Skip to content

Economy of Bhutan vs Kuwait compared: GDP & Debt

Updated on by Georank team

Bhutan has a GDP of $3.02B compared to $160B for Kuwait, ranking 169/197 and 59/197 by economy size, respectively.

Bhutan has $3.49B in government debt (102.9% of GDP), compared to $4.86B (7.35% of GDP) in Kuwait.

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 $
Kuwait
GDP, current $

GDP, constant 2015 $
Year GDP
Bhutan Kuwait
Current $ Constant $ Current $ Constant $
1962 - - $1,828,107,503 -
1963 - - $1,900,895,857 -
1964 - - $2,071,668,533 -
1965 - - $2,097,199,161 -
1966 - - $2,391,199,044 -
1967 - - $2,441,599,023 -
1968 - - $2,662,798,935 -
1969 - - $2,769,198,892 -
1970 $61,812,113 $126,311,212 $2,873,638,851 $55,498,511,025
1971 $66,289,450 $129,692,690 $3,880,392,195 $59,407,649,076
1972 $70,139,867 $131,201,350 $4,450,537,925 $61,725,008,613
1973 $78,900,289 $133,126,191 $5,408,804,607 $57,669,629,423
1974 $92,901,784 $139,993,193 $13,006,948,296 $50,177,583,545
1975 $86,820,762 $135,363,169 $12,022,811,621 $44,018,581,867
1976 $88,461,263 $147,484,467 $13,132,252,802 $46,926,530,604
1977 $97,884,434 $159,137,561 $14,137,406,741 $45,121,015,041
1978 $94,086,228 $170,478,518 $15,503,557,496 $48,439,563,893
1979 $105,377,995 $178,646,088 $24,749,063,922 $55,172,280,797
1980 $128,669,201 $187,593,999 $28,638,868,356 $44,462,929,931
1981 $139,174,178 $215,962,517 $25,058,020,338 $36,048,439,965
1982 $141,439,317 $223,391,139 $21,577,153,356 $31,813,071,689
1983 $156,704,290 $246,693,105 $20,871,081,080 $34,338,543,611
1984 $160,423,494 $257,934,068 $21,700,082,753 $36,138,434,512
1985 $163,288,815 $268,325,027 $21,445,970,614 $34,597,277,928
1986 $191,218,115 $298,893,145 $17,903,989,745 $37,561,473,256
1987 $242,742,766 $385,734,527 $22,368,704,134 $40,621,287,790
1988 $272,298,067 $404,123,931 $20,690,322,153 $36,537,785,305
1989 $264,798,626 $433,849,538 $24,313,855,653 $45,998,461,858
1990 $287,765,007 $478,896,647 $18,427,777,778 $33,933,574,736
1991 $240,294,286 $476,943,344 $11,009,993,703 $20,018,165,442
1992 $240,233,531 $498,886,989 $19,858,555,215 $36,595,073,928
1993 $225,973,693 $508,796,713 $23,941,391,391 $49,033,910,658
1994 $258,954,708 $533,989,801 $24,848,483,838 $53,170,492,583
1995 $290,490,984 $571,764,867 $27,186,980,647 $55,753,669,973
1996 $303,408,346 $603,584,570 $31,492,373,309 $56,091,050,572
1997 $352,229,077 $636,020,231 $30,350,190,704 $57,478,364,694
1998 $363,458,381 $673,634,664 $25,943,705,784 $59,583,253,865
1999 $399,311,200 $727,417,466 $30,122,365,849 $58,517,304,017
2000 $460,733,418 $751,822,819 $37,718,743,480 $61,264,446,763
2001 $496,110,226 $806,919,210 $34,889,559,870 $61,395,143,785
2002 $559,345,264 $891,192,074 $38,135,788,414 $63,245,767,261
2003 $651,935,430 $960,585,284 $47,874,582,232 $74,203,741,809
2004 $735,348,490 $1,010,125,139 $59,439,090,601 $81,802,426,141
2005 $860,391,000 $1,080,178,039 $80,798,630,137 $90,480,882,329
2006 $942,879,879 $1,141,108,778 $101,557,330,723 $97,280,315,244
2007 $1,255,767,964 $1,324,881,878 $114,634,043,362 $103,108,938,789
2008 $1,317,517,835 $1,384,891,724 $147,379,737,230 $105,665,789,857
2009 $1,331,343,798 $1,491,078,191 $105,968,691,905 $98,188,818,939
2010 $1,708,880,730 $1,668,991,760 $115,416,245,238 $95,861,205,809
2011 $1,977,728,659 $1,810,676,784 $154,039,231,299 $105,091,330,589
2012 $1,973,387,228 $1,904,194,983 $174,047,662,555 $112,054,550,828
2013 $1,943,696,952 $1,937,258,290 $174,168,116,687 $113,342,579,056
2014 $2,089,079,571 $2,051,190,106 $162,650,450,785 $113,910,328,740
2015 $2,187,815,803 $2,187,815,803 $114,585,555,831 $114,585,555,831
2016 $2,357,504,761 $2,373,253,832 $109,406,674,088 $117,938,416,139
2017 $2,591,358,009 $2,422,779,967 $120,687,539,676 $112,380,895,320
2018 $2,583,335,722 $2,507,622,617 $138,646,316,322 $115,463,874,741
2019 $2,735,683,570 $2,651,940,022 $140,856,394,870 $118,077,765,457
2020 $2,457,604,334 $2,380,954,251 $111,045,470,461 $112,389,026,890
2021 $2,768,802,960 $2,486,224,986 $148,350,671,614 $114,268,887,222
2022 $2,898,227,744 $2,615,853,471 $183,502,046,669 $121,991,940,847
2023 $3,019,253,885 $2,743,574,975 $165,384,407,267 $119,958,084,015
2024 - - $160,227,273,001 $116,887,023,751

Economic indicators

Bhutan Kuwait
Gross domestic product
$3.02B
2023
$160B
2024
GDP rank
169/197
2023
59/197
2024
GDP growth
4.18%
2022-2023
-3.12%
2023-2024
GDP per capita
$3,839
2023
$32,214
2024
GDP per capita rank
132/197
2023
38/197
2024
GDP per capita, PPP
$16,254
2023
$51,636
2024
Government debt
$3.49B
2023
$4.86B
2024
Debt-to-GDP ratio
102.9%
2025
7.35%
2025
Government debt per person
$4,432
2023
$978
2024
Government debt per person rank
87/185
2023
143/185
2024
Average annual personal income after taxes
$6,460
2025
$28,320
2025
Market capitalization of domestic companies n/a
$141B
2024
Income share by richest 10%
22.7%
2022
n/a
Income share by poorest 10%
3.6%
2022
n/a
Government expenditure, % of GDP
30.5%
2025
52.3%
2025
Consumer prices inflation
2.4%
2024-2025
2.9%
2023-2024
Central bank interest rate n/a
3.75%
2025
Unemployment rate
3.28%
2024
2.16%
2016
Population
801123
5128257

GDP per capita in Bhutan vs Kuwait

Bhutan's GDP per capita is $3,839, ranking 132/197, compared to $32,214 in Kuwait, ranking 38/197. Adjusted for purchasing power (GDP per capita PPP), Bhutan ranks 109th at $16,254, while Kuwait ranks 41st at $51,636.

Bhutan
GDP per capita

GDP per capita, PPP
Kuwait
GDP per capita

GDP per capita, PPP
Year Current $
Bhutan Kuwait
GDP per capita GDP per capita, PPP GDP per capita GDP per capita, PPP
1962 - - $4,748 -
1963 - - $4,445 -
1964 - - $4,379 -
1965 - - $4,024 -
1966 - - $4,176 -
1967 - - $3,887 -
1968 - - $3,872 -
1969 - - $3,695 -
1970 $200.3 - $3,552 -
1971 $207.7 - $4,486 -
1972 $212.4 - $4,836 -
1973 $230.9 - $5,532 -
1974 $262.8 - $12,527 -
1975 $237.4 - $10,882 -
1976 $233.7 - $11,141 -
1977 $249.9 - $11,238 -
1978 $232.2 - $11,567 -
1979 $251.4 - $17,386 -
1980 $296.9 - $19,032 -
1981 $311 - $15,825 -
1982 $306 - $12,979 -
1983 $328 - $11,965 -
1984 $326 - $11,919 -
1985 $321 - $11,322 -
1986 $365 - $9,077 -
1987 $449 - $10,896 -
1988 $489 - $9,692 -
1989 $462 - $10,965 -
1990 $488 $1,638 $10,938 $30,763
1991 $401 $1,657 $8,147 $23,390
1992 $416 $1,840 $12,146 $36,149
1993 $407 $2,001 $14,318 $48,482
1994 $467 $2,146 $14,930 $53,946
1995 $530 $2,374 $16,168 $57,163
1996 $553 $2,548 $18,201 $56,913
1997 $630 $2,683 $16,977 $57,420
1998 $638 $2,819 $14,067 $58,344
1999 $685 $3,017 $15,854 $56,406
2000 $772 $3,113 $19,296 $58,703
2001 $812 $3,338 $17,374 $58,553
2002 $896 $3,663 $18,513 $59,713
2003 $1,022 $3,942 $22,691 $69,752
2004 $1,130 $4,173 $27,552 $77,227
2005 $1,300 $4,523 $36,123 $84,968
2006 $1,406 $4,860 $42,947 $89,075
2007 $1,850 $5,729 $45,709 $91,435
2008 $1,920 $6,035 $55,585 $90,337
2009 $1,918 $6,466 $37,907 $80,110
2010 $2,436 $7,246 $39,212 $75,184
2011 $2,788 $7,935 $49,170 $79,037
2012 $2,751 $8,577 $52,155 $82,090
2013 $2,680 $8,667 $49,651 $76,813
2014 $2,849 $9,323 $44,369 $68,337
2015 $2,954 $10,214 $29,882 $45,267
2016 $3,152 $11,273 $27,324 $41,862
2017 $3,435 $11,677 $29,048 $46,566
2018 $3,400 $11,970 $32,068 $51,371
2019 $3,577 $12,909 $31,708 $50,703
2020 $3,192 $12,475 $25,236 $41,462
2021 $3,571 $13,459 $34,019 $50,652
2022 $3,711 $15,064 $39,982 $55,043
2023 $3,839 $16,254 $34,076 $53,025
2024 - - $32,214 $51,636

Spending and national debt comparison

In 2024, Bhutan's government spending was $871M, accounting for 30.5% of its GDP, while Kuwait's spent $81.4B, or 52.3% of GDP.

Debt-to-GDP ratio is 102.9% in Bhutan and 7.35% in Kuwait, ranking 20/185 and 182/185, respectively.

Bhutan
Government spending

Government debt
Kuwait
Government spending

Government debt
Year % of GDP
Bhutan Kuwait
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% 121.5% -
1991 30.8% 33.5% 206.5% 45.3%
1992 34.5% 35.6% 76.8% 27.9%
1993 35.2% 60.2% 57.6% 28.8%
1994 37.9% 53.2% 57% 37.7%
1995 38.6% 38.7% 51% 34.9%
1996 37.9% 36.8% 41.9% 26.5%
1997 37.8% 33% 43% 24.3%
1998 31.1% 36.4% 50.9% 25.6%
1999 40.2% 39.2% 43.8% 25.5%
2000 43% 44% 29.3% 21.4%
2001 50.3% 52.4% 40.7% 23%
2002 39.3% 57.7% 42.1% 21.3%
2003 34.7% 68.5% 37.7% 17.2%
2004 31% 76% 34.9% 13.9%
2005 36.4% 80.8% 28.5% 10.2%
2006 33.4% 80.1% 32.1% 7.79%
2007 33.2% 67.3% 30.2% 7.05%
2008 36.1% 60.6% 40.7% 5.38%
2009 39.3% 61% 42.6% 6.65%
2010 41.5% 55.8% 45.3% 6.16%
2011 36.1% 62.3% 39.5% 4.64%
2012 35.1% 71.5% 38% 3.6%
2013 32.5% 92.4% 38.3% 3.09%
2014 28.9% 89.8% 44.9% 3.43%
2015 27.5% 90.2% 55.2% 4.6%
2016 30.5% 107.5% 54% 9.88%
2017 30.6% 104.1% 51.5% 19.6%
2018 31.7% 107.3% 50.6% 14.3%
2019 24.2% 99.7% 49.8% 10.5%
2020 30.9% 114.9% 62.5% 10.2%
2021 36.6% 123.3% 48.1% 7.19%
2022 32.1% 117.3% 39.4% 2.94%
2023 28.8% 115.4% 48.7% 3.17%
2024 27.2% 107.8% 50.8% 3.04%
2025 30.5% 102.9% 52.3% 7.35%

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 Kuwait's surplus of $43.5B, or 26.3% of GDP.

Over the past 34 years, Bhutan recorded a fiscal deficit in 27 of those years, while Kuwait ran a deficit in 5 years. On average, Bhutan posted an annual deficit equal to -2.34% of GDP, compared to surplus of +16.9% of GDP for Kuwait.

Deficit/surplus
Bhutan

Kuwait
Year Deficit/surplus, % of GDP
Bhutan Kuwait
1987 -0.56% -
1988 1.33% -
1989 -10.1% -
1990 -7.21% -47.5%
1991 -0.48% -141.7%
1992 -3.47% -26.5%
1993 4.71% -1.68%
1994 -0.13% 3.43%
1995 -0.88% 13.6%
1996 2.55% 26.1%
1997 -1.92% 31.4%
1998 1.28% 21.3%
1999 -1.28% 29.9%
2000 -3.39% 54.3%
2001 -12.2% 47.1%
2002 -4.33% 32.7%
2003 -10.2% 28.7%
2004 1.8% 33.9%
2005 -6.96% 39.9%
2006 -0.07% 28.6%
2007 0.79% 37.5%
2008 -2.57% 21.6%
2009 -0.8% 31.5%
2010 1.92% 31.9%
2011 -3.02% 38.6%
2012 -2.1% 40.3%
2013 -4.55% 40%
2014 2.46% 29.2%
2015 -0.49% 15.2%
2016 -2.31% 11.5%
2017 -4.49% 13.9%
2018 -1.52% 16.3%
2019 -1.49% 11.6%
2020 -1.81% -1.88%
2021 -5.76% 8.31%
2022 -6.95% 28.2%
2023 -4.7% 26.3%
2024 -0.17% 21.6%
2025 -2.51% 23.6%

Inflation comparison by year

Over the past 29 years, Bhutan has recorded an average annual inflation rate of 5.86%, compared with 2.96% in Kuwait. In 2024, inflation was 2.4% in Bhutan and 2.9% in Kuwait.

Inflation
Bhutan

Kuwait
Year Inflation
Bhutan Kuwait Bhutan Kuwait
1996 8.8% 3.55%
1997 8.6% 0.68%
1998 7.6% 0.13%
1999 9.1% 2.99%
2000 7.2% 1.81%
2001 3.7% 1.3%
2002 2.9% 0.89%
2003 2.5% 0.96%
2004 3.3% 1.25%
2005 4.8% 4.14%
2006 4.9% 3.06%
2007 5.2% 5.48%
2008 6.3% 10.6%
2009 7.1% 4.61%
2010 4.8% 4.5%
2011 8.6% 4.84%
2012 10.1% 3.26%
2013 8.1% 2.68%
2014 9.6% 2.91%
2015 6.7% 3.27%
2016 3.3% 3.2%
2017 4.3% 2.17%
2018 3.6% 0.54%
2019 2.8% 1.09%
2020 3% 2.1%
2021 8.2% 3.42%
2022 5.9% 3.98%
2023 4.5% 3.64%
2024 4.3% 2.9%
2025 2.4% -

Top exports between countries

Bhutan
Export category Export value
Raw agricultural goods $1K
Kuwait
Export category Export value

Balance of trade

Bhutan Kuwait
Current account balance
-$670M
2024
$46.7B
2024
Current account balance ranking
111/189
2024
13/189
2024
Current account balance, % of GDP
-31.9%
2023
+29.1%
2024
Goods imports
$1.29B
2024
$33.4B
2024
Goods exports
$656M
2024
$77.5B
2024
Service imports
$228M
2024
$28.1B
2024
Service exports
$288M
2024
$12.2B
2024
Imports of goods and services, % of GDP
53.2%
2023
30.5%
2022
Exports of goods and services, % of GDP
28.3%
2023
60.4%
2022

Economic freedom indices

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

Bhutan Kuwait
Economic freedom 57.5 59.9
Economic freedom ranking 113/197 98/197
Property rights 69.7 42.7
Government integrity 71.1 46.9
Judicial effectiveness 62.9 42.9
Tax burden 83.4 97.7
Government spending 68.2 38.2
Fiscal health 25.8 100
Business freedom 67.2 57.4
Labor freedom 57.7 49
Monetary freedom 70.5 67.8
Trade freedom 63 75.6
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 59.9 for Kuwait, ranking 98/197. The chart below displays a comparison of annual changes in economic freedom indexes.

Bhutan
Kuwait
Year Economic freedom index
Bhutan Kuwait
1996 - 66.1
1997 - 64.8
1998 - 66.3
1999 - 69.5
2000 - 69.7
2001 - 68.2
2002 - 65.4
2003 - 66.7
2004 - 63.6
2005 - 64.6
2006 - 66.5
2007 - 66.4
2008 - 68.1
2009 57.7 65.6
2010 57 67.7
2011 57.6 64.9
2012 56.6 62.5
2013 55 63.1
2014 56.7 62.3
2015 57.4 62.5
2016 59.5 62.7
2017 58.4 65.1
2018 61.8 62.2
2019 62.9 60.8
2020 62.1 63.2
2021 58.3 64.1
2022 59.3 58.3
2023 59 56.7
2024 55.4 58.5
2025 57.5 59.9

More economic indicators

Bhutan Kuwait
Services, % of GDP
52.7%
2023
55.9%
2024
Industry, % of GDP
29.6%
2023
57.1%
2024
Agriculture, forestry, and fishing, % of GDP
15%
2023
0.49%
2024
GNI, Atlas method
$2.94B
2023
$200B
2024
GNI per capita, PPP
$15,360
2023
$62,460
2024
Total reserves including gold
$941M
2024
$50.7B
2024
Total reserves ranking
143/177
2024
41/177
2024
Net foreign direct investment
-$22.8M
2024
$9.71B
2024
Net inflows of foreign direct investment
$22.8M
2024
$615M
2024
Net outflows of foreign direct investment
n/a
$10.3B
2024
Servicing debt to the IMF, % of GNI
4.86%
2023
n/a
Poverty at national poverty lines
12.4%
2022
n/a
Gross capital formation, % of GDP
45.2%
2023
16.9%
2022

GDP per capita map

GDP per capita

Compare countries by 7 more topics

Economy comparisons

Economy vs Bhutan vs Kuwait
Afghanistan Compare Compare
Albania Compare Compare
Algeria Compare Compare
Andorra Compare Compare
Angola Compare Compare
Antigua Compare Compare
Argentina Compare Compare
Armenia Compare Compare
Australia Compare Compare
Austria Compare Compare
Azerbaijan Compare Compare
Bahamas Compare Compare
Bahrain Compare Compare
Bangladesh Compare Compare
Barbados Compare Compare
Belarus Compare Compare
Belgium Compare Compare
Belize Compare Compare
Benin Compare Compare
Bolivia Compare Compare
Bosnia Compare Compare
Botswana Compare Compare
Brazil Compare Compare
Brunei Compare Compare
Bulgaria Compare Compare
Burkina Faso Compare Compare
Burundi Compare Compare
Cambodia Compare Compare
Cameroon Compare Compare
Canada Compare Compare
Cape Verde Compare Compare
Cayman Islands Compare Compare
CAR Compare Compare
Chad Compare Compare
Chile Compare Compare
China Compare Compare
Colombia Compare Compare
Comoros Compare Compare
Congo Compare Compare
Costa Rica Compare Compare
Croatia Compare Compare
Cuba Compare Compare
Curacao Compare Compare
Cyprus Compare Compare
Czech Republic Compare Compare
DR Congo Compare Compare
Denmark Compare Compare
Djibouti Compare Compare
Dominica Compare Compare
Dominican Republic Compare Compare
East Timor Compare Compare
Ecuador Compare Compare
Egypt Compare Compare
El Salvador Compare Compare
Equatorial Guinea Compare Compare
Eritrea Compare Compare
Estonia Compare Compare
Eswatini Compare Compare
Ethiopia Compare Compare
Fiji Compare Compare
Finland Compare Compare
France Compare Compare
Gabon Compare Compare
Gambia Compare Compare
Georgia Compare Compare
Germany Compare Compare
Ghana Compare Compare
Greece Compare Compare
Grenada Compare Compare
Guatemala Compare Compare
Guinea Compare Compare
Guinea-Bissau Compare Compare
Guyana Compare Compare
Haiti Compare Compare
Honduras Compare Compare
Hungary Compare Compare
Iceland Compare Compare
India Compare Compare
Indonesia Compare Compare
Iran Compare Compare
Iraq Compare Compare
Ireland Compare Compare
Israel Compare Compare
Italy Compare Compare
Ivory Coast Compare Compare
Jamaica Compare Compare
Japan Compare Compare
Jordan Compare Compare
Kazakhstan Compare Compare
Kenya Compare Compare
Kiribati Compare Compare
Kyrgyzstan Compare Compare
Laos Compare Compare
Latvia Compare Compare
Lebanon Compare Compare
Lesotho Compare Compare
Liberia Compare Compare
Libya Compare Compare
Liechtenstein Compare Compare
Lithuania Compare Compare
Luxembourg Compare Compare
Madagascar Compare Compare
Malawi Compare Compare
Malaysia Compare Compare
Maldives Compare Compare
Mali Compare Compare
Malta Compare Compare
Marshall Islands Compare Compare
Mauritania Compare Compare
Mauritius Compare Compare
Mexico Compare Compare
Moldova Compare Compare
Monaco Compare Compare
Mongolia Compare Compare
Montenegro Compare Compare
Morocco Compare Compare
Mozambique Compare Compare
Myanmar Compare Compare
Namibia Compare Compare
Nauru Compare Compare
Nepal Compare Compare
Netherlands Compare Compare
New Zealand Compare Compare
Nicaragua Compare Compare
Niger Compare Compare
Nigeria Compare Compare
North Korea Compare Compare
North Macedonia Compare Compare
Norway Compare Compare
Oman Compare Compare
Pakistan Compare Compare
Palau Compare Compare
Palestine Compare Compare
Panama Compare Compare
Papua New Guinea Compare Compare
Paraguay Compare Compare
Peru Compare Compare
Philippines Compare Compare
Poland Compare Compare
Portugal Compare Compare
Qatar Compare Compare
Romania Compare Compare
Russia Compare Compare
Rwanda Compare Compare
Saint Kitts Compare Compare
Saint Lucia Compare Compare
Saint Vincent Compare Compare
Samoa Compare Compare
San Marino Compare Compare
Sao Tome Compare Compare
Saudi Arabia Compare Compare
Senegal Compare Compare
Serbia Compare Compare
Seychelles Compare Compare
Sierra Leone Compare Compare
Singapore Compare Compare
Slovakia Compare Compare
Slovenia Compare Compare
Solomon Islands Compare Compare
Somalia Compare Compare
South Africa Compare Compare
South Korea Compare Compare
South Sudan Compare Compare
Spain Compare Compare
Sri Lanka Compare Compare
Sudan Compare Compare
Suriname Compare Compare
Sweden Compare Compare
Switzerland Compare Compare
Syria Compare Compare
Taiwan Compare Compare
Tajikistan Compare Compare
Tanzania Compare Compare
Thailand Compare Compare
Togo Compare Compare
Tonga Compare Compare
Trinidad Compare Compare
Tunisia Compare Compare
Turkey Compare Compare
Turkmenistan Compare Compare
Tuvalu Compare Compare
Uganda Compare Compare
Ukraine Compare Compare
UAE Compare Compare
United Kingdom Compare Compare
United States Compare Compare
Uruguay Compare Compare
Uzbekistan Compare Compare
Vanuatu Compare Compare
Vatican Compare Compare
Venezuela Compare Compare
Vietnam Compare Compare
Yemen Compare Compare
Zambia Compare Compare
Zimbabwe Compare Compare

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.