Flowers brighten a memorial to Former President Kim Il Sung, who ruled communist North Korea for nearly 50 years before his death in 1994. His son, Kim Jong Il, now rules the nation.

Life expectancy in North Korea has declined over the past 15 years, with an increase in infant mortality and more mothers dying in childbirth, according to new census figures.

The communist regime’s legendary military might also appears to be far smaller than claimed, with figures showing just over 724,000 people working in government and defence

The census – the first since 1993 – provides a rare insight into the workings of the isolated and highly secretive regime.

Conducted with the help of United Nations Population Fund, which sent five teams of observers to monitor it, it shows a rise in the population from 21.2 million to 24.05 million over the 15-year period, despite a devastating famine in the mid- to late 1990s which killed up to two million people.

But infant mortality rose from 14 per 1,000 live births to 19, and the maternal mortality rate grew from 54 to 77 deaths per 100,000 live births. As a result, overall life expectancy declined by 3.4 years to 69.3.

A report by the UN’s World Food Programme last September said one-third of the country’s women and children aged under five were malnourished, a situation that is not expected to improve in the near future as overseas donations for feeding programmes have dropped dramatically due to the stand-off over the North’s nuclear programmes and missile tests..

The census holds a number of surprises, thoe relating to the military particularly. But while the figures also appear to show that the rogue state’s military strength is much less than assumed, it is not certain that they give a definitive guide to the North’s military. South Korea’s defence ministry the figure,excluding reserves, totalled 1.19 million in 2008.

It also reveals that the occupation that provides the most employment—farming—has more women, 1.9 million, than men, 1.5 million.

Unsurprisingly, it shows basic lving doncitions with 65 percent of households living in two-room units, and 85 percent of homes enjoying access to running water. Only 58 percent have a flush toilet.