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Economy of North Korea vs Philippines compared: GDP & Debt

Updated on by Georank team

North Korea has a GDP of $34.9B compared to $462B for the Philippines, ranking 106/197 and 35/197 by economy size, respectively.

North Korea vs Philippines GDP by year

North Korea
Philippines
1x
Year GDP, current $
North Korea Philippines
2024 $34,943,120,000 $461,617,509,782
2023 $32,155,360,000 $437,055,627,244
2022 $28,971,360,000 $404,353,369,605
2021 $32,301,720,000 $394,087,359,848
2020 $27,728,240,000 $361,751,145,452
2019 $28,222,880,000 $376,823,402,239
2018 $28,536,400,000 $346,841,896,587
2017 $29,105,440,000 $328,480,736,803
2016 $28,882,640,000 $318,627,003,017
2015 $30,723,030,000 $306,445,871,242
2014 $30,554,460,000 $297,483,555,338
2013 $30,588,922,000 $283,902,828,589
2012 $29,890,710,000 $261,920,540,963
2011 $29,005,020,000 $234,216,730,291
2010 $25,995,513,000 $208,368,893,151
2009 $23,356,470,000 $175,974,755,881
2008 - $181,624,626,327
2007 - $155,980,408,673
2006 - $127,652,926,368
2005 - $107,419,977,318
2004 - $95,001,999,685
2003 - $87,039,092,974
2002 - $84,307,345,888
2001 - $78,921,234,458
2000 - $83,669,788,377
1999 - $85,640,171,045
1998 - $74,492,416,330
1997 - $94,106,317,565
1996 - $94,648,084,429
1995 - $84,644,328,727
1994 - $73,159,336,915
1993 - $62,036,529,147
1992 - $60,422,328,242
1991 - $51,784,144,943
1990 - $50,508,286,642
1989 - $48,513,773,721
1988 - $43,152,128,959
1987 - $37,791,488,666
1986 - $33,987,207,295
1985 - $34,961,486,348
1984 - $35,730,185,634
1983 - $37,759,179,895
1982 - $42,206,011,275
1981 - $40,499,388,869
1980 - $36,848,080,899
1979 - $31,218,296,292
1978 - $25,762,224,563
1977 - $22,283,109,803
1976 - $19,381,055,197
1975 - $16,875,240,684
1974 - $15,607,882,555
1973 - $11,412,449,735
1972 - $9,067,815,521
1971 - $8,375,075,630
1970 - $7,559,115,517
1969 - $9,571,800,653
1968 - $8,632,749,269
1967 - $7,724,873,935
1966 - $7,189,017,888
1965 - $6,517,349,772
1964 - $5,953,756,195
1963 - $5,505,023,238
1962 - $4,954,593,072
1961 - $8,171,194,425
1960 - $7,515,894,111

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

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

GDP per capita in North Korea vs Philippines by year

North Korea
GDP per capita

GDP per capita, PPP
Philippines
GDP per capita

GDP per capita, PPP
1x
Year Current $
North Korea Philippines
GDP per capita GDP per capita, PPP GDP per capita GDP per capita, PPP
2024 $1,319 - $3,985 $11,794
2023 $1,217 - $3,804 $10,986
2022 $1,100 - $3,548 $10,131
2021 $1,231 - $3,484 $8,858
2020 $1,061 - $3,228 $8,238
2019 $1,084 - $3,401 $8,924
2018 $1,100 - $3,169 $8,358
2017 $1,127 - $3,038 $7,774
2016 $1,124 - $2,985 $7,383
2015 $1,201 $1,700 $2,910 $6,894
2014 $1,201 $1,800 $2,867 $6,689
2013 $1,208 - $2,781 $6,373
2012 $1,186 - $2,615 $6,094
2011 $1,156 $1,800 $2,384 $5,705
2010 $1,040 - $2,163 $5,489
2009 $939 $1,800 $1,864 $5,157
2008 - $1,800 $1,959 $5,144
2007 - $1,700 $1,713 $4,923
2006 - $1,800 $1,426 $4,579
2005 - $1,700 $1,220 $4,289
2004 - $1,700 $1,100 $4,037
2003 - $1,300 $1,027 $3,761
2002 - $1,000 $1,015 $3,580
2001 - - $970 $3,469
2000 - $1,000 $1,051 $3,366
1999 - $1,000 $1,101 $3,229
1998 - - $983 $3,160
1997 - - $1,273 $3,221
1996 - - $1,311 $3,082
1995 - - $1,200 $2,926
1994 - - $1,060 $2,800
1993 - - $919 $2,684
1992 - - $917 $2,629
1991 - - $804 $2,621
1990 - - $804 $2,608
1989 - - $792 -
1988 - - $722 -
1987 - - $650 -
1986 - - $600 -
1985 - - $633 -
1984 - - $665 -
1983 - - $723 -
1982 - - $833 -
1981 - - $821 -
1980 - - $767 -
1979 - - $667 -
1978 - - $565 -
1977 - - $502 -
1976 - - $449 -
1975 - - $401 -
1974 - - $379 -
1973 - - $283.2 -
1972 - - $230.1 -
1971 - - $217.4 -
1970 - - $200.9 -
1969 - - $261.1 -
1968 - - $242.2 -
1967 - - $223.1 -
1966 - - $213.8 -
1965 - - $199.8 -
1964 - - $188.2 -
1963 - - $179.5 -
1962 - - $166.7 -
1961 - - $283.8 -
1960 - - $269.5 -

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/north-korea/philippines | CC BY

North Korea's GDP per capita is $1,319, ranking 168/197, compared to $3,985 in the Philippines, ranking 130/197. Adjusted for purchasing power (GDP per capita PPP), North Korea ranks 193rd at $1,700, while the Philippines ranks 127th at $11,794.

Economic indicators

North Korea Philippines
Gross domestic product
$34.9B
2024
$462B
2024
GDP rank
106/197
2024
35/197
2024
GDP growth n/a
5.69%
2023-2024
GDP per capita
$1,319
2024
$3,985
2024
GDP per capita rank
168/197
2024
130/197
2024
GDP per capita, PPP
$1,700
2015
$11,794
2024
GDP per capita PPP rank
193/197
2015
127/197
2024
Government debt n/a
$261B
2024
Debt-to-GDP ratio n/a
56.6%
2024
Government debt per person n/a
$2,257
2024
Government debt per person rank n/a
117/185
2024
Average annual personal income after taxes
$1,426
2026
$3,407
2026
Market capitalization of domestic companies n/a
$252B
2024
Number of billionaires n/a
15
2025
Income share by richest 10% n/a
31.6%
2023
Income share by poorest 10% n/a
2.9%
2023
Government expenditure, % of GDP n/a
24.9%
2024
Consumer prices inflation n/a
3.21%
2023-2024
Central bank interest rate n/a
4.75%
2025
Unemployment rate
25.6%
2013
2.41%
2023
Population
26659144
117991570

Top exports between countries

North Korea
Export category Export value
Philippines
Export category Export value
Machinery & equipment $29K
Textiles & consumer goods $6K

Balance of trade

North Korea Philippines
Current account balance n/a
-$18.3B
2024
Current account balance ranking n/a
183/190
2024
Current account balance, % of GDP n/a
-3.96%
2024
Goods imports n/a
$124B
2024
Goods exports n/a
$55.1B
2024
Service imports n/a
$37.6B
2024
Service exports n/a
$51.6B
2024
Imports of goods and services, % of GDP n/a
40.1%
2024
Exports of goods and services, % of GDP n/a
25.8%
2024

Economic freedom indices

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

North Korea Philippines
Economic freedom 3.1 62.9
Economic freedom ranking 197/197 85/197
Property rights 16.3 45.8
Government integrity 4.3 35.4
Judicial effectiveness 6.3 41.8
Tax burden 0 78.3
Government spending 0 81
Fiscal health 0 60.5
Business freedom 5 69.2
Labor freedom 5 57.8
Monetary freedom 0 72.1
Trade freedom 0 83
Investment freedom 0 70
Financial freedom 0 60

Economic freedom comparison by year

North Korea
Philippines
1x
Year Economic freedom index
North Korea Philippines
2026 3.1 62.9
2025 3 60.6
2024 2.9 59
2023 2.9 59.3
2022 3 61.1
2021 5.2 64.1
2020 4.2 64.5
2019 5.9 63.8
2018 5.8 65
2017 4.9 65.6
2016 2.3 63.1
2015 1.3 62.2
2014 1 60.1
2013 1.5 58.2
2012 1 57.1
2011 1 56.2
2010 1 56.3
2009 2 56.8
2008 3 56
2007 3 56
2006 4 56.3
2005 8 54.7
2004 8.9 59.1
2003 8.9 61.3
2002 8.9 60.7
2001 8.9 60.9
2000 8.9 62.5
1999 8.9 61.9
1998 8.9 62.8
1997 8.9 62.2
1996 8.9 60.2
1995 8.9 55

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

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

The Economic Freedom Index for North Korea is 3.1, ranking 197/197, compared to 62.9 for the Philippines, ranking 85/197. The chart above displays a comparison of annual changes in economic freedom indexes.

Other economic metrics

North Korea Philippines
Services, % of GDP n/a
63.2%
2024
Industry, % of GDP n/a
27.7%
2024
Agriculture, forestry, and fishing, % of GDP n/a
9.08%
2024
GNI, Atlas method n/a
$518B
2024
GNI per capita, PPP n/a
$13,330
2024
Total reserves including gold n/a
$106B
2024
Total reserves ranking n/a
27/177
2024
Net foreign direct investment n/a
-$6.57B
2024
Net inflows of foreign direct investment
$203K
1989
$9.44B
2024
Net outflows of foreign direct investment
$0
2024
$2.87B
2024
Servicing debt to the IMF, % of GNI n/a
3.45%
2024
Poverty at national poverty lines n/a
15.5%
2023
Gross capital formation, % of GDP n/a
23.7%
2024

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/north-korea/philippines | 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. TradeMap (2022, 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.

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.