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Economy of Brazil vs North Korea compared: GDP & Debt

Updated on by Georank team

Brazil has a GDP of $2.19T compared to $34.9B for North Korea, ranking 10/197 and 106/197 by economy size, respectively.

Brazil vs North Korea GDP by year

Brazil
North Korea
1x
Year GDP, current $
Brazil North Korea
2024 $2,185,821,648,944 $34,943,120,000
2023 $2,191,131,869,706 $32,155,360,000
2022 $1,951,923,832,084 $28,971,360,000
2021 $1,670,647,464,063 $32,301,720,000
2020 $1,476,107,292,152 $27,728,240,000
2019 $1,873,288,158,839 $28,222,880,000
2018 $1,916,933,708,353 $28,536,400,000
2017 $2,063,514,688,806 $29,105,440,000
2016 $1,795,693,265,999 $28,882,640,000
2015 $1,802,211,999,456 $30,723,030,000
2014 $2,456,043,766,032 $30,554,460,000
2013 $2,472,819,362,044 $30,588,922,000
2012 $2,465,228,293,707 $29,890,710,000
2011 $2,616,156,606,579 $29,005,020,000
2010 $2,208,838,108,484 $25,995,513,000
2009 $1,666,996,294,252 $23,356,470,000
2008 $1,695,855,391,758 -
2007 $1,397,114,247,189 -
2006 $1,107,626,711,163 -
2005 $891,633,826,625 -
2004 $669,289,321,945 -
2003 $558,233,724,165 -
2002 $509,795,270,685 -
2001 $559,983,704,094 -
2000 $655,448,188,259 -
1999 $599,642,075,004 -
1998 $863,711,007,325 -
1997 $883,206,452,795 -
1996 $850,426,433,004 -
1995 $769,333,330,412 -
1994 $525,369,851,354 -
1993 $368,295,778,245 -
1992 $328,187,960,872 -
1991 $342,609,231,343 -
1990 $390,725,626,003 -
1989 $412,990,820,287 -
1988 $307,881,930,752 -
1987 $283,056,836,894 -
1986 $256,480,852,471 -
1985 $210,879,844,639 -
1984 $188,339,974,087 -
1983 $189,656,506,321 -
1982 $271,314,113,768 -
1981 $258,015,174,749 -
1980 $237,393,489,893 -
1979 $221,338,204,480 -
1978 $200,278,646,124 -
1977 $176,344,101,402 -
1976 $153,168,949,208 -
1975 $129,203,555,239 -
1974 $109,794,519,728 -
1973 $83,592,275,863 -
1972 $58,434,858,375 -
1971 $48,869,830,902 -
1970 $42,327,664,794 -
1969 $37,171,640,819 -
1968 $33,930,457,425 -
1967 $31,086,389,195 -
1966 $28,283,323,733 -
1965 $22,465,522,884 -
1964 $20,963,733,695 -
1963 $23,287,712,878 -
1962 $19,231,747,852 -
1961 $17,275,940,449 -
1960 $17,030,465,539 -

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

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

GDP per capita in Brazil vs North Korea by year

Brazil
GDP per capita

GDP per capita, PPP
North Korea
GDP per capita

GDP per capita, PPP
1x
Year Current $
Brazil North Korea
GDP per capita GDP per capita, PPP GDP per capita GDP per capita, PPP
2024 $10,311 $22,338 $1,319 -
2023 $10,378 $21,176 $1,217 -
2022 $9,281 $19,877 $1,100 -
2021 $7,973 $18,076 $1,231 -
2020 $7,074 $16,102 $1,061 -
2019 $9,030 $16,070 $1,084 -
2018 $9,301 $15,464 $1,100 -
2017 $10,081 $14,559 $1,127 -
2016 $8,836 $14,309 $1,124 -
2015 $8,936 $14,821 $1,201 $1,700
2014 $12,275 $15,827 $1,201 $1,800
2013 $12,459 $15,722 $1,208 -
2012 $12,522 $15,198 $1,186 -
2011 $13,397 $15,212 $1,156 $1,800
2010 $11,403 $14,452 $1,040 -
2009 $8,679 $13,391 $939 $1,800
2008 $8,908 $13,445 - $1,800
2007 $7,410 $12,673 - $1,700
2006 $5,934 $11,751 - $1,800
2005 $4,828 $11,081 - $1,700
2004 $3,664 $10,526 - $1,700
2003 $3,091 $9,802 - $1,300
2002 $2,856 $9,617 - $1,000
2001 $3,176 $9,304 - -
2000 $3,767 $9,092 - $1,000
1999 $3,494 $8,635 - $1,000
1998 $5,106 $8,599 - -
1997 $5,299 $8,602 - -
1996 $5,179 $8,301 - -
1995 $4,757 $8,097 - -
1994 $3,299 $7,727 - -
1993 $2,349 $7,260 - -
1992 $2,127 $6,869 - -
1991 $2,258 $6,867 - -
1990 $2,620 $6,688 - -
1989 $2,819 - - -
1988 $2,141 - - -
1987 $2,006 - - -
1986 $1,854 - - -
1985 $1,556 - - -
1984 $1,420 - - -
1983 $1,461 - - -
1982 $2,138 - - -
1981 $2,080 - - -
1980 $1,959 - - -
1979 $1,870 - - -
1978 $1,733 - - -
1977 $1,562 - - -
1976 $1,390 - - -
1975 $1,201 - - -
1974 $1,045 - - -
1973 $815 - - -
1972 $583 - - -
1971 $500 - - -
1970 $444 - - -
1969 $399 - - -
1968 $374 - - -
1967 $351 - - -
1966 $328 - - -
1965 $268 - - -
1964 $257.3 - - -
1963 $294.2 - - -
1962 $250.2 - - -
1961 $231.6 - - -
1960 $235.3 - - -

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/brazil/north-korea | CC BY

Brazil's GDP per capita is $10,311, ranking 85/197, compared to $1,319 in North Korea, ranking 168/197. Adjusted for purchasing power (GDP per capita PPP), Brazil ranks 88th at $22,338, while North Korea ranks 193rd at $1,700.

Economic indicators

Brazil North Korea
Gross domestic product
$2.19T
2024
$34.9B
2024
GDP rank
10/197
2024
106/197
2024
GDP growth
3.42%
2023-2024
n/a
GDP per capita
$10,311
2024
$1,319
2024
GDP per capita rank
85/197
2024
168/197
2024
GDP per capita, PPP
$22,338
2024
$1,700
2015
GDP per capita PPP rank
88/197
2024
193/197
2015
Government debt
$1.91T
2024
n/a
Debt-to-GDP ratio
87.3%
2024
n/a
Government debt per person
$8,999
2024
n/a
Government debt per person rank
60/185
2024
n/a
Average annual personal income after taxes
$6,263
2026
$1,426
2026
Market capitalization of domestic companies
$659B
2024
n/a
Number of millionaires
433,000
2025
n/a
Number of billionaires
56
2025
n/a
Income share by richest 10%
40.8%
2023
n/a
Income share by poorest 10%
1.3%
2023
n/a
Government expenditure, % of GDP
45.7%
2024
n/a
Consumer prices inflation
4.4%
2023-2024
n/a
Central bank interest rate
15%
2025
n/a
Unemployment rate
6.8%
2024
25.6%
2013
Population
213824938
26659144

Top exports between countries

Brazil
Export category Export value
Raw agricultural goods $99K
Chemicals & pharma $64K
Wood & paper products $23K
Animal & marine products $1K
Machinery & equipment $1K
Processed food, beverages & tobacco $1K
Textiles & consumer goods $1K
North Korea
Export category Export value
Raw materials & minerals $44K

Balance of trade

Brazil North Korea
Current account balance
-$66.2B
2024
n/a
Current account balance ranking
188/190
2024
n/a
Current account balance, % of GDP
-3.03%
2024
n/a
Goods imports
$274B
2024
n/a
Goods exports
$340B
2024
n/a
Service imports
$103B
2024
n/a
Service exports
$48.1B
2024
n/a
Imports of goods and services, % of GDP
17.6%
2024
n/a
Exports of goods and services, % of GDP
17.9%
2024
n/a

Economic freedom indices

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

Brazil North Korea
Economic freedom 52.4 3.1
Economic freedom ranking 148/197 197/197
Property rights 49.2 16.3
Government integrity 37.2 4.3
Judicial effectiveness 55.6 6.3
Tax burden 70.6 0
Government spending 39.8 0
Fiscal health 28 0
Business freedom 65.7 5
Labor freedom 57 5
Monetary freedom 76 0
Trade freedom 69 0
Investment freedom 40 0
Financial freedom 40 0

Economic freedom comparison by year

Brazil
North Korea
1x
Year Economic freedom index
Brazil North Korea
2026 52.4 3.1
2025 55.1 3
2024 53.2 2.9
2023 53.5 2.9
2022 53.3 3
2021 53.4 5.2
2020 53.7 4.2
2019 51.9 5.9
2018 51.4 5.8
2017 52.9 4.9
2016 56.5 2.3
2015 56.6 1.3
2014 56.9 1
2013 57.7 1.5
2012 57.9 1
2011 56.3 1
2010 55.6 1
2009 56.7 2
2008 56.2 3
2007 56.2 3
2006 60.9 4
2005 61.7 8
2004 62 8.9
2003 63.4 8.9
2002 61.5 8.9
2001 61.9 8.9
2000 61.1 8.9
1999 61.3 8.9
1998 52.3 8.9
1997 52.6 8.9
1996 48.1 8.9
1995 51.4 8.9

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

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

The Economic Freedom Index for Brazil is 52.4, ranking 148/197, 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

Brazil North Korea
Services, % of GDP
59.2%
2024
n/a
Industry, % of GDP
20.9%
2024
n/a
Agriculture, forestry, and fishing, % of GDP
5.75%
2024
n/a
GNI, Atlas method
$2.11T
2024
n/a
GNI per capita, PPP
$21,590
2024
n/a
Total reserves including gold
$330B
2024
n/a
Total reserves ranking
11/177
2024
n/a
Net foreign direct investment
-$47.8B
2024
n/a
Net inflows of foreign direct investment
$74.1B
2024
$203K
1989
Net outflows of foreign direct investment
$26.3B
2024
$0
2024
Servicing debt to the IMF, % of GNI
5.4%
2024
n/a
Poverty at national poverty lines
4.2%
2020
n/a
Gross capital formation, % of GDP
17%
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/brazil/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) (1999–2020, retrieved 2026-02-20)
  5. TradeMap (2020–2024, 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.