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Economy of Cuba vs Papua New Guinea compared: GDP & Debt

Updated on by Georank team

Cuba has a GDP of $107B compared to $32.5B for Papua New Guinea, ranking 69/197 and 109/197 by economy size, respectively.

The chart below compares the two countries' GDP growth in both current (nominal) and constant dollars, accounting for inflation over time.

Cuba
GDP, current $

GDP, constant 2015 $
Papua New Guinea
GDP, current $

GDP, constant 2015 $
Year GDP
Cuba Papua New Guinea
Current $ Constant $ Current $ Constant $
1960 - - $230,496,037 $2,618,701,702
1961 - - $244,832,039 $2,780,566,580
1962 - - $261,184,042 $2,957,802,655
1963 - - $275,968,044 $3,078,259,812
1964 - - $305,312,049 $3,342,075,345
1965 - - $344,176,055 $3,685,257,013
1966 - - $390,992,063 $3,899,508,937
1967 - - $441,728,183 $4,058,236,946
1968 - - $485,184,190 $4,235,159,448
1969 - - $551,263,864 $4,585,553,584
1970 $5,693,005,200 $23,120,654,813 $645,568,215 $5,082,756,253
1971 $6,914,658,400 $25,105,299,225 $717,750,278 $5,402,725,547
1972 $8,135,150,892 $26,317,053,149 $858,761,926 $5,707,631,247
1973 $9,987,709,650 $27,220,909,322 $1,299,079,410 $6,080,297,607
1974 $11,405,957,317 $27,488,896,946 $1,467,417,672 $6,239,025,757
1975 $13,027,415,244 $30,093,861,943 $1,356,603,608 $6,184,129,558
1976 $13,789,579,903 $31,727,344,869 $1,511,843,235 $5,974,583,505
1977 $14,206,158,675 $34,490,638,879 $1,640,746,619 $6,024,460,261
1978 $17,844,705,325 $36,765,640,924 $1,947,878,831 $6,539,543,139
1979 $19,584,443,288 $37,165,718,489 $2,293,760,511 $6,659,373,434
1980 $19,912,889,861 $35,363,388,174 $2,545,808,456 $6,505,978,016
1981 $20,150,254,096 $42,325,850,269 $2,498,190,847 $6,488,097,665
1982 $20,953,510,235 $46,100,569,047 $2,368,719,683 $6,510,997,035
1983 $22,204,940,512 $48,595,287,844 $2,562,351,551 $6,720,857,086
1984 $24,039,383,608 $52,448,756,410 $2,552,662,617 $6,697,016,429
1985 $22,920,490,774 $53,286,192,381 $2,423,339,172 $6,964,909,833
1986 $24,226,574,634 $53,336,975,926 $2,647,995,602 $7,291,777,026
1987 $25,213,935,012 $52,055,729,738 $3,143,851,794 $7,493,795,332
1988 $27,458,999,472 $53,984,675,578 $3,656,177,881 $7,711,807,860
1989 $27,023,468,666 $54,351,816,305 $3,546,472,566 $7,602,332,587
1990 $28,645,436,569 $52,749,217,703 $3,219,729,083 $7,373,337,464
1991 $24,316,556,026 $47,108,903,627 $3,787,394,958 $8,077,262,450
1992 $22,085,858,243 $41,653,408,482 $4,377,980,510 $9,195,889,414
1993 $22,367,254,865 $35,456,139,102 $4,974,550,286 $10,869,751,501
1994 $28,448,326,757 $35,710,334,910 $5,502,786,070 $11,515,643,990
1995 $30,429,803,651 $36,587,809,679 $4,636,057,476 $11,134,194,181
1996 $25,017,368,700 $39,455,836,485 $5,155,311,077 $11,995,278,889
1997 $25,365,908,100 $40,554,060,118 $4,936,615,299 $11,526,936,460
1998 $25,736,331,200 $40,618,600,304 $3,789,443,015 $11,092,473,175
1999 $28,364,615,200 $43,132,386,084 $3,477,038,204 $11,298,300,004
2000 $30,565,400,000 $45,683,563,279 $3,521,339,699 $11,016,425,271
2001 $31,682,400,000 $47,138,598,430 $3,081,024,212 $11,003,063,602
2002 $33,590,500,000 $47,810,239,203 $2,999,511,040 $10,985,579,675
2003 $35,901,200,000 $49,623,557,376 $3,536,411,824 $11,223,318,880
2004 $38,203,000,000 $52,487,103,646 $3,927,157,867 $11,528,725,111
2005 $42,643,836,100 $58,366,528,663 $4,865,892,972 $12,260,199,192
2006 $48,835,925,926 $65,408,954,115 $8,354,911,041 $12,923,469,113
2007 $54,262,870,370 $70,159,041,951 $9,545,028,944 $13,933,462,679
2008 $56,302,129,630 $73,047,369,064 $11,670,892,801 $13,892,155,836
2009 $57,481,481,481 $74,107,509,498 $11,619,456,449 $14,836,880,986
2010 $59,562,962,963 $75,878,940,053 $14,250,786,675 $16,339,627,662
2011 $68,990,000,000 $78,005,296,225 $17,985,138,066 $16,520,596,167
2012 $73,141,000,000 $80,357,078,126 $21,295,168,666 $17,289,980,089
2013 $77,148,000,000 $82,564,971,264 $21,261,338,065 $17,951,312,547
2014 $80,656,100,000 $83,429,902,609 $23,210,823,987 $20,382,597,142
2015 $87,132,800,000 $87,132,800,000 $21,723,437,010 $21,723,437,010
2016 $91,370,407,864 $87,579,654,549 $20,758,876,953 $22,915,960,976
2017 $96,850,649,692 $89,164,663,931 $22,742,699,138 $23,725,951,012
2018 $100,050,036,096 $91,169,039,693 $24,109,780,708 $23,659,695,751
2019 $103,427,600,000 $91,020,354,637 $24,750,626,030 $24,719,771,867
2020 $107,351,800,000 $81,054,459,000 $23,848,447,850 $23,936,789,891
2021 - $82,070,633,423 $26,109,413,521 $23,814,388,298
2022 - $83,527,427,216 $31,653,185,953 $25,173,614,524
2023 - $81,915,873,064 $30,816,367,067 $26,132,952,333
2024 - - $32,538,480,024 $27,203,104,310

Economic indicators

Cuba Papua New Guinea
Gross domestic product
$107B
2020
$32.5B
2024
GDP rank
69/197
2020
109/197
2024
GDP growth
3.79%
2019-2020
5.59%
2023-2024
GDP per capita
$9,605
2020
$3,076
2024
GDP per capita rank
87/197
2020
140/197
2024
GDP per capita, PPP
$12,300
2016
$4,889
2024
Government debt n/a
$17.5B
2024
Debt-to-GDP ratio n/a
52%
2025
Government debt per person n/a
$1,652
2024
Government debt per person rank n/a
123/185
2024
Average annual personal income after taxes
$3,584
2025
$2,561
2025
Market capitalization of domestic companies n/a
$1.68B
2017
Income share by richest 10% n/a
31%
2009
Income share by poorest 10% n/a
1.9%
2009
Government expenditure, % of GDP
49%
2025
21.5%
2025
Consumer prices inflation
5.5%
2019-2020
0.6%
2023-2024
Central bank interest rate n/a
4%
2024
Unemployment rate
1.7%
2018
2.69%
2022
Population
10937204
10911445

GDP per capita in Cuba vs Papua New Guinea

Cuba's GDP per capita is $9,605, ranking 87/197, compared to $3,076 in Papua New Guinea, ranking 140/197. Adjusted for purchasing power (GDP per capita PPP), Cuba ranks 122nd at $12,300, while Papua New Guinea ranks 158th at $4,889.

Cuba
GDP per capita

GDP per capita, PPP
Papua New Guinea
GDP per capita

GDP per capita, PPP
Year Current $
Cuba Papua New Guinea
GDP per capita GDP per capita, PPP GDP per capita GDP per capita, PPP
1960 - - $115.5 -
1961 - - $119.7 -
1962 - - $124.7 -
1963 - - $128.9 -
1964 - - $139.5 -
1965 - - $153.9 -
1966 - - $171.1 -
1967 - - $189 -
1968 - - $202.9 -
1969 - - $225.3 -
1970 $645 - $257.6 -
1971 $770 - $279.7 -
1972 $892 - $327 -
1973 $1,079 - $483 -
1974 $1,217 - $533 -
1975 $1,374 - $482 -
1976 $1,441 - $525 -
1977 $1,472 - $558 -
1978 $1,837 - $648 -
1979 $2,006 - $748 -
1980 $2,031 - $813 -
1981 $2,046 - $781 -
1982 $2,114 - $726 -
1983 $2,222 - $769 -
1984 $2,386 - $750 -
1985 $2,257 - $697 -
1986 $2,365 - $745 -
1987 $2,440 - $865 -
1988 $2,632 - $985 -
1989 $2,566 - $934 -
1990 $2,694 - $826 $1,703
1991 $2,269 - $942 $1,869
1992 $2,048 - $1,051 $2,100
1993 $2,063 - $1,151 $2,451
1994 $2,613 - $1,228 $2,558
1995 $2,785 - $998 $2,436
1996 $2,282 - $1,071 $2,578
1997 $2,306 - $990 $2,432
1998 $2,332 - $733 $2,285
1999 $2,562 $1,700 $650 $2,280
2000 $2,751 $1,700 $636 $2,196
2001 $2,843 - $538 $2,168
2002 $3,005 $2,300 $506 $2,125
2003 $3,203 $2,900 $577 $2,142
2004 $3,399 $3,000 $621 $2,187
2005 $3,786 $3,500 $744 $2,322
2006 $4,330 $4,000 $1,238 $2,444
2007 $4,807 $11,000 $1,371 $2,622
2008 $4,986 $9,500 $1,625 $2,583
2009 $5,089 $9,700 $1,569 $2,692
2010 $5,272 $10,200 $1,867 $2,912
2011 $6,104 - $2,288 $2,919
2012 $6,471 - $2,635 $3,026
2013 $6,828 - $2,561 $3,110
2014 $7,147 - $2,723 $3,500
2015 $7,728 - $2,485 $3,670
2016 $8,111 $12,300 $2,316 $3,813
2017 $8,611 - $2,478 $3,923
2018 $8,911 - $2,566 $3,910
2019 $9,232 - $2,576 $4,060
2020 $9,605 - $2,430 $3,900
2021 - - $2,608 $3,977
2022 - - $3,102 $4,420
2023 - - $2,966 $4,668
2024 - - $3,076 $4,889

Inflation comparison by year

Over the past 22 years, Cuba has recorded an average annual inflation rate of 4.16%, compared with 6.71% in Papua New Guinea. In 2020, inflation was 5.5% in Cuba and 0.6% in Papua New Guinea.

Inflation
Cuba

Papua New Guinea
Year Inflation
Cuba Papua New Guinea Cuba Papua New Guinea
1996 - 11.6%
1997 - 3.96%
1998 - 13.6%
1999 0.3% 14.9%
2000 - 15.6%
2001 - 9.3%
2002 7.1% 11.8%
2003 4.1% 14.7%
2004 3.1% 2.16%
2005 7% 1.78%
2006 5% 2.37%
2007 3.1% 0.91%
2008 3.4% 10.8%
2009 -0.5% 6.92%
2010 0.7% 6.01%
2011 4.7% 4.44%
2012 5.5% 4.54%
2013 6% 4.96%
2014 - 5.22%
2015 4.4% 6%
2016 4.5% 6.67%
2017 - 5.42%
2018 5.5% 4.37%
2019 5.5% 3.93%
2020 5.5% 4.87%
2021 - 4.48%
2022 - 5.25%
2023 - 2.3%
2024 - 0.6%

Balance of trade

Cuba Papua New Guinea
Current account balance
n/a
$4.77B
2024
Current account balance ranking n/a
35/189
2024
Current account balance, % of GDP n/a
+14.7%
2024
Goods imports n/a
$4.69B
2024
Goods exports n/a
$13.4B
2024
Service imports n/a
$2.4B
2024
Service exports n/a
$75.2M
2024
Imports of goods and services, % of GDP
64.6%
2023
58.9%
2004
Exports of goods and services, % of GDP
43.5%
2023
72.2%
2004

Economic freedom indices

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

Cuba Papua New Guinea
Economic freedom 25.4 52.5
Economic freedom ranking 195/197 146/197
Property rights 29.9 44.7
Government integrity 33.4 28.5
Judicial effectiveness 14.3 44.2
Tax burden 51.9 72.1
Government spending 0 85.5
Fiscal health 0 46.7
Business freedom 42.3 35.5
Labor freedom 20 64.6
Monetary freedom 20 73.6
Trade freedom 72.8 79.8
Investment freedom 10 25
Financial freedom 10 30

Economic freedom by year comparison

The Economic Freedom Index for Cuba is 25.4, ranking 195/197, compared to 52.5 for Papua New Guinea, ranking 146/197. The chart below displays a comparison of annual changes in economic freedom indexes.

Cuba
Papua New Guinea
Year Economic freedom index
Cuba Papua New Guinea
1995 27.8 -
1996 27.8 58.6
1997 27.8 56.7
1998 28.2 55.2
1999 29.7 56.3
2000 31.3 55.8
2001 31.6 57.2
2002 32.4 -
2003 35.1 -
2004 34.4 -
2005 35.5 -
2006 29.3 -
2007 28.6 -
2008 27.5 -
2009 27.9 54.8
2010 26.7 53.5
2011 27.7 52.6
2012 28.3 53.8
2013 28.5 53.6
2014 28.7 53.9
2015 29.6 53.1
2016 29.8 53.2
2017 33.9 50.9
2018 31.9 55.7
2019 27.8 58.4
2020 26.9 58.4
2021 28.1 58.9
2022 29.5 54.6
2023 24.3 51.7
2024 25.7 49.4
2025 25.4 52.5

More economic indicators

Cuba Papua New Guinea
Services, % of GDP
70%
2023
41.5%
2024
Industry, % of GDP
27.5%
2023
37.2%
2024
Agriculture, forestry, and fishing, % of GDP
1.31%
2023
17.2%
2024
GNI, Atlas method
$101B
2019
$31.1B
2024
GNI per capita, PPP n/a
$4,610
2024
Total reserves including gold
$144M
1960
$3.9B
2023
Total reserves ranking
173/177
1960
107/177
2023
Net foreign direct investment
n/a
$968M
2024
Net inflows of foreign direct investment
n/a
-$198M
2024
Net outflows of foreign direct investment
n/a
$770M
2024
Servicing debt to the IMF, % of GNI
n/a
19.6%
2023
Poverty at national poverty lines n/a
39.9%
2009
Gross capital formation, % of GDP
9.88%
2020
20%
2004

GDP per capita map

GDP per capita

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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.