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Economy of Nigeria vs North Korea compared: GDP & Debt

Updated on by Georank

Nigeria has a GDP of $291B compared to $34.9B for North Korea, ranking 50/197 and 109/197 by economy size, respectively.

Nigeria vs North Korea GDP by year

Nigeria
North Korea
1x
Year GDP, current $
Nigeria North Korea
2025 $290,794,361,542 -
2024 $252,261,880,140 $34,943,120,000
2023 $487,387,801,878 $32,155,360,000
2022 $646,950,257,575 $28,971,360,000
2021 $609,147,716,965 $32,301,720,000
2020 $598,586,817,817 $27,728,240,000
2019 $668,219,992,687 $28,222,880,000
2018 $421,739,251,509 $28,536,400,000
2017 $375,745,731,053 $29,105,440,000
2016 $404,649,125,252 $28,882,640,000
2015 $493,026,682,801 $30,723,030,000
2014 $574,183,763,412 $30,554,460,000
2013 $520,117,180,314 $30,588,922,000
2012 $463,971,018,239 $29,890,710,000
2011 $414,466,676,831 $29,005,020,000
2010 $366,990,417,129 $25,995,513,000
2009 $295,008,835,381 $23,356,470,000
2008 $339,476,276,258 -
2007 $278,260,846,800 -
2006 $238,454,997,161 -
2005 $175,670,569,969 -
2004 $135,764,731,646 -
2003 $104,738,954,264 -
2002 $95,054,059,303 -
2001 $73,557,840,064 -
2000 $69,171,451,627 -
1999 $59,145,077,039 -
1998 $218,416,200,673 -
1997 $200,850,397,618 -
1996 $185,730,236,700 -
1995 $140,919,776,986 -
1994 $80,399,613,064 -
1993 $56,721,051,402 -
1992 $52,058,181,854 -
1991 $59,526,833,412 -
1990 $54,035,795,388 -
1989 $44,003,061,108 -
1988 $49,648,470,440 -
1987 $52,676,041,931 -
1986 $54,805,852,581 -
1985 $73,745,821,158 -
1984 $73,484,359,521 -
1983 $97,094,911,792 -
1982 $142,769,363,314 -
1981 $164,475,209,516 -
1980 $64,201,788,123 -
1979 $47,259,911,894 -
1978 $36,527,862,209 -
1977 $36,035,407,725 -
1976 $36,308,883,249 -
1975 $27,778,934,625 -
1974 $24,846,641,318 -
1973 $15,162,871,287 -
1972 $12,274,416,018 -
1971 $9,181,769,912 -
1970 $12,546,094,982 -
1969 $6,634,317,346 -
1968 $5,200,997,920 -
1967 $5,203,237,919 -
1966 $6,366,917,453 -
1965 $5,874,537,650 -
1964 $5,552,931,319 -
1963 $5,165,590,254 -
1962 $4,909,399,176 -
1961 $4,467,287,893 -
1960 $4,196,174,502 -

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

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

GDP per capita in Nigeria vs North Korea by year

Nigeria
GDP per capita

GDP per capita, PPP
North Korea
GDP per capita

GDP per capita, PPP
1x
Year Current $
Nigeria North Korea
GDP per capita GDP per capita, PPP GDP per capita GDP per capita, PPP
2025 $1,224 - - -
2024 $1,084 $9,087 $1,319 -
2023 $2,139 $8,705 $1,217 -
2022 $2,899 $8,305 $1,100 -
2021 $2,787 $7,588 $1,231 -
2020 $2,797 $7,415 $1,061 -
2019 $3,190 $7,551 $1,084 -
2018 $2,058 $7,158 $1,100 -
2017 $1,876 $7,037 $1,127 -
2016 $2,070 $7,072 $1,124 -
2015 $2,586 $7,308 $1,201 $1,700
2014 $3,089 $7,396 $1,201 $1,800
2013 $2,873 $7,004 $1,208 -
2012 $2,633 $6,671 $1,186 -
2011 $2,418 $6,585 $1,156 $1,800
2010 $2,202 $6,301 $1,040 -
2009 $1,820 $5,927 $939 $1,800
2008 $2,154 $5,607 - $1,800
2007 $1,816 $5,298 - $1,700
2006 $1,600 $4,975 - $1,800
2005 $1,211 $4,678 - $1,700
2004 $962 $4,381 - $1,700
2003 $763 $4,015 - $1,300
2002 $712 $3,770 - $1,000
2001 $566 $3,309 - -
2000 $547 $3,139 - $1,000
1999 $481 $3,002 - $1,000
1998 $1,822 $3,022 - -
1997 $1,720 $2,990 - -
1996 $1,633 $2,931 - -
1995 $1,272 $2,835 - -
1994 $745 $2,853 - -
1993 $540 $2,921 - -
1992 $509 $2,991 - -
1991 $597 $2,870 - -
1990 $556 $2,840 - -
1989 $465 - - -
1988 $540 - - -
1987 $588 - - -
1986 $628 - - -
1985 $869 - - -
1984 $890 - - -
1983 $1,207 - - -
1982 $1,822 - - -
1981 $2,162 - - -
1980 $870 - - -
1979 $661 - - -
1978 $527 - - -
1977 $536 - - -
1976 $556 - - -
1975 $438 - - -
1974 $403 - - -
1973 $252.4 - - -
1972 $209.5 - - -
1971 $160.5 - - -
1970 $224.5 - - -
1969 $121.4 - - -
1968 $97.3 - - -
1967 $99.5 - - -
1966 $124.4 - - -
1965 $117.3 - - -
1964 $113.3 - - -
1963 $107.7 - - -
1962 $104.5 - - -
1961 $97.1 - - -
1960 $93.1 - - -

Data sources: World Bank | Economy & Growth (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08); Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) (1999–2015, retrieved 2026-07-08).

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

Nigeria's GDP per capita is $1,224, ranking 172/197, compared to $1,319 in North Korea, ranking 169/197. Adjusted for purchasing power (GDP per capita PPP), Nigeria ranks 136th at $9,087, while North Korea ranks 193rd at $1,700.

Economic indicators

Nigeria North Korea
Gross domestic product
$291B
2025
$34.9B
2024
GDP rank
50/197
2025
109/197
2024
GDP growth
4.01%
2024-2025
n/a
GDP per capita
$1,224
2025
$1,319
2024
GDP per capita rank
172/197
2025
169/197
2024
GDP per capita, PPP
$9,087
2024
$1,700
2015
GDP per capita PPP rank
136/197
2024
193/197
2015
Government debt
$103B
2025
n/a
Debt-to-GDP ratio
35.5%
2025
n/a
Government debt per person
$434
2025
n/a
Government debt per person rank
170/185
2025
n/a
Average annual personal income after taxes
$768
2026
$1,707
2026
Market capitalization of domestic companies
$86.9B
2025
n/a
Number of billionaires
4
2026
n/a
Income share by richest 10%
26.3%
2022
n/a
Income share by poorest 10%
3%
2022
n/a
Government expenditure, % of GDP
11.7%
2025
n/a
Consumer prices inflation
23%
2024-2025
n/a
Central bank interest rate
26.5%
2026
n/a
Unemployment rate
3.45%
2024
25.6%
2013
Population
245016045
26668308

Top exports between countries

Nigeria
Export category Export value
Raw agricultural goods $1.92M
Metals $827K
Chemicals & pharma $72K
North Korea
Export category Export value
Chemicals & pharma $1.57M
Machinery & equipment $41K
Raw materials & minerals $38K
Metals $9K

Balance of trade

Nigeria North Korea
Current account balance
$14B
2025
n/a
Current account balance ranking
21/190
2025
n/a
Current account balance, % of GDP
+4.83%
2025
n/a
Goods imports
$43B
2025
n/a
Goods exports
$57.5B
2025
n/a
Service imports
$19.6B
2025
n/a
Service exports
$5.06B
2025
n/a
Imports of goods and services, % of GDP
16.9%
1960
n/a
Exports of goods and services, % of GDP
9.24%
1960
n/a

Economic freedom indices

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

Nigeria North Korea
Economic freedom 54.8 3.1
Economic freedom ranking 132/197 197/197
Property rights 29.7 16.3
Government integrity 23.5 4.3
Judicial effectiveness 34.4 6.3
Tax burden 84.6 0
Government spending 96.3 0
Fiscal health 83.5 0
Business freedom 50.3 5
Labor freedom 75.4 5
Monetary freedom 56.1 0
Trade freedom 64.4 0
Investment freedom 30 0
Financial freedom 30 0

Economic freedom comparison by year

Nigeria
North Korea
1x
Year Economic freedom index
Nigeria North Korea
2026 54.8 3.1
2025 53.4 3
2024 53.1 2.9
2023 53.9 2.9
2022 54.4 3
2021 58.7 5.2
2020 57.2 4.2
2019 57.3 5.9
2018 58.5 5.8
2017 57.1 4.9
2016 57.5 2.3
2015 55.6 1.3
2014 54.3 1
2013 55.1 1.5
2012 56.3 1
2011 56.7 1
2010 56.8 1
2009 55.1 2
2008 55.1 3
2007 55.6 3
2006 48.7 4
2005 48.4 8
2004 49.2 8.9
2003 49.5 8.9
2002 50.9 8.9
2001 49.6 8.9
2000 53.1 8.9
1999 55.7 8.9
1998 52.3 8.9
1997 52.8 8.9
1996 47.4 8.9
1995 47.3 8.9

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

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

The Economic Freedom Index for Nigeria is 54.8, ranking 132/197, 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

Nigeria North Korea
Services, % of GDP
58.2%
2025
n/a
Industry, % of GDP
16.4%
2025
n/a
Agriculture, forestry, and fishing, % of GDP
23%
2025
n/a
GNI, Atlas method
$324B
2025
n/a
GNI per capita, PPP
$9,230
2025
n/a
Total reserves including gold
$46B
2025
n/a
Total reserves ranking
52/177
2025
n/a
Net foreign direct investment
-$2.82B
2025
n/a
Net inflows of foreign direct investment
$1.61B
2024
$203K
1989
Net outflows of foreign direct investment
$408M
2024
$0
2024
Servicing debt to the IMF, % of GNI
5.46%
2024
n/a
Poverty at national poverty lines
56.2%
2023
n/a

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/nigeria/north-korea | CC BY

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Data sources:

  1. World Bank | Economy & Growth (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08)
  2. The Heritage Foundation | Economic Freedom Index (1995–2026, retrieved 2026-07-08)
  3. U.S. Census Bureau (1985–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08)
  4. Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) (1999–2015, retrieved 2026-07-08)
  5. TradeMap (2022–2024, retrieved 2026-07-08)
  6. International Monetary Fund (IMF) | Fiscal Monitor (2025, retrieved 2026-07-08)
  7. United Nations | World Population Prospects (2026, retrieved 2026-07-08)
  8. LivingCost (2026, 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.