North Korea has a GDP of $34.9B compared to $21.6B for Yemen, ranking 106/197 and 125/197 by economy size, respectively.
North Korea vs Yemen GDP by year
| Year | GDP, current $ | |
|---|---|---|
North Korea
|
Yemen
|
|
| 2024 | $34,943,120,000 | - |
| 2023 | $32,155,360,000 | - |
| 2022 | $28,971,360,000 | - |
| 2021 | $32,301,720,000 | - |
| 2020 | $27,728,240,000 | - |
| 2019 | $28,222,880,000 | - |
| 2018 | $28,536,400,000 | $21,606,160,663 |
| 2017 | $29,105,440,000 | $26,842,229,045 |
| 2016 | $28,882,640,000 | $31,317,825,274 |
| 2015 | $30,723,030,000 | $42,444,490,074 |
| 2014 | $30,554,460,000 | $43,228,585,321 |
| 2013 | $30,588,922,000 | $40,415,233,436 |
| 2012 | $29,890,710,000 | $35,401,331,610 |
| 2011 | $29,005,020,000 | $32,726,417,878 |
| 2010 | $25,995,513,000 | $30,906,749,533 |
| 2009 | $23,356,470,000 | $25,130,278,213 |
| 2008 | - | $26,910,855,807 |
| 2007 | - | $21,650,528,674 |
| 2006 | - | $19,063,143,370 |
| 2005 | - | $16,731,566,717 |
| 2004 | - | $13,867,634,371 |
| 2003 | - | $11,777,532,662 |
| 2002 | - | $10,693,430,511 |
| 2001 | - | $9,852,990,693 |
| 2000 | - | $9,679,316,770 |
| 1999 | - | $7,639,325,296 |
| 1998 | - | $6,322,175,566 |
| 1997 | - | $6,838,298,531 |
| 1996 | - | $6,496,163,616 |
| 1995 | - | $12,796,345,679 |
| 1994 | - | $28,019,483,764 |
| 1993 | - | $21,736,802,664 |
| 1992 | - | $17,959,367,194 |
| 1991 | - | $14,665,445,462 |
| 1990 | - | $12,643,821,569 |
Data sources: World Bank | Economy & Growth (1990–2018, retrieved 2026-04-06).
GeoRank.org/economy/north-korea/yemen | CC BY 
GDP per capita in North Korea vs Yemen by year
| Year | Current $ | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
North Korea
|
Yemen
|
|||
| GDP per capita | GDP per capita, PPP | GDP per capita | GDP per capita, PPP | |
| 2024 | $1,319 | - | - | - |
| 2023 | $1,217 | - | - | - |
| 2022 | $1,100 | - | - | - |
| 2021 | $1,231 | - | - | - |
| 2020 | $1,061 | - | - | - |
| 2019 | $1,084 | - | - | - |
| 2018 | $1,100 | - | $634 | - |
| 2017 | $1,127 | - | $811 | - |
| 2016 | $1,124 | - | $975 | - |
| 2015 | $1,201 | $1,700 | $1,362 | - |
| 2014 | $1,201 | $1,800 | $1,430 | - |
| 2013 | $1,208 | - | $1,379 | $3,164 |
| 2012 | $1,186 | - | $1,245 | $3,005 |
| 2011 | $1,156 | $1,800 | $1,186 | $3,113 |
| 2010 | $1,040 | - | $1,155 | $3,603 |
| 2009 | $939 | $1,800 | $969 | $3,411 |
| 2008 | - | $1,800 | $1,072 | $3,370 |
| 2007 | - | $1,700 | $890 | $3,294 |
| 2006 | - | $1,800 | $810 | $3,205 |
| 2005 | - | $1,700 | $734 | $3,113 |
| 2004 | - | $1,700 | $628 | $2,949 |
| 2003 | - | $1,300 | $549 | $2,844 |
| 2002 | - | $1,000 | $513 | $2,768 |
| 2001 | - | - | $487 | $2,702 |
| 2000 | - | $1,000 | $493 | $2,624 |
| 1999 | - | $1,000 | $401 | $2,492 |
| 1998 | - | - | $343 | $2,442 |
| 1997 | - | - | $383 | $2,351 |
| 1996 | - | - | $375 | $2,268 |
| 1995 | - | - | $764 | $2,201 |
| 1994 | - | - | $1,735 | $2,115 |
| 1993 | - | - | $1,397 | $2,013 |
| 1992 | - | - | $1,198 | $1,963 |
| 1991 | - | - | $1,016 | $1,843 |
| 1990 | - | - | $910 | $1,742 |
Data sources: World Bank | Economy & Growth (1990–2018, retrieved 2026-04-06); Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) (1999–2015, retrieved 2026-02-20).
GeoRank.org/economy/north-korea/yemen | CC BY
North Korea's GDP per capita is $1,319, ranking 168/197, compared to $634 in Yemen, ranking 191/197. Adjusted for purchasing power (GDP per capita PPP), North Korea ranks 193rd at $1,700, while Yemen ranks 178th at $3,164.
Economic indicators
|
North Korea
|
Yemen
|
|
|---|---|---|
| Gross domestic product |
$34.9B
2024 |
$21.6B
2018 |
| GDP rank |
106/197
2024 |
125/197
2018 |
| GDP growth | n/a |
0.75%
2017-2018 |
| GDP per capita |
$1,319
2024 |
$634
2018 |
| GDP per capita rank |
168/197
2024 |
191/197
2018 |
| GDP per capita, PPP |
$1,700
2015 |
$3,164
2013 |
| GDP per capita PPP rank |
193/197
2015 |
178/197
2013 |
| Government debt | n/a |
$18.8B
2018 |
| Debt-to-GDP ratio | n/a |
70.9%
2024 |
| Government debt per person | n/a |
$551
2018 |
| Government debt per person rank | n/a |
165/185
2018 |
| Average annual personal income after taxes |
$1,426
2026 |
$1,127
2026 |
| Income share by richest 10% | n/a |
29.4%
2014 |
| Income share by poorest 10% | n/a |
3%
2014 |
| Government expenditure, % of GDP | n/a |
8.91%
2024 |
| Consumer prices inflation | n/a |
33.9%
2023-2024 |
| Unemployment rate |
25.6%
2013 |
13.5%
2014 |
| Population |
26659144
|
43325643
|
Top exports between countries
|
North Korea
|
|
|---|---|
| Export category | Export value |
| Machinery & equipment | $211K |
| Textiles & consumer goods | $4K |
| Chemicals & pharma | $2K |
|
Yemen
|
|
|---|---|
| Export category | Export value |
Balance of trade
|
North Korea
|
Yemen
|
|
|---|---|---|
|
Current account balance
|
n/a |
-$2.42B
2016 |
| Current account balance ranking | n/a |
148/190
2016 |
| Current account balance, % of GDP | n/a |
-7.72%
2016 |
| Goods imports | n/a |
$6.8B
2016 |
| Goods exports | n/a |
$473M
2016 |
| Service imports | n/a |
$1.46B
2016 |
| Service exports | n/a |
$466M
2016 |
| Imports of goods and services, % of GDP | n/a |
47.3%
2018 |
| Exports of goods and services, % of GDP | n/a |
8.76%
2018 |
Economic freedom indices
The indices of economic freedom below are issued by the Heritage Foundation. Higher scores indicate stronger economic health.
|
North Korea
|
Yemen
|
|
|---|---|---|
| Economic freedom | 3.1 | 53.7 |
| Economic freedom ranking | 197/197 | 138/197 |
| Property rights | 16.3 | 3.5 |
| Government integrity | 4.3 | 6.2 |
| Judicial effectiveness | 6.3 | 9.9 |
| Tax burden | 0 | 93.7 |
| Government spending | 0 | 0 |
| Fiscal health | 0 | 71.2 |
| Business freedom | 5 | 31.3 |
| Labor freedom | 5 | 31.2 |
| Monetary freedom | 0 | 48.1 |
| Trade freedom | 0 | 67.4 |
| Investment freedom | 0 | 50 |
| Financial freedom | 0 | 30 |
Economic freedom comparison by year
| Year | Economic freedom index | |
|---|---|---|
|
North Korea
|
Yemen
|
|
| 2026 | 3.1 | - |
| 2025 | 3 | - |
| 2024 | 2.9 | - |
| 2023 | 2.9 | - |
| 2022 | 3 | - |
| 2021 | 5.2 | - |
| 2020 | 4.2 | - |
| 2019 | 5.9 | - |
| 2018 | 5.8 | - |
| 2017 | 4.9 | - |
| 2016 | 2.3 | - |
| 2015 | 1.3 | 53.7 |
| 2014 | 1 | 55.5 |
| 2013 | 1.5 | 55.9 |
| 2012 | 1 | 55.3 |
| 2011 | 1 | 54.2 |
| 2010 | 1 | 54.4 |
| 2009 | 2 | 56.9 |
| 2008 | 3 | 53.8 |
| 2007 | 3 | 54.1 |
| 2006 | 4 | 52.6 |
| 2005 | 8 | 53.8 |
| 2004 | 8.9 | 50.5 |
| 2003 | 8.9 | 50.3 |
| 2002 | 8.9 | 48.6 |
| 2001 | 8.9 | 44.3 |
| 2000 | 8.9 | 44.5 |
| 1999 | 8.9 | 43.3 |
| 1998 | 8.9 | 46.1 |
| 1997 | 8.9 | 48.4 |
| 1996 | 8.9 | 49.6 |
| 1995 | 8.9 | 49.8 |
Data sources: The Heritage Foundation | Economic Freedom Index (1995–2026, retrieved 2026-03-09).
GeoRank.org/economy/north-korea/yemen | CC BY
The Economic Freedom Index for North Korea is 3.1, ranking 197/197, compared to 53.7 for Yemen, ranking 138/197. The chart above displays a comparison of annual changes in economic freedom indexes.
Other economic metrics
|
North Korea
|
Yemen
|
|
|---|---|---|
| Services, % of GDP | n/a |
41.8%
2018 |
| Industry, % of GDP | n/a |
25.4%
2018 |
| Agriculture, forestry, and fishing, % of GDP | n/a |
28.7%
2018 |
|
GNI, Atlas method
|
n/a |
$25.3B
2018 |
| GNI per capita, PPP | n/a |
$3,020
2013 |
| Total reserves including gold | n/a |
$1.25B
2022 |
| Total reserves ranking | n/a |
139/177
2022 |
|
Net foreign direct investment
|
n/a |
$15.4M
2015 |
|
Net inflows of foreign direct investment
|
$203K
1989 |
-$371M
2019 |
|
Net outflows of foreign direct investment
|
$0
2024 |
$0
2024 |
|
Servicing debt to the IMF, % of GNI
|
n/a |
0.53%
2018 |
| Poverty at national poverty lines | n/a |
48.6%
2014 |
|
Gross capital formation, % of GDP
|
n/a |
6.18%
2018 |
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/yemen | 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) (1999–2015, retrieved 2026-02-20)
- International Monetary Fund (IMF) | Fiscal Monitor (2018–2024, retrieved 2026-02-20)
- TradeMap (2015, retrieved 2026-02-08)
- 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.
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.