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Economy of Brunei vs Papua New Guinea compared: GDP & Debt

Updated on by Georank

Brunei has a GDP of $15B compared to $32.5B for Papua New Guinea, ranking 147/197 and 111/197 by economy size, respectively.

Brunei has $232M in government debt (1.54% of GDP), compared to $16.9B (52.1% of GDP) in Papua New Guinea.

Brunei vs Papua New Guinea GDP by year

Brunei
Papua New Guinea
1x
Year GDP, current $
Brunei Papua New Guinea
2025 $15,031,980,994 $32,498,658,654
2024 $15,340,808,592 $30,803,971,189
2023 $15,095,084,656 $30,816,328,066
2022 $16,681,536,467 $31,653,230,962
2021 $14,006,496,617 $26,113,409,478
2020 $12,005,799,654 $23,848,447,850
2019 $13,469,235,365 $24,750,626,030
2018 $13,566,908,391 $24,109,780,708
2017 $12,128,168,045 $22,742,699,138
2016 $11,400,266,045 $20,758,876,953
2015 $12,930,296,870 $21,723,437,010
2014 $17,097,797,386 $23,210,823,987
2013 $18,094,148,099 $21,261,338,065
2012 $19,048,443,341 $21,295,168,666
2011 $18,524,791,063 $17,985,138,066
2010 $13,707,121,038 $14,250,786,675
2009 $11,912,904,510 $11,619,456,449
2008 $15,926,456,515 $11,670,892,801
2007 $13,432,029,484 $9,545,028,944
2006 $12,644,616,419 $8,354,911,041
2005 $10,547,202,621 $4,865,892,972
2004 $8,619,178,774 $3,927,157,867
2003 $7,167,725,262 $3,536,411,824
2002 $6,333,082,876 $2,999,511,040
2001 $6,096,155,767 $3,081,024,212
2000 $6,570,999,088 $3,521,339,699
1999 $6,309,070,378 $3,477,038,204
1998 $5,550,846,020 $3,789,443,015
1997 $7,793,034,376 $4,936,615,299
1996 $7,663,377,306 $5,155,311,077
1995 $7,700,144,069 $4,636,057,476
1994 $6,467,782,518 $5,502,786,070
1993 $6,203,339,912 $4,974,550,286
1992 $6,327,966,435 $4,377,980,510
1991 $6,284,497,294 $3,787,394,958
1990 $6,039,881,087 $3,219,729,083
1989 $4,983,622,881 $3,546,472,566
1988 $4,535,130,305 $3,656,177,881
1987 $4,918,010,080 $3,143,851,794
1986 $4,190,280,003 $2,647,995,602
1985 $6,967,623,884 $2,423,339,172
1984 $7,632,788,075 $2,552,662,617
1983 $7,927,590,750 $2,562,351,551
1982 $8,932,198,186 $2,368,719,683
1981 $9,367,218,664 $2,498,190,847
1980 $10,795,432,294 $2,545,808,456
1979 $6,044,367,628 $2,293,760,511
1978 $4,100,423,674 $1,947,878,831
1977 $3,681,242,528 $1,640,746,619
1976 $3,054,765,590 $1,511,843,235
1975 $2,496,420,258 $1,356,603,608
1974 $2,319,576,214 $1,467,417,672
1973 $433,095,527 $1,299,079,410
1972 $270,822,782 $858,761,926
1971 $197,525,768 $717,750,278
1970 $179,078,929 $645,568,215
1969 $161,210,236 $551,263,864
1968 $160,818,236 $485,184,190
1967 $139,029,537 $441,728,183
1966 $132,757,528 $390,992,063
1965 $114,039,501 $344,176,055
1964 - $305,312,049
1963 - $275,968,044
1962 - $261,184,042
1961 - $244,832,039
1960 - $230,496,037

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

GeoRank.org/economy/brunei/papua-new-guinea | CC BY

GDP per capita in Brunei vs Papua New Guinea by year

Brunei
GDP per capita

GDP per capita, PPP
Papua New Guinea
GDP per capita

GDP per capita, PPP
1x
Year Current $
Brunei Papua New Guinea
GDP per capita GDP per capita, PPP GDP per capita GDP per capita, PPP
2025 $32,235 - $3,020 -
2024 $33,153 $89,879 $2,912 $4,875
2023 $32,891 $85,033 $2,966 $4,668
2022 $36,633 $81,802 $3,102 $4,420
2021 $31,007 $78,249 $2,608 $3,977
2020 $26,834 $69,788 $2,430 $3,900
2019 $30,427 $69,354 $2,576 $4,060
2018 $30,988 $65,149 $2,566 $3,910
2017 $28,024 $61,658 $2,478 $3,923
2016 $26,663 $56,680 $2,316 $3,813
2015 $30,625 $62,708 $2,485 $3,670
2014 $41,027 $81,226 $2,723 $3,500
2013 $44,003 $83,237 $2,561 $3,110
2012 $46,969 $87,256 $2,635 $3,026
2011 $46,383 $82,735 $2,288 $2,919
2010 $34,938 $79,543 $1,867 $2,912
2009 $30,946 $77,957 $1,569 $2,692
2008 $42,157 $80,477 $1,625 $2,583
2007 $36,217 $83,693 $1,371 $2,622
2006 $34,675 $86,114 $1,238 $2,444
2005 $29,386 $81,534 $744 $2,322
2004 $24,423 $80,404 $621 $2,187
2003 $20,678 $79,632 $577 $2,142
2002 $18,621 $76,838 $506 $2,125
2001 $18,288 $74,254 $538 $2,168
2000 $20,130 $73,087 $636 $2,196
1999 $19,752 $70,585 $650 $2,280
1998 $17,769 $68,257 $733 $2,285
1997 $25,522 $73,980 $990 $2,432
1996 $25,692 $70,008 $1,071 $2,578
1995 $26,443 $70,440 $998 $2,436
1994 $22,767 $69,779 $1,228 $2,558
1993 $22,397 $69,387 $1,151 $2,451
1992 $23,451 $70,016 $1,051 $2,100
1991 $23,932 $72,610 $942 $1,869
1990 $23,659 $70,201 $826 $1,703
1989 $20,090 - $934 -
1988 $18,825 - $985 -
1987 $21,030 - $865 -
1986 $18,501 - $745 -
1985 $31,827 - $697 -
1984 $36,061 - $750 -
1983 $38,720 - $769 -
1982 $45,075 - $726 -
1981 $48,793 - $781 -
1980 $58,005 - $813 -
1979 $33,501 - $748 -
1978 $23,447 - $648 -
1977 $21,747 - $558 -
1976 $18,671 - $525 -
1975 $15,793 - $482 -
1974 $15,195 - $533 -
1973 $2,939 - $483 -
1972 $1,905 - $327 -
1971 $1,432 - $279.7 -
1970 $1,325 - $257.6 -
1969 $1,226 - $225.3 -
1968 $1,274 - $202.9 -
1967 $1,149 - $189 -
1966 $1,146 - $171.1 -
1965 $1,029 - $153.9 -
1964 - - $139.5 -
1963 - - $128.9 -
1962 - - $124.7 -
1961 - - $119.7 -
1960 - - $115.5 -

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

GeoRank.org/economy/brunei/papua-new-guinea | CC BY

Brunei's GDP per capita is $32,235, ranking 42/197, compared to $3,020 in Papua New Guinea, ranking 147/197. Adjusted for purchasing power (GDP per capita PPP), Brunei ranks 9th at $89,879, while Papua New Guinea ranks 159th at $4,875.

Economic indicators

Brunei Papua New Guinea
Gross domestic product
$15B
2025
$32.5B
2025
GDP rank
147/197
2025
111/197
2025
GDP growth
0.67%
2024-2025
5.64%
2024-2025
GDP per capita
$32,235
2025
$3,020
2025
GDP per capita rank
42/197
2025
147/197
2025
GDP per capita, PPP
$89,879
2024
$4,875
2024
GDP per capita PPP rank
9/197
2024
159/197
2024
Government debt
$232M
2025
$16.9B
2025
Debt-to-GDP ratio
1.54%
2025
52.1%
2025
Government debt per person
$498
2025
$1,575
2025
Government debt per person rank
169/185
2025
129/185
2025
Average annual personal income after taxes
$25,392
2026
$2,615
2026
Market capitalization of domestic companies n/a
$1.68B
2017
Income share by richest 10% n/a
31%
2009
Income share by poorest 10% n/a
1.9%
2009
Government expenditure, % of GDP
29.9%
2025
19.7%
2025
Consumer prices inflation
-0.3%
2024-2025
4.42%
2024-2025
Central bank interest rate n/a
5%
2025
Unemployment rate
4.87%
2024
2.69%
2022
Population
471596
11045681

Spending and national debt comparison by year

Brunei
Spending

Debt
Papua New Guinea
Spending

Debt
1x
Year % of GDP
Brunei Papua New Guinea
Government spending Government debt Government spending Government debt
2025 29.9% 1.54% 19.7% 52.1%
2024 30.3% 1.57% 20.9% 53.3%
2023 30.1% 1.67% 22.3% 53.9%
2022 26.1% 1.33% 21.9% 48.2%
2021 30.1% 1.43% 22% 52.6%
2020 32.8% 2.16% 23.5% 48.7%
2019 32.1% 1.82% 21.3% 38.2%
2018 32.9% 1.9% 20.3% 36.7%
2017 36.6% 2.58% 18.4% 32.5%
2016 39.8% 3% 20.9% 33.7%
2015 37% 2.95% 22.8% 29.9%
2014 34% 3.23% 27.1% 26.9%
2013 33.4% 2.21% 27.6% 24.9%
2012 31.1% 2.1% 22.4% 19.1%
2011 29.9% 2.13% 19.7% 16.3%
2010 25.5% 1.11% 18.4% 17.3%
2009 34.8% 1.11% 24.7% 21.7%
2008 27.2% 0.94% 19.8% 21.6%
2007 29.3% 0.68% 18% 22.2%
2006 28% 0.59% 19.4% 26%
2005 29.1% 0% 20.6% 31.6%
2004 33.2% 0% 19.4% 37.2%
2003 30.9% 0% 18.7% 40.4%
2002 41.4% 0% 20.8% 48.4%
2001 35.5% 0% 21.6% 47.7%
2000 37.5% 0% 20.5% 42.3%
1999 44.1% 0% 21.4% 41.8%
1998 45.4% 0% 20% 45.7%
1997 39% 0% 20.6% 43.9%
1996 36.9% 0% 17.6% 37.8%
1995 44% 0% 17.1% 36.6%
1994 47.1% 0% 19.3% 40.1%
1993 38% 0% 23.5% 30%
1992 34.1% 0% 22.8% 30.4%
1991 30.6% 0% 22.4% -
1990 32% 0% 24.5% -

Data sources: International Monetary Fund (IMF) | Fiscal Monitor (1990–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08); International Monetary Fund (IMF) | Public Finances in Modern History (1992–1993, retrieved 2026-07-08).

GeoRank.org/economy/brunei/papua-new-guinea | CC BY

In 2025, Brunei's government spending was $4.5B, accounting for 29.9% of its GDP, while Papua New Guinea spent $6.4B, or 19.7% of GDP.

Debt-to-GDP ratio is 1.54% in Brunei and 52.1% in Papua New Guinea, ranking 185/185 and 99/185, respectively.

Government deficit by year

Deficit/surplus
Brunei

Papua New Guinea
1x
Year Deficit/surplus, % of GDP
Brunei Papua New Guinea
2025 -13.4% -2.36%
2024 -12.9% -3.31%
2023 -8.62% -4.34%
2022 -0.25% -5.25%
2021 -8.34% -6.84%
2020 -16.2% -8.85%
2019 -4.16% -4.98%
2018 -2.9% -2.58%
2017 -13.8% -2.47%
2016 -16.7% -4.75%
2015 -11.4% -4.55%
2014 1.25% -6.27%
2013 10.4% -6.87%
2012 19.5% -1.19%
2011 21.5% 2.22%
2010 11.3% 3.06%
2009 3.61% -5.48%
2008 36.1% 2.73%
2007 3.12% 6.9%
2006 19.8% 5.34%
2005 16% 2.85%
2004 8.57% 2.03%
2003 8.06% 0.19%
2002 -4.61% -1.75%
2001 2.59% -1.33%
2000 6.86% 0.3%
1999 -18.3% -1.94%
1998 -24% -0.16%
1997 -11.8% 0.67%
1996 -8.7% 2.05%
1995 -19.8% 1.08%
1994 -22.6% -1.01%
1993 -12.8% -4.9%
1992 -8.28% -4.33%
1991 -1.06% -0.62%
1990 -1.63% -2.04%

Data sources: International Monetary Fund (IMF) | Fiscal Monitor (1990–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08).

GeoRank.org/economy/brunei/papua-new-guinea | 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 Papua New Guinea's deficit of $766M, or 2.36% of GDP.

Over the past 36 years, Brunei recorded a fiscal deficit in 22 of those years, while Papua New Guinea ran a deficit in 24 years. On average, Brunei posted an annual deficit equal to 2.04% of GDP, compared to deficit of 1.63% of GDP for Papua New Guinea.

Inflation comparison by year

Inflation
Brunei

Papua New Guinea
1x
Year Consumer prices inflation
Brunei Papua New Guinea
2025 -0.3% 4.42%
2024 -0.39% 0.6%
2023 0.36% 2.3%
2022 3.68% 5.25%
2021 1.73% 4.48%
2020 1.94% 4.87%
2019 -0.39% 3.93%
2018 1.03% 4.37%
2017 -1.26% 5.42%
2016 -0.28% 6.67%
2015 -0.49% 6%
2014 -0.21% 5.22%
2013 0.39% 4.96%
2012 0.11% 4.54%
2011 0.14% 4.44%
2010 0.36% 6.01%
2009 1.04% 6.92%
2008 2.08% 10.8%
2007 0.97% 0.91%
2006 0.16% 2.37%
2005 1.24% 1.78%
2004 0.81% 2.16%
2003 0.3% 14.7%
2002 -2.31% 11.8%
2001 0.6% 9.3%
2000 1.56% 15.6%
1999 -0.42% 14.9%
1998 -0.44% 13.6%
1997 1.71% 3.96%

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

GeoRank.org/economy/brunei/papua-new-guinea | CC BY

Over the past 29 years, Brunei has recorded an average annual inflation rate of 0.47%, compared with 6.29% in Papua New Guinea. In 2025, inflation was -0.3% in Brunei and 4.42% in Papua New Guinea.

Top exports between countries

Brunei
Export category Export value
Machinery & equipment $41K
Wood & paper products $29K
Chemicals & pharma $3K
Metals $2K
Textiles & consumer goods $1K
Papua New Guinea
Export category Export value
Raw materials & minerals $345M
Textiles & consumer goods $5K
Machinery & equipment $4K
Miscellaneous $2K

Balance of trade

Brunei Papua New Guinea
Current account balance
$2.71B
2025
$4.77B
2024
Current account balance ranking
40/190
2025
32/190
2024
Current account balance, % of GDP
+18%
2025
+15.5%
2024
Goods imports
$6.28B
2025
$4.69B
2024
Goods exports
$10.3B
2025
$13.4B
2024
Service imports
$1.54B
2025
$2.4B
2024
Service exports
$463M
2025
$75.2M
2024
Imports of goods and services, % of GDP
52%
2025
58.9%
2004
Exports of goods and services, % of GDP
71.6%
2025
72.2%
2004

Economic freedom indices

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

Brunei Papua New Guinea
Economic freedom 67.5 54.3
Economic freedom ranking 55/197 134/197
Property rights 66.1 45
Government integrity 60.4 30.8
Judicial effectiveness 48.6 41.1
Tax burden 95 70.9
Government spending 75.6 86.1
Fiscal health 39 65.3
Business freedom 75.3 34.2
Labor freedom 75.1 65.1
Monetary freedom 74.8 77.4
Trade freedom 84.6 80.2
Investment freedom 65 25
Financial freedom 50 30

Economic freedom comparison by year

Brunei
Papua New Guinea
1x
Year Economic freedom index
Brunei Papua New Guinea
2026 67.5 54.3
2025 67 52.5
2024 65.9 49.4
2023 65.7 51.7
2022 64.8 54.6
2021 66.6 58.9
2020 66.6 58.4
2019 65.1 58.4
2018 64.2 55.7
2017 69.8 50.9
2016 67.3 53.2
2015 68.9 53.1
2014 69 53.9
2013 - 53.6
2012 - 53.8
2011 - 52.6
2010 - 53.5
2009 - 54.8
2008 - -
2007 - -
2006 - -
2005 - -
2004 - -
2003 - -
2002 - -
2001 - 57.2
2000 - 55.8
1999 - 56.3
1998 - 55.2
1997 - 56.7
1996 - 58.6

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

GeoRank.org/economy/brunei/papua-new-guinea | CC BY

The Economic Freedom Index for Brunei is 67.5, ranking 55/197, compared to 54.3 for Papua New Guinea, ranking 134/197. The chart above displays a comparison of annual changes in economic freedom indexes.

Other economic metrics

Brunei Papua New Guinea
Services, % of GDP
40.2%
2025
42%
2024
Industry, % of GDP
60%
2025
36.5%
2024
Agriculture, forestry, and fishing, % of GDP
1.18%
2025
17%
2024
GNI, Atlas method
$16.2B
2025
$31.2B
2025
GNI per capita, PPP
$95,420
2025
$4,840
2025
Total reserves including gold
$5.49B
2025
$3.71B
2024
Total reserves ranking
100/177
2025
114/177
2024
Net foreign direct investment
-$157M
2025
$968M
2024
Net inflows of foreign direct investment
$29.1M
2024
-$198M
2024
Net outflows of foreign direct investment
$0
2024
$770M
2024
Servicing debt to the IMF, % of GNI n/a
20.4%
2024
Poverty at national poverty lines n/a
39.9%
2009
Gross capital formation, % of GDP
27.1%
2025
20%
2004

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/papua-new-guinea | CC BY

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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. The Heritage Foundation | Economic Freedom Index (1996–2026, retrieved 2026-07-08)
  4. U.S. Census Bureau (1985–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08)
  5. TradeMap (2021–2024, retrieved 2026-07-08)
  6. International Monetary Fund (IMF) | Public Finances in Modern History (1992–1993, retrieved 2026-07-08)
  7. United Nations | World Population Prospects (2026, retrieved 2026-07-08)
  8. LivingCost (2026, 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.