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Economy of Belgium vs Ghana compared: GDP & Debt

Updated on by Georank team

Belgium has a GDP of $671B compared to $82.3B for Ghana, ranking 23/197 and 80/197 by economy size, respectively.

Belgium has $703B in government debt (104.7% of GDP), compared to $57.9B (70.3% of GDP) in Ghana.

Belgium vs Ghana GDP by year

Belgium
Ghana
1x
Year GDP, current $
Belgium Ghana
2024 $671,370,081,636 $82,308,110,386
2023 $651,330,595,110 $80,547,146,878
2022 $591,085,783,326 $73,919,003,210
2021 $598,522,422,242 $79,514,204,730
2020 $529,694,473,502 $70,008,243,860
2019 $536,726,344,405 $68,352,629,246
2018 $542,638,913,428 $67,259,353,966
2017 $500,908,767,352 $60,385,409,435
2016 $474,271,566,740 $56,144,179,398
2015 $461,044,767,545 $49,436,806,230
2014 $537,987,419,164 $54,678,533,806
2013 $524,097,026,599 $62,845,721,960
2012 $498,414,364,945 $41,271,701,061
2011 $527,196,649,049 $39,336,668,081
2010 $481,556,503,720 $32,197,655,567
2009 $485,014,525,992 $26,048,720,006
2008 $517,328,087,920 $28,679,383,241
2007 $470,922,156,309 $24,827,339,138
2006 $408,259,840,869 $20,885,037,597
2005 $385,714,762,230 $10,744,568,381
2004 $369,214,712,443 $8,881,417,907
2003 $318,082,528,507 $7,632,723,556
2002 $258,383,599,375 $6,166,197,848
2001 $236,746,141,604 $5,314,872,854
2000 $236,792,460,312 $4,982,850,662
1999 $258,245,733,221 $7,718,109,982
1998 $258,528,339,631 $7,482,069,162
1997 $252,708,051,421 $6,891,443,192
1996 $279,201,433,225 $6,932,991,739
1995 $288,025,588,396 $6,464,382,808
1994 $244,884,129,491 $5,446,383,727
1993 $224,721,795,709 $5,968,922,939
1992 $234,781,652,447 $6,416,103,926
1991 $210,510,999,409 $6,603,185,268
1990 $205,331,747,948 $5,889,106,573
1989 $164,221,056,511 $5,251,858,440
1988 $162,299,103,675 $5,197,765,032
1987 $149,394,404,106 $5,074,829,932
1986 $120,018,787,249 $5,735,677,434
1985 $86,268,264,148 $4,504,306,723
1984 $83,349,530,159 $4,412,279,843
1983 $87,184,239,053 $4,057,275,132
1982 $92,095,926,188 $4,035,994,398
1981 $104,730,018,470 $4,222,441,860
1980 $126,829,314,388 $4,445,228,216
1979 $116,315,456,797 $4,020,227,920
1978 $101,246,526,194 $3,662,478,185
1977 $82,839,905,459 $3,189,428,571
1976 $71,113,882,968 $2,765,254,237
1975 $65,678,189,097 $2,810,106,383
1974 $56,033,077,879 $2,894,409,938
1973 $47,743,801,490 $3,006,766,758
1972 $37,209,418,019 $2,112,293,280
1971 $29,821,661,870 $2,417,108,578
1970 $26,706,196,047 $2,215,028,588
1969 $24,019,653,475 $1,962,050,556
1968 $21,654,856,965 $1,666,909,518
1967 $20,252,508,995 $1,747,187,645
1966 $18,894,891,312 $2,126,300,672
1965 $17,597,783,297 $2,053,462,968
1964 $16,168,044,450 $1,731,296,200
1963 $14,445,805,381 $1,540,797,589
1962 $13,436,827,167 $1,382,515,654
1961 $12,561,701,694 $1,302,674,325
1960 $11,810,619,368 $1,217,230,095

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

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

GDP per capita in Belgium vs Ghana by year

Belgium
GDP per capita

GDP per capita, PPP
Ghana
GDP per capita

GDP per capita, PPP
1x
Year Current $
Belgium Ghana
GDP per capita GDP per capita, PPP GDP per capita GDP per capita, PPP
2024 $56,615 $73,514 $2,391 $8,020
2023 $55,291 $71,946 $2,384 $7,556
2022 $50,606 $69,128 $2,230 $7,208
2021 $51,658 $60,669 $2,445 $6,608
2020 $45,906 $56,120 $2,195 $6,047
2019 $46,717 $56,712 $2,187 $6,003
2018 $47,487 $52,467 $2,195 $5,536
2017 $44,035 $50,256 $2,012 $5,171
2016 $41,855 $48,415 $1,912 $5,011
2015 $40,894 $46,072 $1,723 $5,191
2014 $47,996 $45,148 $1,950 $5,517
2013 $46,965 $43,864 $2,295 $5,215
2012 $44,874 $42,484 $1,544 $4,934
2011 $47,761 $41,245 $1,507 $4,381
2010 $44,197 $39,840 $1,264 $3,855
2009 $44,923 $37,906 $1,048 $3,617
2008 $48,303 $37,883 $1,183 $3,516
2007 $44,319 $36,798 $1,050 $3,241
2006 $38,705 $35,251 $906 $3,103
2005 $36,810 $33,178 $479 $2,904
2004 $35,429 $32,060 $406 $2,729
2003 $30,655 $30,931 $358 $2,584
2002 $25,006 $30,282 $297.5 $2,475
2001 $23,015 $28,794 $263.5 $2,397
2000 $23,099 $27,794 $253.7 $2,315
1999 $25,253 $25,441 $403 $2,239
1998 $25,338 $24,370 $400 $2,167
1997 $24,821 $23,733 $378 $2,097
1996 $27,490 $22,745 $389 $2,026
1995 $28,414 $22,446 $372 $1,947
1994 $24,209 $21,518 $321 $1,875
1993 $22,284 $20,473 $360 $1,821
1992 $23,373 $20,272 $396 $1,739
1991 $21,042 $19,601 $418 $1,678
1990 $20,600 $18,688 $383 $1,581
1989 $16,525 - $350 -
1988 $16,391 - $355 -
1987 $15,136 - $355 -
1986 $12,170 - $411 -
1985 $8,751 - $330 -
1984 $8,457 - $330 -
1983 $8,846 - $311 -
1982 $9,344 - $319 -
1981 $10,623 - $344 -
1980 $12,864 - $372 -
1979 $11,811 - $347 -
1978 $10,290 - $326 -
1977 $8,427 - $292.3 -
1976 $7,243 - $261 -
1975 $6,701 - $273 -
1974 $5,734 - $289.4 -
1973 $4,901 - $310 -
1972 $3,832 - $223.8 -
1971 $3,083 - $263.4 -
1970 $2,766 - $248.2 -
1969 $2,490 - $225.8 -
1968 $2,251 - $196.7 -
1967 $2,114 - $211.2 -
1966 $1,983 - $263.3 -
1965 $1,860 - $260.5 -
1964 $1,724 - $225 -
1963 $1,555 - $205 -
1962 $1,457 - $188.4 -
1961 $1,368 - $181.9 -
1960 $1,290 - $174.9 -

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

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

Belgium's GDP per capita is $56,615, ranking 18/197, compared to $2,391 in Ghana, ranking 151/197. Adjusted for purchasing power (GDP per capita PPP), Belgium ranks 21st at $73,514, while Ghana ranks 140th at $8,020.

Economic indicators

Belgium Ghana
Gross domestic product
$671B
2024
$82.3B
2024
GDP rank
23/197
2024
80/197
2024
GDP growth
1.07%
2023-2024
5.59%
2023-2024
GDP per capita
$56,615
2024
$2,391
2024
GDP per capita rank
18/197
2024
151/197
2024
GDP per capita, PPP
$73,514
2024
$8,020
2024
GDP per capita PPP rank
21/197
2024
140/197
2024
Government debt
$703B
2024
$57.9B
2024
Debt-to-GDP ratio
104.7%
2024
70.3%
2024
Government debt per person
$59,278
2024
$1,682
2024
Government debt per person rank
5/185
2024
123/185
2024
Average annual personal income after taxes
$35,259
2026
$2,110
2026
Market capitalization of domestic companies
$321B
2018
$7.58B
2024
Number of millionaires
549,000
2025
n/a
Number of billionaires
11
2025
n/a
Income share by richest 10%
22.2%
2023
32.2%
2016
Income share by poorest 10%
3.7%
2023
1.6%
2016
Government expenditure, % of GDP
54.5%
2024
23.2%
2024
Consumer prices inflation
3.14%
2023-2024
22.8%
2023-2024
Central bank interest rate n/a
25%
2025
Unemployment rate
5.7%
2024
2.87%
2022
Population
11902714
35885254

Spending and national debt comparison by year

Belgium
Spending

Debt
Ghana
Spending

Debt
1x
Year % of GDP
Belgium Ghana
Government spending Government debt Government spending Government debt
2024 54.5% 104.7% 23.2% 70.3%
2023 53.3% 103.2% 18.5% 79.1%
2022 52.3% 102.7% 27.5% 92.7%
2021 54.9% 108.5% 27.2% 86.9%
2020 58.5% 111.2% 31.5% 79.1%
2019 51.8% 97.6% 22.5% 62.9%
2018 52.5% 100.1% 20.9% 62%
2017 52.3% 102.5% 17.6% 57%
2016 53.4% 105.5% 19.9% 55.9%
2015 53.9% 105.6% 18.6% 53.9%
2014 55.4% 106.6% 21% 50.1%
2013 55.9% 105% 21.6% 42.9%
2012 56.2% 104.3% 22.1% 35.5%
2011 55% 102.7% 19.5% 31.2%
2010 53.9% 100.2% 19% 32.9%
2009 54.5% 99.9% 16.6% 25.4%
2008 50.8% 93.2% 16.6% 23.2%
2007 48.6% 87.3% 16.8% 21.1%
2006 48.8% 91.5% 14.4% 17.3%
2005 51.9% 95.1% 12.9% 31.7%
2004 49.3% 97.2% 13.7% 38.4%
2003 51% 101.7% 12.1% 49.3%
2002 49.9% 105.4% 10.7% 54.1%
2001 49.4% 108.2% 13.8% 57.8%
2000 49.4% 109.6% 12% 74.5%
1999 50.5% 115.4% 11.1% 51.7%
1998 51% 119.2% 11.8% 37.6%
1997 51.6% 124.3% 12% 45.2%
1996 53.1% 129% 12.4% 42.9%
1995 52.6% 131.3% 13% 47.6%
1994 54.7% 137.1% 12.7% 50.6%
1993 57.1% 138.9% 12.1% 34.1%
1992 55.9% 134.7% 9.2% 21.3%
1991 55.6% 131.8% 7.09% 17.3%
1990 54.4% 130.3% 6.59% 17.8%
1989 52.3% 126.4% 7.24% 23%
1988 53.9% 129.7% 7.23% 23.5%
1987 55.8% 129.2% 7.32% 26.8%
1986 57.6% 124.7% 7.29% 18.2%
1985 58.4% 119.4% 6.08% 14.4%
1984 59.1% 114.6% 4.64% 13%
1983 62.2% 110.3% 3.49% 9.21%
1982 59.6% 99.6% 4.73% 8.51%
1981 61.5% 89.7% 5.74% 8.77%
1980 54.9% 76.8% 7.51% 9.75%
1979 54.8% 69.2% 9.14% 11.5%
1978 52.8% 65.2% 6.54% 11.4%
1977 52.2% 61.6% 10.5% 20.7%
1976 50.4% 61.4% 12.8% 26%
1975 50.2% 59.5% 13.2% 21.8%
1974 44.5% 61.7% 9.52% 21.8%
1973 45% 63.7% 9.35% 25.4%
1972 45% 64.9% 11.4% 29.8%
1971 43.9% 63.5% 11.7% 29.5%
1970 42.7% 66.6% 12.2% 31.9%
1969 26.5% 51.6% 11.2% 31.4%
1968 26.7% 54.5% 12.3% 34.5%
1967 25.5% 54.1% 11.5% 33.9%
1966 25.1% 55.6% 9.12% 29.8%
1965 23.4% 57.6% 14.2% 30.2%
1964 22.5% 59.4% 15.8% 30.8%
1963 23.1% 64.1% 15.3% 30.5%
1962 22.5% 65.3% 12.5% 11.8%
1961 22.1% 67.8% - -
1960 23.7% 69.4% - -

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/belgium/ghana | CC BY

In 2024, Belgium's government spending was $366B, accounting for 54.5% of its GDP, while Ghana spent $19.1B, or 23.2% of GDP.

Debt-to-GDP ratio is 104.7% in Belgium and 70.3% in Ghana, ranking 19/185 and 57/185, respectively.

Government deficit by year

Deficit/surplus
Belgium

Ghana
1x
Year Deficit/surplus, % of GDP
Belgium Ghana
2024 -4.52% -7.31%
2023 -4.1% -3.37%
2022 -3.62% -11.8%
2021 -5.4% -12%
2020 -9.03% -17.4%
2019 -2.05% -7.52%
2018 -1.05% -6.79%
2017 -0.76% -3.97%
2016 -2.43% -6.75%
2015 -2.48% -4.01%
2014 -3.18% -7.81%
2013 -3.16% -9.12%
2012 -4.35% -8.36%
2011 -4.44% -5.47%
2010 -4.13% -7.13%
2009 -5.45% -5.05%
2008 -1.1% -5.56%
2007 0.07% -4.91%
2006 0.24% -3.11%
2005 -2.72% -1.87%
2004 -0.24% -2.02%
2003 -1.86% -1.99%
2002 -0.04% -2.73%
2001 0.23% -3.64%
2000 -0.08% -3.98%
1999 -0.65% -5.64%
1998 -1.03% -5.27%
1997 -2.15% -6.14%
1996 -4% -5.61%
1995 -4.51% -4.52%
1994 -5.29% -4.99%
1993 -7.71% -5.39%
1992 -8.42% -4.5%
1991 -7.67% -1.47%
1990 -6.99% -1.93%
1989 -7.58% -0.81%
1988 -7.28% -1.08%
1987 -7.89% -0.92%
1986 -9.96% -1.26%
1985 -10.1% -1.19%
1984 -10.8% -0.98%
1983 -14.5% -1.13%
1982 -12.3% -2.03%
1981 -15.5% -3.8%
1980 -9.43% -4.73%
1979 -8.33% -3.61%
1978 -6.51% -1.21%
1977 -6.51% -4.68%
1976 -6.61% -5.53%
1975 -6.45% -4.05%
1974 -3.87% -2.06%
1973 -5.02% -2.64%
1972 -6.07% -2.19%
1971 -4.45% 0.13%
1970 -3.51% -2.35%
1969 -3.34% -2.67%
1968 -3.69% -2.34%
1967 -2.76% -2.32%
1966 -3.08% -1.29%
1965 -2.9% -3.29%
1964 -2.27% -3.72%
1963 -2.8% -5.66%
1962 -2.12% -5.04%
1961 -2.34% -
1960 -4.89% -
1959 -5.21% -
1958 -4.33% -
1957 -1.27% -
1956 1.85% -
1955 -1.05% -
1954 2.34% -
1953 0.14% -
1952 -0.26% -
1951 0.59% -
1950 -2.01% -
1949 -2.05% -
1948 -2.29% -
1947 -14.5% -
1946 1.87% -
1945 - -
1944 - -
1943 -5.81% -
1942 - -
1941 - -
1940 - -
1939 -6.86% -
1938 -5.17% -
1937 -4.71% -
1936 -4.92% -
1935 -5.94% -
1934 -2.78% -
1933 -1.69% -
1932 - -
1931 - -
1930 -2.48% -
1929 - -
1928 - -
1927 3.06% -
1926 - -
1925 - -
1924 -5.53% -
1923 - -
1922 - -
1921 - -
1920 - -
1919 - -
1918 - -
1917 - -
1916 - -
1915 - -
1914 - -
1913 -1.4% -
1912 -1.39% -
1911 -0.92% -
1910 -0.18% -
1909 0.13% -
1908 -0.95% -
1907 -0.81% -
1906 -1.35% -
1905 1.23% -
1904 0.004% -
1903 0.08% -
1902 0.22% -
1901 0.55% -
1900 -0.54% -
1899 -1.64% -
1898 -0.28% -
1897 -0.25% -
1896 0.94% -
1895 -0.33% -
1894 0.06% -
1893 0.07% -
1892 0.17% -
1891 -0.005% -
1890 -0.83% -
1889 0.3% -
1888 -0.21% -
1887 -0.12% -
1886 0.54% -
1885 -0.43% -
1884 -0.26% -
1883 -0.54% -
1882 -0.3% -
1881 0.08% -
1880 0.12% -
1879 -1.51% -
1878 -1.78% -
1877 -2.52% -
1876 -0.77% -
1875 -0.88% -
1874 -1.02% -
1873 -2.08% -
1872 -0.7% -
1871 -0.64% -
1870 -0.58% -
1869 -0.35% -
1868 -0.39% -
1867 -0.49% -
1866 -0.87% -
1865 -0.55% -
1864 -0.62% -
1863 -0.72% -
1862 -0.49% -
1861 -0.22% -
1860 -0.13% -
1859 0.1% -
1858 0.35% -
1857 0% -
1856 -0.26% -
1855 -0.28% -
1854 -0.4% -
1853 -0.3% -
1852 -0.44% -
1851 -0.05% -
1850 -0.11% -
1849 0.11% -
1848 -1.41% -
1847 -0.69% -
1846 -0.52% -
1845 -1.17% -
1844 -4.92% -
1843 -0.86% -
1842 -0.89% -
1841 -0.75% -
1840 0.16% -
1839 -0.43% -
1838 0.23% -
1837 -0.11% -
1836 0.18% -
1835 0.27% -

Data sources: International Monetary Fund (IMF) | Public Finances in Modern History (1835–1989, retrieved 2026-02-20); International Monetary Fund (IMF) | Fiscal Monitor (1990–2024, retrieved 2026-02-20).

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

In 2024, Belgium's government deficit, the difference between spending and revenue, was $30.3B, equivalent to 4.52% of GDP. This compares to Ghana's deficit of $6.02B, or 7.31% of GDP.

Over the past 63 years, Belgium recorded a fiscal deficit in 60 of those years, while Ghana ran a deficit in 62 years. On average, Belgium posted an annual deficit equal to 4.76% of GDP, compared to deficit of 4.31% of GDP for Ghana.

Inflation comparison by year

Inflation
Belgium

Ghana
1x
Year Consumer prices inflation
Belgium Ghana
2024 3.14% 22.8%
2023 4.05% 38.1%
2022 9.6% 31.3%
2021 2.44% 9.97%
2020 0.74% 9.89%
2019 1.44% 7.14%
2018 2.05% 7.81%
2017 2.13% 12.4%
2016 1.97% 17.5%
2015 0.56% 17.1%
2014 0.34% 15.5%
2013 1.11% 11.7%
2012 2.84% 11.2%
2011 3.53% 8.73%
2010 2.19% 10.7%
2009 -0.05% 19.2%
2008 4.49% 16.5%
2007 1.82% 10.7%
2006 1.79% 11.7%
2005 2.78% 15.4%
2004 2.1% 18%
2003 1.59% 29.8%
2002 1.65% 9.36%
2001 2.47% 41.5%
2000 2.54% 40.2%
1999 1.12% 4.87%
1998 0.95% 14.6%
1997 1.63% 27.9%

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

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

Over the past 28 years, Belgium has recorded an average annual inflation rate of 2.25%, compared with 17.6% in Ghana. In 2024, inflation was 3.14% in Belgium and 22.8% in Ghana.

Top exports between countries

Belgium
Export category Export value
Raw materials & minerals $375M
Chemicals & pharma $115M
Machinery & equipment $82.3M
Animal & marine products $48.5M
Processed food, beverages & tobacco $47.1M
Metals $17.5M
Raw agricultural goods $11M
Wood & paper products $8.62M
Textiles & consumer goods $6.28M
Miscellaneous $565K
Ghana
Export category Export value
Processed food, beverages & tobacco $192M
Chemicals & pharma $26.6M
Raw agricultural goods $19.9M
Raw materials & minerals $8.68M
Machinery & equipment $7.29M
Wood & paper products $4.92M
Precious metals & jewellery $3.95M
Metals $2.51M
Miscellaneous $135K
Animal & marine products $120K

Balance of trade

Belgium Ghana
Current account balance
-$2.54B
2024
$1.68B
2024
Current account balance ranking
151/190
2024
49/190
2024
Current account balance, % of GDP
-0.38%
2024
+2.04%
2024
Goods imports
$370B
2024
$15.4B
2024
Goods exports
$382B
2024
$19.2B
2024
Service imports
$164B
2024
$11.5B
2024
Service exports
$150B
2024
$9.27B
2024
Imports of goods and services, % of GDP
79.7%
2024
34.3%
2024
Exports of goods and services, % of GDP
79.3%
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.

Belgium Ghana
Economic freedom 69.2 57.3
Economic freedom ranking 42/197 118/197
Property rights 91.1 50.2
Government integrity 78.2 45.4
Judicial effectiveness 91.6 57.5
Tax burden 50.6 79.4
Government spending 14.6 84
Fiscal health 53.4 10.1
Business freedom 82.5 64.5
Labor freedom 57.5 54.9
Monetary freedom 76.8 56.7
Trade freedom 79.4 65.2
Investment freedom 85 60
Financial freedom 70 60

Economic freedom comparison by year

Belgium
Ghana
1x
Year Economic freedom index
Belgium Ghana
2026 69.2 57.3
2025 69 56
2024 65.6 55.8
2023 67.1 58
2022 69.6 59.8
2021 70.1 59.2
2020 68.9 59.4
2019 67.3 57.5
2018 67.5 56
2017 67.8 56.2
2016 68.4 63
2015 68.8 63
2014 69.9 64.2
2013 69.2 61.3
2012 69 60.7
2011 70.2 59.4
2010 70.1 60.2
2009 72.1 58.1
2008 71.7 57
2007 72.5 57.6
2006 71.8 55.6
2005 69 56.5
2004 68.7 59.1
2003 68.1 58.2
2002 67.6 57.2
2001 63.8 58
2000 63.5 58.1
1999 62.9 57.9
1998 64.7 57
1997 64.6 56.7
1996 66 57.7
1995 - 55.6

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

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

The Economic Freedom Index for Belgium is 69.2, ranking 42/197, 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

Belgium Ghana
Services, % of GDP
71%
2024
40.9%
2024
Industry, % of GDP
18.7%
2024
31.5%
2024
Agriculture, forestry, and fishing, % of GDP
0.79%
2024
20.9%
2024
GNI, Atlas method
$656B
2024
$79.5B
2024
GNI per capita, PPP
$74,770
2024
$7,720
2024
Total reserves including gold
$41.4B
2024
$3.62B
2023
Total reserves ranking
49/177
2024
112/177
2023
Net foreign direct investment
$46.1B
2024
-$1.76B
2024
Net inflows of foreign direct investment
-$41.4B
2024
$1.77B
2024
Net outflows of foreign direct investment
$4.71B
2024
$5.37M
2024
Servicing debt to the IMF, % of GNI n/a
3.45%
2024
Poverty at national poverty lines
12.3%
2022
23.4%
2016
Gross capital formation, % of GDP
24.5%
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/belgium/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) | Public Finances in Modern History (1835–1989, retrieved 2026-02-20)
  3. International Monetary Fund (IMF) | Fiscal Monitor (1990–2024, 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.