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Economy of Liberia vs North Korea compared: GDP & Debt

Updated on by Georank

Liberia has a GDP of $5.25B compared to $34.9B for North Korea, ranking 162/197 and 109/197 by economy size, respectively.

Liberia vs North Korea GDP by year

Liberia
North Korea
1x
Year GDP, current $
Liberia North Korea
2025 $5,245,938,900 -
2024 $4,779,300,900 $34,943,120,000
2023 $4,390,000,000 $32,155,360,000
2022 $4,001,047,000 $28,971,360,000
2021 $3,513,049,500 $32,301,720,000
2020 $3,176,126,300 $27,728,240,000
2019 $3,319,596,500 $28,222,880,000
2018 $3,422,754,800 $28,536,400,000
2017 $3,390,703,400 $29,105,440,000
2016 $3,398,419,600 $28,882,640,000
2015 $3,227,075,700 $30,723,030,000
2014 $3,225,652,000 $30,554,460,000
2013 $3,177,198,100 $30,588,922,000
2012 $2,791,614,000 $29,890,710,000
2011 $2,398,000,000 $29,005,020,000
2010 $1,998,000,000 $25,995,513,000
2009 $1,768,000,000 $23,356,470,000
2008 $1,726,000,000 -
2007 $1,373,000,000 -
2006 $1,119,000,000 -
2005 $949,000,000 -
2004 $897,000,000 -
2003 $748,000,000 -
2002 $927,000,000 -
2001 $906,000,000 -
2000 $874,000,000 -
1999 $441,800,000 -
1998 $359,600,000 -
1997 $295,900,000 -
1996 $159,400,000 -
1995 $134,800,000 -
1994 $132,200,000 -
1993 $160,400,000 -
1992 $223,500,000 -
1991 $348,000,000 -
1990 $384,400,000 -
1989 $786,300,000 -
1988 $1,038,300,000 -
1987 $972,800,000 -
1986 $840,964,400 -
1985 $851,296,100 -
1984 $848,478,300 -
1983 $823,374,900 -
1982 $863,933,200 -
1981 $846,514,500 -
1980 $854,711,500 -
1979 $814,067,900 -
1978 $717,240,400 -
1977 $673,010,600 -
1976 $596,675,700 -
1975 $577,549,300 -
1974 $486,955,000 -
1973 $386,968,300 -
1972 $368,098,000 -
1971 $341,543,100 -
1970 $323,099,700 -
1969 $306,961,800 -
1968 $276,820,700 -
1967 $261,024,300 -
1966 $244,459,500 -
1965 $229,260,800 -
1964 $218,929,100 -
1963 $200,229,600 -
1962 $191,861,800 -
1961 $183,920,900 -
1960 $190,495,600 -

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

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

GDP per capita in Liberia vs North Korea by year

Liberia
GDP per capita

GDP per capita, PPP
North Korea
GDP per capita

GDP per capita, PPP
1x
Year Current $
Liberia North Korea
GDP per capita GDP per capita, PPP GDP per capita GDP per capita, PPP
2025 $915 - - -
2024 $851 $1,871 $1,319 -
2023 $799 $1,795 $1,217 -
2022 $745 $1,692 $1,100 -
2021 $668 $1,539 $1,231 -
2020 $617 $1,660 $1,061 -
2019 $658 $1,900 $1,084 -
2018 $692 $1,800 $1,100 -
2017 $699 $1,665 $1,127 -
2016 $715 $1,490 $1,124 -
2015 $693 $1,340 $1,201 $1,700
2014 $707 $1,419 $1,201 $1,800
2013 $711 $1,360 $1,208 -
2012 $638 $1,157 $1,186 -
2011 $568 $1,041 $1,156 $1,800
2010 $492 $980 $1,040 -
2009 $448 $939 $939 $1,800
2008 $452 $915 - $1,800
2007 $374 $873 - $1,700
2006 $321 $815 - $1,800
2005 $287.5 $774 - $1,700
2004 $284.1 $745 - $1,700
2003 $239.8 $716 - $1,300
2002 $299.5 $1,013 - $1,000
2001 $300 $987 - -
2000 $298.5 $965 - $1,000
1999 $156.6 $762 - $1,000
1998 $134.7 $652 - -
1997 $122.6 $548 - -
1996 $71.4 $282.2 - -
1995 $62.1 $254.4 - -
1994 $61.5 $262.6 - -
1993 $74.4 $328 - -
1992 $107.8 $497 - -
1991 $177.9 $793 - -
1990 $172.9 $787 - -
1989 $312 - - -
1988 $424 - - -
1987 $409 - - -
1986 $364 - - -
1985 $380 - - -
1984 $390 - - -
1983 $391 - - -
1982 $422 - - -
1981 $426 - - -
1980 $443 - - -
1979 $435 - - -
1978 $394 - - -
1977 $381 - - -
1976 $347 - - -
1975 $346 - - -
1974 $299.4 - - -
1973 $244.4 - - -
1972 $238.6 - - -
1971 $227.1 - - -
1970 $220.3 - - -
1969 $214.7 - - -
1968 $198.6 - - -
1967 $192.2 - - -
1966 $184.6 - - -
1965 $177.6 - - -
1964 $173.9 - - -
1963 $163.1 - - -
1962 $160.3 - - -
1961 $157.5 - - -
1960 $167.2 - - -

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/liberia/north-korea | CC BY

Liberia's GDP per capita is $915, ranking 184/197, compared to $1,319 in North Korea, ranking 169/197. Adjusted for purchasing power (GDP per capita PPP), Liberia ranks 188th at $1,871, while North Korea ranks 193rd at $1,700.

Economic indicators

Liberia North Korea
Gross domestic product
$5.25B
2025
$34.9B
2024
GDP rank
162/197
2025
109/197
2024
GDP growth
5.02%
2024-2025
n/a
GDP per capita
$915
2025
$1,319
2024
GDP per capita rank
184/197
2025
169/197
2024
GDP per capita, PPP
$1,871
2024
$1,700
2015
GDP per capita PPP rank
188/197
2024
193/197
2015
Government debt
$2.88B
2025
n/a
Debt-to-GDP ratio
54.9%
2025
n/a
Government debt per person
$502
2025
n/a
Government debt per person rank
167/185
2025
n/a
Average annual personal income after taxes
$1,467
2026
$1,707
2026
Income share by richest 10%
27.1%
2016
n/a
Income share by poorest 10%
2.9%
2016
n/a
Government expenditure, % of GDP
22.4%
2025
n/a
Consumer prices inflation
8.3%
2024-2025
n/a
Unemployment rate
5.93%
2017
25.6%
2013
Population
5916561
26668308

Top exports between countries

Liberia
Export category Export value
North Korea
Export category Export value
Chemicals & pharma $15K
Machinery & equipment $13K
Textiles & consumer goods $7K

Balance of trade

Liberia North Korea
Current account balance
$120M
2024
n/a
Current account balance ranking
62/190
2024
n/a
Current account balance, % of GDP
+2.51%
2024
n/a
Goods imports
$1.51B
2024
n/a
Goods exports
$1.31B
2024
n/a
Service imports
$253M
2024
n/a
Service exports
$42.6M
2024
n/a
Exports of goods and services, % of GDP
28.5%
2026
n/a

Economic freedom indices

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

Liberia North Korea
Economic freedom 49.8 3.1
Economic freedom ranking 163/197 197/197
Property rights 40.4 16.3
Government integrity 25.8 4.3
Judicial effectiveness 23.4 6.3
Tax burden 86.1 0
Government spending 79.5 0
Fiscal health 56.9 0
Business freedom 38 5
Labor freedom 43.4 5
Monetary freedom 71.4 0
Trade freedom 57.4 0
Investment freedom 55 0
Financial freedom 20 0

Economic freedom comparison by year

Liberia
North Korea
1x
Year Economic freedom index
Liberia North Korea
2026 49.8 3.1
2025 48.5 3
2024 49.9 2.9
2023 49.6 2.9
2022 47.9 3
2021 49.2 5.2
2020 49 4.2
2019 49.7 5.9
2018 50.9 5.8
2017 49.1 4.9
2016 52.2 2.3
2015 52.7 1.3
2014 52.4 1
2013 49.3 1.5
2012 48.6 1
2011 46.5 1
2010 46.2 1
2009 48.1 2
2008 - 3
2007 - 3
2006 - 4
2005 - 8
2004 - 8.9
2003 - 8.9
2002 - 8.9
2001 - 8.9
2000 - 8.9
1999 - 8.9
1998 - 8.9
1997 - 8.9
1996 - 8.9
1995 - 8.9

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

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

The Economic Freedom Index for Liberia is 49.8, ranking 163/197, 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

Liberia North Korea
Services, % of GDP
40%
2025
n/a
Industry, % of GDP
24.5%
2025
n/a
Agriculture, forestry, and fishing, % of GDP
32.7%
2025
n/a
GNI, Atlas method
$4.76B
2025
n/a
GNI per capita, PPP
$1,840
2025
n/a
Total reserves including gold
$339M
2025
n/a
Total reserves ranking
166/177
2025
n/a
Net foreign direct investment
-$397M
2024
n/a
Net inflows of foreign direct investment
$472M
2024
$203K
1989
Net outflows of foreign direct investment
$74.9M
2024
$0
2024
Servicing debt to the IMF, % of GNI
3.12%
2024
n/a
Poverty at national poverty lines
50.9%
2016
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/liberia/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. Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) (1999–2015, retrieved 2026-07-08)
  5. International Monetary Fund (IMF) | Fiscal Monitor (2025, retrieved 2026-07-08)
  6. TradeMap (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.