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Economy of Bangladesh vs North Korea compared: GDP & Debt

Updated on by Georank team

Bangladesh has a GDP of $450B compared to $34.9B for North Korea, ranking 36/197 and 106/197 by economy size, respectively.

Bangladesh vs North Korea GDP by year

Bangladesh
North Korea
1x
Year GDP, current $
Bangladesh North Korea
2024 $450,119,432,069 $34,943,120,000
2023 $437,415,333,018 $32,155,360,000
2022 $460,131,689,083 $28,971,360,000
2021 $416,271,647,911 $32,301,720,000
2020 $373,979,442,362 $27,728,240,000
2019 $351,231,654,604 $28,222,880,000
2018 $321,362,752,442 $28,536,400,000
2017 $293,732,446,625 $29,105,440,000
2016 $265,224,515,675 $28,882,640,000
2015 $195,146,608,978 $30,723,030,000
2014 $172,886,611,654 $30,554,460,000
2013 $149,998,957,434 $30,588,922,000
2012 $133,310,747,603 $29,890,710,000
2011 $128,607,482,310 $29,005,020,000
2010 $115,275,540,051 $25,995,513,000
2009 $102,475,158,191 $23,356,470,000
2008 $91,636,997,371 -
2007 $79,611,644,975 -
2006 $71,795,736,172 -
2005 $69,476,001,239 -
2004 $65,108,544,250 -
2003 $60,158,929,188 -
2002 $54,724,081,491 -
2001 $53,991,289,844 -
2000 $53,369,787,319 -
1999 $51,270,569,884 -
1998 $49,984,559,471 -
1997 $48,244,309,133 -
1996 $46,438,484,108 -
1995 $37,939,748,769 -
1994 $33,768,660,883 -
1993 $33,166,519,418 -
1992 $31,708,874,594 -
1991 $30,957,483,950 -
1990 $31,598,340,778 -
1989 $28,781,715,189 -
1988 $26,579,005,558 -
1987 $24,298,032,258 -
1986 $21,774,033,333 -
1985 $22,278,423,077 -
1984 $18,920,840,000 -
1983 $17,609,048,822 -
1982 $18,525,399,202 -
1981 $20,249,694,002 -
1980 $18,138,049,096 -
1979 $15,565,480,322 -
1978 $13,281,767,143 -
1977 $9,651,149,302 -
1976 $10,117,113,333 -
1975 $19,448,348,073 -
1974 $12,512,460,520 -
1973 $8,086,725,729 -
1972 $6,288,245,867 -
1971 $8,751,843,188 -
1970 $8,992,722,167 -
1969 $8,471,006,438 -
1968 $7,483,685,771 -
1967 $7,253,575,688 -
1966 $6,439,687,854 -
1965 $5,906,636,792 -
1964 $5,386,054,833 -
1963 $5,319,458,563 -
1962 $5,081,413,542 -
1961 $4,817,580,375 -
1960 $4,274,894,083 -

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

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

GDP per capita in Bangladesh vs North Korea by year

Bangladesh
GDP per capita

GDP per capita, PPP
North Korea
GDP per capita

GDP per capita, PPP
1x
Year Current $
Bangladesh North Korea
GDP per capita GDP per capita, PPP GDP per capita GDP per capita, PPP
2024 $2,593 $9,647 $1,319 -
2023 $2,551 $9,148 $1,217 -
2022 $2,716 $8,451 $1,100 -
2021 $2,483 $7,441 $1,231 -
2020 $2,249 $6,641 $1,061 -
2019 $2,130 $6,047 $1,084 -
2018 $1,965 $5,490 $1,100 -
2017 $1,811 $4,883 $1,127 -
2016 $1,649 $4,579 $1,124 -
2015 $1,224 $4,212 $1,201 $1,700
2014 $1,094 $3,973 $1,201 $1,800
2013 $958 $3,691 $1,208 -
2012 $860 $3,434 $1,186 -
2011 $837 $3,051 $1,156 $1,800
2010 $757 $2,834 $1,040 -
2009 $679 $2,675 $939 $1,800
2008 $613 $2,555 - $1,800
2007 $538 $2,388 - $1,700
2006 $490 $2,195 - $1,800
2005 $480 $2,020 - $1,700
2004 $456 $1,862 - $1,700
2003 $427 $1,746 - $1,300
2002 $394 $1,659 - $1,000
2001 $395 $1,598 - -
2000 $397 $1,512 - $1,000
1999 $388 $1,430 - $1,000
1998 $386 $1,373 - -
1997 $379 $1,315 - -
1996 $372 $1,261 - -
1995 $309 $1,206 - -
1994 $280.6 $1,145 - -
1993 $280.8 $1,099 - -
1992 $273.5 $1,045 - -
1991 $272.1 $987 - -
1990 $283.1 $941 - -
1989 $263 - - -
1988 $247.9 - - -
1987 $231.5 - - -
1986 $212.1 - - -
1985 $222.2 - - -
1984 $193.4 - - -
1983 $184.7 - - -
1982 $199.6 - - -
1981 $224.2 - - -
1980 $206.1 - - -
1979 $181.1 - - -
1978 $158.3 - - -
1977 $117.9 - - -
1976 $126.7 - - -
1975 $249.8 - - -
1974 $165 - - -
1973 $109.7 - - -
1972 $87.8 - - -
1971 $124.5 - - -
1970 $130.2 - - -
1969 $125.9 - - -
1968 $114.4 - - -
1967 $114.2 - - -
1966 $104.4 - - -
1965 $98.6 - - -
1964 $92.6 - - -
1963 $94.1 - - -
1962 $92.6 - - -
1961 $90.4 - - -
1960 $82.5 - - -

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/bangladesh/north-korea | CC BY

Bangladesh's GDP per capita is $2,593, ranking 146/197, compared to $1,319 in North Korea, ranking 168/197. Adjusted for purchasing power (GDP per capita PPP), Bangladesh ranks 135th at $9,647, while North Korea ranks 193rd at $1,700.

Economic indicators

Bangladesh North Korea
Gross domestic product
$450B
2024
$34.9B
2024
GDP rank
36/197
2024
106/197
2024
GDP growth
4.22%
2023-2024
n/a
GDP per capita
$2,593
2024
$1,319
2024
GDP per capita rank
146/197
2024
168/197
2024
GDP per capita, PPP
$9,647
2024
$1,700
2015
GDP per capita PPP rank
135/197
2024
193/197
2015
Government debt
$184B
2024
n/a
Debt-to-GDP ratio
41%
2024
n/a
Government debt per person
$1,063
2024
n/a
Government debt per person rank
139/185
2024
n/a
Average annual personal income after taxes
$2,222
2026
$1,426
2026
Market capitalization of domestic companies
$87.9B
2024
n/a
Income share by richest 10%
25.5%
2022
n/a
Income share by poorest 10%
3.7%
2022
n/a
Government expenditure, % of GDP
12%
2024
n/a
Consumer prices inflation
9.7%
2023-2024
n/a
Central bank interest rate
10%
2024
n/a
Unemployment rate
3.64%
2024
25.6%
2013
Population
178415186
26659144

Top exports between countries

Bangladesh
Export category Export value
Textiles & consumer goods $66K
Chemicals & pharma $61K
Metals $15K
North Korea
Export category Export value
Machinery & equipment $328K
Textiles & consumer goods $322K
Chemicals & pharma $321K
Metals $113K
Raw materials & minerals $62K
Raw agricultural goods $21K

Balance of trade

Bangladesh North Korea
Current account balance
$1.43B
2024
n/a
Current account balance ranking
52/190
2024
n/a
Current account balance, % of GDP
+0.32%
2024
n/a
Goods imports
$63.8B
2024
n/a
Goods exports
$47.3B
2024
n/a
Service imports
$12.3B
2024
n/a
Service exports
$7.47B
2024
n/a
Imports of goods and services, % of GDP
16.3%
2024
n/a
Exports of goods and services, % of GDP
10.5%
2024
n/a

Economic freedom indices

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

Bangladesh North Korea
Economic freedom 54.8 3.1
Economic freedom ranking 131/197 197/197
Property rights 32.1 16.3
Government integrity 22.7 4.3
Judicial effectiveness 36.7 6.3
Tax burden 79.9 0
Government spending 95.3 0
Fiscal health 68.4 0
Business freedom 52.7 5
Labor freedom 50.5 5
Monetary freedom 65.8 0
Trade freedom 63 0
Investment freedom 50 0
Financial freedom 40 0

Economic freedom comparison by year

Bangladesh
North Korea
1x
Year Economic freedom index
Bangladesh North Korea
2026 54.8 3.1
2025 54.7 3
2024 54.4 2.9
2023 54.4 2.9
2022 52.7 3
2021 56.5 5.2
2020 56.4 4.2
2019 55.6 5.9
2018 55.1 5.8
2017 55 4.9
2016 53.3 2.3
2015 53.9 1.3
2014 54.1 1
2013 52.6 1.5
2012 53.2 1
2011 53 1
2010 51.1 1
2009 47.5 2
2008 44.2 3
2007 46.7 3
2006 52.9 4
2005 47.5 8
2004 50 8.9
2003 49.3 8.9
2002 51.9 8.9
2001 51.2 8.9
2000 48.9 8.9
1999 50 8.9
1998 52 8.9
1997 49.9 8.9
1996 51.1 8.9
1995 40.9 8.9

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

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

The Economic Freedom Index for Bangladesh is 54.8, ranking 131/197, 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

Bangladesh North Korea
Services, % of GDP
51.4%
2024
n/a
Industry, % of GDP
34.1%
2024
n/a
Agriculture, forestry, and fishing, % of GDP
11.2%
2024
n/a
GNI, Atlas method
$490B
2024
n/a
GNI per capita, PPP
$10,060
2024
n/a
Total reserves including gold
$21.4B
2024
n/a
Total reserves ranking
61/177
2024
n/a
Net foreign direct investment
-$1.49B
2024
n/a
Net inflows of foreign direct investment
$1.31B
2024
$203K
1989
Net outflows of foreign direct investment
$34.1M
2024
$0
2024
Servicing debt to the IMF, % of GNI
1.83%
2024
n/a
Poverty at national poverty lines
18.7%
2022
n/a
Gross capital formation, % of GDP
30.7%
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/bangladesh/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. TradeMap (2015, retrieved 2026-02-08)
  6. International Monetary Fund (IMF) | Fiscal Monitor (2024, retrieved 2026-02-20)
  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.