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Economy of Croatia vs Malaysia compared: GDP & Debt

Updated on by Georank

Croatia has a GDP of $105B compared to $472B for Malaysia, ranking 73/197 and 35/197 by economy size, respectively.

Croatia has $58.7B in government debt (55.9% of GDP), compared to $334B (70.7% of GDP) in Malaysia.

Croatia vs Malaysia GDP by year

Croatia
Malaysia
1x
Year GDP, current $
Croatia Malaysia
2025 $105,060,182,186 $472,193,128,645
2024 $92,981,894,168 $422,227,005,429
2023 $85,621,337,533 $399,949,418,753
2022 $71,196,460,237 $407,830,525,990
2021 $69,002,262,505 $373,784,553,030
2020 $57,959,824,238 $337,456,163,961
2019 $61,467,261,345 $365,177,721,022
2018 $61,668,280,700 $358,788,845,713
2017 $56,182,225,079 $319,109,094,160
2016 $52,650,804,052 $301,256,033,870
2015 $50,999,271,059 $301,355,266,965
2014 $59,607,109,597 $338,066,095,097
2013 $59,846,869,999 $323,276,235,524
2012 $57,547,495,860 $314,443,047,642
2011 $62,889,150,894 $297,951,668,675
2010 $58,975,127,201 $255,017,638,456
2009 $62,315,450,611 $202,257,453,037
2008 $68,473,103,477 $230,811,614,370
2007 $59,290,547,254 $193,549,569,478
2006 $49,583,643,048 $162,692,258,307
2005 $45,012,776,906 $143,534,405,819
2004 $41,836,096,243 $124,749,473,684
2003 $35,244,797,329 $110,202,368,421
2002 $26,757,633,353 $100,845,526,316
2001 $23,067,071,478 $92,783,947,368
2000 $22,134,069,750 $93,789,736,842
1999 $23,776,940,769 $79,148,421,053
1998 $25,889,813,449 $72,167,498,981
1997 $24,175,272,572 $100,005,323,302
1996 $24,151,469,717 $100,855,393,910
1995 $22,772,224,146 $88,705,342,903
1994 $15,062,911,617 $74,478,356,958
1993 $11,259,647,874 $66,894,966,969
1992 $10,621,169,291 $59,167,550,163
1991 $18,760,386,775 $49,143,148,094
1990 $25,650,213,280 $44,024,585,240
1989 - $38,847,965,293
1988 - $35,272,109,220
1987 - $32,181,210,158
1986 - $27,734,111,400
1985 - $31,199,633,353
1984 - $33,942,897,422
1983 - $30,347,442,111
1982 - $26,804,493,635
1981 - $25,004,285,792
1980 - $24,488,224,677
1979 - $21,213,264,962
1978 - $16,358,079,862
1977 - $13,139,488,633
1976 - $11,050,234,599
1975 - $9,298,800,799
1974 - $9,496,204,302
1973 - $7,662,902,678
1972 - $5,043,347,250
1971 - $4,244,395,956
1970 - $3,864,145,667
1969 - $3,664,552,041
1968 - $3,330,371,551
1967 - $3,188,924,677
1966 - $3,143,517,944
1965 - $2,956,337,669
1964 - $2,674,423,922
1963 - $2,510,110,348
1962 - $2,001,489,602
1961 - $1,901,856,123
1960 - $1,916,229,477

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

GeoRank.org/economy/croatia/malaysia | CC BY

GDP per capita in Croatia vs Malaysia by year

Croatia
GDP per capita

GDP per capita, PPP
Malaysia
GDP per capita

GDP per capita, PPP
1x
Year Current $
Croatia Malaysia
GDP per capita GDP per capita, PPP GDP per capita GDP per capita, PPP
2025 $27,104 - $13,125 -
2024 $24,050 $49,551 $11,874 $38,779
2023 $22,183 $47,760 $11,386 $36,467
2022 $18,466 $42,125 $11,755 $34,420
2021 $17,789 $36,930 $10,903 $29,823
2020 $14,808 $31,594 $9,958 $27,475
2019 $15,564 $33,064 $10,920 $28,934
2018 $15,460 $29,789 $10,902 $27,794
2017 $13,902 $27,888 $9,863 $26,416
2016 $12,820 $25,803 $9,477 $25,286
2015 $12,284 $23,750 $9,649 $24,526
2014 $14,187 $22,706 $11,013 $24,307
2013 $14,135 $22,430 $10,714 $23,161
2012 $13,508 $21,619 $10,601 $22,639
2011 $14,692 $21,191 $10,217 $21,324
2010 $13,730 $20,139 $8,899 $20,193
2009 $14,475 $20,358 $7,191 $18,923
2008 $15,888 $21,018 $8,372 $19,480
2007 $13,756 $19,568 $7,169 $18,617
2006 $11,501 $17,629 $6,158 $17,426
2005 $10,443 $15,451 $5,556 $16,371
2004 $9,719 $14,686 $4,939 $15,416
2003 $8,190 $13,692 $4,465 $14,387
2002 $6,220 $12,775 $4,184 $13,656
2001 $5,365 $11,653 $3,944 $13,072
2000 $4,954 $10,675 $4,084 $13,027
1999 $5,269 $9,943 $3,528 $11,980
1998 $5,712 $9,890 $3,294 $11,398
1997 $5,331 $9,536 $4,679 $12,469
1996 $5,300 $8,806 $4,837 $11,709
1995 $4,929 $8,052 $4,363 $10,720
1994 $3,238 $7,337 $3,758 $9,806
1993 $2,448 $6,861 $3,462 $9,018
1992 $2,321 $7,326 $3,141 $8,224
1991 $4,001 $7,918 $2,679 $7,583
1990 $5,369 $9,526 $2,469 $6,887
1989 - - $2,244 -
1988 - - $2,100 -
1987 - - $1,977 -
1986 - - $1,760 -
1985 - - $2,046 -
1984 - - $2,300 -
1983 - - $2,124 -
1982 - - $1,938 -
1981 - - $1,866 -
1980 - - $1,886 -
1979 - - $1,680 -
1978 - - $1,327 -
1977 - - $1,092 -
1976 - - $940 -
1975 - - $811 -
1974 - - $848 -
1973 - - $701 -
1972 - - $472 -
1971 - - $407 -
1970 - - $380 -
1969 - - $368 -
1968 - - $342 -
1967 - - $335 -
1966 - - $339 -
1965 - - $326 -
1964 - - $303 -
1963 - - $291.8 -
1962 - - $238.8 -
1961 - - $232.9 -
1960 - - $240.8 -

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

GeoRank.org/economy/croatia/malaysia | CC BY

Croatia's GDP per capita is $27,104, ranking 49/197, compared to $13,125 in Malaysia, ranking 78/197. Adjusted for purchasing power (GDP per capita PPP), Croatia ranks 46th at $49,551, while Malaysia ranks 60th at $38,779.

Economic indicators

Croatia Malaysia
Gross domestic product
$105B
2025
$472B
2025
GDP rank
73/197
2025
35/197
2025
GDP growth
3.4%
2024-2025
5.17%
2024-2025
GDP per capita
$27,104
2025
$13,125
2025
GDP per capita rank
49/197
2025
78/197
2025
GDP per capita, PPP
$49,551
2024
$38,779
2024
GDP per capita PPP rank
46/197
2024
60/197
2024
Government debt
$58.7B
2025
$334B
2025
Debt-to-GDP ratio
55.9%
2025
70.7%
2025
Government debt per person
$15,144
2025
$9,273
2025
Government debt per person rank
44/185
2025
62/185
2025
Average annual personal income after taxes
$20,376
2026
$11,034
2026
Market capitalization of domestic companies
$37.9B
2025
$487B
2025
Number of billionaires
1
2026
19
2026
Income share by richest 10%
23.3%
2023
30.9%
2021
Income share by poorest 10%
2.9%
2023
2.3%
2021
Government expenditure, % of GDP
49.3%
2025
23.4%
2025
Consumer prices inflation
3.69%
2024-2025
1.38%
2024-2025
Central bank interest rate n/a
2.75%
2025
Unemployment rate
4.9%
2025
3.9%
2022
Population
3849788
36600906

Spending and national debt comparison by year

Croatia
Spending

Debt
Malaysia
Spending

Debt
1x
Year % of GDP
Croatia Malaysia
Government spending Government debt Government spending Government debt
2025 49.3% 55.9% 23.4% 70.7%
2024 48% 57.4% 24% 69.8%
2023 46.3% 60.9% 25% 69.7%
2022 45% 68.5% 24.6% 65.5%
2021 48.2% 78.2% 24.5% 69.2%
2020 53.8% 86.5% 25% 67.7%
2019 44.4% 70.9% 23.6% 57.1%
2018 45% 72.8% 22.8% 55.6%
2017 44.1% 76.2% 22% 54.4%
2016 45.9% 79.3% 22.9% 55.8%
2015 47.6% 82.8% 24.7% 57%
2014 48.7% 83.2% 26% 55.4%
2013 48% 79.5% 27.8% 55.7%
2012 47.3% 68.9% 28.5% 53.8%
2011 48.6% 63.1% 27.1% 51.9%
2010 48.2% 56.8% 26.6% 51.2%
2009 49.3% 47.9% 30.9% 50.4%
2008 46.3% 38.9% 26.9% 39.4%
2007 46.4% 37.1% 25.9% 39.3%
2006 44.6% 38.4% 25.6% 39.7%
2005 46.5% 40.9% 24.5% 40.8%
2004 49% 40% 25.9% 42%
2003 49.6% 37.8% 28.1% 41.4%
2002 49.2% 36.5% 27.1% 39.5%
2001 50.6% 36.6% 28.2% 38.1%
2000 54.6% 35.4% 25.6% 32.5%
1999 58.9% 30% 24.6% 34.4%
1998 56.8% 23.3% 23.1% 33.6%
1997 51.7% 22.5% 21.2% 29.6%
1996 52.1% - 22.4% 32.8%
1995 50.3% - 22.6% 38.2%
1994 45.4% - 23.3% 43.7%
1993 35.9% - 24.6% 51.1%
1992 37.1% - 28.2% 59.1%
1991 - - 27.4% 67.3%
1990 - - 30.5% 74.1%

Data sources: International Monetary Fund (IMF) | Fiscal Monitor (1990–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08); International Monetary Fund (IMF) | Public Finances in Modern History (1997, retrieved 2026-07-08).

GeoRank.org/economy/croatia/malaysia | CC BY

In 2025, Croatia's government spending was $51.8B, accounting for 49.3% of its GDP, while Malaysia spent $111B, or 23.4% of GDP.

Debt-to-GDP ratio is 55.9% in Croatia and 70.7% in Malaysia, ranking 87/185 and 56/185, respectively.

Government deficit by year

Deficit/surplus
Croatia

Malaysia
1x
Year Deficit/surplus, % of GDP
Croatia Malaysia
2025 -2.89% -3.54%
2024 -1.95% -3.45%
2023 -0.79% -4.11%
2022 0.14% -4.56%
2021 -2.57% -6.03%
2020 -7.24% -4.9%
2019 2.32% -2.01%
2018 0.22% -2.64%
2017 0.81% -2.41%
2016 -1.04% -2.6%
2015 -3.53% -2.55%
2014 -5.19% -2.63%
2013 -5.51% -3.48%
2012 -5.46% -3.1%
2011 -7.51% -3.57%
2010 -6.45% -4.32%
2009 -7.15% -5.88%
2008 -2.33% -3.4%
2007 -2.27% -2.57%
2006 -2% -2.6%
2005 -3.24% -2.83%
2004 -6.09% -3.35%
2003 -5.03% -4.6%
2002 -4.9% -3.96%
2001 -4.79% -4.36%
2000 -9.2% -6.05%
1999 -11.1% -3%
1998 -6.36% -0.63%
1997 -4.93% 4.84%
1996 -4.41% 3.27%
1995 -4.23% 3.1%
1994 -0.82% 5.45%
1993 -2.67% 3.44%
1992 -5.69% 1.81%
1991 - 1.6%
1990 - 0.15%

Data sources: International Monetary Fund (IMF) | Fiscal Monitor (1990–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08).

GeoRank.org/economy/croatia/malaysia | CC BY

In 2025, Croatia's government deficit, the difference between spending and revenue, was $3.04B, equivalent to 2.89% of GDP. This compares to Malaysia's deficit of $16.7B, or 3.54% of GDP.

Over the past 34 years, Croatia recorded a fiscal deficit in 30 of those years, while Malaysia ran a deficit in 28 years. On average, Croatia posted an annual deficit equal to 3.94% of GDP, compared to deficit of 2.27% of GDP for Malaysia.

Inflation comparison by year

Inflation
Croatia

Malaysia
1x
Year Consumer prices inflation
Croatia Malaysia
2025 3.69% 1.38%
2024 2.97% 1.83%
2023 7.94% 2.49%
2022 10.8% 3.38%
2021 2.55% 2.48%
2020 0.15% -1.14%
2019 0.77% 0.66%
2018 1.5% 0.88%
2017 1.13% 3.87%
2016 -1.12% 2.09%
2015 -0.46% 2.1%
2014 -0.22% 3.14%
2013 2.22% 2.11%
2012 3.41% 1.66%
2011 2.27% 3.17%
2010 1.03% 1.62%
2009 2.38% 0.58%
2008 6.08% 5.44%
2007 2.9% 2.03%
2006 3.19% 3.61%
2005 3.32% 2.98%
2004 2.06% 1.42%
2003 1.77% 1.09%
2002 1.67% 1.81%
2001 3.78% 1.42%
2000 4.61% 1.53%
1999 4.02% 2.74%
1998 6.4% 5.27%
1997 4.17% 2.66%

Data sources: World Bank | Economy & Growth (1997–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08).

GeoRank.org/economy/croatia/malaysia | CC BY

Over the past 29 years, Croatia has recorded an average annual inflation rate of 2.93%, compared with 2.22% in Malaysia. In 2025, inflation was 3.69% in Croatia and 1.38% in Malaysia.

Top exports between countries

Croatia
Export category Export value
Transport & tourism services $1.6M
Raw materials & minerals $1.45M
Machinery & equipment $1.22M
Metals $1.04M
Wood & paper products $931K
Textiles & consumer goods $378K
Chemicals & pharma $257K
Processed food, beverages & tobacco $127K
Precious metals & jewellery $42K
Raw agricultural goods $40K
Malaysia
Export category Export value
Metals $69.5M
Machinery & equipment $25.3M
Chemicals & pharma $5.65M
Processed food, beverages & tobacco $4.04M
Raw materials & minerals $3M
Wood & paper products $2.1M
Textiles & consumer goods $953K
Raw agricultural goods $94K
Miscellaneous $46K
Precious metals & jewellery $6K

Balance of trade

Croatia Malaysia
Current account balance
-$1.93B
2024
$7.15B
2024
Current account balance ranking
141/190
2024
29/190
2024
Current account balance, % of GDP
-2.08%
2024
+1.69%
2024
Goods imports
$42.5B
2024
$223B
2024
Goods exports
$21.9B
2024
$248B
2024
Service imports
$8.42B
2024
$56.4B
2024
Service exports
$24.8B
2024
$53.4B
2024
Imports of goods and services, % of GDP
53%
2025
65.4%
2025
Exports of goods and services, % of GDP
48%
2025
71%
2025

Economic freedom indices

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

Croatia Malaysia
Economic freedom 67.5 68
Economic freedom ranking 56/197 51/197
Property rights 81.1 62.7
Government integrity 52.6 52.9
Judicial effectiveness 71.7 63.4
Tax burden 70 83.5
Government spending 34.9 82
Fiscal health 92.2 62.5
Business freedom 79.6 79.6
Labor freedom 58.9 55.4
Monetary freedom 69.9 80.8
Trade freedom 79.4 83
Investment freedom 60 60
Financial freedom 60 50

Economic freedom comparison by year

Croatia
Malaysia
1x
Year Economic freedom index
Croatia Malaysia
2026 67.5 68
2025 68.7 67.1
2024 67.2 65.7
2023 66.4 67.3
2022 67.6 68.1
2021 63.6 74.4
2020 62.2 74.7
2019 61.4 74
2018 61 74.5
2017 59.4 73.8
2016 59.1 71.5
2015 61.5 70.8
2014 60.4 69.6
2013 61.3 66.1
2012 60.9 66.4
2011 61.1 66.3
2010 59.2 64.8
2009 55.1 64.6
2008 54.1 63.9
2007 53.4 63.8
2006 53.6 61.6
2005 51.9 61.9
2004 53.1 59.9
2003 53.3 61.1
2002 51.1 60.1
2001 50.7 60.2
2000 53.6 66
1999 53.1 68.9
1998 51.7 68.2
1997 46.7 66.8
1996 48 69.9
1995 - 71.9

Data sources: The Heritage Foundation | Economic Freedom Index (1995–2026, retrieved 2026-07-08).

GeoRank.org/economy/croatia/malaysia | CC BY

The Economic Freedom Index for Croatia is 67.5, ranking 56/197, compared to 68 for Malaysia, ranking 51/197. The chart above displays a comparison of annual changes in economic freedom indexes.

Other economic metrics

Croatia Malaysia
Services, % of GDP
60.9%
2025
54.8%
2025
Industry, % of GDP
19%
2025
35.7%
2025
Agriculture, forestry, and fishing, % of GDP
2.83%
2025
8.22%
2025
GNI, Atlas method
$98.3B
2025
$445B
2025
GNI per capita, PPP
$50,410
2025
$40,070
2025
Total reserves including gold
$4.22B
2025
$126B
2025
Total reserves ranking
110/177
2025
25/177
2025
Net foreign direct investment
-$1.74B
2024
-$2.55B
2024
Net inflows of foreign direct investment
$4.54B
2024
$15.6B
2024
Net outflows of foreign direct investment
$2.79B
2024
$13B
2024
Poverty at national poverty lines
20.3%
2024
5.1%
2023
Gross capital formation, % of GDP
24.6%
2025
20.5%
2025

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/croatia/malaysia | 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. The Heritage Foundation | Economic Freedom Index (1995–2026, retrieved 2026-07-08)
  4. U.S. Census Bureau (1985–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08)
  5. TradeMap (2023–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08)
  6. United Nations | World Population Prospects (2026, retrieved 2026-07-08)
  7. LivingCost (2026, retrieved 2026-07-08)
  8. International Monetary Fund (IMF) | Public Finances in Modern History (1997, 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.

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.