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Economy of China vs Cuba compared: GDP & Debt

Updated on by Georank team

China has a GDP of $18.7T compared to $107B for Cuba, ranking 2/197 and 69/197 by economy size, respectively.

China vs Cuba GDP by year

China
Cuba
1x
Year GDP, current $
China Cuba
2024 $18,743,803,170,827 -
2023 $18,270,356,654,533 -
2022 $18,316,765,021,690 -
2021 $18,201,698,719,564 -
2020 $14,996,414,166,715 $107,352,000,000
2019 $14,560,167,101,283 $103,427,600,000
2018 $14,147,765,772,964 $100,050,036,100
2017 $12,537,559,062,283 $96,850,649,700
2016 $11,456,024,084,962 $91,370,407,900
2015 $11,280,814,787,469 $87,132,800,000
2014 $10,674,533,168,257 $80,656,100,000
2013 $9,743,124,247,267 $77,148,000,000
2012 $8,673,664,713,189 $73,141,000,000
2011 $7,671,757,207,851 $68,990,000,000
2010 $6,192,564,874,453 $59,562,962,963
2009 $5,189,577,094,998 $57,481,481,481
2008 $4,667,346,414,522 $56,302,129,630
2007 $3,604,055,822,572 $54,262,870,370
2006 $2,791,498,472,804 $48,835,925,926
2005 $2,317,551,298,052 $42,643,836,100
2004 $1,984,196,551,300 $38,203,000,000
2003 $1,683,903,309,844 $35,901,200,000
2002 $1,489,821,682,051 $33,590,500,000
2001 $1,355,036,590,252 $31,682,400,000
2000 $1,223,754,919,971 $30,565,400,000
1999 $1,103,843,203,576 $28,364,615,200
1998 $1,037,134,141,760 $25,736,331,200
1997 $967,753,570,435 $25,365,908,100
1996 $868,523,936,530 $25,017,368,700
1995 $738,190,896,228 $30,429,803,651
1994 $566,929,539,493 $28,448,326,757
1993 $446,557,291,212 $22,367,254,865
1992 $428,502,354,788 $22,085,858,243
1991 $384,510,452,962 $24,316,556,026
1990 $361,560,229,446 $28,645,436,569
1989 $348,380,566,802 $27,023,468,666
1988 $312,888,888,889 $27,458,999,472
1987 $273,455,156,951 $25,213,935,012
1986 $301,310,144,928 $24,226,574,634
1985 $310,064,625,850 $22,920,490,774
1984 $260,442,857,143 $24,039,383,608
1983 $231,130,268,199 $22,204,940,512
1982 $205,480,916,031 $20,953,510,235
1981 $196,218,253,968 $20,150,254,096
1980 $191,487,500,000 $19,912,889,861
1979 $178,573,913,043 $19,584,443,288
1978 $149,788,617,886 $17,844,705,325
1977 $175,226,595,860 $14,206,158,675
1976 $154,196,810,059 $13,789,579,903
1975 $163,687,619,736 $13,027,415,244
1974 $144,418,433,058 $11,405,957,317
1973 $138,764,340,892 $9,987,709,650
1972 $113,871,930,714 $8,135,150,892
1971 $99,959,013,880 $6,914,658,400
1970 $92,752,930,873 $5,693,005,200
1969 $79,847,786,729 -
1968 $70,980,323,819 -
1967 $73,011,350,596 -
1966 $76,854,053,259 -
1965 $70,565,994,356 -
1964 $59,821,862,703 -
1963 $50,812,227,919 -
1962 $47,310,737,754 -
1961 $50,162,299,350 -
1960 $59,846,235,025 -

Data sources: World Bank | Economy & Growth (1960–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06).

GeoRank.org/economy/china/cuba | CC BY

GDP per capita in China vs Cuba by year

China
GDP per capita

GDP per capita, PPP
Cuba
GDP per capita

GDP per capita, PPP
1x
Year Current $
China Cuba
GDP per capita GDP per capita, PPP GDP per capita GDP per capita, PPP
2024 $13,303 $27,105 - -
2023 $12,951 $25,179 - -
2022 $12,971 $23,032 - -
2021 $12,887 $20,843 - -
2020 $10,627 $18,267 $9,605 -
2019 $10,343 $17,601 $9,232 -
2018 $10,086 $16,298 $8,911 -
2017 $8,980 $15,022 $8,611 -
2016 $8,255 $14,157 $8,111 $12,300
2015 $8,175 $13,463 $7,728 -
2014 $7,781 $12,942 $7,147 -
2013 $7,147 $12,228 $6,828 -
2012 $6,405 $11,420 $6,471 -
2011 $5,704 $10,457 $6,104 -
2010 $4,629 $9,411 $5,272 $10,200
2009 $3,898 $8,448 $5,089 $9,700
2008 $3,523 $7,713 $4,986 $9,500
2007 $2,735 $6,935 $4,807 $11,000
2006 $2,129 $5,946 $4,330 $4,000
2005 $1,778 $5,148 $3,786 $3,500
2004 $1,531 $4,505 $3,399 $3,000
2003 $1,307 $4,007 $3,203 $2,900
2002 $1,164 $3,591 $3,005 $2,300
2001 $1,065 $3,258 $2,843 -
2000 $969 $2,964 $2,751 $1,700
1999 $881 $2,690 $2,562 $1,700
1998 $835 $2,483 $2,332 -
1997 $787 $2,297 $2,306 -
1996 $713 $2,088 $2,282 -
1995 $613 $1,884 $2,785 -
1994 $476 $1,680 $2,613 -
1993 $379 $1,471 $2,063 -
1992 $368 $1,276 $2,048 -
1991 $334 $1,105 $2,269 -
1990 $319 $991 $2,694 -
1989 $311 - $2,566 -
1988 $284 - $2,632 -
1987 $252.3 - $2,440 -
1986 $282.4 - $2,365 -
1985 $295 - $2,257 -
1984 $251.2 - $2,386 -
1983 $225.9 - $2,222 -
1982 $203.7 - $2,114 -
1981 $197.4 - $2,046 -
1980 $195.1 - $2,031 -
1979 $184.3 - $2,006 -
1978 $156.7 - $1,837 -
1977 $185.7 - $1,472 -
1976 $165.7 - $1,441 -
1975 $178.6 - $1,374 -
1974 $160.4 - $1,217 -
1973 $157.3 - $1,079 -
1972 $132.1 - $892 -
1971 $118.8 - $770 -
1970 $113.3 - $645 -
1969 $100.3 - - -
1968 $91.6 - - -
1967 $96.8 - - -
1966 $104.5 - - -
1965 $98.7 - - -
1964 $85.7 - - -
1963 $74.5 - - -
1962 $71.1 - - -
1961 $76 - - -
1960 $89.7 - - -

Data sources: World Bank | Economy & Growth (1960–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06); Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) (1999–2016, retrieved 2026-02-20).

GeoRank.org/economy/china/cuba | CC BY

China's GDP per capita is $13,303, ranking 76/197, compared to $9,605 in Cuba, ranking 86/197. Adjusted for purchasing power (GDP per capita PPP), China ranks 77th at $27,105, while Cuba ranks 124th at $12,300.

Economic indicators

China Cuba
Gross domestic product
$18.7T
2024
$107B
2020
GDP rank
2/197
2024
69/197
2020
GDP growth
4.98%
2023-2024
-1.06%
2023-2024
GDP per capita
$13,303
2024
$9,605
2020
GDP per capita rank
76/197
2024
86/197
2020
GDP per capita, PPP
$27,105
2024
$12,300
2016
GDP per capita PPP rank
77/197
2024
124/197
2016
Government debt
$16.6T
2024
n/a
Debt-to-GDP ratio
88.3%
2024
n/a
Government debt per person
$11,749
2024
n/a
Government debt per person rank
47/185
2024
n/a
Average annual personal income after taxes
$9,826
2026
$3,075
2026
Market capitalization of domestic companies
$11.8T
2024
n/a
Number of millionaires
6,327,000
2025
n/a
Number of billionaires
450
2025
n/a
Income share by richest 10%
28.4%
2022
n/a
Income share by poorest 10%
3.1%
2022
n/a
Government expenditure, % of GDP
32.9%
2024
49%
2025
Consumer prices inflation
0.2%
2023-2024
5.5%
2019-2020
Central bank interest rate
3.1%
2024
n/a
Unemployment rate
5.11%
2021
1.7%
2018
Population
1402578808
10894785

Inflation comparison by year

Inflation
China

Cuba
1x
Year Consumer prices inflation
China Cuba
2024 0.2% -
2023 0.2% -
2022 2% -
2021 0.9% -
2020 2.5% 5.5%
2019 2.9% 5.5%
2018 2.1% 5.5%
2017 1.6% -
2016 2% 4.5%
2015 1.5% 4.4%
2014 2% -
2013 2.7% 6%
2012 2.6% 5.5%
2011 5.4% 4.7%
2010 3.3% 0.7%
2009 -0.7% -0.5%
2008 5.9% 3.4%
2007 4.7% 3.1%
2006 1.5% 5%
2005 1.8% 7%
2004 3.9% 3.1%
2003 1.1% 4.1%
2002 -0.8% 7.1%
2001 0.7% -
2000 0.4% -
1999 -1.4% 0.3%
1998 -0.8% -
1997 2.8% -

Data sources: International Monetary Fund (IMF) | World Economic Outlook (1997–2024, retrieved 2026-02-20); Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) (1999–2020, retrieved 2026-02-20).

GeoRank.org/economy/china/cuba | CC BY

Over the past 22 years, China has recorded an average annual inflation rate of 2.08%, compared with 4.16% in Cuba. In 2020, inflation was 0.2% in China and 5.5% in Cuba.

Top exports between countries

China
Export category Export value
Machinery & equipment $382M
Metals $76M
Textiles & consumer goods $59.5M
Chemicals & pharma $49.7M
Processed food, beverages & tobacco $22.6M
Raw materials & minerals $21.7M
Raw agricultural goods $15.1M
Wood & paper products $11.9M
Miscellaneous $4.18M
Animal & marine products $1.68M
Cuba
Export category Export value
Metals $300M
Processed food, beverages & tobacco $76.8M
Animal & marine products $17.8M
Raw materials & minerals $13M
Chemicals & pharma $1.96M
Machinery & equipment $222K
Raw agricultural goods $107K
Wood & paper products $10K

Balance of trade

China Cuba
Current account balance
$424B
2024
n/a
Current account balance ranking
1/190
2024
n/a
Current account balance, % of GDP
+2.26%
2024
n/a
Goods imports
$2.64T
2024
n/a
Goods exports
$3.41T
2024
n/a
Service imports
$613B
2024
n/a
Service exports
$384B
2024
n/a
Imports of goods and services, % of GDP
17.2%
2024
82.4%
2024
Exports of goods and services, % of GDP
20%
2024
42.5%
2024

Economic freedom indices

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

China Cuba
Economic freedom 48.3 25.2
Economic freedom ranking 170/197 195/197
Property rights 40.9 27.7
Government integrity 42.3 33
Judicial effectiveness 38.6 16
Tax burden 69.3 51.9
Government spending 67.8 0
Fiscal health 4.4 0
Business freedom 68.7 41.4
Labor freedom 57.9 20
Monetary freedom 76.1 20
Trade freedom 73.4 72.8
Investment freedom 20 10
Financial freedom 20 10

Economic freedom comparison by year

China
Cuba
1x
Year Economic freedom index
China Cuba
2026 48.3 25.2
2025 49 25.4
2024 48.5 25.7
2023 48.3 24.3
2022 48 29.5
2021 58.4 28.1
2020 59.5 26.9
2019 58.4 27.8
2018 57.8 31.9
2017 57.4 33.9
2016 52 29.8
2015 52.7 29.6
2014 52.5 28.7
2013 51.9 28.5
2012 51.2 28.3
2011 52 27.7
2010 51 26.7
2009 53.2 27.9
2008 53.1 27.5
2007 52 28.6
2006 53.6 29.3
2005 53.7 35.5
2004 52.5 34.4
2003 52.6 35.1
2002 52.8 32.4
2001 52.6 31.6
2000 56.4 31.3
1999 54.8 29.7
1998 53.1 28.2
1997 51.7 27.8
1996 51.3 27.8
1995 52 27.8

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

GeoRank.org/economy/china/cuba | CC BY

The Economic Freedom Index for China is 48.3, ranking 170/197, compared to 25.2 for Cuba, ranking 195/197. The chart above displays a comparison of annual changes in economic freedom indexes.

Other economic metrics

China Cuba
Services, % of GDP
56.7%
2024
73.4%
2024
Industry, % of GDP
36.5%
2024
23.8%
2024
Agriculture, forestry, and fishing, % of GDP
6.78%
2024
1.24%
2024
GNI, Atlas method
$19.3T
2024
$101B
2019
GNI per capita, PPP
$26,920
2024
n/a
Total reserves including gold
$3.46T
2024
$144M
1960
Total reserves ranking
1/177
2024
173/177
1960
Net foreign direct investment
$154B
2024
n/a
Net inflows of foreign direct investment
$18.6B
2024
n/a
Net outflows of foreign direct investment
$172B
2024
$0
2024
Servicing debt to the IMF, % of GNI
1.89%
2024
n/a
Poverty at national poverty lines
0%
2020
n/a
Gross capital formation, % of GDP
40.6%
2024
9.87%
2020

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/china/cuba | CC BY

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Data sources:

  1. World Bank | Economy & Growth (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-04-06)
  2. The Heritage Foundation | Economic Freedom Index (1995–2026, retrieved 2026-03-09)
  3. U.S. Census Bureau (1985–2024, retrieved 2026-02-08)
  4. Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) (1999–2020, retrieved 2026-02-20)
  5. International Monetary Fund (IMF) | World Economic Outlook (1997–2024, retrieved 2026-02-20)
  6. TradeMap (2021–2024, 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.

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.