Moving to North Korea from New Zealand

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What to Expect

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

If you moved from New Zealand to North Korea, and you’d need to navigate life in Korean. You’ll also switch from driving on the left to the right.

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Key Indicator Comparison

The numbers behind daily life in North Korea compared to New Zealand.

How's the healthcare?

Doctors per 10,000 people World Bank, 2022

affects wait times and access to care

NZ
36.1
KP
36.3
Health coverage index United Nations SDG Indicators, 2021

WHO index from 0–100 measuring essential service access

NZ
85
KP
68

North Korea generally does better on health & wellbeing, though New Zealand leads in health coverage index.

What about the environment?

Air pollution deaths United Nations SDG Indicators, 2019

deaths attributable to air pollution per 100k people

NZ
12.0
KP
86.0
CO₂ emissions per capita World Bank, 2024

tonnes of CO₂ emitted per person per year

NZ
6.0t
KP
2.5t

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

Will I have good infrastructure?

Water stress level World Bank, 2022

higher means greater strain on freshwater supply

NZ
8.1%
KP
27.7%
Electricity per capita World Bank, 2024

annual consumption — reflects grid capacity

NZ
7,989 kWh
KP
789 kWh

New Zealand performs better than North Korea across all infrastructure metrics.

What are the job prospects?

Unemployment rate World Bank, 2025

percentage of the labour force without work

NZ
5.1%
KP
3.5%

North Korea performs significantly better than New Zealand across all employment & economy metrics.

Is it good for families?

Life expectancy World Bank, 2024

average years of life at birth

NZ
82.0 yrs
KP
73.7 yrs
Infant mortality World Bank, 2024

deaths per 1,000 live births — lower is better

NZ
4.0
KP
13.3

New Zealand performs better than North Korea across all family life metrics.

Weather in North Korea vs New Zealand

Monthly averages — select a city to compare.

Auckland Rain: 43.3 in/yr (1101 mm)
66° / 54°F

Avg. annual high / low

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

Avg. annual high / low

Months Auckland P'yongyang
Jan–Mar 74°/61°F (23°/16°C) 38°/20°F (4°/-7°C)
Apr–Jun 63°/51°F (18°/11°C) 72°/52°F (22°/11°C)
Jul–Sep 60°/47°F (15°/8°C) 81°/65°F (27°/18°C)
Oct–Dec 67°/55°F (20°/13°C) 50°/31°F (10°/0°C)
View all months
Month Auckland P'yongyang
Jan 74°/61°F (23.6°/16.0°C) 31°/13°F (-0.8°/-10.7°C)
Feb 75°/62°F (24.1°/16.5°C) 36°/18°F (2.4°/-7.8°C)
Mar 73°/59°F (22.6°/14.9°C) 48°/29°F (8.9°/-1.8°C)
Apr 68°/55°F (20.0°/12.7°C) 63°/41°F (17.1°/4.9°C)
May 63°/51°F (17.4°/10.6°C) 73°/52°F (22.6°/10.9°C)
Jun 59°/47°F (15.2°/8.4°C) 80°/62°F (26.7°/16.5°C)
Jul 58°/46°F (14.3°/7.5°C) 83°/69°F (28.6°/20.7°C)
Aug 59°/47°F (14.9°/8.2°C) 84°/69°F (28.9°/20.5°C)
Sep 62°/49°F (16.4°/9.7°C) 76°/58°F (24.7°/14.3°C)
Oct 64°/52°F (17.7°/11.2°C) 65°/44°F (18.2°/6.7°C)
Nov 67°/55°F (19.5°/12.8°C) 49°/31°F (9.4°/-0.3°C)
Dec 71°/59°F (21.8°/14.9°C) 35°/19°F (1.7°/-7.2°C)

Data: New Zealand National Meteorological Service New Zealand National Meteorological Service

Can you move from New Zealand to North Korea?

Short-stay tourist visa rules between New Zealand 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.

New Zealand passport

New Zealand passport holder visiting North Korea

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

North Korea passport holder visiting New Zealand

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

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 New Zealand and North Korea are what actually decide it long-term.

How is healthcare in North Korea compared to New Zealand?

North Korea generally does better on health & wellbeing, though New Zealand leads in health coverage index. There are 36.3 doctors per 10,000 people in North Korea, compared to 36.1 in New Zealand. North Korea scores 68 on the WHO universal health coverage index (New Zealand: 85).

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

The average high temperature in P'yongyang is 60°F, compared to 66°F in Auckland. P'yongyang receives around 37.0 in of rainfall per year, while Auckland gets 43.3 in.

What language do they speak in North Korea?

The official language in North Korea is Korean. In New Zealand, the official languages are English, Māori and New Zealand Sign Language.

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At a Glance

NZ KP
Population 5,324,700 26,571,036
Currency New Zealand Dollar (NZ$) North Korean Won (KPW)
Languages English, Māori, New Zealand Sign Language Korean
Driving side Left Right
Calling code +64 +850
Time zones 5 1
Emergency number 111 —