Atlas · Asia-Pacific · PRK
North Korea
- Output · rank 114/187
- $29B
- People · rank 56/187
- 26.6M
- Land · rank 96/187
- 120K km²
- GDP per person
- $1,090
- Density
- 220.9 /km²
Government debt
No comparable general government debt figure is published for North Korea.
This is an absence in the source data, not a value of zero.
This is an absence in the source data, not a value of zero.
What this number does not tell youThe most misread figure in public finance. Perimeter varies by country — the IMF notes its Fiscal Monitor tables use a narrower perimeter for China than its Article IV estimates, and published figures for Japan range from roughly 200% to 250% depending on perimeter and valuation, both citing the IMF. Debt in a currency the government issues is a fundamentally different instrument from debt it must earn or borrow to service; this ratio does not distinguish them.
Private-sector debt
The BIS publishes household and corporate credit for 44 economies. North Korea is not among them, so no comparable private-debt figure exists.
This is a gap in global data coverage, not a value of zero.
This is a gap in global data coverage, not a value of zero.
Currency & monetary policy
Monetary arrangement shown where classified.
Against its region and the world
Where North Korea sits relative to the Asia-Pacific average and the world average.
GDP per person (USD)
This country1,090
Region average8,736
World average14,013
Population density (per km²)
This country221
Region average135
World average64
Major banks
Largest institutions headquartered in North Korea, by total assets. Assets, not market value — the two rank very differently.
| Institution | Total assets | |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Foreign Trade Bank of DPRK | $2B |
All figures
- Nominal GDP
- $29B
- Share of world output
- 0.03%
- Population
- 26.6M
- Share of world population
- 0.32%
- Land area
- 120,410 km²
- Share of world land
- 0.09%
- GDP per person
- $1,090
- GDP per km²
- $240,844
- Population density
- 220.9 /km²
- Government debt
- —
- Debt outstanding
- —
Closest by output in Asia-Pacific
| Armenia | $27B | 49.7% |
| Papua New Guinea | $34B | 50.8% |
| Georgia | $34B | 37.2% |
| Mongolia | $24B | 66.2% |
| Kyrgyzstan | $17B | 42.1% |
Nearest neighbours by nominal output within the same region. Third column is debt to GDP.
Where these figures come from
- Nominal GDPGross domestic product at current market prices, converted to US dollars at market exchange rates. Not adjusted for purchasing power.
- IMF World Economic Outlook
2025 estimate - PopulationTotal resident population, mid-year estimate.
- UN World Population Prospects
2025 estimate - Land areaTotal land area, excluding inland water where the source reports it separately.
- UN Statistics Division
2024 - General government gross debtGross debt of the general government sector as a share of GDP. Gross means government-held financial assets are not netted off.
- IMF World Economic Outlook / Fiscal Monitor
2025–26 estimate - Bank total assetsTotal assets for the most recent reporting period: cash, loans, investments, property and equipment.
- S&P Global Market Intelligence
2026 ranking - Net government debtGovernment debt net of its financial assets, as a share of GDP.
- IMF Fiscal Monitor
2025–26 estimate - Household debtCredit to households and non-profits serving them, as a share of GDP.
- BIS credit statistics
2024–25 - Corporate debtCredit to non-financial corporations, as a share of GDP.
- BIS credit statistics
2024–25 - Exchange rate regimeHow the currency is managed: free floating, floating, pegged, currency board, or no separate legal tender.
- IMF AREAER
2025 - Central bank policy rateThe main policy interest rate set by the central bank.
- Central banks / BIS
mid-2026, live - Residential house pricesYear-on-year change in residential property prices, nominal and inflation-adjusted.
- BIS / OECD residential property
latest quarter