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Economy of Bhutan vs Madagascar compared: GDP & Debt

Updated on by Georank team

Bhutan has a GDP of $3.01B compared to $17.4B for Madagascar, ranking 170/197 and 136/197 by economy size, respectively.

Bhutan has $3.53B in government debt (110.4% of GDP), compared to $8.77B (50.3% of GDP) in Madagascar.

Bhutan vs Madagascar GDP by year

Bhutan
Madagascar
1x
Year GDP, current $
Bhutan Madagascar
2024 - $17,420,501,490
2023 $3,012,896,789 $15,869,945,478
2022 $2,898,227,744 $15,325,603,273
2021 $2,768,802,960 $14,354,731,964
2020 $2,457,604,334 $13,051,441,204
2019 $2,735,683,570 $14,104,664,679
2018 $2,583,335,722 $13,760,033,282
2017 $2,591,358,009 $13,176,313,594
2016 $2,357,504,761 $11,848,613,858
2015 $2,187,815,803 $11,323,020,701
2014 $2,089,079,571 $12,522,957,399
2013 $1,943,696,952 $12,423,555,455
2012 $1,973,387,228 $11,578,975,062
2011 $1,977,728,659 $11,551,819,618
2010 $1,708,880,730 $9,982,711,338
2009 $1,331,343,798 $9,616,879,409
2008 $1,317,517,835 $10,725,137,724
2007 $1,255,767,964 $8,524,620,890
2006 $942,879,879 $6,395,712,491
2005 $860,391,000 $5,859,269,753
2004 $735,348,490 $5,064,732,626
2003 $651,935,430 $6,372,498,890
2002 $559,345,264 $5,351,701,663
2001 $496,110,226 $5,438,332,602
2000 $460,733,418 $4,629,247,204
1999 $399,311,200 $4,277,903,780
1998 $363,458,381 $4,401,967,633
1997 $352,229,077 $4,262,965,420
1996 $303,408,346 $4,931,861,039
1995 $290,490,984 $3,838,100,904
1994 $258,954,708 $3,522,227,092
1993 $225,973,693 $4,063,298,919
1992 $240,233,531 $3,714,966,678
1991 $240,294,286 $3,254,713,056
1990 $287,765,007 $3,931,334,875
1989 $264,798,626 $3,175,638,333
1988 $272,298,067 $3,189,456,965
1987 $242,742,766 $3,212,900,556
1986 $191,218,115 $4,347,989,788
1985 $163,288,815 $3,802,557,895
1984 $160,423,494 $3,905,938,481
1983 $156,704,290 $4,686,457,031
1982 $141,439,317 $4,784,977,326
1981 $139,174,178 $4,759,333,998
1980 $128,669,201 $5,201,818,348
1979 $105,377,995 $3,463,565,854
1978 $94,086,228 $2,669,755,115
1977 $97,884,434 $2,358,930,406
1976 $88,461,263 $2,181,844,179
1975 $86,820,762 $2,283,049,215
1974 $92,901,784 $1,917,508,190
1973 $78,900,289 $1,653,062,335
1972 $70,139,867 $1,341,590,690
1971 $66,289,450 $1,199,507,631
1970 $61,812,113 $1,111,859,571
1969 - $1,056,391,056
1968 - $1,031,669,637
1967 - $956,436,932
1966 - $900,264,585
1965 - $833,563,473
1964 - $802,482,184
1963 - $759,345,864
1962 - $739,286,908
1961 - $699,161,945
1960 - $673,081,725

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

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

GDP per capita in Bhutan vs Madagascar by year

Bhutan
GDP per capita

GDP per capita, PPP
Madagascar
GDP per capita

GDP per capita, PPP
1x
Year Current $
Bhutan Madagascar
GDP per capita GDP per capita, PPP GDP per capita GDP per capita, PPP
2024 - - $545 $1,884
2023 $3,831 $16,215 $509 $1,808
2022 $3,711 $15,064 $504 $1,717
2021 $3,571 $13,459 $483 $1,577
2020 $3,192 $12,475 $451 $1,490
2019 $3,577 $12,909 $500 $1,612
2018 $3,400 $11,970 $500 $1,547
2017 $3,435 $11,677 $492 $1,547
2016 $3,152 $11,273 $454 $1,562
2015 $2,954 $10,214 $445 $1,497
2014 $2,849 $9,323 $506 $1,499
2013 $2,680 $8,667 $515 $1,473
2012 $2,751 $8,577 $494 $1,464
2011 $2,788 $7,935 $506 $1,475
2010 $2,436 $7,246 $450 $1,464
2009 $1,918 $6,466 $446 $1,480
2008 $1,920 $6,035 $513 $1,577
2007 $1,850 $5,729 $420 $1,493
2006 $1,406 $4,860 $324 $1,416
2005 $1,300 $4,523 $306 $1,343
2004 $1,130 $4,173 $272.2 $1,280
2003 $1,022 $3,942 $353 $1,219
2002 $896 $3,663 $305 $1,121
2001 $812 $3,338 $319 $1,299
2000 $772 $3,113 $280.3 $1,236
1999 $685 $3,017 $267.4 $1,194
1998 $638 $2,819 $284.2 $1,162
1997 $630 $2,683 $284.4 $1,142
1996 $553 $2,548 $340 $1,119
1995 $530 $2,374 $273.1 $1,111
1994 $467 $2,146 $258.7 $1,104
1993 $407 $2,001 $308 $1,116
1992 $416 $1,840 $290.2 $1,101
1991 $401 $1,657 $262 $1,096
1990 $488 $1,638 $326 $1,166
1989 $462 - $271.3 -
1988 $489 - $280.5 -
1987 $449 - $290.8 -
1986 $365 - $405 -
1985 $321 - $364 -
1984 $326 - $385 -
1983 $328 - $476 -
1982 $306 - $501 -
1981 $311 - $513 -
1980 $296.9 - $578 -
1979 $251.4 - $396 -
1978 $232.2 - $315 -
1977 $249.9 - $286.9 -
1976 $233.7 - $273.5 -
1975 $237.4 - $295 -
1974 $262.8 - $255.3 -
1973 $230.9 - $226.8 -
1972 $212.4 - $189.6 -
1971 $207.7 - $174.6 -
1970 $200.3 - $166.6 -
1969 - - $162.9 -
1968 - - $163.6 -
1967 - - $155.9 -
1966 - - $150.7 -
1965 - - $143.2 -
1964 - - $141.5 -
1963 - - $137.4 -
1962 - - $137.3 -
1961 - - $133.3 -
1960 - - $131.7 -

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

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

Bhutan's GDP per capita is $3,831, ranking 132/197, compared to $545 in Madagascar, ranking 193/197. Adjusted for purchasing power (GDP per capita PPP), Bhutan ranks 109th at $16,215, while Madagascar ranks 187th at $1,884.

Economic indicators

Bhutan Madagascar
Gross domestic product
$3.01B
2023
$17.4B
2024
GDP rank
170/197
2023
136/197
2024
GDP growth
4.63%
2022-2023
4.2%
2023-2024
GDP per capita
$3,831
2023
$545
2024
GDP per capita rank
132/197
2023
193/197
2024
GDP per capita, PPP
$16,215
2023
$1,884
2024
GDP per capita PPP rank
109/197
2023
187/197
2024
Government debt
$3.53B
2023
$8.77B
2024
Debt-to-GDP ratio
110.4%
2024
50.3%
2024
Government debt per person
$4,485
2023
$274.3
2024
Government debt per person rank
87/185
2023
180/185
2024
Average annual personal income after taxes
$5,506
2026
$1,268
2026
Income share by richest 10%
22.7%
2022
29.6%
2021
Income share by poorest 10%
3.6%
2022
2.9%
2021
Government expenditure, % of GDP
27.1%
2024
16.2%
2024
Consumer prices inflation
4.3%
2023-2024
9.87%
2022-2023
Unemployment rate
3.28%
2024
3.19%
2022
Population
803385
33750171

Spending and national debt comparison by year

Bhutan
Spending

Debt
Madagascar
Spending

Debt
1x
Year % of GDP
Bhutan Madagascar
Government spending Government debt Government spending Government debt
2024 27.1% 110.4% 16.2% 50.3%
2023 28.8% 117.1% 17.9% 52.7%
2022 32.1% 119.9% 16.2% 49.9%
2021 36.6% 124.5% 13.9% 49.4%
2020 30.9% 116% 16.4% 52.9%
2019 24.2% 100.8% 15.4% 41.3%
2018 31.7% 103.4% 14.4% 42.9%
2017 30.6% 104.1% 14.9% 40.1%
2016 30.5% 103% 13.5% 40.3%
2015 27.5% 90.2% 13% 44.1%
2014 28.9% 89.8% 12.6% 37.8%
2013 32.5% 87.4% 12.7% 36.2%
2012 35.1% 71.5% 11.5% 30.4%
2011 36.1% 62.3% 12% 29.9%
2010 41.5% 55.8% 12.3% 32.3%
2009 39.3% 61% 12.5% 34.9%
2008 36.1% 60.6% 15.7% 31%
2007 33.2% 67.3% 16.1% 28.2%
2006 33.4% 80.1% 18.5% 32.2%
2005 36.4% 80.8% 18.4% 74.4%
2004 31% 76% 21.7% 81.9%
2003 34.7% 68.5% 16.6% 85.9%
2002 39.3% 57.7% 12.4% 86.7%
2001 50.3% 52.4% 15.3% 82.1%
2000 43% 44% 15.3% 90.2%
1999 40.2% 39.2% 15.5% 104.1%
1998 31.1% 36.4% 16.9% 108.5%
1997 37.8% 33% 14.5% 89.7%
1996 37.9% 36.8% 14.4% 98.7%
1995 38.6% 38.7% 14.5% 95.8%
1994 37.9% 53.2% 16.7% 96%
1993 35.2% 60.2% 17.1% 105.2%
1992 34.5% 35.6% 16.2% 110.9%
1991 30.8% 33.5% 13.5% 113.8%
1990 35.8% 27.4% 13.3% 92.7%
1989 46.8% 26.4% 15.5% 122%
1988 45.3% 24.7% 11.4% 126.6%
1987 47.5% 17.3% 10.4% 127.5%
1986 - - 11.1% 84.9%
1985 - - 11.8% 82.7%
1984 - - 13.9% 70.9%
1983 - - 13.4% 57.5%
1982 - - 14.3% 56.1%
1981 - - 18.2% 51.5%
1980 - - 22.7% 37.7%

Data sources: International Monetary Fund (IMF) | Fiscal Monitor (1990–2024, retrieved 2026-02-20); International Monetary Fund (IMF) | Public Finances in Modern History (1980–1992, retrieved 2026-02-20).

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

In 2024, Bhutan's government spending was $869M, accounting for 27.1% of its GDP, while Madagascar spent $2.82B, or 16.2% of GDP.

Debt-to-GDP ratio is 110.4% in Bhutan and 50.3% in Madagascar, ranking 17/185 and 106/185, respectively.

Government deficit by year

Deficit/surplus
Bhutan

Madagascar
1x
Year Deficit/surplus, % of GDP
Bhutan Madagascar
2024 -0.17% -2.48%
2023 -4.73% -4.19%
2022 -6.95% -5.46%
2021 -5.76% -2.83%
2020 -1.81% -3.96%
2019 -1.49% -1.42%
2018 -1.52% -1.34%
2017 -4.49% -2.1%
2016 -2.31% -1.11%
2015 -0.49% -2.85%
2014 2.46% -1.96%
2013 -4.55% -3.4%
2012 -2.1% -2.24%
2011 -3.02% -2.04%
2010 1.92% -0.76%
2009 -0.8% -2.26%
2008 -2.57% -1.72%
2007 0.79% -2.31%
2006 -0.07% -5.71%
2005 -6.96% -2.47%
2004 1.8% -4.23%
2003 -10.2% -3.32%
2002 -4.33% -4.09%
2001 -12.2% -3.61%
2000 -3.39% -2.35%
1999 -1.28% -2.42%
1998 1.28% -5.31%
1997 -1.92% -2%
1996 2.55% -3.97%
1995 -0.88% -5.09%
1994 -0.13% -7.23%
1993 4.71% -6.34%
1992 -3.47% -5%
1991 -0.48% -4.4%
1990 -7.21% -0.49%
1989 -10.1% -3.35%
1988 1.33% -0.57%
1987 -0.56% -2.12%
1986 - -2.24%
1985 - -2.39%
1984 - -6.09%
1983 - -6.04%
1982 - -6.97%
1981 - -9.97%
1980 - -11%

Data sources: International Monetary Fund (IMF) | Fiscal Monitor (1990–2024, retrieved 2026-02-20); International Monetary Fund (IMF) | Public Finances in Modern History (1980–1989, retrieved 2026-02-20).

GeoRank.org/economy/bhutan/madagascar | 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 Madagascar's deficit of $666M, or 4.19% of GDP.

Over the past 37 years, Bhutan recorded a fiscal deficit in 29 of those years, while Madagascar ran a deficit in 37 years. On average, Bhutan posted an annual deficit equal to 2.4% of GDP, compared to deficit of 3.14% of GDP for Madagascar.

Inflation comparison by year

Inflation
Bhutan

Madagascar
1x
Year Consumer prices inflation
Bhutan Madagascar
2024 4.3% -
2023 4.5% 9.87%
2022 5.9% 8.16%
2021 8.2% 5.81%
2020 3% 4.2%
2019 2.8% 5.61%
2018 3.6% 8.59%
2017 4.3% 8.61%
2016 3.3% 6.04%
2015 6.7% 7.4%
2014 9.6% 6.08%
2013 8.1% 5.83%
2012 10.1% 5.71%
2011 8.6% 9.48%
2010 4.8% 9.25%
2009 7.1% 8.95%
2008 6.3% 9.3%
2007 5.2% 10.3%
2006 4.9% 10.8%
2005 4.8% 18.4%
2004 3.3% 14%
2003 2.5% -1.7%
2002 2.9% 16.5%
2001 3.7% 7.92%
2000 7.2% 11.9%
1999 9.1% 9.93%
1998 7.6% 6.21%
1997 8.6% 4.49%

Data sources: International Monetary Fund (IMF) | World Economic Outlook (1997–2024, retrieved 2026-02-20); World Bank | Economy & Growth (1997–2023, retrieved 2026-04-06).

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

Over the past 27 years, Bhutan has recorded an average annual inflation rate of 5.8%, compared with 8.42% in Madagascar. In 2023, inflation was 4.3% in Bhutan and 9.87% in Madagascar.

Balance of trade

Bhutan Madagascar
Current account balance
-$670M
2024
-$829M
2022
Current account balance ranking
114/190
2024
119/190
2022
Current account balance, % of GDP
-32%
2023
-5.41%
2022
Goods imports
$1.29B
2024
$4.52B
2022
Goods exports
$656M
2024
$3.55B
2022
Service imports
$228M
2024
$1.52B
2022
Service exports
$288M
2024
$1.14B
2022
Imports of goods and services, % of GDP
53.3%
2023
31.7%
2024
Exports of goods and services, % of GDP
28.4%
2023
23.3%
2024

Economic freedom indices

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

Bhutan Madagascar
Economic freedom 57.5 57
Economic freedom ranking 115/197 119/197
Property rights 69.2 39.8
Government integrity 72.2 26.8
Judicial effectiveness 61.8 33.7
Tax burden 83.4 90.5
Government spending 74.1 91.5
Fiscal health 25.8 68.8
Business freedom 67.8 37.3
Labor freedom 60.1 56.1
Monetary freedom 71.6 71.8
Trade freedom 63.4 67.6
Investment freedom 20 50
Financial freedom 20 50

Economic freedom comparison by year

Bhutan
Madagascar
1x
Year Economic freedom index
Bhutan Madagascar
2026 57.5 57
2025 57.5 57
2024 55.4 57.3
2023 59 58.9
2022 59.3 58.9
2021 58.3 57.7
2020 62.1 60.5
2019 62.9 56.6
2018 61.8 56.8
2017 58.4 57.4
2016 59.5 61.1
2015 57.4 61.7
2014 56.7 61.7
2013 55 62
2012 56.6 62.4
2011 57.6 61.2
2010 57 63.2
2009 57.7 62.2
2008 - 62.4
2007 - 61.1
2006 - 61
2005 - 63.1
2004 - 60.9
2003 - 62.8
2002 - 56.8
2001 - 53.9
2000 - 54.4
1999 - 52.8
1998 - 51.8
1997 - 53.8
1996 - 52.2
1995 - 51.6

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

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

The Economic Freedom Index for Bhutan is 57.5, ranking 115/197, compared to 57 for Madagascar, ranking 119/197. The chart above displays a comparison of annual changes in economic freedom indexes.

Other economic metrics

Bhutan Madagascar
Services, % of GDP
52.8%
2023
47.7%
2024
Industry, % of GDP
29.4%
2023
22.8%
2024
Agriculture, forestry, and fishing, % of GDP
15%
2023
22.5%
2024
GNI, Atlas method
$2.93B
2023
$16.4B
2024
GNI per capita, PPP
$15,320
2023
$1,830
2024
Total reserves including gold
$941M
2024
$2.78B
2024
Total reserves ranking
143/177
2024
120/177
2024
Net foreign direct investment
-$22.8M
2024
-$326M
2022
Net inflows of foreign direct investment
$2.82M
2024
$606M
2024
Net outflows of foreign direct investment
$0
2024
$134M
2024
Servicing debt to the IMF, % of GNI
4.96%
2023
1.72%
2024
Poverty at national poverty lines
12.4%
2022
75.2%
2021
Gross capital formation, % of GDP
45.3%
2023
22.2%
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/madagascar | 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. International Monetary Fund (IMF) | Public Finances in Modern History (1980–1992, retrieved 2026-02-20)
  5. U.S. Census Bureau (1985–2024, retrieved 2026-02-08)
  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.