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Economy of Myanmar vs North Korea compared: GDP & Debt

Updated on by Georank team

Myanmar has a GDP of $74.1B compared to $34.9B for North Korea, ranking 85/197 and 106/197 by economy size, respectively.

Myanmar vs North Korea GDP by year

Myanmar
North Korea
1x
Year GDP, current $
Myanmar North Korea
2024 $74,068,349,524 $34,943,120,000
2023 $66,757,619,000 $32,155,360,000
2022 $62,253,049,903 $28,971,360,000
2021 $66,345,291,149 $32,301,720,000
2020 $79,006,113,670 $27,728,240,000
2019 $75,065,106,243 $28,222,880,000
2018 $67,860,515,993 $28,536,400,000
2017 $66,053,040,475 $29,105,440,000
2016 $63,298,361,984 $28,882,640,000
2015 $59,607,290,408 $30,723,030,000
2014 $65,531,374,210 $30,554,460,000
2013 $60,269,732,855 $30,588,922,000
2012 $59,937,796,648 $29,890,710,000
2011 $59,977,326,086 $29,005,020,000
2010 $49,540,813,342 $25,995,513,000
2009 $36,906,181,381 $23,356,470,000
2008 $31,862,554,102 -
2007 $20,182,477,481 -
2006 $14,502,553,710 -
2005 $11,986,972,419 -
2004 $10,567,354,056 -
2003 $10,467,109,978 -
2002 $6,777,632,512 -
2001 $6,477,790,688 -
2000 $8,905,066,164 -
1999 $8,486,832,801 -
1998 $6,459,461,639 -
1997 $4,722,288,496 -
1996 $6,123,556,717 -
1995 $5,289,174,943 -
1994 $4,432,257,174 -
1993 $3,163,020,035 -
1992 $2,411,552,289 -
1991 $2,069,832,687 -
1990 $2,115,193,513 -
1989 $2,013,448,229 -
1988 $1,541,088,312 -
1987 $1,562,448,077 -
1986 $1,582,873,750 -
1985 $1,478,908,173 -
1984 $1,304,063,253 -
1983 $1,381,573,615 -
1982 $1,481,165,468 -
1981 $1,111,000,765 -
1980 $1,038,225,167 -
1979 $952,265,043 -
1978 $935,408,775 -
1977 $873,579,932 -
1976 $1,204,699,849 -
1975 $1,061,107,354 -
1974 $1,225,589,878 -
1973 $719,754,655 -
1972 $662,213,083 -
1971 $587,448,405 -
1970 $563,555,631 -
1969 $571,854,215 -
1968 $559,956,130 -
1967 $420,359,036 -
1966 $293,103,479 -
1965 $367,053,117 -
1964 $411,419,906 -
1963 $598,998,419 -
1962 $634,528,872 -
1961 $605,581,577 -
1960 $545,098,448 -

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

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

GDP per capita in Myanmar vs North Korea by year

Myanmar
GDP per capita

GDP per capita, PPP
North Korea
GDP per capita

GDP per capita, PPP
1x
Year Current $
Myanmar North Korea
GDP per capita GDP per capita, PPP GDP per capita GDP per capita, PPP
2024 $1,359 $5,997 $1,319 -
2023 $1,233 $5,953 $1,217 -
2022 $1,158 $5,732 $1,100 -
2021 $1,243 $5,178 $1,231 -
2020 $1,490 $5,741 $1,061 -
2019 $1,426 $6,101 $1,084 -
2018 $1,298 $5,581 $1,100 -
2017 $1,273 $4,706 $1,127 -
2016 $1,229 $4,460 $1,124 -
2015 $1,167 $4,459 $1,201 $1,700
2014 $1,293 $4,376 $1,201 $1,800
2013 $1,199 $4,144 $1,208 -
2012 $1,203 $3,845 $1,186 -
2011 $1,214 $3,579 $1,156 $1,800
2010 $1,011 $3,348 $1,040 -
2009 $758 $3,040 $939 $1,800
2008 $658 $2,748 - $1,800
2007 $419 $2,459 - $1,700
2006 $303 $2,153 - $1,800
2005 $252.7 $1,860 - $1,700
2004 $224.5 $1,601 - $1,700
2003 $224.3 $1,385 - $1,300
2002 $146.6 $1,204 - $1,000
2001 $141.5 $1,069 - -
2000 $196.6 $949 - $1,000
1999 $189.5 $825 - $1,000
1998 $146 $742 - -
1997 $108 $702 - -
1996 $141.9 $661 - -
1995 $124.1 $618 - -
1994 $105.4 $573 - -
1993 $76.2 $529 - -
1992 $58.9 $494 - -
1991 $51.2 $447 - -
1990 $53.1 $441 - -
1989 $51.3 - - -
1988 $39.9 - - -
1987 $41.1 - - -
1986 $42.4 - - -
1985 $40.4 - - -
1984 $36.3 - - -
1983 $39.3 - - -
1982 $43 - - -
1981 $32.8 - - -
1980 $31.2 - - -
1979 $29.2 - - -
1978 $29.3 - - -
1977 $27.9 - - -
1976 $39.2 - - -
1975 $35.2 - - -
1974 $41.4 - - -
1973 $24.8 - - -
1972 $23.3 - - -
1971 $21.1 - - -
1970 $20.7 - - -
1969 $21.5 - - -
1968 $21.5 - - -
1967 $16.5 - - -
1966 $11.8 - - -
1965 $15.1 - - -
1964 $17.3 - - -
1963 $25.8 - - -
1962 $27.9 - - -
1961 $27.3 - - -
1960 $25.1 - - -

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/myanmar/north-korea | CC BY

Myanmar's GDP per capita is $1,359, ranking 165/197, compared to $1,319 in North Korea, ranking 168/197. Adjusted for purchasing power (GDP per capita PPP), Myanmar ranks 153rd at $5,997, while North Korea ranks 193rd at $1,700.

Economic indicators

Myanmar North Korea
Gross domestic product
$74.1B
2024
$34.9B
2024
GDP rank
85/197
2024
106/197
2024
GDP growth
-0.97%
2023-2024
n/a
GDP per capita
$1,359
2024
$1,319
2024
GDP per capita rank
165/197
2024
168/197
2024
GDP per capita, PPP
$5,997
2024
$1,700
2015
GDP per capita PPP rank
153/197
2024
193/197
2015
Government debt
$44B
2024
n/a
Debt-to-GDP ratio
59.3%
2024
n/a
Government debt per person
$806
2024
n/a
Government debt per person rank
150/185
2024
n/a
Average annual personal income after taxes
$1,646
2026
$1,426
2026
Income share by richest 10%
25.5%
2017
n/a
Income share by poorest 10%
3.8%
2017
n/a
Government expenditure, % of GDP
20.7%
2024
n/a
Consumer prices inflation
8.83%
2018-2019
n/a
Unemployment rate
1.48%
2020
25.6%
2013
Population
55292116
26659144

Top exports between countries

Myanmar
Export category Export value
North Korea
Export category Export value
Chemicals & pharma $9K

Balance of trade

Myanmar North Korea
Current account balance
$67.7M
2019
n/a
Current account balance ranking
71/190
2019
n/a
Current account balance, % of GDP
+0.09%
2019
n/a
Goods imports
$13.7B
2019
n/a
Goods exports
$10.8B
2019
n/a
Service imports
$3.66B
2019
n/a
Service exports
$6.68B
2019
n/a
Exports of goods and services, % of GDP
24.3%
2025
n/a

Economic freedom indices

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

Myanmar North Korea
Economic freedom 44.5 3.1
Economic freedom ranking 180/197 197/197
Property rights 5.7 16.3
Government integrity 18.1 4.3
Judicial effectiveness 3.9 6.3
Tax burden 88.6 0
Government spending 86.6 0
Fiscal health 62.7 0
Business freedom 37.9 5
Labor freedom 53.2 5
Monetary freedom 57.5 0
Trade freedom 69.4 0
Investment freedom 30 0
Financial freedom 20 0

Economic freedom comparison by year

Myanmar
North Korea
1x
Year Economic freedom index
Myanmar North Korea
2026 44.5 3.1
2025 43.7 3
2024 42.2 2.9
2023 46.5 2.9
2022 49.6 3
2021 55.2 5.2
2020 54 4.2
2019 53.6 5.9
2018 53.9 5.8
2017 52.5 4.9
2016 48.7 2.3
2015 46.9 1.3
2014 46.5 1
2013 39.2 1.5
2012 38.7 1
2011 37.8 1
2010 36.7 1
2009 37.7 2
2008 39.5 3
2007 41 3
2006 40 4
2005 40.5 8
2004 43.6 8.9
2003 44.9 8.9
2002 45.5 8.9
2001 46.1 8.9
2000 47.9 8.9
1999 46.4 8.9
1998 45.7 8.9
1997 45.4 8.9
1996 45.1 8.9
1995 - 8.9

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

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

The Economic Freedom Index for Myanmar is 44.5, ranking 180/197, 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

Myanmar North Korea
Services, % of GDP
41.4%
2024
n/a
Industry, % of GDP
37.8%
2024
n/a
Agriculture, forestry, and fishing, % of GDP
20.8%
2024
n/a
GNI, Atlas method
$65.9B
2024
n/a
GNI per capita, PPP
$5,890
2024
n/a
Total reserves including gold
$9.34B
2023
n/a
Total reserves ranking
81/177
2023
n/a
Net foreign direct investment
-$1.74B
2019
n/a
Net inflows of foreign direct investment
$1.1B
2024
$203K
1989
Net outflows of foreign direct investment
$0
2024
$0
2024
Servicing debt to the IMF, % of GNI
1.31%
2024
n/a
Poverty at national poverty lines
24.8%
2017
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/myanmar/north-korea | CC BY

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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. United Nations | World Population Prospects (2026, retrieved 2026-03-10)
  7. LivingCost (2026, retrieved 2025-10-14)
  8. TradeMap (2024, retrieved 2026-02-08)

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.