who being persecuted around the world by praying through the Open Doors’ World Watch List.

How to Pray for North Korea

Here are some suggestions for how you can pray for North Korea…

1. Pray for protection for believers – Christians in North Korea face constant danger, as the government actively seeks to root out and punish those who follow Jesus. Pray for the protection of believers, that they will be kept safe from harm and that their faith will not falter in the face of persecution.
   
2. Pray for provision for believers – Many Christians in North Korea are poor and struggle to meet their basic needs. Pray that God will provide for them, both spiritually and materially. Ask God to give them strength and hope in the midst of their struggles.
3. Pray for unity among believers – Christians in North Korea often face isolation and loneliness, as they are forced to worship in secret and cannot openly gather with other believers. Pray that God will bring believers together and create a sense of community among them, even if they are unable to meet in person.
4. Pray for the government – It can be easy to demonize the North Korean government and see them as the enemy, but as Christians, we are called to love even our enemies. Pray that God will work in the hearts of North Korean leaders and soften their hearts towards the gospel. Ask God to give them wisdom and discernment as they make decisions that impact the lives of millions of people.
5. Pray for the gospel to spread – Despite the many challenges faced by believers in North Korea, the gospel is still spreading. Pray that God will continue to use Christians in North Korea to share the good news of Jesus with those around them. Ask God to open doors for evangelism and to bring more people to faith in Jesus.
6. Pray for humanitarian aid – The people of North Korea are suffering, both because of the repressive regime and because of natural disasters and economic hardship. Pray for humanitarian aid to reach those who need it most, and for organizations and individuals to have the resources and wisdom to help in the most effective ways.
7. Pray for peace – The tensions between North Korea and other countries, particularly the United States, have been high in recent years. Pray that God will work in the hearts of leaders to find peaceful solutions to conflicts and that the people of North Korea will be able to live in safety and security.