Provinces of North Korea
Provinces are the first-level division within North Korea. There are 9 provinces in North Korea: Chagang, North Hamgyong, South Hamgyong, North Hwanghae, South Hwanghae, Kangwon, North Pyongan, South Pyongan and Ryanggang.
| North Korean Provinces 조선민주주의인민공화국의 도 (Korean) Chosŏnminjujuŭiinmingonghwagukŭi to (Romanized) | |
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| Category | Unitary State |
| Location | Democratic People's Republic of Korea |
| Number | 9 Provinces |
| Populations | 719,269 (Ryanggang Province) – 4,051,696 (South Pyongan) |
| Areas | 11,260 km2 (4,346 sq mi) (Kangwon) – 19,000 km2 (7,320 sq mi) (South Hamgyong) |
| Government | Single-Party Government |
| Subdivisions | City, County |
| This article is part of a series on the |
| Administrative divisions of North Korea |
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| Provincial level |
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Province (도 道 to) |
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Direct-administered city (직할시 直轄市 chikhalsi) |
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Special city (특별시 特別市 t'ŭkpyŏlsi) |
| Municipal level |
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Special-level city (특급시 特級市 t'ŭkkŭpsi) |
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City (시 市 si) |
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County (군 郡 kun) |
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Ward (구역 區域 kuyŏk) |
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District (구 區 ku) |
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Area (지구 地區 chigu) |
| Submunicipal level |
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Town (읍 邑 ŭp) |
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Neighbourhood (동 洞 tong) |
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Village (리 里 ri) |
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Workers' District (로동자구 勞動者區 rodongjagu) |
History
Although the details of local administration have changed dramatically over time, the basic outline of the current three-tiered system was implemented under the reign of Gojong in 1895. A similar system also remains in use in South Korea.
A province (Korean: 도; Hanja: 道) are the highest-ranked administrative divisions in North Korea. Provinces have equal status to the special cities.
List of provinces
The populations listed for each province are from the 2008 North Korea Census. From this census, there are an additional 702,372 people living in military camps.
| Name | Chosŏn'gŭl | Hancha | ISO | Population | Area (km²) | Density (/km²) | Capital | Region |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chagang | 자강도 | 慈江道 | KP-04 | 1,299,830 | 16,765 | 77.5 | Kanggye | Kwanso |
| North Hamgyong | 함경북도 | 咸鏡北道 | KP-09 | 2,327,362 | 15,980 | 145.6 | Chongjin | Kwanbuk |
| South Hamgyong | 함경남도 | 咸鏡南道 | KP-08 | 3,066,013 | 18,534 | 165.4 | Hamhung | Kwannam |
| North Hwanghae | 황해북도 | 黃海北道 | KP-06 | 2,113,672 | 8,153.7 | 259.2 | Sariwon | Haeso |
| South Hwanghae | 황해남도 | 黃海南道 | KP-05 | 2,310,485 | 8,450.3 | 273.4 | Haeju | Haeso |
| Kangwon | 강원도 | 江原道 | KP-07 | 1,477,582 | 11,091 | 133.2 | Wonsan | Kwandong |
| North Pyongan | 평안북도 | 平安北道 | KP-03 | 2,728,662 | 12,680.3 | 215.2 | Sinuiju | Kwanso |
| South Pyongan | 평안남도 | 平安南道 | KP-02 | 4,051,696 | 11,890.6 | 340.7 | Pyongsong | Kwanso |
| Ryanggang | 량강도 | 兩江道 | KP-10 | 719,269 | 13,880 | 51.8 | Hyesan | Kwannam |
