Barbados has a GDP of $8.02B compared to $2.57B for Lesotho, ranking 157/197 and 175/197 by economy size, respectively.
Barbados has $7.55B in government debt (94.2% of GDP), compared to $1.26B (49.1% of GDP) in Lesotho.
Barbados vs Lesotho GDP by year
| Year | GDP, current $ | |
|---|---|---|
Barbados
|
Lesotho
|
|
| 2025 | $8,016,550,000 | $2,573,572,920 |
| 2024 | $7,597,571,450 | $2,391,282,548 |
| 2023 | $7,223,248,150 | $2,129,871,530 |
| 2022 | $6,886,644,900 | $2,354,980,960 |
| 2021 | $5,948,900,600 | $2,412,130,057 |
| 2020 | $5,403,246,950 | $2,053,699,864 |
| 2019 | $6,166,710,800 | $2,390,702,296 |
| 2018 | $6,001,101,550 | $2,556,247,292 |
| 2017 | $5,847,381,600 | $2,306,741,672 |
| 2016 | $5,679,029,450 | $2,114,426,452 |
| 2015 | $5,699,619,150 | $2,359,686,725 |
| 2014 | $5,684,901,000 | $2,441,063,054 |
| 2013 | $5,660,059,700 | $2,367,112,932 |
| 2012 | $5,486,500,500 | $2,477,702,216 |
| 2011 | $5,563,162,050 | $2,579,409,620 |
| 2010 | $5,428,683,250 | $2,234,754,242 |
| 2009 | $4,466,809,600 | $1,740,894,965 |
| 2008 | $4,790,410,400 | $1,766,902,709 |
| 2007 | $4,675,767,950 | $1,682,131,785 |
| 2006 | $4,217,323,400 | $1,800,092,564 |
| 2005 | $3,819,500,000 | $1,682,343,527 |
| 2004 | $3,444,500,000 | $1,511,236,656 |
| 2003 | $3,209,500,000 | $1,157,825,435 |
| 2002 | $3,106,500,000 | $775,777,239 |
| 2001 | $3,054,500,000 | $825,706,961 |
| 2000 | $3,059,500,000 | $887,291,688 |
| 1999 | $2,951,822,205 | $912,773,681 |
| 1998 | $2,817,083,478 | $928,460,893 |
| 1997 | $2,498,384,130 | $998,004,259 |
| 1996 | $2,363,645,403 | $946,112,493 |
| 1995 | $2,216,974,096 | $1,001,894,000 |
| 1994 | $2,151,344,901 | $878,250,945 |
| 1993 | $2,063,342,117 | $835,582,062 |
| 1992 | $1,957,000,000 | $831,029,862 |
| 1991 | $2,020,583,702 | $704,325,367 |
| 1990 | $2,012,131,457 | $596,410,264 |
| 1989 | $2,006,165,167 | $495,409,233 |
| 1988 | $1,812,757,918 | $470,395,801 |
| 1987 | $1,704,370,308 | $402,768,324 |
| 1986 | $1,547,755,183 | $318,858,423 |
| 1985 | $1,409,536,121 | $268,629,926 |
| 1984 | $1,346,890,071 | $333,163,670 |
| 1983 | $1,236,016,507 | $386,699,309 |
| 1982 | $1,163,923,830 | $348,741,684 |
| 1981 | $1,114,204,743 | $434,188,034 |
| 1980 | $1,012,280,615 | $431,542,537 |
| 1979 | $670,362,452 | $290,134,593 |
| 1978 | $552,883,707 | $266,570,067 |
| 1977 | $495,097,668 | $193,315,048 |
| 1976 | $435,911,269 | $147,660,037 |
| 1975 | $402,178,605 | $149,558,896 |
| 1974 | $311,804,630 | $150,851,317 |
| 1973 | $260,767,828 | $121,188,716 |
| 1972 | $213,725,217 | $80,913,200 |
| 1971 | $186,826,503 | $76,480,285 |
| 1970 | $166,210,203 | $68,739,973 |
| 1969 | $141,393,142 | $65,967,974 |
| 1968 | $125,733,669 | $61,445,975 |
| 1967 | $125,554,009 | $59,261,976 |
| 1966 | $113,195,123 | $56,699,977 |
| 1965 | $105,021,997 | $54,879,978 |
| 1964 | $99,252,731 | $51,939,979 |
| 1963 | $99,893,761 | $47,039,981 |
| 1962 | $88,782,583 | $41,859,983 |
| 1961 | $85,363,759 | $35,699,986 |
| 1960 | $80,021,847 | $34,579,986 |
Data sources: World Bank | Economy & Growth (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08).
GeoRank.org/economy/barbados/lesotho | CC BY 
GDP per capita in Barbados vs Lesotho by year
| Year | Current $ | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Barbados
|
Lesotho
|
|||
| GDP per capita | GDP per capita, PPP | GDP per capita | GDP per capita, PPP | |
| 2025 | $28,365 | - | $1,089 | - |
| 2024 | $26,897 | $24,823 | $1,023 | $3,001 |
| 2023 | $25,584 | $23,660 | $921 | $2,881 |
| 2022 | $24,393 | $22,193 | $1,030 | $2,761 |
| 2021 | $21,084 | $17,683 | $1,067 | $2,545 |
| 2020 | $19,181 | $16,555 | $919 | $2,559 |
| 2019 | $21,929 | $19,971 | $1,082 | $2,568 |
| 2018 | $21,378 | $19,777 | $1,171 | $2,632 |
| 2017 | $20,871 | $18,437 | $1,069 | $2,619 |
| 2016 | $20,311 | $19,176 | $992 | $2,942 |
| 2015 | $20,429 | $19,186 | $1,121 | $3,035 |
| 2014 | $20,424 | $18,595 | $1,174 | $2,771 |
| 2013 | $20,384 | $19,032 | $1,151 | $2,538 |
| 2012 | $19,811 | $19,605 | $1,218 | $2,291 |
| 2011 | $20,146 | $20,316 | $1,281 | $2,279 |
| 2010 | $19,723 | $20,033 | $1,119 | $2,153 |
| 2009 | $16,295 | $20,324 | $879 | $2,036 |
| 2008 | $17,566 | $21,376 | $898 | $2,064 |
| 2007 | $17,235 | $20,949 | $861 | $1,932 |
| 2006 | $15,620 | $20,076 | $925 | $1,813 |
| 2005 | $14,214 | $18,450 | $861 | $1,681 |
| 2004 | $12,886 | $17,299 | $767 | $1,561 |
| 2003 | $12,076 | $16,707 | $583 | $1,484 |
| 2002 | $11,760 | $16,133 | $389 | $1,385 |
| 2001 | $11,640 | $15,866 | $413 | $1,350 |
| 2000 | $11,675 | $15,914 | $443 | $1,273 |
| 1999 | $11,244 | $14,873 | $456 | $1,199 |
| 1998 | $10,734 | $14,621 | $465 | $1,179 |
| 1997 | $9,522 | $13,941 | $502 | $1,154 |
| 1996 | $9,012 | $13,090 | $480 | $1,103 |
| 1995 | $8,460 | $12,375 | $513 | $1,037 |
| 1994 | $8,223 | $11,900 | $456 | $995 |
| 1993 | $7,905 | $11,448 | $439 | $932 |
| 1992 | $7,519 | $11,127 | $444 | $893 |
| 1991 | $7,790 | $11,576 | $382 | $830 |
| 1990 | $7,781 | $11,687 | $330 | $764 |
| 1989 | $7,773 | - | $279 | - |
| 1988 | $7,033 | - | $270.4 | - |
| 1987 | $6,625 | - | $236.5 | - |
| 1986 | $6,031 | - | $191.4 | - |
| 1985 | $5,510 | - | $165.4 | - |
| 1984 | $5,284 | - | $211 | - |
| 1983 | $4,866 | - | $252 | - |
| 1982 | $4,599 | - | $233.9 | - |
| 1981 | $4,417 | - | $299.8 | - |
| 1980 | $4,025 | - | $307 | - |
| 1979 | $2,668 | - | $212.4 | - |
| 1978 | $2,198 | - | $200.8 | - |
| 1977 | $1,968 | - | $149.9 | - |
| 1976 | $1,734 | - | $117.8 | - |
| 1975 | $1,601 | - | $123.2 | - |
| 1974 | $1,243 | - | $128.7 | - |
| 1973 | $1,042 | - | $107 | - |
| 1972 | $856 | - | $74 | - |
| 1971 | $750 | - | $72.4 | - |
| 1970 | $666 | - | $67.4 | - |
| 1969 | $567 | - | $67.1 | - |
| 1968 | $506 | - | $64.8 | - |
| 1967 | $508 | - | $64.8 | - |
| 1966 | $462 | - | $64.3 | - |
| 1965 | $433 | - | $64.3 | - |
| 1964 | $414 | - | $62.6 | - |
| 1963 | $421 | - | $58.4 | - |
| 1962 | $377 | - | $53.5 | - |
| 1961 | $366 | - | $47 | - |
| 1960 | $347 | - | $47 | - |
Data sources: World Bank | Economy & Growth (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08).
GeoRank.org/economy/barbados/lesotho | CC BY
Barbados' GDP per capita is $28,365, ranking 48/197, compared to $1,089 in Lesotho, ranking 179/197. Adjusted for purchasing power (GDP per capita PPP), Barbados ranks 84th at $24,823, while Lesotho ranks 180th at $3,001.
Economic indicators
|
Barbados
|
Lesotho
|
|
|---|---|---|
| Gross domestic product |
$8.02B
2025 |
$2.57B
2025 |
| GDP rank |
157/197
2025 |
175/197
2025 |
| GDP growth |
2.7%
2024-2025 |
1.98%
2024-2025 |
| GDP per capita |
$28,365
2025 |
$1,089
2025 |
| GDP per capita rank |
48/197
2025 |
179/197
2025 |
| GDP per capita, PPP |
$24,823
2024 |
$3,001
2024 |
| GDP per capita PPP rank |
84/197
2024 |
180/197
2024 |
| Government debt |
$7.55B
2025 |
$1.26B
2025 |
| Debt-to-GDP ratio |
94.2%
2025 |
49.1%
2025 |
| Government debt per person |
$26,731
2025 |
$535
2025 |
| Government debt per person rank |
28/185
2025 |
165/185
2025 |
| Average annual personal income after taxes |
$19,127
2026 |
$1,455
2026 |
| Market capitalization of domestic companies |
$2.78B
2020 |
n/a |
| Number of billionaires |
1
2026 |
n/a |
| Income share by richest 10% |
25.8%
2016 |
32.9%
2017 |
| Income share by poorest 10% |
2.5%
2016 |
1.7%
2017 |
| Government expenditure, % of GDP |
27%
2025 |
54.2%
2025 |
| Consumer prices inflation |
0.85%
2024-2025 |
4.27%
2024-2025 |
| Central bank interest rate |
2%
2020 |
6.5%
2025 |
| Unemployment rate |
6.03%
2024 |
18.7%
2024 |
| Population |
282789
|
2402837
|
Spending and national debt comparison by year
| Year | % of GDP | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Barbados
|
Lesotho
|
|||
| Government spending | Government debt | Government spending | Government debt | |
| 2025 | 27% | 94.2% | 54.2% | 49.1% |
| 2024 | 28.1% | 98.9% | 52.5% | 52.8% |
| 2023 | 26.5% | 104.1% | 49% | 61.1% |
| 2022 | 26.9% | 104% | 50.8% | 64.4% |
| 2021 | 27.1% | 108.6% | 53.6% | 58% |
| 2020 | 30.6% | 129.6% | 54.2% | 54.7% |
| 2019 | 22.2% | 101.6% | 52.9% | 58.2% |
| 2018 | 25% | 107.2% | 51.9% | 48.2% |
| 2017 | 28% | 134.6% | 50.4% | 41% |
| 2016 | 28.6% | 127.1% | 54.1% | 41.5% |
| 2015 | 29.2% | 122.5% | 51.7% | 45.8% |
| 2014 | 27.4% | 115.1% | 50.1% | 41.5% |
| 2013 | 29.1% | 111.7% | 58.4% | 41.2% |
| 2012 | 28.9% | 103.5% | 58.1% | 39.8% |
| 2011 | 26.5% | 94.4% | 60.2% | 36.2% |
| 2010 | 28% | 90.3% | 55.3% | 33.8% |
| 2009 | 27.8% | 83.5% | 66.4% | 35.9% |
| 2008 | 27.1% | 69.8% | 54.1% | 47% |
| 2007 | 26.1% | 64.9% | 48.1% | 49.6% |
| 2006 | 25% | 64.1% | 43.2% | 43.7% |
| 2005 | 26.4% | 62.7% | 37.6% | 41% |
| 2004 | 26.2% | 61% | 36.3% | 49.4% |
| 2003 | 27.7% | 61.8% | 39.8% | 52.6% |
| 2002 | 29.1% | 62% | 41.2% | 79.6% |
| 2001 | 20.7% | 59% | 41.4% | 108.7% |
| 2000 | 19.7% | 53.6% | 39.3% | 88.5% |
| 1999 | 18.5% | 47% | 50.8% | 83% |
| 1998 | 17.8% | 47.2% | 51.4% | 79.4% |
| 1997 | 19.6% | 52% | 44.6% | 65.7% |
| 1996 | 19.1% | 52.3% | 41.5% | 71.6% |
| 1995 | 17.3% | 52% | 42.1% | 62.8% |
| 1994 | 15.9% | 51.4% | 40.2% | 67% |
| 1993 | - | - | 36% | 71.2% |
| 1992 | - | - | 35.3% | 64.4% |
| 1991 | - | - | 31.3% | 11.9% |
| 1990 | - | - | 32.9% | 18% |
| 1989 | - | - | 35.8% | 112.5% |
| 1988 | - | - | 35.3% | 105.2% |
| 1987 | - | - | 40.3% | 97.4% |
| 1986 | - | - | 33.2% | 92.5% |
| 1985 | - | - | 32.8% | 86.3% |
| 1984 | - | - | 26.8% | 57.2% |
| 1983 | - | - | 27.2% | 56.7% |
| 1982 | - | - | 29.9% | 61.4% |
Data sources: International Monetary Fund (IMF) | Fiscal Monitor (1990–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08); International Monetary Fund (IMF) | Public Finances in Modern History (1982–1989, retrieved 2026-07-08).
GeoRank.org/economy/barbados/lesotho | CC BY
In 2025, Barbados' government spending was $2.16B, accounting for 27% of its GDP, while Lesotho spent $1.4B, or 54.2% of GDP.
Debt-to-GDP ratio is 94.2% in Barbados and 49.1% in Lesotho, ranking 28/185 and 106/185, respectively.
Government deficit by year
| Year | Deficit/surplus, % of GDP | |
|---|---|---|
|
Barbados
|
Lesotho
|
|
| 2025 | -0.31% | 2.15% |
| 2024 | -0.84% | 8.17% |
| 2023 | -1.57% | 7.36% |
| 2022 | -1.74% | -6.33% |
| 2021 | -3.88% | -4.79% |
| 2020 | -4.19% | 1.45% |
| 2019 | 2.86% | -5.09% |
| 2018 | -0.32% | -4.41% |
| 2017 | -3.64% | -2.02% |
| 2016 | -4.55% | -9.43% |
| 2015 | -7.58% | -1.38% |
| 2014 | -6.2% | 3.16% |
| 2013 | -8.46% | -2.58% |
| 2012 | -6.69% | 4.56% |
| 2011 | -3.47% | -9.85% |
| 2010 | -7.1% | -1.49% |
| 2009 | -6.19% | -4.16% |
| 2008 | -3.94% | 8.1% |
| 2007 | -4.08% | 10.8% |
| 2006 | -3.13% | 11.6% |
| 2005 | -2.78% | 4.46% |
| 2004 | -2.73% | 6.05% |
| 2003 | -2.86% | 0.89% |
| 2002 | -4.96% | -2.44% |
| 2001 | 3.83% | -2.76% |
| 2000 | 4.68% | -0.95% |
| 1999 | 5.06% | -15.3% |
| 1998 | 5.63% | -11.8% |
| 1997 | 5.15% | 0.27% |
| 1996 | 3.5% | 2.11% |
| 1995 | 5.79% | 5.13% |
| 1994 | 6.28% | 5.69% |
| 1993 | - | 7.55% |
| 1992 | - | 4.65% |
| 1991 | - | 9.74% |
| 1990 | - | 8.78% |
| 1989 | - | 3.88% |
| 1988 | - | -1.87% |
| 1987 | - | -2.85% |
| 1986 | - | 0.87% |
| 1985 | - | 1.68% |
| 1984 | - | 4.82% |
| 1983 | - | 1.85% |
| 1982 | - | -2.03% |
Data sources: International Monetary Fund (IMF) | Fiscal Monitor (1990–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08); International Monetary Fund (IMF) | Public Finances in Modern History (1982–1989, retrieved 2026-07-08).
GeoRank.org/economy/barbados/lesotho | CC BY
In 2025, Barbados' government deficit, the difference between spending and revenue, was $24.8M, equivalent to 0.31% of GDP. This compares to Lesotho's surplus of $55.4M, or 2.15% of GDP.
Over the past 32 years, Barbados recorded a fiscal deficit in 23 of those years, while Lesotho ran a deficit in 16 years. On average, Barbados posted an annual deficit equal to 1.51% of GDP, compared to deficit of 0.09% of GDP for Lesotho.
Inflation comparison by year
| Year | Consumer prices inflation | |
|---|---|---|
|
Barbados
|
Lesotho
|
|
| 2025 | 0.85% | 4.27% |
| 2024 | 1.45% | 6.11% |
| 2023 | 3.19% | 6.34% |
| 2022 | - | 8.27% |
| 2021 | - | 6.05% |
| 2020 | - | 4.98% |
| 2019 | 1.68% | 5.19% |
| 2018 | 3.11% | 4.75% |
| 2017 | 4.66% | 4.45% |
| 2016 | 1.28% | 6.6% |
| 2015 | -1.11% | 3.22% |
| 2014 | 1.77% | 5.37% |
| 2013 | 1.81% | 4.87% |
| 2012 | 4.53% | 6.05% |
| 2011 | 9.43% | 5.04% |
| 2010 | 5.82% | -2.41% |
| 2009 | 3.64% | -16.9% |
| 2008 | 8.11% | 10.7% |
| 2007 | 4.03% | 8.01% |
| 2006 | 7.31% | 6.07% |
| 2005 | 6.08% | 3.44% |
| 2004 | 1.39% | 5.02% |
| 2003 | 1.62% | 6.63% |
| 2002 | 0.13% | 33.8% |
| 2001 | 2.58% | -9.62% |
| 2000 | 2.44% | 6.13% |
| 1999 | 1.56% | - |
| 1998 | -1.27% | - |
| 1997 | 7.71% | - |
Data sources: World Bank | Economy & Growth (1997–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08).
GeoRank.org/economy/barbados/lesotho | CC BY
Over the past 26 years, Barbados has recorded an average annual inflation rate of 3.3%, compared with 5.1% in Lesotho. In 2025, inflation was 0.85% in Barbados and 4.27% in Lesotho.
Balance of trade
|
Barbados
|
Lesotho
|
|
|---|---|---|
|
Current account balance
|
-$296M
2017 |
-$3.94M
2025 |
| Current account balance ranking |
96/190
2017 |
71/190
2025 |
| Current account balance, % of GDP |
-5.07%
2017 |
-0.15%
2025 |
| Goods imports |
$1.53B
2017 |
$1.69B
2025 |
| Goods exports |
$705M
2017 |
$933M
2025 |
| Service imports |
$687M
2017 |
$467M
2025 |
| Service exports |
$1.52B
2017 |
$16M
2025 |
| Imports of goods and services, % of GDP | n/a |
104.5%
2025 |
| Exports of goods and services, % of GDP |
14.5%
2026 |
49.5%
2025 |
Economic freedom indices
The indices of economic freedom below are issued by the Heritage Foundation. Higher scores indicate stronger economic health.
|
Barbados
|
Lesotho
|
|
|---|---|---|
| Economic freedom | 70.4 | 54.9 |
| Economic freedom ranking | 34/197 | 130/197 |
| Property rights | 76.4 | 41.7 |
| Government integrity | 71.3 | 39.6 |
| Judicial effectiveness | 87.3 | 43.6 |
| Tax burden | 83.2 | 76.4 |
| Government spending | 74.5 | 21.3 |
| Fiscal health | 76.5 | 93.5 |
| Business freedom | 72.3 | 50.6 |
| Labor freedom | 54.3 | 57 |
| Monetary freedom | 80.8 | 74.8 |
| Trade freedom | 48.2 | 65.4 |
| Investment freedom | 60 | 55 |
| Financial freedom | 60 | 40 |
Economic freedom comparison by year
| Year | Economic freedom index | |
|---|---|---|
|
Barbados
|
Lesotho
|
|
| 2026 | 70.4 | 54.9 |
| 2025 | 68.9 | 54.1 |
| 2024 | 66.8 | 51.9 |
| 2023 | 69.8 | 51.6 |
| 2022 | 71.3 | 48.1 |
| 2021 | 65 | 53.5 |
| 2020 | 61.4 | 54.5 |
| 2019 | 64.7 | 53.1 |
| 2018 | 57 | 53.9 |
| 2017 | 54.5 | 53.9 |
| 2016 | 68.3 | 50.6 |
| 2015 | 67.9 | 49.6 |
| 2014 | 68.3 | 49.5 |
| 2013 | 69.3 | 47.9 |
| 2012 | 69 | 46.6 |
| 2011 | 68.5 | 47.5 |
| 2010 | 68.3 | 48.1 |
| 2009 | 71.5 | 49.7 |
| 2008 | 71.3 | 52.1 |
| 2007 | 70 | 53.2 |
| 2006 | 71.9 | 54.7 |
| 2005 | 70.1 | 53.9 |
| 2004 | 69.4 | 50.3 |
| 2003 | 71.3 | 52 |
| 2002 | 73.6 | 48.9 |
| 2001 | 71.5 | 50.6 |
| 2000 | 69.5 | 48.4 |
| 1999 | 66.7 | 48.2 |
| 1998 | 67.9 | 48.4 |
| 1997 | 64.5 | 47.2 |
| 1996 | 62.3 | 47 |
Data sources: The Heritage Foundation | Economic Freedom Index (1996–2026, retrieved 2026-07-08).
GeoRank.org/economy/barbados/lesotho | CC BY
The Economic Freedom Index for Barbados is 70.4, ranking 34/197, compared to 54.9 for Lesotho, ranking 130/197. The chart above displays a comparison of annual changes in economic freedom indexes.
Other economic metrics
|
Barbados
|
Lesotho
|
|
|---|---|---|
| Services, % of GDP |
75.8%
2024 |
55.6%
2025 |
| Industry, % of GDP |
12.2%
2024 |
25.2%
2025 |
| Agriculture, forestry, and fishing, % of GDP |
1.55%
2024 |
6.49%
2025 |
|
GNI, Atlas method
|
$7.65B
2025 |
$3.03B
2025 |
| GNI per capita, PPP |
$24,840
2025 |
$3,900
2025 |
| Total reserves including gold |
$1.65B
2024 |
$1.01B
2024 |
| Total reserves ranking |
131/177
2024 |
142/177
2024 |
|
Net foreign direct investment
|
-$208M
2017 |
$5.77M
2025 |
|
Net inflows of foreign direct investment
|
$303M
2024 |
-$12.6M
2024 |
|
Net outflows of foreign direct investment
|
$18.6M
2024 |
$0
2024 |
|
Servicing debt to the IMF, % of GNI
|
n/a |
3.79%
2024 |
| Poverty at national poverty lines |
25.7%
2016 |
49.7%
2017 |
|
Gross capital formation, % of GDP
|
n/a |
31.2%
2025 |
GDP per capita map
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/barbados/lesotho | CC BY
Compare countries by 7 more topics
Help us show the world through your eyes
Share a photo of your city and help others discover what it looks like to live there. Your contribution makes our data come alive.
Data sources:
- World Bank | Economy & Growth (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08)
- International Monetary Fund (IMF) | Fiscal Monitor (1990–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08)
- The Heritage Foundation | Economic Freedom Index (1996–2026, retrieved 2026-07-08)
- U.S. Census Bureau (1985–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08)
- International Monetary Fund (IMF) | Public Finances in Modern History (1982–1989, retrieved 2026-07-08)
- United Nations | World Population Prospects (2026, retrieved 2026-07-08)
- 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.