Skip to content

Economy of Belize vs Brunei compared: GDP & Debt

Updated on by Georank team

Belize has a GDP of $3.2B compared to $15.3B for Brunei, ranking 168/197 and 142/197 by economy size, respectively.

Belize has $2.1B in government debt (65.4% of GDP), compared to $351M (2.29% of GDP) in Brunei.

Belize vs Brunei GDP by year

Belize
Brunei
1x
Year GDP, current $
Belize Brunei
2024 $3,203,631,800 $15,340,808,592
2023 $3,052,362,650 $15,095,084,656
2022 $2,846,604,350 $16,681,536,467
2021 $2,428,606,250 $14,006,496,617
2020 $2,047,284,600 $12,005,799,654
2019 $2,381,187,850 $13,469,235,365
2018 $2,285,915,050 $13,566,908,391
2017 $2,266,028,250 $12,128,168,045
2016 $2,239,604,950 $11,400,266,045
2015 $2,193,095,150 $12,930,296,870
2014 $2,138,242,200 $17,097,797,386
2013 $2,035,191,450 $18,094,148,099
2012 $1,917,083,500 $19,048,443,341
2011 $1,831,576,700 $18,524,791,063
2010 $1,748,988,400 $13,707,121,038
2009 $1,688,012,750 $11,912,904,510
2008 $1,738,453,600 $15,926,456,515
2007 $1,706,190,450 $13,432,029,484
2006 $1,590,463,100 $12,644,616,419
2005 $1,474,298,400 $10,547,202,621
2004 $1,400,202,000 $8,619,178,774
2003 $1,308,280,250 $7,167,725,262
2002 $1,243,912,050 $6,333,082,876
2001 $1,172,045,150 $6,096,155,767
2000 $1,138,138,100 $6,570,999,088
1999 $999,713,050 $6,309,070,378
1998 $929,047,000 $5,550,846,020
1997 $872,916,050 $7,793,034,376
1996 $850,339,100 $7,663,377,306
1995 $818,590,250 $7,700,144,069
1994 $771,838,000 $6,467,782,518
1993 $752,255,150 $6,203,339,912
1992 $695,741,150 $6,327,966,435
1991 $596,682,100 $6,284,497,294
1990 $546,750,912 $6,039,881,087
1989 $491,100,000 $4,983,622,881
1988 $421,450,000 $4,535,130,305
1987 $371,100,000 $4,918,010,080
1986 $311,500,000 $4,190,280,003
1985 $287,300,000 $6,967,623,884
1984 $290,350,000 $7,632,788,075
1983 $262,150,000 $7,927,590,750
1982 $248,550,000 $8,932,198,186
1981 $260,750,000 $9,367,218,664
1980 $257,400,000 $10,795,432,294
1979 $151,800,000 $6,044,367,628
1978 $136,300,000 $4,100,423,674
1977 $117,650,000 $3,681,242,528
1976 $97,094,227 $3,054,765,590
1975 $118,194,026 $2,496,420,258
1974 $103,160,450 $2,319,576,214
1973 $78,214,768 $433,095,527
1972 $65,998,069 $270,822,782
1971 $59,074,687 $197,525,768
1970 $53,339,893 $179,078,929
1969 $47,399,905 $161,210,236
1968 $44,999,910 $160,818,236
1967 $47,431,256 $139,029,537
1966 $44,450,044 $132,757,528
1965 $40,110,040 $114,039,501
1964 $36,194,586 -
1963 $33,750,114 -
1962 $31,857,592 -
1961 $29,965,000 -
1960 $28,072,478 -

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

GeoRank.org/economy/belize/brunei | CC BY

GDP per capita in Belize vs Brunei by year

Belize
GDP per capita

GDP per capita, PPP
Brunei
GDP per capita

GDP per capita, PPP
1x
Year Current $
Belize Brunei
GDP per capita GDP per capita, PPP GDP per capita GDP per capita, PPP
2024 $7,681 $14,347 $33,153 $89,879
2023 $7,425 $13,730 $32,891 $85,033
2022 $7,068 $13,461 $36,633 $81,802
2021 $6,143 $11,716 $31,007 $78,249
2020 $5,239 $9,639 $26,834 $69,788
2019 $6,172 $10,500 $30,427 $69,354
2018 $6,012 $9,497 $30,988 $65,149
2017 $6,072 $9,121 $28,024 $61,658
2016 $6,141 $9,399 $26,663 $56,680
2015 $6,155 $9,538 $30,625 $62,708
2014 $6,128 $9,490 $41,027 $81,226
2013 $5,957 $9,526 $44,003 $83,237
2012 $5,733 $9,303 $46,969 $87,256
2011 $5,596 $9,722 $46,383 $82,735
2010 $5,461 $9,748 $34,938 $79,543
2009 $5,400 $9,728 $30,946 $77,957
2008 $5,712 $9,975 $42,157 $80,477
2007 $5,762 $10,226 $36,217 $83,693
2006 $5,525 $9,910 $34,675 $86,114
2005 $5,270 $9,466 $29,386 $81,534
2004 $5,154 $9,245 $24,423 $80,404
2003 $4,960 $8,850 $20,678 $79,632
2002 $4,859 $8,154 $18,621 $76,838
2001 $4,719 $7,852 $18,288 $74,254
2000 $4,727 $7,544 $20,130 $73,087
1999 $4,290 $6,790 $19,752 $70,585
1998 $4,126 $6,333 $17,769 $68,257
1997 $4,014 $6,243 $25,522 $73,980
1996 $4,043 $6,087 $25,692 $70,008
1995 $4,010 $6,091 $26,443 $70,440
1994 $3,877 $6,073 $22,767 $69,779
1993 $3,860 $6,075 $22,397 $69,387
1992 $3,643 $5,706 $23,451 $70,016
1991 $3,190 $5,053 $23,932 $72,610
1990 $2,986 $4,467 $23,659 $70,201
1989 $2,742 - $20,090 -
1988 $2,406 - $18,825 -
1987 $2,166 - $21,030 -
1986 $1,859 - $18,501 -
1985 $1,754 - $31,827 -
1984 $1,814 - $36,061 -
1983 $1,677 - $38,720 -
1982 $1,629 - $45,075 -
1981 $1,753 - $48,793 -
1980 $1,774 - $58,005 -
1979 $1,071 - $33,501 -
1978 $983 - $23,447 -
1977 $866 - $21,747 -
1976 $729 - $18,671 -
1975 $906 - $15,793 -
1974 $805 - $15,195 -
1973 $619 - $2,939 -
1972 $529 - $1,905 -
1971 $481 - $1,432 -
1970 $442 - $1,325 -
1969 $402 - $1,226 -
1968 $392 - $1,274 -
1967 $426 - $1,149 -
1966 $412 - $1,146 -
1965 $383 - $1,029 -
1964 $356 - - -
1963 $342 - - -
1962 $332 - - -
1961 $320 - - -
1960 $307 - - -

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

GeoRank.org/economy/belize/brunei | CC BY

Belize's GDP per capita is $7,681, ranking 98/197, compared to $33,153 in Brunei, ranking 36/197. Adjusted for purchasing power (GDP per capita PPP), Belize ranks 117th at $14,347, while Brunei ranks 9th at $89,879.

Economic indicators

Belize Brunei
Gross domestic product
$3.2B
2024
$15.3B
2024
GDP rank
168/197
2024
142/197
2024
GDP growth
3.5%
2023-2024
4.05%
2023-2024
GDP per capita
$7,681
2024
$33,153
2024
GDP per capita rank
98/197
2024
36/197
2024
GDP per capita, PPP
$14,347
2024
$89,879
2024
GDP per capita PPP rank
117/197
2024
9/197
2024
Government debt
$2.1B
2024
$351M
2024
Debt-to-GDP ratio
65.4%
2024
2.29%
2024
Government debt per person
$5,026
2024
$759
2024
Government debt per person rank
78/185
2024
153/185
2024
Average annual personal income after taxes
$9,204
2026
$24,405
2026
Number of billionaires
1
2025
n/a
Income share by richest 10%
30%
2018
n/a
Income share by poorest 10%
2.2%
2018
n/a
Government expenditure, % of GDP
26.3%
2024
29.8%
2024
Consumer prices inflation
3.3%
2023-2024
-0.39%
2023-2024
Unemployment rate
29.3%
2020
4.87%
2024
Population
430409
470884

Spending and national debt comparison by year

Belize
Spending

Debt
Brunei
Spending

Debt
1x
Year % of GDP
Belize Brunei
Government spending Government debt Government spending Government debt
2024 26.3% 65.4% 29.8% 2.29%
2023 25.8% 67.5% 29.4% 2.33%
2022 23.4% 66.8% 26.4% 2.06%
2021 25.7% 82.2% 29.3% 2.51%
2020 33.2% 103% 33.2% 2.86%
2019 27.5% 78.6% 32.4% 2.58%
2018 26.9% 79% 32.2% 2.59%
2017 27.7% 78.1% 36.6% 2.83%
2016 27.7% 70.5% 39.4% 3%
2015 27.9% 65.1% 38.7% 2.95%
2014 24.8% 61.5% 34.1% 3.23%
2013 23.8% 62.8% 33.6% 2.21%
2012 22.1% 63.1% 31% 2.1%
2011 23.5% 66.2% 29.7% 2.13%
2010 23.3% 68.4% 36.2% 1.11%
2009 23.2% 69.7% 34.8% 1.11%
2008 21.8% 64.7% 27.2% 0.94%
2007 22.1% 66.4% 29.3% 0.68%
2006 21.2% 71.4% 28% 0.59%
2005 21.4% 72.7% 29.1% 0%
2004 21.7% 70.7% 33.2% 0%
2003 24.6% 67.2% 30.9% 0%
2002 24.4% 53.2% 41.4% 0%
2001 25.9% 49.5% 35.5% 0%
2000 23.2% 79% 37.5% 0%
1999 23.6% 41.5% 44.1% 0%
1998 20.9% 38.7% 45.4% 0%
1997 19.9% 39.4% 39% 0%
1996 19.9% 38.4% 36.9% 0%
1995 - - 44% 0%
1994 - - 47.1% 0%
1993 - - 38% 0%
1992 - - 34.1% 0%
1991 - - 30.6% 0%
1990 - - 32% 0%

Data sources: International Monetary Fund (IMF) | Fiscal Monitor (1990–2024, retrieved 2026-02-20); International Monetary Fund (IMF) | Public Finances in Modern History (1996–2000, retrieved 2026-02-20).

GeoRank.org/economy/belize/brunei | CC BY

In 2024, Belize's government spending was $842M, accounting for 26.3% of its GDP, while Brunei spent $4.57B, or 29.8% of GDP.

Debt-to-GDP ratio is 65.4% in Belize and 2.29% in Brunei, ranking 67/185 and 185/185, respectively.

Government deficit by year

Deficit/surplus
Belize

Brunei
1x
Year Deficit/surplus, % of GDP
Belize Brunei
2024 -1.23% -10.2%
2023 -2.42% -10.9%
2022 -1.04% 2.53%
2021 -3.29% -8.16%
2020 -8.57% -15.8%
2019 -2.9% -3.69%
2018 -1.37% -3.59%
2017 -3.48% -10.4%
2016 -4.47% -21.7%
2015 -5.14% -14.5%
2014 -1.72% 3.58%
2013 -1.21% 13%
2012 -0.22% 15.8%
2011 -1.06% 25.6%
2010 -1.9% 7.61%
2009 -2.46% 3.61%
2008 1.25% 36.1%
2007 -0.19% 3.12%
2006 -2.27% 19.8%
2005 -3.7% 16%
2004 -4.52% 8.57%
2003 -8.41% 8.06%
2002 -5.41% -4.61%
2001 -7.23% 2.59%
2000 -6.68% 6.86%
1999 -6.51% -18.3%
1998 -2.69% -24%
1997 -1.81% -11.8%
1996 -1.76% -8.7%
1995 - -19.8%
1994 - -22.6%
1993 - -12.8%
1992 - -8.28%
1991 - -1.06%
1990 - -1.63%

Data sources: International Monetary Fund (IMF) | Fiscal Monitor (1990–2024, retrieved 2026-02-20).

GeoRank.org/economy/belize/brunei | CC BY

In 2024, Belize's government deficit, the difference between spending and revenue, was $39.4M, equivalent to 1.23% of GDP. This compares to Brunei's deficit of $1.56B, or 10.2% of GDP.

Over the past 29 years, Belize recorded a fiscal deficit in 28 of those years, while Brunei ran a deficit in 14 years. On average, Belize posted an annual deficit equal to 3.19% of GDP, compared to surplus of 0.23% of GDP for Brunei.

Inflation comparison by year

Inflation
Belize

Brunei
1x
Year Consumer prices inflation
Belize Brunei
2024 3.3% -0.39%
2023 4.4% 0.36%
2022 6.3% 3.68%
2021 3.2% 1.73%
2020 0.1% 1.94%
2019 0.2% -0.39%
2018 0.3% 1.03%
2017 1.1% -1.26%
2016 0.7% -0.28%
2015 -0.9% -0.49%
2014 1.2% -0.21%
2013 0.5% 0.39%
2012 1.2% 0.11%
2011 1.7% 0.14%
2010 0.9% 0.36%
2009 -1.1% 1.04%
2008 6.4% 2.08%
2007 2.3% 0.97%
2006 4.2% 0.16%
2005 3.7% 1.24%
2004 3.1% 0.81%
2003 2.6% 0.3%
2002 2.2% -2.31%
2001 1.1% 0.6%
2000 0.6% 1.56%
1999 -1.2% -0.42%
1998 -0.8% -0.44%
1997 1% 1.71%

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/belize/brunei | CC BY

Over the past 28 years, Belize has recorded an average annual inflation rate of 1.73%, compared with 0.5% in Brunei. In 2024, inflation was 3.3% in Belize and -0.39% in Brunei.

Top exports between countries

Belize
Export category Export value
Metals $6K
Brunei
Export category Export value

Balance of trade

Belize Brunei
Current account balance
-$51.7M
2024
$2.23B
2024
Current account balance ranking
84/190
2024
45/190
2024
Current account balance, % of GDP
-1.61%
2024
+14.5%
2024
Goods imports
$1.36B
2024
$7.36B
2024
Goods exports
$482M
2024
$11.1B
2024
Service imports
$362M
2024
$1.75B
2024
Service exports
$1.16B
2024
$410M
2024
Imports of goods and services, % of GDP
53.7%
2024
58.3%
2024
Exports of goods and services, % of GDP
55.2%
2024
74.3%
2024

Economic freedom indices

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

Belize Brunei
Economic freedom 64.7 67.5
Economic freedom ranking 71/197 55/197
Property rights 46.3 66.1
Government integrity 46.2 60.4
Judicial effectiveness 73.9 48.6
Tax burden 81.8 95
Government spending 81 75.6
Fiscal health 87.5 39
Business freedom 67.2 75.3
Labor freedom 57.6 75.1
Monetary freedom 72.6 74.8
Trade freedom 57.8 84.6
Investment freedom 55 65
Financial freedom 50 50

Economic freedom comparison by year

Belize
Brunei
1x
Year Economic freedom index
Belize Brunei
2026 64.7 67.5
2025 64.2 67
2024 61.2 65.9
2023 59.8 65.7
2022 56.6 64.8
2021 57.5 66.6
2020 57.4 66.6
2019 55.4 65.1
2018 57.1 64.2
2017 58.6 69.8
2016 57.4 67.3
2015 56.8 68.9
2014 56.7 69
2013 57.3 -
2012 61.9 -
2011 63.8 -
2010 61.5 -
2009 63 -
2008 63 -
2007 63.3 -
2006 64.7 -
2005 64.5 -
2004 62.8 -
2003 63.5 -
2002 65.6 -
2001 65.9 -
2000 63.3 -
1999 60.7 -
1998 59.1 -
1997 64.3 -
1996 61.6 -
1995 62.9 -

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

GeoRank.org/economy/belize/brunei | CC BY

The Economic Freedom Index for Belize is 64.7, ranking 71/197, compared to 67.5 for Brunei, ranking 55/197. The chart above displays a comparison of annual changes in economic freedom indexes.

Other economic metrics

Belize Brunei
Services, % of GDP
62.4%
2024
39%
2024
Industry, % of GDP
14.6%
2024
61.7%
2024
Agriculture, forestry, and fishing, % of GDP
7.95%
2024
1.17%
2024
GNI, Atlas method
$2.98B
2024
$16.7B
2024
GNI per capita, PPP
$13,760
2024
$92,750
2024
Total reserves including gold
$498M
2024
$4.41B
2024
Total reserves ranking
156/177
2024
105/177
2024
Net foreign direct investment
-$126M
2024
-$29.1M
2024
Net inflows of foreign direct investment
$128M
2024
$29.1M
2024
Net outflows of foreign direct investment
$2.61M
2024
$0
2024
Servicing debt to the IMF, % of GNI
4.15%
2024
n/a
Poverty at national poverty lines
52%
2018
n/a
Gross capital formation, % of GDP
19.8%
2024
27.9%
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/belize/brunei | 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:

  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. The Heritage Foundation | Economic Freedom Index (1995–2026, retrieved 2026-03-09)
  4. U.S. Census Bureau (1985–2024, retrieved 2026-02-08)
  5. International Monetary Fund (IMF) | Public Finances in Modern History (1996–2000, retrieved 2026-02-20)
  6. United Nations | World Population Prospects (2026, retrieved 2026-03-10)
  7. LivingCost (2026, retrieved 2025-10-14)
  8. TradeMap (2023, retrieved 2026-02-08)

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.