North Korea has a GDP of $34.9B compared to $12.1B for Somalia, ranking 106/197 and 149/197 by economy size, respectively.
The chart below compares the two countries' GDP growth in both current (nominal) and constant dollars, accounting for inflation over time.
| Year | GDP | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
North Korea
|
Somalia
|
|||
| Current $ | Constant $ | Current $ | Constant $ | |
| 1960 | - | - | $180,459,937 | $917,045,732 |
| 1961 | - | - | $191,659,914 | $887,131,873 |
| 1962 | - | - | $203,531,928 | $949,911,139 |
| 1963 | - | - | $216,145,936 | $976,592,267 |
| 1964 | - | - | $229,529,913 | $916,916,392 |
| 1965 | - | - | $243,725,898 | $862,417,802 |
| 1966 | - | - | $257,375,897 | $940,886,220 |
| 1967 | - | - | $271,781,887 | $996,783,740 |
| 1968 | - | - | $286,719,885 | $1,017,018,224 |
| 1969 | - | - | $306,357,285 | $999,733,290 |
| 1970 | - | - | $347,985,394 | $1,045,535,151 |
| 1971 | - | - | $347,039,446 | $1,067,892,506 |
| 1972 | - | - | $447,883,941 | $1,226,805,081 |
| 1973 | - | - | $483,699,611 | $1,077,756,045 |
| 1974 | - | - | $572,504,036 | $1,085,866,066 |
| 1975 | - | - | $757,015,879 | $1,245,436,211 |
| 1976 | - | - | $871,344,245 | $1,222,421,286 |
| 1977 | - | - | $498,550,725 | $1,389,224,693 |
| 1978 | - | - | $564,571,823 | $1,469,791,648 |
| 1979 | - | - | $589,566,929 | $1,396,493,892 |
| 1980 | - | - | $602,515,548 | $1,421,532,244 |
| 1981 | - | - | $699,302,473 | $1,510,579,931 |
| 1982 | - | - | $774,578,932 | $1,552,377,825 |
| 1983 | - | - | $735,408,642 | $1,372,667,073 |
| 1984 | - | - | $787,434,542 | $1,417,493,800 |
| 1985 | - | - | $875,702,247 | $1,552,579,747 |
| 1986 | - | - | $916,590,786 | $1,519,262,585 |
| 1987 | - | - | $1,018,972,664 | $1,672,521,530 |
| 1988 | - | - | $1,051,596,967 | $1,729,642,284 |
| 1989 | - | - | $1,181,360,844 | $1,795,501,262 |
| 1990 | - | - | $1,031,282,081 | $1,837,281,328 |
| 1991 | - | - | $717,974,930 | $1,891,491,616 |
| 1992 | - | - | $709,297,579 | $1,730,935,689 |
| 1993 | - | - | $1,260,132,956 | $1,800,010,346 |
| 1994 | - | - | $1,481,205,098 | $1,478,762,689 |
| 1995 | - | - | $1,534,756,135 | $1,537,774,140 |
| 1996 | - | - | $1,792,234,297 | $1,661,503,679 |
| 1997 | - | - | $2,191,749,014 | $1,681,117,594 |
| 1998 | - | - | $2,962,047,564 | $1,791,844,291 |
| 1999 | - | - | $3,045,751,528 | $1,922,976,751 |
| 2000 | - | - | $3,412,797,450 | $2,059,706,442 |
| 2001 | - | - | $2,252,847,465 | $2,206,158,044 |
| 2002 | - | - | $2,192,684,135 | $2,374,493,800 |
| 2003 | - | - | $2,836,724,352 | $2,555,674,024 |
| 2004 | - | - | $3,859,592,813 | $2,737,390,479 |
| 2005 | - | - | $4,683,246,454 | $2,932,027,546 |
| 2006 | - | - | $5,026,743,282 | $3,122,209,723 |
| 2007 | - | - | $5,430,713,729 | $3,331,221,430 |
| 2008 | - | - | $5,913,620,293 | $3,554,225,116 |
| 2009 | $23,356,470,000 | - | $2,948,594,552 | $3,792,157,453 |
| 2010 | $25,995,513,000 | - | $2,687,807,004 | $4,046,017,819 |
| 2011 | $29,005,020,000 | - | $2,906,000,097 | $4,316,872,490 |
| 2012 | $29,890,710,000 | - | $4,364,670,160 | $4,605,859,127 |
| 2013 | $30,588,922,000 | - | $5,062,881,600 | $5,110,628,983 |
| 2014 | $30,554,460,000 | - | $5,728,399,720 | $5,569,461,555 |
| 2015 | $30,723,030,000 | - | $6,152,149,100 | $6,152,149,100 |
| 2016 | $28,882,640,000 | - | $6,613,743,070 | $6,584,944,951 |
| 2017 | $29,105,440,000 | - | $7,621,501,710 | $7,555,288,980 |
| 2018 | $28,536,400,000 | - | $7,873,440,830 | $7,710,498,420 |
| 2019 | $28,222,880,000 | - | $8,655,023,960 | $7,928,267,058 |
| 2020 | $27,728,240,000 | - | $8,628,393,720 | $7,710,043,010 |
| 2021 | $32,301,720,000 | - | $9,483,997,390 | $7,976,673,871 |
| 2022 | $28,971,360,000 | - | $10,202,767,270 | $8,194,206,885 |
| 2023 | $32,155,360,000 | - | $10,968,517,090 | $8,539,706,139 |
| 2024 | $34,943,120,000 | - | $12,108,515,110 | $8,878,930,663 |
Economic indicators
|
North Korea
|
Somalia
|
|
|---|---|---|
| Gross domestic product |
$34.9B
2024 |
$12.1B
2024 |
| GDP rank |
106/197
2024 |
149/197
2024 |
| GDP growth |
8.67%
2023-2024 |
10.4%
2023-2024 |
| GDP per capita |
$1,319
2024 |
$637
2024 |
| GDP per capita rank |
168/197
2024 |
191/197
2024 |
| GDP per capita, PPP |
$1,700
2015 |
$1,601
2024 |
| Average annual personal income after taxes |
$1,642
2025 |
$1,941
2025 |
| Government expenditure, % of GDP | n/a |
13%
2025 |
| Consumer prices inflation | n/a |
3.6%
2024-2025 |
| Unemployment rate |
25.6%
2013 |
18.8%
2019 |
| Population |
26621357
|
20177806
|
GDP per capita in North Korea vs Somalia
North Korea's GDP per capita is $1,319, ranking 168/197, compared to $637 in Somalia, ranking 191/197. Adjusted for purchasing power (GDP per capita PPP), North Korea ranks 192nd at $1,700, while Somalia ranks 194th at $1,601.
| Year | Current $ | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
North Korea
|
Somalia
|
|||
| GDP per capita | GDP per capita, PPP | GDP per capita | GDP per capita, PPP | |
| 1960 | - | - | $62.7 | - |
| 1961 | - | - | $64.9 | - |
| 1962 | - | - | $67.2 | - |
| 1963 | - | - | $69.5 | - |
| 1964 | - | - | $71.9 | - |
| 1965 | - | - | $74.4 | - |
| 1966 | - | - | $76.5 | - |
| 1967 | - | - | $78.7 | - |
| 1968 | - | - | $80.8 | - |
| 1969 | - | - | $84.1 | - |
| 1970 | - | - | $93.1 | - |
| 1971 | - | - | $90.4 | - |
| 1972 | - | - | $113.7 | - |
| 1973 | - | - | $119.6 | - |
| 1974 | - | - | $137.9 | - |
| 1975 | - | - | $177.8 | - |
| 1976 | - | - | $199.6 | - |
| 1977 | - | - | $111.2 | - |
| 1978 | - | - | $117.3 | - |
| 1979 | - | - | $108.2 | - |
| 1980 | - | - | $101.5 | - |
| 1981 | - | - | $116.9 | - |
| 1982 | - | - | $129 | - |
| 1983 | - | - | $118.6 | - |
| 1984 | - | - | $122.5 | - |
| 1985 | - | - | $130.8 | - |
| 1986 | - | - | $131.4 | - |
| 1987 | - | - | $141 | - |
| 1988 | - | - | $145.3 | - |
| 1989 | - | - | $166 | - |
| 1990 | - | - | $145.6 | - |
| 1991 | - | - | $105.4 | $469 |
| 1992 | - | - | $109.2 | $461 |
| 1993 | - | - | $188.6 | $477 |
| 1994 | - | - | $210.8 | $380 |
| 1995 | - | - | $210.7 | $389 |
| 1996 | - | - | $237.2 | $413 |
| 1997 | - | - | $280.1 | $411 |
| 1998 | - | - | $363 | $425 |
| 1999 | - | $1,000 | $359 | $444 |
| 2000 | - | $1,000 | $386 | $467 |
| 2001 | - | - | $244.9 | $492 |
| 2002 | - | $1,000 | $229.6 | $517 |
| 2003 | - | $1,300 | $286.3 | $547 |
| 2004 | - | $1,700 | $375 | $580 |
| 2005 | - | $1,700 | $440 | $619 |
| 2006 | - | $1,800 | $458 | $659 |
| 2007 | - | $1,700 | $480 | $700 |
| 2008 | - | $1,800 | $507 | $739 |
| 2009 | $939 | $1,800 | $246.5 | $774 |
| 2010 | $1,040 | - | $219.2 | $815 |
| 2011 | $1,156 | $1,800 | $235.3 | $881 |
| 2012 | $1,186 | - | $350 | $1,003 |
| 2013 | $1,208 | - | $393 | $944 |
| 2014 | $1,201 | $1,800 | $429 | $1,128 |
| 2015 | $1,201 | $1,700 | $446 | $1,341 |
| 2016 | $1,124 | - | $461 | $1,469 |
| 2017 | $1,127 | - | $511 | $1,597 |
| 2018 | $1,100 | - | $510 | $1,552 |
| 2019 | $1,084 | - | $540 | $1,548 |
| 2020 | $1,061 | - | $518 | $1,454 |
| 2021 | $1,231 | - | $549 | $1,392 |
| 2022 | $1,100 | - | $573 | $1,487 |
| 2023 | $1,217 | - | $597 | $1,557 |
| 2024 | $1,319 | - | $637 | $1,601 |
Balance of trade
|
North Korea
|
Somalia
|
|
|---|---|---|
| Imports of goods and services, % of GDP | n/a |
74.3%
2024 |
| Exports of goods and services, % of GDP | n/a |
20%
2024 |
Economic freedom indices
The indices of economic freedom below are issued by the Heritage Foundation. Higher scores indicate stronger economic health.
|
North Korea
|
Somalia
|
|
|---|---|---|
| Economic freedom | 3 | 29 |
| Economic freedom ranking | 197/197 | 193/197 |
| Property rights | 15.7 | 0 |
| Government integrity | 4 | 8.2 |
| Judicial effectiveness | 5.9 | 1.6 |
| Tax burden | 0 | 100 |
| Government spending | 0 | n/a |
| Fiscal health | 0 | 0 |
| Business freedom | 5 | 26.1 |
| Labor freedom | 5 | 26.5 |
| Monetary freedom | 0 | n/a |
| Trade freedom | 0 | n/a |
| Investment freedom | 0 | n/a |
| Financial freedom | 0 | n/a |
More economic indicators
|
North Korea
|
Somalia
|
|
|---|---|---|
| Industry, % of GDP | n/a |
9.66%
1986 |
| Agriculture, forestry, and fishing, % of GDP | n/a |
55.8%
1990 |
GNI, Atlas method
|
n/a |
$11.5B
2024 |
| GNI per capita, PPP | n/a |
$1,590
2024 |
| Total reserves including gold | n/a |
$23.1M
1989 |
| Total reserves ranking | n/a |
177/177
1989 |
|
Net inflows of foreign direct investment
|
$203K
1989 |
$765M
2024 |
|
Servicing debt to the IMF, % of GNI
|
n/a |
3.32%
2023 |
| Poverty at national poverty lines | n/a |
55.4%
2022 |
|
Gross capital formation, % of GDP
|
n/a |
22.7%
2024 |
GDP per capita map
GDP per capita
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Economy comparisons
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.
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.
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.