Skip to content

Economy of Maldives vs North Korea compared: GDP & Debt

Updated on by Georank team

Maldives has a GDP of $7.06B compared to $34.9B for North Korea, ranking 159/197 and 106/197 by economy size, respectively.

Maldives vs North Korea GDP by year

Maldives
North Korea
1x
Year GDP, current $
Maldives North Korea
2024 $7,061,608,267 $34,943,120,000
2023 $6,621,008,704 $32,155,360,000
2022 $6,177,123,352 $28,971,360,000
2021 $5,252,457,370 $32,301,720,000
2020 $3,712,604,583 $27,728,240,000
2019 $5,726,094,799 $28,222,880,000
2018 $5,404,344,163 $28,536,400,000
2017 $4,816,426,257 $29,105,440,000
2016 $4,409,942,624 $28,882,640,000
2015 $4,129,505,319 $30,723,030,000
2014 $3,697,353,039 $30,554,460,000
2013 $3,295,009,238 $30,588,922,000
2012 $2,886,163,997 $29,890,710,000
2011 $2,774,350,240 $29,005,020,000
2010 $2,588,176,055 $25,995,513,000
2009 $2,345,294,875 $23,356,470,000
2008 $2,271,646,188 -
2007 $1,868,383,461 -
2006 $1,575,200,391 -
2005 $1,163,362,438 -
2004 $1,226,829,563 -
2003 $1,052,121,055 -
2002 $897,031,250 -
2001 $870,031,677 -
2000 $624,337,145 -
1999 $589,239,754 -
1998 $540,096,398 -
1997 $508,223,602 -
1996 $450,382,328 -
1995 $398,988,955 -
1994 $356,014,932 -
1993 $322,417,837 -
1992 $284,875,809 -
1991 $244,396,762 -
1990 $215,043,970 -
1989 $189,514,434 -
1988 $168,514,513 -
1987 $141,223,029 -
1986 $141,882,254 -
1985 $127,190,758 -
1984 $109,503,546 -
1983 $57,829,787 -
1982 $47,911,340 -
1981 $44,781,457 -
1980 $42,463,576 -
1979 $38,523,364 -
1978 $24,369,109 -
1977 $20,853,789 -
1976 $22,399,467 -
1975 $24,540,878 -
1974 $39,120,171 -
1973 $30,862,042 -
1972 $25,177,138 -
1971 $21,566,404 -
1970 $19,328,038 -

Data sources: World Bank | Economy & Growth (1970–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06).

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

GDP per capita in Maldives vs North Korea by year

Maldives
GDP per capita

GDP per capita, PPP
North Korea
GDP per capita

GDP per capita, PPP
1x
Year Current $
Maldives North Korea
GDP per capita GDP per capita, PPP GDP per capita GDP per capita, PPP
2024 $13,379 $26,183 $1,319 -
2023 $12,588 $24,786 $1,217 -
2022 $11,786 $22,881 $1,100 -
2021 $10,176 $19,053 $1,231 -
2020 $7,394 $13,425 $1,061 -
2019 $11,740 $23,077 $1,084 -
2018 $11,423 $21,899 $1,100 -
2017 $10,510 $19,768 $1,127 -
2016 $9,948 $18,770 $1,124 -
2015 $9,645 $17,875 $1,201 $1,700
2014 $8,939 $16,723 $1,201 $1,800
2013 $8,236 $15,264 $1,208 -
2012 $7,461 $13,989 $1,186 -
2011 $7,425 $13,726 $1,156 $1,800
2010 $7,174 $12,797 $1,040 -
2009 $6,734 $12,266 $939 $1,800
2008 $6,757 $13,779 - $1,800
2007 $5,758 $12,852 - $1,700
2006 $5,019 $12,075 - $1,800
2005 $3,797 $9,704 - $1,700
2004 $4,070 $10,770 - $1,700
2003 $3,549 $10,065 - $1,300
2002 $3,076 $8,823 - $1,000
2001 $3,034 $8,236 - -
2000 $2,214 $8,526 - $1,000
1999 $2,124 $8,162 - $1,000
1998 $1,980 $7,710 - -
1997 $1,898 $7,226 - -
1996 $1,717 $6,687 - -
1995 $1,555 $6,223 - -
1994 $1,419 $5,520 - -
1993 $1,317 $5,138 - -
1992 $1,194 $4,881 - -
1991 $1,054 $4,604 - -
1990 $957 $4,528 - -
1989 $870 - - -
1988 $799 - - -
1987 $692 - - -
1986 $720 - - -
1985 $669 - - -
1984 $594 - - -
1983 $323 - - -
1982 $274.8 - - -
1981 $264.1 - - -
1980 $257.6 - - -
1979 $240.2 - - -
1978 $156.1 - - -
1977 $137.3 - - -
1976 $151.8 - - -
1975 $171.4 - - -
1974 $281.5 - - -
1973 $228.7 - - -
1972 $192.2 - - -
1971 $169.8 - - -
1970 $156.9 - - -

Data sources: World Bank | Economy & Growth (1970–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06); Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) (1999–2015, retrieved 2026-02-20).

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

Maldives' GDP per capita is $13,379, ranking 75/197, compared to $1,319 in North Korea, ranking 168/197. Adjusted for purchasing power (GDP per capita PPP), Maldives ranks 81st at $26,183, while North Korea ranks 193rd at $1,700.

Economic indicators

Maldives North Korea
Gross domestic product
$7.06B
2024
$34.9B
2024
GDP rank
159/197
2024
106/197
2024
GDP growth
3.49%
2023-2024
n/a
GDP per capita
$13,379
2024
$1,319
2024
GDP per capita rank
75/197
2024
168/197
2024
GDP per capita, PPP
$26,183
2024
$1,700
2015
GDP per capita PPP rank
81/197
2024
193/197
2015
Government debt
$9.41B
2024
n/a
Debt-to-GDP ratio
133.3%
2024
n/a
Government debt per person
$17,837
2024
n/a
Government debt per person rank
35/185
2024
n/a
Average annual personal income after taxes
$9,909
2026
$1,426
2026
Income share by richest 10%
23.3%
2019
n/a
Income share by poorest 10%
3.8%
2019
n/a
Government expenditure, % of GDP
46.1%
2024
n/a
Consumer prices inflation
1.4%
2023-2024
n/a
Unemployment rate
4.56%
2019
25.6%
2013
Population
532057
26659144

Top exports between countries

Maldives
Export category Export value
North Korea
Export category Export value
Machinery & equipment $4K
Raw materials & minerals $1K

Balance of trade

Maldives North Korea
Current account balance
-$1.32B
2024
n/a
Current account balance ranking
130/190
2024
n/a
Current account balance, % of GDP
-18.7%
2024
n/a
Goods imports
$3.46B
2024
n/a
Goods exports
$383M
2024
n/a
Service imports
$1.89B
2024
n/a
Service exports
$5.03B
2024
n/a
Imports of goods and services, % of GDP
78.3%
2024
n/a
Exports of goods and services, % of GDP
78.2%
2024
n/a

Economic freedom indices

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

Maldives North Korea
Economic freedom 47.6 3.1
Economic freedom ranking 174/197 197/197
Property rights 52.2 16.3
Government integrity 41.9 4.3
Judicial effectiveness 39.3 6.3
Tax burden 89.9 0
Government spending 39.5 0
Fiscal health 0 0
Business freedom 49.7 5
Labor freedom 54.1 5
Monetary freedom 76.4 0
Trade freedom 62.8 0
Investment freedom 35 0
Financial freedom 30 0

Economic freedom comparison by year

Maldives
North Korea
1x
Year Economic freedom index
Maldives North Korea
2026 47.6 3.1
2025 48.3 3
2024 47.8 2.9
2023 46.6 2.9
2022 47.3 3
2021 55.2 5.2
2020 56.5 4.2
2019 53.2 5.9
2018 51.1 5.8
2017 50.3 4.9
2016 53.9 2.3
2015 53.4 1.3
2014 51 1
2013 49 1.5
2012 49.2 1
2011 48.3 1
2010 49 1
2009 51.3 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 2026-03-09).

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

The Economic Freedom Index for Maldives is 47.6, ranking 174/197, 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

Maldives North Korea
Services, % of GDP
72.1%
2024
n/a
Industry, % of GDP
9.2%
2024
n/a
Agriculture, forestry, and fishing, % of GDP
3.84%
2024
n/a
GNI, Atlas method
$6.15B
2024
n/a
GNI per capita, PPP
$23,400
2024
n/a
Total reserves including gold
$674M
2024
n/a
Total reserves ranking
150/177
2024
n/a
Net foreign direct investment
-$806M
2024
n/a
Net inflows of foreign direct investment
$806M
2024
$203K
1989
Net outflows of foreign direct investment
$0
2024
$0
2024
Servicing debt to the IMF, % of GNI
7.95%
2024
n/a
Poverty at national poverty lines
15%
2020
n/a
Gross capital formation, % of GDP
30.8%
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/maldives/north-korea | CC BY

Compare countries by 7 more topics

Help us show the world through your eyes

Share a photo of your city and help others discover what it looks like to live there. Your contribution makes our data come alive.

Data sources:

  1. World Bank | Economy & Growth (1970–2024, 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) (1999–2020, retrieved 2026-02-20)
  5. International Monetary Fund (IMF) | Fiscal Monitor (2024, retrieved 2026-02-20)
  6. TradeMap (2024, 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.