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Economy of North Korea vs Serbia compared: GDP & Debt

Updated on by Georank team

North Korea has a GDP of $34.9B compared to $90.1B for Serbia, ranking 106/197 and 76/197 by economy size, respectively.

North Korea vs Serbia GDP by year

North Korea
Serbia
1x
Year GDP, current $
North Korea Serbia
2024 $34,943,120,000 $90,097,765,959
2023 $32,155,360,000 $81,343,999,280
2022 $28,971,360,000 $66,809,895,701
2021 $32,301,720,000 $66,159,884,073
2020 $27,728,240,000 $55,874,017,669
2019 $28,222,880,000 $53,864,693,665
2018 $28,536,400,000 $52,787,520,249
2017 $29,105,440,000 $45,972,834,714
2016 $28,882,640,000 $42,225,495,910
2015 $30,723,030,000 $41,297,410,635
2014 $30,554,460,000 $49,114,321,280
2013 $30,588,922,000 $50,455,529,604
2012 $29,890,710,000 $45,103,269,969
2011 $29,005,020,000 $51,251,098,408
2010 $25,995,513,000 $43,536,629,233
2009 $23,356,470,000 $46,955,984,410
2008 - $54,220,641,202
2007 - $44,888,028,946
2006 - $33,298,057,362
2005 - $28,334,256,181
2004 - $26,845,632,342
2003 - $23,593,044,418
2002 - $17,930,583,571
2001 - $13,599,378,662
2000 - $7,326,373,882
1999 - $20,878,694,851
1998 - $21,004,077,441
1997 - $27,153,408,995
1996 - $23,277,430,168
1995 - $17,921,892,655

Data sources: World Bank | Economy & Growth (1995–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06).

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

GDP per capita in North Korea vs Serbia by year

North Korea
GDP per capita

GDP per capita, PPP
Serbia
GDP per capita

GDP per capita, PPP
1x
Year Current $
North Korea Serbia
GDP per capita GDP per capita, PPP GDP per capita GDP per capita, PPP
2024 $1,319 - $13,679 $32,832
2023 $1,217 - $12,282 $29,777
2022 $1,100 - $10,025 $26,143
2021 $1,231 - $9,681 $23,406
2020 $1,061 - $8,099 $21,013
2019 $1,084 - $7,756 $20,587
2018 $1,100 - $7,560 $18,469
2017 $1,127 - $6,548 $17,285
2016 $1,124 - $5,982 $16,455
2015 $1,201 $1,700 $5,820 $15,546
2014 $1,201 $1,800 $6,887 $15,296
2013 $1,208 - $7,040 $15,247
2012 $1,186 - $6,263 $14,506
2011 $1,156 $1,800 $7,082 $14,298
2010 $1,040 - $5,971 $13,320
2009 $939 $1,800 $6,414 $13,038
2008 - $1,800 $7,377 $13,123
2007 - $1,700 $6,081 $11,685
2006 - $1,800 $4,493 $10,463
2005 - $1,700 $3,808 $9,398
2004 - $1,700 $3,597 $8,715
2003 - $1,300 $3,154 $8,023
2002 - $1,000 $2,391 $7,563
2001 - - $1,812 $6,803
2000 - $1,000 $975 $6,416
1999 - $1,000 $2,769 $5,897
1998 - - $2,775 $6,460
1997 - - $3,574 $6,040
1996 - - $3,054 $5,434
1995 - - $2,349 $5,022

Data sources: World Bank | Economy & Growth (1995–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06); Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) (1999–2015, retrieved 2026-02-20).

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

North Korea's GDP per capita is $1,319, ranking 168/197, compared to $13,679 in Serbia, ranking 73/197. Adjusted for purchasing power (GDP per capita PPP), North Korea ranks 193rd at $1,700, while Serbia ranks 69th at $32,832.

Economic indicators

North Korea Serbia
Gross domestic product
$34.9B
2024
$90.1B
2024
GDP rank
106/197
2024
76/197
2024
GDP growth n/a
3.95%
2023-2024
GDP per capita
$1,319
2024
$13,679
2024
GDP per capita rank
168/197
2024
73/197
2024
GDP per capita, PPP
$1,700
2015
$32,832
2024
GDP per capita PPP rank
193/197
2015
69/197
2024
Government debt n/a
$40.1B
2024
Debt-to-GDP ratio n/a
44.5%
2024
Government debt per person n/a
$6,084
2024
Government debt per person rank n/a
73/185
2024
Average annual personal income after taxes
$1,426
2026
$12,252
2026
Market capitalization of domestic companies n/a
$4.06B
2011
Income share by richest 10% n/a
24.7%
2022
Income share by poorest 10% n/a
2.4%
2022
Government expenditure, % of GDP n/a
42.7%
2024
Consumer prices inflation n/a
4.67%
2023-2024
Central bank interest rate n/a
5.75%
2024
Unemployment rate
25.6%
2013
7.24%
2024
Population
26659144
6494521

Balance of trade

North Korea Serbia
Current account balance n/a
-$4.1B
2024
Current account balance ranking n/a
162/190
2024
Current account balance, % of GDP n/a
-4.56%
2024
Goods imports n/a
$39.6B
2024
Goods exports n/a
$32.2B
2024
Service imports n/a
$12.6B
2024
Service exports n/a
$15.7B
2024
Imports of goods and services, % of GDP n/a
58.1%
2024
Exports of goods and services, % of GDP n/a
53.6%
2024

Economic freedom indices

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

North Korea Serbia
Economic freedom 3.1 65
Economic freedom ranking 197/197 68/197
Property rights 16.3 57.2
Government integrity 4.3 37.2
Judicial effectiveness 6.3 50.1
Tax burden 0 88
Government spending 0 48.2
Fiscal health 0 94.3
Business freedom 5 73.6
Labor freedom 5 61.8
Monetary freedom 0 73
Trade freedom 0 76.6
Investment freedom 0 70
Financial freedom 0 50

Economic freedom comparison by year

North Korea
Serbia
1x
Year Economic freedom index
North Korea Serbia
2026 3.1 65
2025 3 64.4
2024 2.9 62.7
2023 2.9 63.5
2022 3 65.2
2021 5.2 67.2
2020 4.2 66
2019 5.9 63.9
2018 5.8 62.5
2017 4.9 58.9
2016 2.3 62.1
2015 1.3 60
2014 1 59.4
2013 1.5 58.6
2012 1 58
2011 1 58
2010 1 56.9
2009 2 56.6
2008 3 -
2007 3 -
2006 4 -
2005 8 -
2004 8.9 -
2003 8.9 43.5
2002 8.9 46.6
2001 8.9 -
2000 8.9 -
1999 8.9 -
1998 8.9 -
1997 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/north-korea/serbia | CC BY

The Economic Freedom Index for North Korea is 3.1, ranking 197/197, compared to 65 for Serbia, ranking 68/197. The chart above displays a comparison of annual changes in economic freedom indexes.

Other economic metrics

North Korea Serbia
Services, % of GDP n/a
58.8%
2024
Industry, % of GDP n/a
23.1%
2024
Agriculture, forestry, and fishing, % of GDP n/a
3.17%
2024
GNI, Atlas method n/a
$76.5B
2024
GNI per capita, PPP n/a
$30,770
2024
Total reserves including gold n/a
$30.5B
2024
Total reserves ranking n/a
55/177
2024
Net foreign direct investment n/a
-$4.93B
2024
Net inflows of foreign direct investment
$203K
1989
$5.59B
2024
Net outflows of foreign direct investment
$0
2024
$661M
2024
Servicing debt to the IMF, % of GNI n/a
12.2%
2024
Poverty at national poverty lines n/a
19.7%
2023
Gross capital formation, % of GDP n/a
25%
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/serbia | CC BY

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Data sources:

  1. World Bank | Economy & Growth (1985–2024, 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)

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.