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Economy of Bhutan vs Gambia compared: GDP & Debt

Updated on by Georank team

Bhutan has a GDP of $3.02B compared to $2.51B for the Gambia, ranking 169/197 and 173/197 by economy size, respectively.

Bhutan has $3.49B in government debt (102.9% of GDP), compared to $1.83B (67.5% of GDP) in the Gambia.

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

Bhutan
GDP, current $

GDP, constant 2015 $
Gambia
GDP, current $

GDP, constant 2015 $
Year GDP
Bhutan Gambia
Current $ Constant $ Current $ Constant $
1966 - - $44,212,081 $253,504,726
1967 - - $46,695,007 $253,504,726
1968 - - $41,160,066 $277,780,702
1969 - - $45,168,072 $284,546,115
1970 $61,812,113 $126,311,212 $52,296,084 $302,056,646
1971 $66,289,450 $129,692,690 $55,728,663 $301,857,660
1972 $70,139,867 $131,201,350 $59,160,569 $302,587,264
1973 $78,900,289 $133,126,191 $75,187,749 $330,577,582
1974 $92,901,784 $139,993,193 $95,796,022 $350,011,556
1975 $86,820,762 $135,363,169 $115,179,719 $393,389,990
1976 $88,461,263 $147,484,467 $112,190,829 $422,308,977
1977 $97,884,434 $159,137,561 $138,093,099 $436,834,615
1978 $94,086,228 $170,478,518 $171,833,086 $464,427,039
1979 $105,377,995 $178,646,088 $207,112,628 $458,258,597
1980 $128,669,201 $187,593,999 $241,083,090 $486,991,776
1981 $139,174,178 $215,962,517 $218,767,743 $503,169,127
1982 $141,439,317 $223,391,139 $216,050,552 $499,321,983
1983 $156,704,290 $246,693,105 $213,448,585 $553,664,332
1984 $160,423,494 $257,934,068 $177,340,880 $573,237,790
1985 $163,288,815 $268,325,027 $225,726,359 $568,581,582
1986 $191,218,115 $298,893,145 $185,646,987 $591,842,657
1987 $242,742,766 $385,734,527 $220,626,484 $606,368,444
1988 $272,298,067 $404,123,931 $266,672,212 $633,514,510
1989 $264,798,626 $433,849,538 $284,120,329 $670,864,764
1990 $287,765,007 $478,896,647 $317,083,695 $694,740,031
1991 $240,294,286 $476,943,344 $690,311,081 $716,325,877
1992 $240,233,531 $498,886,989 $714,254,256 $740,528,299
1993 $225,973,693 $508,796,713 $755,040,974 $762,833,762
1994 $258,954,708 $533,989,801 $746,493,952 $764,011,165
1995 $290,490,984 $571,764,867 $785,999,865 $770,748,584
1996 $303,408,346 $603,584,570 $848,239,446 $787,886,530
1997 $352,229,077 $636,020,231 $803,633,342 $826,492,963
1998 $363,458,381 $673,634,664 $840,285,265 $855,420,206
1999 $399,311,200 $727,417,466 $814,724,032 $910,167,091
2000 $460,733,418 $751,822,819 $782,913,872 $960,226,283
2001 $496,110,226 $806,919,210 $687,410,645 $1,015,919,410
2002 $559,345,264 $891,192,074 $578,235,309 $982,902,028
2003 $651,935,430 $960,585,284 $487,038,685 $1,050,427,393
2004 $735,348,490 $1,010,125,139 $961,900,651 $1,124,482,525
2005 $860,391,000 $1,080,178,039 $1,027,701,068 $1,098,037,739
2006 $942,879,879 $1,141,108,778 $1,054,112,488 $1,091,937,250
2007 $1,255,767,964 $1,324,881,878 $1,279,703,047 $1,125,167,625
2008 $1,317,517,835 $1,384,891,724 $1,561,766,956 $1,195,557,049
2009 $1,331,343,798 $1,491,078,191 $1,450,142,509 $1,275,249,586
2010 $1,708,880,730 $1,668,991,760 $1,543,294,927 $1,350,595,614
2011 $1,977,728,659 $1,810,676,784 $1,409,693,597 $1,240,786,190
2012 $1,973,387,228 $1,904,194,983 $1,415,004,738 $1,305,822,858
2013 $1,943,696,952 $1,937,258,290 $1,375,609,453 $1,343,336,129
2014 $2,089,079,571 $2,051,190,106 $1,229,461,721 $1,324,430,252
2015 $2,187,815,803 $2,187,815,803 $1,378,176,609 $1,378,176,609
2016 $2,357,504,761 $2,373,253,832 $1,484,578,886 $1,404,959,537
2017 $2,591,358,009 $2,422,779,967 $1,504,909,463 $1,472,715,274
2018 $2,583,335,722 $2,507,622,617 $1,670,671,328 $1,579,264,609
2019 $2,735,683,570 $2,651,940,022 $1,813,609,692 $1,677,527,292
2020 $2,457,604,334 $2,380,954,251 $1,812,170,891 $1,687,449,653
2021 $2,768,802,960 $2,486,224,986 $2,014,158,842 $1,776,141,480
2022 $2,898,227,744 $2,615,853,471 $2,204,734,527 $1,873,704,901
2023 $3,019,253,885 $2,743,574,975 $2,396,111,021 $1,963,596,061
2024 - - $2,507,519,958 $2,076,438,382

Economic indicators

Bhutan Gambia
Gross domestic product
$3.02B
2023
$2.51B
2024
GDP rank
169/197
2023
173/197
2024
GDP growth
4.18%
2022-2023
4.65%
2023-2024
GDP per capita
$3,839
2023
$909
2024
GDP per capita rank
132/197
2023
182/197
2024
GDP per capita, PPP
$16,254
2023
$3,445
2024
Government debt
$3.49B
2023
$1.83B
2024
Debt-to-GDP ratio
102.9%
2025
67.5%
2025
Government debt per person
$4,432
2023
$663
2024
Government debt per person rank
87/185
2023
157/185
2024
Average annual personal income after taxes
$6,460
2025
$753
2025
Income share by richest 10%
22.7%
2022
30.5%
2020
Income share by poorest 10%
3.6%
2022
2.6%
2020
Government expenditure, % of GDP
30.5%
2025
24%
2025
Consumer prices inflation
2.4%
2024-2025
11.6%
2023-2024
Central bank interest rate n/a
17%
2023
Unemployment rate
3.28%
2024
6.48%
2023
Population
801123
2871879

GDP per capita in Bhutan vs Gambia

Bhutan's GDP per capita is $3,839, ranking 132/197, compared to $909 in the Gambia, ranking 182/197. Adjusted for purchasing power (GDP per capita PPP), Bhutan ranks 109th at $16,254, while the Gambia ranks 172nd at $3,445.

Bhutan
GDP per capita

GDP per capita, PPP
Gambia
GDP per capita

GDP per capita, PPP
Year Current $
Bhutan Gambia
GDP per capita GDP per capita, PPP GDP per capita GDP per capita, PPP
1966 - - $94.4 -
1967 - - $97 -
1968 - - $83.1 -
1969 - - $88.7 -
1970 $200.3 - $99.8 -
1971 $207.7 - $103.3 -
1972 $212.4 - $106.5 -
1973 $230.9 - $131.4 -
1974 $262.8 - $162.6 -
1975 $237.4 - $189.8 -
1976 $233.7 - $179.3 -
1977 $249.9 - $213.8 -
1978 $232.2 - $257.6 -
1979 $251.4 - $300 -
1980 $296.9 - $338 -
1981 $311 - $296 -
1982 $306 - $282.1 -
1983 $328 - $268.6 -
1984 $326 - $214.8 -
1985 $321 - $262.8 -
1986 $365 - $207.7 -
1987 $449 - $237 -
1988 $489 - $274.9 -
1989 $462 - $280.9 -
1990 $488 $1,638 $301 $1,409
1991 $401 $1,657 $628 $1,440
1992 $416 $1,840 $623 $1,462
1993 $407 $2,001 $635 $1,487
1994 $467 $2,146 $608 $1,473
1995 $530 $2,374 $622 $1,472
1996 $553 $2,548 $652 $1,489
1997 $630 $2,683 $600 $1,544
1998 $638 $2,819 $610 $1,572
1999 $685 $3,017 $575 $1,649
2000 $772 $3,113 $538 $1,731
2001 $812 $3,338 $460 $1,823
2002 $896 $3,663 $377 $1,744
2003 $1,022 $3,942 $309 $1,850
2004 $1,130 $4,173 $593 $1,979
2005 $1,300 $4,523 $616 $1,938
2006 $1,406 $4,860 $615 $1,931
2007 $1,850 $5,729 $725 $1,985
2008 $1,920 $6,035 $859 $2,088
2009 $1,918 $6,466 $775 $2,177
2010 $2,436 $7,246 $801 $2,267
2011 $2,788 $7,935 $711 $2,064
2012 $2,751 $8,577 $693 $2,065
2013 $2,680 $8,667 $654 $2,007
2014 $2,849 $9,323 $568 $1,934
2015 $2,954 $10,214 $620 $1,990
2016 $3,152 $11,273 $650 $2,013
2017 $3,435 $11,677 $643 $2,039
2018 $3,400 $11,970 $696 $2,277
2019 $3,577 $12,909 $738 $2,422
2020 $3,192 $12,475 $720 $2,531
2021 $3,571 $13,459 $782 $2,778
2022 $3,711 $15,064 $836 $3,067
2023 $3,839 $16,254 $888 $3,254
2024 - - $909 $3,445

Spending and national debt comparison

In 2024, Bhutan's government spending was $871M, accounting for 30.5% of its GDP, while the Gambia's spent $612M, or 24% of GDP.

Debt-to-GDP ratio is 102.9% in Bhutan and 67.5% in the Gambia, ranking 20/185 and 62/185, respectively.

Bhutan
Government spending

Government debt
Gambia
Government spending

Government debt
Year % of GDP
Bhutan Gambia
Government spending Government debt Government spending Government debt
1987 47.5% 17.3% - -
1988 45.3% 24.7% - -
1989 46.8% 26.4% - -
1990 35.8% 27.4% - -
1991 30.8% 33.5% - -
1992 34.5% 35.6% - -
1993 35.2% 60.2% - -
1994 37.9% 53.2% - -
1995 38.6% 38.7% - -
1996 37.9% 36.8% - -
1997 37.8% 33% - -
1998 31.1% 36.4% - -
1999 40.2% 39.2% - -
2000 43% 44% 9.54% 73.3%
2001 50.3% 52.4% 9.68% 75.2%
2002 39.3% 57.7% 8.59% 93.9%
2003 34.7% 68.5% 9.3% 91.7%
2004 31% 76% 12.4% 81.3%
2005 36.4% 80.8% 12.9% 82.6%
2006 33.4% 80.1% 14% 87.3%
2007 33.2% 67.3% 11.2% 38%
2008 36.1% 60.6% 11.6% 39.5%
2009 39.3% 61% 14.4% 38.9%
2010 41.5% 55.8% 14.6% 42.9%
2011 36.1% 62.3% 16.5% 49.2%
2012 35.1% 71.5% 19.1% 49.5%
2013 32.5% 92.4% 17.2% 58.2%
2014 28.9% 89.8% 19% 71.1%
2015 27.5% 90.2% 19.6% 69.4%
2016 30.5% 107.5% 19.4% 79.3%
2017 30.6% 104.1% 23.6% 87%
2018 31.7% 107.3% 19% 83.6%
2019 24.2% 99.7% 23.9% 83%
2020 30.9% 114.9% 25.3% 85.9%
2021 36.6% 123.3% 21.5% 83.1%
2022 32.1% 117.3% 22.6% 83.9%
2023 28.8% 115.4% 23.8% 75.7%
2024 27.2% 107.8% 24.4% 72.9%
2025 30.5% 102.9% 24% 67.5%

Government deficit by year

In 2023, Bhutan's government deficit, the difference between spending and revenue, was -$142M, equivalent to -4.7% of GDP. This compares to the Gambia's deficit of -$84.3M, or -3.52% of GDP.

Over the past 24 years, Bhutan recorded a fiscal deficit in 20 of those years, while the Gambia ran a deficit in 22 years. On average, Bhutan posted an annual deficit equal to -3.03% of GDP, compared to deficit of -2.94% of GDP for the Gambia.

Deficit/surplus
Bhutan

Gambia
Year Deficit/surplus, % of GDP
Bhutan Gambia
1987 -0.56% -
1988 1.33% -
1989 -10.1% -
1990 -7.21% -
1991 -0.48% -
1992 -3.47% -
1993 4.71% -
1994 -0.13% -
1995 -0.88% -
1996 2.55% -
1997 -1.92% -
1998 1.28% -
1999 -1.28% -
2000 -3.39% -0.09%
2001 -12.2% -2.52%
2002 -4.33% 0.06%
2003 -10.2% -1.73%
2004 1.8% -1.77%
2005 -6.96% -3.33%
2006 -0.07% -3.19%
2007 0.79% 0.27%
2008 -2.57% -0.45%
2009 -0.8% -1.65%
2010 1.92% -2.93%
2011 -3.02% -3.03%
2012 -2.1% -2.85%
2013 -4.55% -5.11%
2014 2.46% -3.94%
2015 -0.49% -5.38%
2016 -2.31% -6.22%
2017 -4.49% -4.35%
2018 -1.52% -3.92%
2019 -1.49% -2.75%
2020 -1.81% -2.37%
2021 -5.76% -4.77%
2022 -6.95% -5.01%
2023 -4.7% -3.52%
2024 -0.17% -3.89%
2025 -2.51% -1.35%

Inflation comparison by year

Over the past 29 years, Bhutan has recorded an average annual inflation rate of 5.86%, compared with 6.55% in the Gambia. In 2024, inflation was 2.4% in Bhutan and 11.6% in the Gambia.

Inflation
Bhutan

Gambia
Year Inflation
Bhutan Gambia Bhutan Gambia
1996 8.8% 1.1%
1997 8.6% 2.78%
1998 7.6% 1.11%
1999 9.1% 3.81%
2000 7.2% 0.84%
2001 3.7% 4.49%
2002 2.9% 8.61%
2003 2.5% 17%
2004 3.3% 14.2%
2005 4.8% 4.84%
2006 4.9% 2.06%
2007 5.2% 5.37%
2008 6.3% 4.44%
2009 7.1% 4.56%
2010 4.8% 5.05%
2011 8.6% 4.8%
2012 10.1% 4.25%
2013 8.1% 5.7%
2014 9.6% 5.95%
2015 6.7% 6.81%
2016 3.3% 7.23%
2017 4.3% 8.03%
2018 3.6% 6.52%
2019 2.8% 7.12%
2020 3% 5.93%
2021 8.2% 7.37%
2022 5.9% 11.5%
2023 4.5% 17%
2024 4.3% 11.6%
2025 2.4% -

Balance of trade

Bhutan Gambia
Current account balance
-$670M
2024
-$74.4M
2024
Current account balance ranking
111/189
2024
84/189
2024
Current account balance, % of GDP
-31.9%
2023
-2.97%
2024
Goods imports
$1.29B
2024
$1.39B
2024
Goods exports
$656M
2024
$363M
2024
Service imports
$228M
2024
$161M
2024
Service exports
$288M
2024
$475M
2024
Imports of goods and services, % of GDP
53.2%
2023
37.2%
2024
Exports of goods and services, % of GDP
28.3%
2023
6.55%
2024

Economic freedom indices

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

Bhutan Gambia
Economic freedom 57.5 56.8
Economic freedom ranking 113/197 116/197
Property rights 69.7 55
Government integrity 71.1 39.5
Judicial effectiveness 62.9 45.2
Tax burden 83.4 79.3
Government spending 68.2 84.8
Fiscal health 25.8 56.9
Business freedom 67.2 50.6
Labor freedom 57.7 48
Monetary freedom 70.5 55.7
Trade freedom 63 66.8
Investment freedom 20 50
Financial freedom 30 50

Economic freedom by year comparison

The Economic Freedom Index for Bhutan is 57.5, ranking 113/197, compared to 56.8 for the Gambia, ranking 116/197. The chart below displays a comparison of annual changes in economic freedom indexes.

Bhutan
Gambia
Year Economic freedom index
Bhutan Gambia
1997 - 52.9
1998 - 53.4
1999 - 52.1
2000 - 52.7
2001 - 56.6
2002 - 57.7
2003 - 56.3
2004 - 55.3
2005 - 56.5
2006 - 57.3
2007 - 57.7
2008 - 56.9
2009 57.7 55.8
2010 57 55.1
2011 57.6 57.4
2012 56.6 58.8
2013 55 58.8
2014 56.7 59.5
2015 57.4 57.5
2016 59.5 57.1
2017 58.4 53.4
2018 61.8 52.3
2019 62.9 52.4
2020 62.1 56.3
2021 58.3 58.8
2022 59.3 58
2023 59 57.9
2024 55.4 58.2
2025 57.5 56.8

More economic indicators

Bhutan Gambia
Services, % of GDP
52.7%
2023
53.9%
2024
Industry, % of GDP
29.6%
2023
14.7%
2024
Agriculture, forestry, and fishing, % of GDP
15%
2023
24.1%
2024
GNI, Atlas method
$2.94B
2023
$2.46B
2024
GNI per capita, PPP
$15,360
2023
$3,400
2024
Total reserves including gold
$941M
2024
$629M
2024
Total reserves ranking
143/177
2024
151/177
2024
Net foreign direct investment
-$22.8M
2024
-$232M
2024
Net inflows of foreign direct investment
$22.8M
2024
$232M
2024
Net outflows of foreign direct investment
n/a
-$665K
2024
Servicing debt to the IMF, % of GNI
4.86%
2023
2.33%
2023
Poverty at national poverty lines
12.4%
2022
53.4%
2020
Gross capital formation, % of GDP
45.2%
2023
39%
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.