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Economy of Afghanistan vs Gambia compared: GDP & Debt

Updated on by Georank

Afghanistan has a GDP of $17.8B compared to $2.59B for the Gambia, ranking 139/197 and 174/197 by economy size, respectively.

Afghanistan has $1.58B in government debt (7.98% of GDP), compared to $1.92B (73.9% of GDP) in the Gambia.

Afghanistan vs Gambia GDP by year

Afghanistan
Gambia
1x
Year GDP, current $
Afghanistan Gambia
2025 - $2,593,673,988
2024 $17,778,508,876 $2,404,888,738
2023 $17,152,234,637 $2,382,262,185
2022 $14,497,243,872 $2,204,734,528
2021 $14,259,995,441 $2,014,158,842
2020 $19,955,929,052 $1,812,170,891
2019 $18,799,444,490 $1,813,609,692
2018 $18,053,222,687 $1,670,671,328
2017 $18,753,456,498 $1,504,909,463
2016 $18,116,572,395 $1,484,578,886
2015 $19,134,221,645 $1,378,176,609
2014 $20,497,128,556 $1,229,461,721
2013 $20,146,416,758 $1,375,609,453
2012 $19,907,329,778 $1,415,004,738
2011 $17,805,098,206 $1,409,693,597
2010 $15,856,668,556 $1,543,294,927
2009 $12,416,152,732 $1,450,142,509
2008 $10,109,297,048 $1,561,766,956
2007 $9,747,886,187 $1,279,703,047
2006 $6,971,758,282 $1,054,112,488
2005 $6,203,256,539 $1,027,701,068
2004 $5,224,896,719 $961,900,651
2003 $4,520,946,819 $487,038,685
2002 $3,825,701,439 $578,235,309
2001 $2,813,571,754 $687,410,645
2000 $3,521,418,060 $782,913,872
1999 - $814,724,032
1998 - $840,285,265
1997 - $803,633,342
1996 - $848,239,446
1995 - $785,999,865
1994 - $746,493,952
1993 - $755,040,974
1992 - $714,254,256
1991 - $690,311,081
1990 - $317,083,695
1989 - $284,120,329
1988 - $266,672,212
1987 - $220,626,484
1986 - $185,646,987
1985 - $225,726,359
1984 - $177,340,880
1983 - $213,448,585
1982 - $216,050,552
1981 - $218,767,743
1980 - $241,083,090
1979 - $207,112,628
1978 - $171,833,086
1977 - $138,093,099
1976 - $112,190,829
1975 - $115,179,719
1974 - $95,796,022
1973 - $75,187,749
1972 - $59,160,569
1971 - $55,728,663
1970 - $52,296,084
1969 - $45,168,072
1968 - $41,160,066
1967 - $46,695,007
1966 - $44,212,081

Data sources: World Bank | Economy & Growth (1966–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08).

GeoRank.org/economy/afghanistan/gambia | CC BY

GDP per capita in Afghanistan vs Gambia by year

Afghanistan
GDP per capita

GDP per capita, PPP
Gambia
GDP per capita

GDP per capita, PPP
1x
Year Current $
Afghanistan Gambia
GDP per capita GDP per capita, PPP GDP per capita GDP per capita, PPP
2025 - - $919 -
2024 $417 - $871 $3,476
2023 $414 $2,202 $883 $3,289
2022 $357 $2,123 $836 $3,067
2021 $356 $2,144 $782 $2,778
2020 $511 $2,562 $720 $2,531
2019 $497 $2,583 $738 $2,422
2018 $491 $2,432 $696 $2,277
2017 $525 $2,336 $643 $2,039
2016 $522 $2,213 $650 $2,013
2015 $566 $2,284 $620 $1,990
2014 $625 $2,224 $568 $1,934
2013 $637 $2,133 $654 $2,007
2012 $651 $1,988 $693 $2,065
2011 $607 $1,744 $711 $2,064
2010 $561 $1,766 $801 $2,267
2009 $452 $1,571 $775 $2,177
2008 $382 $1,334 $859 $2,088
2007 $376 $1,287 $725 $1,985
2006 $274.2 $1,122 $615 $1,931
2005 $254.2 $1,076 $616 $1,938
2004 $221.8 $972 $593 $1,979
2003 $198.9 $967 $309 $1,850
2002 $179 $927 $377 $1,744
2001 $138.7 $748 $460 $1,823
2000 $174.9 $814 $538 $1,731
1999 - - $575 $1,649
1998 - - $610 $1,572
1997 - - $600 $1,544
1996 - - $652 $1,489
1995 - - $622 $1,472
1994 - - $608 $1,473
1993 - - $635 $1,487
1992 - - $623 $1,462
1991 - - $628 $1,440
1990 - - $301 $1,409
1989 - - $280.9 -
1988 - - $274.9 -
1987 - - $237 -
1986 - - $207.7 -
1985 - - $262.8 -
1984 - - $214.8 -
1983 - - $268.6 -
1982 - - $282.1 -
1981 - - $296 -
1980 - - $338 -
1979 - - $300 -
1978 - - $257.6 -
1977 - - $213.8 -
1976 - - $179.3 -
1975 - - $189.8 -
1974 - - $162.6 -
1973 - - $131.4 -
1972 - - $106.5 -
1971 - - $103.3 -
1970 - - $99.8 -
1969 - - $88.7 -
1968 - - $83.1 -
1967 - - $97 -
1966 - - $94.4 -

Data sources: World Bank | Economy & Growth (1966–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08).

GeoRank.org/economy/afghanistan/gambia | CC BY

Afghanistan's GDP per capita is $417, ranking 196/197, compared to $919 in the Gambia, ranking 183/197. Adjusted for purchasing power (GDP per capita PPP), Afghanistan ranks 184th at $2,202, while the Gambia ranks 172nd at $3,476.

Economic indicators

Afghanistan Gambia
Gross domestic product
$17.8B
2024
$2.59B
2025
GDP rank
139/197
2024
174/197
2025
GDP growth
1.87%
2023-2024
5.89%
2024-2025
GDP per capita
$417
2024
$919
2025
GDP per capita rank
196/197
2024
183/197
2025
GDP per capita, PPP
$2,202
2023
$3,476
2024
GDP per capita PPP rank
184/197
2023
172/197
2024
Government debt
$1.58B
2024
$1.92B
2025
Debt-to-GDP ratio
7.98%
2025
73.9%
2025
Government debt per person
$37.2
2024
$679
2025
Government debt per person rank
185/185
2024
156/185
2025
Average annual personal income after taxes
$1,529
2026
$710
2026
Income share by richest 10% n/a
30.5%
2020
Income share by poorest 10% n/a
2.6%
2020
Government expenditure, % of GDP
20%
2025
27.1%
2025
Consumer prices inflation
2.9%
2024-2025
11.6%
2023-2024
Central bank interest rate
6%
2021
14%
2026
Unemployment rate
5.68%
2021
7.05%
2025
Population
45682388
2916990

Spending and national debt comparison by year

Afghanistan
Spending

Debt
Gambia
Spending

Debt
1x
Year % of GDP
Afghanistan Gambia
Government spending Government debt Government spending Government debt
2025 20% 7.98% 27.1% 73.9%
2024 19.7% 8.91% 25.3% 78.5%
2023 17% 8.25% 23.9% 77.4%
2022 16.1% 10.6% 24.6% 83.9%
2021 17.9% 11.1% 21.5% 83.1%
2020 27.9% 7.33% 25.3% 85.9%
2019 28% 6.14% 23.9% 83%
2018 28.9% 7.38% 19% 83.6%
2017 27.7% 8% 23.6% 87%
2016 28% 8.44% 19.4% 79.5%
2015 25.9% 9.15% 19.6% 69.4%
2014 25.4% 8.7% 19% 71.1%
2013 25% 6.9% 17.2% 58.2%
2012 25% 6.76% 19.1% 49.5%
2011 21.9% 7.5% 16.5% 49.2%
2010 20.8% 7.7% 14.6% 42.9%
2009 21.2% 16.2% 14.4% 38.9%
2008 20.9% 19.1% 11.6% 39.5%
2007 21.4% 20.1% 11.2% 38%
2006 18.3% 23% 14% 87.3%
2005 15.7% 206.4% 12.9% 82.6%
2004 15.1% 245% 12.4% 81.3%
2003 11.9% 270.6% 9.3% 91.7%
2002 6.94% 346% 8.59% 93.9%
2001 - - 9.68% 75.2%
2000 - - 9.54% 73.3%

Data sources: International Monetary Fund (IMF) | Fiscal Monitor (2000–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08).

GeoRank.org/economy/afghanistan/gambia | CC BY

In 2025, Afghanistan's government spending was $3.5B, accounting for 20% of its GDP, while the Gambia spent $704M, or 27.1% of GDP.

Debt-to-GDP ratio is 7.98% in Afghanistan and 73.9% in the Gambia, ranking 181/185 and 51/185, respectively.

Government deficit by year

Deficit/surplus
Afghanistan

Gambia
1x
Year Deficit/surplus, % of GDP
Afghanistan Gambia
2025 -0.89% -2.95%
2024 -0.55% -4%
2023 -1.33% -3.56%
2022 -1% -5.72%
2021 -0.48% -4.77%
2020 -2.24% -2.37%
2019 -1.06% -2.75%
2018 1.63% -3.92%
2017 -0.67% -4.35%
2016 0.13% -6.22%
2015 -1.38% -5.38%
2014 -1.72% -3.94%
2013 -0.63% -5.11%
2012 0.18% -2.85%
2011 -0.67% -3.03%
2010 0.93% -2.93%
2009 -1.76% -1.65%
2008 -3.86% -0.45%
2007 -2.46% 0.27%
2006 0.68% -3.19%
2005 -0.92% -3.33%
2004 -2.39% -1.77%
2003 -2.1% -1.73%
2002 -0.1% 0.06%
2001 - -2.52%
2000 - -0.09%

Data sources: International Monetary Fund (IMF) | Fiscal Monitor (2000–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08).

GeoRank.org/economy/afghanistan/gambia | CC BY

In 2024, Afghanistan's government deficit, the difference between spending and revenue, was $97.4M, equivalent to 0.55% of GDP. This compares to the Gambia's deficit of $96.3M, or 4% of GDP.

Over the past 23 years, Afghanistan recorded a fiscal deficit in 18 of those years, while the Gambia ran a deficit in 21 years. On average, Afghanistan posted an annual deficit equal to 0.95% of GDP, compared to deficit of 3.16% of GDP for the Gambia.

Inflation comparison by year

Inflation
Afghanistan

Gambia
1x
Year Consumer prices inflation
Afghanistan Gambia
2025 2.9% -
2024 -4.3% 11.6%
2023 -7.7% 17%
2022 10.6% 11.5%
2021 7.8% 7.37%
2020 5.6% 5.93%
2019 2.3% 7.12%
2018 0.6% 6.52%
2017 5% 8.03%
2016 4.4% 7.23%
2015 -0.7% 6.81%
2014 4.7% 5.95%
2013 7.4% 5.7%
2012 6.4% 4.25%
2011 11.8% 4.8%
2010 2.2% 5.05%
2009 -6.8% 4.56%
2008 26.4% 4.44%
2007 8.7% 5.37%
2006 6.8% 2.06%
2005 10.6% 4.84%
2004 16.4% 14.2%
2003 35.7% 17%
2002 - 8.61%
2001 - 4.49%
2000 - 0.84%
1999 - 3.81%
1998 - 1.11%
1997 - 2.78%

Data sources: World Bank | Economy & Growth (1997–2024, retrieved 2026-07-08); International Monetary Fund (IMF) | World Economic Outlook (2003–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08).

GeoRank.org/economy/afghanistan/gambia | CC BY

Over the past 22 years, Afghanistan has recorded an average annual inflation rate of 7%, compared with 7.61% in the Gambia. In 2024, inflation was 2.9% in Afghanistan and 11.6% in the Gambia.

Balance of trade

Afghanistan Gambia
Current account balance
-$3.14B
2020
-$99.8M
2024
Current account balance ranking
153/190
2020
81/190
2024
Current account balance, % of GDP
-15.7%
2020
-4.15%
2024
Goods imports
$5.88B
2020
$1.39B
2024
Goods exports
$777M
2020
$363M
2024
Service imports
$1.11B
2020
$161M
2024
Service exports
$700M
2020
$485M
2024
Imports of goods and services, % of GDP
68.1%
2024
49.4%
2025
Exports of goods and services, % of GDP
15.7%
2024
12.7%
2025

Economic freedom indices

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

Afghanistan Gambia
Economic freedom 53 56.3
Economic freedom ranking 142/197 123/197
Property rights 3.6 55.4
Government integrity 13.5 40.5
Judicial effectiveness 0 45.8
Tax burden 92 79.2
Government spending 90.8 81.1
Fiscal health 98.4 54.8
Business freedom 33.7 50.1
Labor freedom 44.4 46.4
Monetary freedom 84.9 57.3
Trade freedom 68.6 64.8
Investment freedom 10 50
Financial freedom 10 50

Economic freedom comparison by year

Afghanistan
Gambia
1x
Year Economic freedom index
Afghanistan Gambia
2026 - 56.3
2025 - 56.8
2024 - 58.2
2023 - 57.9
2022 - 58
2021 53 58.8
2020 54.7 56.3
2019 51.5 52.4
2018 51.3 52.3
2017 48.9 53.4
2016 - 57.1
2015 - 57.5
2014 - 59.5
2013 - 58.8
2012 - 58.8
2011 - 57.4
2010 - 55.1
2009 - 55.8
2008 - 56.9
2007 - 57.7
2006 - 57.3
2005 - 56.5
2004 - 55.3
2003 - 56.3
2002 - 57.7
2001 - 56.6
2000 - 52.7
1999 - 52.1
1998 - 53.4
1997 - 52.9

Data sources: The Heritage Foundation | Economic Freedom Index (1997–2026, retrieved 2026-07-08).

GeoRank.org/economy/afghanistan/gambia | CC BY

The Economic Freedom Index for Afghanistan is 53, ranking 142/197, compared to 56.3 for the Gambia, ranking 123/197. The chart above displays a comparison of annual changes in economic freedom indexes.

Other economic metrics

Afghanistan Gambia
Services, % of GDP
45.2%
2024
53.1%
2025
Industry, % of GDP
14.5%
2024
15.8%
2025
Agriculture, forestry, and fishing, % of GDP
34.3%
2024
23.8%
2025
GNI, Atlas method
$16.8B
2024
$2.62B
2025
GNI per capita, PPP
$2,250
2024
$3,660
2025
Total reserves including gold
$9.75B
2020
$629M
2024
Total reserves ranking
81/177
2020
151/177
2024
Net foreign direct investment
$24.3M
2020
-$232M
2024
Net inflows of foreign direct investment
$0
2024
$232M
2024
Net outflows of foreign direct investment
$0
2024
-$665K
2024
Servicing debt to the IMF, % of GNI
0.38%
2024
3.25%
2024
Poverty at national poverty lines
47.1%
2019
53.4%
2020
Gross capital formation, % of GDP
17.1%
2024
40.4%
2025

GDP per capita map

1x

Data sources: World Bank | Economy & Growth (1985–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08); U.S. Census Bureau (1985–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08).

GeoRank.org/economy/afghanistan/gambia | CC BY

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Data sources:

  1. World Bank | Economy & Growth (1966–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08)
  2. International Monetary Fund (IMF) | Fiscal Monitor (2000–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08)
  3. The Heritage Foundation | Economic Freedom Index (1997–2026, retrieved 2026-07-08)
  4. U.S. Census Bureau (1985–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08)
  5. United Nations | World Population Prospects (2026, retrieved 2026-07-08)
  6. LivingCost (2026, retrieved 2026-07-08)

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.