Gross domestic product (GDP) (Bolt) in North Korea
North Korea: Gross domestic product (GDP) (Bolt) was 40.49 billion international-$ in 2011 prices in 2022. ▲ Rising
Latest (2022)
40.49 billion international-$ in 2011 prices
Change on year
down 0.2%
World rank
115th
of 166 countries
All-time high
50.22 billion international-$ in 2011 prices
in 1990
All-time low
3.27 billion international-$ in 2011 prices
in 1820
Years of data
36
1820–2022
Gross domestic product (GDP) in North Korea, 1820–2022
Source: Bolt and van Zanden – Maddison Project Database 2023 – with major processing by Our World in Data. Measured in international-$ in 2011 prices.
Analysis
In 2022, gross domestic product (gdp) in North Korea stood at 40.49 billion international-$ in 2011 prices.
That represents a change of down 0.2% on the previous year and down 7.0% over ten years.
Over the whole period, gross domestic product (gdp) in North Korea peaked at 50.22 billion international-$ in 2011 prices in 1990 and was at its lowest, 3.27 billion international-$ in 2011 prices, in 1820.
That places North Korea 115th out of 166 countries with data for 2022, putting it in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 36 years of available data.
Gross domestic product (GDP) (Bolt) in North Korea, year by year
| Year | international-$ in 2011 prices | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1820 | 3.27 billion international-$ in 2011 prices | — |
| 1870 | 3.42 billion international-$ in 2011 prices | +4.5% |
| 1913 | 5.96 billion international-$ in 2011 prices | +74.3% |
| 1990 | 50.22 billion international-$ in 2011 prices | +743.1% |
| 1991 | 48.20 billion international-$ in 2011 prices | -4.0% |
| 1992 | 44.92 billion international-$ in 2011 prices | -6.8% |
| 1993 | 43.05 billion international-$ in 2011 prices | -4.2% |
| 1994 | 42.09 billion international-$ in 2011 prices | -2.2% |
| 1995 | 40.15 billion international-$ in 2011 prices | -4.6% |
| 1996 | 38.69 billion international-$ in 2011 prices | -3.6% |
| 1997 | 36.02 billion international-$ in 2011 prices | -6.9% |
| 1998 | 35.52 billion international-$ in 2011 prices | -1.4% |
| 1999 | 37.61 billion international-$ in 2011 prices | +5.9% |
| 2000 | 37.76 billion international-$ in 2011 prices | +0.4% |
| 2001 | 39.16 billion international-$ in 2011 prices | +3.7% |
| 2002 | 39.63 billion international-$ in 2011 prices | +1.2% |
| 2003 | 40.35 billion international-$ in 2011 prices | +1.8% |
| 2004 | 41.17 billion international-$ in 2011 prices | +2.0% |
| 2005 | 42.71 billion international-$ in 2011 prices | +3.7% |
| 2006 | 42.26 billion international-$ in 2011 prices | -1.0% |
| 2007 | 41.77 billion international-$ in 2011 prices | -1.2% |
| 2008 | 43.16 billion international-$ in 2011 prices | +3.3% |
| 2009 | 42.79 billion international-$ in 2011 prices | -0.9% |
| 2010 | 42.61 billion international-$ in 2011 prices | -0.4% |
| 2011 | 42.96 billion international-$ in 2011 prices | +0.8% |
| 2012 | 43.55 billion international-$ in 2011 prices | +1.4% |
| 2013 | 44.03 billion international-$ in 2011 prices | +1.1% |
| 2014 | 44.52 billion international-$ in 2011 prices | +1.1% |
| 2015 | 44.03 billion international-$ in 2011 prices | -1.1% |
| 2016 | 45.74 billion international-$ in 2011 prices | +3.9% |
| 2017 | 44.16 billion international-$ in 2011 prices | -3.5% |
| 2018 | 42.35 billion international-$ in 2011 prices | -4.1% |
| 2019 | 42.50 billion international-$ in 2011 prices | +0.4% |
| 2020 | 40.57 billion international-$ in 2011 prices | -4.5% |
| 2021 | 40.55 billion international-$ in 2011 prices | -0.1% |
| 2022 | 40.49 billion international-$ in 2011 prices | -0.2% |
North Korea compared with similar countries
- North Korea's 40.49 billion international-$ in 2011 prices is above the median for low income countries, which is 30.55 billion international-$ in 2011 prices, 1.3× the median. (21 countries reporting)
- North Korea's 40.49 billion international-$ in 2011 prices is below the median for East Asia & Pacific, which is 833.80 billion international-$ in 2011 prices, 5% of the median. (17 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Gross domestic product (GDP) (Bolt) in North Korea changed far more than this series normally does. A large move can be a real event or a change in how the figure was measured — the source note below says who published it.
| Year | Change | From | To |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1990 | +743.1% | 5.96 billion international-$ in 2011 prices | 50.22 billion international-$ in 2011 prices |
| 1913 | +74.3% | 3.42 billion international-$ in 2011 prices | 5.96 billion international-$ in 2011 prices |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1820s | 3.27 billion international-$ in 2011 prices | 3.27 billion international-$ in 2011 prices | 3.27 billion international-$ in 2011 prices | 1 |
| 1870s | 3.42 billion international-$ in 2011 prices | 3.42 billion international-$ in 2011 prices | 3.42 billion international-$ in 2011 prices | 1 |
| 1910s | 5.96 billion international-$ in 2011 prices | 5.96 billion international-$ in 2011 prices | 5.96 billion international-$ in 2011 prices | 1 |
| 1990s | 41.65 billion international-$ in 2011 prices | 35.52 billion international-$ in 2011 prices | 50.22 billion international-$ in 2011 prices | 10 |
| 2000s | 41.08 billion international-$ in 2011 prices | 37.76 billion international-$ in 2011 prices | 43.16 billion international-$ in 2011 prices | 10 |
| 2010s | 43.64 billion international-$ in 2011 prices | 42.35 billion international-$ in 2011 prices | 45.74 billion international-$ in 2011 prices | 10 |
| 2020s | 40.54 billion international-$ in 2011 prices | 40.49 billion international-$ in 2011 prices | 40.57 billion international-$ in 2011 prices | 3 |
Countries ranked near North Korea
- 112 Lebanon 48.74 billion international-$ in 2011 prices compare
- 113 Bosnia and Herzegovina 47.07 billion international-$ in 2011 prices compare
- 114 Mongolia 44.81 billion international-$ in 2011 prices compare
- 116 Estonia 40.00 billion international-$ in 2011 prices compare
- 117 Armenia 39.72 billion international-$ in 2011 prices compare
- 118 Botswana 39.29 billion international-$ in 2011 prices compare
More economy & growth data for North Korea
- Gross Domestic Product, GDP in millions constant 2021 international $ 52,947 (2027)
- Tax revenue vs. Electoral Democracy Index 0.083 (2025)
- Human Rights Index vs. GDP per capita 0.024 (2025)
- Imports by region of origin, per capita 3.77 current US$ per person (2024)
- Where China ranks among a country’s import partners, gaps filled 1 rank (2024)
- Where China ranks among a country’s import partners, annual growth 0 % change on previous year (2024)
- Imports by region of origin, gaps filled 99.91 million current US$ (2024)
- Imports by region of origin, annual growth rate 184.33 % change on previous year (2023)
- Share of imports by region of origin 99.91 million current US$ (2024)
- Where China ranks among a country’s import partners 1 rank (2024)
Frequently asked questions
- What is gross domestic product (gdp) in North Korea?
- Gross domestic product (gdp) in North Korea was 40.49 billion international-$ in 2011 prices in 2022, according to Bolt and van Zanden – Maddison Project Database 2023 – with major processing by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest gross domestic product (gdp) recorded in North Korea?
- The highest recorded value was 50.22 billion international-$ in 2011 prices in 1990.
- What is the lowest gross domestic product (gdp) recorded in North Korea?
- The lowest recorded value was 3.27 billion international-$ in 2011 prices in 1820.
- How does North Korea rank for gross domestic product (gdp)?
- North Korea ranks 115th out of 166 countries with data for 2022.
- Is gross domestic product (gdp) rising or falling in North Korea?
- Over the last ten years it is down 7.0%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this North Korea data come from?
- The figures come from Bolt and van Zanden – Maddison Project Database 2023 – with major processing by Our World in Data, published as part of Gross domestic product (GDP). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Total economic output of a country or region per year. This data is adjusted for inflation and differences in living costs between countries.