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Economy of Bahamas vs Ghana compared: GDP & Debt

Updated on by Georank team

The Bahamas has a GDP of $15.8B compared to $82.3B for Ghana, ranking 140/197 and 80/197 by economy size, respectively.

The Bahamas has $11.5B in government debt (72.5% of GDP), compared to $57.9B (70.3% of GDP) in Ghana.

Bahamas vs Ghana GDP by year

Bahamas
Ghana
1x
Year GDP, current $
Bahamas Ghana
2024 $15,832,800,000 $82,308,110,386
2023 $15,271,300,000 $80,547,146,878
2022 $13,896,800,000 $73,919,003,210
2021 $12,037,000,000 $79,514,204,730
2020 $10,363,200,000 $70,008,243,860
2019 $13,277,000,000 $68,352,629,246
2018 $12,819,200,000 $67,259,353,966
2017 $12,446,900,000 $60,385,409,435
2016 $11,880,900,000 $56,144,179,398
2015 $11,837,600,000 $49,436,806,230
2014 $11,139,100,000 $54,678,533,806
2013 $10,475,300,000 $62,845,721,960
2012 $10,720,400,000 $41,271,701,061
2011 $10,070,450,000 $39,336,668,081
2010 $10,095,760,000 $32,197,655,567
2009 $9,981,960,000 $26,048,720,006
2008 $10,526,000,000 $28,679,383,241
2007 $10,618,340,000 $24,827,339,138
2006 $10,167,250,000 $20,885,037,597
2005 $9,836,200,000 $10,744,568,381
2004 $9,055,290,000 $8,881,417,907
2003 $8,870,090,000 $7,632,723,556
2002 $8,881,160,000 $6,166,197,848
2001 $8,317,830,000 $5,314,872,854
2000 $8,076,470,000 $4,982,850,662
1999 $7,683,870,000 $7,718,109,982
1998 $6,833,220,000 $7,482,069,162
1997 $6,332,360,000 $6,891,443,192
1996 $3,609,000,000 $6,932,991,739
1995 $3,429,000,000 $6,464,382,808
1994 $3,259,000,000 $5,446,383,727
1993 $3,092,000,000 $5,968,922,939
1992 $3,109,000,000 $6,416,103,926
1991 $3,111,160,000 $6,603,185,268
1990 $3,166,000,000 $5,889,106,573
1989 $3,062,000,000 $5,251,858,440
1988 $2,817,900,000 $5,197,765,032
1987 $2,713,999,900 $5,074,829,932
1986 $2,472,500,000 $5,735,677,434
1985 $2,320,699,900 $4,504,306,723
1984 $2,041,100,000 $4,412,279,843
1983 $1,732,800,000 $4,057,275,132
1982 $1,578,300,000 $4,035,994,398
1981 $1,426,500,000 $4,222,441,860
1980 $1,335,300,000 $4,445,228,216
1979 $1,139,800,100 $4,020,227,920
1978 $832,400,000 $3,662,478,185
1977 $713,000,000 $3,189,428,571
1976 $642,100,000 $2,765,254,237
1975 $596,200,000 $2,810,106,383
1974 $632,400,000 $2,894,409,938
1973 $670,900,000 $3,006,766,758
1972 $590,900,000 $2,112,293,280
1971 $573,400,000 $2,417,108,578
1970 $539,500,000 $2,215,028,588
1969 $538,700,000 $1,962,050,556
1968 $453,800,000 $1,666,909,518
1967 $398,000,000 $1,747,187,645
1966 $346,800,000 $2,126,300,672
1965 $300,272,048 $2,053,462,968
1964 $266,560,043 $1,731,296,200
1963 $237,650,038 $1,540,797,589
1962 $212,170,034 $1,382,515,654
1961 $190,022,030 $1,302,674,325
1960 $169,736,027 $1,217,230,095

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

GeoRank.org/economy/bahamas/ghana | CC BY

GDP per capita in Bahamas vs Ghana by year

Bahamas
GDP per capita

GDP per capita, PPP
Ghana
GDP per capita

GDP per capita, PPP
1x
Year Current $
Bahamas Ghana
GDP per capita GDP per capita, PPP GDP per capita GDP per capita, PPP
2024 $39,455 $41,198 $2,391 $8,020
2023 $38,232 $39,090 $2,384 $7,556
2022 $34,957 $36,791 $2,230 $7,208
2021 $30,368 $31,065 $2,445 $6,608
2020 $26,179 $27,205 $2,195 $6,047
2019 $33,640 $36,116 $2,187 $6,003
2018 $32,642 $35,228 $2,195 $5,536
2017 $31,875 $34,282 $2,012 $5,171
2016 $30,617 $32,285 $1,912 $5,011
2015 $30,719 $32,138 $1,723 $5,191
2014 $29,137 $31,726 $1,950 $5,517
2013 $27,643 $30,294 $2,295 $5,215
2012 $28,552 $31,036 $1,544 $4,934
2011 $27,091 $30,074 $1,507 $4,381
2010 $27,473 $29,625 $1,264 $3,855
2009 $27,513 $29,197 $1,048 $3,617
2008 $29,392 $30,679 $1,183 $3,516
2007 $30,052 $31,232 $1,050 $3,241
2006 $29,185 $30,402 $906 $3,103
2005 $28,602 $29,143 $479 $2,904
2004 $26,650 $27,660 $406 $2,729
2003 $26,429 $27,031 $358 $2,584
2002 $26,782 $27,171 $297.5 $2,475
2001 $25,372 $26,351 $263.5 $2,397
2000 $24,940 $25,422 $253.7 $2,315
1999 $24,041 $24,184 $403 $2,239
1998 $21,667 $22,556 $400 $2,167
1997 $20,368 $21,606 $378 $2,097
1996 $11,784 $21,287 $389 $2,026
1995 $11,375 $20,377 $372 $1,947
1994 $10,991 $19,441 $321 $1,875
1993 $10,613 $18,781 $360 $1,821
1992 $10,873 $18,636 $396 $1,739
1991 $11,082 $19,296 $418 $1,678
1990 $11,473 $19,817 $383 $1,581
1989 $11,291 - $350 -
1988 $10,576 - $355 -
1987 $10,361 - $355 -
1986 $9,601 - $411 -
1985 $9,167 - $330 -
1984 $8,202 - $330 -
1983 $7,081 - $311 -
1982 $6,559 - $319 -
1981 $6,029 - $344 -
1980 $5,743 - $372 -
1979 $4,994 - $347 -
1978 $3,720 - $326 -
1977 $3,253 - $292.3 -
1976 $2,993 - $261 -
1975 $2,841 - $273 -
1974 $3,080 - $289.4 -
1973 $3,341 - $310 -
1972 $3,014 - $223.8 -
1971 $3,004 - $263.4 -
1970 $2,916 - $248.2 -
1969 $3,027 - $225.8 -
1968 $2,668 - $196.7 -
1967 $2,453 - $211.2 -
1966 $2,239 - $263.3 -
1965 $2,030 - $260.5 -
1964 $1,883 - $225 -
1963 $1,759 - $205 -
1962 $1,651 - $188.4 -
1961 $1,555 - $181.9 -
1960 $1,459 - $174.9 -

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

GeoRank.org/economy/bahamas/ghana | CC BY

The Bahamas' GDP per capita is $39,455, ranking 30/197, compared to $2,391 in Ghana, ranking 151/197. Adjusted for purchasing power (GDP per capita PPP), the Bahamas ranks 57th at $41,198, while Ghana ranks 140th at $8,020.

Economic indicators

Bahamas Ghana
Gross domestic product
$15.8B
2024
$82.3B
2024
GDP rank
140/197
2024
80/197
2024
GDP growth
3.38%
2023-2024
5.59%
2023-2024
GDP per capita
$39,455
2024
$2,391
2024
GDP per capita rank
30/197
2024
151/197
2024
GDP per capita, PPP
$41,198
2024
$8,020
2024
GDP per capita PPP rank
57/197
2024
140/197
2024
Government debt
$11.5B
2024
$57.9B
2024
Debt-to-GDP ratio
72.5%
2024
70.3%
2024
Government debt per person
$28,616
2024
$1,682
2024
Government debt per person rank
25/185
2024
123/185
2024
Average annual personal income after taxes
$29,535
2026
$2,110
2026
Market capitalization of domestic companies n/a
$7.58B
2024
Income share by richest 10% n/a
32.2%
2016
Income share by poorest 10% n/a
1.6%
2016
Government expenditure, % of GDP
20.6%
2024
23.2%
2024
Consumer prices inflation
0.41%
2023-2024
22.8%
2023-2024
Central bank interest rate
4%
2016
25%
2025
Unemployment rate
8.65%
2023
2.87%
2022
Population
405203
35885254

Spending and national debt comparison by year

Bahamas
Spending

Debt
Ghana
Spending

Debt
1x
Year % of GDP
Bahamas Ghana
Government spending Government debt Government spending Government debt
2024 20.6% 72.5% 23.2% 70.3%
2023 22.2% 74.8% 18.5% 79.1%
2022 23.9% 79.1% 27.5% 92.7%
2021 26.9% 84.5% 27.2% 86.9%
2020 28.2% 81.9% 31.5% 79.1%
2019 19.9% 59.3% 22.5% 62.9%
2018 19.2% 60.6% 20.9% 62%
2017 22.5% 53.4% 17.6% 57%
2016 19.4% 51% 19.9% 55.9%
2015 17.9% 48.5% 18.6% 53.9%
2014 17.6% 46.3% 21% 50.1%
2013 18.4% 44.8% 21.6% 42.9%
2012 16.5% 36.4% 22.1% 35.5%
2011 17.1% 35.3% 19.5% 31.2%
2010 15.3% 33.7% 19% 32.9%
2009 15.6% 30.9% 16.6% 25.4%
2008 14.4% 25.5% 16.6% 23.2%
2007 13.3% 23% 16.8% 21.1%
2006 13% 22.8% 14.4% 17.3%
2005 12.3% 22% 12.9% 31.7%
2004 12.4% 21.4% 13.7% 38.4%
2003 11.8% 20.9% 12.1% 49.3%
2002 11.3% 18.8% 10.7% 54.1%
2001 11.2% 18.2% 13.8% 57.8%
2000 11.3% 18.7% 12% 74.5%
1999 8.78% 18.7% 11.1% 51.7%
1998 11.6% 20% 11.8% 37.6%
1997 12.5% 20.8% 12% 45.2%
1996 11.2% 20.2% 12.4% 42.9%
1995 11.2% 20.5% 13% 47.6%
1994 11.4% 20.4% 12.7% 50.6%
1993 11.5% 19.8% 12.1% 34.1%
1992 11.8% 17.9% 9.2% 21.3%
1991 12% 15.4% 7.09% 17.3%
1990 11.4% 13.2% 6.59% 17.8%
1989 - - 7.24% 23%
1988 - - 7.23% 23.5%
1987 - - 7.32% 26.8%
1986 - - 7.29% 18.2%
1985 - - 6.08% 14.4%
1984 - - 4.64% 13%
1983 - - 3.49% 9.21%
1982 - - 4.73% 8.51%
1981 - - 5.74% 8.77%
1980 - - 7.51% 9.75%
1979 - - 9.14% 11.5%
1978 - - 6.54% 11.4%
1977 - - 10.5% 20.7%
1976 - - 12.8% 26%
1975 - - 13.2% 21.8%
1974 - - 9.52% 21.8%
1973 - - 9.35% 25.4%
1972 - - 11.4% 29.8%
1971 - - 11.7% 29.5%
1970 - - 12.2% 31.9%
1969 - - 11.2% 31.4%
1968 - - 12.3% 34.5%
1967 - - 11.5% 33.9%
1966 - - 9.12% 29.8%
1965 - - 14.2% 30.2%
1964 - - 15.8% 30.8%
1963 - - 15.3% 30.5%
1962 - - 12.5% 11.8%

Data sources: International Monetary Fund (IMF) | Fiscal Monitor (1990–2024, retrieved 2026-02-20); International Monetary Fund (IMF) | Public Finances in Modern History (1962–1989, retrieved 2026-02-20).

GeoRank.org/economy/bahamas/ghana | CC BY

In 2024, the Bahamas' government spending was $3.26B, accounting for 20.6% of its GDP, while Ghana spent $19.1B, or 23.2% of GDP.

Debt-to-GDP ratio is 72.5% in the Bahamas and 70.3% in Ghana, ranking 53/185 and 57/185, respectively.

Government deficit by year

Deficit/surplus
Bahamas

Ghana
1x
Year Deficit/surplus, % of GDP
Bahamas Ghana
2024 -1.18% -7.31%
2023 -3.49% -3.37%
2022 -5.16% -11.8%
2021 -11.1% -12%
2020 -8.09% -17.4%
2019 -1.65% -7.52%
2018 -3.24% -6.79%
2017 -5.92% -3.97%
2016 -2.61% -6.75%
2015 -3.24% -4.01%
2014 -4.38% -7.81%
2013 -5.16% -9.12%
2012 -3.15% -8.36%
2011 -2.87% -5.47%
2010 -2.56% -7.13%
2009 -2.45% -5.05%
2008 -0.83% -5.56%
2007 -0.76% -4.91%
2006 -0.43% -3.11%
2005 -1.11% -1.87%
2004 -1.93% -2.02%
2003 -1.63% -1.99%
2002 -1.62% -2.73%
2001 0.3% -3.64%
2000 0.09% -3.98%
1999 1.68% -5.64%
1998 -0.41% -5.27%
1997 -1.56% -6.14%
1996 -0.15% -5.61%
1995 0.18% -4.52%
1994 -0.39% -4.99%
1993 -1.05% -5.39%
1992 -2.23% -4.5%
1991 -2.29% -1.47%
1990 -2.64% -1.93%
1989 - -0.81%
1988 - -1.08%
1987 - -0.92%
1986 - -1.26%
1985 - -1.19%
1984 - -0.98%
1983 - -1.13%
1982 - -2.03%
1981 - -3.8%
1980 - -4.73%
1979 - -3.61%
1978 - -1.21%
1977 - -4.68%
1976 - -5.53%
1975 - -4.05%
1974 - -2.06%
1973 - -2.64%
1972 - -2.19%
1971 - 0.13%
1970 - -2.35%
1969 - -2.67%
1968 - -2.34%
1967 - -2.32%
1966 - -1.29%
1965 - -3.29%
1964 - -3.72%
1963 - -5.66%
1962 - -5.04%

Data sources: International Monetary Fund (IMF) | Fiscal Monitor (1990–2024, retrieved 2026-02-20); International Monetary Fund (IMF) | Public Finances in Modern History (1962–1989, retrieved 2026-02-20).

GeoRank.org/economy/bahamas/ghana | CC BY

In 2024, the Bahamas' government deficit, the difference between spending and revenue, was $187M, equivalent to 1.18% of GDP. This compares to Ghana's deficit of $6.02B, or 7.31% of GDP.

Over the past 35 years, the Bahamas recorded a fiscal deficit in 31 of those years, while Ghana ran a deficit in 35 years. On average, the Bahamas posted an annual deficit equal to 2.37% of GDP, compared to deficit of 5.69% of GDP for Ghana.

Inflation comparison by year

Inflation
Bahamas

Ghana
1x
Year Consumer prices inflation
Bahamas Ghana
2024 0.41% 22.8%
2023 3.05% 38.1%
2022 5.61% 31.3%
2021 2.9% 9.97%
2020 0.04% 9.89%
2019 2.49% 7.14%
2018 2.27% 7.81%
2017 1.52% 12.4%
2016 -0.35% 17.5%
2015 1.86% 17.1%
2014 1.51% 15.5%
2013 0.72% 11.7%
2012 1.97% 11.2%
2011 3.2% 8.73%
2010 1.34% 10.7%
2009 2.06% 19.2%
2008 4.49% 16.5%
2007 2.49% 10.7%
2006 2.39% 11.7%
2005 1.59% 15.4%
2004 0.98% 18%
2003 3.03% 29.8%
2002 2.17% 9.36%
2001 2.04% 41.5%
2000 1.61% 40.2%
1999 1.25% 4.87%
1998 1.34% 14.6%
1997 0.54% 27.9%

Data sources: World Bank | Economy & Growth (1997–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06).

GeoRank.org/economy/bahamas/ghana | CC BY

Over the past 28 years, the Bahamas has recorded an average annual inflation rate of 1.95%, compared with 17.6% in Ghana. In 2024, inflation was 0.41% in the Bahamas and 22.8% in Ghana.

Top exports between countries

Bahamas
Export category Export value
Ghana
Export category Export value
Textiles & consumer goods $10K
Chemicals & pharma $1K

Balance of trade

Bahamas Ghana
Current account balance
-$1.05B
2024
$1.68B
2024
Current account balance ranking
127/190
2024
49/190
2024
Current account balance, % of GDP
-6.65%
2024
+2.04%
2024
Goods imports
$4.6B
2024
$15.4B
2024
Goods exports
$874M
2024
$19.2B
2024
Service imports
$2.47B
2024
$11.5B
2024
Service exports
$5.9B
2024
$9.27B
2024
Imports of goods and services, % of GDP
41.5%
2024
34.3%
2024
Exports of goods and services, % of GDP
37.8%
2024
35.5%
2024

Economic freedom indices

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

Bahamas Ghana
Economic freedom 65.1 57.3
Economic freedom ranking 66/197 118/197
Property rights 62.7 50.2
Government integrity 67.1 45.4
Judicial effectiveness 79.8 57.5
Tax burden 96.1 79.4
Government spending 83.8 84
Fiscal health 9.1 10.1
Business freedom 69.4 64.5
Labor freedom 66.5 54.9
Monetary freedom 77.2 56.7
Trade freedom 59.4 65.2
Investment freedom 50 60
Financial freedom 60 60

Economic freedom comparison by year

Bahamas
Ghana
1x
Year Economic freedom index
Bahamas Ghana
2026 65.1 57.3
2025 63.2 56
2024 62.5 55.8
2023 62.6 58
2022 68.7 59.8
2021 64.6 59.2
2020 64.5 59.4
2019 62.9 57.5
2018 63.3 56
2017 61.1 56.2
2016 70.9 63
2015 68.7 63
2014 69.8 64.2
2013 70.1 61.3
2012 68 60.7
2011 68 59.4
2010 67.3 60.2
2009 70.3 58.1
2008 71.1 57
2007 72 57.6
2006 72.3 55.6
2005 72.6 56.5
2004 72.1 59.1
2003 73.5 58.2
2002 74.4 57.2
2001 74.8 58
2000 73.9 58.1
1999 74.7 57.9
1998 74.5 57
1997 74.5 56.7
1996 74 57.7
1995 71.8 55.6

Data sources: The Heritage Foundation | Economic Freedom Index (1995–2026, retrieved 2026-03-09).

GeoRank.org/economy/bahamas/ghana | CC BY

The Economic Freedom Index for the Bahamas is 65.1, ranking 66/197, compared to 57.3 for Ghana, ranking 118/197. The chart above displays a comparison of annual changes in economic freedom indexes.

Other economic metrics

Bahamas Ghana
Services, % of GDP
77.2%
2024
40.9%
2024
Industry, % of GDP
9.63%
2024
31.5%
2024
Agriculture, forestry, and fishing, % of GDP
0.51%
2024
20.9%
2024
GNI, Atlas method
$14.9B
2024
$79.5B
2024
GNI per capita, PPP
$39,550
2024
$7,720
2024
Total reserves including gold
$2.51B
2023
$3.62B
2023
Total reserves ranking
122/177
2023
112/177
2023
Net foreign direct investment
-$77.6M
2024
-$1.76B
2024
Net inflows of foreign direct investment
$241M
2024
$1.77B
2024
Net outflows of foreign direct investment
$163M
2024
$5.37M
2024
Servicing debt to the IMF, % of GNI n/a
3.45%
2024
Poverty at national poverty lines
9.3%
2020
23.4%
2016
Gross capital formation, % of GDP
26.8%
2024
10%
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/bahamas/ghana | CC BY

Compare countries by 7 more topics

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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 (1962–1989, retrieved 2026-02-20)
  4. The Heritage Foundation | Economic Freedom Index (1995–2026, retrieved 2026-03-09)
  5. U.S. Census Bureau (1985–2024, retrieved 2026-02-08)
  6. TradeMap (2019–2023, retrieved 2026-02-08)
  7. United Nations | World Population Prospects (2026, retrieved 2026-03-10)
  8. LivingCost (2026, retrieved 2025-10-14)
  9. Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) (2020, retrieved 2026-02-20)

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.