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Economy of Belize vs Samoa compared: GDP & Debt

Updated on by Georank

Belize has a GDP of $3.33B compared to $1.29B for Samoa, ranking 170/197 and 186/197 by economy size, respectively.

Belize has $2.26B in government debt (67.9% of GDP), compared to $273M (21.2% of GDP) in Samoa.

Belize vs Samoa GDP by year

Belize
Samoa
1x
Year GDP, current $
Belize Samoa
2025 $3,326,500,000 $1,287,936,622
2024 $3,203,631,800 $1,175,749,786
2023 $3,052,362,650 $1,044,909,500
2022 $2,846,604,350 $889,554,712
2021 $2,428,606,250 $859,724,936
2020 $2,047,284,600 $868,884,903
2019 $2,381,187,850 $912,950,466
2018 $2,285,915,050 $878,448,433
2017 $2,266,028,250 $884,844,384
2016 $2,239,604,950 $843,924,797
2015 $2,193,095,150 $824,150,499
2014 $2,138,242,200 $796,683,520
2013 $2,035,191,450 $797,736,334
2012 $1,917,083,500 $773,141,661
2011 $1,831,576,700 $744,097,050
2010 $1,748,988,400 $680,260,907
2009 $1,688,012,750 $628,006,115
2008 $1,738,453,600 $641,346,192
2007 $1,706,190,450 $573,548,460
2006 $1,590,463,100 $499,923,758
2005 $1,474,298,400 $476,801,793
2004 $1,400,202,000 $407,747,565
2003 $1,308,280,250 $333,426,188
2002 $1,243,912,050 $281,790,134
2001 $1,172,045,150 $266,299,591
2000 $1,138,138,100 $258,856,140
1999 $999,713,050 $255,408,060
1998 $929,047,000 $269,485,244
1997 $872,916,050 $285,475,592
1996 $850,339,100 $249,907,869
1995 $818,590,250 $224,865,731
1994 $771,838,000 $221,098,107
1993 $752,255,150 $133,122,897
1992 $695,741,150 $132,303,041
1991 $596,682,100 $125,597,205
1990 $546,750,912 $125,766,270
1989 $491,100,000 $122,888,610
1988 $421,450,000 $133,016,065
1987 $371,100,000 $111,713,922
1986 $311,500,000 $100,947,849
1985 $287,300,000 $95,572,173
1984 $290,350,000 $109,200,934
1983 $262,150,000 $111,862,824
1982 $248,550,000 $121,221,652
1981 $260,750,000 $118,190,655
1980 $257,400,000 $125,747,038
1979 $151,800,000 $122,257,393
1978 $136,300,000 $108,223,444
1977 $117,650,000 $98,295,671
1976 $97,094,227 $85,003,078
1975 $118,194,026 $93,489,283
1974 $103,160,450 $93,549,611
1973 $78,214,768 $82,452,985
1972 $65,998,069 $62,566,116
1971 $59,074,687 $53,719,569
1970 $53,339,893 $45,208,338
1969 $47,399,905 -
1968 $44,999,910 -
1967 $47,431,256 -
1966 $44,450,044 -
1965 $40,110,040 -
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 (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08).

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

GDP per capita in Belize vs Samoa by year

Belize
GDP per capita

GDP per capita, PPP
Samoa
GDP per capita

GDP per capita, PPP
1x
Year Current $
Belize Samoa
GDP per capita GDP per capita, PPP GDP per capita GDP per capita, PPP
2025 $7,865 - $5,873 -
2024 $7,681 $14,347 $5,393 $8,737
2023 $7,425 $13,730 $4,823 $8,195
2022 $7,068 $13,461 $4,132 $6,909
2021 $6,143 $11,716 $4,022 $6,350
2020 $5,239 $9,639 $4,100 $6,451
2019 $6,172 $10,500 $4,352 $6,638
2018 $6,012 $9,497 $4,232 $6,318
2017 $6,072 $9,121 $4,308 $6,280
2016 $6,141 $9,399 $4,147 $6,141
2015 $6,155 $9,538 $4,084 $5,682
2014 $6,128 $9,490 $3,983 $5,468
2013 $5,957 $9,526 $4,024 $5,387
2012 $5,733 $9,303 $3,935 $5,339
2011 $5,596 $9,722 $3,822 $5,494
2010 $5,461 $9,748 $3,524 $5,229
2009 $5,400 $9,728 $3,279 $4,906
2008 $5,712 $9,975 $3,374 $4,939
2007 $5,762 $10,226 $3,039 $4,713
2006 $5,525 $9,910 $2,663 $4,592
2005 $5,270 $9,466 $2,550 $4,379
2004 $5,154 $9,245 $2,189 $3,997
2003 $4,960 $8,850 $1,798 $3,792
2002 $4,859 $8,154 $1,528 $3,553
2001 $4,719 $7,852 $1,454 $3,335
2000 $4,727 $7,544 $1,425 $3,062
1999 $4,290 $6,790 $1,417 $2,871
1998 $4,126 $6,333 $1,506 $2,792
1997 $4,014 $6,243 $1,608 $2,722
1996 $4,043 $6,087 $1,419 $2,681
1995 $4,010 $6,091 $1,288 $2,478
1994 $3,877 $6,073 $1,277 $2,294
1993 $3,860 $6,075 $775 $2,323
1992 $3,643 $5,706 $777 $2,198
1991 $3,190 $5,053 $742 $2,166
1990 $2,986 $4,467 $744 $2,148
1989 $2,742 - $728 -
1988 $2,406 - $790 -
1987 $2,166 - $666 -
1986 $1,859 - $604 -
1985 $1,754 - $573 -
1984 $1,814 - $655 -
1983 $1,677 - $671 -
1982 $1,629 - $728 -
1981 $1,753 - $713 -
1980 $1,774 - $765 -
1979 $1,071 - $751 -
1978 $983 - $671 -
1977 $866 - $615 -
1976 $729 - $541 -
1975 $906 - $610 -
1974 $805 - $626 -
1973 $619 - $563 -
1972 $529 - $433 -
1971 $481 - $377 -
1970 $442 - $322 -
1969 $402 - - -
1968 $392 - - -
1967 $426 - - -
1966 $412 - - -
1965 $383 - - -
1964 $356 - - -
1963 $342 - - -
1962 $332 - - -
1961 $320 - - -
1960 $307 - - -

Data sources: World Bank | Economy & Growth (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08).

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

Belize's GDP per capita is $7,865, ranking 99/197, compared to $5,873 in Samoa, ranking 115/197. Adjusted for purchasing power (GDP per capita PPP), Belize ranks 117th at $14,347, while Samoa ranks 137th at $8,737.

Economic indicators

Belize Samoa
Gross domestic product
$3.33B
2025
$1.29B
2025
GDP rank
170/197
2025
186/197
2025
GDP growth
2.75%
2024-2025
4.2%
2024-2025
GDP per capita
$7,865
2025
$5,873
2025
GDP per capita rank
99/197
2025
115/197
2025
GDP per capita, PPP
$14,347
2024
$8,737
2024
GDP per capita PPP rank
117/197
2024
137/197
2024
Government debt
$2.26B
2025
$273M
2025
Debt-to-GDP ratio
67.9%
2025
21.2%
2025
Government debt per person
$5,339
2025
$1,246
2025
Government debt per person rank
81/185
2025
136/185
2025
Average annual personal income after taxes
$5,278
2026
$3,918
2026
Number of billionaires
1
2026
n/a
Income share by richest 10%
30%
2018
31.3%
2013
Income share by poorest 10%
2.2%
2018
2.7%
2013
Government expenditure, % of GDP
25.9%
2025
26.4%
2025
Consumer prices inflation
1.1%
2024-2025
2.21%
2024-2025
Central bank interest rate n/a
2.95%
2026
Unemployment rate
29.3%
2020
5.05%
2022
Population
431659
221158

Spending and national debt comparison by year

Belize
Spending

Debt
Samoa
Spending

Debt
1x
Year % of GDP
Belize Samoa
Government spending Government debt Government spending Government debt
2025 25.9% 67.9% 26.4% 21.2%
2024 26.8% 65.4% 26.3% 25.2%
2023 25.8% 67.5% 28.8% 31.8%
2022 23.4% 66.8% 31.1% 41%
2021 25.7% 82.2% 34.1% 45.4%
2020 33.2% 103% 30.5% 43.2%
2019 27.5% 78.6% 31.8% 44.3%
2018 26.9% 79% 30% 49.4%
2017 27.7% 78.1% 30.9% 46.7%
2016 27.7% 70.5% 27.3% 49%
2015 27.9% 65.1% 30.5% 56.4%
2014 24.8% 61.5% 35.3% 54.9%
2013 23.8% 62.8% 30.7% 54.1%
2012 22.1% 63.1% 33.6% 50.9%
2011 23.5% 66.2% 33.7% 41.5%
2010 23.3% 68.4% 29.4% 40.3%
2009 23.2% 69.7% 31.5% 33.3%
2008 21.8% 64.7% 27.7% 28.2%
2007 22.1% 66.4% 31.1% 31.5%
2006 21.2% 71.4% 27.7% 33.5%
2005 21.4% 72.7% 30.6% 34.2%
2004 21.7% 70.7% 27.3% 39.8%
2003 24.6% 67.2% 28.5% 42.8%
2002 24.4% 53.2% 30.7% 50.3%
2001 25.9% 49.5% 30% 53.8%
2000 23.2% 79% 30.4% 55.8%
1999 23.6% 41.5% 33.8% 59.4%
1998 20.9% 38.7% 28.1% 58.9%
1997 19.9% 39.4% 31% -
1996 19.9% 38.4% 38.9% -
1995 - - 42.2% -
1994 - - 54.1% -
1993 - - 49.5% -
1992 - - 43.4% -

Data sources: International Monetary Fund (IMF) | Fiscal Monitor (1992–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08); International Monetary Fund (IMF) | Public Finances in Modern History (1996–2000, retrieved 2026-07-08).

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

In 2025, Belize's government spending was $861M, accounting for 25.9% of its GDP, while Samoa spent $340M, or 26.4% of GDP.

Debt-to-GDP ratio is 67.9% in Belize and 21.2% in Samoa, ranking 61/185 and 172/185, respectively.

Government deficit by year

Deficit/surplus
Belize

Samoa
1x
Year Deficit/surplus, % of GDP
Belize Samoa
2025 -0.96% 4.68%
2024 -1.52% 9.29%
2023 -2.42% 2.7%
2022 -1.04% 5.03%
2021 -3.29% 1.71%
2020 -8.57% 5.41%
2019 -2.9% 1.51%
2018 -1.37% 0.06%
2017 -3.48% -1.98%
2016 -4.47% -0.35%
2015 -5.14% -3.79%
2014 -1.72% -5.38%
2013 -1.21% -3.82%
2012 -0.22% -7.43%
2011 -1.06% -5.25%
2010 -1.9% -5.49%
2009 -2.46% -2.98%
2008 1.25% -0.36%
2007 -0.19% 0.55%
2006 -2.27% -0.44%
2005 -3.7% 0.23%
2004 -4.52% -0.74%
2003 -8.41% -0.51%
2002 -5.41% -1.77%
2001 -7.23% -1.96%
2000 -6.68% -0.62%
1999 -6.51% 0.27%
1998 -2.69% 1.64%
1997 -1.81% 1.92%
1996 -1.76% 1.21%
1995 - -5.82%
1994 - -9.51%
1993 - -13.2%
1992 - -9.89%

Data sources: International Monetary Fund (IMF) | Fiscal Monitor (1992–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08).

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

In 2025, Belize's government deficit, the difference between spending and revenue, was $31.9M, equivalent to 0.96% of GDP. This compares to Samoa's surplus of $60.3M, or 4.68% of GDP.

Over the past 30 years, Belize recorded a fiscal deficit in 29 of those years, while Samoa ran a deficit in 16 years. On average, Belize posted an annual deficit equal to 3.12% of GDP, compared to deficit of 0.22% of GDP for Samoa.

Inflation comparison by year

Inflation
Belize

Samoa
1x
Year Consumer prices inflation
Belize Samoa
2025 1.1% 2.21%
2024 3.3% 2.17%
2023 4.4% 7.92%
2022 6.3% 11%
2021 3.2% 3.13%
2020 0.1% -1.57%
2019 0.2% 0.98%
2018 0.3% 4.2%
2017 1.1% 1.75%
2016 0.7% 1.3%
2015 -0.9% 0.72%
2014 1.2% -0.41%
2013 0.5% 0.61%
2012 1.2% 2.05%
2011 1.7% 5.24%
2010 0.9% 0.78%
2009 -1.1% 6.32%
2008 6.4% 11.6%
2007 2.3% 5.58%
2006 4.2% 3.7%
2005 3.7% 1.86%
2004 3.1% 16.3%
2003 2.6% 0.12%
2002 2.2% 8.05%
2001 1.1% 3.84%
2000 0.6% 0.97%
1999 -1.2% 0.27%
1998 -0.8% 2.22%
1997 1% 6.86%

Data sources: International Monetary Fund (IMF) | World Economic Outlook (1997–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08); World Bank | Economy & Growth (1997–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08).

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

Over the past 29 years, Belize has recorded an average annual inflation rate of 1.7%, compared with 3.78% in Samoa. In 2025, inflation was 1.1% in Belize and 2.21% in Samoa.

Balance of trade

Belize Samoa
Current account balance
-$92.3M
2025
$89.3M
2025
Current account balance ranking
80/190
2025
64/190
2025
Current account balance, % of GDP
-2.77%
2025
+6.93%
2025
Goods imports
$1.38B
2025
$440M
2025
Goods exports
$443M
2025
$24.2M
2025
Service imports
$352M
2025
$108M
2025
Service exports
$1.21B
2025
$328M
2025
Imports of goods and services, % of GDP
53.7%
2024
43%
2025
Exports of goods and services, % of GDP
55.2%
2024
27.6%
2025

Economic freedom indices

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

Belize Samoa
Economic freedom 64.7 68
Economic freedom ranking 71/197 52/197
Property rights 46.3 77.1
Government integrity 46.2 64.1
Judicial effectiveness 73.9 77.6
Tax burden 81.8 79.3
Government spending 81 75.2
Fiscal health 87.5 98.7
Business freedom 67.2 63.7
Labor freedom 57.6 73.7
Monetary freedom 72.6 69.4
Trade freedom 57.8 67.2
Investment freedom 55 40
Financial freedom 50 30

Economic freedom comparison by year

Belize
Samoa
1x
Year Economic freedom index
Belize Samoa
2026 64.7 68
2025 64.2 66.6
2024 61.2 67.2
2023 59.8 68.3
2022 56.6 68.3
2021 57.5 61.9
2020 57.4 62.1
2019 55.4 62.2
2018 57.1 61.5
2017 58.6 58.4
2016 57.4 63.5
2015 56.8 61.9
2014 56.7 61.1
2013 57.3 57.1
2012 61.9 60.5
2011 63.8 60.6
2010 61.5 60.4
2009 63 59.5
2008 63 -
2007 63.3 -
2006 64.7 -
2005 64.5 -
2004 62.8 -
2003 63.5 -
2002 65.6 -
2001 65.9 63.1
2000 63.3 60.8
1999 60.7 58.7
1998 59.1 49.9
1997 64.3 51.5
1996 61.6 47.6
1995 62.9 -

Data sources: The Heritage Foundation | Economic Freedom Index (1995–2026, retrieved 2026-07-08).

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

The Economic Freedom Index for Belize is 64.7, ranking 71/197, compared to 68 for Samoa, ranking 52/197. The chart above displays a comparison of annual changes in economic freedom indexes.

Other economic metrics

Belize Samoa
Services, % of GDP
62.4%
2024
72.1%
2025
Industry, % of GDP
14.6%
2024
10.2%
2025
Agriculture, forestry, and fishing, % of GDP
7.95%
2024
9.09%
2025
GNI, Atlas method
$3.19B
2025
$1.24B
2025
GNI per capita, PPP
$14,230
2025
$9,300
2025
Total reserves including gold
$559M
2025
$598M
2025
Total reserves ranking
156/177
2025
153/177
2025
Net foreign direct investment
$1.15M
2025
-$1.83M
2025
Net inflows of foreign direct investment
$128M
2024
$3.74M
2024
Net outflows of foreign direct investment
$2.61M
2024
$2.05M
2024
Servicing debt to the IMF, % of GNI
4.15%
2024
3.15%
2024
Poverty at national poverty lines
52%
2018
21.9%
2018
Gross capital formation, % of GDP
19.8%
2024
30%
2025

GDP per capita map

1x

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/belize/samoa | CC BY

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Data sources:

  1. World Bank | Economy & Growth (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08)
  2. International Monetary Fund (IMF) | Fiscal Monitor (1992–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08)
  3. The Heritage Foundation | Economic Freedom Index (1995–2026, retrieved 2026-07-08)
  4. U.S. Census Bureau (1985–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08)
  5. International Monetary Fund (IMF) | Public Finances in Modern History (1996–2000, retrieved 2026-07-08)
  6. United Nations | World Population Prospects (2026, retrieved 2026-07-08)
  7. 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.