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Economy of Moldova vs South Korea compared: GDP & Debt

Updated on by Georank

Moldova has a GDP of $20.4B compared to $1.87T for South Korea, ranking 133/197 and 13/197 by economy size, respectively.

Moldova has $7.45B in government debt (36.6% of GDP), compared to $978B (52.3% of GDP) in South Korea.

Moldova vs South Korea GDP by year

Moldova
South Korea
1x
Year GDP, current $
Moldova South Korea
2025 $20,351,796,275 $1,872,374,961,553
2024 $18,206,842,141 $1,875,388,209,407
2023 $16,711,906,746 $1,844,800,934,392
2022 $14,525,337,524 $1,799,363,116,867
2021 $13,691,869,264 $1,942,313,560,966
2020 $11,530,746,234 $1,744,070,276,373
2019 $11,736,797,055 $1,751,045,752,055
2018 $11,252,353,421 $1,824,251,454,307
2017 $9,514,404,016 $1,710,196,756,713
2016 $7,980,917,076 $1,579,150,518,945
2015 $7,797,667,197 $1,539,212,301,136
2014 $9,402,090,138 $1,556,252,422,020
2013 $9,496,717,876 $1,434,669,686,502
2012 $8,709,138,635 $1,335,343,586,438
2011 $8,414,352,020 $1,307,103,477,219
2010 $6,974,982,370 $1,192,830,015,738
2009 $5,439,434,272 $983,065,242,417
2008 $6,054,824,248 $1,091,580,692,542
2007 $4,401,173,152 $1,220,911,904,593
2006 $3,408,255,451 $1,095,175,538,508
2005 $2,988,342,907 $971,740,329,984
2004 $2,598,249,556 $823,251,107,639
2003 $1,980,907,435 $728,516,494,684
2002 $1,661,818,168 $650,014,391,470
2001 $1,480,673,594 $567,564,806,235
2000 $1,288,429,392 $597,487,173,479
1999 $1,170,782,957 $515,697,079,289
1998 $1,698,717,505 $397,297,216,492
1997 $1,930,081,169 $589,202,526,424
1996 $1,695,122,174 $631,196,863,758
1995 $1,752,999,370 $586,286,469,401
1994 $1,702,314,268 $479,181,794,217
1993 $2,371,813,324 $405,705,302,846
1992 $2,319,243,436 $366,921,291,825
1991 $3,094,565,871 $340,851,946,804
1990 $3,592,857,043 $292,064,221,389
1989 - $254,236,243,100
1988 - $205,477,530,605
1987 - $152,240,393,646
1986 - $119,965,960,795
1985 - $103,764,281,281
1984 - $99,749,645,089
1983 - $89,621,208,322
1982 - $79,921,300,447
1981 - $74,287,368,087
1980 - $66,547,970,351
1979 - $68,083,884,298
1978 - $52,824,793,388
1977 - $39,064,462,810
1976 - $30,371,074,380
1975 - $22,126,033,058
1974 - $19,860,929,977
1973 - $14,067,523,813
1972 - $10,990,490,570
1971 - $10,005,257,131
1970 - $9,085,001,794
1969 - $7,743,940,189
1968 - $6,167,109,472
1967 - $4,895,076,718
1966 - $3,957,064,541
1965 - $3,141,131,708
1964 - $3,476,789,682
1963 - $4,007,692,308
1962 - $2,826,923,077
1961 - $2,427,244,761
1960 - $3,973,069,307

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

GeoRank.org/economy/moldova/south-korea | CC BY

GDP per capita in Moldova vs South Korea by year

Moldova
GDP per capita

GDP per capita, PPP
South Korea
GDP per capita

GDP per capita, PPP
1x
Year Current $
Moldova South Korea
GDP per capita GDP per capita, PPP GDP per capita GDP per capita, PPP
2025 $8,622 - $36,227 -
2024 $7,579 $18,615 $36,239 $61,051
2023 $6,800 $17,747 $35,674 $57,430
2022 $5,744 $16,453 $34,822 $55,509
2021 $5,275 $15,682 $37,518 $51,718
2020 $4,376 $13,527 $33,646 $47,881
2019 $4,405 $13,413 $33,827 $46,511
2018 $4,156 $11,868 $35,364 $45,511
2017 $3,453 $11,252 $33,297 $43,156
2016 $2,847 $10,326 $30,832 $41,673
2015 $2,750 $9,198 $30,172 $39,794
2014 $3,290 $8,643 $30,667 $37,032
2013 $3,321 $8,233 $28,449 $35,844
2012 $3,045 $7,255 $26,601 $35,062
2011 $2,941 $6,833 $26,175 $33,944
2010 $2,437 $6,323 $24,071 $33,120
2009 $1,898 $5,827 $19,937 $30,740
2008 $2,111 $6,153 $22,252 $31,211
2007 $1,531 $5,590 $25,078 $30,255
2006 $1,183 $5,271 $22,610 $27,972
2005 $1,034 $4,866 $20,167 $26,179
2004 $897 $4,378 $17,122 $24,658
2003 $682 $3,960 $15,212 $22,920
2002 $571 $3,633 $13,643 $22,173
2001 $507 $3,311 $11,981 $20,442
2000 $441 $3,045 $12,710 $19,237
1999 $399 $2,910 $11,063 $17,421
1998 $579 $2,965 $8,583 $15,500
1997 $657 $3,136 $12,822 $16,241
1996 $575 $3,021 $13,865 $15,164
1995 $594 $3,146 $13,002 $13,921
1994 $574 $3,111 $10,734 $12,551
1993 $797 $4,394 $9,180 $11,349
1992 $778 $4,337 $8,387 $10,468
1991 $1,038 $5,980 $7,873 $9,724
1990 $1,207 $6,895 $6,813 $8,567
1989 - - $5,989 -
1988 - - $4,889 -
1987 - - $3,658 -
1986 - - $2,911 -
1985 - - $2,543 -
1984 - - $2,469 -
1983 - - $2,246 -
1982 - - $2,032 -
1981 - - $1,918 -
1980 - - $1,746 -
1979 - - $1,814 -
1978 - - $1,429 -
1977 - - $1,073 -
1976 - - $847 -
1975 - - $627 -
1974 - - $572 -
1973 - - $412 -
1972 - - $328 -
1971 - - $304 -
1970 - - $281.8 -
1969 - - $245.5 -
1968 - - $200 -
1967 - - $162.5 -
1966 - - $134.4 -
1965 - - $109.4 -
1964 - - $124.2 -
1963 - - $147 -
1962 - - $106.6 -
1961 - - $94.2 -
1960 - - $158.8 -

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

GeoRank.org/economy/moldova/south-korea | CC BY

Moldova's GDP per capita is $8,622, ranking 93/197, compared to $36,227 in South Korea, ranking 33/197. Adjusted for purchasing power (GDP per capita PPP), Moldova ranks 100th at $18,615, while South Korea ranks 33rd at $61,051.

Economic indicators

Moldova South Korea
Gross domestic product
$20.4B
2025
$1.87T
2025
GDP rank
133/197
2025
13/197
2025
GDP growth
2.42%
2024-2025
1.01%
2024-2025
GDP per capita
$8,622
2025
$36,227
2025
GDP per capita rank
93/197
2025
33/197
2025
GDP per capita, PPP
$18,615
2024
$61,051
2024
GDP per capita PPP rank
100/197
2024
33/197
2024
Government debt
$7.45B
2025
$978B
2025
Debt-to-GDP ratio
36.6%
2025
52.3%
2025
Government debt per person
$3,158
2025
$18,930
2025
Government debt per person rank
103/185
2025
34/185
2025
Average annual personal income after taxes
$4,301
2026
$25,661
2026
Market capitalization of domestic companies n/a
$2.76T
2025
Number of millionaires n/a
1,317,000
2026
Number of billionaires n/a
49
2026
Income share by richest 10%
22.8%
2023
25%
2021
Income share by poorest 10%
4.3%
2023
2.9%
2021
Government expenditure, % of GDP
39.4%
2025
24%
2025
Consumer prices inflation
7.76%
2024-2025
2.12%
2024-2025
Central bank interest rate
6.5%
2026
2.5%
2025
Unemployment rate
1.28%
2025
2.79%
2025
Population
2328600
51624449

Spending and national debt comparison by year

Moldova
Spending

Debt
South Korea
Spending

Debt
1x
Year % of GDP
Moldova South Korea
Government spending Government debt Government spending Government debt
2025 39.4% 36.6% 24% 52.3%
2024 38% 38.8% 22.5% 49.7%
2023 38.8% 34.9% 23.1% 50.5%
2022 36.6% 35% 26.7% 49.8%
2021 34.6% 33.6% 24.1% 48%
2020 36.7% 36.6% 23.7% 45.9%
2019 32% 28.8% 21.3% 39.7%
2018 31.5% 31.8% 19.3% 37.9%
2017 31% 34.9% 18.6% 38%
2016 30.5% 39.7% 18.5% 39.1%
2015 31.7% 42.1% 18.8% 38.8%
2014 33.8% 35.4% 18.8% 37.9%
2013 32.4% 30% 19% 36%
2012 33.7% 31.3% 18.8% 33.5%
2011 32.6% 24.2% 18.3% 31.7%
2010 34.1% 25.5% 17.9% 28.3%
2009 45.3% 32.6% 19.5% 28.8%
2008 41.5% 22.2% 19.1% 25.9%
2007 42.7% 28.3% 18.8% 26.3%
2006 40.3% 35% 18.7% 27%
2005 37.1% 40.4% 18.2% 24.9%
2004 34.8% 49.3% 18.5% 21.6%
2003 33.5% 68.1% 17.9% 19.1%
2002 30.7% 80.3% 15.9% 16.4%
2001 29.5% 85.4% 16.9% 16.6%
2000 34% 89.1% 16% 16.1%
1999 33% 150.7% 16.1% 15.8%
1998 39.1% 159.4% 16% 13.8%
1997 46% 89% 13.9% 9.69%
1996 43.3% 87.5% 14% 7.81%
1995 42% 79.5% 13.5% 8.48%
1994 - - 15.4% 9.63%
1993 - - 15.1% 10.9%
1992 - - 15.5% 11.6%
1991 - - 15.4% 11.9%
1990 - - 15.2% 12.8%
1989 - - 15% 12.4%
1988 - - 13.9% 12.7%
1987 - - 14.3% 15.3%
1986 - - 14.9% 14.5%
1985 - - 15.5% 16.2%
1984 - - 15.6% 16.9%
1983 - - 16% 19.3%
1982 - - 17.8% 20.5%
1981 - - 16.3% 18.8%
1980 - - 16.8% 18.6%
1979 - - 16.3% 15.7%
1978 - - 15.7% 18.4%
1977 - - 17.7% 20.1%
1976 - - 17% 20.4%
1975 - - 18.8% 21.5%
1974 - - 16.1% 18.6%
1973 - - 14.2% 17.9%
1972 - - 18.5% 18.3%
1971 - - 18.5% 14.5%
1970 - - 17.5% 6.95%
1969 - - 19.8% 2.63%
1968 - - 18.5% 2.76%
1967 - - 16.7% 3.74%
1966 - - 16% 4.44%
1965 - - 13.1% 6.14%
1964 - - 12.1% 6.57%
1963 - - 15.4% 9.21%
1962 - - 22.3% 13%
1961 - - 21.2% 13.4%
1960 - - 17.9% 13.7%

Data sources: International Monetary Fund (IMF) | Fiscal Monitor (1990–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08); International Monetary Fund (IMF) | Public Finances in Modern History (1960–1994, retrieved 2026-07-08).

GeoRank.org/economy/moldova/south-korea | CC BY

In 2025, Moldova's government spending was $8.02B, accounting for 39.4% of its GDP, while South Korea spent $449B, or 24% of GDP.

Debt-to-GDP ratio is 36.6% in Moldova and 52.3% in South Korea, ranking 140/185 and 98/185, respectively.

Government deficit by year

Deficit/surplus
Moldova

South Korea
1x
Year Deficit/surplus, % of GDP
Moldova South Korea
2025 -3.87% -1.43%
2024 -4.02% -0.78%
2023 -5.13% -0.67%
2022 -3.24% -1.49%
2021 -2.62% -0.02%
2020 -5.32% -2.11%
2019 -1.47% 0.35%
2018 -0.85% 2.42%
2017 -0.65% 2.08%
2016 -1.56% 1.56%
2015 -1.93% 0.5%
2014 -1.6% 0.57%
2013 -1.57% 0.79%
2012 -1.93% 1.63%
2011 -2.05% 1.72%
2010 -2.18% 1.61%
2009 -6.38% 0.24%
2008 -0.87% 1.58%
2007 0.15% 2.49%
2006 -0.42% 1.18%
2005 1.44% 0.95%
2004 0.59% 0.09%
2003 0.47% 1.51%
2002 -1.18% 3.23%
2001 -0.34% 2.42%
2000 -3.55% 3.91%
1999 -2.64% 1.15%
1998 -1.52% 1.09%
1997 -7.47% 2.31%
1996 -7.42% 2.3%
1995 -2.58% 2.16%
1994 - 2.06%
1993 - 3.21%
1992 - 2.42%
1991 - 1.94%
1990 - 2.98%
1989 - 2.27%
1988 - 2.85%
1987 - 1.7%
1986 - 0.8%
1985 - 0.47%
1984 - 0.78%
1983 - 1.05%
1982 - -0.41%
1981 - 0.99%
1980 - 0.46%
1979 - 0.47%
1978 - -0.27%
1977 - -1.81%
1976 - -0.87%
1975 - -3.68%
1974 - -2.78%
1973 - -1.72%
1972 - -4.33%
1971 - -1.3%
1970 - -0.52%
1969 - -2.85%
1968 - -2.36%
1967 - -2.87%
1966 - -4.27%
1965 - -3.43%
1964 - -4.1%
1963 - -4.32%
1962 - -7.82%
1961 - -9.48%
1960 - -5.18%
1959 - -6.52%
1958 - -10%
1957 - -10.1%
1956 - -10.8%
1955 - -10.6%
1954 - -10.3%
1953 - -4.14%

Data sources: International Monetary Fund (IMF) | Fiscal Monitor (1995–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08); International Monetary Fund (IMF) | Public Finances in Modern History (1953–1994, retrieved 2026-07-08).

GeoRank.org/economy/moldova/south-korea | CC BY

In 2025, Moldova's government deficit, the difference between spending and revenue, was $788M, equivalent to 3.87% of GDP. This compares to South Korea's deficit of $26.8B, or 1.43% of GDP.

Over the past 31 years, Moldova recorded a fiscal deficit in 27 of those years, while South Korea ran a deficit in 6 years. On average, Moldova posted an annual deficit equal to 2.31% of GDP, compared to surplus of 1.08% of GDP for South Korea.

Inflation comparison by year

Inflation
Moldova

South Korea
1x
Year Consumer prices inflation
Moldova South Korea
2025 7.76% 2.12%
2024 4.68% 2.32%
2023 13.4% 3.6%
2022 28.7% 5.09%
2021 5.11% 2.5%
2020 3.77% 0.54%
2019 4.84% 0.38%
2018 3.05% 1.48%
2017 6.57% 1.94%
2016 6.36% 0.97%
2015 9.68% 0.71%
2014 5.09% 1.27%
2013 4.6% 1.3%
2012 4.55% 2.19%
2011 7.69% 4.03%
2010 7.48% 2.94%
2009 -0.06% 2.76%
2008 12.8% 4.67%
2007 12.4% 2.53%
2006 12.8% 2.24%
2005 12% 2.75%
2004 12.5% 3.59%
2003 11.7% 3.51%
2002 5.3% 2.76%
2001 9.76% 4.07%
2000 31.3% 2.26%
1999 39.3% 0.81%
1998 7.7% 7.51%
1997 11.8% 4.44%

Data sources: World Bank | Economy & Growth (1997–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08).

GeoRank.org/economy/moldova/south-korea | CC BY

Over the past 29 years, Moldova has recorded an average annual inflation rate of 10.4%, compared with 2.67% in South Korea. In 2025, inflation was 7.76% in Moldova and 2.12% in South Korea.

Top exports between countries

Moldova
Export category Export value
Processed food, beverages & tobacco $1.51M
Machinery & equipment $808K
Textiles & consumer goods $106K
Chemicals & pharma $23K
Animal & marine products $7K
South Korea
Export category Export value
Machinery & equipment $30.6M
Metals $25.5M
Chemicals & pharma $10.5M
Raw materials & minerals $507K
Textiles & consumer goods $315K
Processed food, beverages & tobacco $271K
Raw agricultural goods $67K
Wood & paper products $17K
Precious metals & jewellery $11K
Miscellaneous $6K

Balance of trade

Moldova South Korea
Current account balance
-$4B
2025
$123B
2025
Current account balance ranking
158/190
2025
4/190
2025
Current account balance, % of GDP
-19.6%
2025
+6.57%
2025
Goods imports
$10.1B
2025
$581B
2025
Goods exports
$3.23B
2025
$719B
2025
Service imports
$2.17B
2025
$185B
2025
Service exports
$3.22B
2025
$150B
2025
Imports of goods and services, % of GDP
60.9%
2025
40.6%
2025
Exports of goods and services, % of GDP
31.8%
2025
45.8%
2025

Economic freedom indices

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

Moldova South Korea
Economic freedom 58.1 73.7
Economic freedom ranking 112/197 24/197
Property rights 40.4 89.6
Government integrity 45.1 70.9
Judicial effectiveness 32.4 77.5
Tax burden 87.9 61.5
Government spending 57.2 82.6
Fiscal health 70.3 93.5
Business freedom 68.3 81.5
Labor freedom 48.1 55
Monetary freedom 66 79.3
Trade freedom 76.8 73
Investment freedom 55 60
Financial freedom 50 60

Economic freedom comparison by year

Moldova
South Korea
1x
Year Economic freedom index
Moldova South Korea
2026 58.1 73.7
2025 58.3 74
2024 57.1 73.1
2023 58.5 73.7
2022 61.3 74.6
2021 62.5 74
2020 62 74
2019 59.1 72.3
2018 58.4 73.8
2017 58 74.3
2016 57.4 71.7
2015 57.5 71.5
2014 57.3 71.2
2013 55.5 70.3
2012 54.4 69.9
2011 55.7 69.8
2010 53.7 69.9
2009 54.9 68.1
2008 57.9 68.6
2007 58.7 67.8
2006 58 67.5
2005 57.4 66.4
2004 57.1 67.8
2003 60 68.3
2002 57.4 69.5
2001 54.9 69.1
2000 59.6 69.7
1999 56.1 69.7
1998 53.5 73.3
1997 48.9 69.8
1996 52.5 73
1995 33 72

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

GeoRank.org/economy/moldova/south-korea | CC BY

The Economic Freedom Index for Moldova is 58.1, ranking 112/197, compared to 73.7 for South Korea, ranking 24/197. The chart above displays a comparison of annual changes in economic freedom indexes.

Other economic metrics

Moldova South Korea
Services, % of GDP
61.5%
2025
57.2%
2025
Industry, % of GDP
16.9%
2025
34.3%
2025
Agriculture, forestry, and fishing, % of GDP
7.38%
2025
1.46%
2025
GNI, Atlas method
$19B
2025
$1.96T
2025
GNI per capita, PPP
$19,990
2025
$64,210
2025
Total reserves including gold
$6.01B
2025
$437B
2025
Total reserves ranking
97/177
2025
9/177
2025
Net foreign direct investment
-$360M
2025
$25.4B
2025
Net inflows of foreign direct investment
$458M
2024
$12.9B
2024
Net outflows of foreign direct investment
$98.4M
2024
$49.7B
2024
Servicing debt to the IMF, % of GNI
6.22%
2024
n/a
Poverty at national poverty lines
31.6%
2023
14.4%
2020
Gross capital formation, % of GDP
24.2%
2025
29.1%
2025

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/moldova/south-korea | CC BY

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Data sources:

  1. World Bank | Economy & Growth (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08)
  2. International Monetary Fund (IMF) | Fiscal Monitor (1990–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08)
  3. International Monetary Fund (IMF) | Public Finances in Modern History (1953–1994, retrieved 2026-07-08)
  4. The Heritage Foundation | Economic Freedom Index (1995–2026, retrieved 2026-07-08)
  5. U.S. Census Bureau (1985–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08)
  6. TradeMap (2021–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08)
  7. United Nations | World Population Prospects (2026, retrieved 2026-07-08)
  8. LivingCost (2026, retrieved 2026-07-08)
  9. Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) (2020, 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.