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Economy of Mongolia vs North Korea compared: GDP & Debt

Updated on by Georank team

Mongolia has a GDP of $23.8B compared to $34.9B for North Korea, ranking 121/197 and 106/197 by economy size, respectively.

Mongolia vs North Korea GDP by year

Mongolia
North Korea
1x
Year GDP, current $
Mongolia North Korea
2024 $23,794,540,025 $34,943,120,000
2023 $20,325,121,394 $32,155,360,000
2022 $17,146,471,714 $28,971,360,000
2021 $15,286,441,738 $32,301,720,000
2020 $13,312,981,429 $27,728,240,000
2019 $14,206,359,018 $28,222,880,000
2018 $13,178,094,720 $28,536,400,000
2017 $11,480,847,741 $29,105,440,000
2016 $11,181,350,649 $28,882,640,000
2015 $11,619,892,591 $30,723,030,000
2014 $12,226,514,668 $30,554,460,000
2013 $12,582,122,604 $30,588,922,000
2012 $12,292,770,632 $29,890,710,000
2011 $10,409,797,378 $29,005,020,000
2010 $7,189,481,999 $25,995,513,000
2009 $4,583,850,368 $23,356,470,000
2008 $5,623,216,608 -
2007 $4,234,999,704 -
2006 $3,414,055,662 -
2005 $2,523,471,601 -
2004 $1,992,066,808 -
2003 $1,595,297,356 -
2002 $1,396,555,720 -
2001 $1,267,997,934 -
2000 $1,136,896,124 -
1999 $1,057,408,589 -
1998 $1,124,440,205 -
1997 $1,180,934,203 -
1996 $1,345,719,472 -
1995 $1,452,165,005 -
1994 $925,817,092 -
1993 $768,401,634 -
1992 $1,317,611,864 -
1991 $2,379,018,326 -
1990 $2,560,785,660 -
1989 $3,576,966,800 -
1988 $3,204,461,567 -
1987 $3,020,611,600 -
1986 $2,896,178,867 -
1985 $2,186,505,475 -
1984 $2,098,734,600 -
1983 $2,725,736,633 -
1982 $2,552,401,933 -
1981 $2,310,099,100 -
1980 $2,101,394,100 -

Data sources: World Bank | Economy & Growth (1980–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06).

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

GDP per capita in Mongolia vs North Korea by year

Mongolia
GDP per capita

GDP per capita, PPP
North Korea
GDP per capita

GDP per capita, PPP
1x
Year Current $
Mongolia North Korea
GDP per capita GDP per capita, PPP GDP per capita GDP per capita, PPP
2024 $6,751 $19,145 $1,319 -
2023 $5,839 $18,005 $1,217 -
2022 $4,994 $16,402 $1,100 -
2021 $4,518 $14,792 $1,231 -
2020 $4,001 $13,693 $1,061 -
2019 $4,348 $13,605 $1,084 -
2018 $4,108 $12,317 $1,100 -
2017 $3,646 $11,096 $1,127 -
2016 $3,620 $10,511 $1,124 -
2015 $3,839 $10,458 $1,201 $1,700
2014 $4,126 $10,900 $1,201 $1,800
2013 $4,340 $10,442 $1,208 -
2012 $4,329 $10,152 $1,186 -
2011 $3,736 $8,862 $1,156 $1,800
2010 $2,625 $7,532 $1,040 -
2009 $1,703 $7,119 $939 $1,800
2008 $2,127 $7,297 - $1,800
2007 $1,628 $6,678 - $1,700
2006 $1,330 $5,977 - $1,800
2005 $995 $5,406 - $1,700
2004 $794 $4,942 - $1,700
2003 $643 $4,399 - $1,300
2002 $570 $4,083 - $1,000
2001 $524 $3,889 - -
2000 $476 $3,740 - $1,000
1999 $449 $3,664 - $1,000
1998 $484 $3,555 - -
1997 $515 $3,449 - -
1996 $596 $3,310 - -
1995 $653 $3,229 - -
1994 $423 $3,021 - -
1993 $355 $2,929 - -
1992 $608 $2,951 - -
1991 $1,099 $3,183 - -
1990 $1,220 $3,479 - -
1989 $1,684 - - -
1988 $1,543 - - -
1987 $1,493 - - -
1986 $1,469 - - -
1985 $1,138 - - -
1984 $1,120 - - -
1983 $1,490 - - -
1982 $1,430 - - -
1981 $1,325 - - -
1980 $1,235 - - -

Data sources: World Bank | Economy & Growth (1980–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06); Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) (1999–2015, retrieved 2026-02-20).

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

Mongolia's GDP per capita is $6,751, ranking 105/197, compared to $1,319 in North Korea, ranking 168/197. Adjusted for purchasing power (GDP per capita PPP), Mongolia ranks 98th at $19,145, while North Korea ranks 193rd at $1,700.

Economic indicators

Mongolia North Korea
Gross domestic product
$23.8B
2024
$34.9B
2024
GDP rank
121/197
2024
106/197
2024
GDP growth
5.12%
2023-2024
n/a
GDP per capita
$6,751
2024
$1,319
2024
GDP per capita rank
105/197
2024
168/197
2024
GDP per capita, PPP
$19,145
2024
$1,700
2015
GDP per capita PPP rank
98/197
2024
193/197
2015
Government debt
$10.5B
2024
n/a
Debt-to-GDP ratio
44.1%
2024
n/a
Government debt per person
$2,974
2024
n/a
Government debt per person rank
101/185
2024
n/a
Average annual personal income after taxes
$5,311
2026
$1,426
2026
Income share by richest 10%
24.6%
2022
n/a
Income share by poorest 10%
3.4%
2022
n/a
Government expenditure, % of GDP
37.5%
2024
n/a
Consumer prices inflation
6.2%
2023-2024
n/a
Central bank interest rate
12%
2025
n/a
Unemployment rate
5.81%
2024
25.6%
2013
Population
3620317
26659144

Top exports between countries

Mongolia
Export category Export value
Animal & marine products $167K
Processed food, beverages & tobacco $64K
Textiles & consumer goods $26K
North Korea
Export category Export value
Chemicals & pharma $435K
Machinery & equipment $2K

Balance of trade

Mongolia North Korea
Current account balance
-$2.49B
2024
n/a
Current account balance ranking
149/190
2024
n/a
Current account balance, % of GDP
-10.4%
2024
n/a
Goods imports
$11.7B
2024
n/a
Goods exports
$14.7B
2024
n/a
Service imports
$4.92B
2024
n/a
Service exports
$1.6B
2024
n/a
Imports of goods and services, % of GDP
69.7%
2024
n/a
Exports of goods and services, % of GDP
68.7%
2024
n/a

Economic freedom indices

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

Mongolia North Korea
Economic freedom 63.9 3.1
Economic freedom ranking 76/197 197/197
Property rights 49.2 16.3
Government integrity 35.8 4.3
Judicial effectiveness 54.9 6.3
Tax burden 83.7 0
Government spending 64.6 0
Fiscal health 96.1 0
Business freedom 68.4 5
Labor freedom 68.2 5
Monetary freedom 72.1 0
Trade freedom 74.4 0
Investment freedom 50 0
Financial freedom 50 0

Economic freedom comparison by year

Mongolia
North Korea
1x
Year Economic freedom index
Mongolia North Korea
2026 63.9 3.1
2025 62.6 3
2024 60.6 2.9
2023 61.7 2.9
2022 63.9 3
2021 62.4 5.2
2020 55.9 4.2
2019 55.4 5.9
2018 55.7 5.8
2017 54.8 4.9
2016 59.4 2.3
2015 59.2 1.3
2014 58.9 1
2013 61.7 1.5
2012 61.5 1
2011 59.5 1
2010 60 1
2009 62.8 2
2008 63.6 3
2007 60.3 3
2006 62.4 4
2005 59.7 8
2004 56.5 8.9
2003 57.7 8.9
2002 56.7 8.9
2001 56 8.9
2000 58.5 8.9
1999 58.6 8.9
1998 57.3 8.9
1997 52.9 8.9
1996 47.4 8.9
1995 47.8 8.9

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

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

The Economic Freedom Index for Mongolia is 63.9, ranking 76/197, 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

Mongolia North Korea
Services, % of GDP
44.3%
2024
n/a
Industry, % of GDP
38.1%
2024
n/a
Agriculture, forestry, and fishing, % of GDP
7.29%
2024
n/a
GNI, Atlas method
$19B
2024
n/a
GNI per capita, PPP
$17,000
2024
n/a
Total reserves including gold
$5.51B
2024
n/a
Total reserves ranking
95/177
2024
n/a
Net foreign direct investment
-$2.73B
2024
n/a
Net inflows of foreign direct investment
$2.78B
2024
$203K
1989
Net outflows of foreign direct investment
$55.5M
2024
$0
2024
Servicing debt to the IMF, % of GNI
25.7%
2024
n/a
Poverty at national poverty lines
27.1%
2022
n/a
Gross capital formation, % of GDP
35.5%
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/mongolia/north-korea | CC BY

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Data sources:

  1. World Bank | Economy & Growth (1980–2024, 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. TradeMap (2023–2024, retrieved 2026-02-08)
  6. International Monetary Fund (IMF) | Fiscal Monitor (2024, retrieved 2026-02-20)
  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.