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Economy of Kenya vs North Korea compared: GDP & Debt

Updated on by Georank team

Kenya has a GDP of $120B compared to $34.9B for North Korea, ranking 64/197 and 106/197 by economy size, respectively.

Kenya vs North Korea GDP by year

Kenya
North Korea
1x
Year GDP, current $
Kenya North Korea
2024 $120,339,557,906 $34,943,120,000
2023 $107,500,884,685 $32,155,360,000
2022 $114,448,978,153 $28,971,360,000
2021 $109,703,658,905 $32,301,720,000
2020 $100,657,505,751 $27,728,240,000
2019 $100,378,436,207 $28,222,880,000
2018 $92,202,979,985 $28,536,400,000
2017 $82,036,510,877 $29,105,440,000
2016 $74,815,144,164 $28,882,640,000
2015 $70,120,446,897 $30,723,030,000
2014 $68,285,796,514 $30,554,460,000
2013 $61,671,440,408 $30,588,922,000
2012 $56,396,704,672 $29,890,710,000
2011 $46,869,473,151 $29,005,020,000
2010 $45,405,615,064 $25,995,513,000
2009 $42,347,217,913 $23,356,470,000
2008 $35,895,153,328 -
2007 $31,958,195,182 -
2006 $25,825,512,284 -
2005 $18,737,895,513 -
2004 $16,095,337,094 -
2003 $14,904,517,650 -
2002 $13,147,736,899 -
2001 $12,986,007,426 -
2000 $12,705,350,098 -
1999 $12,896,010,459 -
1998 $14,093,998,844 -
1997 $13,115,764,358 -
1996 $12,045,865,396 -
1995 $9,046,320,255 -
1994 $7,148,148,564 -
1993 $5,751,786,643 -
1992 $8,209,120,763 -
1991 $8,151,488,783 -
1990 $8,572,359,038 -
1989 $8,283,114,514 -
1988 $8,355,380,879 -
1987 $7,970,820,369 -
1986 $7,239,126,568 -
1985 $6,135,034,214 -
1984 $6,191,437,070 -
1983 $5,979,198,314 -
1982 $6,431,579,357 -
1981 $6,854,491,706 -
1980 $7,265,315,820 -
1979 $6,234,391,113 -
1978 $5,303,735,111 -
1977 $4,494,378,764 -
1976 $3,474,542,392 -
1975 $3,259,345,083 -
1974 $2,969,958,812 -
1973 $2,509,001,324 -
1972 $2,107,279,157 -
1971 $1,778,391,289 -
1970 $1,603,447,359 -
1969 $1,458,379,417 -
1968 $1,353,295,459 -
1967 $1,232,559,507 -
1966 $1,164,519,674 -
1965 $997,919,321 -
1964 $998,759,334 -
1963 $926,589,349 -
1962 $868,111,401 -
1961 $792,959,473 -
1960 $791,265,459 -

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

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

GDP per capita in Kenya vs North Korea by year

Kenya
GDP per capita

GDP per capita, PPP
North Korea
GDP per capita

GDP per capita, PPP
1x
Year Current $
Kenya North Korea
GDP per capita GDP per capita, PPP GDP per capita GDP per capita, PPP
2024 $2,132 $6,644 $1,319 -
2023 $1,943 $6,317 $1,217 -
2022 $2,110 $5,883 $1,100 -
2021 $2,061 $5,339 $1,231 -
2020 $1,928 $4,793 $1,061 -
2019 $1,960 $4,687 $1,084 -
2018 $1,836 $4,412 $1,100 -
2017 $1,667 $4,177 $1,127 -
2016 $1,554 $3,917 $1,124 -
2015 $1,489 $3,678 $1,201 $1,700
2014 $1,483 $3,359 $1,201 $1,800
2013 $1,371 $3,106 $1,208 -
2012 $1,285 $2,847 $1,186 -
2011 $1,096 $2,750 $1,156 $1,800
2010 $1,092 $2,635 $1,040 -
2009 $1,048 $2,480 $939 $1,800
2008 $916 $2,459 - $1,800
2007 $840 $2,481 - $1,700
2006 $700 $2,330 - $1,800
2005 $523 $2,189 - $1,700
2004 $464 $2,066 - $1,700
2003 $443 $1,975 - $1,300
2002 $403 $1,940 - $1,000
2001 $411 $1,961 - -
2000 $415 $1,907 - $1,000
1999 $434 $1,910 - $1,000
1998 $488 $1,895 - -
1997 $467 $1,865 - -
1996 $441 $1,875 - -
1995 $340 $1,818 - -
1994 $276.4 $1,754 - -
1993 $229 $1,723 - -
1992 $337 $1,728 - -
1991 $345 $1,756 - -
1990 $374 $1,729 - -
1989 $374 - - -
1988 $391 - - -
1987 $387 - - -
1986 $364 - - -
1985 $320 - - -
1984 $334 - - -
1983 $335 - - -
1982 $374 - - -
1981 $413 - - -
1980 $454 - - -
1979 $403 - - -
1978 $355 - - -
1977 $311 - - -
1976 $248.9 - - -
1975 $241.2 - - -
1974 $227.2 - - -
1973 $198.6 - - -
1972 $172.6 - - -
1971 $150.9 - - -
1970 $141 - - -
1969 $133.3 - - -
1968 $128.7 - - -
1967 $121.9 - - -
1966 $119.8 - - -
1965 $106.9 - - -
1964 $111.3 - - -
1963 $107.4 - - -
1962 $104.6 - - -
1961 $99.3 - - -
1960 $102.8 - - -

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/kenya/north-korea | CC BY

Kenya's GDP per capita is $2,132, ranking 154/197, compared to $1,319 in North Korea, ranking 168/197. Adjusted for purchasing power (GDP per capita PPP), Kenya ranks 149th at $6,644, while North Korea ranks 193rd at $1,700.

Economic indicators

Kenya North Korea
Gross domestic product
$120B
2024
$34.9B
2024
GDP rank
64/197
2024
106/197
2024
GDP growth
4.72%
2023-2024
n/a
GDP per capita
$2,132
2024
$1,319
2024
GDP per capita rank
154/197
2024
168/197
2024
GDP per capita, PPP
$6,644
2024
$1,700
2015
GDP per capita PPP rank
149/197
2024
193/197
2015
Government debt
$81B
2024
n/a
Debt-to-GDP ratio
67.3%
2024
n/a
Government debt per person
$1,436
2024
n/a
Government debt per person rank
133/185
2024
n/a
Average annual personal income after taxes
$3,229
2026
$1,426
2026
Market capitalization of domestic companies
$15B
2024
n/a
Income share by richest 10%
30.1%
2022
n/a
Income share by poorest 10%
2.9%
2022
n/a
Government expenditure, % of GDP
23.3%
2024
n/a
Consumer prices inflation
4.49%
2023-2024
n/a
Central bank interest rate
9.25%
2025
n/a
Unemployment rate
5.44%
2022
25.6%
2013
Population
58955623
26659144

Top exports between countries

Kenya
Export category Export value
Raw agricultural goods $21K
Precious metals & jewellery $6K
North Korea
Export category Export value

Balance of trade

Kenya North Korea
Current account balance
-$1.55B
2024
n/a
Current account balance ranking
134/190
2024
n/a
Current account balance, % of GDP
-1.29%
2024
n/a
Goods imports
$22.2B
2024
n/a
Goods exports
$12.5B
2024
n/a
Service imports
$5.64B
2024
n/a
Service exports
$8.04B
2024
n/a
Imports of goods and services, % of GDP
23.1%
2024
n/a
Exports of goods and services, % of GDP
17.1%
2024
n/a

Economic freedom indices

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

Kenya North Korea
Economic freedom 55.5 3.1
Economic freedom ranking 128/197 197/197
Property rights 40.2 16.3
Government integrity 32.7 4.3
Judicial effectiveness 47 6.3
Tax burden 76.3 0
Government spending 84.1 0
Fiscal health 36.2 0
Business freedom 61.5 5
Labor freedom 56.5 5
Monetary freedom 75.1 0
Trade freedom 52 0
Investment freedom 55 0
Financial freedom 50 0

Economic freedom comparison by year

Kenya
North Korea
1x
Year Economic freedom index
Kenya North Korea
2026 55.5 3.1
2025 54.8 3
2024 53.6 2.9
2023 52.5 2.9
2022 52.6 3
2021 54.9 5.2
2020 55.3 4.2
2019 55.1 5.9
2018 54.7 5.8
2017 53.5 4.9
2016 57.5 2.3
2015 55.6 1.3
2014 57.1 1
2013 55.9 1.5
2012 57.5 1
2011 57.4 1
2010 57.5 1
2009 58.7 2
2008 59.3 3
2007 59.6 3
2006 59.7 4
2005 57.9 8
2004 57.7 8.9
2003 58.6 8.9
2002 58.2 8.9
2001 57.6 8.9
2000 59.7 8.9
1999 58.2 8.9
1998 58.4 8.9
1997 60.1 8.9
1996 56.4 8.9
1995 54.5 8.9

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

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

The Economic Freedom Index for Kenya is 55.5, ranking 128/197, 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

Kenya North Korea
Services, % of GDP
55.3%
2024
n/a
Industry, % of GDP
16.5%
2024
n/a
Agriculture, forestry, and fishing, % of GDP
22.5%
2024
n/a
GNI, Atlas method
$118B
2024
n/a
GNI per capita, PPP
$6,540
2024
n/a
Total reserves including gold
$10.1B
2024
n/a
Total reserves ranking
75/177
2024
n/a
Net foreign direct investment
-$45.8M
2024
n/a
Net inflows of foreign direct investment
$463M
2024
$203K
1989
Net outflows of foreign direct investment
$418M
2024
$0
2024
Servicing debt to the IMF, % of GNI
4.79%
2024
n/a
Poverty at national poverty lines
39.8%
2022
n/a
Gross capital formation, % of GDP
16.8%
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/kenya/north-korea | CC BY

Compare countries by 7 more topics

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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 (2020, 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.