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Economy of Burkina Faso vs North Korea compared: GDP & Debt

Updated on by Georank team

Burkina Faso has a GDP of $23.1B compared to $34.9B for North Korea, ranking 122/197 and 106/197 by economy size, respectively.

Burkina Faso vs North Korea GDP by year

Burkina Faso
North Korea
1x
Year GDP, current $
Burkina Faso North Korea
2024 $23,124,729,853 $34,943,120,000
2023 $20,112,614,449 $32,155,360,000
2022 $18,622,421,395 $28,971,360,000
2021 $19,697,516,284 $32,301,720,000
2020 $17,725,010,533 $27,728,240,000
2019 $16,032,813,503 $28,222,880,000
2018 $15,890,066,221 $28,536,400,000
2017 $14,106,955,615 $29,105,440,000
2016 $12,833,363,045 $28,882,640,000
2015 $11,832,159,316 $30,723,030,000
2014 $13,943,016,077 $30,554,460,000
2013 $13,444,300,486 $30,588,922,000
2012 $12,561,015,157 $29,890,710,000
2011 $12,080,295,978 $29,005,020,000
2010 $10,109,619,741 $25,995,513,000
2009 $9,450,696,873 $23,356,470,000
2008 $9,451,435,490 -
2007 $7,625,722,837 -
2006 $6,547,419,820 -
2005 $6,146,353,173 -
2004 $5,451,688,538 -
2003 $4,740,768,143 -
2002 $3,622,350,063 -
2001 $3,190,371,081 -
2000 $2,968,370,088 -
1999 $3,389,566,713 -
1998 $2,804,902,367 -
1997 $2,447,669,102 -
1996 $2,586,550,595 -
1995 $2,379,517,975 -
1994 $1,895,290,637 -
1993 $3,199,536,465 -
1992 $3,356,692,505 -
1991 $3,135,045,584 -
1990 $3,101,300,779 -
1989 $2,615,587,734 -
1988 $2,616,040,479 -
1987 $2,369,834,950 -
1986 $2,036,303,358 -
1985 $1,552,493,196 -
1984 $1,459,880,132 -
1983 $1,600,278,605 -
1982 $1,754,450,096 -
1981 $1,775,842,334 -
1980 $1,928,719,888 -
1979 $1,748,480,621 -
1978 $1,475,583,645 -
1977 $1,131,224,878 -
1976 $976,547,188 -
1975 $939,972,703 -
1974 $751,133,430 -
1973 $674,773,570 -
1972 $578,595,522 -
1971 $482,411,179 -
1970 $458,404,269 -
1969 $478,298,645 -
1968 $460,442,689 -
1967 $450,753,924 -
1966 $433,889,766 -
1965 $422,916,790 -
1964 $410,321,645 -
1963 $394,040,667 -
1962 $379,567,099 -
1961 $350,247,234 -
1960 $330,442,816 -

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

GeoRank.org/economy/burkina-faso/north-korea | CC BY

GDP per capita in Burkina Faso vs North Korea by year

Burkina Faso
GDP per capita

GDP per capita, PPP
North Korea
GDP per capita

GDP per capita, PPP
1x
Year Current $
Burkina Faso North Korea
GDP per capita GDP per capita, PPP GDP per capita GDP per capita, PPP
2024 $982 $2,896 $1,319 -
2023 $873 $2,759 $1,217 -
2022 $827 $2,645 $1,100 -
2021 $896 $2,486 $1,231 -
2020 $825 $2,381 $1,061 -
2019 $765 $2,232 $1,084 -
2018 $777 $2,073 $1,100 -
2017 $709 $2,042 $1,127 -
2016 $664 $1,882 $1,124 -
2015 $630 $1,692 $1,201 $1,700
2014 $765 $1,661 $1,201 $1,800
2013 $760 $1,643 $1,208 -
2012 $731 $1,572 $1,186 -
2011 $725 $1,531 $1,156 $1,800
2010 $625 $1,449 $1,040 -
2009 $602 $1,360 $939 $1,800
2008 $619 $1,351 - $1,800
2007 $515 $1,290 - $1,700
2006 $456 $1,244 - $1,800
2005 $441 $1,172 - $1,700
2004 $404 $1,079 - $1,700
2003 $362 $1,038 - $1,300
2002 $285.7 $974 - $1,000
2001 $259.5 $948 - -
2000 $248.9 $896 - $1,000
1999 $292.8 $886 - $1,000
1998 $249.5 $838 - -
1997 $223.9 $794 - -
1996 $242.7 $753 - -
1995 $229.1 $684 - -
1994 $187.2 $650 - -
1993 $324 $644 - -
1992 $349 $623 - -
1991 $334 $623 - -
1990 $339 $567 - -
1989 $293.2 - - -
1988 $301 - - -
1987 $280.2 - - -
1986 $247.5 - - -
1985 $194.1 - - -
1984 $187.8 - - -
1983 $211.9 - - -
1982 $239 - - -
1981 $248.7 - - -
1980 $277.6 - - -
1979 $258.5 - - -
1978 $223.9 - - -
1977 $176 - - -
1976 $155.5 - - -
1975 $152.9 - - -
1974 $124.7 - - -
1973 $114.1 - - -
1972 $99.6 - - -
1971 $84.5 - - -
1970 $81.7 - - -
1969 $86.8 - - -
1968 $85 - - -
1967 $84.6 - - -
1966 $82.8 - - -
1965 $82.1 - - -
1964 $80.9 - - -
1963 $78.9 - - -
1962 $77.2 - - -
1961 $72.2 - - -
1960 $69.2 - - -

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/burkina-faso/north-korea | CC BY

Burkina Faso's GDP per capita is $982, ranking 180/197, compared to $1,319 in North Korea, ranking 168/197. Adjusted for purchasing power (GDP per capita PPP), Burkina Faso ranks 181st at $2,896, while North Korea ranks 193rd at $1,700.

Economic indicators

Burkina Faso North Korea
Gross domestic product
$23.1B
2024
$34.9B
2024
GDP rank
122/197
2024
106/197
2024
GDP growth
4.8%
2023-2024
n/a
GDP per capita
$982
2024
$1,319
2024
GDP per capita rank
180/197
2024
168/197
2024
GDP per capita, PPP
$2,896
2024
$1,700
2015
GDP per capita PPP rank
181/197
2024
193/197
2015
Government debt
$13.2B
2024
n/a
Debt-to-GDP ratio
57.2%
2024
n/a
Government debt per person
$562
2024
n/a
Government debt per person rank
162/185
2024
n/a
Average annual personal income after taxes
$2,710
2026
$1,426
2026
Income share by richest 10%
30.2%
2021
n/a
Income share by poorest 10%
3%
2021
n/a
Government expenditure, % of GDP
27.8%
2024
n/a
Consumer prices inflation
4.19%
2023-2024
n/a
Unemployment rate
3.44%
2024
25.6%
2013
Population
24756783
26659144

Top exports between countries

Burkina Faso
Export category Export value
Raw agricultural goods $70K
Raw materials & minerals $11K
North Korea
Export category Export value
Chemicals & pharma $1.78M
Machinery & equipment $532K
Raw materials & minerals $1K

Balance of trade

Burkina Faso North Korea
Current account balance
-$1.02B
2023
n/a
Current account balance ranking
122/190
2023
n/a
Current account balance, % of GDP
-5.06%
2023
n/a
Goods imports
$5.38B
2023
n/a
Goods exports
$5.29B
2023
n/a
Service imports
$1.45B
2023
n/a
Service exports
$621M
2023
n/a
Imports of goods and services, % of GDP
31.9%
2024
n/a
Exports of goods and services, % of GDP
28.6%
2024
n/a

Economic freedom indices

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

Burkina Faso North Korea
Economic freedom 49.1 3.1
Economic freedom ranking 167/197 197/197
Property rights 17.6 16.3
Government integrity 40.2 4.3
Judicial effectiveness 26.1 6.3
Tax burden 80.8 0
Government spending 72.9 0
Fiscal health 13.4 0
Business freedom 37.8 5
Labor freedom 62.1 5
Monetary freedom 71.9 0
Trade freedom 61 0
Investment freedom 65 0
Financial freedom 40 0

Economic freedom comparison by year

Burkina Faso
North Korea
1x
Year Economic freedom index
Burkina Faso North Korea
2026 49.1 3.1
2025 51 3
2024 51.9 2.9
2023 56.2 2.9
2022 58.3 3
2021 56.5 5.2
2020 56.7 4.2
2019 59.4 5.9
2018 60 5.8
2017 59.6 4.9
2016 59.1 2.3
2015 58.6 1.3
2014 58.9 1
2013 59.9 1.5
2012 60.6 1
2011 60.6 1
2010 59.4 1
2009 59.5 2
2008 55.7 3
2007 55.1 3
2006 55.8 4
2005 56.6 8
2004 58 8.9
2003 58.9 8.9
2002 58.8 8.9
2001 56.7 8.9
2000 55.7 8.9
1999 55 8.9
1998 54.5 8.9
1997 54 8.9
1996 49.4 8.9
1995 - 8.9

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

GeoRank.org/economy/burkina-faso/north-korea | CC BY

The Economic Freedom Index for Burkina Faso is 49.1, ranking 167/197, 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

Burkina Faso North Korea
Services, % of GDP
43.9%
2024
n/a
Industry, % of GDP
26.5%
2024
n/a
Agriculture, forestry, and fishing, % of GDP
20.9%
2024
n/a
GNI, Atlas method
$20.1B
2024
n/a
GNI per capita, PPP
$2,720
2024
n/a
Net foreign direct investment
-$64.3M
2023
n/a
Net inflows of foreign direct investment
$82.9M
2024
$203K
1989
Net outflows of foreign direct investment
$2.73M
2024
$0
2024
Servicing debt to the IMF, % of GNI
4.07%
2024
n/a
Poverty at national poverty lines
43.2%
2021
n/a
Gross capital formation, % of GDP
21.9%
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/burkina-faso/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 (2022–2024, 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.