North Korea has a GDP of $34.9B compared to $51.4B for Turkmenistan, ranking 106/197 and 92/197 by economy size, respectively.
North Korea vs Turkmenistan GDP by year
| Year | GDP, current $ | |
|---|---|---|
North Korea
|
Turkmenistan
|
|
| 2024 | $34,943,120,000 | $51,387,209,872 |
| 2023 | $32,155,360,000 | $45,894,538,666 |
| 2022 | $28,971,360,000 | $42,208,726,138 |
| 2021 | $32,301,720,000 | $40,589,905,812 |
| 2020 | $27,728,240,000 | $41,509,903,182 |
| 2019 | $28,222,880,000 | $40,810,067,975 |
| 2018 | $28,536,400,000 | $40,765,428,571 |
| 2017 | $29,105,440,000 | $37,926,285,714 |
| 2016 | $28,882,640,000 | $36,169,428,571 |
| 2015 | $30,723,030,000 | $35,799,714,286 |
| 2014 | $30,554,460,000 | $43,524,210,526 |
| 2013 | $30,588,922,000 | $39,197,543,860 |
| 2012 | $29,890,710,000 | $35,164,210,526 |
| 2011 | $29,005,020,000 | $29,233,333,333 |
| 2010 | $25,995,513,000 | $22,583,157,895 |
| 2009 | $23,356,470,000 | $20,214,385,965 |
| 2008 | - | $19,271,523,179 |
| 2007 | - | $12,664,165,103 |
| 2006 | - | $10,276,674,365 |
| 2005 | - | $8,103,901,996 |
| 2004 | - | $6,838,351,088 |
| 2003 | - | $5,977,440,583 |
| 2002 | - | $4,462,029,109 |
| 2001 | - | $3,534,772,732 |
| 2000 | - | $2,904,663,311 |
| 1999 | - | $2,450,564,100 |
| 1998 | - | $2,605,689,134 |
| 1997 | - | $2,450,350,625 |
| 1996 | - | $2,378,759,975 |
| 1995 | - | $2,482,228,440 |
| 1994 | - | $2,561,118,608 |
| 1993 | - | $3,179,225,949 |
| 1992 | - | $3,200,539,816 |
| 1991 | - | $3,208,098,919 |
| 1990 | - | $3,189,539,641 |
| 1989 | - | $3,006,988,217 |
| 1988 | - | $3,010,982,414 |
| 1987 | - | $2,331,358,820 |
Data sources: World Bank | Economy & Growth (1987–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06).
GeoRank.org/economy/north-korea/turkmenistan | CC BY 
GDP per capita in North Korea vs Turkmenistan by year
| Year | Current $ | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
North Korea
|
Turkmenistan
|
|||
| GDP per capita | GDP per capita, PPP | GDP per capita | GDP per capita, PPP | |
| 2024 | $1,319 | - | $6,857 | $21,213 |
| 2023 | $1,217 | - | $6,232 | $19,829 |
| 2022 | $1,100 | - | $5,838 | $18,340 |
| 2021 | $1,231 | - | $5,723 | $16,434 |
| 2020 | $1,061 | - | $5,973 | $15,091 |
| 2019 | $1,084 | - | $5,998 | $15,478 |
| 2018 | $1,100 | - | $6,125 | $14,368 |
| 2017 | $1,127 | - | $5,828 | $13,278 |
| 2016 | $1,124 | - | $5,687 | $12,919 |
| 2015 | $1,201 | $1,700 | $5,759 | $12,715 |
| 2014 | $1,201 | $1,800 | $7,164 | $12,477 |
| 2013 | $1,208 | - | $6,600 | $11,723 |
| 2012 | $1,186 | - | $6,054 | $11,035 |
| 2011 | $1,156 | $1,800 | $5,144 | $10,283 |
| 2010 | $1,040 | - | $4,059 | $8,972 |
| 2009 | $939 | $1,800 | $3,708 | $8,285 |
| 2008 | - | $1,800 | $3,606 | $7,916 |
| 2007 | - | $1,700 | $2,415 | $6,901 |
| 2006 | - | $1,800 | $1,997 | $6,164 |
| 2005 | - | $1,700 | $1,604 | $5,489 |
| 2004 | - | $1,700 | $1,379 | $4,798 |
| 2003 | - | $1,300 | $1,229 | $4,536 |
| 2002 | - | $1,000 | $936 | $4,393 |
| 2001 | - | - | $756 | $4,401 |
| 2000 | - | $1,000 | $634 | $4,209 |
| 1999 | - | $1,000 | $546 | $3,981 |
| 1998 | - | - | $591 | $3,432 |
| 1997 | - | - | $565 | $3,222 |
| 1996 | - | - | $558 | $3,636 |
| 1995 | - | - | $592 | $3,405 |
| 1994 | - | - | $622 | $3,659 |
| 1993 | - | - | $788 | $4,422 |
| 1992 | - | - | $811 | $4,351 |
| 1991 | - | - | $832 | $5,117 |
| 1990 | - | - | $848 | $5,321 |
| 1989 | - | - | $821 | - |
| 1988 | - | - | $846 | - |
| 1987 | - | - | $675 | - |
Data sources: World Bank | Economy & Growth (1987–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06); Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) (1999–2015, retrieved 2026-02-20).
GeoRank.org/economy/north-korea/turkmenistan | CC BY
North Korea's GDP per capita is $1,319, ranking 168/197, compared to $6,857 in Turkmenistan, ranking 104/197. Adjusted for purchasing power (GDP per capita PPP), North Korea ranks 193rd at $1,700, while Turkmenistan ranks 94th at $21,213.
Economic indicators
|
North Korea
|
Turkmenistan
|
|
|---|---|---|
| Gross domestic product |
$34.9B
2024 |
$51.4B
2024 |
| GDP rank |
106/197
2024 |
92/197
2024 |
| GDP growth | n/a |
6.3%
2023-2024 |
| GDP per capita |
$1,319
2024 |
$6,857
2024 |
| GDP per capita rank |
168/197
2024 |
104/197
2024 |
| GDP per capita, PPP |
$1,700
2015 |
$21,213
2024 |
| GDP per capita PPP rank |
193/197
2015 |
94/197
2024 |
| Government debt | n/a |
$2.11B
2024 |
| Debt-to-GDP ratio | n/a |
4.11%
2024 |
| Government debt per person | n/a |
$282
2024 |
| Government debt per person rank | n/a |
179/185
2024 |
| Average annual personal income after taxes |
$1,426
2026 |
$7,520
2026 |
| Income share by richest 10% | n/a |
31.5%
1998 |
| Income share by poorest 10% | n/a |
2.4%
1998 |
| Government expenditure, % of GDP | n/a |
14.5%
2024 |
| Consumer prices inflation | n/a |
4.6%
2023-2024 |
| Unemployment rate |
25.6%
2013 |
4%
2010 |
| Population |
26659144
|
7776557
|
Balance of trade
|
North Korea
|
Turkmenistan
|
|
|---|---|---|
| Imports of goods and services, % of GDP | n/a |
11.2%
2024 |
| Exports of goods and services, % of GDP | n/a |
17.6%
2024 |
Economic freedom indices
The indices of economic freedom below are issued by the Heritage Foundation. Higher scores indicate stronger economic health.
|
North Korea
|
Turkmenistan
|
|
|---|---|---|
| Economic freedom | 3.1 | 47 |
| Economic freedom ranking | 197/197 | 177/197 |
| Property rights | 16.3 | 17.4 |
| Government integrity | 4.3 | 8.4 |
| Judicial effectiveness | 6.3 | 12.3 |
| Tax burden | 0 | 94.2 |
| Government spending | 0 | 94.3 |
| Fiscal health | 0 | 99.9 |
| Business freedom | 5 | 37.5 |
| Labor freedom | 5 | 29.3 |
| Monetary freedom | 0 | 76.7 |
| Trade freedom | 0 | 74.2 |
| Investment freedom | 0 | 10 |
| Financial freedom | 0 | 10 |
Economic freedom comparison by year
| Year | Economic freedom index | |
|---|---|---|
|
North Korea
|
Turkmenistan
|
|
| 2026 | 3.1 | 47 |
| 2025 | 3 | 47.1 |
| 2024 | 2.9 | 46.3 |
| 2023 | 2.9 | 46.5 |
| 2022 | 3 | 46.2 |
| 2021 | 5.2 | 47.4 |
| 2020 | 4.2 | 46.5 |
| 2019 | 5.9 | 48.4 |
| 2018 | 5.8 | 47.1 |
| 2017 | 4.9 | 47.4 |
| 2016 | 2.3 | 41.9 |
| 2015 | 1.3 | 41.4 |
| 2014 | 1 | 42.2 |
| 2013 | 1.5 | 42.6 |
| 2012 | 1 | 43.8 |
| 2011 | 1 | 43.6 |
| 2010 | 1 | 42.5 |
| 2009 | 2 | 44.2 |
| 2008 | 3 | 43.4 |
| 2007 | 3 | 43 |
| 2006 | 4 | 43.8 |
| 2005 | 8 | 47.6 |
| 2004 | 8.9 | 50.7 |
| 2003 | 8.9 | 51.3 |
| 2002 | 8.9 | 43.2 |
| 2001 | 8.9 | 41.8 |
| 2000 | 8.9 | 37.6 |
| 1999 | 8.9 | 36.1 |
| 1998 | 8.9 | 35 |
| 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/turkmenistan | CC BY
The Economic Freedom Index for North Korea is 3.1, ranking 197/197, compared to 47 for Turkmenistan, ranking 177/197. The chart above displays a comparison of annual changes in economic freedom indexes.
Other economic metrics
|
North Korea
|
Turkmenistan
|
|
|---|---|---|
| Services, % of GDP | n/a |
50.4%
2024 |
| Industry, % of GDP | n/a |
37.5%
2024 |
| Agriculture, forestry, and fishing, % of GDP | n/a |
12.2%
2024 |
|
GNI, Atlas method
|
n/a |
$48.8B
2024 |
| GNI per capita, PPP | n/a |
$21,020
2024 |
| Total reserves including gold | n/a |
$1.51B
1999 |
| Total reserves ranking | n/a |
135/177
1999 |
|
Net inflows of foreign direct investment
|
$203K
1989 |
$1.64B
2024 |
|
Net outflows of foreign direct investment
|
$0
2024 |
$0
2024 |
|
Servicing debt to the IMF, % of GNI
|
n/a |
1.91%
2024 |
| Poverty at national poverty lines | n/a |
0.2%
2020 |
|
Gross capital formation, % of GDP
|
n/a |
47.2%
2012 |
GDP per capita map
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/turkmenistan | CC BY
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Data sources:
- World Bank | Economy & Growth (1985–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06)
- The Heritage Foundation | Economic Freedom Index (1995–2026, retrieved 2026-03-09)
- U.S. Census Bureau (1985–2024, retrieved 2026-02-08)
- Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) (1999–2020, retrieved 2026-02-20)
- International Monetary Fund (IMF) | Fiscal Monitor (2024, retrieved 2026-02-20)
- United Nations | World Population Prospects (2026, retrieved 2026-03-10)
- 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.
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.
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.