Benin ranked 126/197 by economy size with a GDP of $21.5B and 162/197 by GDP per capita at $1,485. Benin has $11.5B in government debt, with a debt-to-GDP ratio of 53.4%.
In 2024, Benin made up 0.02% of the world's economy, compared to 0.02% in 1960.
Benin GDP & GDP growth by year
| Year | GDP | GDP growth |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 | $21,482,643,706 | 7.45% |
| 2023 | $19,673,291,004 | 6.35% |
| 2022 | $17,425,405,091 | 6.25% |
| 2021 | $17,687,623,530 | 7.16% |
| 2020 | $15,686,741,884 | 3.85% |
| 2019 | $14,391,686,313 | 6.87% |
| 2018 | $14,262,408,090 | 6.7% |
| 2017 | $12,701,655,837 | 5.67% |
| 2016 | $11,821,065,853 | 3.34% |
| 2015 | $11,388,160,997 | 1.78% |
| 2014 | $13,284,527,847 | 6.36% |
| 2013 | $12,517,845,124 | 7.19% |
| 2012 | $11,141,358,116 | 4.81% |
| 2011 | $10,693,321,364 | 2.96% |
| 2010 | $9,535,345,016 | 2.11% |
| 2009 | $9,738,626,517 | 2.32% |
| 2008 | $9,787,734,526 | 4.9% |
| 2007 | $8,169,048,383 | 5.99% |
| 2006 | $7,034,111,315 | 3.94% |
| 2005 | $6,567,654,954 | 1.71% |
| 2004 | $6,190,270,380 | 4.43% |
| 2003 | $5,349,258,094 | 3.44% |
| 2002 | $4,194,342,686 | 4.64% |
| 2001 | $3,666,222,635 | 5.33% |
| 2000 | $3,519,991,440 | 5.86% |
| 1999 | $3,677,393,999 | 5.34% |
| 1998 | $2,455,092,686 | 3.96% |
| 1997 | $2,268,301,646 | 5.73% |
| 1996 | $2,361,116,449 | 4.32% |
| 1995 | $2,169,627,138 | 6.05% |
| 1994 | $1,598,075,944 | 2.02% |
| 1993 | $2,274,558,083 | 5.84% |
| 1992 | $1,695,315,306 | 2.96% |
| 1991 | $1,986,437,797 | 4.23% |
| 1990 | $1,959,965,330 | 8.98% |
| 1989 | $1,502,294,416 | -2.85% |
| 1988 | $1,620,246,084 | 3.41% |
| 1987 | $1,562,412,228 | -1.5% |
| 1986 | $1,336,102,025 | 2.17% |
| 1985 | $1,045,712,789 | 7.53% |
| 1984 | $1,051,134,009 | 7.93% |
| 1983 | $1,095,348,199 | -4.35% |
| 1982 | $1,267,778,670 | 2.24% |
| 1981 | $1,291,120,188 | 9.95% |
| 1980 | $1,405,251,847 | 6.78% |
| 1979 | $1,186,231,020 | 6.54% |
| 1978 | $928,843,469 | 1.26% |
| 1977 | $750,049,779 | 4.98% |
| 1976 | $698,408,262 | 0.88% |
| 1975 | $676,870,140 | -4.9% |
| 1974 | $554,654,861 | 3.34% |
| 1973 | $504,376,074 | 3.71% |
| 1972 | $410,331,857 | 6.43% |
| 1971 | $335,073,028 | -1.5% |
| 1970 | $333,627,713 | 2.1% |
| 1969 | $330,748,245 | 2.88% |
| 1968 | $326,323,105 | 3.84% |
| 1967 | $306,221,953 | 1.08% |
| 1966 | $302,925,235 | 3.58% |
| 1965 | $289,908,680 | 5.29% |
| 1964 | $269,819,006 | 6.65% |
| 1963 | $253,927,697 | 4.73% |
| 1962 | $236,434,954 | -3.43% |
| 1961 | $235,668,221 | 3.14% |
| 1960 | $226,195,578 | - |
Data sources: World Bank | Economy & Growth (1960–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06).
GeoRank.org/economy/benin | CC BY 
Benin GDP per capita by year
| Year | Current $ | |
|---|---|---|
| GDP per capita | GDP per capita, PPP | |
| 2024 | $1,485 | $4,435 |
| 2023 | $1,394 | $4,130 |
| 2022 | $1,266 | $3,844 |
| 2021 | $1,319 | $3,464 |
| 2020 | $1,200 | $3,245 |
| 2019 | $1,131 | $3,149 |
| 2018 | $1,152 | $2,965 |
| 2017 | $1,055 | $2,886 |
| 2016 | $1,011 | $2,842 |
| 2015 | $1,002 | $2,725 |
| 2014 | $1,204 | $2,670 |
| 2013 | $1,169 | $2,512 |
| 2012 | $1,072 | $2,346 |
| 2011 | $1,059 | $2,265 |
| 2010 | $973 | $2,220 |
| 2009 | $1,024 | $2,213 |
| 2008 | $1,061 | $2,215 |
| 2007 | $912 | $2,136 |
| 2006 | $809 | $2,021 |
| 2005 | $779 | $1,946 |
| 2004 | $759 | $1,915 |
| 2003 | $676 | $1,842 |
| 2002 | $546 | $1,800 |
| 2001 | $492 | $1,746 |
| 2000 | $487 | $1,671 |
| 1999 | $525 | $1,592 |
| 1998 | $362 | $1,537 |
| 1997 | $345 | $1,508 |
| 1996 | $369 | $1,444 |
| 1995 | $348 | $1,395 |
| 1994 | $262.1 | $1,316 |
| 1993 | $387 | $1,311 |
| 1992 | $302 | $1,265 |
| 1991 | $365 | $1,239 |
| 1990 | $371 | $1,186 |
| 1989 | $293.3 | - |
| 1988 | $326 | - |
| 1987 | $324 | - |
| 1986 | $285.8 | - |
| 1985 | $230.4 | - |
| 1984 | $238.6 | - |
| 1983 | $256 | - |
| 1982 | $305 | - |
| 1981 | $320 | - |
| 1980 | $358 | - |
| 1979 | $311 | - |
| 1978 | $249.8 | - |
| 1977 | $207 | - |
| 1976 | $197.7 | - |
| 1975 | $196.5 | - |
| 1974 | $164.9 | - |
| 1973 | $153.6 | - |
| 1972 | $127.9 | - |
| 1971 | $106.9 | - |
| 1970 | $108.8 | - |
| 1969 | $110.3 | - |
| 1968 | $111.2 | - |
| 1967 | $106.6 | - |
| 1966 | $107.6 | - |
| 1965 | $105.1 | - |
| 1964 | $99.8 | - |
| 1963 | $95.7 | - |
| 1962 | $90.8 | - |
| 1961 | $92.1 | - |
| 1960 | $89.9 | - |
Data sources: World Bank | Economy & Growth (1960–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06).
GeoRank.org/economy/benin | CC BY
Benin has a GDP per capita of $1,485, ranking 162/197, a GDP per capita based on purchasing power parity (PPP) of $4,435, ranking 162/197, and a median annual after tax income of $1,091, ranking 194/197.
Benin GDP rankings by year
| Year | Rank | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| GDP | GDP per capita | GDP per capita, PPP | |
| 2024 | 124 | 152 | 148 |
| 2023 | 125 | 162 | 158 |
| 2022 | 128 | 165 | 158 |
| 2021 | 123 | 162 | 160 |
| 2020 | 120 | 164 | 161 |
| 2019 | 130 | 166 | 162 |
| 2018 | 132 | 167 | 162 |
| 2017 | 134 | 167 | 163 |
| 2016 | 134 | 167 | 164 |
| 2015 | 137 | 170 | 165 |
| 2014 | 132 | 168 | 166 |
| 2013 | 133 | 168 | 167 |
| 2012 | 136 | 169 | 165 |
| 2011 | 136 | 169 | 168 |
| 2010 | 137 | 167 | 166 |
| 2009 | 129 | 161 | 164 |
| 2008 | 133 | 161 | 163 |
| 2007 | 133 | 158 | 164 |
| 2006 | 129 | 159 | 164 |
| 2005 | 127 | 153 | 162 |
| 2004 | 122 | 151 | 160 |
| 2003 | 123 | 148 | 160 |
| 2002 | 128 | 152 | 159 |
| 2001 | 129 | 155 | 159 |
| 2000 | 132 | 156 | 160 |
| 1999 | 127 | 149 | 161 |
| 1998 | 140 | 166 | 159 |
| 1997 | 140 | 170 | 158 |
| 1996 | 140 | 164 | 155 |
| 1995 | 137 | 161 | 152 |
| 1994 | 139 | 163 | 151 |
| 1993 | 130 | 148 | 150 |
| 1992 | 138 | 160 | 150 |
| 1991 | 138 | 155 | 148 |
| 1990 | 138 | 154 | 149 |
| 1989 | 123 | 145 | - |
| 1988 | 124 | 145 | - |
| 1987 | 122 | 140 | - |
| 1986 | 118 | 139 | - |
| 1985 | 121 | 145 | - |
| 1984 | 118 | 143 | - |
| 1983 | 116 | 140 | - |
| 1982 | 111 | 135 | - |
| 1981 | 110 | 133 | - |
| 1980 | 106 | 131 | - |
| 1979 | 103 | 125 | - |
| 1978 | 106 | 127 | - |
| 1977 | 106 | 130 | - |
| 1976 | 108 | 124 | - |
| 1975 | 109 | 126 | - |
| 1974 | 109 | 125 | - |
| 1973 | 103 | 123 | - |
| 1972 | 103 | 125 | - |
| 1971 | 105 | 128 | - |
| 1970 | 100 | 128 | - |
| 1969 | 96 | 106 | - |
| 1968 | 96 | 104 | - |
| 1967 | 94 | 102 | - |
| 1966 | 92 | 101 | - |
| 1965 | 92 | 102 | - |
| 1964 | 89 | 99 | - |
| 1963 | 89 | 98 | - |
| 1962 | 89 | 99 | - |
| 1961 | 88 | 94 | - |
| 1960 | 87 | 92 | - |
Data sources: World Bank | Economy & Growth (1960–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06).
GeoRank.org/economy/benin | CC BY
Compared with 2000, in 2024 Benin is ranked 124th out of 182 by GDP (up from 132nd), 152nd by GDP per capita (up from 156th), and 148th by GDP per capita PPP (up from 160th).
Economic indicators
Benin
|
Rank | |
|---|---|---|
| Gross domestic product |
$21.5B
2024 |
126/197 |
| GDP growth |
7.45%
2023-2024 |
10/194 |
| GDP per capita |
$1,485
2024 |
162/197 |
| GDP per capita, PPP |
$4,435
2024 |
162/197 |
| Government debt |
$11.5B
2024 |
123/185 |
| Debt-to-GDP ratio |
53.4%
2024 |
99/185 |
| Government debt per person |
$794
2024 |
151/185 |
| Average annual personal income after taxes |
$1,091
2026 |
194/197 |
| Income share by richest 10% |
27.2%
2021 |
89/169 |
| Income share by poorest 10% |
3.1%
2021 |
49/169 |
| Government expenditure, % of GDP |
18.1%
2024 |
171/195 |
| Consumer prices inflation |
1.2%
2023-2024 |
162/195 |
| Unemployment rate |
1.69%
2022 |
180/196 |
| Population |
15272847
|
76/197 |
Government spending, deficit, and debt by year
| Year | % of GDP | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Government spending | Government debt | Government deficit/surplus | |
| 2024 | 18.1% | 53.4% | -3.06% |
| 2023 | 19.2% | 54.9% | -4.13% |
| 2022 | 19.9% | 54.2% | -5.55% |
| 2021 | 19.9% | 50.3% | -5.71% |
| 2020 | 19.1% | 46.1% | -4.68% |
| 2019 | 14.3% | 40.4% | -0.53% |
| 2018 | 16.5% | 40.8% | -2.96% |
| 2017 | 17.7% | 39.4% | -4.18% |
| 2016 | 15.4% | 35.9% | -4.29% |
| 2015 | 18.2% | 30.9% | -5.55% |
| 2014 | 14.2% | 22.3% | -1.65% |
| 2013 | 14.9% | 18.5% | -1.37% |
| 2012 | 14.2% | 19.5% | -0.22% |
| 2011 | 14.7% | 21.9% | -0.98% |
| 2010 | 14.1% | 21% | -0.28% |
| 2009 | 17% | 18.7% | -2.24% |
| 2008 | 14.5% | 18.3% | -0.04% |
| 2007 | 15.8% | 14.3% | 0.22% |
| 2006 | 13% | 8.37% | -0.15% |
| 2005 | 14.1% | 27% | -1.52% |
| 2004 | 13.4% | 21.5% | -0.7% |
| 2003 | 13.7% | 23.4% | -1.07% |
| 2002 | 15.3% | 30.8% | -3.33% |
| 2001 | 15.4% | 38% | -3.27% |
| 2000 | 15.6% | 39.6% | -3.69% |
| 1999 | 10.7% | 39.4% | 1.94% |
| 1998 | 10.9% | 39.2% | 1.83% |
| 1997 | 12.7% | 42.9% | 0.47% |
| 1996 | 13.3% | 43.4% | -0.11% |
| 1995 | 14.8% | 48.3% | -1.91% |
| 1994 | 13.6% | 64.6% | -1.57% |
| 1993 | 12% | 41.9% | -0.41% |
| 1992 | 13.5% | 41.8% | -1.98% |
| 1991 | 12.6% | 44% | -2.25% |
| 1990 | 13.3% | 45.3% | -2.37% |
| 1989 | 17.1% | 50.3% | 0.89% |
Data sources: International Monetary Fund (IMF) | Fiscal Monitor (1990–2024, retrieved 2026-02-20); International Monetary Fund (IMF) | Public Finances in Modern History (1989–1997, retrieved 2026-02-20).
GeoRank.org/economy/benin | CC BY
This chart shows Benin's government spending, budget balance, and debt over time, each expressed as a share of GDP.
Over the past 36 years, Benin recorded a fiscal deficit in 31 of them, with an average annual deficit equal to 1.84% of GDP. In 2024, government spending reached $3.88B (18.1% of GDP), with a deficit of 3.06%.
The national debt reached $11.5B, ranking 123rd out of 185 countries by total size, with a debt-to-GDP ratio of 53.4%, ranking 99th.
Inflation rate by year
| Year | Inflation |
|---|---|
| 2024 | 1.2% |
| 2023 | 2.7% |
| 2022 | 1.4% |
| 2021 | 1.7% |
| 2020 | 3% |
| 2019 | -0.9% |
| 2018 | 0.8% |
| 2017 | 1.8% |
| 2016 | -0.8% |
| 2015 | 0.2% |
| 2014 | -0.6% |
| 2013 | 0.4% |
| 2012 | 6.7% |
| 2011 | 2.7% |
| 2010 | 2.1% |
| 2009 | 0.9% |
| 2008 | 7.4% |
| 2007 | 1.3% |
| 2006 | 3.8% |
| 2005 | 5.4% |
| 2004 | 0.9% |
| 2003 | 1.5% |
| 2002 | 2.4% |
| 2001 | 4% |
| 2000 | 4.2% |
| 1999 | 0.3% |
| 1998 | 5.8% |
| 1997 | 3.8% |
| 1996 | 4.9% |
| 1995 | 14.5% |
| 1994 | 38.5% |
| 1993 | 0.4% |
| 1992 | 5.9% |
| 1991 | 2.1% |
| 1990 | 1.1% |
| 1989 | -0.2% |
| 1988 | 3.4% |
| 1987 | -1.3% |
| 1986 | 0.4% |
| 1985 | 1.2% |
| 1984 | 10.3% |
| 1983 | -6.1% |
| 1982 | 4.1% |
| 1981 | 0.8% |
| 1980 | 9.6% |
Data sources: International Monetary Fund (IMF) | World Economic Outlook (1980–2024, retrieved 2026-02-20).
GeoRank.org/economy/benin | CC BY
Over the past 20 years, Benin has had an average annual inflation rate of 2.06%. In 2024, inflation was 1.2%. The bar chart above shows consumer price inflation by year.
Balance of trade
|
Benin
|
Rank | |
|---|---|---|
|
Current account balance
|
-$1.61B
2023 |
135/190 |
| Current account balance, % of GDP |
-8.18%
2023 |
157/190 |
| Goods imports |
$4.65B
2023 |
136/189 |
| Goods exports |
$4.05B
2023 |
127/189 |
| Service imports |
$1.54B
2023 |
131/189 |
| Service exports |
$461M
2023 |
151/189 |
| Imports of goods and services, % of GDP |
21.8%
2024 |
161/181 |
| Exports of goods and services, % of GDP |
18.8%
2024 |
150/193 |
Benin top 10 trading partners
Benin's biggest trading partner accounting for 15.4% of all exports and imports is India, with a trade balance between the two of -$518M: Benin exports $86.8M worth of goods and services to India and imports $604M.
Below is the list of the top 10 trade partners of Benin.
| Rank | Country | Trade value | Share of total trade | Export to | Import from | Top export to | Top import from |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |
India
|
$691M | 15.4% | $86.8M | $604M | Raw agricultural goods | Raw agricultural goods |
| 2 |
Bangladesh
|
$481M | 10.7% | $481M | $49K | Textiles & consumer goods | Processed food, beverages & tobacco |
| 3 |
China
|
$476M | 10.6% | $46.4M | $429M | Raw agricultural goods | Machinery & equipment |
| 4 |
France
|
$347M | 7.75% | $11.7M | $335M | Processed food, beverages & tobacco | Chemicals & pharma |
| 5 |
United States
|
$237M | 5.3% | $59.9M | $177M | Processed food, beverages & tobacco | Raw materials & minerals |
| 6 |
Togo
|
$204M | 4.56% | $25.8M | $178M | Processed food, beverages & tobacco | Raw materials & minerals |
| 7 |
Russia
|
$163M | 3.64% | $4.63M | $158M | Raw agricultural goods | Raw materials & minerals |
| 8 |
Ivory Coast
|
$139M | 3.1% | $8.58M | $130M | Machinery & equipment | Chemicals & pharma |
| 9 |
Nigeria
|
$129M | 2.89% | $30.9M | $98.4M | Raw materials & minerals | Raw materials & minerals |
| 10 |
Belgium
|
$122M | 2.72% | $7.36M | $114M | Raw agricultural goods | Machinery & equipment |
Top 10 exports
|
Benin
|
Rank | |
|---|---|---|
| Textiles & consumer goods | $533M | 81/193 |
| Transport & tourism services | $428M | 139/188 |
| Raw agricultural goods | $243M | 103/193 |
| Processed food, beverages & tobacco | $168M | 122/192 |
| Metals | $46.7M | 132/192 |
| Machinery & equipment | $42.2M | 142/193 |
| Raw materials & minerals | $40.4M | 157/193 |
| Government & miscellaneous services | $38.4M | 107/180 |
| Business & finance services | $32.6M | 146/188 |
| Wood & paper products | $16M | 132/192 |
Top 10 imports
|
Benin
|
Rank | |
|---|---|---|
| Raw agricultural goods | $799M | 94/193 |
| Machinery & equipment | $677M | 151/193 |
| Transport & tourism services | $666M | 140/188 |
| Raw materials & minerals | $663M | 145/193 |
| Chemicals & pharma | $390M | 142/193 |
| Metals | $238M | 143/193 |
| Textiles & consumer goods | $185M | 151/193 |
| Animal & marine products | $176M | 118/193 |
| Processed food, beverages & tobacco | $159M | 162/193 |
| IT & IP services | $131M | 105/182 |
Economic freedom indices
|
Benin
|
Rank | |
|---|---|---|
| Economic freedom | 60 | 96/197 |
| Property rights | 46.4 | 99/182 |
| Government integrity | 44.1 | 81/182 |
| Judicial effectiveness | 47.7 | 87/182 |
| Tax burden | 69.4 | 145/182 |
| Government spending | 89.1 | 31/180 |
| Fiscal health | 65.4 | 108/181 |
| Business freedom | 53.3 | 130/182 |
| Labor freedom | 60.2 | 50/182 |
| Monetary freedom | 82.1 | 6/180 |
| Trade freedom | 62.6 | 141/181 |
| Investment freedom | 50 | 102/181 |
| Financial freedom | 50 | 71/181 |
Economic freedom by year
| Year | Index | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Economic freedom | Judicial effectiveness | Tax burden | Government spending | Fiscal health | |
| 2026 | 60 | 47.7 | 69.4 | 89.1 | 65.4 |
| 2025 | 58.5 | 49.1 | 69.4 | 88.4 | 51.9 |
| 2024 | 57.7 | 48.5 | 69.6 | 88.5 | 48.9 |
| 2023 | 59.8 | 43.6 | 69.6 | 90.4 | 73.8 |
| 2022 | 61 | 55.3 | 68.4 | 91.6 | 83.4 |
| 2021 | 59.6 | 37 | 68.4 | 92 | 86.3 |
| 2020 | 55.2 | 36.4 | 69 | 84.2 | 46.6 |
| 2019 | 55.3 | 32.8 | 69.3 | 83.4 | 27.9 |
| 2018 | 56.7 | 31.3 | 67.4 | 85.6 | 49.7 |
| 2017 | 59.2 | 29.4 | 68.6 | 85.9 | 71.3 |
| 2016 | 59.3 | - | 68.1 | 84.9 | - |
| 2015 | 58.8 | - | 68.3 | 86.7 | - |
| 2014 | 57.1 | - | 68.3 | 86.1 | - |
| 2013 | 57.6 | - | 76.1 | 86.1 | - |
| 2012 | 55.7 | - | 76.2 | 79.9 | - |
| 2011 | 56 | - | 75.8 | 84.1 | - |
| 2010 | 55.4 | - | 75.9 | 85.2 | - |
| 2009 | 55.4 | - | 67.2 | 88.5 | - |
| 2008 | 55.2 | - | 67.5 | 86.4 | - |
| 2007 | 55.1 | - | 67.8 | 87 | - |
| 2006 | 54 | - | 67.3 | 86.6 | - |
| 2005 | 52.3 | - | 52.2 | 88.5 | - |
| 2004 | 54.6 | - | 52.4 | 87.6 | - |
| 2003 | 54.9 | - | 52.3 | 87.9 | - |
| 2002 | 57.3 | - | 71.4 | 90.3 | - |
| 2001 | 60.1 | - | 71.5 | 97 | - |
| 2000 | 61.5 | - | 71.5 | 97.6 | - |
| 1999 | 60.6 | - | 71.7 | 88.6 | - |
| 1998 | 61.7 | - | 71.8 | 85.3 | - |
| 1997 | 61.3 | - | 71.9 | 88.2 | - |
| 1996 | 54.5 | - | 72.1 | 90.5 | - |
Data sources: The Heritage Foundation | Economic Freedom Index (1996–2026, retrieved 2026-03-09).
GeoRank.org/economy/benin | CC BY
Benin is ranked 86/174 for economic freedom with a score of 60, compared to 116/162 and a score of 54 in 2006.
Other economic metrics
|
Benin
|
Rank | |
|---|---|---|
| Services, % of GDP |
48.9%
2024 |
139/191 |
| Industry, % of GDP |
17.4%
2024 |
146/194 |
| Agriculture, forestry, and fishing, % of GDP |
24.2%
2024 |
24/193 |
|
GNI, Atlas method
|
$20.6B
2024 |
121/194 |
| GNI per capita, PPP |
$4,390
2024 |
159/191 |
|
Net foreign direct investment
|
-$430M
2023 |
97/189 |
|
Net inflows of foreign direct investment
|
$543M
2024 |
115/193 |
|
Net outflows of foreign direct investment
|
$60.3M
2024 |
97/193 |
|
Servicing debt to the IMF, % of GNI
|
5.38%
2024 |
49/121 |
| Poverty at national poverty lines |
36.2%
2021 |
48/176 |
|
Gross capital formation, % of GDP
|
35.1%
2024 |
15/178 |
Compare Benin vs other countries
GDP per capita map
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/benin | CC BY
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Data sources:
- World Bank | Economy & Growth (1960–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06)
- International Monetary Fund (IMF) | Fiscal Monitor (1990–2024, retrieved 2026-02-20)
- The Heritage Foundation | Economic Freedom Index (1996–2026, retrieved 2026-03-09)
- U.S. Census Bureau (1985–2024, retrieved 2026-02-08)
- TradeMap (2021–2024, retrieved 2026-02-08)
- International Monetary Fund (IMF) | Public Finances in Modern History (1989–1997, retrieved 2026-02-20)
- United Nations | World Population Prospects (2026, retrieved 2026-03-10)
- LivingCost (2026, retrieved 2025-10-14)
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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.