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Economy of Brunei vs Qatar compared: GDP & Debt

Updated on by Georank

Brunei has a GDP of $15B compared to $216B for Qatar, ranking 147/197 and 56/197 by economy size, respectively.

Brunei has $232M in government debt (1.54% of GDP), compared to $89.2B (41.4% of GDP) in Qatar.

Brunei vs Qatar GDP by year

Brunei
Qatar
1x
Year GDP, current $
Brunei Qatar
2025 $15,031,980,994 $215,559,615,385
2024 $15,340,808,592 $216,294,505,495
2023 $15,095,084,656 $213,002,809,341
2022 $16,681,536,467 $235,709,325,714
2021 $14,006,496,617 $179,732,009,560
2020 $12,005,799,654 $144,411,363,352
2019 $13,469,235,365 $176,371,267,692
2018 $13,566,908,391 $183,334,953,819
2017 $12,128,168,045 $161,099,122,225
2016 $11,400,266,045 $151,732,181,868
2015 $12,930,296,870 $161,739,955,577
2014 $17,097,797,386 $206,224,598,571
2013 $18,094,148,099 $198,727,642,967
2012 $19,048,443,341 $186,833,502,363
2011 $18,524,791,063 $167,775,274,725
2010 $13,707,121,038 $125,122,252,747
2009 $11,912,904,510 $97,798,351,648
2008 $15,926,456,515 $115,269,780,220
2007 $13,432,029,484 $79,711,813,187
2006 $12,644,616,419 $60,882,142,857
2005 $10,547,202,621 $44,530,494,505
2004 $8,619,178,774 $31,734,065,934
2003 $7,167,725,262 $23,533,791,209
2002 $6,333,082,876 $19,363,736,264
2001 $6,096,155,767 $17,538,461,538
2000 $6,570,999,088 $17,759,890,110
1999 $6,309,070,378 $12,393,131,868
1998 $5,550,846,020 $10,255,494,505
1997 $7,793,034,376 $11,297,802,198
1996 $7,663,377,306 $9,059,340,659
1995 $7,700,144,069 $8,137,912,088
1994 $6,467,782,518 $7,374,450,549
1993 $6,203,339,912 $7,156,593,407
1992 $6,327,966,435 $7,646,153,846
1991 $6,284,497,294 $6,883,516,484
1990 $6,039,881,087 $7,360,439,560
1989 $4,983,622,881 $6,487,912,088
1988 $4,535,130,305 $6,038,186,813
1987 $4,918,010,080 $5,446,428,571
1986 $4,190,280,003 $5,053,021,978
1985 $6,967,623,884 $6,153,296,703
1984 $7,632,788,075 $6,870,329,670
1983 $7,927,590,750 $6,484,890,110
1982 $8,932,198,186 $7,611,263,736
1981 $9,367,218,664 $8,672,527,473
1980 $10,795,432,294 $7,837,915,956
1979 $6,044,367,628 $5,632,962,997
1978 $4,100,423,674 $4,052,000,413
1977 $3,681,242,528 $3,617,564,638
1976 $3,054,765,590 $3,284,273,987
1975 $2,496,420,258 $2,512,773,166
1974 $2,319,576,214 $2,401,403,227
1973 $433,095,527 $793,885,560
1972 $270,822,782 $510,262,500
1971 $197,525,768 $387,703,106
1970 $179,078,929 $301,791,302
1969 $161,210,236 -
1968 $160,818,236 -
1967 $139,029,537 -
1966 $132,757,528 -
1965 $114,039,501 -

Data sources: World Bank | Economy & Growth (1965–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08).

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

GDP per capita in Brunei vs Qatar by year

Brunei
GDP per capita

GDP per capita, PPP
Qatar
GDP per capita

GDP per capita, PPP
1x
Year Current $
Brunei Qatar
GDP per capita GDP per capita, PPP GDP per capita GDP per capita, PPP
2025 $32,235 - $72,525 -
2024 $33,153 $89,879 $75,685 $126,046
2023 $32,891 $85,033 $80,196 $129,368
2022 $36,633 $81,802 $88,701 $122,921
2021 $31,007 $78,249 $71,752 $116,833
2020 $26,834 $69,788 $51,684 $82,149
2019 $30,427 $69,354 $66,841 $107,503
2018 $30,988 $65,149 $71,040 $110,033
2017 $28,024 $61,658 $63,280 $99,358
2016 $26,663 $56,680 $61,254 $89,935
2015 $30,625 $62,708 $68,985 $102,546
2014 $41,027 $81,226 $95,841 $148,389
2013 $44,003 $83,237 $103,697 $169,203
2012 $46,969 $87,256 $108,470 $180,939
2011 $46,383 $82,735 $103,262 $174,620
2010 $34,938 $79,543 $77,387 $151,646
2009 $30,946 $77,957 $60,786 $125,898
2008 $42,157 $80,477 $80,781 $126,015
2007 $36,217 $83,693 $65,954 $124,056
2006 $34,675 $86,114 $62,582 $127,181
2005 $29,386 $81,534 $53,950 $115,250
2004 $24,423 $80,404 $41,036 $110,958
2003 $20,678 $79,632 $31,602 $94,120
2002 $18,621 $76,838 $27,227 $93,177
2001 $18,288 $74,254 $25,871 $89,805
2000 $20,130 $73,087 $27,535 $88,849
1999 $19,752 $70,585 $20,234 $84,690
1998 $17,769 $68,257 $17,665 $84,486
1997 $25,522 $73,980 $20,523 $79,219
1996 $25,692 $70,008 $17,125 $62,331
1995 $26,443 $70,440 $15,823 $60,321
1994 $22,767 $69,779 $14,765 $59,415
1993 $22,397 $69,387 $14,770 $59,125
1992 $23,451 $70,016 $16,280 $60,387
1991 $23,932 $72,610 $15,133 $54,759
1990 $23,659 $70,201 $16,722 $55,659
1989 $20,090 - $15,243 -
1988 $18,825 - $14,682 -
1987 $21,030 - $13,719 -
1986 $18,501 - $13,213 -
1985 $31,827 - $16,815 -
1984 $36,061 - $19,749 -
1983 $38,720 - $19,669 -
1982 $45,075 - $24,431 -
1981 $48,793 - $29,543 -
1980 $58,005 - $28,407 -
1979 $33,501 - $21,777 -
1978 $23,447 - $16,757 -
1977 $21,747 - $16,058 -
1976 $18,671 - $15,710 -
1975 $15,793 - $13,014 -
1974 $15,195 - $13,540 -
1973 $2,939 - $4,905 -
1972 $1,905 - $3,483 -
1971 $1,432 - $2,952 -
1970 $1,325 - $2,594 -
1969 $1,226 - - -
1968 $1,274 - - -
1967 $1,149 - - -
1966 $1,146 - - -
1965 $1,029 - - -

Data sources: World Bank | Economy & Growth (1965–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08).

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

Brunei's GDP per capita is $32,235, ranking 42/197, compared to $72,525 in Qatar, ranking 13/197. Adjusted for purchasing power (GDP per capita PPP), Brunei ranks 9th at $89,879, while Qatar ranks 5th at $126,046.

Economic indicators

Brunei Qatar
Gross domestic product
$15B
2025
$216B
2025
GDP rank
147/197
2025
56/197
2025
GDP growth
0.67%
2024-2025
2.9%
2024-2025
GDP per capita
$32,235
2025
$72,525
2025
GDP per capita rank
42/197
2025
13/197
2025
GDP per capita, PPP
$89,879
2024
$126,046
2024
GDP per capita PPP rank
9/197
2024
5/197
2024
Government debt
$232M
2025
$89.2B
2025
Debt-to-GDP ratio
1.54%
2025
41.4%
2025
Government debt per person
$498
2025
$30,009
2025
Government debt per person rank
169/185
2025
24/185
2025
Average annual personal income after taxes
$25,392
2026
$37,042
2026
Market capitalization of domestic companies n/a
$177B
2025
Number of millionaires n/a
30,000
2026
Number of billionaires n/a
2
2026
Income share by richest 10% n/a
25.8%
2017
Income share by poorest 10% n/a
2.6%
2017
Government expenditure, % of GDP
29.9%
2025
27.1%
2025
Consumer prices inflation
-0.3%
2024-2025
0.6%
2024-2025
Central bank interest rate n/a
4.1%
2025
Unemployment rate
4.87%
2024
0.1%
2024
Population
471596
3058826

Spending and national debt comparison by year

Brunei
Spending

Debt
Qatar
Spending

Debt
1x
Year % of GDP
Brunei Qatar
Government spending Government debt Government spending Government debt
2025 29.9% 1.54% 27.1% 41.4%
2024 30.3% 1.57% 26% 41.3%
2023 30.1% 1.67% 26.7% 42.8%
2022 26.1% 1.33% 24.3% 42.6%
2021 30.1% 1.43% 29.4% 58.4%
2020 32.8% 2.16% 34.7% 72.6%
2019 32.1% 1.82% 32.5% 62.1%
2018 32.9% 1.9% 28.9% 52.2%
2017 36.6% 2.58% 34.7% 51.6%
2016 39.8% 3% 40.1% 46.7%
2015 37% 2.95% 38.6% 35.5%
2014 34% 3.23% 32.3% 24.9%
2013 33.4% 2.21% 28.3% 30.9%
2012 31.1% 2.1% 31% 32.1%
2011 29.9% 2.13% 28.5% 33.5%
2010 25.5% 1.11% 32% 30.4%
2009 34.8% 1.11% 36.4% 36%
2008 27.2% 0.94% 23.5% 11.4%
2007 29.3% 0.68% 29.5% 9.37%
2006 28% 0.59% 29.5% 13.9%
2005 29.1% 0% 29% 19.1%
2004 33.2% 0% 29.9% 30.1%
2003 30.9% 0% 28.5% 38.8%
2002 41.4% 0% 31.6% 47.7%
2001 35.5% 0% 32.1% 59.2%
2000 37.5% 0% 29.8% 51.6%
1999 44.1% 0% 42.4% 81.8%
1998 45.4% 0% 55.1% 76.6%
1997 39% 0% 47.6% 54.4%
1996 36.9% 0% 55.2% 57.8%
1995 44% 0% 52.2% 50.2%
1994 47.1% 0% 59.8% 54.8%
1993 38% 0% 62.8% 46.3%
1992 34.1% 0% 54.2% 19.9%
1991 30.6% 0% 57.5% 21.8%
1990 32% 0% 50% 12.6%

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

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

In 2025, Brunei's government spending was $4.5B, accounting for 29.9% of its GDP, while Qatar spent $58.4B, or 27.1% of GDP.

Debt-to-GDP ratio is 1.54% in Brunei and 41.4% in Qatar, ranking 185/185 and 127/185, respectively.

Government deficit by year

Deficit/surplus
Brunei

Qatar
1x
Year Deficit/surplus, % of GDP
Brunei Qatar
2025 -13.4% -1%
2024 -12.9% 0.71%
2023 -8.62% 5.51%
2022 -0.25% 10.4%
2021 -8.34% 0.24%
2020 -16.2% -2.13%
2019 -4.16% 1%
2018 -2.9% 2.26%
2017 -13.8% -6.82%
2016 -16.7% -9.2%
2015 -11.4% 18.4%
2014 1.25% 13.4%
2013 10.4% 19.3%
2012 19.5% 8.55%
2011 21.5% 5.24%
2010 11.3% 4.6%
2009 3.61% 14.1%
2008 36.1% 9.49%
2007 3.12% 10.3%
2006 19.8% 8.39%
2005 16% 9.8%
2004 8.57% 17.7%
2003 8.06% 6.71%
2002 -4.61% 7.89%
2001 2.59% 4.48%
2000 6.86% 4.62%
1999 -18.3% -4.35%
1998 -24% -7%
1997 -11.8% -9.4%
1996 -8.7% -8.73%
1995 -19.8% -5.78%
1994 -22.6% -11.8%
1993 -12.8% -9.53%
1992 -8.28% -2.74%
1991 -1.06% -2.57%
1990 -1.63% 3.23%

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

GeoRank.org/economy/brunei/qatar | 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 Qatar's deficit of $2.16B, or 1% of GDP.

Over the past 36 years, Brunei recorded a fiscal deficit in 22 of those years, while Qatar ran a deficit in 13 years. On average, Brunei posted an annual deficit equal to 2.04% of GDP, compared to surplus of 2.92% of GDP for Qatar.

Inflation comparison by year

Inflation
Brunei

Qatar
1x
Year Consumer prices inflation
Brunei Qatar
2025 -0.3% 0.6%
2024 -0.39% 1.2%
2023 0.36% 3.1%
2022 3.68% 5%
2021 1.73% 2.3%
2020 1.94% -2.5%
2019 -0.39% -0.9%
2018 1.03% 0.1%
2017 -1.26% 0.6%
2016 -0.28% 2.7%
2015 -0.49% 0.9%
2014 -0.21% 4.2%
2013 0.39% 3.1%
2012 0.11% 1.8%
2011 0.14% 2%
2010 0.36% -2.4%
2009 1.04% -4.9%
2008 2.08% 15.1%
2007 0.97% 13.7%
2006 0.16% 11.7%
2005 1.24% 9%
2004 0.81% 6.8%
2003 0.3% 2.3%
2002 -2.31% 0.2%
2001 0.6% 1.7%
2000 1.56% 1.6%
1999 -0.42% 2.2%
1998 -0.44% 2.9%
1997 1.71% 2.7%

Data sources: International Monetary Fund (IMF) | World Economic Outlook (1997–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08); World Bank | Economy & Growth (1997–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08).

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

Over the past 29 years, Brunei has recorded an average annual inflation rate of 0.47%, compared with 2.99% in Qatar. In 2025, inflation was -0.3% in Brunei and 0.6% in Qatar.

Top exports between countries

Brunei
Export category Export value
Machinery & equipment $76K
Raw materials & minerals $76K
Chemicals & pharma $66K
Textiles & consumer goods $32K
Miscellaneous $29K
Metals $3K
Qatar
Export category Export value
Raw materials & minerals $70.3M
Chemicals & pharma $12.1M
Metals $6.03M
Wood & paper products $76K
Machinery & equipment $74K
Textiles & consumer goods $20K

Balance of trade

Brunei Qatar
Current account balance
$2.71B
2025
$31.9B
2025
Current account balance ranking
40/190
2025
17/190
2025
Current account balance, % of GDP
+18%
2025
+14.8%
2025
Goods imports
$6.28B
2025
$34.3B
2025
Goods exports
$10.3B
2025
$90B
2025
Service imports
$1.54B
2025
$31.3B
2025
Service exports
$463M
2025
$24.4B
2025
Imports of goods and services, % of GDP
52%
2025
31.6%
2022
Exports of goods and services, % of GDP
71.6%
2025
68.6%
2022

Economic freedom indices

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

Brunei Qatar
Economic freedom 67.5 70.2
Economic freedom ranking 55/197 37/197
Property rights 66.1 66.2
Government integrity 60.4 53.5
Judicial effectiveness 48.6 41.5
Tax burden 95 99.9
Government spending 75.6 79.9
Fiscal health 39 96.6
Business freedom 75.3 68
Labor freedom 75.1 58.5
Monetary freedom 74.8 76
Trade freedom 84.6 81.8
Investment freedom 65 60
Financial freedom 50 60

Economic freedom comparison by year

Brunei
Qatar
1x
Year Economic freedom index
Brunei Qatar
2026 67.5 70.2
2025 67 70.2
2024 65.9 68.8
2023 65.7 68.6
2022 64.8 67.7
2021 66.6 72
2020 66.6 72.3
2019 65.1 72.6
2018 64.2 72.6
2017 69.8 73.1
2016 67.3 70.7
2015 68.9 70.8
2014 69 71.2
2013 - 71.3
2012 - 71.3
2011 - 70.5
2010 - 69
2009 - 65.8
2008 - 62.2
2007 - 62.9
2006 - 62.4
2005 - 63.5
2004 - 66.5
2003 - 65.9
2002 - 61.9
2001 - 60
2000 - 62
1999 - 62

Data sources: The Heritage Foundation | Economic Freedom Index (1999–2026, retrieved 2026-07-08).

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

The Economic Freedom Index for Brunei is 67.5, ranking 55/197, compared to 70.2 for Qatar, ranking 37/197. The chart above displays a comparison of annual changes in economic freedom indexes.

Other economic metrics

Brunei Qatar
Services, % of GDP
40.2%
2025
47%
2025
Industry, % of GDP
60%
2025
57%
2025
Agriculture, forestry, and fishing, % of GDP
1.18%
2025
0.31%
2025
GNI, Atlas method
$16.2B
2025
$221B
2025
GNI per capita, PPP
$95,420
2025
$126,290
2025
Total reserves including gold
$5.49B
2025
$55.8B
2025
Total reserves ranking
100/177
2025
45/177
2025
Net foreign direct investment
-$157M
2025
$311M
2025
Net inflows of foreign direct investment
$29.1M
2024
$460M
2024
Net outflows of foreign direct investment
$0
2024
$1.56B
2024
Gross capital formation, % of GDP
27.1%
2025
30.6%
2022

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/qatar | CC BY

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Data sources:

  1. World Bank | Economy & Growth (1965–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08)
  2. International Monetary Fund (IMF) | Fiscal Monitor (1990–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08)
  3. The Heritage Foundation | Economic Freedom Index (1999–2026, retrieved 2026-07-08)
  4. U.S. Census Bureau (1985–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08)
  5. TradeMap (2020–2024, retrieved 2026-07-08)
  6. United Nations | World Population Prospects (2026, retrieved 2026-07-08)
  7. 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.

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.