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Economy of Antigua and Barbuda vs Ireland compared: GDP & Debt

Updated on by Georank team

Antigua and Barbuda has a GDP of $2.21B compared to $609B for Ireland, ranking 177/197 and 25/197 by economy size, respectively.

Antigua and Barbuda has $1.49B in government debt (67.6% of GDP), compared to $236B (38.8% of GDP) in Ireland.

Antigua and Barbuda vs Ireland GDP by year

Antigua and Barbuda
Ireland
1x
Year GDP, current $
Antigua Ireland
2024 $2,207,622,874 $609,157,459,747
2023 $2,005,785,185 $567,372,737,459
2022 $1,866,566,667 $548,341,794,599
2021 $1,602,125,926 $530,394,123,830
2020 $1,411,637,037 $436,009,027,819
2019 $1,726,448,148 $407,211,793,801
2018 $1,661,529,630 $395,780,319,817
2017 $1,534,855,556 $348,355,212,569
2016 $1,489,603,704 $305,431,252,709
2015 $1,437,485,185 $302,101,388,556
2014 $1,378,707,407 $266,490,442,124
2013 $1,325,496,296 $242,924,245,719
2012 $1,364,729,630 $226,921,827,888
2011 $1,287,359,259 $240,975,871,047
2010 $1,298,348,148 $221,732,824,603
2009 $1,386,518,519 $236,443,115,854
2008 $1,557,640,741 $275,447,471,451
2007 $1,487,381,481 $270,079,279,420
2006 $1,303,674,074 $232,180,617,162
2005 $1,143,896,296 $211,876,989,656
2004 $1,026,329,630 $194,372,115,041
2003 $948,100,000 $164,670,771,260
2002 $898,092,593 $128,596,035,288
2001 $877,774,074 $109,346,669,230
2000 $901,003,704 $100,207,610,430
1999 $835,544,444 $98,893,958,263
1998 $789,788,889 $90,199,410,116
1997 $734,422,222 $82,856,648,758
1996 $679,140,741 $75,790,786,290
1995 $616,051,852 $69,139,823,232
1994 $625,081,481 $57,097,656,066
1993 $565,662,963 $52,417,477,614
1992 $525,133,333 $55,918,538,121
1991 $504,337,037 $49,787,501,584
1990 $478,718,519 $49,305,632,408
1989 $455,174,074 $39,238,392,678
1988 $411,396,296 $37,772,896,221
1987 $346,866,667 $33,920,518,493
1986 $297,562,963 $28,714,571,852
1985 $246,370,370 $21,270,013,326
1984 $212,214,815 $20,106,648,455
1983 $184,866,667 $20,766,047,764
1982 $166,444,444 $21,474,752,962
1981 $149,388,889 $20,670,190,138
1980 $132,451,852 $21,747,855,640
1979 $109,596,296 $18,319,334,300
1978 $88,040,741 $14,647,996,074
1977 $77,507,407 $11,248,340,431
1976 - $9,453,756,015
1975 - $9,483,808,362
1974 - $7,896,860,615
1973 - $7,481,173,066
1972 - $6,318,060,582
1971 - $5,098,250,287
1970 - $4,395,995,086
1969 - $3,902,721,632
1968 - $3,378,701,147
1967 - $3,445,739,915
1966 - $3,198,820,904
1965 - $3,035,655,794
1964 - $2,851,091,646
1963 - $2,505,073,358
1962 - $2,329,372,972
1961 - $2,151,772,980
1960 - $1,998,550,222

Data sources: World Bank | Economy & Growth (1960–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06).

GeoRank.org/economy/antigua-and-barbuda/ireland | CC BY

GDP per capita in Antigua and Barbuda vs Ireland by year

Antigua and Barbuda
GDP per capita

GDP per capita, PPP
Ireland
GDP per capita

GDP per capita, PPP
1x
Year Current $
Antigua Ireland
GDP per capita GDP per capita, PPP GDP per capita GDP per capita, PPP
2024 $23,542 $33,386 $112,895 $133,437
2023 $21,495 $31,602 $106,819 $129,683
2022 $20,105 $29,934 $105,191 $138,523
2021 $17,349 $25,745 $103,783 $116,904
2020 $15,370 $22,370 $86,514 $97,800
2019 $18,896 $26,551 $81,828 $92,023
2018 $18,273 $24,524 $80,804 $86,299
2017 $16,966 $21,422 $72,161 $80,450
2016 $16,557 $21,320 $64,130 $73,013
2015 $16,078 $20,985 $64,250 $71,588
2014 $15,532 $21,671 $57,215 $52,641
2013 $15,052 $21,761 $52,538 $48,839
2012 $15,640 $23,012 $49,336 $46,726
2011 $14,912 $23,804 $52,614 $45,526
2010 $15,217 $24,071 $48,624 $43,212
2009 $16,472 $26,157 $52,133 $41,491
2008 $18,787 $29,978 $61,353 $44,169
2007 $18,205 $29,851 $61,396 $46,782
2006 $16,174 $26,949 $54,329 $44,223
2005 $14,369 $23,485 $50,933 $40,466
2004 $13,038 $21,629 $47,754 $38,729
2003 $12,173 $20,127 $41,204 $36,280
2002 $11,659 $18,813 $32,705 $35,222
2001 $11,539 $18,569 $28,282 $32,573
2000 $12,027 $19,319 $26,335 $30,216
1999 $11,342 $18,088 $26,338 $27,041
1998 $10,907 $17,496 $24,295 $25,094
1997 $10,336 $16,836 $22,551 $22,637
1996 $9,756 $16,017 $20,836 $20,482
1995 $9,034 $15,062 $19,158 $18,944
1994 $9,351 $15,736 $15,903 $17,011
1993 $8,625 $14,720 $14,657 $15,811
1992 $8,154 $13,908 $15,714 $15,116
1991 $7,956 $13,658 $14,087 $14,399
1990 $7,591 $12,996 $14,031 $13,743
1989 $7,188 - $11,176 -
1988 $6,466 - $10,716 -
1987 $5,424 - $9,582 -
1986 $4,629 - $8,112 -
1985 $3,814 - $6,012 -
1984 $3,271 - $5,692 -
1983 $2,847 - $5,915 -
1982 $2,569 - $6,161 -
1981 $2,310 - $5,986 -
1980 $2,053 - $6,372 -
1979 $1,705 - $5,430 -
1978 $1,375 - $4,400 -
1977 $1,214 - $3,427 -
1976 - - $2,920 -
1975 - - $2,973 -
1974 - - $2,517 -
1973 - - $2,424 -
1972 - - $2,080 -
1971 - - $1,704 -
1970 - - $1,487 -
1969 - - $1,331 -
1968 - - $1,159 -
1967 - - $1,187 -
1966 - - $1,107 -
1965 - - $1,055 -
1964 - - $995 -
1963 - - $878 -
1962 - - $821 -
1961 - - $762 -
1960 - - $707 -

Data sources: World Bank | Economy & Growth (1960–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06).

GeoRank.org/economy/antigua-and-barbuda/ireland | CC BY

Antigua and Barbuda's GDP per capita is $23,542, ranking 53/197, compared to $112,895 in Ireland, ranking 4/197. Adjusted for purchasing power (GDP per capita PPP), Antigua and Barbuda ranks 66th at $33,386, while Ireland ranks 4th at $133,437.

Economic indicators

Antigua Ireland
Gross domestic product
$2.21B
2024
$609B
2024
GDP rank
177/197
2024
25/197
2024
GDP growth
3.66%
2023-2024
2.6%
2023-2024
GDP per capita
$23,542
2024
$112,895
2024
GDP per capita rank
53/197
2024
4/197
2024
GDP per capita, PPP
$33,386
2024
$133,437
2024
GDP per capita PPP rank
66/197
2024
4/197
2024
Government debt
$1.49B
2024
$236B
2024
Debt-to-GDP ratio
67.6%
2024
38.8%
2024
Government debt per person
$15,910
2024
$43,766
2024
Government debt per person rank
39/185
2024
11/185
2024
Average annual personal income after taxes
$16,563
2026
$47,851
2026
Market capitalization of domestic companies n/a
$110B
2018
Number of billionaires n/a
11
2025
Income share by richest 10% n/a
24.1%
2023
Income share by poorest 10% n/a
3.7%
2023
Government expenditure, % of GDP
19.8%
2024
22.3%
2024
Consumer prices inflation
6.2%
2023-2024
2.11%
2023-2024
Unemployment rate
5.37%
2023
4.27%
2024
Population
94757
5518360

Spending and national debt comparison by year

Antigua and Barbuda
Spending

Debt
Ireland
Spending

Debt
1x
Year % of GDP
Antigua Ireland
Government spending Government debt Government spending Government debt
2024 19.8% 67.6% 22.3% 38.8%
2023 18.8% 76.3% 22.1% 42.1%
2022 20.7% 82% 20.6% 43.2%
2021 23.4% 93% 23.6% 52.7%
2020 26% 100.5% 26.7% 57.1%
2019 22.1% 81.6% 23.9% 55.9%
2018 21.5% 84.3% 24.7% 61.4%
2017 22.6% 88.2% 25.3% 65.3%
2016 23.8% 83.1% 27.5% 72.7%
2015 24.8% 92.1% 28.1% 74%
2014 20.9% 91.9% 36.6% 101.4%
2013 20.7% 85.4% 39.8% 117.7%
2012 18.5% 76.9% 42.3% 118.9%
2011 21.1% 81.1% 46.9% 109.6%
2010 20% 79.4% 64.9% 86.2%
2009 32.1% 89.2% 46.9% 61.8%
2008 23.2% 66.8% 41.6% 42.5%
2007 23.8% 68.7% 35.6% 23.9%
2006 26% 79.1% 33.6% 23.7%
2005 21.5% 82.8% 33% 26.1%
2004 21.9% 107.7% 32.8% 28.1%
2003 24.2% 113% 32.7% 29.8%
2002 26.3% 114.5% 32.9% 30.9%
2001 24.2% 107.6% 32.2% 33.6%
2000 21.1% 96.4% 30.6% 36.4%
1999 20.3% 95.9% 32.5% 46.6%
1998 20.7% 94.6% 34.2% 51.4%
1997 16.8% 80.6% 36.1% 61.6%
1996 19.6% 85.5% 38.5% 69.8%
1995 21% 92.1% 40.3% 78.5%
1994 21.2% 84.5% 44.2% 88%
1993 19.4% 85.3% 44.6% 93.4%
1992 18.7% 90.8% 46.8% 90.6%
1991 20.8% 94.6% 46.1% 93.8%
1990 18.1% 94.1% 44.6% 92.7%
1989 - - 42.5% 97.9%
1988 - - 48.2% 106.5%
1987 - - 51.4% 108.3%
1986 - - 52.9% 107.2%
1985 - - 53.2% 93%
1984 - - 52.7% 90.2%
1983 - - 55.6% 86.1%
1982 - - 56.7% 73.5%
1981 - - 54.1% 68.8%
1980 - - 53.7% 64.6%
1979 - - 48.7% 63.5%
1978 - - 46.2% 50.6%
1977 - - 44.6% 49.2%
1976 - - 47.8% 51.7%
1975 - - 48.2% 48.3%
1974 - - 44.3% 43.5%
1973 - - 40.3% 35.1%
1972 - - 41.5% 37.3%
1971 - - 45.3% 39.8%
1970 - - 44.1% 41.7%
1969 - - 42.5% 42.6%
1968 - - 40% 44.7%
1967 - - 39.3% 47.1%
1966 - - 36.9% 47.7%
1965 - - 35.8% 44.6%
1964 - - 34.8% 43.1%
1963 - - 33.6% 45.2%
1962 - - 31.7% 44.5%
1961 - - 31.4% 44.3%
1960 - - 29.1% 44.9%

Data sources: International Monetary Fund (IMF) | Fiscal Monitor (1990–2024, retrieved 2026-02-20); International Monetary Fund (IMF) | Public Finances in Modern History (1960–1989, retrieved 2026-02-20).

GeoRank.org/economy/antigua-and-barbuda/ireland | CC BY

In 2024, Antigua and Barbuda's government spending was $437M, accounting for 19.8% of its GDP, while Ireland spent $136B, or 22.3% of GDP.

Debt-to-GDP ratio is 67.6% in Antigua and Barbuda and 38.8% in Ireland, ranking 63/185 and 138/185, respectively.

Government deficit by year

Deficit/surplus
Antigua and Barbuda

Ireland
1x
Year Deficit/surplus, % of GDP
Antigua Ireland
2024 1.61% 4.09%
2023 -1.7% 1.52%
2022 -2.84% 1.67%
2021 -4.52% -1.37%
2020 -6.23% -4.87%
2019 -3.64% 0.41%
2018 -2.43% 0.09%
2017 -2.72% -0.3%
2016 -0.14% -0.76%
2015 -2.42% -1.97%
2014 -2.6% -3.52%
2013 -3.83% -6.28%
2012 -0.97% -8.42%
2011 -3.09% -13.5%
2010 -0.24% -32.1%
2009 -15.8% -13.9%
2008 -4.72% -7.03%
2007 -4.98% 0.27%
2006 -6.62% 2.78%
2005 -4.29% 1.57%
2004 -3.9% 1.3%
2003 -7.32% 0.35%
2002 -8.83% -0.52%
2001 -8.58% 0.96%
2000 -4.5% 4.86%
1999 -3.08% 3.54%
1998 -1.62% 2.07%
1997 0% 1.37%
1996 -1.61% -0.2%
1995 -3.89% -2.07%
1994 -4.33% -1.82%
1993 -2.45% -2.62%
1992 -0.81% -2.84%
1991 -3.91% -2.8%
1990 0.12% -2.69%
1989 - -2.64%
1988 - -4.62%
1987 - -8.47%
1986 - -10.5%
1985 - -10.7%
1984 - -9.43%
1983 - -11.5%
1982 - -13.1%
1981 - -12.1%
1980 - -11.1%
1979 - -10%
1978 - -8.27%
1977 - -6.44%
1976 - -7.34%
1975 - -11.1%
1974 - -6.96%
1973 - -3.84%
1972 - -3.23%
1971 - -3.5%
1970 - -3.64%
1969 - -3.4%
1968 - -2.72%
1967 - -2.69%
1966 - -2.26%
1965 - -3.5%
1964 - -3.35%
1963 - -2.92%
1962 - -2.91%
1961 - -2.6%
1960 - -1.97%
1959 - -2.16%
1958 - -4.3%
1957 - -5.19%
1956 - -3.23%
1955 - -5.06%
1954 - -5.28%
1953 - -5.77%
1952 - -7.84%
1951 - -4.62%
1950 - -5.21%
1949 - -2.17%
1948 - -1.29%
1947 - -1.8%
1946 - -0.43%
1945 - -0.43%
1944 - 0.39%
1943 - -1.18%
1942 - -2.48%
1941 - -1.42%
1940 - -0.15%
1939 - -7.31%
1938 - -0.92%
1937 - -0.77%
1936 - -0.19%
1935 - -
1934 - -
1933 - 2.97%
1932 - -
1931 - -1.63%
1930 - -
1929 - -3.41%
1928 - -
1927 - -
1926 - -1.95%

Data sources: International Monetary Fund (IMF) | Fiscal Monitor (1990–2024, retrieved 2026-02-20); International Monetary Fund (IMF) | Public Finances in Modern History (1926–1989, retrieved 2026-02-20).

GeoRank.org/economy/antigua-and-barbuda/ireland | CC BY

In 2024, Antigua and Barbuda's government surplus, the difference between spending and revenue, was $35.6M, equivalent to 1.61% of GDP. This compares to Ireland's surplus of $24.9B, or 4.09% of GDP.

Over the past 35 years, Antigua and Barbuda recorded a fiscal deficit in 32 of those years, while Ireland ran a deficit in 20 years. On average, Antigua and Barbuda posted an annual deficit equal to 3.63% of GDP, compared to deficit of 2.36% of GDP for Ireland.

Inflation comparison by year

Inflation
Antigua and Barbuda

Ireland
1x
Year Consumer prices inflation
Antigua Ireland
2024 6.2% 2.11%
2023 5.1% 6.3%
2022 7.5% 7.83%
2021 1.6% 2.34%
2020 1.1% -0.33%
2019 1.4% 0.94%
2018 1.2% 0.47%
2017 2.4% 0.36%
2016 -0.5% 0.02%
2015 1% -0.33%
2014 1.1% 0.19%
2013 1.1% 0.52%
2012 3.4% 1.69%
2011 3.5% 2.55%
2010 3.4% -0.92%
2009 -0.6% -4.45%
2008 5.3% 4.04%
2007 1.4% 4.89%
2006 1.8% 3.94%
2005 2.1% 2.46%
2004 2% 2.18%
2003 2% 3.49%
2002 2.4% 4.63%
2001 1.9% 4.85%
2000 -0.2% 5.58%
1999 1.1% 1.63%
1998 3.3% 2.41%
1997 0.4% 1.54%

Data sources: International Monetary Fund (IMF) | World Economic Outlook (1997–2024, retrieved 2026-02-20); World Bank | Economy & Growth (1997–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06).

GeoRank.org/economy/antigua-and-barbuda/ireland | CC BY

Over the past 28 years, Antigua and Barbuda has recorded an average annual inflation rate of 2.23%, compared with 2.18% in Ireland. In 2024, inflation was 6.2% in Antigua and Barbuda and 2.11% in Ireland.

Top exports between countries

Antigua
Export category Export value
Metals $2K
Ireland
Export category Export value
Machinery & equipment $277K
Animal & marine products $73K
Precious metals & jewellery $51K
Textiles & consumer goods $49K
Chemicals & pharma $8K
Metals $3K
Wood & paper products $2K
Miscellaneous $1K

Balance of trade

Antigua Ireland
Current account balance
-$181M
2024
$106B
2024
Current account balance ranking
98/190
2024
6/190
2024
Current account balance, % of GDP
-8.22%
2024
+17.4%
2024
Goods imports
$726M
2024
$165B
2024
Goods exports
$72.1M
2024
$356B
2024
Service imports
$557M
2024
$467B
2024
Service exports
$1.24B
2024
$526B
2024
Imports of goods and services, % of GDP
63%
2022
102.2%
2024
Exports of goods and services, % of GDP
54.7%
2022
144%
2024

Economic freedom indices

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

Antigua Ireland
Economic freedom 56 83.3
Economic freedom ranking 125/197 3/197
Property rights n/a 94.4
Government integrity n/a 84
Judicial effectiveness n/a 95.4
Tax burden n/a 77.7
Government spending n/a 85.9
Fiscal health n/a 97
Business freedom n/a 85.5
Labor freedom n/a 61.3
Monetary freedom n/a 79.3
Trade freedom n/a 79.4
Investment freedom n/a 90
Financial freedom n/a 70

Other economic metrics

Antigua Ireland
Services, % of GDP
69.1%
2023
60.6%
2024
Industry, % of GDP
19%
2023
33.6%
2024
Agriculture, forestry, and fishing, % of GDP
1.94%
2023
1.02%
2024
GNI, Atlas method
$1.98B
2024
$435B
2024
GNI per capita, PPP
$31,730
2024
$101,180
2024
Total reserves including gold
$358M
2024
$12.7B
2024
Total reserves ranking
164/177
2024
73/177
2024
Net foreign direct investment
-$253M
2024
$62.3B
2024
Net inflows of foreign direct investment
$246M
2024
$4.82B
2024
Net outflows of foreign direct investment
-$68.4K
2024
$67.1B
2024
Poverty at national poverty lines n/a
14%
2021
Gross capital formation, % of GDP n/a
18.2%
2024

GDP per capita map

1x

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/antigua-and-barbuda/ireland | CC BY

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Data sources:

  1. World Bank | Economy & Growth (1960–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06)
  2. International Monetary Fund (IMF) | Fiscal Monitor (1990–2024, retrieved 2026-02-20)
  3. International Monetary Fund (IMF) | Public Finances in Modern History (1926–1989, retrieved 2026-02-20)
  4. U.S. Census Bureau (1985–2024, retrieved 2026-02-08)
  5. The Heritage Foundation | Economic Freedom Index (2026, retrieved 2026-03-09)
  6. TradeMap (2021–2024, retrieved 2026-02-08)
  7. United Nations | World Population Prospects (2026, retrieved 2026-03-10)
  8. 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.

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.