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Economy of North Korea vs Tanzania compared: GDP & Debt

Updated on by Georank team

North Korea has a GDP of $34.9B compared to $78.8B for Tanzania, ranking 106/197 and 82/197 by economy size, respectively.

North Korea vs Tanzania GDP by year

North Korea
Tanzania
1x
Year GDP, current $
North Korea Tanzania
2024 $34,943,120,000 $78,844,405,385
2023 $32,155,360,000 $79,030,935,627
2022 $28,971,360,000 $75,749,121,843
2021 $32,301,720,000 $70,655,628,148
2020 $27,728,240,000 $66,068,737,786
2019 $28,222,880,000 $61,026,731,926
2018 $28,536,400,000 $57,003,712,892
2017 $29,105,440,000 $53,274,884,533
2016 $28,882,640,000 $49,774,409,374
2015 $30,723,030,000 $47,413,919,817
2014 $30,554,460,000 $49,986,726,461
2013 $30,588,922,000 $45,648,857,242
2012 $29,890,710,000 $39,650,394,363
2011 $29,005,020,000 $34,657,140,096
2010 $25,995,513,000 $32,012,892,919
2009 $23,356,470,000 $29,400,573,554
2008 - $27,947,821,398
2007 - $21,860,434,823
2006 - $18,619,859,795
2005 - $18,395,383,647
2004 - $16,673,062,473
2003 - $15,211,487,709
2002 - $14,129,651,896
2001 - $13,563,990,022
2000 - $13,371,767,082
1999 - $12,704,334,196
1998 - $12,172,790,056
1997 - $11,158,197,942
1996 - $9,433,528,150
1995 - $7,631,431,840
1994 - $6,550,480,484
1993 - $6,182,872,708
1992 - $6,681,997,469
1991 - $7,197,768,159
1990 - $6,184,384,225
1989 - $6,418,799,007
1988 - $7,406,614,407
1987 - $7,824,193,222
1986 - $10,840,864,521
1985 - $15,328,295,175
1984 - $12,906,635,133
1983 - $14,049,883,809
1982 - $13,927,383,240
1981 - $13,161,540,378
1980 - $11,409,228,087
1979 - $9,804,637,491
1978 - $9,261,675,710
1977 - $7,732,598,995
1976 - $6,472,511,988
1975 - $5,729,917,840
1974 - $4,977,337,978
1973 - $4,144,104,535
1972 - $3,472,787,266
1971 - $3,050,673,517
1970 - $2,851,419,386
1969 - $5,142,066,811
1968 - $4,895,251,824
1967 - $4,565,132,048
1966 - $4,377,998,825
1965 - $3,817,226,546
1964 - $3,748,840,925
1963 - $3,456,579,293
1962 - $3,101,589,993
1961 - $2,826,179,031
1960 - $2,651,729,807

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

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

GDP per capita in North Korea vs Tanzania by year

North Korea
GDP per capita

GDP per capita, PPP
Tanzania
GDP per capita

GDP per capita, PPP
1x
Year Current $
North Korea Tanzania
GDP per capita GDP per capita, PPP GDP per capita GDP per capita, PPP
2024 $1,319 - $1,150 $4,221
2023 $1,217 - $1,186 $4,019
2022 $1,100 - $1,171 $3,800
2021 $1,231 - $1,125 $3,493
2020 $1,061 - $1,084 $3,291
2019 $1,084 - $1,031 $2,982
2018 $1,100 - $992 $2,728
2017 $1,127 - $957 $2,472
2016 $1,124 - $925 $2,435
2015 $1,201 $1,700 $911 $2,317
2014 $1,201 $1,800 $993 $2,221
2013 $1,208 - $935 $2,176
2012 $1,186 - $837 $2,083
2011 $1,156 $1,800 $753 $2,211
2010 $1,040 - $715 $2,069
2009 $939 $1,800 $674 $1,972
2008 - $1,800 $657 $1,908
2007 - $1,700 $528 $1,820
2006 - $1,800 $462 $1,707
2005 - $1,700 $469 $1,598
2004 - $1,700 $438 $1,482
2003 - $1,300 $410 $1,379
2002 - $1,000 $391 $1,302
2001 - - $385 $1,229
2000 - $1,000 $390 $1,164
1999 - $1,000 $382 $1,120
1998 - - $375 $1,082
1997 - - $353 $1,059
1996 - - $305 $1,026
1995 - - $251.2 $981
1994 - - $222.5 $958
1993 - - $218.2 $959
1992 - - $243.4 $955
1991 - - $268.8 $952
1990 - - $236.9 $925
1989 - - $252.3 -
1988 - - $299 -
1987 - - $326 -
1986 - - $466 -
1985 - - $681 -
1984 - - $593 -
1983 - - $667 -
1982 - - $683 -
1981 - - $665 -
1980 - - $595 -
1979 - - $527 -
1978 - - $515 -
1977 - - $446 -
1976 - - $387 -
1975 - - $355 -
1974 - - $320 -
1973 - - $276.1 -
1972 - - $239.8 -
1971 - - $218.4 -
1970 - - $211.3 -
1969 - - $394 -
1968 - - $388 -
1967 - - $374 -
1966 - - $370 -
1965 - - $333 -
1964 - - $337 -
1963 - - $320 -
1962 - - $295.7 -
1961 - - $277.4 -
1960 - - $267.8 -

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/tanzania | CC BY

North Korea's GDP per capita is $1,319, ranking 168/197, compared to $1,150 in Tanzania, ranking 170/197. Adjusted for purchasing power (GDP per capita PPP), North Korea ranks 193rd at $1,700, while Tanzania ranks 165th at $4,221.

Economic indicators

North Korea Tanzania
Gross domestic product
$34.9B
2024
$78.8B
2024
GDP rank
106/197
2024
82/197
2024
GDP growth n/a
5.53%
2023-2024
GDP per capita
$1,319
2024
$1,150
2024
GDP per capita rank
168/197
2024
170/197
2024
GDP per capita, PPP
$1,700
2015
$4,221
2024
GDP per capita PPP rank
193/197
2015
165/197
2024
Government debt n/a
$39.3B
2024
Debt-to-GDP ratio n/a
49.9%
2024
Government debt per person n/a
$573
2024
Government debt per person rank n/a
160/185
2024
Average annual personal income after taxes
$1,426
2026
$2,309
2026
Market capitalization of domestic companies n/a
$7.32B
2024
Number of billionaires n/a
1
2025
Income share by richest 10% n/a
33.1%
2018
Income share by poorest 10% n/a
2.9%
2018
Government expenditure, % of GDP n/a
19.1%
2024
Consumer prices inflation n/a
3.06%
2023-2024
Central bank interest rate n/a
6%
2024
Unemployment rate
25.6%
2013
2.43%
2024
Population
26659144
73145892

Top exports between countries

North Korea
Export category Export value
Chemicals & pharma $949K
Machinery & equipment $671K
Metals $337K
Wood & paper products $112K
Textiles & consumer goods $52K
Raw materials & minerals $37K
Miscellaneous $1K
Tanzania
Export category Export value
Raw agricultural goods $150K
Machinery & equipment $69K
Processed food, beverages & tobacco $67K
Raw materials & minerals $1K

Balance of trade

North Korea Tanzania
Current account balance n/a
-$2.38B
2024
Current account balance ranking n/a
147/190
2024
Current account balance, % of GDP n/a
-3.02%
2024
Goods imports n/a
$14.2B
2024
Goods exports n/a
$9.12B
2024
Service imports n/a
$2.8B
2024
Service exports n/a
$6.85B
2024
Imports of goods and services, % of GDP n/a
21.7%
2024
Exports of goods and services, % of GDP n/a
19.8%
2024

Economic freedom indices

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

North Korea Tanzania
Economic freedom 3.1 59
Economic freedom ranking 197/197 106/197
Property rights 16.3 45.2
Government integrity 4.3 40.9
Judicial effectiveness 6.3 29.6
Tax burden 0 80.4
Government spending 0 89.1
Fiscal health 0 75
Business freedom 5 48.1
Labor freedom 5 62.3
Monetary freedom 0 73.4
Trade freedom 0 58.8
Investment freedom 0 55
Financial freedom 0 50

Economic freedom comparison by year

North Korea
Tanzania
1x
Year Economic freedom index
North Korea Tanzania
2026 3.1 59
2025 3 59.3
2024 2.9 59.1
2023 2.9 60
2022 3 59.5
2021 5.2 61.3
2020 4.2 61.7
2019 5.9 60.2
2018 5.8 59.9
2017 4.9 58.6
2016 2.3 58.5
2015 1.3 57.5
2014 1 57.8
2013 1.5 57.9
2012 1 57
2011 1 57
2010 1 58.3
2009 2 58.3
2008 3 56.5
2007 3 56.8
2006 4 58.5
2005 8 56.3
2004 8.9 60.1
2003 8.9 56.9
2002 8.9 58.3
2001 8.9 54.9
2000 8.9 56
1999 8.9 60
1998 8.9 59.6
1997 8.9 59.3
1996 8.9 57.5
1995 8.9 57.3

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

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

The Economic Freedom Index for North Korea is 3.1, ranking 197/197, compared to 59 for Tanzania, ranking 106/197. The chart above displays a comparison of annual changes in economic freedom indexes.

Other economic metrics

North Korea Tanzania
Services, % of GDP n/a
29.6%
2024
Industry, % of GDP n/a
28.6%
2024
Agriculture, forestry, and fishing, % of GDP n/a
23.3%
2024
GNI, Atlas method n/a
$80.2B
2024
GNI per capita, PPP n/a
$4,130
2024
Total reserves including gold n/a
$5.05B
2018
Total reserves ranking n/a
101/177
2018
Net foreign direct investment n/a
-$1.72B
2024
Net inflows of foreign direct investment
$203K
1989
$1.72B
2024
Net outflows of foreign direct investment
$0
2024
$0
2024
Servicing debt to the IMF, % of GNI n/a
2.57%
2024
Poverty at national poverty lines n/a
26.4%
2018
Gross capital formation, % of GDP n/a
39.8%
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/tanzania | 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 (2023–2024, 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.