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Economy of Finland vs North Korea compared: GDP & Debt

Updated on by Georank team

Finland has a GDP of $299B compared to $34.9B for North Korea, ranking 47/197 and 106/197 by economy size, respectively.

Finland vs North Korea GDP by year

Finland
North Korea
1x
Year GDP, current $
Finland North Korea
2024 $298,696,961,298 $34,943,120,000
2023 $295,021,982,463 $32,155,360,000
2022 $280,253,099,309 $28,971,360,000
2021 $294,223,210,496 $32,301,720,000
2020 $270,000,311,606 $27,728,240,000
2019 $267,014,821,129 $28,222,880,000
2018 $273,869,255,596 $28,536,400,000
2017 $253,846,138,440 $29,105,440,000
2016 $238,777,818,793 $28,882,640,000
2015 $233,210,733,506 $30,723,030,000
2014 $273,478,528,955 $30,554,460,000
2013 $270,268,036,626 $30,588,922,000
2012 $257,443,384,493 $29,890,710,000
2011 $275,126,915,516 $29,005,020,000
2010 $249,429,613,683 $25,995,513,000
2009 $253,480,783,439 $23,356,470,000
2008 $285,698,662,071 -
2007 $256,360,251,538 -
2006 $217,044,068,234 -
2005 $204,859,368,791 -
2004 $197,458,297,640 -
2003 $171,612,867,736 -
2002 $140,360,963,812 -
2001 $129,519,672,869 -
2000 $125,967,821,111 -
1999 $135,234,241,918 -
1998 $133,990,876,725 -
1997 $126,862,902,302 -
1996 $131,991,975,149 -
1995 $134,060,457,516 -
1994 $103,182,697,780 -
1993 $89,112,105,756 -
1992 $112,537,828,511 -
1991 $127,794,441,994 -
1990 $141,446,120,355 -
1989 $118,991,270,611 -
1988 $109,039,090,263 -
1987 $91,564,993,913 -
1986 $73,511,611,541 -
1985 $55,856,676,899 -
1984 $52,870,993,273 -
1983 $50,956,447,481 -
1982 $52,784,013,815 -
1981 $52,440,066,134 -
1980 $53,649,984,061 -
1979 $44,469,218,440 -
1978 $36,259,392,058 -
1977 $33,502,784,418 -
1976 $31,852,352,670 -
1975 $29,475,251,333 -
1974 $24,851,036,710 -
1973 $19,474,098,335 -
1972 $14,744,499,570 -
1971 $12,528,522,307 -
1970 $11,358,529,162 -
1969 $10,177,524,839 -
1968 $8,916,565,041 -
1967 $9,468,272,357 -
1966 $9,306,142,172 -
1965 $8,680,393,839 -
1964 $7,848,987,793 -
1963 $6,958,916,548 -
1962 $6,407,796,043 -
1961 $5,984,433,774 -
1960 $5,279,481,824 -

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

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

GDP per capita in Finland vs North Korea by year

Finland
GDP per capita

GDP per capita, PPP
North Korea
GDP per capita

GDP per capita, PPP
1x
Year Current $
Finland North Korea
GDP per capita GDP per capita, PPP GDP per capita GDP per capita, PPP
2024 $53,150 $65,378 $1,319 -
2023 $52,834 $63,415 $1,217 -
2022 $50,441 $62,133 $1,100 -
2021 $53,099 $56,790 $1,231 -
2020 $48,829 $53,297 $1,061 -
2019 $48,358 $52,276 $1,084 -
2018 $49,654 $49,249 $1,100 -
2017 $46,085 $47,235 $1,127 -
2016 $43,451 $44,562 $1,124 -
2015 $42,560 $42,258 $1,201 $1,700
2014 $50,074 $41,547 $1,201 $1,800
2013 $49,691 $41,326 $1,208 -
2012 $47,552 $40,739 $1,186 -
2011 $51,060 $40,846 $1,156 $1,800
2010 $46,506 $38,946 $1,040 -
2009 $47,478 $37,988 $939 $1,800
2008 $53,769 $40,081 - $1,800
2007 $48,473 $37,843 - $1,700
2006 $41,214 $34,440 - $1,800
2005 $39,050 $32,048 - $1,700
2004 $37,768 $31,195 - $1,700
2003 $32,920 $29,043 - $1,300
2002 $26,989 $28,596 - $1,000
2001 $24,965 $27,798 - -
2000 $24,336 $26,783 - $1,000
1999 $26,180 $24,762 - $1,000
1998 $26,000 $23,570 - -
1997 $24,682 $21,787 - -
1996 $25,757 $20,067 - -
1995 $26,246 $19,568 - -
1994 $20,278 $18,458 - -
1993 $17,589 $17,458 - -
1992 $22,320 $17,271 - -
1991 $25,489 $17,563 - -
1990 $28,366 $18,149 - -
1989 $23,969 - - -
1988 $22,044 - - -
1987 $18,565 - - -
1986 $14,947 - - -
1985 $11,394 - - -
1984 $10,830 - - -
1983 $10,494 - - -
1982 $10,935 - - -
1981 $10,925 - - -
1980 $11,225 - - -
1979 $9,333 - - -
1978 $7,629 - - -
1977 $7,070 - - -
1976 $6,740 - - -
1975 $6,256 - - -
1974 $5,298 - - -
1973 $4,174 - - -
1972 $3,178 - - -
1971 $2,716 - - -
1970 $2,466 - - -
1969 $2,201 - - -
1968 $1,927 - - -
1967 $2,056 - - -
1966 $2,032 - - -
1965 $1,902 - - -
1964 $1,726 - - -
1963 $1,538 - - -
1962 $1,427 - - -
1961 $1,341 - - -
1960 $1,192 - - -

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/finland/north-korea | CC BY

Finland's GDP per capita is $53,150, ranking 23/197, compared to $1,319 in North Korea, ranking 168/197. Adjusted for purchasing power (GDP per capita PPP), Finland ranks 27th at $65,378, while North Korea ranks 193rd at $1,700.

Economic indicators

Finland North Korea
Gross domestic product
$299B
2024
$34.9B
2024
GDP rank
47/197
2024
106/197
2024
GDP growth
0.42%
2023-2024
n/a
GDP per capita
$53,150
2024
$1,319
2024
GDP per capita rank
23/197
2024
168/197
2024
GDP per capita, PPP
$65,378
2024
$1,700
2015
GDP per capita PPP rank
27/197
2024
193/197
2015
Government debt
$245B
2024
n/a
Debt-to-GDP ratio
82.1%
2024
n/a
Government debt per person
$43,662
2024
n/a
Government debt per person rank
12/185
2024
n/a
Average annual personal income after taxes
$36,394
2026
$1,426
2026
Market capitalization of domestic companies
$20.3B
2004
n/a
Number of billionaires
7
2025
n/a
Income share by richest 10%
22.5%
2023
n/a
Income share by poorest 10%
3.7%
2023
n/a
Government expenditure, % of GDP
57.7%
2024
n/a
Consumer prices inflation
1.57%
2023-2024
n/a
Unemployment rate
8.34%
2024
25.6%
2013
Population
5631965
26659144

Top exports between countries

Finland
Export category Export value
North Korea
Export category Export value
Machinery & equipment $80K
Chemicals & pharma $7K
Processed food, beverages & tobacco $7K
Textiles & consumer goods $5K
Miscellaneous $2K

Balance of trade

Finland North Korea
Current account balance
-$1.99B
2024
n/a
Current account balance ranking
143/190
2024
n/a
Current account balance, % of GDP
-0.67%
2024
n/a
Goods imports
$76.6B
2024
n/a
Goods exports
$83.1B
2024
n/a
Service imports
$47.4B
2024
n/a
Service exports
$42B
2024
n/a
Imports of goods and services, % of GDP
41.6%
2024
n/a
Exports of goods and services, % of GDP
41.9%
2024
n/a

Economic freedom indices

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

Finland North Korea
Economic freedom 76.6 3.1
Economic freedom ranking 15/197 197/197
Property rights 99.9 16.3
Government integrity 95.4 4.3
Judicial effectiveness 96.4 6.3
Tax burden 68.4 0
Government spending 7.9 0
Fiscal health 76.3 0
Business freedom 85.3 5
Labor freedom 65.4 5
Monetary freedom 80.3 0
Trade freedom 79.4 0
Investment freedom 85 0
Financial freedom 80 0

Economic freedom comparison by year

Finland
North Korea
1x
Year Economic freedom index
Finland North Korea
2026 76.6 3.1
2025 77 3
2024 76.3 2.9
2023 77.1 2.9
2022 78.3 3
2021 76.1 5.2
2020 75.7 4.2
2019 74.9 5.9
2018 74.1 5.8
2017 74 4.9
2016 72.6 2.3
2015 73.4 1.3
2014 73.4 1
2013 74 1.5
2012 72.3 1
2011 74 1
2010 73.8 1
2009 74.5 2
2008 74.6 3
2007 74 3
2006 72.9 4
2005 71 8
2004 73.4 8.9
2003 73.7 8.9
2002 73.6 8.9
2001 69.7 8.9
2000 64.3 8.9
1999 63.9 8.9
1998 63.5 8.9
1997 65.2 8.9
1996 63.7 8.9
1995 - 8.9

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

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

The Economic Freedom Index for Finland is 76.6, ranking 15/197, 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

Finland North Korea
Services, % of GDP
62.2%
2024
n/a
Industry, % of GDP
22.8%
2024
n/a
Agriculture, forestry, and fishing, % of GDP
2.47%
2024
n/a
GNI, Atlas method
$290B
2024
n/a
GNI per capita, PPP
$65,640
2024
n/a
Total reserves including gold
$18B
2024
n/a
Total reserves ranking
65/177
2024
n/a
Net foreign direct investment
$3.28B
2024
n/a
Net inflows of foreign direct investment
$8.74B
2024
$203K
1989
Net outflows of foreign direct investment
$12B
2024
$0
2024
Poverty at national poverty lines
12.2%
2022
n/a
Gross capital formation, % of GDP
22.3%
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/finland/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 (2024, 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.

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.