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Economy of Hungary vs North Korea compared: GDP & Debt

Updated on by Georank

Hungary has a GDP of $246B compared to $34.9B for North Korea, ranking 55/197 and 109/197 by economy size, respectively.

Hungary vs North Korea GDP by year

Hungary
North Korea
1x
Year GDP, current $
Hungary North Korea
2025 $246,490,213,513 -
2024 $222,848,211,034 $34,943,120,000
2023 $213,029,511,029 $32,155,360,000
2022 $177,002,580,544 $28,971,360,000
2021 $183,282,685,440 $32,301,720,000
2020 $158,468,487,754 $27,728,240,000
2019 $164,936,682,034 $28,222,880,000
2018 $161,184,691,014 $28,536,400,000
2017 $143,335,098,992 $29,105,440,000
2016 $128,983,560,865 $28,882,640,000
2015 $125,244,126,623 $30,723,030,000
2014 $141,128,696,412 $30,554,460,000
2013 $135,646,053,779 $30,588,922,000
2012 $128,470,269,690 $29,890,710,000
2011 $141,712,804,954 $29,005,020,000
2010 $131,898,737,241 $25,995,513,000
2009 $130,807,441,076 $23,356,470,000
2008 $158,228,265,916 -
2007 $140,123,326,896 -
2006 $115,604,111,412 -
2005 $113,098,237,571 -
2004 $104,015,363,080 -
2003 $85,190,469,121 -
2002 $67,636,468,625 -
2001 $53,800,068,066 -
2000 $47,275,954,429 -
1999 $49,160,204,397 -
1998 $48,784,412,624 -
1997 $47,398,564,799 -
1996 $46,833,767,124 -
1995 $46,577,614,589 -
1994 $43,307,949,890 -
1993 $40,256,233,360 -
1992 $38,857,339,125 -
1991 $34,867,307,353 -
1990 $34,478,360,679 -
1989 $30,422,508,938 -
1988 $29,799,838,597 -
1987 $27,232,016,527 -
1986 $24,778,163,812 -
1985 $21,510,643,750 -
1984 $21,242,726,264 -
1983 $21,910,365,258 -
1982 $24,141,667,188 -
1981 $23,705,883,892 -
1980 $23,116,977,148 -
1979 $19,959,731,325 -
1978 $17,286,744,154 -
1977 $14,783,674,055 -
1976 $13,235,612,079 -
1975 $11,420,392,515 -
1974 $10,016,338,179 -
1973 $9,138,292,402 -
1972 $7,379,313,742 -
1971 $6,291,568,221 -
1970 $5,780,929,203 -
1969 $5,429,812,387 -
1968 $4,886,222,555 -

Data sources: World Bank | Economy & Growth (1968–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08).

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

GDP per capita in Hungary vs North Korea by year

Hungary
GDP per capita

GDP per capita, PPP
North Korea
GDP per capita

GDP per capita, PPP
1x
Year Current $
Hungary North Korea
GDP per capita GDP per capita, PPP GDP per capita GDP per capita, PPP
2025 $25,907 - - -
2024 $23,305 $48,552 $1,319 -
2023 $22,209 $46,592 $1,217 -
2022 $18,428 $44,366 $1,100 -
2021 $19,031 $38,887 $1,231 -
2020 $16,387 $35,584 $1,061 -
2019 $17,013 $35,627 $1,084 -
2018 $16,605 $32,258 $1,100 -
2017 $14,736 $29,728 $1,127 -
2016 $13,216 $28,179 $1,124 -
2015 $12,783 $26,938 $1,201 $1,700
2014 $14,353 $25,796 $1,201 $1,800
2013 $13,739 $24,592 $1,208 -
2012 $12,950 $23,205 $1,186 -
2011 $14,211 $22,992 $1,156 $1,800
2010 $13,190 $21,691 $1,040 -
2009 $13,051 $20,691 $939 $1,800
2008 $15,763 $20,709 - $1,800
2007 $13,935 $19,089 - $1,700
2006 $11,478 $18,362 - $1,800
2005 $11,212 $17,091 - $1,700
2004 $10,291 $16,251 - $1,700
2003 $8,410 $15,460 - $1,300
2002 $6,658 $14,532 - $1,000
2001 $5,281 $13,223 - -
2000 $4,630 $11,872 - $1,000
1999 $4,802 $10,892 - $1,000
1998 $4,752 $10,415 - -
1997 $4,606 $9,846 - -
1996 $4,542 $9,388 - -
1995 $4,509 $9,222 - -
1994 $4,187 $8,888 - -
1993 $3,887 $8,441 - -
1992 $3,747 $8,284 - -
1991 $3,361 $8,352 - -
1990 $3,324 $9,169 - -
1989 $2,902 - - -
1988 $2,812 - - -
1987 $2,566 - - -
1986 $2,331 - - -
1985 $2,020 - - -
1984 $1,991 - - -
1983 $2,050 - - -
1982 $2,255 - - -
1981 $2,213 - - -
1980 $2,158 - - -
1979 $1,865 - - -
1978 $1,618 - - -
1977 $1,388 - - -
1976 $1,249 - - -
1975 $1,083 - - -
1974 $956 - - -
1973 $876 - - -
1972 $710 - - -
1971 $607 - - -
1970 $559 - - -
1969 $527 - - -
1968 $476 - - -

Data sources: World Bank | Economy & Growth (1968–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08); Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) (1999–2015, retrieved 2026-07-08).

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

Hungary's GDP per capita is $25,907, ranking 52/197, compared to $1,319 in North Korea, ranking 169/197. Adjusted for purchasing power (GDP per capita PPP), Hungary ranks 48th at $48,552, while North Korea ranks 193rd at $1,700.

Economic indicators

Hungary North Korea
Gross domestic product
$246B
2025
$34.9B
2024
GDP rank
55/197
2025
109/197
2024
GDP growth
0.51%
2024-2025
n/a
GDP per capita
$25,907
2025
$1,319
2024
GDP per capita rank
52/197
2025
169/197
2024
GDP per capita, PPP
$48,552
2024
$1,700
2015
GDP per capita PPP rank
48/197
2024
193/197
2015
Government debt
$185B
2025
n/a
Debt-to-GDP ratio
75.2%
2025
n/a
Government debt per person
$19,473
2025
n/a
Government debt per person rank
33/185
2025
n/a
Average annual personal income after taxes
$18,331
2026
$1,707
2026
Market capitalization of domestic companies
$62.6B
2025
n/a
Number of millionaires
27,000
2026
n/a
Number of billionaires
4
2026
n/a
Income share by richest 10%
24.4%
2022
n/a
Income share by poorest 10%
2.8%
2022
n/a
Government expenditure, % of GDP
47.5%
2025
n/a
Consumer prices inflation
4.41%
2024-2025
n/a
Central bank interest rate
6.25%
2026
n/a
Unemployment rate
4.4%
2025
25.6%
2013
Population
9454659
26668308

Top exports between countries

Hungary
Export category Export value
Chemicals & pharma $3K
Animal & marine products $1K
North Korea
Export category Export value

Balance of trade

Hungary North Korea
Current account balance
$4.08B
2025
n/a
Current account balance ranking
34/190
2025
n/a
Current account balance, % of GDP
+1.65%
2025
n/a
Goods imports
$139B
2025
n/a
Goods exports
$136B
2025
n/a
Service imports
$29.8B
2025
n/a
Service exports
$43.1B
2025
n/a
Imports of goods and services, % of GDP
68.1%
2025
n/a
Exports of goods and services, % of GDP
72.6%
2025
n/a

Economic freedom indices

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

Hungary North Korea
Economic freedom 62.5 3.1
Economic freedom ranking 86/197 197/197
Property rights 67.3 16.3
Government integrity 44 4.3
Judicial effectiveness 61.9 6.3
Tax burden 85.1 0
Government spending 30.2 0
Fiscal health 32.7 0
Business freedom 70.8 5
Labor freedom 56.5 5
Monetary freedom 72.1 0
Trade freedom 79.4 0
Investment freedom 80 0
Financial freedom 70 0

Economic freedom comparison by year

Hungary
North Korea
1x
Year Economic freedom index
Hungary North Korea
2026 62.5 3.1
2025 61.4 3
2024 61.2 2.9
2023 64.1 2.9
2022 66.9 3
2021 67.2 5.2
2020 66.4 4.2
2019 65 5.9
2018 66.7 5.8
2017 65.8 4.9
2016 66 2.3
2015 66.8 1.3
2014 67 1
2013 67.3 1.5
2012 67.1 1
2011 66.6 1
2010 66.1 1
2009 66.8 2
2008 67.6 3
2007 64.8 3
2006 65 4
2005 63.5 8
2004 62.7 8.9
2003 63 8.9
2002 64.5 8.9
2001 65.6 8.9
2000 64.4 8.9
1999 59.6 8.9
1998 56.9 8.9
1997 55.3 8.9
1996 56.8 8.9
1995 55.2 8.9

Data sources: The Heritage Foundation | Economic Freedom Index (1995–2026, retrieved 2026-07-08).

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

The Economic Freedom Index for Hungary is 62.5, ranking 86/197, 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

Hungary North Korea
Services, % of GDP
60.1%
2025
n/a
Industry, % of GDP
23%
2025
n/a
Agriculture, forestry, and fishing, % of GDP
2.65%
2025
n/a
GNI, Atlas method
$227B
2025
n/a
GNI per capita, PPP
$48,630
2025
n/a
Total reserves including gold
$59.1B
2025
n/a
Total reserves ranking
42/177
2025
n/a
Net foreign direct investment
$9.1B
2025
n/a
Net inflows of foreign direct investment
-$61.3B
2024
$203K
1989
Net outflows of foreign direct investment
-$76.3B
2024
$0
2024
Poverty at national poverty lines
12.1%
2021
n/a
Gross capital formation, % of GDP
22.2%
2025
n/a

GDP per capita map

1x

Data sources: World Bank | Economy & Growth (1985–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08); U.S. Census Bureau (1985–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08).

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

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Data sources:

  1. World Bank | Economy & Growth (1968–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08)
  2. The Heritage Foundation | Economic Freedom Index (1995–2026, retrieved 2026-07-08)
  3. U.S. Census Bureau (1985–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08)
  4. Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) (1999–2015, retrieved 2026-07-08)
  5. International Monetary Fund (IMF) | Fiscal Monitor (2025, retrieved 2026-07-08)
  6. TradeMap (2021–2022, retrieved 2026-07-08)
  7. United Nations | World Population Prospects (2026, retrieved 2026-07-08)
  8. LivingCost (2026, retrieved 2026-07-08)

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.