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Economy of Bahrain vs Nicaragua compared: GDP & Debt

Updated on by Georank team

Bahrain has a GDP of $47.1B compared to $19.7B for Nicaragua, ranking 96/197 and 131/197 by economy size, respectively.

Bahrain has $62.8B in government debt (133.4% of GDP), compared to $7.71B (39.1% of GDP) in Nicaragua.

Bahrain vs Nicaragua GDP by year

Bahrain
Nicaragua
1x
Year GDP, current $
Bahrain Nicaragua
2024 $47,109,734,309 $19,693,982,968
2023 $46,192,260,638 $17,805,842,284
2022 $46,458,191,489 $15,634,572,502
2021 $40,840,212,766 $14,209,020,362
2020 $35,837,632,979 $12,726,422,432
2019 $40,446,808,511 $12,699,023,614
2018 $39,567,978,723 $13,025,221,974
2017 $37,204,813,830 $13,785,893,007
2016 $33,884,680,851 $13,286,093,388
2015 $32,523,297,872 $12,756,696,261
2014 $34,772,526,596 $11,880,438,824
2013 $33,823,324,468 $10,982,988,249
2012 $31,963,404,255 $10,532,017,232
2011 $29,914,680,851 $9,774,329,333
2010 $26,805,984,043 $8,758,602,233
2009 $22,938,218,085 $8,298,702,489
2008 $25,710,904,255 $8,496,967,597
2007 $21,730,000,000 $7,423,375,015
2006 $18,504,760,638 $6,763,672,381
2005 $15,968,723,404 $6,321,324,279
2004 $13,150,159,574 $5,792,932,838
2003 $11,074,813,830 $5,322,228,351
2002 $9,593,510,638 $5,223,727,303
2001 $8,976,196,809 $5,351,752,034
2000 $9,062,898,936 $5,109,587,050
1999 $7,528,469,149 $4,856,026,259
1998 $7,031,309,043 $4,635,347,386
1997 $7,219,407,713 $4,389,973,490
1996 $6,938,166,755 $4,308,351,903
1995 $6,651,180,851 $4,140,470,000
1994 $6,330,627,926 $3,863,185,119
1993 $5,913,001,064 $1,756,454,248
1992 $5,402,232,447 $1,792,800,000
1991 $5,248,911,170 $1,488,804,124
1990 $4,809,511,005 $1,009,455,484
1989 $4,393,093,963 $1,013,184,756
1988 $4,209,834,173 $2,630,900,096
1987 $3,856,922,694 $3,851,200,118
1986 $3,470,746,843 $2,885,799,994
1985 $4,152,376,484 $2,683,699,935
1984 $4,440,874,566 $3,117,599,872
1983 $4,247,030,468 $2,753,100,058
1982 $4,145,421,080 $2,454,499,872
1981 $3,943,109,532 $2,474,700,227
1980 $3,493,834,468 $2,144,300,006
1979 $2,710,160,739 $1,567,599,982
1978 $2,272,042,965 $2,127,699,979
1977 $1,989,060,283 $2,226,999,874
1976 $1,581,709,519 $1,836,899,999
1975 $1,099,107,601 $1,581,599,959
1974 $1,042,176,884 $1,521,400,012
1973 $761,132,545 $1,092,900,015
1972 $534,081,184 $878,570,045
1971 $422,181,562 $828,569,953
1970 $391,577,364 $778,569,939
1969 - $750,000,003
1968 - $692,859,985
1967 - $657,140,011
1966 - $607,140,010
1965 - $564,290,020
1964 - $347,119,918
1963 - $297,324,163
1962 - $269,283,804
1961 - $244,144,237
1960 - $227,223,322

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

GeoRank.org/economy/bahrain/nicaragua | CC BY

GDP per capita in Bahrain vs Nicaragua by year

Bahrain
GDP per capita

GDP per capita, PPP
Nicaragua
GDP per capita

GDP per capita, PPP
1x
Year Current $
Bahrain Nicaragua
GDP per capita GDP per capita, PPP GDP per capita GDP per capita, PPP
2024 $29,654 $66,941 $2,848 $8,709
2023 $29,290 $64,171 $2,609 $8,320
2022 $30,471 $61,678 $2,323 $7,797
2021 $27,148 $54,955 $2,138 $7,119
2020 $24,343 $53,436 $1,938 $6,274
2019 $27,260 $56,600 $1,959 $5,981
2018 $26,324 $51,993 $2,035 $5,935
2017 $24,785 $50,185 $2,183 $6,225
2016 $23,800 $47,429 $2,132 $5,882
2015 $23,734 $48,034 $2,074 $5,449
2014 $26,452 $54,299 $1,958 $5,068
2013 $26,990 $56,310 $1,835 $4,711
2012 $26,439 $56,713 $1,785 $4,508
2011 $25,033 $52,677 $1,680 $4,325
2010 $21,819 $49,255 $1,527 $4,042
2009 $19,465 $48,626 $1,467 $3,880
2008 $23,299 $50,330 $1,524 $4,044
2007 $20,908 $49,347 $1,350 $3,891
2006 $19,267 $48,009 $1,248 $3,658
2005 $17,966 $47,268 $1,183 $3,456
2004 $15,964 $46,317 $1,099 $3,255
2003 $14,486 $45,427 $1,021 $3,046
2002 $13,501 $45,091 $1,014 $2,948
2001 $13,573 $46,162 $1,052 $2,917
2000 $14,214 $45,688 $1,017 $2,806
1999 $12,123 $43,561 $980 $2,672
1998 $11,625 $42,281 $949 $2,497
1997 $12,255 $40,965 $913 $2,418
1996 $12,092 $40,106 $911 $2,325
1995 $11,901 $38,839 $892 $2,187
1994 $11,629 $37,579 $849 $2,064
1993 $11,152 $37,870 $394 $1,998
1992 $10,460 $33,648 $411 $2,003
1991 $10,434 $31,657 $350 $1,995
1990 $9,343 $26,902 $242.5 $1,979
1989 $8,833 - $249.2 -
1988 $8,772 - $662 -
1987 $8,333 - $992 -
1986 $7,777 - $761 -
1985 $9,649 - $724 -
1984 $10,697 - $861 -
1983 $10,599 - $780 -
1982 $10,712 - $714 -
1981 $10,557 - $740 -
1980 $9,733 - $659 -
1979 $7,891 - $495 -
1978 $6,926 - $691 -
1977 $6,358 - $744 -
1976 $5,310 - $633 -
1975 $3,880 - $561 -
1974 $3,874 - $557 -
1973 $2,981 - $413 -
1972 $2,206 - $341 -
1971 $1,830 - $331 -
1970 $1,742 - $321 -
1969 - - $319 -
1968 - - $304 -
1967 - - $297.9 -
1966 - - $284 -
1965 - - $272.3 -
1964 - - $172.7 -
1963 - - $152.5 -
1962 - - $142.3 -
1961 - - $132.9 -
1960 - - $127.5 -

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

GeoRank.org/economy/bahrain/nicaragua | CC BY

Bahrain's GDP per capita is $29,654, ranking 42/197, compared to $2,848 in Nicaragua, ranking 141/197. Adjusted for purchasing power (GDP per capita PPP), Bahrain ranks 26th at $66,941, while Nicaragua ranks 138th at $8,709.

Economic indicators

Bahrain Nicaragua
Gross domestic product
$47.1B
2024
$19.7B
2024
GDP rank
96/197
2024
131/197
2024
GDP growth
2.6%
2023-2024
3.59%
2023-2024
GDP per capita
$29,654
2024
$2,848
2024
GDP per capita rank
42/197
2024
141/197
2024
GDP per capita, PPP
$66,941
2024
$8,709
2024
GDP per capita PPP rank
26/197
2024
138/197
2024
Government debt
$62.8B
2024
$7.71B
2024
Debt-to-GDP ratio
133.4%
2024
39.1%
2024
Government debt per person
$39,552
2024
$1,115
2024
Government debt per person rank
14/185
2024
138/185
2024
Average annual personal income after taxes
$23,253
2026
$2,318
2026
Market capitalization of domestic companies
$20.4B
2024
n/a
Income share by richest 10% n/a
37.2%
2014
Income share by poorest 10% n/a
2%
2014
Government expenditure, % of GDP
29.1%
2024
27.1%
2024
Consumer prices inflation
0.92%
2023-2024
4.6%
2023-2024
Central bank interest rate
4.25%
2025
6%
2025
Unemployment rate
1.2%
2012
5.2%
2018
Population
1669503
7124343

Spending and national debt comparison by year

Bahrain
Spending

Debt
Nicaragua
Spending

Debt
1x
Year % of GDP
Bahrain Nicaragua
Government spending Government debt Government spending Government debt
2024 29.1% 133.4% 27.1% 39.1%
2023 29.1% 123% 26% 42.3%
2022 28.4% 111.6% 28.6% 45.9%
2021 30.6% 122.3% 30% 48.4%
2020 34.6% 125.7% 28.9% 49.2%
2019 31.2% 97.1% 27.7% 44.2%
2018 32.1% 90.4% 27.7% 39.1%
2017 30.7% 84% 27.3% 34.7%
2016 33.3% 77.4% 26.8% 30.9%
2015 34.8% 63.2% 25.4% 28.9%
2014 27.3% 42.6% 24.6% 28.7%
2013 32% 42.3% 24.2% 28.8%
2012 31.1% 34.8% 24.1% 27.9%
2011 30.2% 31.6% 23.5% 28.8%
2010 31.1% 28.8% 22.6% 30.3%
2009 24.6% 20.5% 22.7% 29.3%
2008 22.7% 12.1% 21.9% 26%
2007 22.4% 15.7% 21.5% 30.9%
2006 23.1% 19.4% 21.4% 51.2%
2005 23.9% 23.2% 21.3% 66.6%
2004 25% 28.2% 20.8% 84%
2003 28.1% 31.1% 20.9% 109.5%
2002 30.6% 27.2% 18.7% 110.4%
2001 26.5% 25% 19.2% 87.5%
2000 22.2% 24.7% 20.6% 95.2%
1999 27.1% 24.7% 22.1% 99.8%
1998 25.7% 20% 18.5% 86.5%
1997 31% 14.8% 17.9% 86.4%
1996 22.7% 13.1% 18% -
1995 25.1% 13.6% 17.7% -
1994 26.1% 5.62% 18.4% -
1993 26.7% 5.95% 18.4% -
1992 29.4% 6.45% 18.4% -
1991 28.5% 6.71% 16.8% -
1990 32.4% 7.24% 28.2% -
1989 - - - -
1988 - - 24.8% -
1987 - - - 266.6%
1986 - - 26.1% 159.2%
1985 - - 29.9% 218%
1984 - - 31.9% 198%
1983 - - 33.8% 211.6%
1982 - - 49.4% 159.1%
1981 - - 39.3% 149.1%
1980 - - 30.4% 152.1%
1979 - - 20.7% 116.3%
1978 - - 17.7% 76.9%
1977 - - 19.9% 62.7%
1976 - - 16.2% 59.5%
1975 - - 17.5% 57.8%
1974 - - 15.3% 40%
1973 - - 12.8% 32.9%
1972 - - 15.1% 30.2%
1971 - - 15.1% 31.6%
1970 - - 13.2% 35.4%
1969 - - 11.1% -
1968 - - 10.9% -
1967 - - 12.7% -
1966 - - 12.2% -
1965 - - 10.9% -
1964 - - 10.2% -
1963 - - 10.5% -
1962 - - 10.6% -
1961 - - 9.93% -
1960 - - 11.2% -

Data sources: International Monetary Fund (IMF) | Fiscal Monitor (1990–2024, retrieved 2026-02-20); International Monetary Fund (IMF) | Public Finances in Modern History (1960–1999, retrieved 2026-02-20).

GeoRank.org/economy/bahrain/nicaragua | CC BY

In 2024, Bahrain's government spending was $13.7B, accounting for 29.1% of its GDP, while Nicaragua spent $5.34B, or 27.1% of GDP.

Debt-to-GDP ratio is 133.4% in Bahrain and 39.1% in Nicaragua, ranking 9/185 and 136/185, respectively.

Government deficit by year

Deficit/surplus
Bahrain

Nicaragua
1x
Year Deficit/surplus, % of GDP
Bahrain Nicaragua
2024 -10.6% 2.48%
2023 -9.67% 2.31%
2022 -6.02% 0.65%
2021 -10.6% -1.26%
2020 -17.3% -2.57%
2019 -8.57% -1.12%
2018 -11.3% -4.35%
2017 -13.4% -1.75%
2016 -16.6% -1.92%
2015 -17.5% -1.64%
2014 -3.32% -0.89%
2013 -8.55% -0.3%
2012 -5.77% 0.22%
2011 -4.9% 0.59%
2010 -9.29% 0.69%
2009 -5.36% -0.9%
2008 4.08% 0.27%
2007 1.52% 1.88%
2006 2.24% 1.36%
2005 2.8% 1.72%
2004 0.24% 1.69%
2003 -1.7% 1.3%
2002 -3.27% 2.07%
2001 0.7% 0.34%
2000 7.33% 2.15%
1999 -4.85% -6.86%
1998 -5.49% -2.88%
1997 -6.39% -3.31%
1996 0.24% -5%
1995 -3.99% -4.62%
1994 -5.18% -5.79%
1993 -2.77% -4.66%
1992 -5.41% -3.8%
1991 -3.47% -3.45%
1990 -6.79% -15.2%
1989 - -
1988 - -22.4%
1987 - -
1986 - -7.33%
1985 - -11.3%
1984 - -11.8%
1983 - -15.6%
1982 - -20.2%
1981 - -10.6%
1980 - -6.53%
1979 - -5.89%
1978 - -4.44%
1977 - -5.91%
1976 - -2.2%
1975 - -3.53%
1974 - -1.41%
1973 - 1.21%
1972 - -2.61%
1971 - -2.33%
1970 - -2.69%
1969 - -1.57%
1968 - -1.21%
1967 - -2.11%
1966 - -1.04%
1965 - 0.3%
1964 - 0.2%
1963 - 0.75%
1962 - -0.29%
1961 - 0.04%
1960 - -1.28%

Data sources: International Monetary Fund (IMF) | Fiscal Monitor (1990–2024, retrieved 2026-02-20); International Monetary Fund (IMF) | Public Finances in Modern History (1960–1999, retrieved 2026-02-20).

GeoRank.org/economy/bahrain/nicaragua | CC BY

In 2024, Bahrain's government deficit, the difference between spending and revenue, was $5B, equivalent to 10.6% of GDP. This compares to Nicaragua's surplus of $489M, or 2.48% of GDP.

Over the past 35 years, Bahrain recorded a fiscal deficit in 27 of those years, while Nicaragua ran a deficit in 20 years. On average, Bahrain posted an annual deficit equal to 5.39% of GDP, compared to deficit of 1.5% of GDP for Nicaragua.

Inflation comparison by year

Inflation
Bahrain

Nicaragua
1x
Year Consumer prices inflation
Bahrain Nicaragua
2024 0.92% 4.6%
2023 0.07% 8.4%
2022 3.63% 10.5%
2021 -0.61% 4.9%
2020 -2.32% 3.7%
2019 1.01% 5.4%
2018 2.09% 4.9%
2017 1.39% 3.9%
2016 2.79% 3.5%
2015 1.85% 4%
2014 2.65% 6%
2013 3.3% 7.1%
2012 2.76% 7.2%
2011 -0.4% 8.1%
2010 1.96% 5.5%
2009 2.8% 3.7%
2008 3.53% 19.8%
2007 3.26% 11.1%
2006 2.01% 9.1%
2005 2.59% 9.6%
2004 2.35% 8.5%
2003 1.59% 5.3%
2002 -0.5% 3.8%
2001 -1.21% 7.4%
2000 -0.7% 11.5%
1999 -1.29% 11.2%
1998 -0.37% 13%
1997 2.43% 9.2%

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/bahrain/nicaragua | CC BY

Over the past 28 years, Bahrain has recorded an average annual inflation rate of 1.34%, compared with 7.53% in Nicaragua. In 2024, inflation was 0.92% in Bahrain and 4.6% in Nicaragua.

Top exports between countries

Bahrain
Export category Export value
Raw materials & minerals $31K
Nicaragua
Export category Export value
Processed food, beverages & tobacco $10K

Balance of trade

Bahrain Nicaragua
Current account balance
$2.28B
2024
$818M
2024
Current account balance ranking
44/190
2024
55/190
2024
Current account balance, % of GDP
+4.84%
2024
+4.15%
2024
Goods imports
$20.7B
2024
$10.1B
2024
Goods exports
$24.3B
2024
$6.84B
2024
Service imports
$12.4B
2024
$1.31B
2024
Service exports
$17B
2024
$1.3B
2024
Imports of goods and services, % of GDP
70.1%
2024
58.1%
2024
Exports of goods and services, % of GDP
87.7%
2024
40.5%
2024

Economic freedom indices

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

Bahrain Nicaragua
Economic freedom 65.7 53.6
Economic freedom ranking 63/197 139/197
Property rights 60.9 23.8
Government integrity 45.9 13.4
Judicial effectiveness 30 8.8
Tax burden 99.9 74.5
Government spending 75 77.7
Fiscal health 0 96.9
Business freedom 75.9 54.4
Labor freedom 55.5 47.3
Monetary freedom 88.8 69.4
Trade freedom 86.8 67
Investment freedom 90 60
Financial freedom 80 50

Economic freedom comparison by year

Bahrain
Nicaragua
1x
Year Economic freedom index
Bahrain Nicaragua
2026 65.7 53.6
2025 65.6 54
2024 63.4 53.4
2023 62.5 54.9
2022 62 54.8
2021 69.9 56.3
2020 66.3 57.2
2019 66.4 57.7
2018 67.7 58.9
2017 68.5 59.2
2016 74.3 58.6
2015 73.4 57.6
2014 75.1 58.4
2013 75.5 56.6
2012 75.2 57.9
2011 77.7 58.8
2010 76.3 58.3
2009 74.8 59.8
2008 72.2 60.8
2007 71.2 62.7
2006 71.6 63.8
2005 71.2 62.5
2004 75.1 61.4
2003 76.3 62.6
2002 75.6 61.1
2001 75.9 58
2000 75.7 56.9
1999 75.2 54
1998 75.6 53.8
1997 76.1 53.3
1996 76.4 54.1
1995 76.2 42.5

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

GeoRank.org/economy/bahrain/nicaragua | CC BY

The Economic Freedom Index for Bahrain is 65.7, ranking 63/197, compared to 53.6 for Nicaragua, ranking 139/197. The chart above displays a comparison of annual changes in economic freedom indexes.

Other economic metrics

Bahrain Nicaragua
Services, % of GDP
53.2%
2024
46.8%
2024
Industry, % of GDP
42.3%
2024
27.6%
2024
Agriculture, forestry, and fishing, % of GDP
0.25%
2024
14.4%
2024
GNI, Atlas method
$44.6B
2024
$17.4B
2024
GNI per capita, PPP
$62,230
2024
$8,270
2024
Total reserves including gold
$4.95B
2024
$6.1B
2024
Total reserves ranking
102/177
2024
91/177
2024
Net foreign direct investment
-$2.43B
2024
-$1.28B
2024
Net inflows of foreign direct investment
$2.7B
2024
$1.35B
2024
Net outflows of foreign direct investment
$275M
2024
$73.8M
2024
Servicing debt to the IMF, % of GNI n/a
9.74%
2024
Poverty at national poverty lines n/a
24.9%
2016
Gross capital formation, % of GDP
28.4%
2024
24.7%
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/bahrain/nicaragua | 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 (1960–1999, 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 (2023–2024, 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.

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.