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Economy of Gambia vs North Korea compared: GDP & Debt

Updated on by Georank team

The Gambia has a GDP of $2.4B compared to $34.9B for North Korea, ranking 174/197 and 106/197 by economy size, respectively.

Gambia vs North Korea GDP by year

Gambia
North Korea
1x
Year GDP, current $
Gambia North Korea
2024 $2,404,888,749 $34,943,120,000
2023 $2,382,262,185 $32,155,360,000
2022 $2,204,734,528 $28,971,360,000
2021 $2,014,158,842 $32,301,720,000
2020 $1,812,170,891 $27,728,240,000
2019 $1,813,609,692 $28,222,880,000
2018 $1,670,671,328 $28,536,400,000
2017 $1,504,909,463 $29,105,440,000
2016 $1,484,578,886 $28,882,640,000
2015 $1,378,176,609 $30,723,030,000
2014 $1,229,461,721 $30,554,460,000
2013 $1,375,609,453 $30,588,922,000
2012 $1,415,004,738 $29,890,710,000
2011 $1,409,693,597 $29,005,020,000
2010 $1,543,294,927 $25,995,513,000
2009 $1,450,142,509 $23,356,470,000
2008 $1,561,766,956 -
2007 $1,279,703,047 -
2006 $1,054,112,488 -
2005 $1,027,701,068 -
2004 $961,900,651 -
2003 $487,038,685 -
2002 $578,235,309 -
2001 $687,410,645 -
2000 $782,913,872 -
1999 $814,724,032 -
1998 $840,285,265 -
1997 $803,633,342 -
1996 $848,239,446 -
1995 $785,999,865 -
1994 $746,493,952 -
1993 $755,040,974 -
1992 $714,254,256 -
1991 $690,311,081 -
1990 $317,083,695 -
1989 $284,120,329 -
1988 $266,672,212 -
1987 $220,626,484 -
1986 $185,646,987 -
1985 $225,726,359 -
1984 $177,340,880 -
1983 $213,448,585 -
1982 $216,050,552 -
1981 $218,767,743 -
1980 $241,083,090 -
1979 $207,112,628 -
1978 $171,833,086 -
1977 $138,093,099 -
1976 $112,190,829 -
1975 $115,179,719 -
1974 $95,796,022 -
1973 $75,187,749 -
1972 $59,160,569 -
1971 $55,728,663 -
1970 $52,296,084 -
1969 $45,168,072 -
1968 $41,160,066 -
1967 $46,695,007 -
1966 $44,212,081 -

Data sources: World Bank | Economy & Growth (1966–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06).

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

GDP per capita in Gambia vs North Korea by year

Gambia
GDP per capita

GDP per capita, PPP
North Korea
GDP per capita

GDP per capita, PPP
1x
Year Current $
Gambia North Korea
GDP per capita GDP per capita, PPP GDP per capita GDP per capita, PPP
2024 $871 $3,476 $1,319 -
2023 $883 $3,289 $1,217 -
2022 $836 $3,067 $1,100 -
2021 $782 $2,778 $1,231 -
2020 $720 $2,531 $1,061 -
2019 $738 $2,422 $1,084 -
2018 $696 $2,277 $1,100 -
2017 $643 $2,039 $1,127 -
2016 $650 $2,013 $1,124 -
2015 $620 $1,990 $1,201 $1,700
2014 $568 $1,934 $1,201 $1,800
2013 $654 $2,007 $1,208 -
2012 $693 $2,065 $1,186 -
2011 $711 $2,064 $1,156 $1,800
2010 $801 $2,267 $1,040 -
2009 $775 $2,177 $939 $1,800
2008 $859 $2,088 - $1,800
2007 $725 $1,985 - $1,700
2006 $615 $1,931 - $1,800
2005 $616 $1,938 - $1,700
2004 $593 $1,979 - $1,700
2003 $309 $1,850 - $1,300
2002 $377 $1,744 - $1,000
2001 $460 $1,823 - -
2000 $538 $1,731 - $1,000
1999 $575 $1,649 - $1,000
1998 $610 $1,572 - -
1997 $600 $1,544 - -
1996 $652 $1,489 - -
1995 $622 $1,472 - -
1994 $608 $1,473 - -
1993 $635 $1,487 - -
1992 $623 $1,462 - -
1991 $628 $1,440 - -
1990 $301 $1,409 - -
1989 $280.9 - - -
1988 $274.9 - - -
1987 $237 - - -
1986 $207.7 - - -
1985 $262.8 - - -
1984 $214.8 - - -
1983 $268.6 - - -
1982 $282.1 - - -
1981 $296 - - -
1980 $338 - - -
1979 $300 - - -
1978 $257.6 - - -
1977 $213.8 - - -
1976 $179.3 - - -
1975 $189.8 - - -
1974 $162.6 - - -
1973 $131.4 - - -
1972 $106.5 - - -
1971 $103.3 - - -
1970 $99.8 - - -
1969 $88.7 - - -
1968 $83.1 - - -
1967 $97 - - -
1966 $94.4 - - -

Data sources: World Bank | Economy & Growth (1966–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06); Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) (1999–2015, retrieved 2026-02-20).

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

The Gambia's GDP per capita is $871, ranking 183/197, compared to $1,319 in North Korea, ranking 168/197. Adjusted for purchasing power (GDP per capita PPP), the Gambia ranks 172nd at $3,476, while North Korea ranks 193rd at $1,700.

Economic indicators

Gambia North Korea
Gross domestic product
$2.4B
2024
$34.9B
2024
GDP rank
174/197
2024
106/197
2024
GDP growth
5.55%
2023-2024
n/a
GDP per capita
$871
2024
$1,319
2024
GDP per capita rank
183/197
2024
168/197
2024
GDP per capita, PPP
$3,476
2024
$1,700
2015
GDP per capita PPP rank
172/197
2024
193/197
2015
Government debt
$1.92B
2024
n/a
Debt-to-GDP ratio
80%
2024
n/a
Government debt per person
$697
2024
n/a
Government debt per person rank
155/185
2024
n/a
Average annual personal income after taxes
$741
2026
$1,426
2026
Income share by richest 10%
30.5%
2020
n/a
Income share by poorest 10%
2.6%
2020
n/a
Government expenditure, % of GDP
25.8%
2024
n/a
Consumer prices inflation
11.6%
2023-2024
n/a
Central bank interest rate
17%
2023
n/a
Unemployment rate
6.48%
2023
25.6%
2013
Population
2902554
26659144

Top exports between countries

Gambia
Export category Export value
Animal & marine products $77K
Processed food, beverages & tobacco $5K
Metals $2K
North Korea
Export category Export value
Machinery & equipment $398K
Textiles & consumer goods $30K
Wood & paper products $30K
Chemicals & pharma $20K
Raw materials & minerals $20K
Miscellaneous $4K

Balance of trade

Gambia North Korea
Current account balance
-$99.8M
2024
n/a
Current account balance ranking
88/190
2024
n/a
Current account balance, % of GDP
-4.15%
2024
n/a
Goods imports
$1.39B
2024
n/a
Goods exports
$363M
2024
n/a
Service imports
$161M
2024
n/a
Service exports
$485M
2024
n/a
Imports of goods and services, % of GDP
33.4%
2024
n/a
Exports of goods and services, % of GDP
8.75%
2024
n/a

Economic freedom indices

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

Gambia North Korea
Economic freedom 56.3 3.1
Economic freedom ranking 123/197 197/197
Property rights 55.4 16.3
Government integrity 40.5 4.3
Judicial effectiveness 45.8 6.3
Tax burden 79.2 0
Government spending 81.1 0
Fiscal health 54.8 0
Business freedom 50.1 5
Labor freedom 46.4 5
Monetary freedom 57.3 0
Trade freedom 64.8 0
Investment freedom 50 0
Financial freedom 50 0

Economic freedom comparison by year

Gambia
North Korea
1x
Year Economic freedom index
Gambia North Korea
2026 56.3 3.1
2025 56.8 3
2024 58.2 2.9
2023 57.9 2.9
2022 58 3
2021 58.8 5.2
2020 56.3 4.2
2019 52.4 5.9
2018 52.3 5.8
2017 53.4 4.9
2016 57.1 2.3
2015 57.5 1.3
2014 59.5 1
2013 58.8 1.5
2012 58.8 1
2011 57.4 1
2010 55.1 1
2009 55.8 2
2008 56.9 3
2007 57.7 3
2006 57.3 4
2005 56.5 8
2004 55.3 8.9
2003 56.3 8.9
2002 57.7 8.9
2001 56.6 8.9
2000 52.7 8.9
1999 52.1 8.9
1998 53.4 8.9
1997 52.9 8.9
1996 - 8.9
1995 - 8.9

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

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

The Economic Freedom Index for the Gambia is 56.3, ranking 123/197, 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

Gambia North Korea
Services, % of GDP
56.8%
2024
n/a
Industry, % of GDP
15.3%
2024
n/a
Agriculture, forestry, and fishing, % of GDP
20.4%
2024
n/a
GNI, Atlas method
$2.43B
2024
n/a
GNI per capita, PPP
$3,430
2024
n/a
Total reserves including gold
$629M
2024
n/a
Total reserves ranking
151/177
2024
n/a
Net foreign direct investment
-$232M
2024
n/a
Net inflows of foreign direct investment
$232M
2024
$203K
1989
Net outflows of foreign direct investment
-$665K
2024
$0
2024
Servicing debt to the IMF, % of GNI
3.25%
2024
n/a
Poverty at national poverty lines
53.4%
2020
n/a
Gross capital formation, % of GDP
29.9%
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/gambia/north-korea | CC BY

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Data sources:

  1. World Bank | Economy & Growth (1966–2024, 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 (2022–2024, 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.