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Economy of India vs North Korea compared: GDP & Debt

Updated on by Georank

India has a GDP of $3.96T compared to $34.9B for North Korea, ranking 6/197 and 109/197 by economy size, respectively.

India vs North Korea GDP by year

India
North Korea
1x
Year GDP, current $
India North Korea
2025 $3,956,067,115,772 -
2024 $3,760,813,470,501 $34,943,120,000
2023 $3,500,906,030,645 $32,155,360,000
2022 $3,249,938,492,013 $28,971,360,000
2021 $3,167,270,623,260 $32,301,720,000
2020 $2,674,851,578,587 $27,728,240,000
2019 $2,835,606,256,558 $28,222,880,000
2018 $2,702,929,641,649 $28,536,400,000
2017 $2,651,474,262,755 $29,105,440,000
2016 $2,294,796,885,663 $28,882,640,000
2015 $2,103,588,360,045 $30,723,030,000
2014 $2,039,126,479,155 $30,554,460,000
2013 $1,856,721,507,622 $30,588,922,000
2012 $1,827,637,590,410 $29,890,710,000
2011 $1,823,051,829,895 $29,005,020,000
2010 $1,675,615,519,485 $25,995,513,000
2009 $1,341,888,016,995 $23,356,470,000
2008 $1,198,895,139,006 -
2007 $1,216,736,438,835 -
2006 $940,259,888,788 -
2005 $820,383,763,511 -
2004 $709,152,728,831 -
2003 $607,700,687,237 -
2002 $514,939,140,319 -
2001 $485,440,139,204 -
2000 $468,395,521,654 -
1999 $458,821,052,616 -
1998 $421,351,317,225 -
1997 $415,867,563,593 -
1996 $392,896,866,205 -
1995 $360,281,909,643 -
1994 $327,274,843,459 -
1993 $279,295,648,983 -
1992 $288,208,070,278 -
1991 $270,105,341,879 -
1990 $320,979,026,420 -
1989 $296,042,052,945 -
1988 $296,589,670,896 -
1987 $279,033,584,092 -
1986 $248,985,994,041 -
1985 $232,511,554,840 -
1984 $212,157,645,178 -
1983 $218,262,146,413 -
1982 $200,715,624,831 -
1981 $193,491,368,446 -
1980 $186,328,579,302 -
1979 $152,995,442,498 -
1978 $137,302,319,829 -
1977 $121,486,641,441 -
1976 $102,716,451,980 -
1975 $98,473,832,017 -
1974 $99,526,597,934 -
1973 $85,517,673,173 -
1972 $71,464,700,667 -
1971 $67,351,404,352 -
1970 $62,422,483,055 -
1969 $58,447,995,017 -
1968 $53,085,455,871 -
1967 $50,134,942,204 -
1966 $45,581,230,504 -
1965 $59,556,105,229 -
1964 $56,480,289,941 -
1963 $48,421,923,459 -
1962 $42,161,481,858 -
1961 $39,232,435,784 -
1960 $37,029,883,876 -

Data sources: World Bank | Economy & Growth (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08).

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

GDP per capita in India vs North Korea by year

India
GDP per capita

GDP per capita, PPP
North Korea
GDP per capita

GDP per capita, PPP
1x
Year Current $
India North Korea
GDP per capita GDP per capita, PPP GDP per capita GDP per capita, PPP
2025 $2,702 - - -
2024 $2,592 $11,160 $1,319 -
2023 $2,434 $10,323 $1,217 -
2022 $2,280 $9,207 $1,100 -
2021 $2,240 $8,050 $1,231 -
2020 $1,907 $6,966 $1,061 -
2019 $2,041 $7,151 $1,084 -
2018 $1,966 $6,715 $1,100 -
2017 $1,950 $6,145 $1,127 -
2016 $1,708 $5,800 $1,124 -
2015 $1,584 $5,425 $1,201 $1,700
2014 $1,554 $5,192 $1,201 $1,800
2013 $1,433 $5,014 $1,208 -
2012 $1,429 $4,820 $1,186 -
2011 $1,445 $4,455 $1,156 $1,800
2010 $1,348 $4,206 $1,040 -
2009 $1,095 $3,887 $939 $1,800
2008 $993 $3,633 - $1,800
2007 $1,022 $3,508 - $1,700
2006 $802 $3,221 - $1,800
2005 $710 $2,937 - $1,700
2004 $624 $2,682 - $1,700
2003 $544 $2,461 - $1,300
2002 $469 $2,277 - $1,000
2001 $450 $2,200 - -
2000 $443 $2,091 - $1,000
1999 $442 $2,006 - $1,000
1998 $414 $1,852 - -
1997 $416 $1,759 - -
1996 $401 $1,695 - -
1995 $375 $1,579 - -
1994 $348 $1,467 - -
1993 $303 $1,374 - -
1992 $319 $1,309 - -
1991 $306 $1,239 - -
1990 $371 $1,212 - -
1989 $350 - - -
1988 $358 - - -
1987 $345 - - -
1986 $315 - - -
1985 $301 - - -
1984 $281 - - -
1983 $296 - - -
1982 $278.7 - - -
1981 $275 - - -
1980 $271.1 - - -
1979 $228 - - -
1978 $209.4 - - -
1977 $189.6 - - -
1976 $164.1 - - -
1975 $161.1 - - -
1974 $166.7 - - -
1973 $146.6 - - -
1972 $125.3 - - -
1971 $120.7 - - -
1970 $114.4 - - -
1969 $109.5 - - -
1968 $101.6 - - -
1967 $98 - - -
1966 $91 - - -
1965 $121.5 - - -
1964 $117.9 - - -
1963 $103.4 - - -
1962 $92.2 - - -
1961 $87.9 - - -
1960 $84.9 - - -

Data sources: World Bank | Economy & Growth (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08); Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) (1999–2015, retrieved 2026-07-08).

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

India's GDP per capita is $2,702, ranking 149/197, compared to $1,319 in North Korea, ranking 169/197. Adjusted for purchasing power (GDP per capita PPP), India ranks 130th at $11,160, while North Korea ranks 193rd at $1,700.

Economic indicators

India North Korea
Gross domestic product
$3.96T
2025
$34.9B
2024
GDP rank
6/197
2025
109/197
2024
GDP growth
7.57%
2024-2025
n/a
GDP per capita
$2,702
2025
$1,319
2024
GDP per capita rank
149/197
2025
169/197
2024
GDP per capita, PPP
$11,160
2024
$1,700
2015
GDP per capita PPP rank
130/197
2024
193/197
2015
Government debt
$3.33T
2025
n/a
Debt-to-GDP ratio
84.1%
2025
n/a
Government debt per person
$2,272
2025
n/a
Government debt per person rank
116/185
2025
n/a
Average annual personal income after taxes
$2,974
2026
$1,707
2026
Market capitalization of domestic companies
$10.6T
2025
n/a
Number of millionaires
944,000
2026
n/a
Number of billionaires
229
2026
n/a
Income share by richest 10%
22.1%
2022
n/a
Income share by poorest 10%
4.5%
2022
n/a
Government expenditure, % of GDP
28.5%
2025
n/a
Consumer prices inflation
2.4%
2024-2025
n/a
Central bank interest rate
5.25%
2025
n/a
Unemployment rate
4.51%
2025
25.6%
2013
Population
1483314140
26668308

Top exports between countries

India
Export category Export value
Chemicals & pharma $4.54M
Metals $1.69M
Textiles & consumer goods $598K
Raw agricultural goods $430K
Precious metals & jewellery $181K
Raw materials & minerals $137K
Animal & marine products $121K
Machinery & equipment $62K
Processed food, beverages & tobacco $24K
Miscellaneous $1K
North Korea
Export category Export value
Chemicals & pharma $361K
Machinery & equipment $223K
Precious metals & jewellery $212K
Textiles & consumer goods $32K
Metals $13K
Wood & paper products $1K

Balance of trade

India North Korea
Current account balance
-$16.5B
2025
n/a
Current account balance ranking
182/190
2025
n/a
Current account balance, % of GDP
-0.42%
2025
n/a
Goods imports
$761B
2025
n/a
Goods exports
$450B
2025
n/a
Service imports
$203B
2025
n/a
Service exports
$412B
2025
n/a
Imports of goods and services, % of GDP
24%
2025
n/a
Exports of goods and services, % of GDP
22.3%
2025
n/a

Economic freedom indices

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

India North Korea
Economic freedom 52.5 3.1
Economic freedom ranking 146/197 197/197
Property rights 48.3 16.3
Government integrity 37.8 4.3
Judicial effectiveness 52.6 6.3
Tax burden 71.2 0
Government spending 75.7 0
Fiscal health 6.7 0
Business freedom 67.4 5
Labor freedom 59 5
Monetary freedom 70.9 0
Trade freedom 61 0
Investment freedom 40 0
Financial freedom 40 0

Economic freedom comparison by year

India
North Korea
1x
Year Economic freedom index
India North Korea
2026 52.5 3.1
2025 53 3
2024 52.9 2.9
2023 52.9 2.9
2022 53.9 3
2021 56.5 5.2
2020 56.5 4.2
2019 55.2 5.9
2018 54.5 5.8
2017 52.6 4.9
2016 56.2 2.3
2015 54.6 1.3
2014 55.7 1
2013 55.2 1.5
2012 54.6 1
2011 54.6 1
2010 53.8 1
2009 54.4 2
2008 54.1 3
2007 53.9 3
2006 52.2 4
2005 54.2 8
2004 51.5 8.9
2003 51.2 8.9
2002 51.2 8.9
2001 49 8.9
2000 47.4 8.9
1999 50.2 8.9
1998 49.7 8.9
1997 49.7 8.9
1996 47.4 8.9
1995 45.1 8.9

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

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

The Economic Freedom Index for India is 52.5, ranking 146/197, 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

India North Korea
Services, % of GDP
49.3%
2025
n/a
Industry, % of GDP
25.2%
2025
n/a
Agriculture, forestry, and fishing, % of GDP
16.2%
2025
n/a
GNI, Atlas method
$4.04T
2025
n/a
GNI per capita, PPP
$11,600
2025
n/a
Total reserves including gold
$700B
2025
n/a
Total reserves ranking
5/177
2025
n/a
Net foreign direct investment
-$3.41B
2025
n/a
Net inflows of foreign direct investment
$27.1B
2024
$203K
1989
Net outflows of foreign direct investment
$24.2B
2024
$0
2024
Servicing debt to the IMF, % of GNI
2.47%
2024
n/a
Poverty at national poverty lines
21.9%
2011
n/a
Gross capital formation, % of GDP
34.6%
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/india/north-korea | CC BY

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Data sources:

  1. World Bank | Economy & Growth (1960–2025, 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. TradeMap (2020–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08)
  5. Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) (1999–2015, retrieved 2026-07-08)
  6. International Monetary Fund (IMF) | Fiscal Monitor (2025, 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.

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.