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Economy of Congo vs United Arab Emirates compared: GDP & Debt

Updated on by Georank

The Congo has a GDP of $16.3B compared to $552B for the United Arab Emirates, ranking 143/197 and 31/197 by economy size, respectively.

The Congo has $15.8B in government debt (96.8% of GDP), compared to $193B (34.3% of GDP) in the United Arab Emirates.

Congo vs United Arab Emirates GDP by year

Congo
United Arab Emirates
1x
Year GDP, current $
Congo UAE
2025 $16,306,633,779 -
2024 $15,719,986,077 $552,324,919,096
2023 $15,321,055,823 $522,622,268,401
2022 $15,817,030,155 $511,403,404,642
2021 $14,825,690,211 $422,441,282,436
2020 $11,468,687,464 $357,161,776,271
2019 $13,976,637,780 $433,926,218,686
2018 $14,773,900,289 $440,560,003,161
2017 $11,834,473,039 $403,365,056,079
2016 $10,931,328,151 $381,717,208,621
2015 $12,434,793,867 $381,973,135,513
2014 $17,919,321,078 $424,935,834,104
2013 $17,958,720,699 $409,632,574,703
2012 $17,692,911,296 $392,793,559,051
2011 $15,655,383,577 $368,881,033,963
2010 $13,148,396,212 $307,736,348,527
2009 $9,723,299,915 $253,547,358,747
2008 $11,649,857,673 $315,474,615,741
2007 $8,782,703,437 $257,916,148,767
2006 $8,072,305,029 $222,116,532,963
2005 $6,650,001,680 $180,617,467,954
2004 $4,656,974,940 $147,824,249,958
2003 $3,503,723,088 $124,346,476,180
2002 $3,034,250,924 $109,816,091,079
2001 $2,796,704,604 $103,311,631,797
2000 $3,227,927,698 $104,337,463,730
1999 $2,354,772,960 $84,445,399,335
1998 $1,949,481,379 $75,674,384,205
1997 $2,322,719,103 $78,838,886,862
1996 $2,540,697,539 $73,571,217,377
1995 $2,116,003,868 $65,743,604,966
1994 $1,769,365,438 $59,305,111,228
1993 $2,684,323,623 $55,625,269,485
1992 $2,933,222,703 $54,239,188,746
1991 $2,724,853,506 $51,552,058,250
1990 $2,798,746,050 $50,701,374,187
1989 $2,389,593,026 $41,464,966,302
1988 $2,212,536,312 $36,275,613,877
1987 $2,297,753,652 $36,384,802,310
1986 $1,849,268,212 $33,943,568,481
1985 $2,160,872,540 $40,603,631,079
1984 $2,193,581,365 $41,807,931,453
1983 $2,097,274,290 $42,803,373,390
1982 $2,160,640,565 $46,622,715,281
1981 $1,993,512,323 $49,333,471,895
1980 $1,705,796,853 $43,599,134,193
1979 $1,198,749,667 $31,225,557,022
1978 $878,771,772 $23,775,718,541
1977 $765,224,029 $24,871,660,292
1976 $754,549,601 $19,213,212,475
1975 $767,102,680 $14,720,729,969
1974 $585,364,634 $11,651,505,689
1973 $541,973,363 $4,231,243,616
1972 $410,669,264 $1,415,086,929
1971 $322,128,019 $939,893,600
1970 $274,960,700 $685,986,701
1969 $265,040,036 -
1968 $251,247,458 -
1967 $237,397,428 -
1966 $220,613,582 -
1965 $198,318,064 -
1964 $185,693,725 -
1963 $172,233,431 -
1962 $166,521,240 -
1961 $151,675,739 -
1960 $131,731,863 -

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

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

GDP per capita in Congo vs United Arab Emirates by year

Congo
GDP per capita

GDP per capita, PPP
United Arab Emirates
GDP per capita

GDP per capita, PPP
1x
Year Current $
Congo UAE
GDP per capita GDP per capita, PPP GDP per capita GDP per capita, PPP
2025 $2,515 - - -
2024 $2,482 $7,026 $50,274 $79,229
2023 $2,478 $6,850 $49,851 $77,955
2022 $2,621 $6,647 $50,760 $75,072
2021 $2,516 $6,263 $44,118 $68,580
2020 $1,994 $4,771 $37,992 $66,791
2019 $2,488 $5,720 $45,939 $79,816
2018 $2,694 $5,593 $47,135 $77,446
2017 $2,212 $4,445 $43,734 $70,282
2016 $2,093 $4,016 $42,721 $69,987
2015 $2,439 $4,715 $44,910 $73,986
2014 $3,601 $5,733 $52,725 $87,478
2013 $3,697 $5,834 $53,247 $87,526
2012 $3,732 $6,058 $53,142 $89,198
2011 $3,396 $5,175 $51,922 $89,665
2010 $2,947 $5,125 $44,795 $85,120
2009 $2,271 $4,801 $37,803 $84,780
2008 $2,832 $4,448 $50,054 $94,628
2007 $2,206 $4,243 $45,855 $100,813
2006 $2,104 $4,588 $44,343 $106,814
2005 $1,799 $4,279 $38,719 $101,301
2004 $1,306 $3,992 $33,377 $98,661
2003 $1,017 $3,887 $29,660 $92,636
2002 $906 $3,888 $27,754 $88,467
2001 $855 $3,748 $27,745 $90,370
2000 $1,024 $3,667 $29,866 $92,899
1999 $776 $3,464 $25,856 $87,658
1998 $660 $3,602 $24,889 $90,229
1997 $804 $3,510 $27,983 $96,009
1996 $899 $3,547 $28,323 $94,620
1995 $770 $3,434 $27,003 $93,702
1994 $662 $3,327 $25,473 $89,959
1993 $1,034 $3,550 $25,033 $86,330
1992 $1,164 $3,608 $25,648 $87,509
1991 $1,113 $3,536 $25,691 $87,250
1990 $1,176 $3,437 $26,710 $88,455
1989 $1,033 - $23,167 -
1988 $984 - $21,570 -
1987 $1,052 - $23,113 -
1986 $872 - $23,132 -
1985 $1,049 - $29,468 -
1984 $1,097 - $32,012 -
1983 $1,075 - $34,650 -
1982 $1,131 - $39,972 -
1981 $1,066 - $44,855 -
1980 $933 - $42,925 -
1979 $670 - $34,238 -
1978 $503 - $29,379 -
1977 $448 - $35,020 -
1976 $453 - $31,197 -
1975 $471 - $27,117 -
1974 $370 - $23,823 -
1973 $353 - $9,696 -
1972 $276.3 - $3,675 -
1971 $223.5 - $2,805 -
1970 $196.7 - $2,394 -
1969 $195.4 - - -
1968 $190.8 - - -
1967 $185.7 - - -
1966 $177.6 - - -
1965 $164.2 - - -
1964 $158.1 - - -
1963 $150.7 - - -
1962 $149.6 - - -
1961 $139.9 - - -
1960 $124.7 - - -

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

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

The Congo's GDP per capita is $2,515, ranking 153/197, compared to $50,274 in the United Arab Emirates, ranking 25/197. Adjusted for purchasing power (GDP per capita PPP), the Congo ranks 148th at $7,026, while the United Arab Emirates ranks 16th at $79,229.

Economic indicators

Congo UAE
Gross domestic product
$16.3B
2025
$552B
2024
GDP rank
143/197
2025
31/197
2024
GDP growth
3.08%
2024-2025
3.99%
2023-2024
GDP per capita
$2,515
2025
$50,274
2024
GDP per capita rank
153/197
2025
25/197
2024
GDP per capita, PPP
$7,026
2024
$79,229
2024
GDP per capita PPP rank
148/197
2024
16/197
2024
Government debt
$15.8B
2025
$193B
2024
Debt-to-GDP ratio
96.8%
2025
34.3%
2025
Government debt per person
$2,435
2025
$17,568
2024
Government debt per person rank
114/185
2025
37/185
2024
Average annual personal income after taxes
$2,494
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%
37.9%
2011
20.5%
2018
Income share by poorest 10%
1.6%
2011
2.8%
2018
Government expenditure, % of GDP
23.9%
2025
22.6%
2025
Consumer prices inflation
2.6%
2024-2025
1.3%
2024-2025
Central bank interest rate n/a
3.65%
2025
Unemployment rate
10%
2012
1.88%
2024
Population
6718789
11885001

Spending and national debt comparison by year

Congo
Spending

Debt
United Arab Emirates
Spending

Debt
1x
Year % of GDP
Congo UAE
Government spending Government debt Government spending Government debt
2025 23.9% 96.8% 22.6% 34.3%
2024 21.7% 98% 21.4% 34.9%
2023 20.7% 102.9% 22.7% 31.9%
2022 22.8% 93.5% 22.7% 31.5%
2021 20.9% 97.8% 25.9% 35.7%
2020 21.1% 102.5% 30.5% 30.1%
2019 20.2% 77.6% 27.4% 25.8%
2018 17.8% 71.2% 25.9% 20.7%
2017 26.6% 88.5% 27.2% 21.2%
2016 38.8% 84.5% 31.7% 18.6%
2015 41.3% 74.2% 26.4% 15.6%
2014 48.6% 42.3% 31.4% 13.5%
2013 42.4% 33.9% 28.9% 15.3%
2012 30.7% 30.2% 27.8% 20.2%
2011 27.9% 34.4% 29.6% 20.4%
2010 23% 43.5% 30.4% 18.3%
2009 24.4% 83.8% 35% 21.1%
2008 24.2% 69.6% 22% 8.95%
2007 28.6% 93.8% 17.7% 8.89%
2006 26.6% 94.7% 15.6% 5.05%
2005 22.1% 99.8% 15.7% 4.48%
2004 24.4% 122.6% 17.7% 4.08%
2003 27% 185.3% 20% 3.33%
2002 32.1% 163.5% 21.3% 3.43%
2001 29.1% 180.1% 25.2% 2.69%
2000 22.6% 145% 21.8% 3.12%
1999 28.8% 0% 24.3% 4.73%
1998 25.1% 0% 25.8% 4.18%
1997 22.2% 0% 22.6% 2.86%
1996 15.7% 0% 27.6% 3.48%
1995 27.6% 0% 26.1% 5.06%
1994 30.7% 0% 30.1% 5.58%
1993 32.8% 0% 31.5% 6.01%
1992 32.8% 0% 29.6% 5.31%
1991 34.1% 0% 36% 4.97%
1990 30.4% 0% - -
1989 20.3% 151.7% - -

Data sources: International Monetary Fund (IMF) | Fiscal Monitor (1990–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08); International Monetary Fund (IMF) | Public Finances in Modern History (1989–1998, retrieved 2026-07-08).

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

In 2025, the Congo's government spending was $3.9B, accounting for 23.9% of its GDP, while the United Arab Emirates spent $118B, or 22.6% of GDP.

Debt-to-GDP ratio is 96.8% in the Congo and 34.3% in the United Arab Emirates, ranking 27/185 and 146/185, respectively.

Government deficit by year

Deficit/surplus
Congo

United Arab Emirates
1x
Year Deficit/surplus, % of GDP
Congo UAE
2025 0.28% 5.15%
2024 3.62% 6.41%
2023 5.81% 5.82%
2022 8.94% 9.8%
2021 1.63% 3.96%
2020 -1.1% -2.42%
2019 4.3% 2.5%
2018 5.22% 3.65%
2017 -5.57% -0.16%
2016 -14.5% -2.95%
2015 -17.8% -6.35%
2014 -10.7% 1.74%
2013 -2.85% 7.99%
2012 7.24% 8.59%
2011 16.1% 5.05%
2010 15.5% 0.52%
2009 4.76% -6.13%
2008 23.9% 17.6%
2007 8.99% 17.1%
2006 16% 20.2%
2005 13.4% 16%
2004 3.33% 6.4%
2003 0.37% 2.35%
2002 -7.34% -1.24%
2001 -0.71% 1.21%
2000 1.05% 10.7%
1999 -4.75% 1.31%
1998 -5.16% 1%
1997 3.67% 6.71%
1996 9.2% 0.92%
1995 -6.38% 3.58%
1994 -10.6% -1.78%
1993 -11.3% -2.89%
1992 -12.7% 3.34%
1991 -11.2% 3.89%
1990 -4.1% -
1989 0.78% -

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

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

In 2024, the Congo's government surplus, the difference between spending and revenue, was $568M, equivalent to 3.62% of GDP. This compares to the United Arab Emirates' surplus of $35.4B, or 6.41% of GDP.

Over the past 34 years, the Congo recorded a fiscal deficit in 15 of those years, while the United Arab Emirates ran a deficit in 8 years. On average, the Congo posted an annual surplus equal to 0.89% of GDP, compared to surplus of 4.25% of GDP for the United Arab Emirates.

Inflation comparison by year

Inflation
Congo

United Arab Emirates
1x
Year Consumer prices inflation
Congo UAE
2025 2.6% 1.3%
2024 3.1% 1.7%
2023 4.3% 1.6%
2022 3% 4.8%
2021 2% -0.1%
2020 1.4% -2.1%
2019 0.4% -1.9%
2018 1.2% 3.1%
2017 0.4% 2%
2016 3.2% 1.6%
2015 3.2% 4.1%
2014 0.9% 2.3%
2013 4.6% 1.1%
2012 5% 0.7%
2011 1.8% 0.9%
2010 0.4% 0.9%
2009 4.3% -4.7%
2008 6% 12.3%
2007 2.6% 11.1%
2006 4.7% 9.3%
2005 2.5% 6.2%
2004 3.7% 5%
2003 1.7% 3.1%
2002 3% 2.9%
2001 0.8% 2.8%
2000 0.5% 1.3%
1999 3% 2.1%
1998 2.2% 2%
1997 12.7% 3%

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

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

Over the past 29 years, the Congo has recorded an average annual inflation rate of 2.94%, compared with 2.7% in the United Arab Emirates. In 2025, inflation was 2.6% in the Congo and 1.3% in the United Arab Emirates.

Top exports between countries

Congo
Export category Export value
Raw materials & minerals $161M
Metals $3.41M
Machinery & equipment $2M
Precious metals & jewellery $1.03M
Wood & paper products $1.02M
Textiles & consumer goods $61K
Chemicals & pharma $10K
Animal & marine products $1K
Miscellaneous $1K
UAE
Export category Export value
Machinery & equipment $304M
Chemicals & pharma $52.7M
Raw materials & minerals $24.2M
Textiles & consumer goods $16.4M
Processed food, beverages & tobacco $11.3M
Metals $10.1M
Precious metals & jewellery $3.44M
Wood & paper products $2.74M
Animal & marine products $2.46M
Raw agricultural goods $1.67M

Balance of trade

Congo UAE
Current account balance
$1.72B
2021
$80B
2024
Current account balance ranking
46/190
2021
9/190
2024
Current account balance, % of GDP
+11.6%
2021
+14.5%
2024
Goods imports
$2.78B
2021
$400B
2024
Goods exports
$7.51B
2021
$467B
2024
Service imports
$1.71B
2021
$117B
2024
Service exports
$240M
2021
$181B
2024
Imports of goods and services, % of GDP
43.6%
2025
92.2%
2023
Exports of goods and services, % of GDP
48%
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.

Congo UAE
Economic freedom 48.6 71.9
Economic freedom ranking 169/197 29/197
Property rights 28.7 62.9
Government integrity 13.9 65.3
Judicial effectiveness 15.4 34.4
Tax burden 73.7 99.9
Government spending 85.8 85.1
Fiscal health 80.8 97.6
Business freedom 35.8 84.5
Labor freedom 52.4 63.2
Monetary freedom 78.4 81.2
Trade freedom 52.8 78.6
Investment freedom 35 50
Financial freedom 30 60

Economic freedom comparison by year

Congo
United Arab Emirates
1x
Year Economic freedom index
Congo UAE
2026 48.6 71.9
2025 48.6 71.6
2024 47.8 71.1
2023 48.1 70.9
2022 48.5 70.2
2021 50.7 76.9
2020 41.8 76.2
2019 39.7 77.6
2018 38.9 77.6
2017 40 76.9
2016 42.8 72.6
2015 42.7 72.4
2014 43.7 71.4
2013 43.5 71.1
2012 43.8 69.3
2011 43.6 67.8
2010 43.2 67.3
2009 45.4 64.7
2008 45.3 62.6
2007 44.4 62.6
2006 43.8 62.2
2005 46.2 65.2
2004 45.9 67.2
2003 47.7 73.4
2002 45.3 73.6
2001 44.3 74.9
2000 40.6 74.2
1999 41.6 71.5
1998 33.8 72.2
1997 42.2 71.9
1996 40.3 71.6

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

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

The Economic Freedom Index for the Congo is 48.6, ranking 169/197, 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

Congo UAE
Services, % of GDP
54.3%
2025
54.9%
2024
Industry, % of GDP
35.6%
2025
44.3%
2024
Agriculture, forestry, and fishing, % of GDP
10.1%
2025
0.77%
2024
GNI, Atlas method
$14.8B
2025
$566B
2024
GNI per capita, PPP
$6,490
2025
$81,640
2024
Total reserves including gold
$759M
2024
$292B
2025
Total reserves ranking
147/177
2024
14/177
2025
Net foreign direct investment
$330M
2021
$31.5B
2024
Net inflows of foreign direct investment
$604M
2024
$45.6B
2024
Net outflows of foreign direct investment
$25.4M
2024
$77.2B
2024
Servicing debt to the IMF, % of GNI
7.67%
2024
n/a
Poverty at national poverty lines
40.9%
2011
19.5%
2020
Gross capital formation, % of GDP
29.4%
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/congo/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. TradeMap (2021–2024, retrieved 2026-07-08)
  6. International Monetary Fund (IMF) | Public Finances in Modern History (1989–1998, 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.