Cuba has a GDP of $107B compared to $34.9B for North Korea, ranking 69/197 and 106/197 by economy size, respectively.
Cuba vs North Korea GDP by year
| Year | GDP, current $ | |
|---|---|---|
Cuba
|
North Korea
|
|
| 2024 | - | $34,943,120,000 |
| 2023 | - | $32,155,360,000 |
| 2022 | - | $28,971,360,000 |
| 2021 | - | $32,301,720,000 |
| 2020 | $107,352,000,000 | $27,728,240,000 |
| 2019 | $103,427,600,000 | $28,222,880,000 |
| 2018 | $100,050,036,100 | $28,536,400,000 |
| 2017 | $96,850,649,700 | $29,105,440,000 |
| 2016 | $91,370,407,900 | $28,882,640,000 |
| 2015 | $87,132,800,000 | $30,723,030,000 |
| 2014 | $80,656,100,000 | $30,554,460,000 |
| 2013 | $77,148,000,000 | $30,588,922,000 |
| 2012 | $73,141,000,000 | $29,890,710,000 |
| 2011 | $68,990,000,000 | $29,005,020,000 |
| 2010 | $59,562,962,963 | $25,995,513,000 |
| 2009 | $57,481,481,481 | $23,356,470,000 |
| 2008 | $56,302,129,630 | - |
| 2007 | $54,262,870,370 | - |
| 2006 | $48,835,925,926 | - |
| 2005 | $42,643,836,100 | - |
| 2004 | $38,203,000,000 | - |
| 2003 | $35,901,200,000 | - |
| 2002 | $33,590,500,000 | - |
| 2001 | $31,682,400,000 | - |
| 2000 | $30,565,400,000 | - |
| 1999 | $28,364,615,200 | - |
| 1998 | $25,736,331,200 | - |
| 1997 | $25,365,908,100 | - |
| 1996 | $25,017,368,700 | - |
| 1995 | $30,429,803,651 | - |
| 1994 | $28,448,326,757 | - |
| 1993 | $22,367,254,865 | - |
| 1992 | $22,085,858,243 | - |
| 1991 | $24,316,556,026 | - |
| 1990 | $28,645,436,569 | - |
| 1989 | $27,023,468,666 | - |
| 1988 | $27,458,999,472 | - |
| 1987 | $25,213,935,012 | - |
| 1986 | $24,226,574,634 | - |
| 1985 | $22,920,490,774 | - |
| 1984 | $24,039,383,608 | - |
| 1983 | $22,204,940,512 | - |
| 1982 | $20,953,510,235 | - |
| 1981 | $20,150,254,096 | - |
| 1980 | $19,912,889,861 | - |
| 1979 | $19,584,443,288 | - |
| 1978 | $17,844,705,325 | - |
| 1977 | $14,206,158,675 | - |
| 1976 | $13,789,579,903 | - |
| 1975 | $13,027,415,244 | - |
| 1974 | $11,405,957,317 | - |
| 1973 | $9,987,709,650 | - |
| 1972 | $8,135,150,892 | - |
| 1971 | $6,914,658,400 | - |
| 1970 | $5,693,005,200 | - |
Data sources: World Bank | Economy & Growth (1970–2020, retrieved 2026-04-06).
GeoRank.org/economy/cuba/north-korea | CC BY 
GDP per capita in Cuba vs North Korea by year
| Year | Current $ | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Cuba
|
North Korea
|
|||
| GDP per capita | GDP per capita, PPP | GDP per capita | GDP per capita, PPP | |
| 2024 | - | - | $1,319 | - |
| 2023 | - | - | $1,217 | - |
| 2022 | - | - | $1,100 | - |
| 2021 | - | - | $1,231 | - |
| 2020 | $9,605 | - | $1,061 | - |
| 2019 | $9,232 | - | $1,084 | - |
| 2018 | $8,911 | - | $1,100 | - |
| 2017 | $8,611 | - | $1,127 | - |
| 2016 | $8,111 | $12,300 | $1,124 | - |
| 2015 | $7,728 | - | $1,201 | $1,700 |
| 2014 | $7,147 | - | $1,201 | $1,800 |
| 2013 | $6,828 | - | $1,208 | - |
| 2012 | $6,471 | - | $1,186 | - |
| 2011 | $6,104 | - | $1,156 | $1,800 |
| 2010 | $5,272 | $10,200 | $1,040 | - |
| 2009 | $5,089 | $9,700 | $939 | $1,800 |
| 2008 | $4,986 | $9,500 | - | $1,800 |
| 2007 | $4,807 | $11,000 | - | $1,700 |
| 2006 | $4,330 | $4,000 | - | $1,800 |
| 2005 | $3,786 | $3,500 | - | $1,700 |
| 2004 | $3,399 | $3,000 | - | $1,700 |
| 2003 | $3,203 | $2,900 | - | $1,300 |
| 2002 | $3,005 | $2,300 | - | $1,000 |
| 2001 | $2,843 | - | - | - |
| 2000 | $2,751 | $1,700 | - | $1,000 |
| 1999 | $2,562 | $1,700 | - | $1,000 |
| 1998 | $2,332 | - | - | - |
| 1997 | $2,306 | - | - | - |
| 1996 | $2,282 | - | - | - |
| 1995 | $2,785 | - | - | - |
| 1994 | $2,613 | - | - | - |
| 1993 | $2,063 | - | - | - |
| 1992 | $2,048 | - | - | - |
| 1991 | $2,269 | - | - | - |
| 1990 | $2,694 | - | - | - |
| 1989 | $2,566 | - | - | - |
| 1988 | $2,632 | - | - | - |
| 1987 | $2,440 | - | - | - |
| 1986 | $2,365 | - | - | - |
| 1985 | $2,257 | - | - | - |
| 1984 | $2,386 | - | - | - |
| 1983 | $2,222 | - | - | - |
| 1982 | $2,114 | - | - | - |
| 1981 | $2,046 | - | - | - |
| 1980 | $2,031 | - | - | - |
| 1979 | $2,006 | - | - | - |
| 1978 | $1,837 | - | - | - |
| 1977 | $1,472 | - | - | - |
| 1976 | $1,441 | - | - | - |
| 1975 | $1,374 | - | - | - |
| 1974 | $1,217 | - | - | - |
| 1973 | $1,079 | - | - | - |
| 1972 | $892 | - | - | - |
| 1971 | $770 | - | - | - |
| 1970 | $645 | - | - | - |
Data sources: World Bank | Health (1970–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06); Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) (1999–2016, retrieved 2026-02-20).
GeoRank.org/economy/cuba/north-korea | CC BY
Cuba's GDP per capita is $9,605, ranking 86/197, compared to $1,319 in North Korea, ranking 168/197. Adjusted for purchasing power (GDP per capita PPP), Cuba ranks 124th at $12,300, while North Korea ranks 193rd at $1,700.
Economic indicators
|
Cuba
|
North Korea
|
|
|---|---|---|
| Gross domestic product |
$107B
2020 |
$34.9B
2024 |
| GDP rank |
69/197
2020 |
106/197
2024 |
| GDP growth |
-1.06%
2023-2024 |
n/a |
| GDP per capita |
$9,605
2020 |
$1,319
2024 |
| GDP per capita rank |
86/197
2020 |
168/197
2024 |
| GDP per capita, PPP |
$12,300
2016 |
$1,700
2015 |
| GDP per capita PPP rank |
124/197
2016 |
193/197
2015 |
| Average annual personal income after taxes |
$3,075
2026 |
$1,426
2026 |
| Government expenditure, % of GDP |
49%
2025 |
n/a |
| Consumer prices inflation |
5.5%
2019-2020 |
n/a |
| Unemployment rate |
1.7%
2018 |
25.6%
2013 |
| Population |
10894785
|
26659144
|
Top exports between countries
|
Cuba
|
|
|---|---|
| Export category | Export value |
|
North Korea
|
|
|---|---|
| Export category | Export value |
| Machinery & equipment | $1.92M |
Balance of trade
|
Cuba
|
North Korea
|
|
|---|---|---|
| Imports of goods and services, % of GDP |
82.4%
2024 |
n/a |
| Exports of goods and services, % of GDP |
42.5%
2024 |
n/a |
Economic freedom indices
The indices of economic freedom below are issued by the Heritage Foundation. Higher scores indicate stronger economic health.
|
Cuba
|
North Korea
|
|
|---|---|---|
| Economic freedom | 25.2 | 3.1 |
| Economic freedom ranking | 195/197 | 197/197 |
| Property rights | 27.7 | 16.3 |
| Government integrity | 33 | 4.3 |
| Judicial effectiveness | 16 | 6.3 |
| Tax burden | 51.9 | 0 |
| Government spending | 0 | 0 |
| Fiscal health | 0 | 0 |
| Business freedom | 41.4 | 5 |
| Labor freedom | 20 | 5 |
| Monetary freedom | 20 | 0 |
| Trade freedom | 72.8 | 0 |
| Investment freedom | 10 | 0 |
| Financial freedom | 10 | 0 |
Economic freedom comparison by year
| Year | Economic freedom index | |
|---|---|---|
|
Cuba
|
North Korea
|
|
| 2026 | 25.2 | 3.1 |
| 2025 | 25.4 | 3 |
| 2024 | 25.7 | 2.9 |
| 2023 | 24.3 | 2.9 |
| 2022 | 29.5 | 3 |
| 2021 | 28.1 | 5.2 |
| 2020 | 26.9 | 4.2 |
| 2019 | 27.8 | 5.9 |
| 2018 | 31.9 | 5.8 |
| 2017 | 33.9 | 4.9 |
| 2016 | 29.8 | 2.3 |
| 2015 | 29.6 | 1.3 |
| 2014 | 28.7 | 1 |
| 2013 | 28.5 | 1.5 |
| 2012 | 28.3 | 1 |
| 2011 | 27.7 | 1 |
| 2010 | 26.7 | 1 |
| 2009 | 27.9 | 2 |
| 2008 | 27.5 | 3 |
| 2007 | 28.6 | 3 |
| 2006 | 29.3 | 4 |
| 2005 | 35.5 | 8 |
| 2004 | 34.4 | 8.9 |
| 2003 | 35.1 | 8.9 |
| 2002 | 32.4 | 8.9 |
| 2001 | 31.6 | 8.9 |
| 2000 | 31.3 | 8.9 |
| 1999 | 29.7 | 8.9 |
| 1998 | 28.2 | 8.9 |
| 1997 | 27.8 | 8.9 |
| 1996 | 27.8 | 8.9 |
| 1995 | 27.8 | 8.9 |
Data sources: The Heritage Foundation | Economic Freedom Index (1995–2026, retrieved 2026-03-09).
GeoRank.org/economy/cuba/north-korea | CC BY
The Economic Freedom Index for Cuba is 25.2, ranking 195/197, 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
|
Cuba
|
North Korea
|
|
|---|---|---|
| Services, % of GDP |
73.4%
2024 |
n/a |
| Industry, % of GDP |
23.8%
2024 |
n/a |
| Agriculture, forestry, and fishing, % of GDP |
1.24%
2024 |
n/a |
|
GNI, Atlas method
|
$101B
2019 |
n/a |
| Total reserves including gold |
$144M
1960 |
n/a |
| Total reserves ranking |
173/177
1960 |
n/a |
|
Net inflows of foreign direct investment
|
n/a |
$203K
1989 |
|
Net outflows of foreign direct investment
|
$0
2024 |
$0
2024 |
|
Gross capital formation, % of GDP
|
9.87%
2020 |
n/a |
GDP per capita map
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/cuba/north-korea | CC BY
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Data sources:
- World Bank | Economy & Growth (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-04-06)
- The Heritage Foundation | Economic Freedom Index (1995–2026, retrieved 2026-03-09)
- U.S. Census Bureau (1985–2024, retrieved 2026-02-08)
- Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) (1999–2020, retrieved 2026-02-20)
- United Nations | World Population Prospects (2026, retrieved 2026-03-10)
- LivingCost (2026, retrieved 2025-10-14)
- TradeMap (2022, retrieved 2026-02-08)
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.
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.
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.
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.