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Economy of Brunei vs Romania compared: GDP & Debt

Updated on by Georank team

Brunei has a GDP of $15.3B compared to $383B for Romania, ranking 142/197 and 42/197 by economy size, respectively.

Brunei has $351M in government debt (2.29% of GDP), compared to $220B (57.4% of GDP) in Romania.

Brunei vs Romania GDP by year

Brunei
Romania
1x
Year GDP, current $
Brunei Romania
2024 $15,340,808,592 $382,564,217,989
2023 $15,095,084,656 $347,757,995,759
2022 $16,681,536,467 $295,319,437,557
2021 $14,006,496,617 $285,071,280,114
2020 $12,005,799,654 $250,625,048,304
2019 $13,469,235,365 $250,080,428,512
2018 $13,566,908,391 $241,791,427,224
2017 $12,128,168,045 $210,147,385,855
2016 $11,400,266,045 $185,290,759,249
2015 $12,930,296,870 $177,885,131,240
2014 $17,097,797,386 $199,722,319,676
2013 $18,094,148,099 $189,798,603,751
2012 $19,048,443,341 $179,117,323,107
2011 $18,524,791,063 $192,623,977,894
2010 $13,707,121,038 $170,064,350,672
2009 $11,912,904,510 $174,110,532,659
2008 $15,926,456,515 $214,315,932,061
2007 $13,432,029,484 $174,588,782,939
2006 $12,644,616,419 $122,023,735,993
2005 $10,547,202,621 $98,454,380,120
2004 $8,619,178,774 $74,973,656,852
2003 $7,167,725,262 $57,806,384,143
2002 $6,333,082,876 $46,065,502,703
2001 $6,096,155,767 $40,395,116,581
2000 $6,570,999,088 $37,253,739,511
1999 $6,309,070,378 $35,953,156,754
1998 $5,550,846,020 $41,696,091,974
1997 $7,793,034,376 $35,575,214,078
1996 $7,663,377,306 $36,937,074,278
1995 $7,700,144,069 $37,430,162,103
1994 $6,467,782,518 $30,072,805,104
1993 $6,203,339,912 $26,361,160,450
1992 $6,327,966,435 $25,121,666,667
1991 $6,284,497,294 $28,850,634,900
1990 $6,039,881,087 $38,247,882,300
1989 $4,983,622,881 $41,450,777,202
1988 $4,535,130,305 $40,424,528,302
1987 $4,918,010,080 $38,067,567,568
1986 $4,190,280,003 -
1985 $6,967,623,884 -
1984 $7,632,788,075 -
1983 $7,927,590,750 -
1982 $8,932,198,186 -
1981 $9,367,218,664 -
1980 $10,795,432,294 -
1979 $6,044,367,628 -
1978 $4,100,423,674 -
1977 $3,681,242,528 -
1976 $3,054,765,590 -
1975 $2,496,420,258 -
1974 $2,319,576,214 -
1973 $433,095,527 -
1972 $270,822,782 -
1971 $197,525,768 -
1970 $179,078,929 -
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 (1965–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06).

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

GDP per capita in Brunei vs Romania by year

Brunei
GDP per capita

GDP per capita, PPP
Romania
GDP per capita

GDP per capita, PPP
1x
Year Current $
Brunei Romania
GDP per capita GDP per capita, PPP GDP per capita GDP per capita, PPP
2024 $33,153 $89,879 $20,080 $49,077
2023 $32,891 $85,033 $18,244 $45,982
2022 $36,633 $81,802 $15,504 $41,979
2021 $31,007 $78,249 $14,908 $37,534
2020 $26,834 $69,788 $13,009 $34,194
2019 $30,427 $69,354 $12,910 $33,425
2018 $30,988 $65,149 $12,416 $29,383
2017 $28,024 $61,658 $10,728 $26,943
2016 $26,663 $56,680 $9,405 $23,905
2015 $30,625 $62,708 $8,977 $21,625
2014 $41,027 $81,226 $10,032 $20,633
2013 $44,003 $83,237 $9,498 $19,678
2012 $46,969 $87,256 $8,930 $19,808
2011 $46,383 $82,735 $9,561 $18,804
2010 $34,938 $79,543 $8,400 $17,355
2009 $30,946 $77,957 $8,548 $16,641
2008 $42,157 $80,477 $10,435 $16,782
2007 $36,217 $83,693 $8,360 $13,703
2006 $34,675 $86,114 $5,758 $11,554
2005 $29,386 $81,534 $4,618 $9,602
2004 $24,423 $80,404 $3,495 $8,989
2003 $20,678 $79,632 $2,679 $7,559
2002 $18,621 $76,838 $2,120 $7,162
2001 $18,288 $74,254 $1,825 $6,520
2000 $20,130 $73,087 $1,660 $5,850
1999 $19,752 $70,585 $1,600 $5,596
1998 $17,769 $68,257 $1,853 $5,545
1997 $25,522 $73,980 $1,577 $5,564
1996 $25,692 $70,008 $1,633 $5,746
1995 $26,443 $70,440 $1,650 $5,429
1994 $22,767 $69,779 $1,323 $4,995
1993 $22,397 $69,387 $1,158 $4,699
1992 $23,451 $70,016 $1,102 $4,515
1991 $23,932 $72,610 $1,254 $4,795
1990 $23,659 $70,201 $1,648 $5,280
1989 $20,090 - $1,790 -
1988 $18,825 - $1,753 -
1987 $21,030 - $1,659 -
1986 $18,501 - - -
1985 $31,827 - - -
1984 $36,061 - - -
1983 $38,720 - - -
1982 $45,075 - - -
1981 $48,793 - - -
1980 $58,005 - - -
1979 $33,501 - - -
1978 $23,447 - - -
1977 $21,747 - - -
1976 $18,671 - - -
1975 $15,793 - - -
1974 $15,195 - - -
1973 $2,939 - - -
1972 $1,905 - - -
1971 $1,432 - - -
1970 $1,325 - - -
1969 $1,226 - - -
1968 $1,274 - - -
1967 $1,149 - - -
1966 $1,146 - - -
1965 $1,029 - - -

Data sources: World Bank | Economy & Growth (1965–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06).

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

Brunei's GDP per capita is $33,153, ranking 36/197, compared to $20,080 in Romania, ranking 58/197. Adjusted for purchasing power (GDP per capita PPP), Brunei ranks 9th at $89,879, while Romania ranks 47th at $49,077.

Economic indicators

Brunei Romania
Gross domestic product
$15.3B
2024
$383B
2024
GDP rank
142/197
2024
42/197
2024
GDP growth
4.05%
2023-2024
0.92%
2023-2024
GDP per capita
$33,153
2024
$20,080
2024
GDP per capita rank
36/197
2024
58/197
2024
GDP per capita, PPP
$89,879
2024
$49,077
2024
GDP per capita PPP rank
9/197
2024
47/197
2024
Government debt
$351M
2024
$220B
2024
Debt-to-GDP ratio
2.29%
2024
57.4%
2024
Government debt per person
$759
2024
$11,533
2024
Government debt per person rank
153/185
2024
48/185
2024
Average annual personal income after taxes
$24,405
2026
$13,912
2026
Market capitalization of domestic companies n/a
$47.4B
2024
Number of billionaires n/a
6
2025
Income share by richest 10% n/a
21.8%
2023
Income share by poorest 10% n/a
2.4%
2023
Government expenditure, % of GDP
29.8%
2024
39.9%
2024
Consumer prices inflation
-0.39%
2023-2024
5.6%
2023-2024
Central bank interest rate n/a
6.5%
2024
Unemployment rate
4.87%
2024
5.43%
2024
Population
470884
18839108

Spending and national debt comparison by year

Brunei
Spending

Debt
Romania
Spending

Debt
1x
Year % of GDP
Brunei Romania
Government spending Government debt Government spending Government debt
2024 29.8% 2.29% 39.9% 57.4%
2023 29.4% 2.33% 36.6% 52.1%
2022 26.4% 2.06% 37.4% 51.7%
2021 29.3% 2.51% 37% 51.5%
2020 33.2% 2.86% 38.1% 49.3%
2019 32.4% 2.58% 33.2% 36.5%
2018 32.2% 2.59% 31.7% 36.2%
2017 36.6% 2.83% 31% 37.1%
2016 39.4% 3% 31.8% 39.5%
2015 38.7% 2.95% 34.2% 39.4%
2014 34.1% 3.23% 33.8% 40.5%
2013 33.6% 2.21% 34.2% 39.3%
2012 31% 2.1% 33.5% 36.2%
2011 29.7% 2.13% 35% 32.6%
2010 36.2% 1.11% 37.4% 30.2%
2009 34.8% 1.11% 36.3% 22.5%
2008 27.2% 0.94% 35.3% 13%
2007 29.3% 0.68% 34.6% 12.4%
2006 28% 0.59% 33.9% 12.7%
2005 29.1% 0% 32.3% 17.8%
2004 33.2% 0% 33.7% 21.3%
2003 30.9% 0% 31.8% 24.9%
2002 41.4% 0% 32.1% 27.4%
2001 35.5% 0% 33.2% 27.4%
2000 37.5% 0% 35% 29.6%
1999 44.1% 0% 35.1% 21.7%
1998 45.4% 0% 34.7% 16.5%
1997 39% 0% 33.5% 15%
1996 36.9% 0% 33.5% 11%
1995 44% 0% 34.4% 6.91%
1994 47.1% 0% 33.1% -
1993 38% 0% 33.5% -
1992 34.1% 0% 41.5% -
1991 30.6% 0% 38.3% -
1990 32% 0% 38.4% -
1989 - - 40.1% -
1988 - - 36.6% -
1987 - - 40.7% -
1986 - - 42.5% -
1985 - - 41.6% -
1984 - - 28.6% -
1983 - - 25.8% -
1982 - - 28.5% -
1981 - - 30.4% -
1980 - - 33.6% -
1979 - - 42% -
1978 - - 42.1% -
1977 - - 39.9% -
1976 - - 37.5% -
1975 - - 40.6% -
1974 - - 37.6% -
1973 - - 32.6% -
1972 - - 29.9% -
1971 - - 27.2% -
1970 - - 28.1% -
1969 - - 32.1% -
1968 - - 31.8% -
1967 - - 30.6% -
1966 - - 27.3% -
1965 - - 25.6% -
1964 - - 25.1% -
1963 - - 23.1% -
1962 - - 43.4% -

Data sources: International Monetary Fund (IMF) | Fiscal Monitor (1990–2024, retrieved 2026-02-20); International Monetary Fund (IMF) | Public Finances in Modern History (1962–1999, retrieved 2026-02-20).

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

In 2024, Brunei's government spending was $4.57B, accounting for 29.8% of its GDP, while Romania spent $153B, or 39.9% of GDP.

Debt-to-GDP ratio is 2.29% in Brunei and 57.4% in Romania, ranking 185/185 and 87/185, respectively.

Government deficit by year

Deficit/surplus
Brunei

Romania
1x
Year Deficit/surplus, % of GDP
Brunei Romania
2024 -10.2% -8.68%
2023 -10.9% -5.61%
2022 2.53% -5.83%
2021 -8.16% -6.7%
2020 -15.8% -9.54%
2019 -3.69% -4.55%
2018 -3.59% -2.74%
2017 -10.4% -2.86%
2016 -21.7% -2.5%
2015 -14.5% -1.35%
2014 3.58% -1.76%
2013 13% -2.44%
2012 15.8% -2.39%
2011 25.6% -4.14%
2010 7.61% -6.22%
2009 3.61% -6.86%
2008 36.1% -4.6%
2007 3.12% -3.05%
2006 19.8% -1.36%
2005 16% -0.69%
2004 8.57% -3.39%
2003 8.06% -2.29%
2002 -4.61% -2.59%
2001 2.59% -3.2%
2000 6.86% -3.99%
1999 -18.3% -3.58%
1998 -24% -5.33%
1997 -11.8% -5.19%
1996 -8.7% -4.74%
1995 -19.8% -3.32%
1994 -22.6% -2.2%
1993 -12.8% -0.35%
1992 -8.28% -4.55%
1991 -1.06% 3.23%
1990 -1.63% 1.03%
1989 - -2.87%
1988 - 8.4%
1987 - 2.37%
1986 - 5.72%
1985 - 6.36%
1984 - 15.2%
1983 - 9.35%
1982 - 0.36%
1981 - 0.61%
1980 - -1.95%
1979 - 0%
1978 - 0%
1977 - 0.23%
1976 - 0.66%
1975 - 0.41%
1974 - 0.51%
1973 - 1.53%
1972 - 1.21%
1971 - 0.89%
1970 - 0.52%
1969 - 0.93%
1968 - 1.65%
1967 - 1.23%
1966 - 0.91%
1965 - -1.29%
1964 - -3.11%
1963 - -1.61%
1962 - -4.86%

Data sources: International Monetary Fund (IMF) | Fiscal Monitor (1990–2024, retrieved 2026-02-20); International Monetary Fund (IMF) | Public Finances in Modern History (1962–1989, retrieved 2026-02-20).

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

In 2024, Brunei's government deficit, the difference between spending and revenue, was $1.56B, equivalent to 10.2% of GDP. This compares to Romania's deficit of $33.2B, or 8.68% of GDP.

Over the past 35 years, Brunei recorded a fiscal deficit in 20 of those years, while Romania ran a deficit in 33 years. On average, Brunei posted an annual deficit equal to 1.7% of GDP, compared to deficit of 3.55% of GDP for Romania.

Inflation comparison by year

Inflation
Brunei

Romania
1x
Year Consumer prices inflation
Brunei Romania
2024 -0.39% 5.6%
2023 0.36% 10.4%
2022 3.68% 13.8%
2021 1.73% 5%
2020 1.94% 2.6%
2019 -0.39% 3.8%
2018 1.03% 4.6%
2017 -1.26% 1.3%
2016 -0.28% -1.6%
2015 -0.49% -0.6%
2014 -0.21% 1.1%
2013 0.39% 4%
2012 0.11% 3.3%
2011 0.14% 5.8%
2010 0.36% 6.1%
2009 1.04% 5.6%
2008 2.08% 7.8%
2007 0.97% 4.8%
2006 0.16% 6.6%
2005 1.24% 9%
2004 0.81% 11.9%
2003 0.3% 15.4%
2002 -2.31% 22.5%
2001 0.6% 34.5%
2000 1.56% 45.7%
1999 -0.42% 45.8%
1998 -0.44% 59.1%
1997 1.71% 154.8%

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

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

Over the past 28 years, Brunei has recorded an average annual inflation rate of 0.5%, compared with 17.5% in Romania. In 2024, inflation was -0.39% in Brunei and 5.6% in Romania.

Top exports between countries

Brunei
Export category Export value
Miscellaneous $39K
Machinery & equipment $10K
Metals $1K
Textiles & consumer goods $1K
Romania
Export category Export value
Machinery & equipment $645K
Metals $43K
Textiles & consumer goods $7K
Wood & paper products $4K
Raw agricultural goods $3K
Raw materials & minerals $3K
Chemicals & pharma $2K
Miscellaneous $1K

Balance of trade

Brunei Romania
Current account balance
$2.23B
2024
-$31.2B
2024
Current account balance ranking
45/190
2024
185/190
2024
Current account balance, % of GDP
+14.5%
2024
-8.16%
2024
Goods imports
$7.36B
2024
$129B
2024
Goods exports
$11.1B
2024
$93.3B
2024
Service imports
$1.75B
2024
$30.2B
2024
Service exports
$410M
2024
$42.9B
2024
Imports of goods and services, % of GDP
58.3%
2024
41.6%
2024
Exports of goods and services, % of GDP
74.3%
2024
35.6%
2024

Economic freedom indices

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

Brunei Romania
Economic freedom 67.5 65.4
Economic freedom ranking 55/197 64/197
Property rights 66.1 81
Government integrity 60.4 50
Judicial effectiveness 48.6 67
Tax burden 95 89.1
Government spending 75.6 56.7
Fiscal health 39 21.4
Business freedom 75.3 74.4
Labor freedom 75.1 63.6
Monetary freedom 74.8 72.7
Trade freedom 84.6 79.4
Investment freedom 65 70
Financial freedom 50 60

Economic freedom comparison by year

Brunei
Romania
1x
Year Economic freedom index
Brunei Romania
2026 67.5 65.4
2025 67 66.5
2024 65.9 64.4
2023 65.7 64.5
2022 64.8 67.1
2021 66.6 69.5
2020 66.6 69.7
2019 65.1 68.6
2018 64.2 69.4
2017 69.8 69.7
2016 67.3 65.6
2015 68.9 66.6
2014 69 65.5
2013 - 65.1
2012 - 64.4
2011 - 64.7
2010 - 64.2
2009 - 63.2
2008 - 61.7
2007 - 61.2
2006 - 58.2
2005 - 52.1
2004 - 50
2003 - 50.6
2002 - 48.7
2001 - 50
2000 - 52.1
1999 - 50.1
1998 - 54.4
1997 - 50.8
1996 - 46.2
1995 - 42.9

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

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

The Economic Freedom Index for Brunei is 67.5, ranking 55/197, compared to 65.4 for Romania, ranking 64/197. The chart above displays a comparison of annual changes in economic freedom indexes.

Other economic metrics

Brunei Romania
Services, % of GDP
39%
2024
62.6%
2024
Industry, % of GDP
61.7%
2024
25.3%
2024
Agriculture, forestry, and fishing, % of GDP
1.17%
2024
2.81%
2024
GNI, Atlas method
$16.7B
2024
$335B
2024
GNI per capita, PPP
$92,750
2024
$47,920
2024
Total reserves including gold
$4.41B
2024
$73.4B
2024
Total reserves ranking
105/177
2024
35/177
2024
Net foreign direct investment
-$29.1M
2024
-$5.17B
2024
Net inflows of foreign direct investment
$29.1M
2024
$7.16B
2024
Net outflows of foreign direct investment
$0
2024
$1.99B
2024
Poverty at national poverty lines n/a
19%
2023
Gross capital formation, % of GDP
27.9%
2024
25%
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/brunei/romania | CC BY

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Data sources:

  1. World Bank | Economy & Growth (1965–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06)
  2. International Monetary Fund (IMF) | Fiscal Monitor (1990–2024, retrieved 2026-02-20)
  3. International Monetary Fund (IMF) | Public Finances in Modern History (1962–1999, retrieved 2026-02-20)
  4. The Heritage Foundation | Economic Freedom Index (1995–2026, retrieved 2026-03-09)
  5. U.S. Census Bureau (1985–2024, retrieved 2026-02-08)
  6. TradeMap (2022–2024, retrieved 2026-02-08)
  7. United Nations | World Population Prospects (2026, retrieved 2026-03-10)
  8. 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.

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.