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Economy of Denmark vs North Korea compared: GDP & Debt

Updated on by Georank

Denmark has a GDP of $463B compared to $34.9B for North Korea, ranking 36/197 and 109/197 by economy size, respectively.

Denmark vs North Korea GDP by year

Denmark
North Korea
1x
Year GDP, current $
Denmark North Korea
2025 $462,526,660,468 -
2024 $424,524,722,037 $34,943,120,000
2023 $404,651,706,118 $32,155,360,000
2022 $400,114,306,337 $28,971,360,000
2021 $406,110,162,088 $32,301,720,000
2020 $355,631,021,932 $27,728,240,000
2019 $345,401,473,013 $28,222,880,000
2018 $355,293,374,912 $28,536,400,000
2017 $331,610,593,962 $29,105,440,000
2016 $312,181,849,372 $28,882,640,000
2015 $301,758,922,338 $30,723,030,000
2014 $352,832,602,064 $30,554,460,000
2013 $344,631,016,965 $30,588,922,000
2012 $326,792,574,245 $29,890,710,000
2011 $344,315,595,263 $29,005,020,000
2010 $322,345,594,075 $25,995,513,000
2009 $322,619,152,195 $23,356,470,000
2008 $354,979,471,960 -
2007 $320,213,157,595 -
2006 $283,386,151,544 -
2005 $265,150,087,712 -
2004 $251,986,155,631 -
2003 $218,421,193,436 -
2002 $178,788,209,558 -
2001 $164,881,594,415 -
2000 $164,043,817,224 -
1999 $177,887,720,536 -
1998 $176,877,077,513 -
1997 $173,241,365,735 -
1996 $187,481,157,846 -
1995 $184,848,481,008 -
1994 $156,017,919,221 -
1993 $143,111,306,004 -
1992 $152,966,494,260 -
1991 $139,180,507,778 -
1990 $138,217,740,684 -
1989 $112,312,200,761 -
1988 $115,540,189,705 -
1987 $109,183,446,340 -
1986 $87,748,695,217 -
1985 $62,452,421,011 -
1984 $58,868,891,335 -
1983 $60,331,158,447 -
1982 $60,084,214,872 -
1981 $61,459,941,461 -
1980 $70,811,287,816 -
1979 $70,393,030,603 -
1978 $60,320,089,218 -
1977 $49,711,709,588 -
1976 $44,503,607,444 -
1975 $40,418,967,666 -
1974 $34,125,712,481 -
1973 $30,718,181,337 -
1972 $23,230,667,549 -
1971 $19,086,192,720 -
1970 $17,075,457,733 -
1969 $15,414,902,667 -
1968 $13,505,574,133 -
1967 $13,059,064,806 -
1966 $11,931,740,293 -
1965 $10,870,670,865 -
1964 $9,677,401,337 -
1963 $8,466,044,980 -
1962 $7,953,274,741 -
1961 $7,058,361,229 -
1960 $6,361,166,545 -

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

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

GDP per capita in Denmark vs North Korea by year

Denmark
GDP per capita

GDP per capita, PPP
North Korea
GDP per capita

GDP per capita, PPP
1x
Year Current $
Denmark North Korea
GDP per capita GDP per capita, PPP GDP per capita GDP per capita, PPP
2025 $76,970 - - -
2024 $71,026 $81,878 $1,319 -
2023 $68,044 $77,892 $1,217 -
2022 $67,781 $78,914 $1,100 -
2021 $69,341 $69,715 $1,231 -
2020 $60,985 $62,682 $1,061 -
2019 $59,404 $60,595 $1,084 -
2018 $61,325 $57,234 $1,100 -
2017 $57,522 $55,272 $1,127 -
2016 $54,501 $51,821 $1,124 -
2015 $53,094 $48,897 $1,201 $1,700
2014 $62,520 $47,880 $1,201 $1,800
2013 $61,378 $46,869 $1,208 -
2012 $58,444 $44,755 $1,186 -
2011 $61,810 $44,444 $1,156 $1,800
2010 $58,105 $43,038 $1,040 -
2009 $58,413 $40,524 $939 $1,800
2008 $64,617 $41,467 - $1,800
2007 $58,632 $39,110 - $1,700
2006 $52,119 $37,392 - $1,800
2005 $48,926 $34,238 - $1,700
2004 $46,625 $33,016 - $1,700
2003 $40,519 $30,864 - $1,300
2002 $33,257 $30,667 - $1,000
2001 $30,768 $29,459 - -
2000 $30,722 $28,648 - $1,000
1999 $33,426 $26,642 - $1,000
1998 $33,346 $25,799 - -
1997 $32,780 $24,887 - -
1996 $35,622 $23,723 - -
1995 $35,321 $22,677 - -
1994 $29,968 $21,669 - -
1993 $27,582 $20,217 - -
1992 $29,579 $19,830 - -
1991 $27,003 $19,067 - -
1990 $26,886 $18,225 - -
1989 $21,882 - - -
1988 $22,525 - - -
1987 $21,296 - - -
1986 $17,137 - - -
1985 $12,213 - - -
1984 $11,517 - - -
1983 $11,797 - - -
1982 $11,740 - - -
1981 $12,000 - - -
1980 $13,822 - - -
1979 $13,757 - - -
1978 $11,818 - - -
1977 $9,770 - - -
1976 $8,773 - - -
1975 $7,988 - - -
1974 $6,764 - - -
1973 $6,117 - - -
1972 $4,654 - - -
1971 $3,846 - - -
1970 $3,464 - - -
1969 $3,151 - - -
1968 $2,776 - - -
1967 $2,701 - - -
1966 $2,487 - - -
1965 $2,284 - - -
1964 $2,049 - - -
1963 $1,807 - - -
1962 $1,711 - - -
1961 $1,531 - - -
1960 $1,389 - - -

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/denmark/north-korea | CC BY

Denmark's GDP per capita is $76,970, ranking 11/197, compared to $1,319 in North Korea, ranking 169/197. Adjusted for purchasing power (GDP per capita PPP), Denmark ranks 14th at $81,878, while North Korea ranks 193rd at $1,700.

Economic indicators

Denmark North Korea
Gross domestic product
$463B
2025
$34.9B
2024
GDP rank
36/197
2025
109/197
2024
GDP growth
2.93%
2024-2025
n/a
GDP per capita
$76,970
2025
$1,319
2024
GDP per capita rank
11/197
2025
169/197
2024
GDP per capita, PPP
$81,878
2024
$1,700
2015
GDP per capita PPP rank
14/197
2024
193/197
2015
Government debt
$127B
2025
n/a
Debt-to-GDP ratio
27.5%
2025
n/a
Government debt per person
$21,192
2025
n/a
Government debt per person rank
32/185
2025
n/a
Average annual personal income after taxes
$52,602
2026
$1,707
2026
Market capitalization of domestic companies
$151B
2004
n/a
Number of millionaires
376,000
2025
n/a
Number of billionaires
9
2026
n/a
Income share by richest 10%
25.5%
2023
n/a
Income share by poorest 10%
3.6%
2023
n/a
Government expenditure, % of GDP
47.6%
2025
n/a
Consumer prices inflation
1.89%
2024-2025
n/a
Central bank interest rate
1.6%
2025
n/a
Unemployment rate
6.4%
2025
25.6%
2013
Population
6042125
26668308

Top exports between countries

Denmark
Export category Export value
Wood & paper products $110K
Animal & marine products $43K
Miscellaneous $16K
North Korea
Export category Export value

Balance of trade

Denmark North Korea
Current account balance
$51.8B
2024
n/a
Current account balance ranking
13/190
2024
n/a
Current account balance, % of GDP
+12.2%
2024
n/a
Goods imports
$132B
2024
n/a
Goods exports
$172B
2024
n/a
Service imports
$125B
2024
n/a
Service exports
$129B
2024
n/a
Imports of goods and services, % of GDP
59.1%
2025
n/a
Exports of goods and services, % of GDP
70.1%
2025
n/a

Economic freedom indices

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

Denmark North Korea
Economic freedom 79 3.1
Economic freedom ranking 8/197 197/197
Property rights 99.9 16.3
Government integrity 98 4.3
Judicial effectiveness 89.3 6.3
Tax burden 43.4 0
Government spending 34.8 0
Fiscal health 98 0
Business freedom 90.4 5
Labor freedom 65 5
Monetary freedom 80.1 0
Trade freedom 79.4 0
Investment freedom 90 0
Financial freedom 80 0

Economic freedom comparison by year

Denmark
North Korea
1x
Year Economic freedom index
Denmark North Korea
2026 79 3.1
2025 79.1 3
2024 77.8 2.9
2023 77.6 2.9
2022 78 3
2021 77.8 5.2
2020 78.3 4.2
2019 76.7 5.9
2018 76.6 5.8
2017 75.1 4.9
2016 75.3 2.3
2015 76.3 1.3
2014 76.1 1
2013 76.1 1.5
2012 76.2 1
2011 78.6 1
2010 77.9 1
2009 79.6 2
2008 79.2 3
2007 77 3
2006 75.4 4
2005 75.3 8
2004 72.4 8.9
2003 73.2 8.9
2002 71.1 8.9
2001 68.3 8.9
2000 68.3 8.9
1999 68.1 8.9
1998 67.5 8.9
1997 67.5 8.9
1996 67.3 8.9
1995 - 8.9

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

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

The Economic Freedom Index for Denmark is 79, ranking 8/197, 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

Denmark North Korea
Services, % of GDP
62.7%
2025
n/a
Industry, % of GDP
24.8%
2025
n/a
Agriculture, forestry, and fishing, % of GDP
1.17%
2025
n/a
GNI, Atlas method
$464B
2025
n/a
GNI per capita, PPP
$85,460
2025
n/a
Total reserves including gold
$128B
2025
n/a
Total reserves ranking
24/177
2025
n/a
Net foreign direct investment
$12.5B
2024
n/a
Net inflows of foreign direct investment
$18.2B
2024
$203K
1989
Net outflows of foreign direct investment
$30.7B
2024
$0
2024
Poverty at national poverty lines
12.4%
2021
n/a
Gross capital formation, % of GDP
22.1%
2025
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/denmark/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 (2020–2024, 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.

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.