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Economy of Burundi vs North Korea compared: GDP & Debt

Updated on by Georank

Burundi has a GDP of $3.36B compared to $34.9B for North Korea, ranking 169/197 and 109/197 by economy size, respectively.

Burundi vs North Korea GDP by year

Burundi
North Korea
1x
Year GDP, current $
Burundi North Korea
2025 $3,364,713,864 -
2024 $3,037,579,858 $34,943,120,000
2023 $3,419,558,408 $32,155,360,000
2022 $4,020,736,757 $28,971,360,000
2021 $3,425,127,991 $32,301,720,000
2020 $3,188,355,944 $27,728,240,000
2019 $2,871,555,326 $28,222,880,000
2018 $2,913,411,408 $28,536,400,000
2017 $2,831,362,208 $29,105,440,000
2016 $2,618,093,125 $28,882,640,000
2015 $2,810,532,912 $30,723,030,000
2014 $2,705,826,648 $30,554,460,000
2013 $2,451,624,638 $30,588,922,000
2012 $2,327,402,363 $29,890,710,000
2011 $2,235,812,880 $29,005,020,000
2010 $2,032,135,192 $25,995,513,000
2009 $1,775,495,032 $23,356,470,000
2008 $1,611,835,857 -
2007 $1,356,199,387 -
2006 $1,273,375,078 -
2005 $1,117,113,080 -
2004 $915,257,323 -
2003 $784,654,424 -
2002 $825,394,519 -
2001 $876,794,723 -
2000 $870,486,066 -
1999 $808,077,223 -
1998 $893,770,740 -
1997 $972,896,268 -
1996 $869,033,856 -
1995 $1,000,428,394 -
1994 $925,030,590 -
1993 $938,632,612 -
1992 $1,083,037,671 -
1991 $1,167,398,478 -
1990 $1,132,101,253 -
1989 $1,113,924,130 -
1988 $1,082,403,219 -
1987 $1,131,466,494 -
1986 $1,201,725,497 -
1985 $1,149,979,286 -
1984 $987,143,931 -
1983 $1,082,926,304 -
1982 $1,013,222,222 -
1981 $969,046,667 -
1980 $919,726,667 -
1979 $782,496,667 -
1978 $610,225,556 -
1977 $547,535,556 -
1976 $448,412,754 -
1975 $420,986,667 -
1974 $345,263,492 -
1973 $304,339,524 -
1972 $246,804,571 -
1971 $252,842,286 -
1970 $242,732,571 -
1969 $190,205,714 -
1968 $183,200,000 -
1967 $178,297,143 -
1966 $165,444,571 -
1965 $158,994,963 -
1964 $260,750,008 -
1963 $232,749,998 -
1962 $213,500,006 -
1961 $202,999,992 -
1960 $195,999,990 -

Data sources: World Bank | Economy & Growth (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08).

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

GDP per capita in Burundi vs North Korea by year

Burundi
GDP per capita

GDP per capita, PPP
North Korea
GDP per capita

GDP per capita, PPP
1x
Year Current $
Burundi North Korea
GDP per capita GDP per capita, PPP GDP per capita GDP per capita, PPP
2025 $233.8 - - -
2024 $216.2 $1,195 $1,319 -
2023 $249.8 $1,150 $1,217 -
2022 $302 $1,105 $1,100 -
2021 $264.2 $1,036 $1,231 -
2020 $252.7 $958 $1,061 -
2019 $234.3 $868 $1,084 -
2018 $245.7 $823 $1,100 -
2017 $246.1 $791 $1,127 -
2016 $232.9 $764 $1,124 -
2015 $254.4 $722 $1,201 $1,700
2014 $250.5 $724 $1,201 $1,800
2013 $234.8 $687 $1,208 -
2012 $231.1 $637 $1,186 -
2011 $230.1 $629 $1,156 $1,800
2010 $216.7 $614 $1,040 -
2009 $198.4 $605 $939 $1,800
2008 $189.5 $609 - $1,800
2007 $166.2 $594 - $1,700
2006 $161.9 $580 - $1,800
2005 $147.2 $553 - $1,700
2004 $125.2 $552 - $1,700
2003 $111.4 $532 - $1,300
2002 $121 $545 - $1,000
2001 $132.2 $528 - -
2000 $134.5 $519 - $1,000
1999 $127.5 $523 - $1,000
1998 $144.5 $533 - -
1997 $160.3 $513 - -
1996 $143.2 $513 - -
1995 $164.9 $548 - -
1994 $161.9 $619 - -
1993 $165.3 $634 - -
1992 $184.9 $640 - -
1991 $204.7 $636 - -
1990 $202.6 $598 - -
1989 $203.6 - - -
1988 $201.7 - - -
1987 $215.6 - - -
1986 $234.3 - - -
1985 $228.4 - - -
1984 $200.4 - - -
1983 $225.2 - - -
1982 $216.4 - - -
1981 $212.2 - - -
1980 $209.8 - - -
1979 $186.2 - - -
1978 $148.8 - - -
1977 $137.4 - - -
1976 $115.5 - - -
1975 $110.9 - - -
1974 $93.2 - - -
1973 $84.3 - - -
1972 $68.2 - - -
1971 $69.9 - - -
1970 $68.8 - - -
1969 $55.1 - - -
1968 $54.2 - - -
1967 $54 - - -
1966 $51.4 - - -
1965 $50.6 - - -
1964 $85.3 - - -
1963 $78.4 - - -
1962 $73.4 - - -
1961 $71.6 - - -
1960 $70.9 - - -

Data sources: World Bank | Economy & Growth (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08); Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) (1999–2015, retrieved 2026-07-08).

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

Burundi's GDP per capita is $233.8, ranking 197/197, compared to $1,319 in North Korea, ranking 169/197. Adjusted for purchasing power (GDP per capita PPP), Burundi ranks 196th at $1,195, while North Korea ranks 193rd at $1,700.

Economic indicators

Burundi North Korea
Gross domestic product
$3.36B
2025
$34.9B
2024
GDP rank
169/197
2025
109/197
2024
GDP growth
4.24%
2024-2025
n/a
GDP per capita
$233.8
2025
$1,319
2024
GDP per capita rank
197/197
2025
169/197
2024
GDP per capita, PPP
$1,195
2024
$1,700
2015
GDP per capita PPP rank
196/197
2024
193/197
2015
Government debt
$1.39B
2025
n/a
Debt-to-GDP ratio
41.2%
2025
n/a
Government debt per person
$96.3
2025
n/a
Government debt per person rank
184/185
2025
n/a
Average annual personal income after taxes
$1,052
2026
$1,707
2026
Income share by richest 10%
29.9%
2020
n/a
Income share by poorest 10%
2.9%
2020
n/a
Government expenditure, % of GDP
20.4%
2025
n/a
Consumer prices inflation
34.1%
2024-2025
n/a
Unemployment rate
1.03%
2020
25.6%
2013
Population
14909238
26668308

Top exports between countries

Burundi
Export category Export value
Raw agricultural goods $49K
North Korea
Export category Export value
Raw materials & minerals $8K

Balance of trade

Burundi North Korea
Current account balance
-$461M
2025
n/a
Current account balance ranking
103/190
2025
n/a
Current account balance, % of GDP
-13.7%
2025
n/a
Goods imports
$1.1B
2025
n/a
Goods exports
$407M
2025
n/a
Service imports
$406M
2025
n/a
Service exports
$148M
2025
n/a
Imports of goods and services, % of GDP
24.4%
2023
n/a
Exports of goods and services, % of GDP
5.29%
2023
n/a

Economic freedom indices

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

Burundi North Korea
Economic freedom 40.2 3.1
Economic freedom ranking 187/197 197/197
Property rights 27.2 16.3
Government integrity 15.5 4.3
Judicial effectiveness 7.5 6.3
Tax burden 76.1 0
Government spending 76.3 0
Fiscal health 14.6 0
Business freedom 27.2 5
Labor freedom 49.9 5
Monetary freedom 55.5 0
Trade freedom 52.2 0
Investment freedom 50 0
Financial freedom 30 0

Economic freedom comparison by year

Burundi
North Korea
1x
Year Economic freedom index
Burundi North Korea
2026 40.2 3.1
2025 39.7 3
2024 38.4 2.9
2023 41.9 2.9
2022 39.4 3
2021 49.9 5.2
2020 49 4.2
2019 48.9 5.9
2018 50.9 5.8
2017 53.2 4.9
2016 53.9 2.3
2015 53.7 1.3
2014 51.4 1
2013 49 1.5
2012 48.1 1
2011 49.6 1
2010 47.5 1
2009 48.8 2
2008 46.2 3
2007 46.9 3
2006 48.7 4
2005 - 8
2004 - 8.9
2003 - 8.9
2002 - 8.9
2001 - 8.9
2000 42.6 8.9
1999 41.1 8.9
1998 44.7 8.9
1997 45.4 8.9
1996 - 8.9
1995 - 8.9

Data sources: The Heritage Foundation | Economic Freedom Index (1995–2026, retrieved 2026-07-08).

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

The Economic Freedom Index for Burundi is 40.2, ranking 187/197, 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

Burundi North Korea
Services, % of GDP
42.1%
2025
n/a
Industry, % of GDP
18.2%
2025
n/a
Agriculture, forestry, and fishing, % of GDP
34.3%
2025
n/a
GNI, Atlas method
$3.46B
2025
n/a
GNI per capita, PPP
$1,250
2025
n/a
Total reserves including gold
$90.3M
2023
n/a
Total reserves ranking
174/177
2023
n/a
Net foreign direct investment
-$31.2M
2025
n/a
Net inflows of foreign direct investment
$33.3M
2024
$203K
1989
Net outflows of foreign direct investment
$8.51M
2024
$0
2024
Servicing debt to the IMF, % of GNI
1.18%
2024
n/a
Poverty at national poverty lines
51%
2020
n/a
Gross capital formation, % of GDP
10%
2023
n/a

GDP per capita map

1x

Data sources: World Bank | Economy & Growth (1985–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08); U.S. Census Bureau (1985–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08).

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

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Data sources:

  1. World Bank | Economy & Growth (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08)
  2. The Heritage Foundation | Economic Freedom Index (1995–2026, retrieved 2026-07-08)
  3. U.S. Census Bureau (1985–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08)
  4. Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) (1999–2015, retrieved 2026-07-08)
  5. International Monetary Fund (IMF) | Fiscal Monitor (2025, retrieved 2026-07-08)
  6. TradeMap (2022–2024, retrieved 2026-07-08)
  7. United Nations | World Population Prospects (2026, retrieved 2026-07-08)
  8. LivingCost (2026, retrieved 2026-07-08)

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.