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Economy of Namibia vs North Korea compared: GDP & Debt

Updated on by Georank team

Namibia has a GDP of $13.4B compared to $34.9B for North Korea, ranking 147/197 and 106/197 by economy size, respectively.

Namibia vs North Korea GDP by year

Namibia
North Korea
1x
Year GDP, current $
Namibia North Korea
2024 $13,372,354,512 $34,943,120,000
2023 $12,408,271,449 $32,155,360,000
2022 $12,569,449,123 $28,971,360,000
2021 $12,402,486,184 $32,301,720,000
2020 $10,583,748,542 $27,728,240,000
2019 $12,541,928,303 $28,222,880,000
2018 $13,682,019,076 $28,536,400,000
2017 $12,895,153,371 $29,105,440,000
2016 $10,722,018,732 $28,882,640,000
2015 $11,335,161,084 $30,723,030,000
2014 $12,435,430,970 $30,554,460,000
2013 $12,043,307,277 $30,588,922,000
2012 $13,042,053,592 $29,890,710,000
2011 $12,523,359,441 $29,005,020,000
2010 $11,431,412,421 $25,995,513,000
2009 $8,938,847,189 $23,356,470,000
2008 $8,607,431,497 -
2007 $8,839,536,476 -
2006 $8,001,779,551 -
2005 $7,248,374,838 -
2004 $6,609,205,995 -
2003 $4,926,439,384 -
2002 $3,349,169,826 -
2001 $3,557,341,215 -
2000 $3,922,232,165 -
1999 $3,868,551,730 -
1998 $3,873,109,866 -
1997 $4,154,989,950 -
1996 $3,989,163,197 -
1995 $3,978,514,206 -
1994 $3,666,503,530 -
1993 $3,251,188,833 -
1992 $3,429,521,699 -
1991 $2,996,869,281 -
1990 $2,789,921,854 -
1989 $2,535,135,798 -
1988 $2,495,094,746 -
1987 $2,300,068,217 -
1986 $1,809,048,527 -
1985 $1,608,237,350 -
1984 $1,951,260,038 -
1983 $2,297,400,688 -
1982 $2,118,710,248 -
1981 $2,249,908,578 -
1980 $2,421,990,338 -

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

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

GDP per capita in Namibia vs North Korea by year

Namibia
GDP per capita

GDP per capita, PPP
North Korea
GDP per capita

GDP per capita, PPP
1x
Year Current $
Namibia North Korea
GDP per capita GDP per capita, PPP GDP per capita GDP per capita, PPP
2024 $4,413 $11,687 $1,319 -
2023 $4,188 $11,251 $1,217 -
2022 $4,350 $10,663 $1,100 -
2021 $4,413 $9,709 $1,231 -
2020 $3,879 $9,354 $1,061 -
2019 $4,732 $9,609 $1,084 -
2018 $5,309 $9,854 $1,100 -
2017 $5,144 $9,888 $1,127 -
2016 $4,396 $10,200 $1,124 -
2015 $4,774 $10,466 $1,201 $1,700
2014 $5,378 $10,365 $1,201 $1,800
2013 $5,347 $9,699 $1,208 -
2012 $5,943 $9,364 $1,186 -
2011 $5,835 $9,002 $1,156 $1,800
2010 $5,418 $8,538 $1,040 -
2009 $4,303 $8,079 $939 $1,800
2008 $4,205 $8,125 - $1,800
2007 $4,379 $7,875 - $1,700
2006 $4,017 $7,374 - $1,800
2005 $3,686 $6,767 - $1,700
2004 $3,403 $6,480 - $1,700
2003 $2,569 $5,693 - $1,300
2002 $1,772 $5,433 - $1,000
2001 $1,916 $5,196 - -
2000 $2,157 $5,129 - $1,000
1999 $2,178 $4,961 - $1,000
1998 $2,235 $4,852 - -
1997 $2,460 $4,764 - -
1996 $2,423 $4,612 - -
1995 $2,483 $4,509 - -
1994 $2,356 $4,376 - -
1993 $2,155 $4,345 - -
1992 $2,347 $4,452 - -
1991 $2,117 $4,192 - -
1990 $2,037 $3,875 - -
1989 $1,967 - - -
1988 $2,063 - - -
1987 $1,969 - - -
1986 $1,599 - - -
1985 $1,466 - - -
1984 $1,830 - - -
1983 $2,214 - - -
1982 $2,097 - - -
1981 $2,267 - - -
1980 $2,468 - - -

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/namibia/north-korea | CC BY

Namibia's GDP per capita is $4,413, ranking 126/197, compared to $1,319 in North Korea, ranking 168/197. Adjusted for purchasing power (GDP per capita PPP), Namibia ranks 128th at $11,687, while North Korea ranks 193rd at $1,700.

Economic indicators

Namibia North Korea
Gross domestic product
$13.4B
2024
$34.9B
2024
GDP rank
147/197
2024
106/197
2024
GDP growth
3.71%
2023-2024
n/a
GDP per capita
$4,413
2024
$1,319
2024
GDP per capita rank
126/197
2024
168/197
2024
GDP per capita, PPP
$11,687
2024
$1,700
2015
GDP per capita PPP rank
128/197
2024
193/197
2015
Government debt
$9.05B
2024
n/a
Debt-to-GDP ratio
67.7%
2024
n/a
Government debt per person
$2,988
2024
n/a
Government debt per person rank
100/185
2024
n/a
Average annual personal income after taxes
$6,197
2026
$1,426
2026
Market capitalization of domestic companies
$2.48B
2024
n/a
Income share by richest 10%
47.2%
2015
n/a
Income share by poorest 10%
1%
2015
n/a
Government expenditure, % of GDP
39.9%
2024
n/a
Consumer prices inflation
4.2%
2023-2024
n/a
Central bank interest rate
6.5%
2025
n/a
Unemployment rate
19.9%
2018
25.6%
2013
Population
3173089
26659144

Top exports between countries

Namibia
Export category Export value
Animal & marine products $101K
Miscellaneous $23K
North Korea
Export category Export value
Machinery & equipment $3K

Balance of trade

Namibia North Korea
Current account balance
-$1.89M
2024
n/a
Current account balance ranking
78/190
2024
n/a
Current account balance, % of GDP
-0.01%
2024
n/a
Goods imports
$6.77B
2024
n/a
Goods exports
$4.67B
2024
n/a
Service imports
$2.47B
2024
n/a
Service exports
$1.29B
2024
n/a
Imports of goods and services, % of GDP
68%
2024
n/a
Exports of goods and services, % of GDP
41.6%
2024
n/a

Economic freedom indices

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

Namibia North Korea
Economic freedom 60.2 3.1
Economic freedom ranking 95/197 197/197
Property rights 63.1 16.3
Government integrity 51.5 4.3
Judicial effectiveness 67.2 6.3
Tax burden 66.4 0
Government spending 57.1 0
Fiscal health 60.5 0
Business freedom 58 5
Labor freedom 62.7 5
Monetary freedom 76.1 0
Trade freedom 69.8 0
Investment freedom 50 0
Financial freedom 40 0

Economic freedom comparison by year

Namibia
North Korea
1x
Year Economic freedom index
Namibia North Korea
2026 60.2 3.1
2025 58.7 3
2024 57.5 2.9
2023 57.7 2.9
2022 59.2 3
2021 62.6 5.2
2020 60.9 4.2
2019 58.7 5.9
2018 58.5 5.8
2017 62.5 4.9
2016 61.9 2.3
2015 59.6 1.3
2014 59.4 1
2013 60.3 1.5
2012 61.9 1
2011 62.7 1
2010 62.2 1
2009 62.4 2
2008 61.4 3
2007 63.5 3
2006 60.7 4
2005 61.4 8
2004 62.4 8.9
2003 67.3 8.9
2002 65.1 8.9
2001 64.8 8.9
2000 66.7 8.9
1999 66.1 8.9
1998 66.1 8.9
1997 61.6 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/namibia/north-korea | CC BY

The Economic Freedom Index for Namibia is 60.2, ranking 95/197, 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

Namibia North Korea
Services, % of GDP
54.5%
2024
n/a
Industry, % of GDP
28.9%
2024
n/a
Agriculture, forestry, and fishing, % of GDP
7.29%
2024
n/a
GNI, Atlas method
$12.8B
2024
n/a
GNI per capita, PPP
$11,300
2024
n/a
Total reserves including gold
$3.36B
2024
n/a
Total reserves ranking
115/177
2024
n/a
Net foreign direct investment
-$1.93M
2024
n/a
Net inflows of foreign direct investment
$1.97B
2024
$203K
1989
Net outflows of foreign direct investment
$44.5M
2024
$0
2024
Poverty at national poverty lines
17.4%
2015
n/a
Gross capital formation, % of GDP
25.6%
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/namibia/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. International Monetary Fund (IMF) | Fiscal Monitor (2024, retrieved 2026-02-20)
  6. TradeMap (2021–2024, 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.

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.