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Economy of Brunei vs Iran compared: GDP & Debt

Updated on by Georank

Brunei has a GDP of $15B compared to $363B for Iran, ranking 147/197 and 44/197 by economy size, respectively.

Brunei has $232M in government debt (1.54% of GDP), compared to $135B (37.3% of GDP) in Iran.

Brunei vs Iran GDP by year

Brunei
Iran
1x
Year GDP, current $
Brunei Iran
2025 $15,031,980,994 $362,682,115,433
2024 $15,340,808,592 $475,252,089,215
2023 $15,095,084,656 $457,510,482,317
2022 $16,681,536,467 $422,662,261,526
2021 $14,006,496,617 $407,350,685,583
2020 $12,005,799,654 $280,934,329,280
2019 $13,469,235,365 $347,988,400,958
2018 $13,566,908,391 $411,903,303,606
2017 $12,128,168,045 $510,239,893,418
2016 $11,400,266,045 $478,618,064,871
2015 $12,930,296,870 $409,191,686,497
2014 $17,097,797,386 $462,284,793,281
2013 $18,094,148,099 $500,399,839,840
2012 $19,048,443,341 $644,019,315,004
2011 $18,524,791,063 $629,082,257,472
2010 $13,707,121,038 $487,069,570,464
2009 $11,912,904,510 $414,059,094,949
2008 $15,926,456,515 $406,070,949,554
2007 $13,432,029,484 $349,736,591,832
2006 $12,644,616,419 $265,602,187,404
2005 $10,547,202,621 $224,970,371,325
2004 $8,619,178,774 $187,754,571,248
2003 $7,167,725,262 $151,911,222,119
2002 $6,333,082,876 $128,626,917,504
2001 $6,096,155,767 $126,878,750,296
2000 $6,570,999,088 $109,591,707,802
1999 $6,309,070,378 $113,848,450,088
1998 $5,550,846,020 $110,276,913,363
1997 $7,793,034,376 $113,919,163,421
1996 $7,663,377,306 $120,403,931,885
1995 $7,700,144,069 $96,419,225,744
1994 $6,467,782,518 $71,841,461,173
1993 $6,203,339,912 $63,743,623,232
1992 $6,327,966,435 $119,768,691,217
1991 $6,284,497,294 $131,637,664,958
1990 $6,039,881,087 $124,813,263,926
1989 $4,983,622,881 $120,496,362,916
1988 $4,535,130,305 $123,057,861,334
1987 $4,918,010,080 $134,009,995,923
1986 $4,190,280,003 $209,094,561,833
1985 $6,967,623,884 $180,183,629,600
1984 $7,632,788,075 $162,276,728,620
1983 $7,927,590,750 $156,365,156,618
1982 $8,932,198,186 $125,948,756,439
1981 $9,367,218,664 $100,499,312,750
1980 $10,795,432,294 $94,362,275,580
1979 $6,044,367,628 $90,391,877,326
1978 $4,100,423,674 $77,994,316,621
1977 $3,681,242,528 $80,600,122,702
1976 $3,054,765,590 $68,055,295,081
1975 $2,496,420,258 $51,776,222,350
1974 $2,319,576,214 $46,209,092,072
1973 $433,095,527 $27,081,698,250
1972 $270,822,782 $17,153,463,263
1971 $197,525,768 $13,731,802,833
1970 $179,078,929 $10,976,245,154
1969 $161,210,236 $9,743,089,607
1968 $160,818,236 $8,623,172,960
1967 $139,029,537 $7,555,383,690
1966 $132,757,528 $6,789,938,672
1965 $114,039,501 $6,197,319,929
1964 - $5,379,845,648
1963 - $4,928,628,018
1962 - $4,693,566,416
1961 - $4,426,949,095
1960 - $4,199,134,390

Data sources: World Bank | Economy & Growth (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08).

GeoRank.org/economy/brunei/iran | CC BY

GDP per capita in Brunei vs Iran by year

Brunei
GDP per capita

GDP per capita, PPP
Iran
GDP per capita

GDP per capita, PPP
1x
Year Current $
Brunei Iran
GDP per capita GDP per capita, PPP GDP per capita GDP per capita, PPP
2025 $32,235 - $3,924 -
2024 $33,153 $89,879 $5,190 $19,874
2023 $32,891 $85,033 $5,049 $18,917
2022 $36,633 $81,802 $4,721 $17,546
2021 $31,007 $78,249 $4,605 $15,884
2020 $26,834 $69,788 $3,203 $15,119
2019 $30,427 $69,354 $3,997 $13,928
2018 $30,988 $65,149 $4,783 $15,324
2017 $28,024 $61,658 $6,001 $15,719
2016 $26,663 $56,680 $5,711 $15,195
2015 $30,625 $62,708 $4,953 $14,274
2014 $41,027 $81,226 $5,672 $16,065
2013 $44,003 $83,237 $6,223 $16,215
2012 $46,969 $87,256 $8,114 $17,021
2011 $46,383 $82,735 $8,026 $19,275
2010 $34,938 $79,543 $6,291 $18,628
2009 $30,946 $77,957 $5,416 $17,615
2008 $42,157 $80,477 $5,377 $17,549
2007 $36,217 $83,693 $4,688 $17,384
2006 $34,675 $86,114 $3,619 $15,907
2005 $29,386 $81,534 $3,132 $15,016
2004 $24,423 $80,404 $2,672 $14,425
2003 $20,678 $79,632 $2,209 $13,755
2002 $18,621 $76,838 $1,891 $12,554
2001 $18,288 $74,254 $1,881 $11,533
2000 $20,130 $73,087 $1,650 $11,187
1999 $19,752 $70,585 $1,740 $10,489
1998 $17,769 $68,257 $1,709 $10,285
1997 $25,522 $73,980 $1,790 $10,101
1996 $25,692 $70,008 $1,915 $9,916
1995 $26,443 $70,440 $1,550 $9,255
1994 $22,767 $69,779 $1,168 $8,951
1993 $22,397 $69,387 $1,038 $8,933
1992 $23,451 $70,016 $1,957 $8,888
1991 $23,932 $72,610 $2,194 $8,580
1990 $23,659 $70,201 $2,138 $7,566
1989 $20,090 - $2,125 -
1988 $18,825 - $2,234 -
1987 $21,030 - $2,513 -
1986 $18,501 - $4,064 -
1985 $31,827 - $3,634 -
1984 $36,061 - $3,395 -
1983 $38,720 - $3,397 -
1982 $45,075 - $2,845 -
1981 $48,793 - $2,393 -
1980 $58,005 - $2,368 -
1979 $33,501 - $2,352 -
1978 $23,447 - $2,101 -
1977 $21,747 - $2,243 -
1976 $18,671 - $1,954 -
1975 $15,793 - $1,532 -
1974 $15,195 - $1,409 -
1973 $2,939 - $851 -
1972 $1,905 - $555 -
1971 $1,432 - $457 -
1970 $1,325 - $377 -
1969 $1,226 - $345 -
1968 $1,274 - $314 -
1967 $1,149 - $283.7 -
1966 $1,146 - $262.9 -
1965 $1,029 - $247.5 -
1964 - - $221.7 -
1963 - - $209.6 -
1962 - - $205.8 -
1961 - - $200.1 -
1960 - - $195.6 -

Data sources: World Bank | Economy & Growth (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08).

GeoRank.org/economy/brunei/iran | CC BY

Brunei's GDP per capita is $32,235, ranking 42/197, compared to $3,924 in Iran, ranking 135/197. Adjusted for purchasing power (GDP per capita PPP), Brunei ranks 9th at $89,879, while Iran ranks 97th at $19,874.

Economic indicators

Brunei Iran
Gross domestic product
$15B
2025
$363B
2025
GDP rank
147/197
2025
44/197
2025
GDP growth
0.67%
2024-2025
-2.83%
2024-2025
GDP per capita
$32,235
2025
$3,924
2025
GDP per capita rank
42/197
2025
135/197
2025
GDP per capita, PPP
$89,879
2024
$19,874
2024
GDP per capita PPP rank
9/197
2024
97/197
2024
Government debt
$232M
2025
$135B
2025
Debt-to-GDP ratio
1.54%
2025
37.3%
2025
Government debt per person
$498
2025
$1,463
2025
Government debt per person rank
169/185
2025
133/185
2025
Average annual personal income after taxes
$25,392
2026
$2,958
2026
Market capitalization of domestic companies n/a
$186B
2025
Income share by richest 10% n/a
28.2%
2023
Income share by poorest 10% n/a
2.8%
2023
Government expenditure, % of GDP
29.9%
2025
13.4%
2025
Consumer prices inflation
-0.3%
2024-2025
42.2%
2024-2025
Central bank interest rate n/a
23%
2023
Unemployment rate
4.87%
2024
7.63%
2024
Population
471596
93580141

Spending and national debt comparison by year

Brunei
Spending

Debt
Iran
Spending

Debt
1x
Year % of GDP
Brunei Iran
Government spending Government debt Government spending Government debt
2025 29.9% 1.54% 13.4% 37.3%
2024 30.3% 1.57% 16% 31.2%
2023 30.1% 1.67% 12.8% 29.6%
2022 26.1% 1.33% 12.8% 34.5%
2021 30.1% 1.43% 13.4% 39.9%
2020 32.8% 2.16% 12.1% 47.1%
2019 32.1% 1.82% 13.6% 44.6%
2018 32.9% 1.9% 14.8% 41.6%
2017 36.6% 2.58% 16.4% 43.2%
2016 39.8% 3% 16.3% 45.9%
2015 37% 2.95% 14.1% 32.1%
2014 34% 3.23% 12.3% 10.9%
2013 33.4% 2.21% 11.5% 10.2%
2012 31.1% 2.1% 11.4% 11.7%
2011 29.9% 2.13% 14.6% 10.6%
2010 25.5% 1.11% 14.1% 12.8%
2009 34.8% 1.11% 15.7% 11.5%
2008 27.2% 0.94% 16.8% 10.6%
2007 29.3% 0.68% 14.2% 13.5%
2006 28% 0.59% 18.7% 15.2%
2005 29.1% 0% 17.9% 18.3%
2004 33.2% 0% 15.1% 21.1%
2003 30.9% 0% 15.7% 21.9%
2002 41.4% 0% 15.6% 23.4%
2001 35.5% 0% 13.6% 21%
2000 37.5% 0% 13.3% 18.2%
1999 44.1% 0% 15.7% 22.2%
1998 45.4% 0% 16.9% 29.6%
1997 39% 0% 17.4% 30.9%
1996 36.9% 0% 17.3% 29.3%
1995 44% 0% 21% 31.2%
1994 47.1% 0% 23% 41.7%
1993 38% 0% 27.2% 25.6%
1992 34.1% 0% 14.4% 25.2%
1991 30.6% 0% 14% 29.3%
1990 32% 0% 16.4% 37%
1989 - - 20% 48.8%
1988 - - 23.6% 53.2%
1987 - - 18.6% 48.6%
1986 - - 19% 47.4%
1985 - - 21.6% 8.73%
1984 - - 23.7% 10%
1983 - - 27.5% 35.7%
1982 - - 29.7% 47.7%
1981 - - 33.7% 47.6%
1980 - - 35.8% 35.5%
1979 - - - -
1978 - - - -
1977 - - - 9.23%
1976 - - - 6.92%
1975 - - - 8.81%
1974 - - - 6.68%
1973 - - - 12.8%
1972 - - - 12.7%
1971 - - - 14.2%
1970 - - - 14.1%
1969 - - - -
1968 - - 23.6% -
1967 - - 22.3% -
1966 - - 20.5% -
1965 - - 16.3% 14.9%
1964 - - 15.4% 15.2%
1963 - - 14.8% 12.4%
1962 - - 15.6% 13.4%

Data sources: International Monetary Fund (IMF) | Fiscal Monitor (1990–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08); International Monetary Fund (IMF) | Public Finances in Modern History (1962–1995, retrieved 2026-07-08).

GeoRank.org/economy/brunei/iran | CC BY

In 2025, Brunei's government spending was $4.5B, accounting for 29.9% of its GDP, while Iran spent $48.7B, or 13.4% of GDP.

Debt-to-GDP ratio is 1.54% in Brunei and 37.3% in Iran, ranking 185/185 and 139/185, respectively.

Government deficit by year

Deficit/surplus
Brunei

Iran
1x
Year Deficit/surplus, % of GDP
Brunei Iran
2025 -13.4% -5.65%
2024 -12.9% -2.68%
2023 -8.62% -3.04%
2022 -0.25% -2.64%
2021 -8.34% -3.01%
2020 -16.2% -4.87%
2019 -4.16% -4.3%
2018 -2.9% -1.59%
2017 -13.8% -1.55%
2016 -16.7% -1.7%
2015 -11.4% -1.3%
2014 1.25% -0.91%
2013 10.4% -0.72%
2012 19.5% -0.5%
2011 21.5% -0.66%
2010 11.3% -0.84%
2009 3.61% -3.3%
2008 36.1% -4.39%
2007 3.12% -2.41%
2006 19.8% -4.91%
2005 16% -2.44%
2004 8.57% -2.45%
2003 8.06% -2.76%
2002 -4.61% -2.88%
2001 2.59% 0.02%
2000 6.86% 5.42%
1999 -18.3% -0.51%
1998 -24% -5.03%
1997 -11.8% -1.81%
1996 -8.7% -0.75%
1995 -19.8% -2.63%
1994 -22.6% -3.36%
1993 -12.8% -5.15%
1992 -8.28% -0.86%
1991 -1.06% -1.64%
1990 -1.63% -1.73%
1989 - -4.45%
1988 - -10.3%
1987 - -6.84%
1986 - -7.84%
1985 - -3.74%
1984 - -4.02%
1983 - -6.15%
1982 - -5.55%
1981 - -10.7%
1980 - -14.2%
1979 - -
1978 - -
1977 - -
1976 - -
1975 - -
1974 - -
1973 - -
1972 - -
1971 - -
1970 - -
1969 - -
1968 - -4.57%
1967 - -4%
1966 - -2.63%
1965 - -1.23%
1964 - -0.04%
1963 - 0.26%
1962 - -1.39%

Data sources: International Monetary Fund (IMF) | Fiscal Monitor (1990–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08); International Monetary Fund (IMF) | Public Finances in Modern History (1962–1989, retrieved 2026-07-08).

GeoRank.org/economy/brunei/iran | CC BY

In 2025, Brunei's government deficit, the difference between spending and revenue, was $2.02B, equivalent to 13.4% of GDP. This compares to Iran's deficit of $20.5B, or 5.65% of GDP.

Over the past 36 years, Brunei recorded a fiscal deficit in 22 of those years, while Iran ran a deficit in 34 years. On average, Brunei posted an annual deficit equal to 2.04% of GDP, compared to deficit of 2.21% of GDP for Iran.

Inflation comparison by year

Inflation
Brunei

Iran
1x
Year Consumer prices inflation
Brunei Iran
2025 -0.3% 42.2%
2024 -0.39% 32.5%
2023 0.36% 44.6%
2022 3.68% 43.5%
2021 1.73% 43.4%
2020 1.94% 30.6%
2019 -0.39% 39.9%
2018 1.03% 18%
2017 -1.26% 8.04%
2016 -0.28% 7.25%
2015 -0.49% 12.5%
2014 -0.21% 16.6%
2013 0.39% 36.6%
2012 0.11% 27.3%
2011 0.14% 26.3%
2010 0.36% 10.1%
2009 1.04% 13.6%
2008 2.08% 25.4%
2007 0.97% 17.3%
2006 0.16% 10%
2005 1.24% 13.4%
2004 0.81% 14.8%
2003 0.3% 16.5%
2002 -2.31% 14.3%
2001 0.6% 11.3%
2000 1.56% 14.5%
1999 -0.42% 20.1%
1998 -0.44% 17.9%
1997 1.71% 17.3%

Data sources: World Bank | Economy & Growth (1997–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08).

GeoRank.org/economy/brunei/iran | CC BY

Over the past 29 years, Brunei has recorded an average annual inflation rate of 0.47%, compared with 22.3% in Iran. In 2025, inflation was -0.3% in Brunei and 42.2% in Iran.

Top exports between countries

Brunei
Export category Export value
Miscellaneous $1K
Iran
Export category Export value
Textiles & consumer goods $99K
Raw agricultural goods $18K
Animal & marine products $14K
Processed food, beverages & tobacco $9K

Balance of trade

Brunei Iran
Current account balance
$2.71B
2025
$12.5B
2000
Current account balance ranking
40/190
2025
22/190
2000
Current account balance, % of GDP
+18%
2025
+11.4%
2000
Goods imports
$6.28B
2025
$15.2B
2000
Goods exports
$10.3B
2025
$28.3B
2000
Service imports
$1.54B
2025
$2.3B
2000
Service exports
$463M
2025
$1.38B
2000
Imports of goods and services, % of GDP
52%
2025
34.5%
2025
Exports of goods and services, % of GDP
71.6%
2025
25.8%
2025

Economic freedom indices

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

Brunei Iran
Economic freedom 67.5 41.8
Economic freedom ranking 55/197 185/197
Property rights 66.1 20.2
Government integrity 60.4 16.2
Judicial effectiveness 48.6 18.7
Tax burden 95 81.3
Government spending 75.6 94.7
Fiscal health 39 83.3
Business freedom 75.3 37.4
Labor freedom 75.1 41.8
Monetary freedom 74.8 42.2
Trade freedom 84.6 55.8
Investment freedom 65 5
Financial freedom 50 5

Economic freedom comparison by year

Brunei
Iran
1x
Year Economic freedom index
Brunei Iran
2026 67.5 41.8
2025 67 42.5
2024 65.9 41.2
2023 65.7 42.2
2022 64.8 42.4
2021 66.6 47.2
2020 66.6 49.2
2019 65.1 51.1
2018 64.2 50.9
2017 69.8 50.5
2016 67.3 43.5
2015 68.9 41.8
2014 69 40.3
2013 - 43.2
2012 - 42.3
2011 - 42.1
2010 - 43.4
2009 - 44.6
2008 - 45
2007 - 45
2006 - 45
2005 - 50.5
2004 - 42.8
2003 - 43.2
2002 - 36.4
2001 - 35.9
2000 - 36.1
1999 - 36.8
1998 - 36
1997 - 34.5
1996 - 36.1

Data sources: The Heritage Foundation | Economic Freedom Index (1996–2026, retrieved 2026-07-08).

GeoRank.org/economy/brunei/iran | CC BY

The Economic Freedom Index for Brunei is 67.5, ranking 55/197, compared to 41.8 for Iran, ranking 185/197. The chart above displays a comparison of annual changes in economic freedom indexes.

Other economic metrics

Brunei Iran
Services, % of GDP
40.2%
2025
47.1%
2025
Industry, % of GDP
60%
2025
39.6%
2025
Agriculture, forestry, and fishing, % of GDP
1.18%
2025
10.6%
2025
GNI, Atlas method
$16.2B
2025
$429B
2025
GNI per capita, PPP
$95,420
2025
$19,660
2025
Total reserves including gold
$5.49B
2025
$7.69B
1982
Total reserves ranking
100/177
2025
89/177
1982
Net foreign direct investment
-$157M
2025
-$39M
2000
Net inflows of foreign direct investment
$29.1M
2024
$1.45B
2024
Net outflows of foreign direct investment
$0
2024
$89.4M
2024
Servicing debt to the IMF, % of GNI n/a
0.08%
2024
Poverty at national poverty lines n/a
18.7%
2020
Gross capital formation, % of GDP
27.1%
2025
41.8%
2025

GDP per capita map

1x

Data sources: World Bank | Economy & Growth (1985–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08); U.S. Census Bureau (1985–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08).

GeoRank.org/economy/brunei/iran | CC BY

Compare countries by 7 more topics

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Data sources:

  1. World Bank | Economy & Growth (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08)
  2. International Monetary Fund (IMF) | Fiscal Monitor (1990–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08)
  3. International Monetary Fund (IMF) | Public Finances in Modern History (1962–1995, retrieved 2026-07-08)
  4. The Heritage Foundation | Economic Freedom Index (1996–2026, retrieved 2026-07-08)
  5. U.S. Census Bureau (1985–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08)
  6. TradeMap (2021–2023, retrieved 2026-07-08)
  7. United Nations | World Population Prospects (2026, retrieved 2026-07-08)
  8. LivingCost (2026, retrieved 2026-07-08)
  9. Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) (2020, retrieved 2026-07-08)

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.