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Economy of DR Congo vs North Korea compared: GDP & Debt

Updated on by Georank team

The DR Congo has a GDP of $71B compared to $34.9B for North Korea, ranking 87/197 and 106/197 by economy size, respectively.

DR Congo vs North Korea GDP by year

DR Congo
North Korea
1x
Year GDP, current $
DR Congo North Korea
2024 $70,962,185,791 $34,943,120,000
2023 $69,843,655,425 $32,155,360,000
2022 $70,422,346,142 $28,971,360,000
2021 $59,067,289,574 $32,301,720,000
2020 $46,691,989,749 $27,728,240,000
2019 $46,845,900,350 $28,222,880,000
2018 $46,659,954,092 $28,536,400,000
2017 $37,537,521,566 $29,105,440,000
2016 $38,600,224,214 $28,882,640,000
2015 $40,179,574,490 $30,723,030,000
2014 $38,352,980,553 $30,554,460,000
2013 $34,891,189,160 $30,588,922,000
2012 $30,029,369,929 $29,890,710,000
2011 $26,392,379,642 $29,005,020,000
2010 $24,161,641,931 $25,995,513,000
2009 $18,607,259,481 $23,356,470,000
2008 $22,723,488,723 -
2007 $18,374,807,773 -
2006 $15,484,044,535 -
2005 $12,609,728,573 -
2004 $10,297,483,481 -
2003 $8,937,567,060 -
2002 $8,728,038,525 -
2001 $7,438,189,100 -
2000 $19,088,046,306 -
1999 $4,711,259,427 -
1998 $6,217,805,821 -
1997 $6,090,838,693 -
1996 $5,771,456,952 -
1995 $5,643,439,376 -
1994 $5,820,382,248 -
1993 $10,706,259,937 -
1992 $8,227,343,907 -
1991 $9,625,436,873 -
1990 $9,349,764,580 -
1989 $9,021,862,775 -
1988 $8,861,299,977 -
1987 $7,661,625,473 -
1986 $8,095,367,168 -
1985 $7,195,042,616 -
1984 $7,857,729,193 -
1983 $11,006,712,650 -
1982 $13,651,667,371 -
1981 $12,537,821,038 -
1980 $14,394,927,495 -
1979 $15,068,422,236 -
1978 $15,372,608,002 -
1977 $12,344,424,764 -
1976 $9,648,583,225 -
1975 $10,237,343,174 -
1974 $9,596,960,180 -
1973 $7,870,239,461 -
1972 $6,173,712,814 -
1971 $5,594,770,359 -
1970 $4,877,684,910 -
1969 $5,032,434,970 -
1968 $3,909,780,539 -
1967 $3,384,063,372 -
1966 $4,532,660,182 -
1965 $4,043,901,818 -
1964 $2,881,545,273 -
1963 $6,213,185,743 -
1962 $3,779,841,429 -
1961 $3,086,746,857 -
1960 $3,359,404,118 -

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

GeoRank.org/economy/dr-congo/north-korea | CC BY

GDP per capita in DR Congo vs North Korea by year

DR Congo
GDP per capita

GDP per capita, PPP
North Korea
GDP per capita

GDP per capita, PPP
1x
Year Current $
DR Congo North Korea
GDP per capita GDP per capita, PPP GDP per capita GDP per capita, PPP
2024 $649 $1,821 $1,319 -
2023 $660 $1,731 $1,217 -
2022 $688 $1,590 $1,100 -
2021 $596 $1,402 $1,231 -
2020 $486 $1,089 $1,061 -
2019 $504 $1,056 $1,084 -
2018 $518 $1,049 $1,100 -
2017 $431 $991 $1,127 -
2016 $460 $950 $1,124 -
2015 $496 $910 $1,201 $1,700
2014 $489 $859 $1,201 $1,800
2013 $460 $761 $1,208 -
2012 $410 $648 $1,186 -
2011 $373 $644 $1,156 $1,800
2010 $352 $606 $1,040 -
2009 $280.2 $573 $939 $1,800
2008 $353 $584 - $1,800
2007 $294.1 $550 - $1,700
2006 $255.4 $508 - $1,800
2005 $214.5 $484 - $1,700
2004 $180.7 $456 - $1,700
2003 $161.5 $428 - $1,300
2002 $162.4 $410 - $1,000
2001 $142.7 $404 - -
2000 $378 $417 - $1,000
1999 $96.3 $452 - $1,000
1998 $131.5 $481 - -
1997 $132.3 $497 - -
1996 $127.4 $526 - -
1995 $127 $532 - -
1994 $136.5 $540 - -
1993 $263.3 $576 - -
1992 $209.7 $674 - -
1991 $253.8 $762 - -
1990 $254.9 $832 - -
1989 $254.2 - - -
1988 $257.7 - - -
1987 $230.1 - - -
1986 $250.9 - - -
1985 $230.1 - - -
1984 $259.8 - - -
1983 $376 - - -
1982 $482 - - -
1981 $456 - - -
1980 $539 - - -
1979 $582 - - -
1978 $615 - - -
1977 $509 - - -
1976 $408 - - -
1975 $445 - - -
1974 $428 - - -
1973 $361 - - -
1972 $290.5 - - -
1971 $270.3 - - -
1970 $242.2 - - -
1969 $257.1 - - -
1968 $205.6 - - -
1967 $183.3 - - -
1966 $252.8 - - -
1965 $232 - - -
1964 $169.9 - - -
1963 $376 - - -
1962 $235.1 - - -
1961 $197.1 - - -
1960 $220.1 - - -

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/dr-congo/north-korea | CC BY

The DR Congo's GDP per capita is $649, ranking 190/197, compared to $1,319 in North Korea, ranking 168/197. Adjusted for purchasing power (GDP per capita PPP), the DR Congo ranks 190th at $1,821, while North Korea ranks 193rd at $1,700.

Economic indicators

DR Congo North Korea
Gross domestic product
$71B
2024
$34.9B
2024
GDP rank
87/197
2024
106/197
2024
GDP growth
6.13%
2023-2024
n/a
GDP per capita
$649
2024
$1,319
2024
GDP per capita rank
190/197
2024
168/197
2024
GDP per capita, PPP
$1,821
2024
$1,700
2015
GDP per capita PPP rank
190/197
2024
193/197
2015
Government debt
$16B
2024
n/a
Debt-to-GDP ratio
22.5%
2024
n/a
Government debt per person
$146.4
2024
n/a
Government debt per person rank
183/185
2024
n/a
Average annual personal income after taxes
$1,693
2026
$1,426
2026
Income share by richest 10%
35.7%
2020
n/a
Income share by poorest 10%
2.1%
2020
n/a
Government expenditure, % of GDP
16.7%
2024
n/a
Consumer prices inflation
2.89%
2015-2016
n/a
Central bank interest rate
17.5%
2025
n/a
Unemployment rate
1.47%
2020
25.6%
2013
Population
117507801
26659144

Top exports between countries

DR Congo
Export category Export value
Raw materials & minerals $15M
Wood & paper products $22K
Raw agricultural goods $10K
Animal & marine products $1K
North Korea
Export category Export value
Machinery & equipment $173K
Chemicals & pharma $76K
Wood & paper products $13K
Raw materials & minerals $5K

Balance of trade

DR Congo North Korea
Current account balance
-$2.72B
2024
n/a
Current account balance ranking
153/190
2024
n/a
Current account balance, % of GDP
-3.83%
2024
n/a
Goods imports
$31B
2024
n/a
Goods exports
$34.9B
2024
n/a
Service imports
$6.14B
2024
n/a
Service exports
$322M
2024
n/a
Imports of goods and services, % of GDP
51.8%
2024
n/a
Exports of goods and services, % of GDP
48.8%
2024
n/a

Economic freedom indices

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

DR Congo North Korea
Economic freedom 47 3.1
Economic freedom ranking 176/197 197/197
Property rights 15.4 16.3
Government integrity 12.8 4.3
Judicial effectiveness 11.7 6.3
Tax burden 73.8 0
Government spending 91.2 0
Fiscal health 95.9 0
Business freedom 32.3 5
Labor freedom 54.2 5
Monetary freedom 58.6 0
Trade freedom 68.2 0
Investment freedom 30 0
Financial freedom 20 0

Economic freedom comparison by year

DR Congo
North Korea
1x
Year Economic freedom index
DR Congo North Korea
2026 47 3.1
2025 47.3 3
2024 47.6 2.9
2023 47.9 2.9
2022 47.6 3
2021 49 5.2
2020 49.5 4.2
2019 50.3 5.9
2018 52.1 5.8
2017 56.4 4.9
2016 46.4 2.3
2015 45 1.3
2014 40.6 1
2013 39.6 1.5
2012 41.1 1
2011 40.7 1
2010 41.4 1
2009 42.8 2
2008 - 3
2007 - 3
2006 - 4
2005 - 8
2004 - 8.9
2003 - 8.9
2002 - 8.9
2001 - 8.9
2000 34.8 8.9
1999 34 8.9
1998 40.6 8.9
1997 39.5 8.9
1996 39.5 8.9
1995 41.4 8.9

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

GeoRank.org/economy/dr-congo/north-korea | CC BY

The Economic Freedom Index for the DR Congo is 47, ranking 176/197, 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

DR Congo North Korea
Services, % of GDP
46.6%
2024
n/a
Industry, % of GDP
39.9%
2024
n/a
Agriculture, forestry, and fishing, % of GDP
9.64%
2024
n/a
GNI, Atlas method
$72.7B
2024
n/a
GNI per capita, PPP
$1,760
2024
n/a
Total reserves including gold
$5.1B
2023
n/a
Total reserves ranking
99/177
2023
n/a
Net foreign direct investment
-$2.92B
2024
n/a
Net inflows of foreign direct investment
$2.92B
2024
$203K
1989
Net outflows of foreign direct investment
$198M
2024
$0
2024
Servicing debt to the IMF, % of GNI
0.69%
2024
n/a
Poverty at national poverty lines
56.2%
2020
n/a
Gross capital formation, % of GDP
32.5%
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/dr-congo/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 (2020–2023, 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.