Moving to North Korea from Singapore

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What to Expect

Everything you need to know before relocating from Singapore to North Korea — costs, safety, healthcare, and practical first steps.

If you moved from Singapore to North Korea, and you’d need to navigate life in Korean. You’ll also switch from driving on the left to the right. Expect a noticeable climate shift — P'yongyang averages 60°F vs 89°F in Singapore, making it significantly cooler.

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Key Indicator Comparison

Key indicators for anyone considering a move from Singapore to North Korea.

How's the healthcare?

Doctors per 10,000 people United Nations SDG Indicators, 2021

affects wait times and access to care

SG
26.0
KP
36.7
Health coverage index United Nations SDG Indicators, 2021

WHO index from 0–100 measuring essential service access

SG
89
KP
68

North Korea generally does better on health & wellbeing, though Singapore 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

SG
23.0
KP
86.0
CO₂ emissions per capita World Bank, 2024

tonnes of CO₂ emitted per person per year

SG
9.8t
KP
2.5t

Singapore 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

SG
83.1%
KP
27.7%
Electricity per capita World Bank, 2023

annual consumption — reflects grid capacity

SG
9,750 kWh
KP
830 kWh

Singapore 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

SG
3.5%
KP
3.0%
GDP per capita The World Factbook, 2023

a broad measure of economic output per person

SG
$127,500
KP
$1,700

Singapore 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

SG
86.3 yrs
KP
71.8 yrs
Infant mortality The World Factbook, 2022

deaths per 1,000 live births — lower is better

SG
1.6
KP
22.2

Singapore 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.

Singapore Rain: 83.2 in/yr (2113 mm)
89° / 77°F

Avg. annual high / low

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

Avg. annual high / low

Months Singapore P'yongyang
Jan–Mar 89°/76°F (31°/25°C) 38°/20°F (4°/-7°C)
Apr–Jun 90°/78°F (32°/26°C) 72°/52°F (22°/11°C)
Jul–Sep 89°/78°F (31°/25°C) 81°/65°F (27°/18°C)
Oct–Dec 88°/76°F (31°/25°C) 50°/31°F (10°/0°C)
View all months
Month Singapore P'yongyang
Jan 87°/76°F (30.6°/24.3°C) 31°/13°F (-0.8°/-10.7°C)
Feb 89°/76°F (31.5°/24.6°C) 36°/18°F (2.4°/-7.8°C)
Mar 90°/77°F (32.2°/24.9°C) 48°/29°F (8.9°/-1.8°C)
Apr 90°/78°F (32.4°/25.3°C) 63°/41°F (17.1°/4.9°C)
May 90°/78°F (32.3°/25.7°C) 73°/52°F (22.6°/10.9°C)
Jun 89°/78°F (31.9°/25.7°C) 80°/62°F (26.7°/16.5°C)
Jul 89°/78°F (31.4°/25.4°C) 83°/69°F (28.6°/20.7°C)
Aug 89°/78°F (31.4°/25.3°C) 84°/69°F (28.9°/20.5°C)
Sep 89°/77°F (31.6°/25.2°C) 76°/58°F (24.7°/14.3°C)
Oct 89°/77°F (31.8°/25.0°C) 65°/44°F (18.2°/6.7°C)
Nov 88°/76°F (31.2°/24.6°C) 49°/31°F (9.4°/-0.3°C)
Dec 87°/76°F (30.5°/24.3°C) 35°/19°F (1.7°/-7.2°C)

Data: Meteorological Service Singapore Meteorological Service Singapore

Visitor Visa Requirements

Short-stay tourist visa rules between Singapore 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.

Singapore passport

Singapore passport holder visiting North Korea

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

North Korea passport holder visiting Singapore

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

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?

Usually fine from major cities in North Korea. The harder questions are legal — digital nomad visa eligibility, your employer's overseas-work policy, and tax residency in both countries.

How is healthcare in North Korea compared to Singapore?

North Korea generally does better on health & wellbeing, though Singapore leads in health coverage index. There are 36.7 doctors per 10,000 people in North Korea, compared to 26.0 in Singapore. North Korea scores 68 on the WHO universal health coverage index (Singapore: 89).

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

The average high temperature in P'yongyang is 60°F, compared to 89°F in Singapore. P'yongyang receives around 37.0 in of rainfall per year, while Singapore gets 83.2 in.

What language do they speak in North Korea?

The official language in North Korea is Korean. In Singapore, the official languages are Chinese, English, Malay and Tamil.

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At a Glance

SG KP
Population 5,921,231 25,955,138
Currency Singapore Dollar (SGD) North Korean Won (KPW)
Languages Chinese, English, Malay, Tamil Korean
Driving side Left Right
Calling code +65 +850
Time zones 1 1
Emergency number 999