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Economy of Benin vs Serbia compared: GDP & Debt

Updated on by Georank team

Benin has a GDP of $21.5B compared to $89.1B for Serbia, ranking 125/197 and 75/197 by economy size, respectively.

Benin has $11.6B in government debt (52.5% of GDP), compared to $39.6B (44.4% of GDP) in Serbia.

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

Benin
GDP, current $

GDP, constant 2015 $
Serbia
GDP, current $

GDP, constant 2015 $
Year GDP
Benin Serbia
Current $ Constant $ Current $ Constant $
1960 $226,195,578 $1,651,120,631 - -
1961 $235,668,221 $1,702,986,961 - -
1962 $236,434,954 $1,644,635,648 - -
1963 $253,927,697 $1,722,427,375 - -
1964 $269,819,006 $1,836,981,870 - -
1965 $289,908,680 $1,934,229,171 - -
1966 $302,925,235 $2,003,394,551 - -
1967 $306,221,953 $2,024,999,131 - -
1968 $326,323,105 $2,102,806,394 - -
1969 $330,748,245 $2,163,314,606 - -
1970 $333,627,713 $2,208,695,702 - -
1971 $335,073,028 $2,175,635,021 - -
1972 $410,331,857 $2,315,449,324 - -
1973 $504,376,074 $2,401,263,703 - -
1974 $554,654,861 $2,481,449,394 - -
1975 $676,870,140 $2,359,973,874 - -
1976 $698,408,262 $2,380,844,453 - -
1977 $750,049,779 $2,499,497,734 - -
1978 $928,843,469 $2,530,868,381 - -
1979 $1,186,231,020 $2,696,279,546 - -
1980 $1,405,251,847 $2,879,134,858 - -
1981 $1,291,120,188 $3,165,730,597 - -
1982 $1,267,778,670 $3,236,486,776 - -
1983 $1,095,348,199 $3,095,770,068 - -
1984 $1,051,134,009 $3,341,259,668 - -
1985 $1,045,712,789 $3,592,867,375 - -
1986 $1,336,102,025 $3,670,873,613 - -
1987 $1,562,412,228 $3,615,810,400 - -
1988 $1,620,246,084 $3,738,937,614 - -
1989 $1,502,294,416 $3,632,222,333 - -
1990 $1,959,965,330 $3,958,255,490 - -
1991 $1,986,437,797 $4,125,523,428 - -
1992 $1,695,315,306 $4,247,544,481 - -
1993 $2,274,558,083 $4,495,438,486 - -
1994 $1,598,075,944 $4,586,264,346 - -
1995 $2,169,627,138 $4,863,513,136 $17,921,892,655 $22,980,131,489
1996 $2,361,116,449 $5,073,825,258 $23,277,430,168 $24,396,847,843
1997 $2,268,301,646 $5,364,793,325 $27,153,408,995 $26,576,270,133
1998 $2,455,092,686 $5,577,293,440 $21,004,077,441 $27,996,145,144
1999 $3,677,393,999 $5,875,201,745 $20,878,694,851 $25,105,401,157
2000 $3,519,991,440 $6,219,354,273 $7,326,373,882 $26,625,556,359
2001 $3,666,222,635 $6,551,040,876 $13,599,378,662 $28,430,374,779
2002 $4,194,342,686 $6,855,207,726 $17,930,583,571 $30,290,019,296
2003 $5,349,258,094 $7,091,272,067 $23,593,044,418 $31,671,150,129
2004 $6,190,270,380 $7,405,393,051 $26,845,632,342 $33,788,958,042
2005 $6,567,654,954 $7,532,259,620 $28,334,256,181 $35,783,688,498
2006 $7,034,111,315 $7,829,312,268 $33,298,057,362 $37,179,489,902
2007 $8,169,048,383 $8,298,002,250 $44,888,028,946 $40,091,414,195
2008 $9,787,734,526 $8,704,320,326 $54,220,641,202 $42,160,489,092
2009 $9,738,626,517 $8,906,198,943 $46,955,984,410 $40,835,549,150
2010 $9,535,345,016 $9,094,481,754 $43,536,629,233 $41,493,398,683
2011 $10,693,321,364 $9,364,019,722 $51,251,098,408 $41,515,918,179
2012 $11,141,358,116 $9,814,543,622 $45,103,269,969 $41,331,605,757
2013 $12,517,845,124 $10,520,350,022 $50,455,529,604 $41,518,250,511
2014 $13,284,527,847 $11,189,200,116 $49,114,321,280 $40,769,149,069
2015 $11,388,160,997 $11,388,160,997 $41,297,410,635 $41,297,410,635
2016 $11,821,065,853 $11,768,488,383 $42,225,495,910 $42,526,090,284
2017 $12,701,655,837 $12,435,945,493 $45,972,834,714 $43,531,149,260
2018 $14,262,408,090 $13,268,812,303 $52,787,520,249 $45,555,064,903
2019 $14,391,686,313 $14,179,807,375 $53,864,693,665 $47,719,025,212
2020 $15,686,741,894 $14,725,558,723 $55,874,017,669 $47,265,683,024
2021 $17,687,623,535 $15,779,238,957 $66,159,884,073 $51,022,858,875
2022 $17,425,405,084 $16,765,906,415 $66,797,564,758 $52,365,263,375
2023 $19,673,290,996 $17,831,007,126 $81,342,660,752 $54,380,001,765
2024 $21,482,643,720 $19,159,972,711 $89,083,506,277 $56,488,865,192

Economic indicators

Benin Serbia
Gross domestic product
$21.5B
2024
$89.1B
2024
GDP rank
125/197
2024
75/197
2024
GDP growth
9.2%
2023-2024
9.52%
2023-2024
GDP per capita
$1,485
2024
$13,524
2024
GDP per capita rank
162/197
2024
74/197
2024
GDP per capita, PPP
$4,435
2024
$31,867
2024
Government debt
$11.6B
2024
$39.6B
2024
Debt-to-GDP ratio
52.5%
2025
44.4%
2025
Government debt per person
$803
2024
$6,015
2024
Government debt per person rank
149/185
2024
74/185
2024
Average annual personal income after taxes
$1,059
2025
$11,469
2025
Market capitalization of domestic companies n/a
$4.06B
2011
Income share by richest 10%
27.2%
2021
24.7%
2022
Income share by poorest 10%
3.1%
2021
2.4%
2022
Government expenditure, % of GDP
18.7%
2025
43.4%
2025
Consumer prices inflation
2.1%
2024-2025
4.67%
2023-2024
Central bank interest rate n/a
5.75%
2024
Unemployment rate
1.69%
2022
7.24%
2024
Population
15100397
6541064

GDP per capita in Benin vs Serbia

Benin's GDP per capita is $1,485, ranking 162/197, compared to $13,524 in Serbia, ranking 74/197. Adjusted for purchasing power (GDP per capita PPP), Benin ranks 162nd at $4,435, while Serbia ranks 69th at $31,867.

Benin
GDP per capita

GDP per capita, PPP
Serbia
GDP per capita

GDP per capita, PPP
Year Current $
Benin Serbia
GDP per capita GDP per capita, PPP GDP per capita GDP per capita, PPP
1960 $89.9 - - -
1961 $92.1 - - -
1962 $90.8 - - -
1963 $95.7 - - -
1964 $99.8 - - -
1965 $105.1 - - -
1966 $107.6 - - -
1967 $106.6 - - -
1968 $111.2 - - -
1969 $110.3 - - -
1970 $108.8 - - -
1971 $106.9 - - -
1972 $127.9 - - -
1973 $153.6 - - -
1974 $164.9 - - -
1975 $196.5 - - -
1976 $197.7 - - -
1977 $207 - - -
1978 $249.8 - - -
1979 $311 - - -
1980 $358 - - -
1981 $320 - - -
1982 $305 - - -
1983 $256 - - -
1984 $238.6 - - -
1985 $230.4 - - -
1986 $285.8 - - -
1987 $324 - - -
1988 $326 - - -
1989 $293.3 - - -
1990 $371 $1,186 - -
1991 $365 $1,239 - -
1992 $302 $1,265 - -
1993 $387 $1,311 - -
1994 $262.1 $1,316 - -
1995 $348 $1,395 $2,349 $5,021
1996 $369 $1,444 $3,054 $5,433
1997 $345 $1,508 $3,574 $6,039
1998 $362 $1,537 $2,775 $6,459
1999 $525 $1,592 $2,769 $5,895
2000 $487 $1,671 $975 $6,414
2001 $492 $1,746 $1,812 $6,803
2002 $546 $1,800 $2,391 $7,563
2003 $676 $1,842 $3,154 $8,024
2004 $759 $1,915 $3,597 $8,716
2005 $779 $1,946 $3,808 $9,398
2006 $809 $2,021 $4,493 $10,466
2007 $912 $2,136 $6,081 $11,686
2008 $1,061 $2,215 $7,377 $13,123
2009 $1,024 $2,213 $6,414 $13,031
2010 $973 $2,220 $5,971 $13,322
2011 $1,059 $2,265 $7,082 $14,298
2012 $1,072 $2,346 $6,263 $14,506
2013 $1,169 $2,512 $7,040 $15,247
2014 $1,204 $2,670 $6,887 $15,296
2015 $1,002 $2,725 $5,820 $15,550
2016 $1,011 $2,842 $5,982 $16,455
2017 $1,055 $2,886 $6,548 $17,285
2018 $1,152 $2,965 $7,560 $18,469
2019 $1,131 $3,149 $7,756 $20,587
2020 $1,200 $3,245 $8,099 $21,013
2021 $1,319 $3,464 $9,681 $23,406
2022 $1,266 $3,844 $10,023 $26,242
2023 $1,394 $4,130 $12,282 $28,748
2024 $1,485 $4,435 $13,524 $31,867

Spending and national debt comparison

In 2024, Benin's government spending was $3.92B, accounting for 18.7% of its GDP, while Serbia's spent $37.8B, or 43.4% of GDP.

Debt-to-GDP ratio is 52.5% in Benin and 44.4% in Serbia, ranking 103/185 and 117/185, respectively.

Benin
Government spending

Government debt
Serbia
Government spending

Government debt
Year % of GDP
Benin Serbia
Government spending Government debt Government spending Government debt
1989 17.1% 50.3% - -
1990 13.3% 45.3% - -
1991 12.6% 44% - -
1992 13.5% 41.8% - -
1993 12% 41.9% - -
1994 13.6% 64.6% - -
1995 14.8% 48.3% - -
1996 13.3% 43.4% - -
1997 12.7% 42.9% - -
1998 10.9% 39.2% - -
1999 10.7% 39.4% - -
2000 15.6% 39.6% 28% 200.6%
2001 15.4% 38% 30.5% 95.9%
2002 15.3% 30.8% 38.6% 68.4%
2003 13.7% 23.4% 37.6% 64.4%
2004 13.4% 21.5% 37.8% 57.6%
2005 14.1% 27% 38.9% 50.1%
2006 13% 8.37% 41.3% 37%
2007 15.8% 14.3% 40.6% 30%
2008 14.5% 18.3% 43.7% 29.4%
2009 17% 18.7% 41.1% 32.6%
2010 14.1% 21% 41.2% 38.2%
2011 14.7% 21.9% 40% 42%
2012 14.2% 19.5% 43.3% 51.7%
2013 14.9% 18.5% 40.6% 54.1%
2014 14.2% 22.3% 42.9% 63.5%
2015 18.2% 30.9% 41% 67.1%
2016 15.4% 35.9% 40.3% 65%
2017 17.8% 39.6% 38.5% 55.3%
2018 16.6% 41.1% 39% 51.1%
2019 14.6% 41.2% 40.2% 49.5%
2020 19.1% 46.1% 46% 54.3%
2021 19.9% 50.3% 44.4% 53.6%
2022 19.9% 54.2% 41.4% 50.9%
2023 19.2% 54.9% 40.6% 45.7%
2024 18.3% 54% 42.4% 44.5%
2025 18.7% 52.5% 43.4% 44.4%

Government deficit by year

In 2024, Benin's government deficit, the difference between spending and revenue, was -$666M, equivalent to -3.1% of GDP. This compares to Serbia's deficit of -$1.54B, or -1.73% of GDP.

Over the past 25 years, Benin recorded a fiscal deficit in 24 of those years, while Serbia ran a deficit in 20 years. On average, Benin posted an annual deficit equal to -2.44% of GDP, compared to deficit of -2.07% of GDP for Serbia.

Deficit/surplus
Benin

Serbia
Year Deficit/surplus, % of GDP
Benin Serbia
1989 0.89% -
1990 -2.37% -
1991 -2.25% -
1992 -1.98% -
1993 -0.41% -
1994 -1.57% -
1995 -1.91% -
1996 -0.11% -
1997 0.47% -
1998 1.83% -
1999 1.94% -
2000 -3.69% -0.15%
2001 -3.27% 0.32%
2002 -3.33% -2.33%
2003 -1.07% -2.39%
2004 -0.7% 0.06%
2005 -1.52% 1.02%
2006 -0.15% -0.9%
2007 0.22% -0.8%
2008 -0.04% -4.25%
2009 -2.24% -3.3%
2010 -0.28% -3.35%
2011 -0.98% -3.75%
2012 -0.22% -6.11%
2013 -1.37% -4.79%
2014 -1.65% -5.61%
2015 -5.55% -3.25%
2016 -4.29% -1.08%
2017 -4.2% 1.32%
2018 -2.98% 0.78%
2019 -0.54% -0.004%
2020 -4.68% -6.91%
2021 -5.71% -3.16%
2022 -5.55% -0.14%
2023 -4.13% -1.21%
2024 -3.1% -1.73%
2025 -2.9% -2.77%

Inflation comparison by year

Over the past 29 years, Benin has recorded an average annual inflation rate of 2.38%, compared with 18.3% in Serbia. In 2024, inflation was 2.1% in Benin and 4.67% in Serbia.

Inflation
Benin

Serbia
Year Inflation
Benin Serbia Benin Serbia
1996 4.9% 95.6%
1997 3.8% 23.3%
1998 5.8% 30.2%
1999 0.3% 42.5%
2000 4.2% 71.1%
2001 4% 95%
2002 2.4% 19.5%
2003 1.5% 9.88%
2004 0.9% 11%
2005 5.4% 16.1%
2006 3.8% 11.7%
2007 1.3% 6.39%
2008 7.4% 12.4%
2009 0.9% 8.12%
2010 2.1% 6.14%
2011 2.7% 11.1%
2012 6.7% 7.33%
2013 0.4% 7.69%
2014 -0.6% 2.08%
2015 0.2% 1.39%
2016 -0.8% 1.12%
2017 1.8% 3.13%
2018 0.8% 1.96%
2019 -0.9% 1.85%
2020 3% 1.58%
2021 1.7% 4.09%
2022 1.4% 12%
2023 2.7% 12.4%
2024 1.2% 4.67%
2025 2.1% -

Top exports between countries

Benin
Export category Export value
Serbia
Export category Export value
Metals $505K
Machinery & equipment $94K
Textiles & consumer goods $62K
Raw agricultural goods $46K
Processed food, beverages & tobacco $21K
Chemicals & pharma $2K

Balance of trade

Benin Serbia
Current account balance
-$1.61B
2023
-$4.31B
2024
Current account balance ranking
134/189
2023
162/189
2024
Current account balance, % of GDP
-8.18%
2023
-4.84%
2024
Goods imports
$4.65B
2023
$39.6B
2024
Goods exports
$4.05B
2023
$32.2B
2024
Service imports
$1.54B
2023
$12.7B
2024
Service exports
$461M
2023
$15.6B
2024
Imports of goods and services, % of GDP
21.8%
2024
58.8%
2024
Exports of goods and services, % of GDP
18.8%
2024
52.7%
2024

Economic freedom indices

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

Benin Serbia
Economic freedom 58.5 64.4
Economic freedom ranking 105/197 71/197
Property rights 44.8 58.9
Government integrity 42.4 37.2
Judicial effectiveness 49.1 50.8
Tax burden 69.4 87.3
Government spending 88.4 40.2
Fiscal health 51.9 91.2
Business freedom 53.7 74.7
Labor freedom 58.7 66.6
Monetary freedom 80.3 68.5
Trade freedom 63 77.2
Investment freedom 50 70
Financial freedom 50 50

Economic freedom by year comparison

The Economic Freedom Index for Benin is 58.5, ranking 105/197, compared to 64.4 for Serbia, ranking 71/197. The chart below displays a comparison of annual changes in economic freedom indexes.

Benin
Serbia
Year Economic freedom index
Benin Serbia
1996 54.5 -
1997 61.3 -
1998 61.7 -
1999 60.6 -
2000 61.5 -
2001 60.1 -
2002 57.3 46.6
2003 54.9 43.5
2004 54.6 -
2005 52.3 -
2006 54 -
2007 55.1 -
2008 55.2 -
2009 55.4 56.6
2010 55.4 56.9
2011 56 58
2012 55.7 58
2013 57.6 58.6
2014 57.1 59.4
2015 58.8 60
2016 59.3 62.1
2017 59.2 58.9
2018 56.7 62.5
2019 55.3 63.9
2020 55.2 66
2021 59.6 67.2
2022 61 65.2
2023 59.8 63.5
2024 57.7 62.7
2025 58.5 64.4

More economic indicators

Benin Serbia
Services, % of GDP
48.9%
2024
58.5%
2024
Industry, % of GDP
17.4%
2024
23.3%
2024
Agriculture, forestry, and fishing, % of GDP
24.2%
2024
3.15%
2024
GNI, Atlas method
$20.6B
2024
$76.2B
2024
GNI per capita, PPP
$4,390
2024
$29,870
2024
Total reserves including gold n/a
$30.5B
2024
Total reserves ranking n/a
55/177
2024
Net foreign direct investment
-$430M
2023
-$4.98B
2024
Net inflows of foreign direct investment
$543M
2024
$5.64B
2024
Net outflows of foreign direct investment
$60.3M
2024
$660M
2024
Servicing debt to the IMF, % of GNI
4.87%
2023
7.86%
2023
Poverty at national poverty lines
36.2%
2021
19.7%
2023
Gross capital formation, % of GDP
35.1%
2024
25.6%
2024

GDP per capita map

GDP per capita

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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.