North Korea raised the mandatory retirement age for office workers by three years. The new age is 63 for men and 58 for women. The country adopted this revision in September 2024 through a labor law amendment. The new retirement age applies only to office workers who receive state pension benefits. Manual laborers and farmers keep their original retirement age unchanged.
The original labor law from 1978 set age at 60 for men and 55 for women. A North Korean academic paper published in the 2026 first issue confirmed the change. The paper cites population aging and increasing life expectancy as key reasons. The paper also notes the evolving pension system and the growing importance of intellectual labor.
The 9th congress of North Korea’s General Federation of Trade Unions took place in Pyongyang on May 11-12, 2026. The Korean Central News Agency reported the event on May 13. This revision marks the first official confirmation of the extended thresholds. Previously, North Korea had raised its working-age and voting-age requirements.
The standing committee of North Korea’s assembly adopted the amendment in September 2024. The academic paper describes raising the pension age as a natural move. This retirement age adjustment applies only to intellectual laborers. Office workers must now work three additional years before receiving state pensions.
