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Economy of Ethiopia vs North Korea compared: GDP & Debt

Updated on by Georank team

Ethiopia has a GDP of $150B compared to $34.9B for North Korea, ranking 60/197 and 106/197 by economy size, respectively.

Ethiopia vs North Korea GDP by year

Ethiopia
North Korea
1x
Year GDP, current $
Ethiopia North Korea
2024 $149,740,297,953 $34,943,120,000
2023 $135,874,093,202 $32,155,360,000
2022 $123,140,304,666 $28,971,360,000
2021 $109,070,960,372 $32,301,720,000
2020 $98,676,811,061 $27,728,240,000
2019 $91,834,517,113 $28,222,880,000
2018 $83,337,901,072 $28,536,400,000
2017 $76,366,081,767 $29,105,440,000
2016 $68,475,871,210 $28,882,640,000
2015 $62,103,418,182 $30,723,030,000
2014 $55,612,228,234 $30,554,460,000
2013 $47,648,276,605 $30,588,922,000
2012 $43,310,721,414 $29,890,710,000
2011 $31,952,763,089 $29,005,020,000
2010 $29,933,790,334 $25,995,513,000
2009 $32,437,389,116 $23,356,470,000
2008 $27,066,912,635 -
2007 $19,707,616,773 -
2006 $15,280,861,835 -
2005 $12,401,139,454 -
2004 $10,131,187,261 -
2003 $8,623,691,300 -
2002 $7,850,809,498 -
2001 $8,231,326,016 -
2000 $8,242,349,618 -
1999 $7,892,973,532 -
1998 $8,013,274,132 -
1997 $8,803,539,988 -
1996 $8,761,215,548 -
1995 $7,855,205,207 -
1994 $7,100,806,754 -
1993 $9,051,043,870 -
1992 $10,754,799,037 -
1991 $13,799,799,324 -
1990 $12,478,943,895 -
1989 $11,762,932,007 -
1988 $11,181,119,718 -
1987 $10,790,001,558 -
1986 $10,094,328,898 -
1985 $9,717,392,687 -
1984 $8,298,309,581 -
1983 $8,781,664,427 -
1982 $7,899,988,841 -
1981 $7,507,663,567 -
1980 $7,012,585,454 -
1979 $6,586,048,398 -
1978 $6,014,961,435 -
1977 $5,651,840,585 -
1976 $4,943,806,093 -
1975 $4,577,047,854 -
1974 $4,577,209,966 -
1973 $4,070,570,550 -
1972 $3,520,252,938 -
1971 $3,224,280,835 -
1970 $3,045,354,455 -
1969 $2,768,987,372 -
1968 $2,619,948,865 -
1967 $2,461,762,003 -
1966 $2,324,466,416 -
1965 $2,159,998,591 -
1964 $1,984,129,186 -
1963 $1,825,058,828 -
1962 $1,747,566,307 -
1961 $1,680,859,514 -
1960 $1,610,511,694 -

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

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

GDP per capita in Ethiopia vs North Korea by year

Ethiopia
GDP per capita

GDP per capita, PPP
North Korea
GDP per capita

GDP per capita, PPP
1x
Year Current $
Ethiopia North Korea
GDP per capita GDP per capita, PPP GDP per capita GDP per capita, PPP
2024 $1,134 $3,288 $1,319 -
2023 $1,056 $3,061 $1,217 -
2022 $982 $2,845 $1,100 -
2021 $893 $2,588 $1,231 -
2020 $830 $2,407 $1,061 -
2019 $793 $2,242 $1,084 -
2018 $740 $2,095 $1,100 -
2017 $696 $2,005 $1,127 -
2016 $642 $1,858 $1,124 -
2015 $598 $1,633 $1,201 $1,700
2014 $550 $1,485 $1,201 $1,800
2013 $484 $1,253 $1,208 -
2012 $452 $1,179 $1,186 -
2011 $343 $1,098 $1,156 $1,800
2010 $331 $996 $1,040 -
2009 $369 $899 $939 $1,800
2008 $316 $845 - $1,800
2007 $237.1 $770 - $1,700
2006 $189.3 $693 - $1,800
2005 $158.2 $625 - $1,700
2004 $133.2 $558 - $1,700
2003 $116.8 $493 - $1,300
2002 $109.6 $509 - $1,000
2001 $118.5 $509 - -
2000 $122.3 $474 - $1,000
1999 $120.7 $450 - $1,000
1998 $126.5 $436 - -
1997 $143.4 $461 - -
1996 $147.3 $453 - -
1995 $136.5 $409 - -
1994 $127.7 $391 - -
1993 $168.5 $384 - -
1992 $207.4 $343 - -
1991 $277.6 $383 - -
1990 $262.1 $417 - -
1989 $256.4 - - -
1988 $253.2 - - -
1987 $254.1 - - -
1986 $246 - - -
1985 $243.9 - - -
1984 $214.2 - - -
1983 $232.7 - - -
1982 $215.3 - - -
1981 $212.7 - - -
1980 $203.7 - - -
1979 $192.4 - - -
1978 $178.3 - - -
1977 $170.4 - - -
1976 $152 - - -
1975 $144.3 - - -
1974 $147.9 - - -
1973 $134.9 - - -
1972 $119.8 - - -
1971 $112.7 - - -
1970 $109.4 - - -
1969 $102.3 - - -
1968 $99.5 - - -
1967 $96.1 - - -
1966 $93.2 - - -
1965 $88.9 - - -
1964 $83.8 - - -
1963 $79.2 - - -
1962 $77.8 - - -
1961 $76.7 - - -
1960 $75.3 - - -

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/ethiopia/north-korea | CC BY

Ethiopia's GDP per capita is $1,134, ranking 171/197, compared to $1,319 in North Korea, ranking 168/197. Adjusted for purchasing power (GDP per capita PPP), Ethiopia ranks 175th at $3,288, while North Korea ranks 193rd at $1,700.

Economic indicators

Ethiopia North Korea
Gross domestic product
$150B
2024
$34.9B
2024
GDP rank
60/197
2024
106/197
2024
GDP growth
7.61%
2023-2024
n/a
GDP per capita
$1,134
2024
$1,319
2024
GDP per capita rank
171/197
2024
168/197
2024
GDP per capita, PPP
$3,288
2024
$1,700
2015
GDP per capita PPP rank
175/197
2024
193/197
2015
Government debt
$48.9B
2024
n/a
Debt-to-GDP ratio
32.7%
2024
n/a
Government debt per person
$370
2024
n/a
Government debt per person rank
172/185
2024
n/a
Average annual personal income after taxes
$1,946
2026
$1,426
2026
Income share by richest 10%
24.8%
2021
n/a
Income share by poorest 10%
3.5%
2021
n/a
Government expenditure, % of GDP
9.54%
2024
n/a
Consumer prices inflation
21%
2023-2024
n/a
Unemployment rate
3.94%
2021
25.6%
2013
Population
139917664
26659144

Top exports between countries

Ethiopia
Export category Export value
Raw agricultural goods $269K
North Korea
Export category Export value
Machinery & equipment $421K
Chemicals & pharma $75K

Balance of trade

Ethiopia North Korea
Current account balance
-$3.79B
2024
n/a
Current account balance ranking
160/190
2024
n/a
Current account balance, % of GDP
-2.53%
2024
n/a
Goods imports
$19.6B
2024
n/a
Goods exports
$5.58B
2024
n/a
Service imports
$5.51B
2024
n/a
Service exports
$7.61B
2024
n/a
Imports of goods and services, % of GDP
11.9%
2024
n/a
Exports of goods and services, % of GDP
5.54%
2024
n/a

Economic freedom indices

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

Ethiopia North Korea
Economic freedom 48.1 3.1
Economic freedom ranking 171/197 197/197
Property rights 22.1 16.3
Government integrity 33.2 4.3
Judicial effectiveness 19.1 6.3
Tax burden 78.6 0
Government spending 96.4 0
Fiscal health 84.3 0
Business freedom 44.5 5
Labor freedom 37.8 5
Monetary freedom 53.7 0
Trade freedom 57.4 0
Investment freedom 30 0
Financial freedom 20 0

Economic freedom comparison by year

Ethiopia
North Korea
1x
Year Economic freedom index
Ethiopia North Korea
2026 48.1 3.1
2025 48.1 3
2024 47.9 2.9
2023 48.3 2.9
2022 49.6 3
2021 51.7 5.2
2020 53.6 4.2
2019 53.6 5.9
2018 52.8 5.8
2017 52.7 4.9
2016 51.5 2.3
2015 51.5 1.3
2014 50 1
2013 49.4 1.5
2012 52 1
2011 50.5 1
2010 51.2 1
2009 53 2
2008 52.5 3
2007 53.6 3
2006 50.9 4
2005 51.1 8
2004 54.5 8.9
2003 48.8 8.9
2002 49.8 8.9
2001 48.9 8.9
2000 50.2 8.9
1999 46.7 8.9
1998 49.2 8.9
1997 48.1 8.9
1996 45.9 8.9
1995 42.6 8.9

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

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

The Economic Freedom Index for Ethiopia is 48.1, ranking 171/197, 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

Ethiopia North Korea
Services, % of GDP
37.5%
2024
n/a
Industry, % of GDP
25.4%
2024
n/a
Agriculture, forestry, and fishing, % of GDP
34.8%
2024
n/a
GNI, Atlas method
$146B
2024
n/a
GNI per capita, PPP
$3,280
2024
n/a
Total reserves including gold
$3.78B
2024
n/a
Total reserves ranking
109/177
2024
n/a
Net foreign direct investment
-$4.02B
2024
n/a
Net inflows of foreign direct investment
$4.02B
2024
$203K
1989
Net outflows of foreign direct investment
$0
2024
$0
2024
Servicing debt to the IMF, % of GNI
0.91%
2024
n/a
Poverty at national poverty lines
33.1%
2021
n/a
Gross capital formation, % of GDP
20.6%
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/ethiopia/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. 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.