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Economy of Costa Rica vs Italy compared: GDP & Debt

Updated on by Georank team

Costa Rica has a GDP of $95.4B compared to $2.38T for Italy, ranking 73/197 and 8/197 by economy size, respectively.

Costa Rica has $57B in government debt (59.8% of GDP), compared to $3.22T (135.3% of GDP) in Italy.

Costa Rica vs Italy GDP by year

Costa Rica
Italy
1x
Year GDP, current $
Costa Rica Italy
2024 $95,350,423,177 $2,380,825,077,244
2023 $86,497,941,439 $2,316,727,999,333
2022 $69,243,626,029 $2,104,067,630,319
2021 $64,960,725,734 $2,179,207,773,596
2020 $62,395,610,760 $1,907,481,094,079
2019 $64,417,670,521 $2,019,606,796,584
2018 $62,420,164,992 $2,099,435,266,459
2017 $60,516,044,657 $1,970,720,904,585
2016 $58,847,019,610 $1,887,111,188,177
2015 $56,441,920,821 $1,845,428,048,839
2014 $52,016,408,854 $2,173,255,507,986
2013 $50,949,668,842 $2,153,225,581,941
2012 $47,231,655,432 $2,097,929,495,122
2011 $42,762,613,699 $2,306,974,020,278
2010 $37,658,616,952 $2,144,936,254,535
2009 $30,745,714,313 $2,209,484,319,013
2008 $30,801,745,700 $2,417,508,414,187
2007 $26,884,700,709 $2,222,524,108,128
2006 $22,715,540,324 $1,958,563,654,386
2005 $20,040,642,477 $1,864,982,261,287
2004 $18,610,594,846 $1,812,808,753,295
2003 $17,271,760,507 $1,582,930,016,539
2002 $16,578,820,687 $1,281,746,271,196
2001 $15,976,174,337 $1,172,041,488,806
2000 $15,013,629,662 $1,149,661,363,439
1999 $14,254,866,285 $1,255,004,736,464
1998 $13,684,255,947 $1,272,729,786,997
1997 $12,614,602,382 $1,244,988,176,444
1996 $11,678,424,507 $1,314,776,508,972
1995 $11,578,594,260 $1,177,369,428,266
1994 $10,489,903,725 $1,101,750,159,702
1993 $9,564,815,975 $1,067,412,587,671
1992 $8,579,754,758 $1,323,204,350,354
1991 $7,215,725,487 $1,249,092,439,519
1990 $5,711,687,787 $1,183,945,130,899
1989 $5,251,025,767 $930,801,709,004
1988 $4,614,629,898 $893,663,934,841
1987 $4,532,952,047 $807,570,134,449
1986 $4,418,983,871 $641,862,313,287
1985 $3,919,203,960 $453,259,761,687
1984 $3,660,477,856 $438,896,930,791
1983 $3,146,772,631 $444,063,496,940
1982 $2,606,623,555 $428,257,421,618
1981 $2,623,803,096 $431,695,533,981
1980 $4,831,447,001 $478,356,755,596
1979 $4,035,519,323 $394,584,507,108
1978 $3,523,208,810 $315,784,469,541
1977 $3,072,427,013 $258,190,019,750
1976 $2,412,555,426 $225,235,205,862
1975 $1,960,863,466 $228,220,643,535
1974 $1,666,544,754 $200,024,444,775
1973 $1,528,925,846 $175,896,529,392
1972 $1,238,251,696 $145,594,833,997
1971 $1,077,147,538 $124,959,712,859
1970 $984,830,158 $113,656,669,765
1969 $853,630,204 $100,996,667,239
1968 $773,841,494 $91,485,448,148
1967 $699,456,619 $84,401,995,573
1966 $647,305,630 $76,622,444,787
1965 $592,981,162 $70,717,012,186
1964 $542,578,367 $65,720,771,779
1963 $511,902,137 $60,035,924,618
1962 $479,180,824 $52,413,872,628
1961 $490,325,182 $46,649,487,320
1960 $507,513,830 $42,012,422,612

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

GeoRank.org/economy/costa-rica/italy | CC BY

GDP per capita in Costa Rica vs Italy by year

Costa Rica
GDP per capita

GDP per capita, PPP
Italy
GDP per capita

GDP per capita, PPP
1x
Year Current $
Costa Rica Italy
GDP per capita GDP per capita, PPP GDP per capita GDP per capita, PPP
2024 $18,587 $31,107 $40,385 $62,014
2023 $16,942 $28,909 $39,277 $60,030
2022 $13,626 $26,226 $35,654 $57,261
2021 $12,838 $23,853 $36,853 $49,825
2020 $12,394 $22,100 $32,091 $44,436
2019 $12,885 $23,340 $33,813 $46,662
2018 $12,590 $21,498 $34,904 $43,387
2017 $12,317 $20,499 $32,844 $42,142
2016 $12,091 $19,202 $31,392 $40,483
2015 $11,715 $17,525 $30,640 $37,384
2014 $10,911 $16,394 $36,028 $36,666
2013 $10,803 $15,232 $35,702 $36,459
2012 $10,127 $14,464 $34,854 $36,281
2011 $9,276 $13,614 $38,432 $36,392
2010 $8,266 $12,928 $35,857 $34,974
2009 $6,833 $12,274 $37,100 $34,502
2008 $6,937 $12,472 $40,829 $35,422
2007 $6,138 $11,842 $37,826 $34,108
2006 $5,257 $10,800 $33,537 $32,454
2005 $4,703 $9,899 $32,063 $30,138
2004 $4,431 $9,365 $31,348 $29,581
2003 $4,173 $8,863 $27,578 $29,249
2002 $4,068 $8,461 $22,451 $28,833
2001 $3,985 $8,190 $20,570 $28,134
2000 $3,813 $7,879 $20,190 $27,152
1999 $3,691 $7,563 $22,050 $25,655
1998 $3,617 $7,306 $22,365 $25,075
1997 $3,408 $6,890 $21,884 $23,937
1996 $3,227 $6,568 $23,123 $23,101
1995 $3,275 $6,515 $20,712 $22,446
1994 $3,040 $6,276 $19,382 $21,369
1993 $2,840 $6,025 $18,782 $20,485
1992 $2,612 $5,635 $23,297 $20,196
1991 $2,253 $5,175 $22,007 $19,596
1990 $1,830 $5,021 $20,874 $18,680
1989 $1,725 - $16,424 -
1988 $1,555 - $15,781 -
1987 $1,567 - $14,268 -
1986 $1,569 - $11,341 -
1985 $1,429 - $8,009 -
1984 $1,372 - $7,758 -
1983 $1,213 - $7,851 -
1982 $1,032 - $7,574 -
1981 $1,068 - $7,640 -
1980 $2,021 - $8,476 -
1979 $1,735 - $7,006 -
1978 $1,556 - $5,623 -
1977 $1,393 - $4,614 -
1976 $1,123 - $4,042 -
1975 $937 - $4,116 -
1974 $817 - $3,629 -
1973 $769 - $3,213 -
1972 $639 - $2,677 -
1971 $570 - $2,311 -
1970 $536 - $2,112 -
1969 $477 - $1,886 -
1968 $445 - $1,718 -
1967 $414 - $1,595 -
1966 $395 - $1,459 -
1965 $374 - $1,357 -
1964 $354 - $1,272 -
1963 $346 - $1,171 -
1962 $335 - $1,030 -
1961 $356 - $923 -
1960 $382 - $837 -

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

GeoRank.org/economy/costa-rica/italy | CC BY

Costa Rica's GDP per capita is $18,587, ranking 62/197, compared to $40,385 in Italy, ranking 29/197. Adjusted for purchasing power (GDP per capita PPP), Costa Rica ranks 72nd at $31,107, while Italy ranks 31st at $62,014.

Economic indicators

Costa Rica Italy
Gross domestic product
$95.4B
2024
$2.38T
2024
GDP rank
73/197
2024
8/197
2024
GDP growth
4.32%
2023-2024
0.69%
2023-2024
GDP per capita
$18,587
2024
$40,385
2024
GDP per capita rank
62/197
2024
29/197
2024
GDP per capita, PPP
$31,107
2024
$62,014
2024
GDP per capita PPP rank
72/197
2024
31/197
2024
Government debt
$57B
2024
$3.22T
2024
Debt-to-GDP ratio
59.8%
2024
135.3%
2024
Government debt per person
$11,106
2024
$54,652
2024
Government debt per person rank
50/185
2024
6/185
2024
Average annual personal income after taxes
$12,150
2026
$23,800
2026
Market capitalization of domestic companies
$2.23B
2022
$587B
2014
Number of millionaires n/a
1,344,000
2025
Number of billionaires n/a
74
2025
Income share by richest 10%
34.2%
2024
25.8%
2023
Income share by poorest 10%
1.7%
2024
2.3%
2023
Government expenditure, % of GDP
18.9%
2024
50.6%
2024
Consumer prices inflation
-0.41%
2023-2024
0.98%
2023-2024
Central bank interest rate
3.5%
2025
n/a
Unemployment rate
6.94%
2024
6.5%
2024
Population
5181862
58562681

Spending and national debt comparison by year

Costa Rica
Spending

Debt
Italy
Spending

Debt
1x
Year % of GDP
Costa Rica Italy
Government spending Government debt Government spending Government debt
2024 18.9% 59.8% 50.6% 135.3%
2023 18.5% 61.1% 54% 134.6%
2022 19.2% 63% 54.9% 138.3%
2021 20.8% 67.6% 56% 145.8%
2020 22.3% 66.9% 56.8% 154.4%
2019 21.7% 56.4% 48.4% 133.9%
2018 18.9% 51.8% 48.3% 134.2%
2017 19.2% 47.1% 48.8% 133.7%
2016 18.8% 44.1% 49% 134.2%
2015 18.8% 39.8% 50.2% 134.8%
2014 18.4% 37.4% 50.7% 134.8%
2013 18.5% 35.1% 50.9% 131.9%
2012 17.3% 33.7% 50.5% 125.9%
2011 17.2% 29.5% 49% 119.1%
2010 18% 28.1% 49.8% 118.8%
2009 16.7% 26% 51.1% 116.1%
2008 15.2% 24% 47.8% 105.8%
2007 14.6% 27% 46.6% 103.5%
2006 15.2% 33% 47.6% 106.3%
2005 15.9% 37.3% 47.1% 106.2%
2004 17% 41% 46.7% 104.7%
2003 17.6% 40.6% 47% 105.1%
2002 18.6% 41.4% 46.5% 105.9%
2001 17.3% 39.6% 47.1% 108.5%
2000 16.9% 38.9% 46.4% 108.7%
1999 16.7% 39% 47.1% 113.1%
1998 16% 40.7% 48% 113.9%
1997 16.3% 30.6% 49.3% 116.5%
1996 17.3% 33.7% 51.3% 118.9%
1995 16.4% 29.1% 51.4% 119.1%
1994 17.4% 27% 55.1% 130.8%
1993 13.8% 24.4% 57.8% 124.1%
1992 13.7% 23.3% 56.8% 113%
1991 14% 28.4% 55.3% 105.3%
1990 18.9% 18.5% 54.2% 101.7%
1989 26.1% 19.3% 51.6% 91.8%
1988 24.5% 18.2% 50.4% 89.2%
1987 27.2% 21.2% 49.8% 87.4%
1986 26.4% 26.1% 50.5% 83.4%
1985 21.8% 22.8% 49.8% 79.1%
1984 22.8% 25.2% 49.1% 73.1%
1983 23.6% 29.8% 48.9% 67.8%
1982 18.4% 31.8% 46.7% 61.8%
1981 21% 32.3% 44.6% 57.3%
1980 25% 37.7% 40.8% 55.1%
1979 24.9% 39.5% 40.1% 58.9%
1978 23.2% 41.7% 40.9% 59.9%
1977 19.3% 27.8% 38.5% 56%
1976 20.1% 29.5% 38.1% 57.3%
1975 19.1% 26.1% 39.1% 57.9%
1974 18.3% 30.3% 34.8% 50.8%
1973 18.4% 32.8% 35.3% 51.1%
1972 17.2% 31.8% 36.4% 48.2%
1971 17.5% 30.4% 34.4% 42.4%
1970 14.9% 28.6% 32.3% 37.8%
1969 14.5% 26.1% 32.1% 37%
1968 13.8% 27.7% 32.6% 36.4%
1967 14.7% 26.7% 17.9% 33.3%
1966 14.3% 24.8% 19.1% 33.4%
1965 13.8% 24.1% 18.6% 28.4%
1964 13.5% 22.7% 18.2% 27.2%
1963 13.3% 21.8% 16.7% 27.2%
1962 14% 19.7% 17.5% 29%
1961 13.2% 20.3% 17.3% 30%
1960 12.5% 16.1% 16.5% 31.4%

Data sources: International Monetary Fund (IMF) | Fiscal Monitor (1990–2024, retrieved 2026-02-20); International Monetary Fund (IMF) | Public Finances in Modern History (1960–1995, retrieved 2026-02-20).

GeoRank.org/economy/costa-rica/italy | CC BY

In 2024, Costa Rica's government spending was $18B, accounting for 18.9% of its GDP, while Italy spent $1.2T, or 50.6% of GDP.

Debt-to-GDP ratio is 59.8% in Costa Rica and 135.3% in Italy, ranking 79/185 and 8/185, respectively.

Government deficit by year

Deficit/surplus
Costa Rica

Italy
1x
Year Deficit/surplus, % of GDP
Costa Rica Italy
2024 -3.78% -3.45%
2023 -3.25% -7.24%
2022 -2.81% -8.11%
2021 -5.09% -8.88%
2020 -8.38% -9.38%
2019 -6.68% -1.45%
2018 -5.66% -2.19%
2017 -5.88% -2.51%
2016 -5.09% -2.4%
2015 -5.52% -2.46%
2014 -5.45% -2.82%
2013 -5.25% -2.87%
2012 -4.22% -2.99%
2011 -3.91% -3.52%
2010 -4.96% -4.16%
2009 -3.25% -5.06%
2008 0.18% -2.58%
2007 0.56% -1.33%
2006 -1.04% -3.61%
2005 -2.09% -4.1%
2004 -3.42% -3.46%
2003 -3.43% -3.23%
2002 -4.99% -2.88%
2001 -3.47% -3.18%
2000 -3.68% -2.42%
1999 -2.88% -1.77%
1998 -2.96% -2.99%
1997 -3.39% -2.98%
1996 -4.32% -6.61%
1995 -3.68% -7.2%
1994 -5.46% -8.84%
1993 -1.52% -9.76%
1992 -1.51% -10.1%
1991 -2.41% -11.1%
1990 -4.4% -11.1%
1989 -1.55% -11.4%
1988 0.57% -11%
1987 -2.57% -11.5%
1986 -4.26% -12%
1985 -1.06% -12.4%
1984 -0.5% -11.5%
1983 -1.84% -10.1%
1982 -0.94% -10%
1981 -3.14% -10.9%
1980 -7.24% -6.97%
1979 -6.6% -8.23%
1978 -4.12% -8.47%
1977 -2.63% -6.96%
1976 -2.42% -7.88%
1975 -1.13% -10.3%
1974 0.26% -6.24%
1973 -2.41% -6.36%
1972 -4.54% -6.84%
1971 -4.72% -4.71%
1970 -1.41% -3.22%
1969 -1.61% -2.85%
1968 -1.72% -2.55%
1967 -3.03% -0.97%
1966 -2.12% -1.59%
1965 -1.71% -2.67%
1964 -1.51% -2.35%
1963 -2.01% -0.3%
1962 -1.99% -0.95%
1961 -0.71% -0.57%
1960 -0.19% -0.28%
1959 0.49% -1%
1958 0% -0.98%
1957 0.3% -1.09%
1956 0.05% -1.46%
1955 - -2.03%
1954 - -1.84%
1953 - -2.33%
1952 - -4.08%
1951 - -3.86%
1950 - -2.42%
1949 - -2.82%
1948 - -4.58%
1947 - -6.62%
1946 - -9.82%
1945 - -16.9%
1944 - -35.1%
1943 - -16.1%
1942 - -26.9%
1941 - -25.1%
1940 - -24.3%
1939 - -9.49%
1938 - -5.97%
1937 - -5.78%
1936 - -7.93%
1935 - -9.83%
1934 - -2.5%
1933 - -4.85%
1932 - -3.06%
1931 - -2.14%
1930 - -0.55%
1929 - -0.59%
1928 - -2.09%
1927 - -1.71%
1926 - -0.09%
1925 - 1.7%
1924 - 1.19%
1923 - -3.21%
1922 - -11%
1921 - -7.77%
1920 - -5.89%
1919 - -11.2%
1918 - -22.7%
1917 - -27.6%
1916 - -28.2%
1915 - -25.8%
1914 - -12.4%
1913 - -0.86%
1912 - -1.86%
1911 - -0.63%
1910 - -0.32%
1909 - -0.69%
1908 - -1.31%
1907 - -0.51%
1906 - -0.69%
1905 - -1.57%
1904 - 0.58%
1903 - 0.32%
1902 - 0.48%
1901 - 0.36%
1900 - 0.28%
1899 - -0.11%
1898 - -0.21%
1897 - 0.009%
1896 - -0.43%
1895 - -0.69%
1894 - -0.23%
1893 - -0.49%
1892 - -0.25%
1891 - -1.41%
1890 - -0.32%
1889 - -1.32%
1888 - -2.11%
1887 - -1.94%
1886 - -0.5%
1885 - 0.2%
1884 - -1.46%
1883 - -0.51%
1882 - -0.5%
1881 - -0.04%
1880 - 0.38%
1879 - 0.73%
1878 - 0.09%
1877 - -0.009%
1876 - -0.05%
1875 - 0.58%
1874 - -0.08%
1873 - 0.21%
1872 - 0%
1871 - -0.13%
1870 - -0.82%
1869 - 0.33%
1868 - -0.79%
1867 - -1.45%
1866 - -3.1%
1865 - -2.72%
1864 - -3.06%
1863 - -4.16%
1862 - -3.96%

Data sources: International Monetary Fund (IMF) | Public Finances in Modern History (1862–1989, retrieved 2026-02-20); International Monetary Fund (IMF) | Fiscal Monitor (1990–2024, retrieved 2026-02-20).

GeoRank.org/economy/costa-rica/italy | CC BY

In 2024, Costa Rica's government deficit, the difference between spending and revenue, was $3.61B, equivalent to 3.78% of GDP. This compares to Italy's deficit of $82B, or 3.45% of GDP.

Over the past 65 years, Costa Rica recorded a fiscal deficit in 61 of those years, while Italy ran a deficit in 65 years. On average, Costa Rica posted an annual deficit equal to 3.11% of GDP, compared to deficit of 5.55% of GDP for Italy.

Inflation comparison by year

Inflation
Costa Rica

Italy
1x
Year Consumer prices inflation
Costa Rica Italy
2024 -0.41% 0.98%
2023 0.53% 5.62%
2022 8.27% 8.2%
2021 1.73% 1.87%
2020 0.72% -0.14%
2019 2.1% 0.61%
2018 2.22% 1.14%
2017 1.63% 1.23%
2016 -0.02% -0.09%
2015 0.8% 0.04%
2014 4.52% 0.24%
2013 5.23% 1.22%
2012 4.5% 3.04%
2011 4.88% 2.78%
2010 5.66% 1.53%
2009 7.84% 0.77%
2008 13.4% 3.35%
2007 9.36% 1.83%
2006 11.5% 2.09%
2005 13.8% 1.99%
2004 12.3% 2.21%
2003 9.45% 2.67%
2002 9.17% 2.47%
2001 11.3% 2.79%
2000 11% 2.54%
1999 10% 1.66%
1998 11.7% 1.96%
1997 13.2% 2.04%

Data sources: World Bank | Economy & Growth (1997–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06).

GeoRank.org/economy/costa-rica/italy | CC BY

Over the past 28 years, Costa Rica has recorded an average annual inflation rate of 6.66%, compared with 2.02% in Italy. In 2024, inflation was -0.41% in Costa Rica and 0.98% in Italy.

Top exports between countries

Costa Rica
Export category Export value
Raw agricultural goods $203M
Processed food, beverages & tobacco $3.29M
Machinery & equipment $1.86M
Metals $1.57M
Chemicals & pharma $249K
Animal & marine products $127K
Wood & paper products $126K
Textiles & consumer goods $104K
Precious metals & jewellery $23K
Raw materials & minerals $1K
Italy
Export category Export value
Machinery & equipment $105M
Chemicals & pharma $36.7M
Textiles & consumer goods $27.4M
Processed food, beverages & tobacco $24.8M
Wood & paper products $9.95M
Raw materials & minerals $8.71M
Metals $7.84M
Raw agricultural goods $4.24M
Animal & marine products $2.98M
Precious metals & jewellery $1.06M

Balance of trade

Costa Rica Italy
Current account balance
-$1.25B
2024
$25.8B
2024
Current account balance ranking
129/190
2024
19/190
2024
Current account balance, % of GDP
-1.31%
2024
+1.08%
2024
Goods imports
$23.1B
2024
$562B
2024
Goods exports
$20.6B
2024
$621B
2024
Service imports
$7.58B
2024
$160B
2024
Service exports
$16.3B
2024
$155B
2024
Imports of goods and services, % of GDP
32.8%
2024
30.3%
2024
Exports of goods and services, % of GDP
38.5%
2024
32.5%
2024

Economic freedom indices

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

Costa Rica Italy
Economic freedom 69.1 63.3
Economic freedom ranking 43/197 80/197
Property rights 66 84.8
Government integrity 64.1 60.8
Judicial effectiveness 76.9 80.9
Tax burden 78.6 57.5
Government spending 89.3 15.3
Fiscal health 75.6 17.2
Business freedom 79.9 74.5
Labor freedom 55.9 70.6
Monetary freedom 78.2 79.1
Trade freedom 75 79.4
Investment freedom 50 80
Financial freedom 40 60

Economic freedom comparison by year

Costa Rica
Italy
1x
Year Economic freedom index
Costa Rica Italy
2026 69.1 63.3
2025 68.6 60.9
2024 67.7 60.1
2023 66.5 62.3
2022 65.4 65.4
2021 64.2 64.9
2020 65.8 63.8
2019 65.3 62.2
2018 65.6 62.5
2017 65 62.5
2016 67.4 61.2
2015 67.2 61.7
2014 66.9 60.9
2013 67 60.6
2012 68 58.8
2011 67.3 60.3
2010 65.9 62.7
2009 66.4 61.4
2008 64.2 62.6
2007 64 62.8
2006 65.9 62
2005 66.1 64.9
2004 66.4 64.2
2003 67 64.3
2002 67.5 63.6
2001 67.6 63
2000 68.4 61.9
1999 67.4 61.6
1998 65.6 59.1
1997 65.6 58.1
1996 66.4 60.8
1995 68 61.2

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

GeoRank.org/economy/costa-rica/italy | CC BY

The Economic Freedom Index for Costa Rica is 69.1, ranking 43/197, compared to 63.3 for Italy, ranking 80/197. The chart above displays a comparison of annual changes in economic freedom indexes.

Other economic metrics

Costa Rica Italy
Services, % of GDP
68.8%
2024
65%
2024
Industry, % of GDP
19.7%
2024
22.3%
2024
Agriculture, forestry, and fishing, % of GDP
3.56%
2024
2%
2024
GNI, Atlas method
$80.2B
2024
$2.28T
2024
GNI per capita, PPP
$28,840
2024
$61,620
2024
Total reserves including gold
$14.2B
2024
$291B
2024
Total reserves ranking
70/177
2024
12/177
2024
Net foreign direct investment
-$4.96B
2024
$19B
2024
Net inflows of foreign direct investment
$5.3B
2024
$26.9B
2024
Net outflows of foreign direct investment
$337M
2024
$45.9B
2024
Servicing debt to the IMF, % of GNI
6.31%
2023
n/a
Poverty at national poverty lines
20.3%
2024
20.1%
2021
Gross capital formation, % of GDP
15.7%
2024
22.6%
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/costa-rica/italy | CC BY

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Data sources:

  1. World Bank | Economy & Growth (1960–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06)
  2. International Monetary Fund (IMF) | Public Finances in Modern History (1862–1995, retrieved 2026-02-20)
  3. International Monetary Fund (IMF) | Fiscal Monitor (1990–2024, 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 (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.