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Economy of Cuba vs Iraq compared: GDP & Debt

Updated on by Georank team

Cuba has a GDP of $107B compared to $280B for Iraq, ranking 69/197 and 50/197 by economy size, respectively.

Cuba vs Iraq GDP by year

Cuba
Iraq
1x
Year GDP, current $
Cuba Iraq
2024 - $279,641,257,615
2023 - $268,881,051,644
2022 - $287,372,232,138
2021 - $209,691,945,713
2020 $107,352,000,000 $180,898,797,517
2019 $103,427,600,000 $233,636,097,800
2018 $100,050,036,100 $227,367,469,034
2017 $96,850,649,700 $187,217,660,051
2016 $91,370,407,900 $166,743,557,748
2015 $87,132,800,000 $166,774,104,959
2014 $80,656,100,000 $228,415,656,175
2013 $77,148,000,000 $234,637,675,129
2012 $73,141,000,000 $218,002,476,129
2011 $68,990,000,000 $185,749,664,444
2010 $59,562,962,963 $138,516,722,650
2009 $57,481,481,481 $111,657,580,326
2008 $56,302,129,630 $131,614,434,154
2007 $54,262,870,370 $88,837,057,320
2006 $48,835,925,926 $65,147,051,918
2005 $42,643,836,100 $50,065,104,668
2004 $38,203,000,000 $36,633,669,269
2003 $35,901,200,000 $21,921,569,479
2002 $33,590,500,000 $32,928,454,672
2001 $31,682,400,000 $36,176,430,129
2000 $30,565,400,000 $48,364,250,944
1999 $28,364,615,200 $36,881,601,584
1998 $25,736,331,200 $20,617,405,044
1997 $25,365,908,100 $20,764,857,056
1996 $25,017,368,700 $10,433,698,621
1995 $30,429,803,651 $12,894,029,888
1994 $28,448,326,757 $3,991,349,283
1993 $22,367,254,865 $1,031,944,881
1992 $22,085,858,243 $553,671,958
1991 $24,316,556,026 $407,796,350
1990 $28,645,436,569 $180,408,064,516
1989 $27,023,468,666 $65,831,935,484
1988 $27,458,999,472 $62,684,516,129
1987 $25,213,935,012 $56,774,193,548
1986 $24,226,574,634 $47,264,516,129
1985 $22,920,490,774 $48,425,161,290
1984 $24,039,383,608 $46,938,387,097
1983 $22,204,940,512 $40,712,903,226
1982 $20,953,510,235 $42,382,333,333
1981 $20,150,254,096 $37,823,000,000
1980 $19,912,889,861 $52,569,000,000
1979 $19,584,443,288 $37,816,457,839
1978 $17,844,705,325 $23,762,275,652
1977 $14,206,158,675 $19,838,130,715
1976 $13,789,579,903 $17,754,825,601
1975 $13,027,415,244 $13,458,516,763
1974 $11,405,957,317 $11,516,762,614
1973 $9,987,709,650 $5,134,367,778
1972 $8,135,150,892 $4,113,848,002
1971 $6,914,658,400 $3,865,346,535
1970 $5,693,005,200 $3,281,318,687
1969 - $3,007,758,797
1968 - $2,896,598,841
1967 - $2,551,522,656
1966 - $2,530,306,096
1965 - $2,335,785,506
1964 - $2,136,408,198
1963 - $1,805,901,510
1962 - $1,784,174,541
1961 - $1,671,960,965
1960 - $1,537,252,193

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

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

GDP per capita in Cuba vs Iraq by year

Cuba
GDP per capita

GDP per capita, PPP
Iraq
GDP per capita

GDP per capita, PPP
1x
Year Current $
Cuba Iraq
GDP per capita GDP per capita, PPP GDP per capita GDP per capita, PPP
2024 - - $6,074 $14,464
2023 - - $5,965 $14,653
2022 - - $6,521 $14,391
2021 - - $4,868 $12,732
2020 $9,605 - $4,295 $10,574
2019 $9,232 - $5,672 $12,249
2018 $8,911 - $5,647 $12,034
2017 $8,611 - $4,759 $10,192
2016 $8,111 $12,300 $4,334 $9,079
2015 $7,728 - $4,440 $9,334
2014 $7,147 - $6,249 $13,168
2013 $6,828 - $6,650 $14,669
2012 $6,471 - $6,478 $14,402
2011 $6,104 - $5,776 $12,912
2010 $5,272 $10,200 $4,462 $12,186
2009 $5,089 $9,700 $3,715 $11,687
2008 $4,986 $9,500 $4,543 $11,657
2007 $4,807 $11,000 $3,129 $10,783
2006 $4,330 $4,000 $2,277 $10,223
2005 $3,786 $3,500 $1,762 $9,457
2004 $3,399 $3,000 $1,328 $9,290
2003 $3,203 $2,900 $818 $6,068
2002 $3,005 $2,300 $1,266 $9,682
2001 $2,843 - $1,436 $10,720
2000 $2,751 $1,700 $1,980 $10,628
1999 $2,562 $1,700 $1,560 $9,194
1998 $2,332 - $901 $7,964
1997 $2,306 - $936 $6,020
1996 $2,282 - $485 $5,034
1995 $2,785 - $619 $4,598
1994 $2,613 - $198.2 $4,560
1993 $2,063 - $53.7 $4,509
1992 $2,048 - $30.3 $3,547
1991 $2,269 - $23 $2,694
1990 $2,694 - $10,261 -
1989 $2,566 - $3,791 -
1988 $2,632 - $3,707 -
1987 $2,440 - $3,436 -
1986 $2,365 - $2,940 -
1985 $2,257 - $3,088 -
1984 $2,386 - $3,066 -
1983 $2,222 - $2,743 -
1982 $2,114 - $2,942 -
1981 $2,046 - $2,700 -
1980 $2,031 - $3,868 -
1979 $2,006 - $2,871 -
1978 $1,837 - $1,863 -
1977 $1,472 - $1,609 -
1976 $1,441 - $1,489 -
1975 $1,374 - $1,166 -
1974 $1,217 - $1,031 -
1973 $1,079 - $476 -
1972 $892 - $394 -
1971 $770 - $384 -
1970 $645 - $337 -
1969 - - $320 -
1968 - - $319 -
1967 - - $290.6 -
1966 - - $298.2 -
1965 - - $284.8 -
1964 - - $269.4 -
1963 - - $235.5 -
1962 - - $240.7 -
1961 - - $232.4 -
1960 - - $218.9 -

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/cuba/iraq | CC BY

Cuba's GDP per capita is $9,605, ranking 86/197, compared to $6,074 in Iraq, ranking 113/197. Adjusted for purchasing power (GDP per capita PPP), Cuba ranks 124th at $12,300, while Iraq ranks 115th at $14,464.

Economic indicators

Cuba Iraq
Gross domestic product
$107B
2020
$280B
2024
GDP rank
69/197
2020
50/197
2024
GDP growth
-1.06%
2023-2024
-1.55%
2023-2024
GDP per capita
$9,605
2020
$6,074
2024
GDP per capita rank
86/197
2020
113/197
2024
GDP per capita, PPP
$12,300
2016
$14,464
2024
GDP per capita PPP rank
124/197
2016
115/197
2024
Government debt n/a
$130B
2024
Debt-to-GDP ratio n/a
46.5%
2024
Government debt per person n/a
$2,822
2024
Government debt per person rank n/a
105/185
2024
Average annual personal income after taxes
$3,075
2026
$5,928
2026
Income share by richest 10% n/a
24.2%
2023
Income share by poorest 10% n/a
3.7%
2023
Government expenditure, % of GDP
49%
2025
42.9%
2024
Consumer prices inflation
5.5%
2019-2020
-12.3%
2023-2024
Unemployment rate
1.7%
2018
16.2%
2021
Population
10894785
48289334

Inflation comparison by year

Inflation
Cuba

Iraq
1x
Year Consumer prices inflation
Cuba Iraq
2024 - -12.3%
2023 - 4.36%
2022 - 4.99%
2021 - 6.04%
2020 5.5% 0.57%
2019 5.5% -0.2%
2018 5.5% 0.37%
2017 - 0.18%
2016 4.5% 0.56%
2015 4.4% 1.39%
2014 - 2.24%
2013 6% 1.88%
2012 5.5% 6.09%
2011 4.7% 5.8%
2010 0.7% 2.88%
2009 -0.5% 6.87%
2008 3.4% 12.7%
2007 3.1% -10.1%
2006 5% 53.2%
2005 7% 37%
2004 3.1% 27%
2003 4.1% 33.6%
2002 7.1% 19.3%
2001 - 16.4%
2000 - 4.98%
1999 0.3% 12.6%
1998 - 14.8%
1997 - 23.1%

Data sources: World Bank | Economy & Growth (1997–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06); Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) (1999–2020, retrieved 2026-02-20).

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

Over the past 22 years, Cuba has recorded an average annual inflation rate of 4.16%, compared with 10.7% in Iraq. In 2020, inflation was 5.5% in Cuba and -12.3% in Iraq.

Balance of trade

Cuba Iraq
Current account balance n/a
$8.37B
2024
Current account balance ranking n/a
24/190
2024
Current account balance, % of GDP n/a
+2.99%
2024
Goods imports n/a
$74.3B
2024
Goods exports n/a
$101B
2024
Service imports n/a
$30.2B
2024
Service exports n/a
$10.2B
2024
Imports of goods and services, % of GDP
82.4%
2024
33.2%
2024
Exports of goods and services, % of GDP
42.5%
2024
37.5%
2024

Economic freedom indices

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

Cuba Iraq
Economic freedom 25.2 15.6
Economic freedom ranking 195/197 196/197
Property rights 27.7 8.3
Government integrity 33 20.2
Judicial effectiveness 16 5.8
Tax burden 51.9 85.5
Government spending 0 65.3
Fiscal health 0 95.7
Business freedom 41.4 42.8
Labor freedom 20 60.6
Monetary freedom 20 68.6
Trade freedom 72.8 40
Investment freedom 10 10
Financial freedom 10 10

Economic freedom comparison by year

Cuba
Iraq
1x
Year Economic freedom index
Cuba Iraq
2026 25.2 -
2025 25.4 -
2024 25.7 -
2023 24.3 -
2022 29.5 -
2021 28.1 -
2020 26.9 -
2019 27.8 -
2018 31.9 -
2017 33.9 -
2016 29.8 -
2015 29.6 -
2014 28.7 -
2013 28.5 -
2012 28.3 -
2011 27.7 -
2010 26.7 -
2009 27.9 -
2008 27.5 -
2007 28.6 -
2006 29.3 -
2005 35.5 -
2004 34.4 -
2003 35.1 -
2002 32.4 15.6
2001 31.6 17.2
2000 31.3 17.2
1999 29.7 17.2
1998 28.2 17.2
1997 27.8 17.2
1996 27.8 17.2
1995 27.8 -

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

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

The Economic Freedom Index for Cuba is 25.2, ranking 195/197, compared to 15.6 for Iraq, ranking 196/197. The chart above displays a comparison of annual changes in economic freedom indexes.

Other economic metrics

Cuba Iraq
Services, % of GDP
73.4%
2024
45.8%
2024
Industry, % of GDP
23.8%
2024
51.6%
2024
Agriculture, forestry, and fishing, % of GDP
1.24%
2024
3.39%
2024
GNI, Atlas method
$101B
2019
$277B
2024
GNI per capita, PPP n/a
$14,530
2024
Total reserves including gold
$144M
1960
$101B
2024
Total reserves ranking
173/177
1960
28/177
2024
Net foreign direct investment n/a
$8.09B
2024
Net inflows of foreign direct investment n/a
-$7.65B
2024
Net outflows of foreign direct investment
$0
2024
$439M
2024
Servicing debt to the IMF, % of GNI n/a
1.22%
2024
Poverty at national poverty lines n/a
17.5%
2023
Gross capital formation, % of GDP
9.87%
2020
28.2%
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/cuba/iraq | 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) | Fiscal Monitor (2024, retrieved 2026-02-20)
  6. United Nations | World Population Prospects (2026, retrieved 2026-03-10)
  7. 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.