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Economy of Belize vs Vanuatu compared: GDP & Debt

Updated on by Georank team

Belize has a GDP of $3.2B compared to $1.12B for Vanuatu, ranking 168/197 and 188/197 by economy size, respectively.

Belize has $1.95B in government debt (58.8% of GDP), compared to $499M (51.9% of GDP) in Vanuatu.

The chart below compares the two countries' GDP growth in both current (nominal) and constant dollars, accounting for inflation over time.

Belize
GDP, current $

GDP, constant 2015 $
Vanuatu
GDP, current $

GDP, constant 2015 $
Year GDP
Belize Vanuatu
Current $ Constant $ Current $ Constant $
1960 $28,072,478 $142,139,035 - -
1961 $29,965,000 $149,092,871 - -
1962 $31,857,592 $156,387,466 - -
1963 $33,750,114 $164,138,708 - -
1964 $36,194,586 $172,345,446 - -
1965 $40,110,040 $180,843,009 - -
1966 $44,450,044 $189,470,749 - -
1967 $47,431,256 $198,779,681 - -
1968 $44,999,910 $213,424,228 - -
1969 $47,399,905 $224,322,469 - -
1970 $53,339,893 $235,107,205 - -
1971 $59,074,687 $244,416,136 - -
1972 $65,998,069 $269,391,320 - -
1973 $78,214,768 $283,808,858 - -
1974 $103,160,450 $322,293,297 - -
1975 $118,194,026 $333,872,729 - -
1976 $97,094,227 $333,759,143 - -
1977 $117,650,000 $355,442,120 - -
1978 $136,300,000 $383,596,005 - -
1979 $151,800,000 $412,430,999 $119,258,835 $335,975,592
1980 $257,400,000 $462,371,238 $121,185,498 $297,675,024
1981 $260,750,000 $467,611,279 $113,781,796 $310,707,108
1982 $248,550,000 $467,112,227 $114,501,913 $316,858,745
1983 $262,150,000 $457,081,291 $117,389,554 $326,395,019
1984 $290,350,000 $466,114,124 $144,482,515 $357,647,314
1985 $287,300,000 $470,805,208 $131,856,421 $361,229,593
1986 $311,500,000 $492,214,519 $126,498,935 $360,686,075
1987 $371,100,000 $545,014,170 $139,464,174 $350,248,055
1988 $421,450,000 $598,362,778 $158,351,368 $344,318,766
1989 $491,100,000 $676,214,816 $154,013,202 $349,593,363
1990 $546,750,912 $752,917,474 $168,879,207 $390,480,753
1991 $596,682,100 $841,601,389 $201,334,169 $402,771,675
1992 $695,741,150 $948,789,622 $209,088,825 $413,184,990
1993 $752,255,150 $1,007,025,242 $200,491,853 $416,223,750
1994 $771,838,000 $1,006,823,975 $233,701,301 $454,022,969
1995 $818,590,250 $1,014,189,476 $249,333,250 $458,581,110
1996 $850,339,100 $1,025,399,371 $261,370,044 $469,253,831
1997 $872,916,050 $1,068,821,096 $272,771,209 $492,279,237
1998 $929,047,000 $1,110,430,515 $262,293,411 $498,072,647
1999 $999,713,050 $1,215,068,544 $268,006,973 $499,752,612
2000 $1,138,138,100 $1,363,800,371 $272,014,628 $529,362,000
2001 $1,172,045,150 $1,431,902,589 $257,926,882 $511,376,490
2002 $1,243,912,050 $1,509,212,058 $262,596,536 $484,793,510
2003 $1,308,280,250 $1,655,080,826 $314,471,413 $505,583,080
2004 $1,400,202,000 $1,734,204,697 $364,996,869 $525,742,663
2005 $1,474,298,400 $1,772,690,003 $394,962,433 $553,635,028
2006 $1,590,463,100 $1,852,664,108 $439,358,587 $600,476,413
2007 $1,706,190,450 $1,914,531,925 $516,392,923 $617,745,468
2008 $1,738,453,600 $1,883,373,344 $590,748,429 $652,345,341
2009 $1,688,012,750 $1,874,960,133 $592,622,319 $672,159,049
2010 $1,748,988,400 $1,901,536,024 $670,712,980 $680,620,639
2011 $1,831,576,700 $1,899,062,675 $770,153,588 $701,990,785
2012 $1,917,083,500 $1,973,959,679 $747,839,698 $709,081,227
2013 $2,035,191,450 $2,054,230,071 $758,304,466 $712,367,041
2014 $2,138,242,200 $2,134,186,060 $773,717,011 $730,710,780
2015 $2,193,095,150 $2,193,095,150 $759,690,181 $759,690,181
2016 $2,239,604,950 $2,192,684,131 $804,323,577 $786,063,165
2017 $2,266,028,250 $2,152,487,028 $880,043,284 $820,749,507
2018 $2,285,915,050 $2,170,181,948 $914,727,908 $844,553,133
2019 $2,381,187,850 $2,262,557,633 $936,526,268 $871,926,685
2020 $2,047,284,600 $1,956,594,233 $909,421,044 $828,395,820
2021 $2,428,606,250 $2,308,584,057 $950,394,007 $815,536,674
2022 $2,846,604,350 $2,522,139,932 $1,055,031,361 $857,832,270
2023 $3,052,362,650 $2,534,753,859 $1,115,861,056 $875,793,075
2024 $3,203,631,800 $2,623,588,473 $1,117,972,034 $884,044,670

Economic indicators

Belize Vanuatu
Gross domestic product
$3.2B
2024
$1.12B
2024
GDP rank
168/197
2024
188/197
2024
GDP growth
4.96%
2023-2024
0.19%
2023-2024
GDP per capita
$7,681
2024
$3,411
2024
GDP per capita rank
98/197
2024
137/197
2024
GDP per capita, PPP
$14,347
2024
$3,606
2024
Government debt
$1.95B
2024
$499M
2024
Debt-to-GDP ratio
58.8%
2026
51.9%
2026
Government debt per person
$4,682
2024
$1,521
2024
Government debt per person rank
83/185
2024
128/185
2024
Average annual personal income after taxes
$8,036
2026
$2,778
2026
Number of billionaires
1
2025
n/a
Income share by richest 10%
30%
2018
24.7%
2019
Income share by poorest 10%
2.2%
2018
3%
2019
Government expenditure, % of GDP
24.1%
2026
37.8%
2026
Consumer prices inflation
1.9%
2025-2026
11.2%
2022-2023
Unemployment rate
29.3%
2020
4.05%
2020
Population
428711
342645

GDP per capita in Belize vs Vanuatu

Belize's GDP per capita is $7,681, ranking 98/197, compared to $3,411 in Vanuatu, ranking 137/197. Adjusted for purchasing power (GDP per capita PPP), Belize ranks 117th at $14,347, while Vanuatu ranks 170th at $3,606.

Belize
GDP per capita

GDP per capita, PPP
Vanuatu
GDP per capita

GDP per capita, PPP
Year Current $
Belize Vanuatu
GDP per capita GDP per capita, PPP GDP per capita GDP per capita, PPP
1960 $307 - - -
1961 $320 - - -
1962 $332 - - -
1963 $342 - - -
1964 $356 - - -
1965 $383 - - -
1966 $412 - - -
1967 $426 - - -
1968 $392 - - -
1969 $402 - - -
1970 $442 - - -
1971 $481 - - -
1972 $529 - - -
1973 $619 - - -
1974 $805 - - -
1975 $906 - - -
1976 $729 - - -
1977 $866 - - -
1978 $983 - - -
1979 $1,071 - $1,055 -
1980 $1,774 - $1,048 -
1981 $1,753 - $962 -
1982 $1,629 - $946 -
1983 $1,677 - $947 -
1984 $1,814 - $1,137 -
1985 $1,754 - $1,012 -
1986 $1,859 - $946 -
1987 $2,166 - $1,017 -
1988 $2,406 - $1,125 -
1989 $2,742 - $1,067 -
1990 $2,986 $4,467 $1,141 $1,670
1991 $3,190 $5,053 $1,326 $1,737
1992 $3,643 $5,706 $1,344 $1,777
1993 $3,860 $6,075 $1,257 $1,789
1994 $3,877 $6,073 $1,431 $1,946
1995 $4,010 $6,091 $1,492 $1,961
1996 $4,043 $6,087 $1,529 $1,998
1997 $4,014 $6,243 $1,562 $2,087
1998 $4,126 $6,333 $1,471 $2,091
1999 $4,290 $6,790 $1,472 $2,084
2000 $4,727 $7,544 $1,460 $2,206
2001 $4,719 $7,852 $1,350 $2,125
2002 $4,859 $8,154 $1,341 $1,995
2003 $4,960 $8,850 $1,567 $2,070
2004 $5,154 $9,245 $1,774 $2,157
2005 $5,270 $9,466 $1,874 $2,287
2006 $5,525 $9,910 $2,035 $2,496
2007 $5,762 $10,226 $2,334 $2,573
2008 $5,712 $9,975 $2,604 $2,701
2009 $5,400 $9,728 $2,546 $2,730
2010 $5,461 $9,748 $2,815 $2,733
2011 $5,596 $9,722 $3,163 $2,816
2012 $5,733 $9,303 $3,005 $2,834
2013 $5,957 $9,526 $2,980 $2,832
2014 $6,128 $9,490 $2,973 $2,890
2015 $6,155 $9,538 $2,855 $2,966
2016 $6,141 $9,399 $2,956 $3,030
2017 $6,072 $9,121 $3,160 $3,146
2018 $6,012 $9,497 $3,207 $3,233
2019 $6,172 $10,500 $3,207 $3,315
2020 $5,239 $9,639 $3,043 $3,118
2021 $6,143 $11,716 $3,107 $3,136
2022 $7,068 $13,461 $3,370 $3,453
2023 $7,425 $13,730 $3,483 $3,568
2024 $7,681 $14,347 $3,411 $3,606

Spending and national debt comparison

In 2024, Belize's government spending was $792M, accounting for 24.1% of its GDP, while Vanuatu's spent $425M, or 37.8% of GDP.

Debt-to-GDP ratio is 58.8% in Belize and 51.9% in Vanuatu, ranking 83/185 and 103/185, respectively.

Belize
Government spending

Government debt
Vanuatu
Government spending

Government debt
Year % of GDP
Belize Vanuatu
Government spending Government debt Government spending Government debt
1991 - - 33.2% 15.9%
1992 - - 31.8% 21%
1993 - - 26.2% 20.3%
1994 - - 24.4% 21.6%
1995 - - 28% 24.1%
1996 19.9% 39.4% 24.5% 23.1%
1997 19.9% 40.7% 22.2% 22.9%
1998 20.9% 40.3% 27.9% 28%
1999 23.6% 43.7% 23.9% 30.6%
2000 23.1% 79% 25.4% 36.1%
2001 25.8% 49.5% 22.3% 37%
2002 24.4% 53.2% 22.3% 38.8%
2003 24.5% 67.2% 18.8% 38.3%
2004 21.7% 70.6% 18.5% 30.4%
2005 21.4% 72.7% 18.3% 26.3%
2006 21.2% 71.3% 20.1% 22.2%
2007 22% 66.4% 22.5% 19.5%
2008 21.8% 64.6% 27.8% 21.2%
2009 23.2% 69.7% 27.6% 21.1%
2010 23.3% 68.5% 28.3% 20.2%
2011 23.5% 66.4% 25.1% 21.3%
2012 22.1% 63.4% 24.5% 19.3%
2013 23.8% 62.9% 22.9% 18.6%
2014 24.8% 61.5% 23.3% 20.2%
2015 27.9% 65.1% 42.4% 36.3%
2016 27.7% 70.4% 35.2% 42.5%
2017 27.7% 78.1% 37.1% 52.6%
2018 26.8% 78.8% 33.3% 45.3%
2019 27.4% 78.4% 39.8% 45.1%
2020 33.2% 103.3% 43.4% 48%
2021 25.8% 82.5% 44.4% 48.5%
2022 22.8% 66.8% 42% 43.1%
2023 24.8% 67.2% 41.6% 40.6%
2024 24.7% 61% 38% 44.6%
2025 24.1% 59.5% 38.6% 48.5%
2026 24.1% 58.8% 37.8% 51.9%

Government deficit by year

In 2024, Belize's government deficit, the difference between spending and revenue, was -$75.7M, equivalent to -2.36% of GDP. This compares to Vanuatu's deficit of -$72.3M, or -6.47% of GDP.

Over the past 29 years, Belize recorded a fiscal deficit in 28 of those years, while Vanuatu ran a deficit in 21 years. On average, Belize posted an annual deficit equal to -3.19% of GDP, compared to deficit of -1.53% of GDP for Vanuatu.

Deficit/surplus
Belize

Vanuatu
Year Deficit/surplus, % of GDP
Belize Vanuatu
1991 - -2.81%
1992 - -2.32%
1993 - -3.67%
1994 - -1.49%
1995 - -2.59%
1996 -1.76% -1.78%
1997 -1.81% -0.51%
1998 -2.69% -6.65%
1999 -6.51% -0.55%
2000 -6.68% -6.28%
2001 -7.23% -3.33%
2002 -5.4% -3.63%
2003 -8.41% -1.35%
2004 -4.52% 0.8%
2005 -3.7% 1.86%
2006 -2.27% 0.49%
2007 -0.19% 0.28%
2008 1.25% -0.04%
2009 -2.46% -0.85%
2010 -1.91% -2.63%
2011 -1.06% -2.19%
2012 -0.22% -1.7%
2013 -1.21% -0.25%
2014 -1.72% 1.44%
2015 -5.14% -8.66%
2016 -4.47% -0.72%
2017 -3.48% -1.2%
2018 -1.36% 6.26%
2019 -2.89% 2.81%
2020 -8.59% -1.95%
2021 -3.3% 2.38%
2022 -0.48% -6.5%
2023 -1.99% -3.47%
2024 -2.36% -6.47%
2025 -1.65% -5.96%
2026 -1.54% -5.32%

Inflation comparison by year

Over the past 27 years, Belize has recorded an average annual inflation rate of 1.67%, compared with 3.01% in Vanuatu. In 2023, inflation was 1.9% in Belize and 11.2% in Vanuatu.

Inflation
Belize

Vanuatu
Year Inflation
Belize Vanuatu
1997 1% 2.83%
1998 -0.8% 3.28%
1999 -1.2% 2%
2000 0.6% 2.54%
2001 1.1% 3.58%
2002 2.2% 1.96%
2003 2.6% 3.02%
2004 3.1% 1.42%
2005 3.7% 1.2%
2006 4.2% 2.04%
2007 2.3% 3.94%
2008 6.4% 4.84%
2009 -1.1% 4.3%
2010 0.9% 2.76%
2011 1.7% 0.87%
2012 1.2% 1.35%
2013 0.5% 1.46%
2014 1.2% 0.8%
2015 -0.9% 2.48%
2016 0.7% 0.84%
2017 1.1% 3.08%
2018 0.3% 2.33%
2019 0.2% 2.76%
2020 0.1% 5.33%
2021 3.2% 2.34%
2022 6.3% 6.68%
2023 4.4% 11.2%
2024 3.3% -
2025 1.4% -
2026 1.9% -

Balance of trade

Belize Vanuatu
Current account balance
-$51.7M
2024
-$127M
2022
Current account balance ranking
84/190
2024
90/190
2022
Current account balance, % of GDP
-1.61%
2024
-12.1%
2022
Goods imports
$1.36B
2024
$350M
2022
Goods exports
$482M
2024
$73.6M
2022
Service imports
$362M
2024
$230M
2022
Service exports
$1.16B
2024
$78.5M
2022
Imports of goods and services, % of GDP
53.7%
2024
54.2%
2022
Exports of goods and services, % of GDP
55.2%
2024
9.43%
2022

Economic freedom indices

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

Belize Vanuatu
Economic freedom 64.2 61.8
Economic freedom ranking 73/197 86/197
Property rights 35.1 61.4
Government integrity 44.4 48.1
Judicial effectiveness 72.6 71.3
Tax burden 83.2 97.6
Government spending 82.2 43.1
Fiscal health 86.5 85.4
Business freedom 68.3 55.5
Labor freedom 65.1 48.8
Monetary freedom 71.2 65.7
Trade freedom 56.6 59.4
Investment freedom 55 65
Financial freedom 50 40

Economic freedom by year comparison

The Economic Freedom Index for Belize is 64.2, ranking 73/197, compared to 61.8 for Vanuatu, ranking 86/197. The chart below displays a comparison of annual changes in economic freedom indexes.

Belize
Vanuatu
Year Economic freedom index
Belize Vanuatu
1995 62.9 -
1996 61.6 -
1997 64.3 -
1998 59.1 -
1999 60.7 -
2000 63.3 -
2001 65.9 -
2002 65.6 -
2003 63.5 -
2004 62.8 -
2005 64.5 -
2006 64.7 -
2007 63.3 -
2008 63 -
2009 63 58.4
2010 61.5 56.4
2011 63.8 56.7
2012 61.9 56.6
2013 57.3 56.6
2014 56.7 59.5
2015 56.8 61.1
2016 57.4 60.8
2017 58.6 67.4
2018 57.1 69.5
2019 55.4 56.4
2020 57.4 60.7
2021 57.5 60.5
2022 56.6 62.9
2023 59.8 62.1
2024 61.2 62.2
2025 64.2 61.8

More economic indicators

Belize Vanuatu
Services, % of GDP
62.4%
2024
59.1%
2022
Industry, % of GDP
14.6%
2024
7.37%
2022
Agriculture, forestry, and fishing, % of GDP
7.95%
2024
24.3%
2022
GNI, Atlas method
$2.98B
2024
$1.28B
2024
GNI per capita, PPP
$13,760
2024
$4,140
2024
Total reserves including gold
$498M
2024
$615M
2024
Total reserves ranking
156/177
2024
152/177
2024
Net foreign direct investment
-$126M
2024
-$9.21M
2022
Net inflows of foreign direct investment
$128M
2024
$28.9M
2024
Net outflows of foreign direct investment
$2.61M
2024
$2.79M
2024
Servicing debt to the IMF, % of GNI
4.15%
2024
2.04%
2024
Poverty at national poverty lines
52%
2018
15.9%
2020
Gross capital formation, % of GDP
19.8%
2024
38.3%
2022

GDP per capita map

GDP per capita

Compare countries by 7 more topics

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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.