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Economy of China vs Marshall Islands compared: GDP & Debt

Updated on by Georank

China has a GDP of $19.5T compared to $308M for the Marshall Islands, ranking 2/197 and 194/197 by economy size, respectively.

China has $19.3T in government debt (99.2% of GDP), compared to $36.3M (11.8% of GDP) in the Marshall Islands.

China vs Marshall Islands GDP by year

China
Marshall Islands
1x
Year GDP, current $
China Marshall Islands
2025 $19,498,039,388,043 $308,000,000
2024 $18,729,668,435,848 $285,000,000
2023 $18,270,356,654,533 $264,000,000
2022 $18,316,765,021,690 $258,723,500
2021 $18,201,698,719,564 $261,245,500
2020 $14,996,414,166,715 $241,800,000
2019 $14,560,167,101,283 $232,900,000
2018 $14,147,765,772,964 $220,000,000
2017 $12,537,559,062,283 $213,700,000
2016 $11,456,024,084,962 $201,800,000
2015 $11,280,814,787,469 $183,700,000
2014 $10,674,533,168,257 $186,000,000
2013 $9,743,124,247,267 $186,400,000
2012 $8,673,664,713,189 $180,700,000
2011 $7,671,757,207,851 $172,300,000
2010 $6,192,564,874,453 $161,100,000
2009 $5,189,577,094,998 $151,200,000
2008 $4,667,346,414,522 $146,600,000
2007 $3,604,055,822,572 $150,500,000
2006 $2,791,498,472,804 $143,200,000
2005 $2,317,551,298,052 $138,000,000
2004 $1,984,196,551,300 $132,900,000
2003 $1,683,903,309,844 $131,128,500
2002 $1,489,821,682,051 $131,960,000
2001 $1,355,036,590,252 $122,406,100
2000 $1,223,754,919,971 $114,838,500
1999 $1,103,843,203,576 $113,352,100
1998 $1,037,134,141,760 $112,070,100
1997 $967,753,570,435 $109,884,700
1996 $868,523,936,530 $110,858,000
1995 $738,190,896,228 $120,230,000
1994 $566,929,539,493 $108,071,000
1993 $446,557,291,212 $99,461,000
1992 $428,502,354,788 $91,063,000
1991 $384,510,452,962 $82,507,000
1990 $361,560,229,446 $78,476,000
1989 $348,380,566,802 $72,798,000
1988 $312,888,888,889 $70,688,000
1987 $273,455,156,951 $62,983,000
1986 $301,310,144,928 $55,989,000
1985 $310,064,625,850 $43,879,000
1984 $260,442,857,143 $45,144,000
1983 $231,130,268,199 $41,749,000
1982 $205,480,916,031 $34,918,000
1981 $196,218,253,968 $31,020,000
1980 $191,487,500,000 $26,710,653
1979 $178,573,913,043 $25,545,346
1978 $149,788,617,886 $22,209,370
1977 $175,226,595,860 $20,210,069
1976 $154,196,810,059 $18,153,647
1975 $163,687,619,736 $16,691,301
1974 $144,418,433,058 $15,217,532
1973 $138,764,340,892 $11,607,366
1972 $113,871,930,714 $9,973,652
1971 $99,959,013,880 $9,116,810
1970 $92,752,930,873 $8,408,486
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 (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08).

GeoRank.org/economy/china/marshall-islands | CC BY

GDP per capita in China vs Marshall Islands by year

China
GDP per capita

GDP per capita, PPP
Marshall Islands
GDP per capita

GDP per capita, PPP
1x
Year Current $
China Marshall Islands
GDP per capita GDP per capita, PPP GDP per capita GDP per capita, PPP
2025 $13,862 - $8,489 -
2024 $13,293 $27,105 $7,590 $8,195
2023 $12,951 $25,179 $6,799 $7,549
2022 $12,971 $23,032 $6,456 $7,431
2021 $12,887 $20,843 $6,315 $6,768
2020 $10,627 $18,267 $5,662 $6,137
2019 $10,343 $17,601 $5,292 $6,045
2018 $10,086 $16,298 $4,858 $5,232
2017 $8,980 $15,022 $4,593 $4,719
2016 $8,255 $14,157 $4,230 $4,366
2015 $8,175 $13,463 $3,764 $4,125
2014 $7,781 $12,942 $3,735 $3,931
2013 $7,147 $12,228 $3,678 $3,845
2012 $6,405 $11,420 $3,514 $3,590
2011 $5,704 $10,457 $3,319 $3,537
2010 $4,629 $9,411 $3,095 $3,473
2009 $3,898 $8,448 $2,907 $3,253
2008 $3,523 $7,713 $2,818 $3,118
2007 $2,735 $6,935 $2,892 $3,309
2006 $2,129 $5,946 $2,754 $3,110
2005 $1,778 $5,148 $2,659 $3,017
2004 $1,531 $4,505 $2,566 $2,880
2003 $1,307 $4,007 $2,539 $2,824
2002 $1,164 $3,591 $2,566 $2,825
2001 $1,065 $3,258 $2,394 $2,700
2000 $969 $2,964 $2,265 $2,490
1999 $881 $2,690 $2,258 $2,400
1998 $835 $2,483 $2,254 $2,422
1997 $787 $2,297 $2,231 $2,434
1996 $713 $2,088 $2,273 $2,583
1995 $613 $1,884 $2,491 $2,858
1994 $476 $1,680 $2,265 $2,617
1993 $379 $1,471 $2,112 $2,452
1992 $368 $1,276 $1,963 $2,293
1991 $334 $1,105 $1,811 $2,131
1990 $319 $991 $1,758 $2,102
1989 $311 - $1,670 -
1988 $284 - $1,670 -
1987 $252.3 - $1,543 -
1986 $282.4 - $1,425 -
1985 $295 - $1,162 -
1984 $251.2 - $1,245 -
1983 $225.9 - $1,199 -
1982 $203.7 - $1,046 -
1981 $197.4 - $969 -
1980 $195.1 - $868 -
1979 $184.3 - $859 -
1978 $156.7 - $771 -
1977 $185.7 - $724 -
1976 $165.7 - $672 -
1975 $178.6 - $638 -
1974 $160.4 - $602 -
1973 $157.3 - $472 -
1972 $132.1 - $416 -
1971 $118.8 - $390 -
1970 $113.3 - $373 -
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 (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08).

GeoRank.org/economy/china/marshall-islands | CC BY

China's GDP per capita is $13,862, ranking 77/197, compared to $8,489 in the Marshall Islands, ranking 95/197. Adjusted for purchasing power (GDP per capita PPP), China ranks 77th at $27,105, while the Marshall Islands ranks 139th at $8,195.

Economic indicators

China Marshall Islands
Gross domestic product
$19.5T
2025
$308M
2025
GDP rank
2/197
2025
194/197
2025
GDP growth
4.96%
2024-2025
2.28%
2024-2025
GDP per capita
$13,862
2025
$8,489
2025
GDP per capita rank
77/197
2025
95/197
2025
GDP per capita, PPP
$27,105
2024
$8,195
2024
GDP per capita PPP rank
77/197
2024
139/197
2024
Government debt
$19.3T
2025
$36.3M
2025
Debt-to-GDP ratio
99.2%
2025
11.8%
2025
Government debt per person
$13,756
2025
$1,000
2025
Government debt per person rank
47/185
2025
144/185
2025
Average annual personal income after taxes
$10,414
2026
$5,308
2026
Market capitalization of domestic companies
$15.5T
2025
n/a
Number of millionaires
5,305,000
2026
n/a
Number of billionaires
539
2026
n/a
Income share by richest 10%
28.4%
2022
27.5%
2019
Income share by poorest 10%
3.1%
2022
2.8%
2019
Government expenditure, % of GDP
32.9%
2025
65.3%
2025
Consumer prices inflation
0%
2024-2025
5.5%
2024-2025
Central bank interest rate
3%
2025
n/a
Unemployment rate
4.57%
2022
9.82%
2021
Population
1403335670
35039

Spending and national debt comparison by year

China
Spending

Debt
Marshall Islands
Spending

Debt
1x
Year % of GDP
China Marshall Islands
Government spending Government debt Government spending Government debt
2025 32.9% 99.2% 65.3% 11.8%
2024 32.9% 90.4% 70.9% 14.2%
2023 32.7% 84.1% 67.5% 18.2%
2022 32.6% 77.3% 65.8% 19.6%
2021 31.9% 72.1% 69.2% 19.9%
2020 34.8% 70.1% 67.8% 21.7%
2019 33.6% 59.8% 65.5% 25.1%
2018 32.6% 55.9% 60.5% 24.7%
2017 32% 53.9% 63.7% 26.5%
2016 31.7% 50% 56.8% 29.2%
2015 31% 40.8% 56.3% 33.9%
2014 28.4% 39.3% 49.2% 34.9%
2013 28.1% 36.4% 55% 33.4%
2012 27.7% 33.8% 53.2% 37.6%
2011 26.6% 33.2% 55.9% 35.9%
2010 24.7% 33.3% 59.2% 38.8%
2009 25.2% 34% 63.1% 41.2%
2008 22.2% 26.7% 64.3% 44.1%
2007 17.9% 28.7% 67.2% 42.2%
2006 18.1% 25.2% 61.2% 44.4%
2005 18% 25.9% 85.3% 45.8%
2004 17.6% 26% 54.5% 46.8%
2003 18% 26.4% 52.9% 43.7%
2002 18.2% 25.6% 55.2% 37.2%
2001 17.2% 24.3% 58.8% 32.7%
2000 16.1% 22.7% 56.5% 27.3%
1999 14.9% 21.6% 48.7% 26.1%
1998 12.6% 20.4% 50.5% 18.1%
1997 11.5% 20.4% 55% 8.73%
1996 11% 21.2% - -
1995 11.1% 21.4% - -
1994 12.4% - - -
1993 13.4% - - -
1992 14.6% - - -
1991 16.5% - - -
1990 18.2% - - -
1989 18.6% - - -
1988 20.9% 4.46% - -
1987 23.4% 3.6% - -
1986 25.6% 3.24% - -
1985 25.8% 3.31% - -
1984 26.9% 0.97% - -
1983 28.3% - - -
1982 27.9% - - -

Data sources: International Monetary Fund (IMF) | Fiscal Monitor (1990–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08); International Monetary Fund (IMF) | Public Finances in Modern History (1982–1989, retrieved 2026-07-08).

GeoRank.org/economy/china/marshall-islands | CC BY

In 2025, China's government spending was $6.41T, accounting for 32.9% of its GDP, while the Marshall Islands spent $201M, or 65.3% of GDP.

Debt-to-GDP ratio is 99.2% in China and 11.8% in the Marshall Islands, ranking 26/185 and 180/185, respectively.

Government deficit by year

Deficit/surplus
China

Marshall Islands
1x
Year Deficit/surplus, % of GDP
China Marshall Islands
2025 -7.87% 1.35%
2024 -7.11% 2.62%
2023 -6.71% 1.01%
2022 -7.32% 0.51%
2021 -5.9% 0.18%
2020 -9.56% 2.54%
2019 -6% -1.8%
2018 -4.2% 2.55%
2017 -3.34% 4.38%
2016 -3.33% 3.88%
2015 -2.5% 2.81%
2014 -0.67% 3.2%
2013 -0.82% -0.23%
2012 -0.3% -0.76%
2011 -0.1% 2.13%
2010 -0.36% 3.51%
2009 -1.72% 1.51%
2008 -0.02% 3.68%
2007 0.06% 0.27%
2006 -1.13% 0.24%
2005 -1.38% -22.3%
2004 -1.49% -1.6%
2003 -2.36% 10.5%
2002 -2.84% 5.12%
2001 -2.56% 7.83%
2000 -2.81% 7.84%
1999 -2.3% 9.01%
1998 -1.08% 13.5%
1997 -0.73% 7.91%
1996 -0.73% -
1995 -0.94% -
1994 -1.68% -
1993 -0.89% -
1992 -1.22% -
1991 -1.04% -
1990 -0.72% -
1989 -0.91% -
1988 -2.22% -
1987 -2.08% -
1986 -1.82% -
1985 -0.45% -
1984 -1.44% -
1983 -1.61% -
1982 -1.33% -

Data sources: International Monetary Fund (IMF) | Fiscal Monitor (1990–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08); International Monetary Fund (IMF) | Public Finances in Modern History (1982–1989, retrieved 2026-07-08).

GeoRank.org/economy/china/marshall-islands | CC BY

In 2025, China's government deficit, the difference between spending and revenue, was $1.53T, equivalent to 7.87% of GDP. This compares to the Marshall Islands' surplus of $4.17M, or 1.35% of GDP.

Over the past 29 years, China recorded a fiscal deficit in 28 of those years, while the Marshall Islands ran a deficit in 5 years. On average, China posted an annual deficit equal to 2.98% of GDP, compared to surplus of 2.46% of GDP for the Marshall Islands.

Inflation comparison by year

Inflation
China

Marshall Islands
1x
Year Consumer prices inflation
China Marshall Islands
2025 0% 5.5%
2024 0.2% 5.2%
2023 0.2% 7.4%
2022 2% 2.8%
2021 0.9% 2.2%
2020 2.5% -0.7%
2019 2.9% -0.1%
2018 2.1% 0.8%
2017 1.6% 0.1%
2016 2% -1.5%
2015 1.4% -2.2%
2014 2% 1.1%
2013 2.6% 1.9%
2012 2.6% 4.3%
2011 5.4% 5.4%
2010 3.3% 1.8%
2009 -0.7% 0.5%
2008 5.8% 14.7%
2007 4.8% 2.6%
2006 1.5% 5.3%
2005 1.8% 3.5%
2004 3.9% 2%
2003 1.2% -
2002 -0.8% -
2001 0.7% -
2000 0.4% -
1999 -1.4% -
1998 -0.8% -
1997 2.8% -

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

GeoRank.org/economy/china/marshall-islands | CC BY

Over the past 22 years, China has recorded an average annual inflation rate of 2.22%, compared with 2.85% in the Marshall Islands. In 2025, inflation was 0% in China and 5.5% in the Marshall Islands.

Top exports between countries

China
Export category Export value
Machinery & equipment $4.27B
Raw materials & minerals $1.18B
Metals $192M
Chemicals & pharma $76.7M
Textiles & consumer goods $9.41M
Animal & marine products $3.42M
Wood & paper products $1.37M
Processed food, beverages & tobacco $747K
Miscellaneous $672K
Weapons & explosives $292K
Marshall Islands
Export category Export value
Animal & marine products $3.29M
Machinery & equipment $136K
Raw materials & minerals $28K
Metals $4K

Balance of trade

China Marshall Islands
Current account balance
$735B
2025
$62.3M
2024
Current account balance ranking
1/190
2025
67/190
2024
Current account balance, % of GDP
+3.77%
2025
+21.9%
2024
Goods imports
$2.69T
2025
$173M
2024
Goods exports
$3.75T
2025
$101M
2024
Service imports
$623B
2025
$64.2M
2024
Service exports
$385B
2025
$21.1M
2024
Imports of goods and services, % of GDP
16.9%
2025
79.9%
2025
Exports of goods and services, % of GDP
21.1%
2025
36%
2025

Economic freedom indices

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

China Marshall Islands
Economic freedom 48.3 58
Economic freedom ranking 170/197 113/197
Property rights 40.9 n/a
Government integrity 42.3 n/a
Judicial effectiveness 38.6 n/a
Tax burden 69.3 n/a
Government spending 67.8 n/a
Fiscal health 4.4 n/a
Business freedom 68.7 n/a
Labor freedom 57.9 n/a
Monetary freedom 76.1 n/a
Trade freedom 73.4 n/a
Investment freedom 20 n/a
Financial freedom 20 n/a

Other economic metrics

China Marshall Islands
Services, % of GDP
57.7%
2025
68.2%
2024
Industry, % of GDP
35.6%
2025
13.4%
2024
Agriculture, forestry, and fishing, % of GDP
6.66%
2025
19.9%
2024
GNI, Atlas method
$20T
2025
$352M
2025
GNI per capita, PPP
$29,160
2025
$10,590
2025
Total reserves including gold
$3.75T
2025
n/a
Total reserves ranking
1/177
2025
n/a
Net foreign direct investment
$77.2B
2025
-$13.4M
2024
Net inflows of foreign direct investment
$42.6B
2024
$13.4M
2024
Net outflows of foreign direct investment
$192B
2024
$0
2024
Servicing debt to the IMF, % of GNI
1.9%
2024
n/a
Poverty at national poverty lines
0%
2020
7.2%
2019
Gross capital formation, % of GDP
40.5%
2024
21.1%
2024

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/china/marshall-islands | 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. U.S. Census Bureau (1985–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08)
  4. International Monetary Fund (IMF) | Public Finances in Modern History (1982–1989, retrieved 2026-07-08)
  5. TradeMap (2022–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08)
  6. The Heritage Foundation | Economic Freedom Index (2026, 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.