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Economy of Argentina vs North Korea compared: GDP & Debt

Updated on by Georank team

Argentina has a GDP of $638B compared to $34.9B for North Korea, ranking 24/197 and 106/197 by economy size, respectively.

Argentina vs North Korea GDP by year

Argentina
North Korea
1x
Year GDP, current $
Argentina North Korea
2024 $638,365,455,340 $34,943,120,000
2023 $649,461,687,959 $32,155,360,000
2022 $633,993,756,301 $28,971,360,000
2021 $486,564,085,480 $32,301,720,000
2020 $385,740,508,437 $27,728,240,000
2019 $447,754,683,615 $28,222,880,000
2018 $524,819,892,360 $28,536,400,000
2017 $643,628,393,281 $29,105,440,000
2016 $557,532,320,663 $28,882,640,000
2015 $594,749,285,413 $30,723,030,000
2014 $526,319,673,732 $30,554,460,000
2013 $552,025,140,252 $30,588,922,000
2012 $545,982,375,701 $29,890,710,000
2011 $530,158,122,010 $29,005,020,000
2010 $423,627,422,092 $25,995,513,000
2009 $332,976,484,578 $23,356,470,000
2008 $361,558,037,110 -
2007 $287,530,508,431 -
2006 $232,557,260,817 -
2005 $198,737,095,012 -
2004 $164,657,930,453 -
2003 $127,586,973,492 -
2002 $97,724,004,252 -
2001 $268,696,750,000 -
2000 $284,203,750,000 -
1999 $283,523,000,000 -
1998 $298,948,250,000 -
1997 $292,859,000,000 -
1996 $272,149,750,000 -
1995 $258,031,750,000 -
1994 $257,440,000,000 -
1993 $236,741,715,015 -
1992 $228,778,917,308 -
1991 $189,719,984,268 -
1990 $141,352,654,305 -
1989 $76,629,728,760 -
1988 $126,890,235,049 -
1987 $108,810,885,301 -
1986 $105,872,372,614 -
1985 $88,150,891,728 -
1984 $116,915,052,107 -
1983 $103,979,106,778 -
1982 $84,307,486,837 -
1981 $78,676,842,367 -
1980 $76,961,923,741 -
1979 $69,252,328,952 -
1978 $89,049,453,088 -
1977 $56,781,000,101 -
1976 $51,169,499,892 -
1975 $52,438,647,922 -
1974 $72,436,777,342 -
1973 $52,544,000,117 -
1972 $34,733,000,536 -
1971 $33,293,199,095 -
1970 $31,584,210,366 -
1969 $31,256,284,544 -
1968 $26,436,857,247 -
1967 $24,256,667,553 -
1966 $28,630,474,728 -
1965 $28,344,705,967 -
1964 $25,605,249,382 -
1963 $18,272,123,664 -
1962 $18,337,691,145 -
1961 $20,132,220,375 -
1960 $15,865,474,315 -

Data sources: World Bank | Economy & Growth (1960–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06).

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

GDP per capita in Argentina vs North Korea by year

Argentina
GDP per capita

GDP per capita, PPP
North Korea
GDP per capita

GDP per capita, PPP
1x
Year Current $
Argentina North Korea
GDP per capita GDP per capita, PPP GDP per capita GDP per capita, PPP
2024 $13,970 $30,431 $1,319 -
2023 $14,262 $30,221 $1,217 -
2022 $13,962 $29,809 $1,100 -
2021 $10,738 $26,300 $1,231 -
2020 $8,536 $22,393 $1,061 -
2019 $9,956 $23,517 $1,084 -
2018 $11,753 $24,410 $1,100 -
2017 $14,533 $23,385 $1,127 -
2016 $12,700 $20,106 $1,124 -
2015 $13,680 $19,899 $1,201 $1,700
2014 $12,233 $19,487 $1,201 $1,800
2013 $12,964 $19,929 $1,208 -
2012 $12,950 $19,430 $1,186 -
2011 $12,704 $19,105 $1,156 $1,800
2010 $10,260 $17,848 $1,040 -
2009 $8,150 $16,182 $939 $1,800
2008 $8,944 $17,277 - $1,800
2007 $7,185 $16,455 - $1,700
2006 $5,869 $14,844 - $1,800
2005 $5,068 $13,465 - $1,700
2004 $4,242 $12,118 - $1,700
2003 $3,320 $10,933 - $1,300
2002 $2,570 $9,953 - $1,000
2001 $7,141 $11,118 - -
2000 $7,637 $11,500 - $1,000
1999 $7,706 $11,464 - $1,000
1998 $8,219 $11,836 - -
1997 $8,147 $11,403 - -
1996 $7,663 $10,496 - -
1995 $7,358 $9,891 - -
1994 $7,438 $10,103 - -
1993 $6,932 $9,472 - -
1992 $6,790 $8,668 - -
1991 $5,709 $7,961 - -
1990 $4,315 $7,158 - -
1989 $2,375 - - -
1988 $3,993 - - -
1987 $3,477 - - -
1986 $3,436 - - -
1985 $2,906 - - -
1984 $3,915 - - -
1983 $3,538 - - -
1982 $2,915 - - -
1981 $2,764 - - -
1980 $2,748 - - -
1979 $2,512 - - -
1978 $3,282 - - -
1977 $2,126 - - -
1976 $1,947 - - -
1975 $2,027 - - -
1974 $2,845 - - -
1973 $2,098 - - -
1972 $1,409 - - -
1971 $1,373 - - -
1970 $1,323 - - -
1969 $1,330 - - -
1968 $1,142 - - -
1967 $1,064 - - -
1966 $1,275 - - -
1965 $1,282 - - -
1964 $1,176 - - -
1963 $853 - - -
1962 $870 - - -
1961 $971 - - -
1960 $778 - - -

Data sources: World Bank | Economy & Growth (1960–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06); Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) (1999–2015, retrieved 2026-02-20).

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

Argentina's GDP per capita is $13,970, ranking 72/197, compared to $1,319 in North Korea, ranking 168/197. Adjusted for purchasing power (GDP per capita PPP), Argentina ranks 73rd at $30,431, while North Korea ranks 193rd at $1,700.

Economic indicators

Argentina North Korea
Gross domestic product
$638B
2024
$34.9B
2024
GDP rank
24/197
2024
106/197
2024
GDP growth
-1.34%
2023-2024
n/a
GDP per capita
$13,970
2024
$1,319
2024
GDP per capita rank
72/197
2024
168/197
2024
GDP per capita, PPP
$30,431
2024
$1,700
2015
GDP per capita PPP rank
73/197
2024
193/197
2015
Government debt
$540B
2024
n/a
Debt-to-GDP ratio
84.7%
2024
n/a
Government debt per person
$11,826
2024
n/a
Government debt per person rank
46/185
2024
n/a
Average annual personal income after taxes
$8,743
2026
$1,426
2026
Market capitalization of domestic companies
$52.9B
2022
n/a
Number of billionaires
5
2025
n/a
Income share by richest 10%
31.2%
2024
n/a
Income share by poorest 10%
1.9%
2024
n/a
Government expenditure, % of GDP
31%
2024
n/a
Consumer prices inflation
219.9%
2023-2024
n/a
Central bank interest rate
29%
2025
n/a
Unemployment rate
1.69%
2024
25.6%
2013
Population
46048053
26659144

Balance of trade

Argentina North Korea
Current account balance
$5.7B
2024
n/a
Current account balance ranking
32/190
2024
n/a
Current account balance, % of GDP
+0.89%
2024
n/a
Goods imports
$57.4B
2024
n/a
Goods exports
$79.8B
2024
n/a
Service imports
$22.9B
2024
n/a
Service exports
$17.2B
2024
n/a
Imports of goods and services, % of GDP
12.7%
2024
n/a
Exports of goods and services, % of GDP
15.2%
2024
n/a

Economic freedom indices

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

Argentina North Korea
Economic freedom 57.4 3.1
Economic freedom ranking 117/197 197/197
Property rights 41.2 16.3
Government integrity 41.2 4.3
Judicial effectiveness 58.2 6.3
Tax burden 67.8 0
Government spending 62.3 0
Fiscal health 72.2 0
Business freedom 56.8 5
Labor freedom 53.5 5
Monetary freedom 28.9 0
Trade freedom 67.4 0
Investment freedom 70 0
Financial freedom 70 0

Economic freedom comparison by year

Argentina
North Korea
1x
Year Economic freedom index
Argentina North Korea
2026 57.4 3.1
2025 54.2 3
2024 49.9 2.9
2023 51 2.9
2022 50.1 3
2021 52.7 5.2
2020 53.1 4.2
2019 52.2 5.9
2018 52.3 5.8
2017 50.4 4.9
2016 43.8 2.3
2015 44.1 1.3
2014 44.6 1
2013 46.7 1.5
2012 48 1
2011 51.7 1
2010 51.2 1
2009 52.3 2
2008 54.2 3
2007 54 3
2006 53.4 4
2005 51.7 8
2004 53.9 8.9
2003 56.3 8.9
2002 65.7 8.9
2001 68.6 8.9
2000 70 8.9
1999 70.6 8.9
1998 70.9 8.9
1997 73.3 8.9
1996 74.7 8.9
1995 68 8.9

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

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

The Economic Freedom Index for Argentina is 57.4, ranking 117/197, 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

Argentina North Korea
Services, % of GDP
53.7%
2024
n/a
Industry, % of GDP
24%
2024
n/a
Agriculture, forestry, and fishing, % of GDP
5.81%
2024
n/a
GNI, Atlas method
$618B
2024
n/a
GNI per capita, PPP
$29,800
2024
n/a
Total reserves including gold
$29.6B
2024
n/a
Total reserves ranking
56/177
2024
n/a
Net foreign direct investment
-$8.89B
2024
n/a
Net inflows of foreign direct investment
$11.6B
2024
$203K
1989
Net outflows of foreign direct investment
$2.76B
2024
$0
2024
Servicing debt to the IMF, % of GNI
6.32%
2024
n/a
Poverty at national poverty lines
38.1%
2024
n/a
Gross capital formation, % of GDP
15.8%
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/argentina/north-korea | CC BY

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Data sources:

  1. World Bank | Economy & Growth (1960–2024, 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. United Nations | World Population Prospects (2026, retrieved 2026-03-10)
  7. 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.