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Economy of Burkina Faso vs United Arab Emirates compared: GDP & Debt

Updated on by Georank

Burkina Faso has a GDP of $27.6B compared to $552B for the United Arab Emirates, ranking 119/197 and 31/197 by economy size, respectively.

Burkina Faso has $14.4B in government debt (52% of GDP), compared to $193B (34.3% of GDP) in the United Arab Emirates.

Burkina Faso vs United Arab Emirates GDP by year

Burkina Faso
United Arab Emirates
1x
Year GDP, current $
Burkina Faso UAE
2025 $27,627,297,461 -
2024 $23,136,514,856 $552,324,919,096
2023 $20,106,062,972 $522,622,268,401
2022 $18,622,421,395 $511,403,404,642
2021 $19,697,516,284 $422,441,282,436
2020 $17,725,010,533 $357,161,776,271
2019 $16,032,813,503 $433,926,218,686
2018 $15,890,066,221 $440,560,003,161
2017 $14,106,955,615 $403,365,056,079
2016 $12,833,363,045 $381,717,208,621
2015 $11,832,159,316 $381,973,135,513
2014 $13,943,016,077 $424,935,834,104
2013 $13,444,300,486 $409,632,574,703
2012 $12,561,015,157 $392,793,559,051
2011 $12,080,295,978 $368,881,033,963
2010 $10,109,619,741 $307,736,348,527
2009 $9,450,696,873 $253,547,358,747
2008 $9,451,435,490 $315,474,615,741
2007 $7,625,722,837 $257,916,148,767
2006 $6,547,419,820 $222,116,532,963
2005 $6,146,353,173 $180,617,467,954
2004 $5,451,688,538 $147,824,249,958
2003 $4,740,768,143 $124,346,476,180
2002 $3,622,350,063 $109,816,091,079
2001 $3,190,371,081 $103,311,631,797
2000 $2,968,370,088 $104,337,463,730
1999 $3,389,566,713 $84,445,399,335
1998 $2,804,902,367 $75,674,384,205
1997 $2,447,669,102 $78,838,886,862
1996 $2,586,550,595 $73,571,217,377
1995 $2,379,517,975 $65,743,604,966
1994 $1,895,290,637 $59,305,111,228
1993 $3,199,536,465 $55,625,269,485
1992 $3,356,692,505 $54,239,188,746
1991 $3,135,045,584 $51,552,058,250
1990 $3,101,300,779 $50,701,374,187
1989 $2,615,587,734 $41,464,966,302
1988 $2,616,040,479 $36,275,613,877
1987 $2,369,834,950 $36,384,802,310
1986 $2,036,303,358 $33,943,568,481
1985 $1,552,493,196 $40,603,631,079
1984 $1,459,880,132 $41,807,931,453
1983 $1,600,278,605 $42,803,373,390
1982 $1,754,450,096 $46,622,715,281
1981 $1,775,842,334 $49,333,471,895
1980 $1,928,719,888 $43,599,134,193
1979 $1,748,480,621 $31,225,557,022
1978 $1,475,583,645 $23,775,718,541
1977 $1,131,224,878 $24,871,660,292
1976 $976,547,188 $19,213,212,475
1975 $939,972,703 $14,720,729,969
1974 $751,133,430 $11,651,505,689
1973 $674,773,570 $4,231,243,616
1972 $578,595,522 $1,415,086,929
1971 $482,411,179 $939,893,600
1970 $458,404,269 $685,986,701
1969 $478,298,645 -
1968 $460,442,689 -
1967 $450,753,924 -
1966 $433,889,766 -
1965 $422,916,790 -
1964 $410,321,645 -
1963 $394,040,667 -
1962 $379,567,099 -
1961 $350,247,234 -
1960 $330,442,816 -

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

GeoRank.org/economy/burkina-faso/united-arab-emirates | CC BY

GDP per capita in Burkina Faso vs United Arab Emirates by year

Burkina Faso
GDP per capita

GDP per capita, PPP
United Arab Emirates
GDP per capita

GDP per capita, PPP
1x
Year Current $
Burkina Faso UAE
GDP per capita GDP per capita, PPP GDP per capita GDP per capita, PPP
2025 $1,148 - - -
2024 $982 $2,896 $50,274 $79,229
2023 $873 $2,759 $49,851 $77,955
2022 $827 $2,645 $50,760 $75,072
2021 $896 $2,486 $44,118 $68,580
2020 $825 $2,381 $37,992 $66,791
2019 $765 $2,232 $45,939 $79,816
2018 $777 $2,073 $47,135 $77,446
2017 $709 $2,042 $43,734 $70,282
2016 $664 $1,882 $42,721 $69,987
2015 $630 $1,692 $44,910 $73,986
2014 $765 $1,661 $52,725 $87,478
2013 $760 $1,643 $53,247 $87,526
2012 $731 $1,572 $53,142 $89,198
2011 $725 $1,531 $51,922 $89,665
2010 $625 $1,449 $44,795 $85,120
2009 $602 $1,360 $37,803 $84,780
2008 $619 $1,351 $50,054 $94,628
2007 $515 $1,290 $45,855 $100,813
2006 $456 $1,244 $44,343 $106,814
2005 $441 $1,172 $38,719 $101,301
2004 $404 $1,079 $33,377 $98,661
2003 $362 $1,038 $29,660 $92,636
2002 $285.7 $974 $27,754 $88,467
2001 $259.5 $948 $27,745 $90,370
2000 $248.9 $896 $29,866 $92,899
1999 $292.8 $886 $25,856 $87,658
1998 $249.5 $838 $24,889 $90,229
1997 $223.9 $794 $27,983 $96,009
1996 $242.7 $753 $28,323 $94,620
1995 $229.1 $684 $27,003 $93,702
1994 $187.2 $650 $25,473 $89,959
1993 $324 $644 $25,033 $86,330
1992 $349 $623 $25,648 $87,509
1991 $334 $623 $25,691 $87,250
1990 $339 $567 $26,710 $88,455
1989 $293.2 - $23,167 -
1988 $301 - $21,570 -
1987 $280.2 - $23,113 -
1986 $247.5 - $23,132 -
1985 $194.1 - $29,468 -
1984 $187.8 - $32,012 -
1983 $211.9 - $34,650 -
1982 $239 - $39,972 -
1981 $248.7 - $44,855 -
1980 $277.6 - $42,925 -
1979 $258.5 - $34,238 -
1978 $223.9 - $29,379 -
1977 $176 - $35,020 -
1976 $155.5 - $31,197 -
1975 $152.9 - $27,117 -
1974 $124.7 - $23,823 -
1973 $114.1 - $9,696 -
1972 $99.6 - $3,675 -
1971 $84.5 - $2,805 -
1970 $81.7 - $2,394 -
1969 $86.8 - - -
1968 $85 - - -
1967 $84.6 - - -
1966 $82.8 - - -
1965 $82.1 - - -
1964 $80.9 - - -
1963 $78.9 - - -
1962 $77.2 - - -
1961 $72.2 - - -
1960 $69.2 - - -

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

GeoRank.org/economy/burkina-faso/united-arab-emirates | CC BY

Burkina Faso's GDP per capita is $1,148, ranking 176/197, compared to $50,274 in the United Arab Emirates, ranking 25/197. Adjusted for purchasing power (GDP per capita PPP), Burkina Faso ranks 181st at $2,896, while the United Arab Emirates ranks 16th at $79,229.

Economic indicators

Burkina Faso UAE
Gross domestic product
$27.6B
2025
$552B
2024
GDP rank
119/197
2025
31/197
2024
GDP growth
5.29%
2024-2025
3.99%
2023-2024
GDP per capita
$1,148
2025
$50,274
2024
GDP per capita rank
176/197
2025
25/197
2024
GDP per capita, PPP
$2,896
2024
$79,229
2024
GDP per capita PPP rank
181/197
2024
16/197
2024
Government debt
$14.4B
2025
$193B
2024
Debt-to-GDP ratio
52%
2025
34.3%
2025
Government debt per person
$597
2025
$17,568
2024
Government debt per person rank
163/185
2025
37/185
2024
Average annual personal income after taxes
$1,632
2026
$40,096
2026
Market capitalization of domestic companies n/a
$1.11T
2025
Number of millionaires n/a
183,000
2026
Number of billionaires n/a
6
2026
Income share by richest 10%
30.2%
2021
20.5%
2018
Income share by poorest 10%
3%
2021
2.8%
2018
Government expenditure, % of GDP
26.1%
2025
22.6%
2025
Consumer prices inflation
-0.59%
2024-2025
1.3%
2024-2025
Central bank interest rate n/a
3.65%
2025
Unemployment rate
7.09%
2025
1.88%
2024
Population
24880655
11885001

Spending and national debt comparison by year

Burkina Faso
Spending

Debt
United Arab Emirates
Spending

Debt
1x
Year % of GDP
Burkina Faso UAE
Government spending Government debt Government spending Government debt
2025 26.1% 52% 22.6% 34.3%
2024 27.8% 57.2% 21.4% 34.9%
2023 29.4% 56.8% 22.7% 31.9%
2022 32.9% 59.2% 22.7% 31.5%
2021 27.8% 55.5% 25.9% 35.7%
2020 24.4% 43.6% 30.5% 30.1%
2019 23.3% 41.7% 27.4% 25.8%
2018 24.2% 38.1% 25.9% 20.7%
2017 26.3% 33.9% 27.2% 21.2%
2016 21.6% 32.9% 31.7% 18.6%
2015 20.4% 31.3% 26.4% 15.6%
2014 20.9% 26.1% 31.4% 13.5%
2013 25.3% 25.9% 28.9% 15.3%
2012 22.7% 25.2% 27.8% 20.2%
2011 20.4% 24.5% 29.6% 20.4%
2010 21.7% 23.7% 30.4% 18.3%
2009 21.5% 25.9% 35% 21.1%
2008 18.6% 24.9% 22% 8.95%
2007 22.8% 22.4% 17.7% 8.89%
2006 21.9% 20.1% 15.6% 5.05%
2005 20.2% 39.2% 15.7% 4.48%
2004 20.3% 40.7% 17.7% 4.08%
2003 17.6% 39.7% 20% 3.33%
2002 19.5% 43.3% 21.3% 3.43%
2001 19.7% 46.6% 25.2% 2.69%
2000 19.8% 47.5% 21.8% 3.12%
1999 21.4% 46.4% 24.3% 4.73%
1998 19.7% 47.7% 25.8% 4.18%
1997 20% 48.4% 22.6% 2.86%
1996 19.8% 45.8% 27.6% 3.48%
1995 19.4% 48.9% 26.1% 5.06%
1994 17.8% 55.1% 30.1% 5.58%
1993 17.9% 33.6% 31.5% 6.01%
1992 16.7% 29.6% 29.6% 5.31%
1991 17% 28.7% 36% 4.97%
1990 18.4% 25.6% - -
1989 14.2% 25.5% - -
1988 16.2% 28.8% - -
1987 19.2% 30.7% - -
1986 16.3% 27.6% - -
1985 11.5% 28.5% - -

Data sources: International Monetary Fund (IMF) | Fiscal Monitor (1990–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08); International Monetary Fund (IMF) | Public Finances in Modern History (1985–2001, retrieved 2026-07-08).

GeoRank.org/economy/burkina-faso/united-arab-emirates | CC BY

In 2025, Burkina Faso's government spending was $7.21B, accounting for 26.1% of its GDP, while the United Arab Emirates spent $118B, or 22.6% of GDP.

Debt-to-GDP ratio is 52% in Burkina Faso and 34.3% in the United Arab Emirates, ranking 100/185 and 146/185, respectively.

Government deficit by year

Deficit/surplus
Burkina Faso

United Arab Emirates
1x
Year Deficit/surplus, % of GDP
Burkina Faso UAE
2025 -3.54% 5.15%
2024 -5.84% 6.41%
2023 -6.91% 5.82%
2022 -10.9% 9.8%
2021 -7.45% 3.96%
2020 -5.16% -2.42%
2019 -3.39% 2.5%
2018 -4.43% 3.65%
2017 -6.92% -0.16%
2016 -3.08% -2.95%
2015 -2.09% -6.35%
2014 -1.74% 1.74%
2013 -3.55% 7.99%
2012 -2.76% 8.59%
2011 -2.04% 5.05%
2010 -4.06% 0.52%
2009 -4.16% -6.13%
2008 -3.63% 17.6%
2007 -5.01% 17.1%
2006 14.3% 20.2%
2005 -4.89% 16%
2004 -4.19% 6.4%
2003 -1.79% 2.35%
2002 -4.43% -1.24%
2001 -3.56% 1.21%
2000 -3.03% 10.7%
1999 -3.29% 1.31%
1998 -2.6% 1%
1997 -2.64% 6.71%
1996 -1.67% 0.92%
1995 -2.65% 3.58%
1994 -1.89% -1.78%
1993 -3.81% -2.89%
1992 -2.51% 3.34%
1991 -2.77% 3.89%
1990 -7.54% -
1989 1.96% -
1988 -4.32% -
1987 -5.27% -
1986 -5.1% -
1985 -1.21% -

Data sources: International Monetary Fund (IMF) | Fiscal Monitor (1990–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08); International Monetary Fund (IMF) | Public Finances in Modern History (1985–1989, retrieved 2026-07-08).

GeoRank.org/economy/burkina-faso/united-arab-emirates | CC BY

In 2024, Burkina Faso's government deficit, the difference between spending and revenue, was $1.35B, equivalent to 5.84% of GDP. This compares to the United Arab Emirates' surplus of $35.4B, or 6.41% of GDP.

Over the past 34 years, Burkina Faso recorded a fiscal deficit in 33 of those years, while the United Arab Emirates ran a deficit in 8 years. On average, Burkina Faso posted an annual deficit equal to 3.37% of GDP, compared to surplus of 4.25% of GDP for the United Arab Emirates.

Inflation comparison by year

Inflation
Burkina Faso

United Arab Emirates
1x
Year Consumer prices inflation
Burkina Faso UAE
2025 -0.59% 1.3%
2024 4.19% 1.7%
2023 0.74% 1.6%
2022 14.3% 4.8%
2021 3.65% -0.1%
2020 1.88% -2.1%
2019 -3.23% -1.9%
2018 1.96% 3.1%
2017 1.48% 2%
2016 0.44% 1.6%
2015 0.72% 4.1%
2014 -0.26% 2.3%
2013 0.53% 1.1%
2012 3.82% 0.7%
2011 2.76% 0.9%
2010 -0.76% 0.9%
2009 2.61% -4.7%
2008 10.7% 12.3%
2007 -0.23% 11.1%
2006 2.33% 9.3%
2005 6.42% 6.2%
2004 -0.4% 5%
2003 2.03% 3.1%
2002 2.18% 2.9%
2001 5.01% 2.8%
2000 -0.3% 1.3%
1999 -1.07% 2.1%
1998 5.08% 2%
1997 2.32% 3%

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/burkina-faso/united-arab-emirates | CC BY

Over the past 29 years, Burkina Faso has recorded an average annual inflation rate of 2.35%, compared with 2.7% in the United Arab Emirates. In 2025, inflation was -0.59% in Burkina Faso and 1.3% in the United Arab Emirates.

Top exports between countries

Burkina Faso
Export category Export value
Precious metals & jewellery $5.73B
Raw agricultural goods $46M
Textiles & consumer goods $1.96M
Machinery & equipment $294K
Processed food, beverages & tobacco $56K
Chemicals & pharma $41K
Raw materials & minerals $36K
Metals $14K
Miscellaneous $1K
UAE
Export category Export value
Machinery & equipment $83.9M
Raw materials & minerals $20.4M
Processed food, beverages & tobacco $10.8M
Chemicals & pharma $6.6M
Textiles & consumer goods $5.11M
Metals $1.32M
Precious metals & jewellery $735K
Wood & paper products $214K
Miscellaneous $144K
Raw agricultural goods $73K

Balance of trade

Burkina Faso UAE
Current account balance
-$918M
2024
$80B
2024
Current account balance ranking
114/190
2024
9/190
2024
Current account balance, % of GDP
-3.97%
2024
+14.5%
2024
Goods imports
$5.82B
2024
$400B
2024
Goods exports
$6.12B
2024
$467B
2024
Service imports
$1.47B
2024
$117B
2024
Service exports
$630M
2024
$181B
2024
Imports of goods and services, % of GDP
30%
2025
92.2%
2023
Exports of goods and services, % of GDP
35%
2025
106.8%
2023

Economic freedom indices

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

Burkina Faso UAE
Economic freedom 49.1 71.9
Economic freedom ranking 167/197 29/197
Property rights 17.6 62.9
Government integrity 40.2 65.3
Judicial effectiveness 26.1 34.4
Tax burden 80.8 99.9
Government spending 72.9 85.1
Fiscal health 13.4 97.6
Business freedom 37.8 84.5
Labor freedom 62.1 63.2
Monetary freedom 71.9 81.2
Trade freedom 61 78.6
Investment freedom 65 50
Financial freedom 40 60

Economic freedom comparison by year

Burkina Faso
United Arab Emirates
1x
Year Economic freedom index
Burkina Faso UAE
2026 49.1 71.9
2025 51 71.6
2024 51.9 71.1
2023 56.2 70.9
2022 58.3 70.2
2021 56.5 76.9
2020 56.7 76.2
2019 59.4 77.6
2018 60 77.6
2017 59.6 76.9
2016 59.1 72.6
2015 58.6 72.4
2014 58.9 71.4
2013 59.9 71.1
2012 60.6 69.3
2011 60.6 67.8
2010 59.4 67.3
2009 59.5 64.7
2008 55.7 62.6
2007 55.1 62.6
2006 55.8 62.2
2005 56.6 65.2
2004 58 67.2
2003 58.9 73.4
2002 58.8 73.6
2001 56.7 74.9
2000 55.7 74.2
1999 55 71.5
1998 54.5 72.2
1997 54 71.9
1996 49.4 71.6

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

GeoRank.org/economy/burkina-faso/united-arab-emirates | CC BY

The Economic Freedom Index for Burkina Faso is 49.1, ranking 167/197, compared to 71.9 for the United Arab Emirates, ranking 29/197. The chart above displays a comparison of annual changes in economic freedom indexes.

Other economic metrics

Burkina Faso UAE
Services, % of GDP
41.5%
2025
54.9%
2024
Industry, % of GDP
30.1%
2025
44.3%
2024
Agriculture, forestry, and fishing, % of GDP
19.9%
2025
0.77%
2024
GNI, Atlas method
$23.6B
2025
$566B
2024
GNI per capita, PPP
$2,890
2025
$81,640
2024
Total reserves including gold n/a
$292B
2025
Total reserves ranking n/a
14/177
2025
Net foreign direct investment
$259M
2024
$31.5B
2024
Net inflows of foreign direct investment
-$202M
2024
$45.6B
2024
Net outflows of foreign direct investment
$57M
2024
$77.2B
2024
Servicing debt to the IMF, % of GNI
4.06%
2024
n/a
Poverty at national poverty lines
43.2%
2021
19.5%
2020
Gross capital formation, % of GDP
17.2%
2025
26.6%
2023

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/burkina-faso/united-arab-emirates | 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. The Heritage Foundation | Economic Freedom Index (1996–2026, retrieved 2026-07-08)
  4. U.S. Census Bureau (1985–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08)
  5. International Monetary Fund (IMF) | Public Finances in Modern History (1985–2001, retrieved 2026-07-08)
  6. TradeMap (2024–2025, 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.