When it comes to north korea, many of the first reactions may be images of missile tests, parades and armies, but in fact it is a country with a population of over 26 million. Of these, pyongyang, the capital, is home to approximately 3. 25 million people, a significant proportion of the population. Pyongyang is not only a political centre, but also a city with relatively good living conditions throughout the country due to the high concentration of resources。
Overall, the country's economy is underdeveloped and per capita GDP has long been low. Owing to international sanctions and restrictions imposed by its own economic system, the living standards of the people of the democratic people's republic of korea are ranked behind those of the world. However, the residents of pyongyang enjoy more policy care than in rural and other cities. For example, data from the united nations and international organizations indicate malnutrition at the national level, but pyongyang is relatively better, as the government gives priority to food and material security in the capital。
In terms of employment, the dprk continues to be dominated by the planned economy. The state allocates jobs in an integrated manner, most of them in state factories or government departments. Pyongyang residents have relatively stable jobs, unemployment is virtually non-existent and wages are paid on a monthly basis. Although the amount is modest and amounts to only a few dollars per month in united states dollars, basic living is sustainable because of the state subsidy. The factories operate on a permanent basis, producing mainly textiles, mechanical equipment, etc., and workers generally work more than eight hours, and overtime is quite common. By contrast, elites, such as senior cadres and party members, have higher incomes and are able to buy imported goods, while ordinary people often supplement their needs through part-time or small-scale market transactions。
In recent years, the government of kim jong-un has introduced wage reforms and nominal wage increases, but at the same time has followed up rapidly on price increases, resulting in limited real-life improvements for the population. Post-2023 data show that wage adjustments do exist, but with them the cost of living increases, and the population continues to feel pressure。
With regard to housing, pyongyang has a policy of relative preference. The government allocates housing to the population free of charge, and newly married families usually have access to an apartment of more than 30 square metres and, upon marriage, to some 60 square metres of new housing. In recent years, a large number of new high-rise houses have been built, including changda and dawn street, which are very modern from outside, but internal facilities are often poor, electricity and water supplies are unstable and life experiences are compromised. It is important to note that rural residents who wish to move to pyongyang must have a special permit and that not everyone has access to this benefit. Housing is also allocated with identity characteristics, with priority given to party members ' families and long waiting periods for ordinary people。
Power shortages are a major challenge in pyongyang. Although there are fire and hydroelectric plants in the city, there are frequent power outages and several hours of the day without electricity is normal. In winter, heating depends on coal, electricity or traditional warming, but when fuel is scarce, many households are saved。
With regard to education, pyongyang has the best resources in the country. There are well-known institutions such as the kim il sung comprehensive university and the kim tse industrial university, which are free of charge from primary school to university. Student competition for further education is smaller than in the rest of the country, and locals have higher access to good schools. The curriculum focused on political thought education, but the science and technology were also strong, and graduates were mostly assigned to state-owned enterprises, where employment was stable. However, national resources are highly concentrated in the capital, and educational conditions vary considerably between rural and remote areas。
As for diet, the dprk has experienced severe famine in its history. Today, pyongyang still has a food rations system of about 700 grams of food per person per day, with monthly distribution of eggs and meat. Although seemingly sufficient, the nutritional mix is uneven and the population is generally thin. Supplementary foods, especially from china, such as biscuits, cooking oil, etc., are also available on the market. Despite economic difficulties, pyongyang's inhabitants are more fortunate than the rest of the country。
In terms of technology, in recent years there has been widespread use of smartphones in pyongyang, where locally produced mobile phones are adapted to local area networks, while imported machines of chinese type and three stars are also available on the market, but apple machines do not have access to international systems. Pyongyang residents can view the country's news and listen to music via mobile phones, although the network is highly closed and is restricted to internal use. The university has computer classrooms and students study basic programming, but the equipment is old and difficult to keep up with international standards。
Medical conditions are also better in pyongyang. The new pyongyang hospital facilities in 2020 are modern, there are no fees to be paid for medical treatment and vaccination and basic treatment are guaranteed. However, drugs are dependent on imports, often in short supply, and the treatment of serious diseases remains limited。
In terms of transport, pyongyang has a subway system, bicycles are a common travel tool, and there are more and more vehicles on the street, but private cars remain a symbol of a few privileged classes. Citizens often go to the park for a walk, to the water park for a play, or to the stadium for a game。
Over the past few decades, the leadership of the dprk has been constantly adjusting its policies. During the kim jong il period, emphasis was placed on the “first military policy”, while kim jong-un continued to conduct nuclear tests while promoting infrastructure. In recent years, pyongyang has completed new apartments and rural construction has progressed. Despite slow economic growth, living standards are gradually improving。
Overall, pyongyang has the highest standard of living in the country. The population has stable jobs, free housing, relatively good quality education and a priority food supply. At the same time, however, shortages of electricity, rising cost of living and social constraints persist. The gap remains significant compared to developed international cities。
