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Economy of North Korea vs Rwanda compared: GDP & Debt

Updated on by Georank team

North Korea has a GDP of $34.9B compared to $14.3B for Rwanda, ranking 106/197 and 144/197 by economy size, respectively.

North Korea vs Rwanda GDP by year

North Korea
Rwanda
1x
Year GDP, current $
North Korea Rwanda
2024 $34,943,120,000 $14,251,642,235
2023 $32,155,360,000 $14,331,722,703
2022 $28,971,360,000 $13,316,161,002
2021 $32,301,720,000 $11,078,787,090
2020 $27,728,240,000 $10,174,386,857
2019 $28,222,880,000 $10,349,300,277
2018 $28,536,400,000 $9,637,904,521
2017 $29,105,440,000 $9,252,833,891
2016 $28,882,640,000 $8,695,272,058
2015 $30,723,030,000 $8,543,760,200
2014 $30,554,460,000 $8,238,966,124
2013 $30,588,922,000 $7,819,964,030
2012 $29,890,710,000 $7,654,761,050
2011 $29,005,020,000 $6,884,913,658
2010 $25,995,513,000 $6,124,756,654
2009 $23,356,470,000 $5,674,476,969
2008 - $5,179,854,065
2007 - $4,070,507,895
2006 - $3,319,784,539
2005 - $2,933,819,766
2004 - $2,376,496,067
2003 - $2,138,237,279
2002 - $1,966,003,468
2001 - $1,966,600,715
2000 - $2,068,836,754
1999 - $2,157,108,263
1998 - $1,989,343,546
1997 - $1,851,558,197
1996 - $1,382,334,879
1995 - $1,293,535,193
1994 - $753,636,370
1993 - $1,971,525,712
1992 - $2,029,026,962
1991 - $1,911,600,237
1990 - $2,550,185,679
1989 - $2,405,022,593
1988 - $2,395,492,687
1987 - $2,157,432,668
1986 - $1,944,710,684
1985 - $1,715,626,331
1984 - $1,587,413,084
1983 - $1,479,687,587
1982 - $1,407,243,139
1981 - $1,407,062,527
1980 - $1,254,765,642
1979 - $1,109,346,131
1978 - $905,709,076
1977 - $746,650,613
1976 - $637,753,853
1975 - $571,863,500
1974 - $308,458,423
1973 - $290,746,157
1972 - $246,457,838
1971 - $222,952,504
1970 - $219,900,006
1969 - $188,700,037
1968 - $172,200,018
1967 - $159,560,018
1966 - $124,525,703
1965 - $148,799,980
1964 - $129,999,994
1963 - $128,000,000
1962 - $125,000,008
1961 - $122,000,016
1960 - $119,000,024

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

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

GDP per capita in North Korea vs Rwanda by year

North Korea
GDP per capita

GDP per capita, PPP
Rwanda
GDP per capita

GDP per capita, PPP
1x
Year Current $
North Korea Rwanda
GDP per capita GDP per capita, PPP GDP per capita GDP per capita, PPP
2024 $1,319 - $1,000 $3,711
2023 $1,217 - $1,027 $3,399
2022 $1,100 - $975 $3,099
2021 $1,231 - $830 $2,733
2020 $1,061 - $779 $2,285
2019 $1,084 - $810 $2,336
2018 $1,100 - $772 $2,125
2017 $1,127 - $758 $1,968
2016 $1,124 - $730 $1,866
2015 $1,201 $1,700 $734 $1,781
2014 $1,201 $1,800 $725 $1,678
2013 $1,208 - $705 $1,512
2012 $1,186 - $707 $1,455
2011 $1,156 $1,800 $651 $1,413
2010 $1,040 - $594 $1,314
2009 $939 $1,800 $564 $1,241
2008 - $1,800 $528 $1,191
2007 - $1,700 $426 $1,079
2006 - $1,800 $357 $1,002
2005 - $1,700 $324 $914
2004 - $1,700 $269.5 $832
2003 - $1,300 $249 $775
2002 - $1,000 $234 $760
2001 - - $237.3 $670
2000 - $1,000 $251.9 $609
1999 - $1,000 $264.7 $554
1998 - - $246.2 $528
1997 - - $238.7 $500
1996 - - $206 $499
1995 - - $228 $514
1994 - - $111 $311
1993 - - $247 $521
1992 - - $264.1 $575
1991 - - $254 $542
1990 - - $346 $549
1989 - - $335 -
1988 - - $344 -
1987 - - $320 -
1986 - - $297.7 -
1985 - - $271.6 -
1984 - - $259.9 -
1983 - - $250.6 -
1982 - - $246.4 -
1981 - - $254.6 -
1980 - - $234.4 -
1979 - - $213.8 -
1978 - - $179.9 -
1977 - - $152.7 -
1976 - - $134.4 -
1975 - - $124.1 -
1974 - - $68.9 -
1973 - - $66.9 -
1972 - - $58.4 -
1971 - - $54.4 -
1970 - - $55.2 -
1969 - - $48.9 -
1968 - - $46 -
1967 - - $44 -
1966 - - $35.4 -
1965 - - $43.5 -
1964 - - $39 -
1963 - - $39.3 -
1962 - - $39.2 -
1961 - - $39.3 -
1960 - - $39.4 -

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/rwanda | CC BY

North Korea's GDP per capita is $1,319, ranking 168/197, compared to $1,000 in Rwanda, ranking 178/197. Adjusted for purchasing power (GDP per capita PPP), North Korea ranks 193rd at $1,700, while Rwanda ranks 168th at $3,711.

Economic indicators

North Korea Rwanda
Gross domestic product
$34.9B
2024
$14.3B
2024
GDP rank
106/197
2024
144/197
2024
GDP growth n/a
8.89%
2023-2024
GDP per capita
$1,319
2024
$1,000
2024
GDP per capita rank
168/197
2024
178/197
2024
GDP per capita, PPP
$1,700
2015
$3,711
2024
GDP per capita PPP rank
193/197
2015
168/197
2024
Government debt n/a
$9.58B
2024
Debt-to-GDP ratio n/a
67.2%
2024
Government debt per person n/a
$672
2024
Government debt per person rank n/a
157/185
2024
Average annual personal income after taxes
$1,426
2026
$2,194
2026
Market capitalization of domestic companies n/a
$2.75B
2024
Income share by richest 10% n/a
33.4%
2023
Income share by poorest 10% n/a
3.1%
2023
Government expenditure, % of GDP n/a
28.8%
2024
Consumer prices inflation n/a
1.77%
2023-2024
Central bank interest rate n/a
6.75%
2025
Unemployment rate
25.6%
2013
11.3%
2024
Population
26659144
14975051

Top exports between countries

North Korea
Export category Export value
Chemicals & pharma $2.06M
Raw materials & minerals $383K
Machinery & equipment $115K
Metals $3K
Textiles & consumer goods $1K
Wood & paper products $1K
Rwanda
Export category Export value
Raw agricultural goods $440K
Textiles & consumer goods $14K

Balance of trade

North Korea Rwanda
Current account balance n/a
-$1.81B
2024
Current account balance ranking n/a
140/190
2024
Current account balance, % of GDP n/a
-12.7%
2024
Goods imports n/a
$5.55B
2024
Goods exports n/a
$3.2B
2024
Service imports n/a
$991M
2024
Service exports n/a
$1.08B
2024
Imports of goods and services, % of GDP n/a
39.1%
2024
Exports of goods and services, % of GDP n/a
30.8%
2024

Economic freedom indices

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

North Korea Rwanda
Economic freedom 3.1 56.5
Economic freedom ranking 197/197 121/197
Property rights 16.3 60.3
Government integrity 4.3 53.9
Judicial effectiveness 6.3 27.5
Tax burden 0 80.6
Government spending 0 75.7
Fiscal health 0 37.5
Business freedom 5 60.1
Labor freedom 5 49.1
Monetary freedom 0 72.3
Trade freedom 0 61.8
Investment freedom 0 60
Financial freedom 0 40

Economic freedom comparison by year

North Korea
Rwanda
1x
Year Economic freedom index
North Korea Rwanda
2026 3.1 56.5
2025 3 54.8
2024 2.9 51.6
2023 2.9 52.2
2022 3 57.1
2021 5.2 68.3
2020 4.2 70.9
2019 5.9 71.1
2018 5.8 69.1
2017 4.9 67.6
2016 2.3 63.1
2015 1.3 64.8
2014 1 64.7
2013 1.5 64.1
2012 1 64.9
2011 1 62.7
2010 1 59.1
2009 2 54.2
2008 3 54.2
2007 3 52.4
2006 4 52.8
2005 8 51.7
2004 8.9 53.3
2003 8.9 47.8
2002 8.9 50.4
2001 8.9 45.4
2000 8.9 42.3
1999 8.9 39.8
1998 8.9 39.1
1997 8.9 38.3
1996 8.9 -
1995 8.9 -

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

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

The Economic Freedom Index for North Korea is 3.1, ranking 197/197, compared to 56.5 for Rwanda, ranking 121/197. The chart above displays a comparison of annual changes in economic freedom indexes.

Other economic metrics

North Korea Rwanda
Services, % of GDP n/a
47.6%
2024
Industry, % of GDP n/a
21%
2024
Agriculture, forestry, and fishing, % of GDP n/a
24.6%
2024
GNI, Atlas method n/a
$14.8B
2024
GNI per capita, PPP n/a
$3,620
2024
Total reserves including gold n/a
$2.41B
2024
Total reserves ranking n/a
123/177
2024
Net foreign direct investment n/a
-$560M
2024
Net inflows of foreign direct investment
$203K
1989
$573M
2024
Net outflows of foreign direct investment
$0
2024
$13.2M
2024
Servicing debt to the IMF, % of GNI n/a
3.09%
2024
Poverty at national poverty lines n/a
27.4%
2023
Gross capital formation, % of GDP n/a
25.9%
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/rwanda | 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. TradeMap (2020–2022, 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.