Moving to North Korea from Kazakhstan

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What to Expect

Considering a move from Kazakhstan to North Korea? Here's how the two compare on cost, climate, safety, and more.

If you moved from Kazakhstan to North Korea, and you’d need to navigate life in Korean. Expect a noticeable climate shift — P'yongyang averages 60°F vs 46°F in Astana, making it significantly warmer.

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Key Indicator Comparison

The numbers behind daily life in North Korea compared to Kazakhstan.

How's the healthcare?

Doctors per 10,000 people United Nations SDG Indicators, 2020

affects wait times and access to care

KZ
40.3
KP
36.7
Health coverage index United Nations SDG Indicators, 2021

WHO index from 0–100 measuring essential service access

KZ
80
KP
68

Kazakhstan generally does better on health & wellbeing, though North Korea leads in adult obesity rate.

What about the environment?

Air pollution deaths United Nations SDG Indicators, 2019

deaths attributable to air pollution per 100k people

KZ
68.0
KP
86.0
CO₂ emissions per capita World Bank, 2024

tonnes of CO₂ emitted per person per year

KZ
12.6t
KP
2.5t

Kazakhstan generally does better on environment, though North Korea leads in co₂ emissions per capita.

Will I have good infrastructure?

Water stress level United Nations SDG Indicators, 2021

higher means greater strain on freshwater supply

KZ
34.1%
KP
27.7%
Electricity per capita World Bank, 2023

annual consumption — reflects grid capacity

KZ
5,146 kWh
KP
830 kWh

Kazakhstan generally does better on infrastructure, though North Korea leads in water stress level.

What are the job prospects?

Unemployment rate The World Factbook, 2023

percentage of the labour force without work

KZ
4.8%
KP
3.0%
GDP per capita The World Factbook, 2023

a broad measure of economic output per person

KZ
$35,500
KP
$1,700

Kazakhstan generally does better on employment & economy, though North Korea leads in unemployment rate.

Is it good for families?

Life expectancy The World Factbook, 2022

average years of life at birth

KZ
72.5 yrs
KP
71.8 yrs
Infant mortality The World Factbook, 2022

deaths per 1,000 live births — lower is better

KZ
19.2
KP
22.2

Kazakhstan generally does better on family life, though North Korea leads in literacy rate.

Data: The World Factbook, United Nations SDG Indicators, World Bank

What's the Climate Like?

Monthly averages — select a city to compare.

Astana Rain: 12.5 in/yr (318 mm)
46° / 25°F

Avg. annual high / low

P'yongyang Rain: 37.0 in/yr (940 mm)
60° / 42°F

Avg. annual high / low

Months Astana P'yongyang
Jan–Mar 15°/-4°F (-10°/-20°C) 38°/20°F (4°/-7°C)
Apr–Jun 65°/41°F (18°/5°C) 72°/52°F (22°/11°C)
Jul–Sep 74°/50°F (23°/10°C) 81°/65°F (27°/18°C)
Oct–Dec 30°/13°F (-1°/-11°C) 50°/31°F (10°/0°C)
View all months
Month Astana P'yongyang
Jan /-8°F (-12.6°/-22.0°C) 31°/13°F (-0.8°/-10.7°C)
Feb 12°/-7°F (-11.3°/-21.8°C) 36°/18°F (2.4°/-7.8°C)
Mar 23°/4°F (-5.0°/-15.6°C) 48°/29°F (8.9°/-1.8°C)
Apr 49°/28°F (9.3°/-2.4°C) 63°/41°F (17.1°/4.9°C)
May 67°/42°F (19.6°/5.8°C) 73°/52°F (22.6°/10.9°C)
Jun 78°/52°F (25.3°/11.2°C) 80°/62°F (26.7°/16.5°C)
Jul 81°/56°F (27.0°/13.4°C) 83°/69°F (28.6°/20.7°C)
Aug 76°/52°F (24.3°/10.9°C) 84°/69°F (28.9°/20.5°C)
Sep 65°/41°F (18.6°/5.1°C) 76°/58°F (24.7°/14.3°C)
Oct 47°/28°F (8.5°/-2.1°C) 65°/44°F (18.2°/6.7°C)
Nov 27°/12°F (-3.0°/-11.2°C) 49°/31°F (9.4°/-0.3°C)
Dec 15°/-2°F (-9.7°/-18.9°C) 35°/19°F (1.7°/-7.2°C)

Data: Ministry of Energy of the Republic of Kazakhstan Ministry of Energy of the Republic of Kazakhstan

Visitor Visa Requirements

Short-stay tourist visa rules between Kazakhstan and North Korea. To live, work, or study long-term in North Korea, you'll need a separate residence or work visa — check North Korea's immigration authority.

Kazakhstan passport

Kazakhstan passport holder visiting North Korea

Visa Required
Kazakhstan passport holders need a visa to enter North Korea.
North Korea passport

North Korea passport holder visiting Kazakhstan

Visa Online (e-Visa)
North Korea passport holders need to apply for an e-Visa before travelling to Kazakhstan.

Data: Henley Passport Index. Check with the destination country's embassy for the most current requirements.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I work remotely from North Korea?

From major North Korea cities the network usually holds up. Visa rules, your employer's stance on overseas employees, and tax residency in Kazakhstan and North Korea are what actually decide it long-term.

How is healthcare in North Korea compared to Kazakhstan?

Kazakhstan generally does better on health & wellbeing, though North Korea leads in adult obesity rate. There are 36.7 doctors per 10,000 people in North Korea, compared to 40.3 in Kazakhstan. North Korea scores 68 on the WHO universal health coverage index (Kazakhstan: 80).

What's the weather like in North Korea compared to Kazakhstan?

The average high temperature in P'yongyang is 60°F, compared to 46°F in Astana. P'yongyang receives around 37.0 in of rainfall per year, while Astana gets 12.5 in.

What language do they speak in North Korea?

The official language in North Korea is Korean. In Kazakhstan, the official languages are Kazakh and Russian.

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At a Glance

KZ KP
Population 19,398,331 25,955,138
Currency Kazakhstani Tenge (KZT) North Korean Won (KPW)
Languages Kazakh, Russian Korean
Driving side Right Right
Calling code +7 +850
Time zones 2 1
Emergency number 112