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Economy of Eswatini vs North Korea compared: GDP & Debt

Updated on by Georank team

Eswatini has a GDP of $4.86B compared to $34.9B for North Korea, ranking 162/197 and 106/197 by economy size, respectively.

Eswatini vs North Korea GDP by year

Eswatini
North Korea
1x
Year GDP, current $
Eswatini North Korea
2024 $4,858,885,841 $34,943,120,000
2023 $4,621,191,262 $32,155,360,000
2022 $4,746,660,274 $28,971,360,000
2021 $4,807,069,277 $32,301,720,000
2020 $4,134,677,810 $27,728,240,000
2019 $4,617,018,959 $28,222,880,000
2018 $4,643,751,059 $28,536,400,000
2017 $4,462,640,651 $29,105,440,000
2016 $3,722,306,117 $28,882,640,000
2015 $3,908,217,914 $30,723,030,000
2014 $4,285,065,665 $30,554,460,000
2013 $4,463,396,204 $30,588,922,000
2012 $4,747,813,067 $29,890,710,000
2011 $4,722,912,047 $29,005,020,000
2010 $4,360,714,359 $25,995,513,000
2009 $3,525,213,502 $23,356,470,000
2008 $3,235,921,171 -
2007 $3,391,122,887 -
2006 $3,215,307,901 -
2005 $3,097,946,371 -
2004 $2,710,331,785 -
2003 $2,149,632,433 -
2002 $1,393,945,031 -
2001 $1,502,870,486 -
2000 $1,697,161,558 -
1999 $1,547,888,496 -
1998 $1,576,908,856 -
1997 $1,716,714,070 -
1996 $1,602,741,834 -
1995 $1,698,989,464 -
1994 $1,419,294,254 -
1993 $1,357,189,552 -
1992 $1,284,759,928 -
1991 $1,156,135,718 -
1990 $1,114,694,041 -
1989 $696,921,542 -
1988 $692,026,455 -
1987 $584,126,092 -
1986 $449,140,318 -
1985 $360,079,419 -
1984 $494,483,409 -
1983 $555,336,146 -
1982 $537,568,059 -
1981 $570,774,825 -
1980 $541,976,853 -
1979 $412,093,134 -
1978 $340,630,085 -
1977 $304,060,076 -
1976 $272,550,068 -
1975 $288,299,789 -
1974 $264,320,941 -
1973 $221,915,128 -
1972 $146,736,479 -
1971 $136,462,081 -
1970 $112,139,955 -
1969 $105,419,958 -
1968 $79,799,968 -
1967 $74,759,970 -
1966 $76,859,969 -
1965 $70,279,972 -
1964 $64,980,554 -
1963 $54,129,438 -
1962 $45,927,962 -
1961 $43,026,043 -
1960 $35,076,846 -

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

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

GDP per capita in Eswatini vs North Korea by year

Eswatini
GDP per capita

GDP per capita, PPP
North Korea
GDP per capita

GDP per capita, PPP
1x
Year Current $
Eswatini North Korea
GDP per capita GDP per capita, PPP GDP per capita GDP per capita, PPP
2024 $3,910 $11,799 $1,319 -
2023 $3,756 $11,300 $1,217 -
2022 $3,894 $10,635 $1,100 -
2021 $3,984 $9,990 $1,231 -
2020 $3,467 $9,329 $1,061 -
2019 $3,913 $9,248 $1,084 -
2018 $3,973 $8,535 $1,100 -
2017 $3,853 $8,584 $1,127 -
2016 $3,238 $8,484 $1,124 -
2015 $3,420 $8,391 $1,201 $1,700
2014 $3,771 $8,366 $1,201 $1,800
2013 $3,950 $8,231 $1,208 -
2012 $4,225 $7,760 $1,186 -
2011 $4,225 $7,571 $1,156 $1,800
2010 $3,923 $7,324 $1,040 -
2009 $3,190 $7,011 $939 $1,800
2008 $2,947 $6,914 - $1,800
2007 $3,109 $6,732 - $1,700
2006 $2,965 $6,319 - $1,800
2005 $2,871 $5,773 - $1,700
2004 $2,526 $5,310 - $1,700
2003 $2,015 $5,020 - $1,300
2002 $1,316 $4,742 - $1,000
2001 $1,430 $4,521 - -
2000 $1,630 $4,401 - $1,000
1999 $1,502 $4,272 - $1,000
1998 $1,547 $4,137 - -
1997 $1,705 $4,038 - -
1996 $1,619 $3,916 - -
1995 $1,751 $3,777 - -
1994 $1,461 $3,526 - -
1993 $1,397 $3,371 - -
1992 $1,362 $3,289 - -
1991 $1,273 $3,236 - -
1990 $1,278 $3,202 - -
1989 $832 - - -
1988 $865 - - -
1987 $765 - - -
1986 $611 - - -
1985 $510 - - -
1984 $726 - - -
1983 $843 - - -
1982 $843 - - -
1981 $925 - - -
1980 $908 - - -
1979 $714 - - -
1978 $610 - - -
1977 $563 - - -
1976 $521 - - -
1975 $568 - - -
1974 $536 - - -
1973 $463 - - -
1972 $315 - - -
1971 $301 - - -
1970 $254.2 - - -
1969 $245.2 - - -
1968 $190.4 - - -
1967 $182.8 - - -
1966 $192.7 - - -
1965 $181 - - -
1964 $171.6 - - -
1963 $146.4 - - -
1962 $127.1 - - -
1961 $121.8 - - -
1960 $101.6 - - -

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/eswatini/north-korea | CC BY

Eswatini's GDP per capita is $3,910, ranking 131/197, compared to $1,319 in North Korea, ranking 168/197. Adjusted for purchasing power (GDP per capita PPP), Eswatini ranks 126th at $11,799, while North Korea ranks 193rd at $1,700.

Economic indicators

Eswatini North Korea
Gross domestic product
$4.86B
2024
$34.9B
2024
GDP rank
162/197
2024
106/197
2024
GDP growth
2.97%
2023-2024
n/a
GDP per capita
$3,910
2024
$1,319
2024
GDP per capita rank
131/197
2024
168/197
2024
GDP per capita, PPP
$11,799
2024
$1,700
2015
GDP per capita PPP rank
126/197
2024
193/197
2015
Government debt
$1.93B
2024
n/a
Debt-to-GDP ratio
39.8%
2024
n/a
Government debt per person
$1,554
2024
n/a
Government debt per person rank
130/185
2024
n/a
Average annual personal income after taxes
$3,913
2026
$1,426
2026
Market capitalization of domestic companies
$234M
2007
n/a
Number of billionaires
1
2025
n/a
Income share by richest 10%
42.7%
2016
n/a
Income share by poorest 10%
1.4%
2016
n/a
Government expenditure, % of GDP
33.3%
2024
n/a
Consumer prices inflation
2.6%
2018-2019
n/a
Central bank interest rate
6.75%
2025
n/a
Unemployment rate
34.6%
2023
25.6%
2013
Population
1273390
26659144

Top exports between countries

Eswatini
Export category Export value
North Korea
Export category Export value
Machinery & equipment $23K
Chemicals & pharma $15K
Raw materials & minerals $13K

Balance of trade

Eswatini North Korea
Current account balance
$78.3M
2024
n/a
Current account balance ranking
69/190
2024
n/a
Current account balance, % of GDP
+1.61%
2024
n/a
Goods imports
$2.07B
2024
n/a
Goods exports
$2.33B
2024
n/a
Service imports
$542M
2024
n/a
Service exports
$234M
2024
n/a
Imports of goods and services, % of GDP
53.7%
2024
n/a
Exports of goods and services, % of GDP
53.8%
2024
n/a

Economic freedom indices

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

Eswatini North Korea
Economic freedom 57.5 3.1
Economic freedom ranking 116/197 197/197
Property rights 42.5 16.3
Government integrity 29.7 4.3
Judicial effectiveness 35.5 6.3
Tax burden 78.6 0
Government spending 71 0
Fiscal health 87.5 0
Business freedom 49.9 5
Labor freedom 55.2 5
Monetary freedom 76.8 0
Trade freedom 73.6 0
Investment freedom 50 0
Financial freedom 40 0

Economic freedom comparison by year

Eswatini
North Korea
1x
Year Economic freedom index
Eswatini North Korea
2026 57.5 3.1
2025 56.4 3
2024 55.6 2.9
2023 54.9 2.9
2022 51.4 3
2021 55.1 5.2
2020 55.3 4.2
2019 54.7 5.9
2018 55.9 5.8
2017 61.1 4.9
2016 59.7 2.3
2015 59.9 1.3
2014 61.2 1
2013 57.2 1.5
2012 57.2 1
2011 59.1 1
2010 57.4 1
2009 59.1 2
2008 58.4 3
2007 60.1 3
2006 61.4 4
2005 59.4 8
2004 58.6 8.9
2003 59.6 8.9
2002 60.9 8.9
2001 63.6 8.9
2000 62.6 8.9
1999 62.1 8.9
1998 62 8.9
1997 59.4 8.9
1996 58.6 8.9
1995 63.3 8.9

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

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

The Economic Freedom Index for Eswatini is 57.5, ranking 116/197, 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

Eswatini North Korea
Services, % of GDP
51.4%
2024
n/a
Industry, % of GDP
34.7%
2024
n/a
Agriculture, forestry, and fishing, % of GDP
6.48%
2024
n/a
GNI, Atlas method
$4.46B
2024
n/a
GNI per capita, PPP
$10,760
2024
n/a
Total reserves including gold
$479M
2023
n/a
Total reserves ranking
159/177
2023
n/a
Net foreign direct investment
-$11.8M
2024
n/a
Net inflows of foreign direct investment
$75.5M
2024
$203K
1989
Net outflows of foreign direct investment
$63.8M
2024
$0
2024
Servicing debt to the IMF, % of GNI
4.68%
2024
n/a
Poverty at national poverty lines
58.9%
2016
n/a
Gross capital formation, % of GDP
15%
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/eswatini/north-korea | CC BY

Compare countries by 7 more topics

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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. International Monetary Fund (IMF) | Fiscal Monitor (2024, retrieved 2026-02-20)
  6. TradeMap (2023, retrieved 2026-02-08)
  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.