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Economy of Albania vs North Korea compared: GDP & Debt

Updated on by Georank team

Albania has a GDP of $27B compared to $34.9B for North Korea, ranking 112/197 and 106/197 by economy size, respectively.

Albania vs North Korea GDP by year

Albania
North Korea
1x
Year GDP, current $
Albania North Korea
2024 $27,046,429,297 $34,943,120,000
2023 $23,491,242,727 $32,155,360,000
2022 $19,017,247,014 $28,971,360,000
2021 $18,031,989,573 $32,301,720,000
2020 $15,241,458,745 $27,728,240,000
2019 $15,585,111,614 $28,222,880,000
2018 $15,379,508,330 $28,536,400,000
2017 $13,258,268,436 $29,105,440,000
2016 $11,988,668,785 $28,882,640,000
2015 $11,470,171,827 $30,723,030,000
2014 $13,296,322,588 $30,554,460,000
2013 $12,796,985,886 $30,588,922,000
2012 $12,246,499,748 $29,890,710,000
2011 $12,973,755,875 $29,005,020,000
2010 $12,086,545,641 $25,995,513,000
2009 $12,335,540,656 $23,356,470,000
2008 $13,258,506,375 -
2007 $11,116,937,870 -
2006 $9,150,528,132 -
2005 $8,256,658,250 -
2004 $7,406,645,793 -
2003 $5,801,712,040 -
2002 $4,515,003,117 -
2001 $4,059,064,033 -
2000 $3,584,570,165 -
1999 $3,283,941,510 -
1998 $2,600,356,999 -
1997 $2,293,666,030 -
1996 $3,234,486,232 -
1995 $2,905,092,799 -
1994 $1,880,950,864 -
1993 $1,185,315,468 -
1992 $652,174,991 -
1991 $1,099,559,028 -
1990 $2,028,553,750 -
1989 $2,253,090,000 -
1988 $2,051,236,250 -
1987 $2,080,796,250 -
1986 $2,097,326,250 -
1985 $1,897,050,117 -
1984 $1,857,337,995 -
1983 $1,881,412,587 -
1982 $1,861,163,170 -
1981 $1,808,177,156 -
1980 $1,578,102,105 -

Data sources: World Bank | Economy & Growth (1980–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06).

GeoRank.org/economy/albania/north-korea | CC BY

GDP per capita in Albania vs North Korea by year

Albania
GDP per capita

GDP per capita, PPP
North Korea
GDP per capita

GDP per capita, PPP
1x
Year Current $
Albania North Korea
GDP per capita GDP per capita, PPP GDP per capita GDP per capita, PPP
2024 $11,378 $26,702 $1,319 -
2023 $9,731 $24,822 $1,217 -
2022 $7,757 $22,138 $1,100 -
2021 $7,242 $18,213 $1,231 -
2020 $6,028 $16,288 $1,061 -
2019 $6,069 $16,442 $1,084 -
2018 $5,898 $15,055 $1,100 -
2017 $5,006 $14,111 $1,127 -
2016 $4,458 $13,056 $1,124 -
2015 $4,200 $12,387 $1,201 $1,700
2014 $4,794 $11,788 $1,201 $1,800
2013 $4,543 $10,882 $1,208 -
2012 $4,281 $10,609 $1,186 -
2011 $4,466 $10,273 $1,156 $1,800
2010 $4,149 $9,755 $1,040 -
2009 $4,214 $9,031 $939 $1,800
2008 $4,499 $8,469 - $1,800
2007 $3,743 $7,585 - $1,700
2006 $3,058 $6,753 - $1,800
2005 $2,742 $6,014 - $1,700
2004 $2,447 $5,595 - $1,700
2003 $1,909 $5,169 - $1,300
2002 $1,480 $4,840 - $1,000
2001 $1,326 $4,451 - -
2000 $1,160 $3,978 - $1,000
1999 $1,056 $3,549 - $1,000
1998 $831 $3,086 - -
1997 $729 $2,760 - -
1996 $1,021 $3,054 - -
1995 $911 $2,777 - -
1994 $586 $2,385 - -
1993 $367 $2,143 - -
1992 $200.9 $1,899 - -
1991 $337 $1,989 - -
1990 $617 $2,656 - -
1989 $698 - - -
1988 $653 - - -
1987 $675 - - -
1986 $694 - - -
1985 $640 - - -
1984 $639 - - -
1983 $662 - - -
1982 $668 - - -
1981 $663 - - -
1980 $591 - - -

Data sources: World Bank | Economy & Growth (1980–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06); Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) (1999–2015, retrieved 2026-02-20).

GeoRank.org/economy/albania/north-korea | CC BY

Albania's GDP per capita is $11,378, ranking 82/197, compared to $1,319 in North Korea, ranking 168/197. Adjusted for purchasing power (GDP per capita PPP), Albania ranks 79th at $26,702, while North Korea ranks 193rd at $1,700.

Economic indicators

Albania North Korea
Gross domestic product
$27B
2024
$34.9B
2024
GDP rank
112/197
2024
106/197
2024
GDP growth
4.05%
2023-2024
n/a
GDP per capita
$11,378
2024
$1,319
2024
GDP per capita rank
82/197
2024
168/197
2024
GDP per capita, PPP
$26,702
2024
$1,700
2015
GDP per capita PPP rank
79/197
2024
193/197
2015
Government debt
$15.2B
2024
n/a
Debt-to-GDP ratio
56%
2024
n/a
Government debt per person
$6,375
2024
n/a
Government debt per person rank
72/185
2024
n/a
Average annual personal income after taxes
$9,075
2026
$1,426
2026
Number of billionaires
1
2025
n/a
Income share by richest 10%
22.8%
2020
n/a
Income share by poorest 10%
3.4%
2020
n/a
Government expenditure, % of GDP
28.9%
2024
n/a
Consumer prices inflation
2.2%
2023-2024
n/a
Central bank interest rate
2.5%
2025
n/a
Unemployment rate
10.7%
2023
25.6%
2013
Population
2342753
26659144

Top exports between countries

Albania
Export category Export value
North Korea
Export category Export value
Chemicals & pharma $55K
Machinery & equipment $18K
Textiles & consumer goods $14K

Balance of trade

Albania North Korea
Current account balance
-$648M
2024
n/a
Current account balance ranking
112/190
2024
n/a
Current account balance, % of GDP
-2.4%
2024
n/a
Goods imports
$7.87B
2024
n/a
Goods exports
$1.82B
2024
n/a
Service imports
$3.83B
2024
n/a
Service exports
$8.03B
2024
n/a
Imports of goods and services, % of GDP
43.2%
2024
n/a
Exports of goods and services, % of GDP
36.3%
2024
n/a

Economic freedom indices

The indices of economic freedom below are issued by the Heritage Foundation. Higher scores indicate stronger economic health.

Albania North Korea
Economic freedom 68 3.1
Economic freedom ranking 50/197 197/197
Property rights 57.6 16.3
Government integrity 41.9 4.3
Judicial effectiveness 59.9 6.3
Tax burden 89.3 0
Government spending 74.3 0
Fiscal health 88 0
Business freedom 76.6 5
Labor freedom 46.2 5
Monetary freedom 78.6 0
Trade freedom 83 0
Investment freedom 60 0
Financial freedom 60 0

Economic freedom comparison by year

Albania
North Korea
1x
Year Economic freedom index
Albania North Korea
2026 68 3.1
2025 66.6 3
2024 64.8 2.9
2023 65.3 2.9
2022 66.6 3
2021 65.2 5.2
2020 66.9 4.2
2019 66.5 5.9
2018 64.5 5.8
2017 64.4 4.9
2016 65.9 2.3
2015 65.7 1.3
2014 66.9 1
2013 65.2 1.5
2012 65.1 1
2011 64 1
2010 66 1
2009 63.7 2
2008 62.4 3
2007 61.4 3
2006 60.3 4
2005 57.8 8
2004 58.5 8.9
2003 56.8 8.9
2002 56.8 8.9
2001 56.6 8.9
2000 53.6 8.9
1999 53.4 8.9
1998 53.9 8.9
1997 54.8 8.9
1996 53.8 8.9
1995 49.7 8.9

Data sources: The Heritage Foundation | Economic Freedom Index (1995–2026, retrieved 2026-03-09).

GeoRank.org/economy/albania/north-korea | CC BY

The Economic Freedom Index for Albania is 68, ranking 50/197, compared to 3.1 for North Korea, ranking 197/197. The chart above displays a comparison of annual changes in economic freedom indexes.

Other economic metrics

Albania North Korea
Services, % of GDP
48.7%
2024
n/a
Industry, % of GDP
22.4%
2024
n/a
Agriculture, forestry, and fishing, % of GDP
15.5%
2024
n/a
GNI, Atlas method
$23.6B
2024
n/a
GNI per capita, PPP
$26,500
2024
n/a
Total reserves including gold
$6.52B
2024
n/a
Total reserves ranking
89/177
2024
n/a
Net foreign direct investment
-$1.45B
2024
n/a
Net inflows of foreign direct investment
$1.71B
2024
$203K
1989
Net outflows of foreign direct investment
$261M
2024
$0
2024
Servicing debt to the IMF, % of GNI
3.25%
2024
n/a
Poverty at national poverty lines
19.7%
2022
n/a
Gross capital formation, % of GDP
25%
2024
n/a

GDP per capita map

1x

Data sources: World Bank | Economy & Growth (1985–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06); U.S. Census Bureau (1985–2024, retrieved 2026-02-08).

GeoRank.org/economy/albania/north-korea | CC BY

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Data sources:

  1. World Bank | Economy & Growth (1980–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06)
  2. The Heritage Foundation | Economic Freedom Index (1995–2026, retrieved 2026-03-09)
  3. U.S. Census Bureau (1985–2024, retrieved 2026-02-08)
  4. Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) (1999–2015, retrieved 2026-02-20)
  5. International Monetary Fund (IMF) | Fiscal Monitor (2024, retrieved 2026-02-20)
  6. TradeMap (2024, retrieved 2026-02-08)
  7. United Nations | World Population Prospects (2026, retrieved 2026-03-10)
  8. LivingCost (2026, retrieved 2025-10-14)

Creative Commons Attribution (CC BY) — you’re free to copy, share, remix, adapt, and use even commercially as long as you give appropriate credit and clearly indicate if you made changes. Other sources may be subject to different license terms.

The current account balance is the sum of net trade in goods and services, net earnings from cross-border investments, and net transfer payments. It reflects a country's economic transactions with the rest of the world and is a fundamental component of the balance of payments. A surplus indicates that a country exports more than it imports, while a deficit shows the opposite.

Gross National Income (GNI) measures a country's total income. It encompasses income earned by residents, businesses, and foreign sources, defined as employee compensation and investment profits. GNI adds product taxes not included elsewhere and subtracts subsidies. It accounts for income from residents working abroad but excludes earnings from foreigners within the country.

A negative value for Net Foreign Direct Investment indicates a country is a net receiver of investments, as foreign inflows exceed outflows after Balance of Payments adjustments. A positive value indicates a net provider, with outflows exceeding inflows. Inflows are credits (increasing foreign claims on domestic assets), while outflows are debits (increasing domestic assets abroad).

Foreign direct investment (FDI, net inflows) shows how much capital foreign investors bring into a country after accounting for any funds that flow back in the opposite direction. It represents the net value of overseas companies establishing, expanding, or financing businesses in the reporting country. A positive number means more capital entered the country than was withdrawn, while a negative number means foreign investors pulled out more than they invested.

Foreign direct investment (FDI, net outflows) shows how much capital residents of a country invest abroad after accounting for any funds that flow back in the opposite direction. It represents the net value of domestic companies establishing, expanding, or financing businesses in other countries. A positive number means more capital was invested abroad than withdrawn, while a negative number means residents pulled back more than they invested.

Principal and interest payments to the IMF in currency, goods, or services on long-term debt expressed as a share of GNI.

Formerly gross domestic investment, gross capital formation measures the share of a country’s economic output invested in fixed assets, including buildings, machinery, and infrastructure. It indicates how much of the economy is devoted to building productive capacity.