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Economy of Bhutan vs Yemen compared: GDP & Debt

Updated on by Georank team

Bhutan has a GDP of $3.01B compared to $21.6B for Yemen, ranking 170/197 and 125/197 by economy size, respectively.

Bhutan has $3.53B in government debt (110.4% of GDP), compared to $18.8B (70.9% of GDP) in Yemen.

Bhutan vs Yemen GDP by year

Bhutan
Yemen
1x
Year GDP, current $
Bhutan Yemen
2023 $3,012,896,789 -
2022 $2,898,227,744 -
2021 $2,768,802,960 -
2020 $2,457,604,334 -
2019 $2,735,683,570 -
2018 $2,583,335,722 $21,606,160,663
2017 $2,591,358,009 $26,842,229,045
2016 $2,357,504,761 $31,317,825,274
2015 $2,187,815,803 $42,444,490,074
2014 $2,089,079,571 $43,228,585,321
2013 $1,943,696,952 $40,415,233,436
2012 $1,973,387,228 $35,401,331,610
2011 $1,977,728,659 $32,726,417,878
2010 $1,708,880,730 $30,906,749,533
2009 $1,331,343,798 $25,130,278,213
2008 $1,317,517,835 $26,910,855,807
2007 $1,255,767,964 $21,650,528,674
2006 $942,879,879 $19,063,143,370
2005 $860,391,000 $16,731,566,717
2004 $735,348,490 $13,867,634,371
2003 $651,935,430 $11,777,532,662
2002 $559,345,264 $10,693,430,511
2001 $496,110,226 $9,852,990,693
2000 $460,733,418 $9,679,316,770
1999 $399,311,200 $7,639,325,296
1998 $363,458,381 $6,322,175,566
1997 $352,229,077 $6,838,298,531
1996 $303,408,346 $6,496,163,616
1995 $290,490,984 $12,796,345,679
1994 $258,954,708 $28,019,483,764
1993 $225,973,693 $21,736,802,664
1992 $240,233,531 $17,959,367,194
1991 $240,294,286 $14,665,445,462
1990 $287,765,007 $12,643,821,569
1989 $264,798,626 -
1988 $272,298,067 -
1987 $242,742,766 -
1986 $191,218,115 -
1985 $163,288,815 -
1984 $160,423,494 -
1983 $156,704,290 -
1982 $141,439,317 -
1981 $139,174,178 -
1980 $128,669,201 -
1979 $105,377,995 -
1978 $94,086,228 -
1977 $97,884,434 -
1976 $88,461,263 -
1975 $86,820,762 -
1974 $92,901,784 -
1973 $78,900,289 -
1972 $70,139,867 -
1971 $66,289,450 -
1970 $61,812,113 -

Data sources: World Bank | Economy & Growth (1970–2023, retrieved 2026-04-06).

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

GDP per capita in Bhutan vs Yemen by year

Bhutan
GDP per capita

GDP per capita, PPP
Yemen
GDP per capita

GDP per capita, PPP
1x
Year Current $
Bhutan Yemen
GDP per capita GDP per capita, PPP GDP per capita GDP per capita, PPP
2023 $3,831 $16,215 - -
2022 $3,711 $15,064 - -
2021 $3,571 $13,459 - -
2020 $3,192 $12,475 - -
2019 $3,577 $12,909 - -
2018 $3,400 $11,970 $634 -
2017 $3,435 $11,677 $811 -
2016 $3,152 $11,273 $975 -
2015 $2,954 $10,214 $1,362 -
2014 $2,849 $9,323 $1,430 -
2013 $2,680 $8,667 $1,379 $3,164
2012 $2,751 $8,577 $1,245 $3,005
2011 $2,788 $7,935 $1,186 $3,113
2010 $2,436 $7,246 $1,155 $3,603
2009 $1,918 $6,466 $969 $3,411
2008 $1,920 $6,035 $1,072 $3,370
2007 $1,850 $5,729 $890 $3,294
2006 $1,406 $4,860 $810 $3,205
2005 $1,300 $4,523 $734 $3,113
2004 $1,130 $4,173 $628 $2,949
2003 $1,022 $3,942 $549 $2,844
2002 $896 $3,663 $513 $2,768
2001 $812 $3,338 $487 $2,702
2000 $772 $3,113 $493 $2,624
1999 $685 $3,017 $401 $2,492
1998 $638 $2,819 $343 $2,442
1997 $630 $2,683 $383 $2,351
1996 $553 $2,548 $375 $2,268
1995 $530 $2,374 $764 $2,201
1994 $467 $2,146 $1,735 $2,115
1993 $407 $2,001 $1,397 $2,013
1992 $416 $1,840 $1,198 $1,963
1991 $401 $1,657 $1,016 $1,843
1990 $488 $1,638 $910 $1,742
1989 $462 - - -
1988 $489 - - -
1987 $449 - - -
1986 $365 - - -
1985 $321 - - -
1984 $326 - - -
1983 $328 - - -
1982 $306 - - -
1981 $311 - - -
1980 $296.9 - - -
1979 $251.4 - - -
1978 $232.2 - - -
1977 $249.9 - - -
1976 $233.7 - - -
1975 $237.4 - - -
1974 $262.8 - - -
1973 $230.9 - - -
1972 $212.4 - - -
1971 $207.7 - - -
1970 $200.3 - - -

Data sources: World Bank | Economy & Growth (1970–2023, retrieved 2026-04-06).

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

Bhutan's GDP per capita is $3,831, ranking 132/197, compared to $634 in Yemen, ranking 191/197. Adjusted for purchasing power (GDP per capita PPP), Bhutan ranks 109th at $16,215, while Yemen ranks 178th at $3,164.

Economic indicators

Bhutan Yemen
Gross domestic product
$3.01B
2023
$21.6B
2018
GDP rank
170/197
2023
125/197
2018
GDP growth
4.63%
2022-2023
0.75%
2017-2018
GDP per capita
$3,831
2023
$634
2018
GDP per capita rank
132/197
2023
191/197
2018
GDP per capita, PPP
$16,215
2023
$3,164
2013
GDP per capita PPP rank
109/197
2023
178/197
2013
Government debt
$3.53B
2023
$18.8B
2018
Debt-to-GDP ratio
110.4%
2024
70.9%
2024
Government debt per person
$4,485
2023
$551
2018
Government debt per person rank
87/185
2023
165/185
2018
Average annual personal income after taxes
$5,506
2026
$1,127
2026
Income share by richest 10%
22.7%
2022
29.4%
2014
Income share by poorest 10%
3.6%
2022
3%
2014
Government expenditure, % of GDP
27.1%
2024
8.91%
2024
Consumer prices inflation
4.3%
2023-2024
33.9%
2023-2024
Unemployment rate
3.28%
2024
13.5%
2014
Population
803385
43325643

Spending and national debt comparison by year

Bhutan
Spending

Debt
Yemen
Spending

Debt
1x
Year % of GDP
Bhutan Yemen
Government spending Government debt Government spending Government debt
2024 27.1% 110.4% 8.91% 70.9%
2023 28.8% 117.1% 11.8% 77.9%
2022 32.1% 119.9% 12.2% 65.3%
2021 36.6% 124.5% 8.22% 75.9%
2020 30.9% 116% 10.6% 87%
2019 24.2% 100.8% 13.2% 91.5%
2018 31.7% 103.4% 14.3% 86.9%
2017 30.6% 104.1% 8.39% 83.8%
2016 30.5% 103% 16.1% 76.5%
2015 27.5% 90.2% 19.4% 57.7%
2014 28.9% 89.8% 27.8% 48.9%
2013 32.5% 87.4% 30.8% 48.4%
2012 35.1% 71.5% 36.2% 47.6%
2011 36.1% 62.3% 29.8% 45.7%
2010 41.5% 55.8% 30.2% 42.4%
2009 39.3% 61% 35.2% 49.8%
2008 36.1% 60.6% 41.2% 36.4%
2007 33.2% 67.3% 40.3% 40.4%
2006 33.4% 80.1% 37.4% 40.8%
2005 36.4% 80.8% 36.8% 43.8%
2004 31% 76% 34.2% 52.1%
2003 34.7% 68.5% 35.3% 56.8%
2002 39.3% 57.7% 30.8% 57.8%
2001 50.3% 52.4% 30.5% 60.6%
2000 43% 44% 31.7% 60.8%
1999 40.2% 39.2% 28.2% 96.1%
1998 31.1% 36.4% 34.3% 110.6%
1997 37.8% 33% 34.2% 74.2%
1996 37.9% 36.8% 30.7% 114.9%
1995 38.6% 38.7% 24.1% 84.1%
1994 37.9% 53.2% 25.2% 73.3%
1993 35.2% 60.2% 25.8% 76.7%
1992 34.5% 35.6% 24.6% 78%
1991 30.8% 33.5% 24.7% 82.7%
1990 35.8% 27.4% 26.6% 91.6%
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 (1987–1998, retrieved 2026-02-20).

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

In 2023, Bhutan's government spending was $869M, accounting for 27.1% of its GDP, while Yemen spent $3.08B, or 8.91% of GDP.

Debt-to-GDP ratio is 110.4% in Bhutan and 70.9% in Yemen, ranking 17/185 and 55/185, respectively.

Government deficit by year

Deficit/surplus
Bhutan

Yemen
1x
Year Deficit/surplus, % of GDP
Bhutan Yemen
2024 -0.17% -2.48%
2023 -4.73% -5.63%
2022 -6.95% -2.15%
2021 -5.76% -0.89%
2020 -1.81% -4.3%
2019 -1.49% -5.89%
2018 -1.52% -7.85%
2017 -4.49% -4.9%
2016 -2.31% -8.51%
2015 -0.49% -8.75%
2014 2.46% -4.14%
2013 -4.55% -6.9%
2012 -2.1% -6.32%
2011 -3.02% -4.51%
2010 1.92% -4.06%
2009 -0.8% -10.2%
2008 -2.57% -4.53%
2007 0.79% -7.18%
2006 -0.07% 1.19%
2005 -6.96% -1.82%
2004 1.8% -2.15%
2003 -10.2% -4.2%
2002 -4.33% -0.56%
2001 -12.2% 2.79%
2000 -3.39% 6.09%
1999 -1.28% 0.06%
1998 1.28% -7.77%
1997 -1.92% -1.5%
1996 2.55% -0.92%
1995 -0.88% -5.74%
1994 -0.13% -14%
1993 4.71% -12.8%
1992 -3.47% -10.9%
1991 -0.48% -5.76%
1990 -7.21% -10.3%
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/yemen | CC BY

In 2018, Bhutan's government deficit, the difference between spending and revenue, was $39.2M, equivalent to 1.52% of GDP. This compares to Yemen's deficit of $1.7B, or 7.85% of GDP.

Over the past 29 years, Bhutan recorded a fiscal deficit in 22 of those years, while Yemen ran a deficit in 25 years. On average, Bhutan posted an annual deficit equal to 2.03% of GDP, compared to deficit of 5.04% of GDP for Yemen.

Inflation comparison by year

Inflation
Bhutan

Yemen
1x
Year Consumer prices inflation
Bhutan Yemen
2024 4.3% 33.9%
2023 4.5% 0.9%
2022 5.9% 29.5%
2021 8.2% 31.5%
2020 3% 21.7%
2019 2.8% 15.7%
2018 3.6% 33.6%
2017 4.3% 30.4%
2016 3.3% 21.3%
2015 6.7% 22%
2014 9.6% 8.2%
2013 8.1% 11%
2012 10.1% 9.9%
2011 8.6% 19.5%
2010 4.8% 11.2%
2009 7.1% 3.7%
2008 6.3% 19%
2007 5.2% 7.9%
2006 4.9% 10.8%
2005 4.8% 9.9%
2004 3.3% 12.5%
2003 2.5% 10.8%
2002 2.9% 12.2%
2001 3.7% 11.9%
2000 7.2% 11%
1999 9.1% 7.9%
1998 7.6% 11.5%
1997 8.6% 4.6%

Data sources: International Monetary Fund (IMF) | World Economic Outlook (1997–2024, retrieved 2026-02-20).

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

Over the past 28 years, Bhutan has recorded an average annual inflation rate of 5.75%, compared with 15.5% in Yemen. In 2024, inflation was 4.3% in Bhutan and 33.9% in Yemen.

Balance of trade

Bhutan Yemen
Current account balance
-$670M
2024
-$2.42B
2016
Current account balance ranking
114/190
2024
148/190
2016
Current account balance, % of GDP
-32%
2023
-7.72%
2016
Goods imports
$1.29B
2024
$6.8B
2016
Goods exports
$656M
2024
$473M
2016
Service imports
$228M
2024
$1.46B
2016
Service exports
$288M
2024
$466M
2016
Imports of goods and services, % of GDP
53.3%
2023
47.3%
2018
Exports of goods and services, % of GDP
28.4%
2023
8.76%
2018

Economic freedom indices

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

Bhutan Yemen
Economic freedom 57.5 53.7
Economic freedom ranking 115/197 138/197
Property rights 69.2 3.5
Government integrity 72.2 6.2
Judicial effectiveness 61.8 9.9
Tax burden 83.4 93.7
Government spending 74.1 0
Fiscal health 25.8 71.2
Business freedom 67.8 31.3
Labor freedom 60.1 31.2
Monetary freedom 71.6 48.1
Trade freedom 63.4 67.4
Investment freedom 20 50
Financial freedom 20 30

Economic freedom comparison by year

Bhutan
Yemen
1x
Year Economic freedom index
Bhutan Yemen
2026 57.5 -
2025 57.5 -
2024 55.4 -
2023 59 -
2022 59.3 -
2021 58.3 -
2020 62.1 -
2019 62.9 -
2018 61.8 -
2017 58.4 -
2016 59.5 -
2015 57.4 53.7
2014 56.7 55.5
2013 55 55.9
2012 56.6 55.3
2011 57.6 54.2
2010 57 54.4
2009 57.7 56.9
2008 - 53.8
2007 - 54.1
2006 - 52.6
2005 - 53.8
2004 - 50.5
2003 - 50.3
2002 - 48.6
2001 - 44.3
2000 - 44.5
1999 - 43.3
1998 - 46.1
1997 - 48.4
1996 - 49.6
1995 - 49.8

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

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

The Economic Freedom Index for Bhutan is 57.5, ranking 115/197, compared to 53.7 for Yemen, ranking 138/197. The chart above displays a comparison of annual changes in economic freedom indexes.

Other economic metrics

Bhutan Yemen
Services, % of GDP
52.8%
2023
41.8%
2018
Industry, % of GDP
29.4%
2023
25.4%
2018
Agriculture, forestry, and fishing, % of GDP
15%
2023
28.7%
2018
GNI, Atlas method
$2.93B
2023
$25.3B
2018
GNI per capita, PPP
$15,320
2023
$3,020
2013
Total reserves including gold
$941M
2024
$1.25B
2022
Total reserves ranking
143/177
2024
139/177
2022
Net foreign direct investment
-$22.8M
2024
$15.4M
2015
Net inflows of foreign direct investment
$2.82M
2024
-$371M
2019
Net outflows of foreign direct investment
$0
2024
$0
2024
Servicing debt to the IMF, % of GNI
4.96%
2023
0.53%
2018
Poverty at national poverty lines
12.4%
2022
48.6%
2014
Gross capital formation, % of GDP
45.3%
2023
6.18%
2018

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/yemen | CC BY

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Data sources:

  1. World Bank | Economy & Growth (1970–2024, 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 (1987–1998, 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.