Cuba has a GDP of $107B compared to $34.9B for North Korea, ranking 69/197 and 106/197 by economy size, respectively.
The chart below compares the two countries' GDP growth in both current (nominal) and constant dollars, accounting for inflation over time.
| Year | GDP | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
Cuba
|
North Korea
|
|||
| Current $ | Constant $ | Current $ | Constant $ | |
| 1970 | $5,693,005,200 | $23,120,654,813 | - | - |
| 1971 | $6,914,658,400 | $25,105,299,225 | - | - |
| 1972 | $8,135,150,892 | $26,317,053,149 | - | - |
| 1973 | $9,987,709,650 | $27,220,909,322 | - | - |
| 1974 | $11,405,957,317 | $27,488,896,946 | - | - |
| 1975 | $13,027,415,244 | $30,093,861,943 | - | - |
| 1976 | $13,789,579,903 | $31,727,344,869 | - | - |
| 1977 | $14,206,158,675 | $34,490,638,879 | - | - |
| 1978 | $17,844,705,325 | $36,765,640,924 | - | - |
| 1979 | $19,584,443,288 | $37,165,718,489 | - | - |
| 1980 | $19,912,889,861 | $35,363,388,174 | - | - |
| 1981 | $20,150,254,096 | $42,325,850,269 | - | - |
| 1982 | $20,953,510,235 | $46,100,569,047 | - | - |
| 1983 | $22,204,940,512 | $48,595,287,844 | - | - |
| 1984 | $24,039,383,608 | $52,448,756,410 | - | - |
| 1985 | $22,920,490,774 | $53,286,192,381 | - | - |
| 1986 | $24,226,574,634 | $53,336,975,926 | - | - |
| 1987 | $25,213,935,012 | $52,055,729,738 | - | - |
| 1988 | $27,458,999,472 | $53,984,675,578 | - | - |
| 1989 | $27,023,468,666 | $54,351,816,305 | - | - |
| 1990 | $28,645,436,569 | $52,749,217,703 | - | - |
| 1991 | $24,316,556,026 | $47,108,903,627 | - | - |
| 1992 | $22,085,858,243 | $41,653,408,482 | - | - |
| 1993 | $22,367,254,865 | $35,456,139,102 | - | - |
| 1994 | $28,448,326,757 | $35,710,334,910 | - | - |
| 1995 | $30,429,803,651 | $36,587,809,679 | - | - |
| 1996 | $25,017,368,700 | $39,455,836,485 | - | - |
| 1997 | $25,365,908,100 | $40,554,060,118 | - | - |
| 1998 | $25,736,331,200 | $40,618,600,304 | - | - |
| 1999 | $28,364,615,200 | $43,132,386,084 | - | - |
| 2000 | $30,565,400,000 | $45,683,563,279 | - | - |
| 2001 | $31,682,400,000 | $47,138,598,430 | - | - |
| 2002 | $33,590,500,000 | $47,810,239,203 | - | - |
| 2003 | $35,901,200,000 | $49,623,557,376 | - | - |
| 2004 | $38,203,000,000 | $52,487,103,646 | - | - |
| 2005 | $42,643,836,100 | $58,366,528,663 | - | - |
| 2006 | $48,835,925,926 | $65,408,954,115 | - | - |
| 2007 | $54,262,870,370 | $70,159,041,951 | - | - |
| 2008 | $56,302,129,630 | $73,047,369,064 | - | - |
| 2009 | $57,481,481,481 | $74,107,509,498 | $23,356,470,000 | - |
| 2010 | $59,562,962,963 | $75,878,940,053 | $25,995,513,000 | - |
| 2011 | $68,990,000,000 | $78,005,296,225 | $29,005,020,000 | - |
| 2012 | $73,141,000,000 | $80,357,078,126 | $29,890,710,000 | - |
| 2013 | $77,148,000,000 | $82,564,971,264 | $30,588,922,000 | - |
| 2014 | $80,656,100,000 | $83,429,902,609 | $30,554,460,000 | - |
| 2015 | $87,132,800,000 | $87,132,800,000 | $30,723,030,000 | - |
| 2016 | $91,370,407,864 | $87,579,654,549 | $28,882,640,000 | - |
| 2017 | $96,850,649,692 | $89,164,663,931 | $29,105,440,000 | - |
| 2018 | $100,050,036,096 | $91,169,039,693 | $28,536,400,000 | - |
| 2019 | $103,427,600,000 | $91,020,354,637 | $28,222,880,000 | - |
| 2020 | $107,351,800,000 | $81,054,459,000 | $27,728,240,000 | - |
| 2021 | - | $82,070,633,423 | $32,301,720,000 | - |
| 2022 | - | $83,527,427,216 | $28,971,360,000 | - |
| 2023 | - | $81,915,873,064 | $32,155,360,000 | - |
| 2024 | - | - | $34,943,120,000 | - |
Economic indicators
|
Cuba
|
North Korea
|
|
|---|---|---|
| Gross domestic product |
$107B
2020 |
$34.9B
2024 |
| GDP rank |
69/197
2020 |
106/197
2024 |
| GDP growth |
3.79%
2019-2020 |
8.67%
2023-2024 |
| GDP per capita |
$9,605
2020 |
$1,319
2024 |
| GDP per capita rank |
87/197
2020 |
168/197
2024 |
| GDP per capita, PPP |
$12,300
2016 |
$1,700
2015 |
| Average annual personal income after taxes |
$3,584
2025 |
$1,642
2025 |
| 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 |
10937204
|
26621357
|
GDP per capita in Cuba vs North Korea
Cuba's GDP per capita is $9,605, ranking 87/197, compared to $1,319 in North Korea, ranking 168/197. Adjusted for purchasing power (GDP per capita PPP), Cuba ranks 122nd at $12,300, while North Korea ranks 192nd at $1,700.
| Year | Current $ | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Cuba
|
North Korea
|
|||
| GDP per capita | GDP per capita, PPP | GDP per capita | GDP per capita, PPP | |
| 1970 | $645 | - | - | - |
| 1971 | $770 | - | - | - |
| 1972 | $892 | - | - | - |
| 1973 | $1,079 | - | - | - |
| 1974 | $1,217 | - | - | - |
| 1975 | $1,374 | - | - | - |
| 1976 | $1,441 | - | - | - |
| 1977 | $1,472 | - | - | - |
| 1978 | $1,837 | - | - | - |
| 1979 | $2,006 | - | - | - |
| 1980 | $2,031 | - | - | - |
| 1981 | $2,046 | - | - | - |
| 1982 | $2,114 | - | - | - |
| 1983 | $2,222 | - | - | - |
| 1984 | $2,386 | - | - | - |
| 1985 | $2,257 | - | - | - |
| 1986 | $2,365 | - | - | - |
| 1987 | $2,440 | - | - | - |
| 1988 | $2,632 | - | - | - |
| 1989 | $2,566 | - | - | - |
| 1990 | $2,694 | - | - | - |
| 1991 | $2,269 | - | - | - |
| 1992 | $2,048 | - | - | - |
| 1993 | $2,063 | - | - | - |
| 1994 | $2,613 | - | - | - |
| 1995 | $2,785 | - | - | - |
| 1996 | $2,282 | - | - | - |
| 1997 | $2,306 | - | - | - |
| 1998 | $2,332 | - | - | - |
| 1999 | $2,562 | $1,700 | - | $1,000 |
| 2000 | $2,751 | $1,700 | - | $1,000 |
| 2001 | $2,843 | - | - | - |
| 2002 | $3,005 | $2,300 | - | $1,000 |
| 2003 | $3,203 | $2,900 | - | $1,300 |
| 2004 | $3,399 | $3,000 | - | $1,700 |
| 2005 | $3,786 | $3,500 | - | $1,700 |
| 2006 | $4,330 | $4,000 | - | $1,800 |
| 2007 | $4,807 | $11,000 | - | $1,700 |
| 2008 | $4,986 | $9,500 | - | $1,800 |
| 2009 | $5,089 | $9,700 | $939 | $1,800 |
| 2010 | $5,272 | $10,200 | $1,040 | - |
| 2011 | $6,104 | - | $1,156 | $1,800 |
| 2012 | $6,471 | - | $1,186 | - |
| 2013 | $6,828 | - | $1,208 | - |
| 2014 | $7,147 | - | $1,201 | $1,800 |
| 2015 | $7,728 | - | $1,201 | $1,700 |
| 2016 | $8,111 | $12,300 | $1,124 | - |
| 2017 | $8,611 | - | $1,127 | - |
| 2018 | $8,911 | - | $1,100 | - |
| 2019 | $9,232 | - | $1,084 | - |
| 2020 | $9,605 | - | $1,061 | - |
| 2021 | - | - | $1,231 | - |
| 2022 | - | - | $1,100 | - |
| 2023 | - | - | $1,217 | - |
| 2024 | - | - | $1,319 | - |
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 |
64.6%
2023 |
n/a |
| Exports of goods and services, % of GDP |
43.5%
2023 |
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 | 25.4 | 3 |
| Economic freedom ranking | 195/197 | 197/197 |
| Property rights | 29.9 | 15.7 |
| Government integrity | 33.4 | 4 |
| Judicial effectiveness | 14.3 | 5.9 |
| Tax burden | 51.9 | 0 |
| Government spending | 0 | 0 |
| Fiscal health | 0 | 0 |
| Business freedom | 42.3 | 5 |
| Labor freedom | 20 | 5 |
| Monetary freedom | 20 | 0 |
| Trade freedom | 72.8 | 0 |
| Investment freedom | 10 | 0 |
| Financial freedom | 10 | 0 |
Economic freedom by year comparison
The Economic Freedom Index for Cuba is 25.4, ranking 195/197, compared to 3 for North Korea, ranking 197/197. The chart below displays a comparison of annual changes in economic freedom indexes.
| Year | Economic freedom index | |
|---|---|---|
|
Cuba
|
North Korea
|
|
| 1995 | 27.8 | 8.9 |
| 1996 | 27.8 | 8.9 |
| 1997 | 27.8 | 8.9 |
| 1998 | 28.2 | 8.9 |
| 1999 | 29.7 | 8.9 |
| 2000 | 31.3 | 8.9 |
| 2001 | 31.6 | 8.9 |
| 2002 | 32.4 | 8.9 |
| 2003 | 35.1 | 8.9 |
| 2004 | 34.4 | 8.9 |
| 2005 | 35.5 | 8 |
| 2006 | 29.3 | 4 |
| 2007 | 28.6 | 3 |
| 2008 | 27.5 | 3 |
| 2009 | 27.9 | 2 |
| 2010 | 26.7 | 1 |
| 2011 | 27.7 | 1 |
| 2012 | 28.3 | 1 |
| 2013 | 28.5 | 1.5 |
| 2014 | 28.7 | 1 |
| 2015 | 29.6 | 1.3 |
| 2016 | 29.8 | 2.3 |
| 2017 | 33.9 | 4.9 |
| 2018 | 31.9 | 5.8 |
| 2019 | 27.8 | 5.9 |
| 2020 | 26.9 | 4.2 |
| 2021 | 28.1 | 5.2 |
| 2022 | 29.5 | 3 |
| 2023 | 24.3 | 2.9 |
| 2024 | 25.7 | 2.9 |
| 2025 | 25.4 | 3 |
More economic indicators
|
Cuba
|
North Korea
|
|
|---|---|---|
| Services, % of GDP |
70%
2023 |
n/a |
| Industry, % of GDP |
27.5%
2023 |
n/a |
| Agriculture, forestry, and fishing, % of GDP |
1.31%
2023 |
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 |
|
Gross capital formation, % of GDP
|
9.88%
2020 |
n/a |
GDP per capita map
GDP per capita
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Economy comparisons
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.
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.