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Economy of Bhutan vs North Korea compared: GDP & Debt

Updated on by Georank team

Bhutan has a GDP of $3.01B compared to $34.9B for North Korea, ranking 170/197 and 106/197 by economy size, respectively.

Bhutan vs North Korea GDP by year

Bhutan
North Korea
1x
Year GDP, current $
Bhutan North Korea
2024 - $34,943,120,000
2023 $3,012,896,789 $32,155,360,000
2022 $2,898,227,744 $28,971,360,000
2021 $2,768,802,960 $32,301,720,000
2020 $2,457,604,334 $27,728,240,000
2019 $2,735,683,570 $28,222,880,000
2018 $2,583,335,722 $28,536,400,000
2017 $2,591,358,009 $29,105,440,000
2016 $2,357,504,761 $28,882,640,000
2015 $2,187,815,803 $30,723,030,000
2014 $2,089,079,571 $30,554,460,000
2013 $1,943,696,952 $30,588,922,000
2012 $1,973,387,228 $29,890,710,000
2011 $1,977,728,659 $29,005,020,000
2010 $1,708,880,730 $25,995,513,000
2009 $1,331,343,798 $23,356,470,000
2008 $1,317,517,835 -
2007 $1,255,767,964 -
2006 $942,879,879 -
2005 $860,391,000 -
2004 $735,348,490 -
2003 $651,935,430 -
2002 $559,345,264 -
2001 $496,110,226 -
2000 $460,733,418 -
1999 $399,311,200 -
1998 $363,458,381 -
1997 $352,229,077 -
1996 $303,408,346 -
1995 $290,490,984 -
1994 $258,954,708 -
1993 $225,973,693 -
1992 $240,233,531 -
1991 $240,294,286 -
1990 $287,765,007 -
1989 $264,798,626 -
1988 $272,298,067 -
1987 $242,742,766 -
1986 $191,218,115 -
1985 $163,288,815 -
1984 $160,423,494 -
1983 $156,704,290 -
1982 $141,439,317 -
1981 $139,174,178 -
1980 $128,669,201 -
1979 $105,377,995 -
1978 $94,086,228 -
1977 $97,884,434 -
1976 $88,461,263 -
1975 $86,820,762 -
1974 $92,901,784 -
1973 $78,900,289 -
1972 $70,139,867 -
1971 $66,289,450 -
1970 $61,812,113 -

Data sources: World Bank | Economy & Growth (1970–2023, retrieved 2026-04-06).

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

GDP per capita in Bhutan vs North Korea by year

Bhutan
GDP per capita

GDP per capita, PPP
North Korea
GDP per capita

GDP per capita, PPP
1x
Year Current $
Bhutan North Korea
GDP per capita GDP per capita, PPP GDP per capita GDP per capita, PPP
2024 - - $1,319 -
2023 $3,831 $16,215 $1,217 -
2022 $3,711 $15,064 $1,100 -
2021 $3,571 $13,459 $1,231 -
2020 $3,192 $12,475 $1,061 -
2019 $3,577 $12,909 $1,084 -
2018 $3,400 $11,970 $1,100 -
2017 $3,435 $11,677 $1,127 -
2016 $3,152 $11,273 $1,124 -
2015 $2,954 $10,214 $1,201 $1,700
2014 $2,849 $9,323 $1,201 $1,800
2013 $2,680 $8,667 $1,208 -
2012 $2,751 $8,577 $1,186 -
2011 $2,788 $7,935 $1,156 $1,800
2010 $2,436 $7,246 $1,040 -
2009 $1,918 $6,466 $939 $1,800
2008 $1,920 $6,035 - $1,800
2007 $1,850 $5,729 - $1,700
2006 $1,406 $4,860 - $1,800
2005 $1,300 $4,523 - $1,700
2004 $1,130 $4,173 - $1,700
2003 $1,022 $3,942 - $1,300
2002 $896 $3,663 - $1,000
2001 $812 $3,338 - -
2000 $772 $3,113 - $1,000
1999 $685 $3,017 - $1,000
1998 $638 $2,819 - -
1997 $630 $2,683 - -
1996 $553 $2,548 - -
1995 $530 $2,374 - -
1994 $467 $2,146 - -
1993 $407 $2,001 - -
1992 $416 $1,840 - -
1991 $401 $1,657 - -
1990 $488 $1,638 - -
1989 $462 - - -
1988 $489 - - -
1987 $449 - - -
1986 $365 - - -
1985 $321 - - -
1984 $326 - - -
1983 $328 - - -
1982 $306 - - -
1981 $311 - - -
1980 $296.9 - - -
1979 $251.4 - - -
1978 $232.2 - - -
1977 $249.9 - - -
1976 $233.7 - - -
1975 $237.4 - - -
1974 $262.8 - - -
1973 $230.9 - - -
1972 $212.4 - - -
1971 $207.7 - - -
1970 $200.3 - - -

Data sources: World Bank | Economy & Growth (1970–2023, retrieved 2026-04-06); Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) (1999–2015, retrieved 2026-02-20).

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

Bhutan's GDP per capita is $3,831, ranking 132/197, compared to $1,319 in North Korea, ranking 168/197. Adjusted for purchasing power (GDP per capita PPP), Bhutan ranks 109th at $16,215, while North Korea ranks 193rd at $1,700.

Economic indicators

Bhutan North Korea
Gross domestic product
$3.01B
2023
$34.9B
2024
GDP rank
170/197
2023
106/197
2024
GDP growth
4.63%
2022-2023
n/a
GDP per capita
$3,831
2023
$1,319
2024
GDP per capita rank
132/197
2023
168/197
2024
GDP per capita, PPP
$16,215
2023
$1,700
2015
GDP per capita PPP rank
109/197
2023
193/197
2015
Government debt
$3.53B
2023
n/a
Debt-to-GDP ratio
110.4%
2024
n/a
Government debt per person
$4,485
2023
n/a
Government debt per person rank
87/185
2023
n/a
Average annual personal income after taxes
$5,506
2026
$1,426
2026
Income share by richest 10%
22.7%
2022
n/a
Income share by poorest 10%
3.6%
2022
n/a
Government expenditure, % of GDP
27.1%
2024
n/a
Consumer prices inflation
4.3%
2023-2024
n/a
Unemployment rate
3.28%
2024
25.6%
2013
Population
803385
26659144

Balance of trade

Bhutan North Korea
Current account balance
-$670M
2024
n/a
Current account balance ranking
114/190
2024
n/a
Current account balance, % of GDP
-32%
2023
n/a
Goods imports
$1.29B
2024
n/a
Goods exports
$656M
2024
n/a
Service imports
$228M
2024
n/a
Service exports
$288M
2024
n/a
Imports of goods and services, % of GDP
53.3%
2023
n/a
Exports of goods and services, % of GDP
28.4%
2023
n/a

Economic freedom indices

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

Bhutan North Korea
Economic freedom 57.5 3.1
Economic freedom ranking 115/197 197/197
Property rights 69.2 16.3
Government integrity 72.2 4.3
Judicial effectiveness 61.8 6.3
Tax burden 83.4 0
Government spending 74.1 0
Fiscal health 25.8 0
Business freedom 67.8 5
Labor freedom 60.1 5
Monetary freedom 71.6 0
Trade freedom 63.4 0
Investment freedom 20 0
Financial freedom 20 0

Economic freedom comparison by year

Bhutan
North Korea
1x
Year Economic freedom index
Bhutan North Korea
2026 57.5 3.1
2025 57.5 3
2024 55.4 2.9
2023 59 2.9
2022 59.3 3
2021 58.3 5.2
2020 62.1 4.2
2019 62.9 5.9
2018 61.8 5.8
2017 58.4 4.9
2016 59.5 2.3
2015 57.4 1.3
2014 56.7 1
2013 55 1.5
2012 56.6 1
2011 57.6 1
2010 57 1
2009 57.7 2
2008 - 3
2007 - 3
2006 - 4
2005 - 8
2004 - 8.9
2003 - 8.9
2002 - 8.9
2001 - 8.9
2000 - 8.9
1999 - 8.9
1998 - 8.9
1997 - 8.9
1996 - 8.9
1995 - 8.9

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

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

The Economic Freedom Index for Bhutan is 57.5, ranking 115/197, 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

Bhutan North Korea
Services, % of GDP
52.8%
2023
n/a
Industry, % of GDP
29.4%
2023
n/a
Agriculture, forestry, and fishing, % of GDP
15%
2023
n/a
GNI, Atlas method
$2.93B
2023
n/a
GNI per capita, PPP
$15,320
2023
n/a
Total reserves including gold
$941M
2024
n/a
Total reserves ranking
143/177
2024
n/a
Net foreign direct investment
-$22.8M
2024
n/a
Net inflows of foreign direct investment
$2.82M
2024
$203K
1989
Net outflows of foreign direct investment
$0
2024
$0
2024
Servicing debt to the IMF, % of GNI
4.96%
2023
n/a
Poverty at national poverty lines
12.4%
2022
n/a
Gross capital formation, % of GDP
45.3%
2023
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/bhutan/north-korea | CC BY

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Data sources:

  1. World Bank | Economy & Growth (1970–2024, 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 (2023–2024, 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.