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Economy of Bhutan vs Gabon compared: GDP & Debt

Updated on by Georank team

Bhutan has a GDP of $3.01B compared to $20.9B for Gabon, ranking 170/197 and 127/197 by economy size, respectively.

Bhutan has $3.53B in government debt (110.4% of GDP), compared to $15.2B (72.7% of GDP) in Gabon.

Bhutan vs Gabon GDP by year

Bhutan
Gabon
1x
Year GDP, current $
Bhutan Gabon
2024 - $20,895,684,426
2023 $3,012,896,789 $19,388,372,071
2022 $2,898,227,744 $20,440,655,695
2021 $2,768,802,960 $19,444,935,097
2020 $2,457,604,334 $15,342,236,164
2019 $2,735,683,570 $16,874,405,465
2018 $2,583,335,722 $16,867,326,402
2017 $2,591,358,009 $14,929,487,485
2016 $2,357,504,761 $14,023,890,265
2015 $2,187,815,803 $14,383,107,763
2014 $2,089,079,571 $18,203,966,896
2013 $1,943,696,952 $17,595,744,798
2012 $1,973,387,228 $17,170,464,016
2011 $1,977,728,659 $18,210,307,744
2010 $1,708,880,730 $14,372,593,020
2009 $1,331,343,798 $12,113,699,068
2008 $1,317,517,835 $15,571,348,344
2007 $1,255,767,964 $12,455,409,587
2006 $942,879,879 $10,327,598,306
2005 $860,391,000 $9,582,783,991
2004 $735,348,490 $7,770,219,008
2003 $651,935,430 $6,511,903,365
2002 $559,345,264 $5,335,451,100
2001 $496,110,226 $5,023,265,413
2000 $460,733,418 $5,080,483,629
1999 $399,311,200 $4,662,992,036
1998 $363,458,381 $4,483,417,310
1997 $352,229,077 $5,326,817,115
1996 $303,408,346 $5,694,040,003
1995 $290,490,984 $4,958,845,648
1994 $258,954,708 $4,190,819,344
1993 $225,973,693 $4,378,645,081
1992 $240,233,531 $5,592,390,827
1991 $240,294,286 $5,402,919,785
1990 $287,765,007 $5,952,293,765
1989 $264,798,626 $4,186,411,464
1988 $272,298,067 $3,834,503,376
1987 $242,742,766 $3,281,797,043
1986 $191,218,115 $3,403,638,189
1985 $163,288,815 $3,339,914,757
1984 $160,423,494 $3,561,451,561
1983 $156,704,290 $3,391,275,732
1982 $141,439,317 $3,618,007,841
1981 $139,174,178 $3,862,269,121
1980 $128,669,201 $4,279,637,942
1979 $105,377,995 $3,030,251,120
1978 $94,086,228 $2,389,479,272
1977 $97,884,434 $2,809,349,069
1976 $88,461,263 $3,009,409,974
1975 $86,820,762 $2,157,592,940
1974 $92,901,784 $1,544,216,002
1973 $78,900,289 $722,780,701
1972 $70,139,867 $430,508,359
1971 $66,289,450 $381,687,073
1970 $61,812,113 $323,802,476
1969 - $318,124,701
1968 - $294,468,564
1967 - $271,543,680
1966 - $245,849,781
1965 - $226,474,286
1964 - $215,679,855
1963 - $154,480,244
1962 - $182,796,536
1961 - $167,637,907
1960 - $141,468,978

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

GeoRank.org/economy/bhutan/gabon | CC BY

GDP per capita in Bhutan vs Gabon by year

Bhutan
GDP per capita

GDP per capita, PPP
Gabon
GDP per capita

GDP per capita, PPP
1x
Year Current $
Bhutan Gabon
GDP per capita GDP per capita, PPP GDP per capita GDP per capita, PPP
2024 - - $8,230 $21,510
2023 $3,831 $16,215 $7,803 $20,756
2022 $3,711 $15,064 $8,409 $19,993
2021 $3,571 $13,459 $8,181 $18,524
2020 $3,192 $12,475 $6,606 $14,477
2019 $3,577 $12,909 $7,441 $15,950
2018 $3,400 $11,970 $7,624 $15,432
2017 $3,435 $11,677 $6,922 $14,797
2016 $3,152 $11,273 $6,677 $13,998
2015 $2,954 $10,214 $7,047 $14,306
2014 $2,849 $9,323 $9,201 $14,854
2013 $2,680 $8,667 $9,198 $14,498
2012 $2,751 $8,577 $9,297 $14,620
2011 $2,788 $7,935 $10,219 $14,784
2010 $2,436 $7,246 $8,357 $14,015
2009 $1,918 $6,466 $7,291 $13,384
2008 $1,920 $6,035 $9,689 $13,734
2007 $1,850 $5,729 $8,004 $14,391
2006 $1,406 $4,860 $6,847 $13,637
2005 $1,300 $4,523 $6,548 $14,028
2004 $1,130 $4,173 $5,466 $13,638
2003 $1,022 $3,942 $4,711 $13,564
2002 $896 $3,663 $3,966 $13,369
2001 $812 $3,338 $3,836 $13,556
2000 $772 $3,113 $3,983 $13,326
1999 $685 $3,017 $3,751 $13,629
1998 $638 $2,819 $3,700 $15,138
1997 $630 $2,683 $4,509 $14,837
1996 $553 $2,548 $4,943 $14,147
1995 $530 $2,374 $4,415 $13,750
1994 $467 $2,146 $3,828 $13,164
1993 $407 $2,001 $4,106 $12,757
1992 $416 $1,840 $5,386 $12,312
1991 $401 $1,657 $5,345 $12,760
1990 $488 $1,638 $6,051 $11,952
1989 $462 - $4,374 -
1988 $489 - $4,119 -
1987 $449 - $3,624 -
1986 $365 - $3,865 -
1985 $321 - $3,898 -
1984 $326 - $4,273 -
1983 $328 - $4,182 -
1982 $306 - $4,584 -
1981 $311 - $5,026 -
1980 $296.9 - $5,718 -
1979 $251.4 - $4,155 -
1978 $232.2 - $3,360 -
1977 $249.9 - $4,048 -
1976 $233.7 - $4,441 -
1975 $237.4 - $3,258 -
1974 $262.8 - $2,384 -
1973 $230.9 - $1,140 -
1972 $212.4 - $693 -
1971 $207.7 - $627 -
1970 $200.3 - $543 -
1969 - - $545 -
1968 - - $515 -
1967 - - $482 -
1966 - - $443 -
1965 - - $415 -
1964 - - $400 -
1963 - - $290.7 -
1962 - - $348 -
1961 - - $323 -
1960 - - $276.1 -

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

GeoRank.org/economy/bhutan/gabon | CC BY

Bhutan's GDP per capita is $3,831, ranking 132/197, compared to $8,230 in Gabon, ranking 93/197. Adjusted for purchasing power (GDP per capita PPP), Bhutan ranks 109th at $16,215, while Gabon ranks 90th at $21,510.

Economic indicators

Bhutan Gabon
Gross domestic product
$3.01B
2023
$20.9B
2024
GDP rank
170/197
2023
127/197
2024
GDP growth
4.63%
2022-2023
3.39%
2023-2024
GDP per capita
$3,831
2023
$8,230
2024
GDP per capita rank
132/197
2023
93/197
2024
GDP per capita, PPP
$16,215
2023
$21,510
2024
GDP per capita PPP rank
109/197
2023
90/197
2024
Government debt
$3.53B
2023
$15.2B
2024
Debt-to-GDP ratio
110.4%
2024
72.7%
2024
Government debt per person
$4,485
2023
$5,985
2024
Government debt per person rank
87/185
2023
75/185
2024
Average annual personal income after taxes
$5,506
2026
$5,368
2026
Income share by richest 10%
22.7%
2022
27.7%
2017
Income share by poorest 10%
3.6%
2022
2.2%
2017
Government expenditure, % of GDP
27.1%
2024
24.8%
2024
Consumer prices inflation
4.3%
2023-2024
1.17%
2023-2024
Unemployment rate
3.28%
2024
20.4%
2010
Population
803385
2663339

Spending and national debt comparison by year

Bhutan
Spending

Debt
Gabon
Spending

Debt
1x
Year % of GDP
Bhutan Gabon
Government spending Government debt Government spending Government debt
2024 27.1% 110.4% 24.8% 72.7%
2023 28.8% 117.1% 21.5% 70.6%
2022 32.1% 119.9% 19.7% 65.6%
2021 36.6% 124.5% 17.3% 72.9%
2020 30.9% 116% 19.8% 83%
2019 24.2% 100.8% 17.4% 59.8%
2018 31.7% 103.4% 17.1% 62.3%
2017 30.6% 104.1% 18.1% 62.9%
2016 30.5% 103% 21.8% 64.5%
2015 27.5% 90.2% 22.3% 44.7%
2014 28.9% 89.8% 23.8% 34.1%
2013 32.5% 87.4% 34.7% 31.1%
2012 35.1% 71.5% 23.9% 21.4%
2011 36.1% 62.3% 22.1% 21.4%
2010 41.5% 55.8% 23.1% 21.3%
2009 39.3% 61% 22.6% 26%
2008 36.1% 60.6% 18.9% 20.1%
2007 33.2% 67.3% 19.4% 39.2%
2006 33.4% 80.1% 21.1% 34.9%
2005 36.4% 80.8% 20.8% 41.7%
2004 31% 76% 20.9% 60.3%
2003 34.7% 68.5% 21.2% 70.2%
2002 39.3% 57.7% 25.7% 81.1%
2001 50.3% 52.4% 27.8% 81%
2000 43% 44% 20.3% 72.5%
1999 40.2% 39.2% 25.5% 73.1%
1998 31.1% 36.4% 45.5% 87.6%
1997 37.8% 33% 29.7% 57%
1996 37.9% 36.8% 22.2% 64.5%
1995 38.6% 38.7% 25.1% 73.4%
1994 37.9% 53.2% 23.9% 71.3%
1993 35.2% 60.2% 26.9% 90.1%
1992 34.5% 35.6% 26.5% 87.9%
1991 30.8% 33.5% 25.1% 89.3%
1990 35.8% 27.4% 22.6% 90%
1989 46.8% 26.4% - -
1988 45.3% 24.7% - -
1987 47.5% 17.3% - -

Data sources: International Monetary Fund (IMF) | Fiscal Monitor (1990–2024, retrieved 2026-02-20); International Monetary Fund (IMF) | Public Finances in Modern History (1987–1992, retrieved 2026-02-20).

GeoRank.org/economy/bhutan/gabon | CC BY

In 2024, Bhutan's government spending was $869M, accounting for 27.1% of its GDP, while Gabon spent $5.18B, or 24.8% of GDP.

Debt-to-GDP ratio is 110.4% in Bhutan and 72.7% in Gabon, ranking 17/185 and 51/185, respectively.

Government deficit by year

Deficit/surplus
Bhutan

Gabon
1x
Year Deficit/surplus, % of GDP
Bhutan Gabon
2024 -0.17% -3.84%
2023 -4.73% 1.79%
2022 -6.95% -0.89%
2021 -5.76% -1.93%
2020 -1.81% -2.19%
2019 -1.49% 2.13%
2018 -1.52% -0.21%
2017 -4.49% -1.7%
2016 -2.31% -4.71%
2015 -0.49% -1.12%
2014 2.46% 5.98%
2013 -4.55% -3.07%
2012 -2.1% 6.2%
2011 -3.02% 1.41%
2010 1.92% 2.7%
2009 -0.8% 6.77%
2008 -2.57% 11%
2007 0.79% 8.06%
2006 -0.07% 8.67%
2005 -6.96% 7.98%
2004 1.8% 6.99%
2003 -10.2% 7.75%
2002 -4.33% 3.72%
2001 -12.2% 4.07%
2000 -3.39% 11.1%
1999 -1.28% 1.11%
1998 1.28% -13.1%
1997 -1.92% 1.41%
1996 2.55% 2.12%
1995 -0.88% 2.64%
1994 -0.13% -1.53%
1993 4.71% -5.35%
1992 -3.47% -4.9%
1991 -0.48% -2.03%
1990 -7.21% -3.83%
1989 -10.1% -
1988 1.33% -
1987 -0.56% -

Data sources: International Monetary Fund (IMF) | Fiscal Monitor (1990–2024, retrieved 2026-02-20); International Monetary Fund (IMF) | Public Finances in Modern History (1987–1989, retrieved 2026-02-20).

GeoRank.org/economy/bhutan/gabon | CC BY

In 2023, Bhutan's government deficit, the difference between spending and revenue, was $142M, equivalent to 4.73% of GDP. This compares to Gabon's surplus of $348M, or 1.79% of GDP.

Over the past 34 years, Bhutan recorded a fiscal deficit in 27 of those years, while Gabon ran a deficit in 14 years. On average, Bhutan posted an annual deficit equal to 2.34% of GDP, compared to surplus of 1.68% of GDP for Gabon.

Inflation comparison by year

Inflation
Bhutan

Gabon
1x
Year Consumer prices inflation
Bhutan Gabon
2024 4.3% 1.17%
2023 4.5% 3.63%
2022 5.9% 4.23%
2021 8.2% 1.09%
2020 3% 1.35%
2019 2.8% 2.46%
2018 3.6% 4.75%
2017 4.3% 2.65%
2016 3.3% 2.11%
2015 6.7% -0.34%
2014 9.6% 4.69%
2013 8.1% 0.51%
2012 10.1% 2.65%
2011 8.6% 1.26%
2010 4.8% 1.46%
2009 7.1% 1.89%
2008 6.3% 5.26%
2007 5.2% 5.03%
2006 4.9% -1.41%
2005 4.8% 3.71%
2004 3.3% 0.41%
2003 2.5% 2.24%
2002 2.9% 0.04%
2001 3.7% 2.14%
2000 7.2% 0.5%
1999 9.1% -1.94%
1998 7.6% 1.45%
1997 8.6% 3.97%

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/bhutan/gabon | CC BY

Over the past 28 years, Bhutan has recorded an average annual inflation rate of 5.75%, compared with 2.03% in Gabon. In 2024, inflation was 4.3% in Bhutan and 1.17% in Gabon.

Balance of trade

Bhutan Gabon
Current account balance
-$670M
2024
$141M
2015
Current account balance ranking
114/190
2024
66/190
2015
Current account balance, % of GDP
-32%
2023
+0.98%
2015
Goods imports
$1.29B
2024
$3.17B
2015
Goods exports
$656M
2024
$5.11B
2015
Service imports
$228M
2024
$1.88B
2015
Service exports
$288M
2024
$277M
2015
Imports of goods and services, % of GDP
53.3%
2023
27.5%
2024
Exports of goods and services, % of GDP
28.4%
2023
64.6%
2024

Economic freedom indices

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

Bhutan Gabon
Economic freedom 57.5 56.6
Economic freedom ranking 115/197 120/197
Property rights 69.2 30
Government integrity 72.2 22.6
Judicial effectiveness 61.8 19.9
Tax burden 83.4 76.5
Government spending 74.1 85.5
Fiscal health 25.8 87.9
Business freedom 67.8 63.6
Labor freedom 60.1 55.4
Monetary freedom 71.6 80.9
Trade freedom 63.4 57.4
Investment freedom 20 60
Financial freedom 20 40

Economic freedom comparison by year

Bhutan
Gabon
1x
Year Economic freedom index
Bhutan Gabon
2026 57.5 56.6
2025 57.5 56.3
2024 55.4 56.9
2023 59 56.1
2022 59.3 55.8
2021 58.3 58.1
2020 62.1 56.7
2019 62.9 56.3
2018 61.8 58
2017 58.4 58.6
2016 59.5 59
2015 57.4 58.3
2014 56.7 57.8
2013 55 57.8
2012 56.6 56.4
2011 57.6 56.7
2010 57 55.4
2009 57.7 55
2008 - 54.2
2007 - 54.8
2006 - 56.1
2005 - 54.8
2004 - 57.1
2003 - 58.7
2002 - 58
2001 - 55
2000 - 58.2
1999 - 60.5
1998 - 59.2
1997 - 58.8
1996 - 55.7
1995 - 57.5

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

GeoRank.org/economy/bhutan/gabon | CC BY

The Economic Freedom Index for Bhutan is 57.5, ranking 115/197, compared to 56.6 for Gabon, ranking 120/197. The chart above displays a comparison of annual changes in economic freedom indexes.

Other economic metrics

Bhutan Gabon
Services, % of GDP
52.8%
2023
36.8%
2024
Industry, % of GDP
29.4%
2023
52.9%
2024
Agriculture, forestry, and fishing, % of GDP
15%
2023
6.56%
2024
GNI, Atlas method
$2.93B
2023
$19.8B
2024
GNI per capita, PPP
$15,320
2023
$20,400
2024
Total reserves including gold
$941M
2024
$1.45B
2023
Total reserves ranking
143/177
2024
136/177
2023
Net foreign direct investment
-$22.8M
2024
-$25.3M
2015
Net inflows of foreign direct investment
$2.82M
2024
$1.14B
2024
Net outflows of foreign direct investment
$0
2024
-$33.8M
2019
Servicing debt to the IMF, % of GNI
4.96%
2023
5.67%
2024
Poverty at national poverty lines
12.4%
2022
33.4%
2017
Gross capital formation, % of GDP
45.3%
2023
19.1%
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/bhutan/gabon | CC BY

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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 (1987–1992, retrieved 2026-02-20)
  6. United Nations | World Population Prospects (2026, retrieved 2026-03-10)
  7. LivingCost (2026, retrieved 2025-10-14)

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.