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Economy of Cuba vs Qatar compared: GDP & Debt

Updated on by Georank team

Cuba has a GDP of $107B compared to $218B for Qatar, ranking 69/197 and 56/197 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 $
Qatar
GDP, current $

GDP, constant 2015 $
Year GDP
Cuba Qatar
Current $ Constant $ Current $ Constant $
1970 $5,693,005,200 $23,120,654,813 $301,791,302 $8,816,161,355
1971 $6,914,658,400 $25,105,299,225 $387,703,106 $9,698,469,706
1972 $8,135,150,892 $26,317,053,149 $510,262,500 $10,773,000,939
1973 $9,987,709,650 $27,220,909,322 $793,885,560 $11,934,857,801
1974 $11,405,957,317 $27,488,896,946 $2,401,403,227 $12,643,579,838
1975 $13,027,415,244 $30,093,861,943 $2,512,773,166 $13,386,912,643
1976 $13,789,579,903 $31,727,344,869 $3,284,273,987 $14,504,574,217
1977 $14,206,158,675 $34,490,638,879 $3,617,564,638 $13,444,952,239
1978 $17,844,705,325 $36,765,640,924 $4,052,000,413 $14,636,627,610
1979 $19,584,443,288 $37,165,718,489 $5,632,962,997 $15,401,791,822
1980 $19,912,889,861 $35,363,388,174 $7,829,165,262 $15,245,244,656
1981 $20,150,254,096 $42,325,850,269 $8,661,263,764 $15,382,600,057
1982 $20,953,510,235 $46,100,569,047 $7,596,703,214 $14,325,124,118
1983 $22,204,940,512 $48,595,287,844 $6,467,582,308 $14,063,666,907
1984 $24,039,383,608 $52,448,756,410 $6,704,395,824 $14,718,715,618
1985 $22,920,490,774 $53,286,192,381 $6,153,296,456 $14,406,653,786
1986 $24,226,574,634 $53,336,975,926 $5,053,021,951 $15,175,362,083
1987 $25,213,935,012 $52,055,729,738 $5,446,428,681 $15,182,189,691
1988 $27,458,999,472 $53,984,675,578 $6,038,187,033 $16,078,614,414
1989 $27,023,468,666 $54,351,816,305 $6,487,912,088 $17,079,059,748
1990 $28,645,436,569 $52,749,217,703 $7,360,439,423 $17,662,217,767
1991 $24,316,556,026 $47,108,903,627 $6,883,516,484 $17,368,630,639
1992 $22,085,858,243 $41,653,408,482 $7,646,153,984 $19,336,588,147
1993 $22,367,254,865 $35,456,139,102 $7,156,593,654 $19,080,352,035
1994 $28,448,326,757 $35,710,334,910 $7,374,450,769 $19,351,046,596
1995 $30,429,803,651 $36,587,809,679 $8,137,911,978 $19,815,323,915
1996 $25,017,368,700 $39,455,836,485 $9,059,340,385 $20,682,028,462
1997 $25,365,908,100 $40,554,060,118 $11,297,802,115 $26,889,127,081
1998 $25,736,331,200 $40,618,600,304 $10,255,495,027 $29,905,724,793
1999 $28,364,615,200 $43,132,386,084 $12,393,131,868 $31,186,905,301
2000 $30,565,400,000 $45,683,563,279 $17,759,890,110 $33,690,629,183
2001 $31,682,400,000 $47,138,598,430 $17,538,461,538 $35,003,952,797
2002 $33,590,500,000 $47,810,239,203 $19,363,736,264 $37,517,989,781
2003 $35,901,200,000 $49,623,557,376 $23,533,791,209 $38,913,643,497
2004 $38,203,000,000 $52,487,103,646 $31,734,065,934 $46,392,423,696
2005 $42,643,836,100 $58,366,528,663 $44,530,494,505 $49,868,495,958
2006 $48,835,925,926 $65,408,954,115 $60,882,142,857 $62,919,203,862
2007 $54,262,870,370 $70,159,041,951 $79,712,087,912 $74,235,635,940
2008 $56,302,129,630 $73,047,369,064 $115,270,054,945 $87,348,289,336
2009 $57,481,481,481 $74,107,509,498 $97,798,351,648 $97,792,140,945
2010 $59,562,962,963 $75,878,940,053 $125,122,306,346 $116,951,901,413
2011 $68,990,000,000 $78,005,296,225 $167,775,268,626 $132,594,424,543
2012 $73,141,000,000 $80,357,078,126 $186,833,502,363 $138,866,156,528
2013 $77,148,000,000 $82,564,971,264 $198,727,642,967 $146,581,616,624
2014 $80,656,100,000 $83,429,902,609 $206,224,598,571 $154,400,753,941
2015 $87,132,800,000 $87,132,800,000 $161,739,955,577 $161,739,955,577
2016 $91,370,407,864 $87,579,654,549 $151,732,181,868 $166,695,978,169
2017 $96,850,649,692 $89,164,663,931 $161,099,122,225 $164,199,531,362
2018 $100,050,036,096 $91,169,039,693 $183,334,953,819 $166,227,185,730
2019 $103,427,600,000 $91,020,354,637 $176,371,267,692 $167,371,229,300
2020 $107,351,800,000 $81,054,459,000 $144,411,363,352 $161,416,823,769
2021 - $82,070,633,423 $179,732,009,560 $164,042,828,071
2022 - $83,527,427,216 $235,709,325,714 $170,908,036,354
2023 - $81,915,873,064 $213,002,809,341 $172,936,988,055
2024 - - $217,982,967,033 $177,724,600,424

Economic indicators

Cuba Qatar
Gross domestic product
$107B
2020
$218B
2024
GDP rank
69/197
2020
56/197
2024
GDP growth
3.79%
2019-2020
2.34%
2023-2024
GDP per capita
$9,605
2020
$76,276
2024
GDP per capita rank
87/197
2020
11/197
2024
GDP per capita, PPP
$12,300
2016
$126,110
2024
Government debt n/a
$89B
2024
Debt-to-GDP ratio n/a
40.5%
2025
Government debt per person n/a
$31,151
2024
Government debt per person rank n/a
23/185
2024
Average annual personal income after taxes
$3,584
2025
$36,023
2025
Market capitalization of domestic companies n/a
$170M
2024
Number of millionaires n/a
26,163
2024
Number of billionaires n/a
2
2025
Income share by richest 10% n/a
25.8%
2017
Income share by poorest 10% n/a
2.6%
2017
Government expenditure, % of GDP
49%
2025
26.5%
2025
Consumer prices inflation
5.5%
2019-2020
0.1%
2024-2025
Central bank interest rate n/a
4.6%
2025
Unemployment rate
1.7%
2018
0.13%
2022
Population
10937204
2964497

GDP per capita in Cuba vs Qatar

Cuba's GDP per capita is $9,605, ranking 87/197, compared to $76,276 in Qatar, ranking 11/197. Adjusted for purchasing power (GDP per capita PPP), Cuba ranks 122nd at $12,300, while Qatar ranks 5th at $126,110.

Cuba
GDP per capita

GDP per capita, PPP
Qatar
GDP per capita

GDP per capita, PPP
Year Current $
Cuba Qatar
GDP per capita GDP per capita, PPP GDP per capita GDP per capita, PPP
1970 $645 - $2,594 -
1971 $770 - $2,952 -
1972 $892 - $3,483 -
1973 $1,079 - $4,905 -
1974 $1,217 - $13,540 -
1975 $1,374 - $13,014 -
1976 $1,441 - $15,710 -
1977 $1,472 - $16,058 -
1978 $1,837 - $16,757 -
1979 $2,006 - $21,777 -
1980 $2,031 - $28,375 -
1981 $2,046 - $29,505 -
1982 $2,114 - $24,385 -
1983 $2,222 - $19,616 -
1984 $2,386 - $19,272 -
1985 $2,257 - $16,815 -
1986 $2,365 - $13,213 -
1987 $2,440 - $13,719 -
1988 $2,632 - $14,682 -
1989 $2,566 - $15,243 -
1990 $2,694 - $16,722 $55,659
1991 $2,269 - $15,133 $54,759
1992 $2,048 - $16,280 $60,387
1993 $2,063 - $14,770 $59,125
1994 $2,613 - $14,765 $59,415
1995 $2,785 - $15,823 $60,321
1996 $2,282 - $17,125 $62,331
1997 $2,306 - $20,523 $79,219
1998 $2,332 - $17,665 $84,486
1999 $2,562 $1,700 $20,234 $84,690
2000 $2,751 $1,700 $27,535 $88,849
2001 $2,843 - $25,871 $89,805
2002 $3,005 $2,300 $27,227 $93,176
2003 $3,203 $2,900 $31,602 $94,120
2004 $3,399 $3,000 $41,036 $110,958
2005 $3,786 $3,500 $53,950 $115,250
2006 $4,330 $4,000 $62,582 $127,181
2007 $4,807 $11,000 $65,954 $124,056
2008 $4,986 $9,500 $80,781 $126,015
2009 $5,089 $9,700 $60,786 $125,898
2010 $5,272 $10,200 $77,387 $151,646
2011 $6,104 - $103,262 $174,620
2012 $6,471 - $108,470 $180,939
2013 $6,828 - $103,697 $169,203
2014 $7,147 - $95,841 $148,389
2015 $7,728 - $68,985 $102,546
2016 $8,111 $12,300 $61,254 $89,935
2017 $8,611 - $63,280 $99,358
2018 $8,911 - $71,040 $110,033
2019 $9,232 - $66,841 $107,502
2020 $9,605 - $51,684 $82,149
2021 - - $71,752 $116,833
2022 - - $88,701 $122,920
2023 - - $80,196 $128,919
2024 - - $76,276 $126,110

Inflation comparison by year

Over the past 22 years, Cuba has recorded an average annual inflation rate of 4.16%, compared with 3.14% in Qatar. In 2020, inflation was 5.5% in Cuba and 0.1% in Qatar.

Inflation
Cuba

Qatar
Year Inflation
Cuba Qatar Cuba Qatar
1996 - 7%
1997 - 2.7%
1998 - 2.9%
1999 0.3% 2.2%
2000 - 1.6%
2001 - 1.7%
2002 7.1% 0.2%
2003 4.1% 2.3%
2004 3.1% 6.8%
2005 7% 9%
2006 5% 11.7%
2007 3.1% 13.7%
2008 3.4% 15.1%
2009 -0.5% -4.9%
2010 0.7% -2.4%
2011 4.7% 2%
2012 5.5% 1.8%
2013 6% 3.1%
2014 - 4.2%
2015 4.4% 0.9%
2016 4.5% 2.7%
2017 - 0.6%
2018 5.5% 0.1%
2019 5.5% -0.9%
2020 5.5% -2.5%
2021 - 2.3%
2022 - 5%
2023 - 3.1%
2024 - 1.2%
2025 - 0.1%

Top exports between countries

Cuba
Export category Export value
Wood & paper products $36K
Chemicals & pharma $11K
Qatar
Export category Export value
Miscellaneous $81K
Machinery & equipment $18K
Textiles & consumer goods $17K

Balance of trade

Cuba Qatar
Current account balance
n/a
$37.9B
2024
Current account balance ranking n/a
15/189
2024
Current account balance, % of GDP n/a
+17.4%
2024
Goods imports n/a
$32.6B
2024
Goods exports n/a
$95B
2024
Service imports n/a
$37.1B
2024
Service exports n/a
$30.2B
2024
Imports of goods and services, % of GDP
64.6%
2023
31.6%
2022
Exports of goods and services, % of GDP
43.5%
2023
68.6%
2022

Economic freedom indices

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

Cuba Qatar
Economic freedom 25.4 70.2
Economic freedom ranking 195/197 33/197
Property rights 29.9 71.1
Government integrity 33.4 52.6
Judicial effectiveness 14.3 42.3
Tax burden 51.9 99.9
Government spending 0 78.1
Fiscal health 0 96.2
Business freedom 42.3 67.9
Labor freedom 20 59.3
Monetary freedom 20 73.2
Trade freedom 72.8 81.6
Investment freedom 10 60
Financial freedom 10 60

Economic freedom by year comparison

The Economic Freedom Index for Cuba is 25.4, ranking 195/197, compared to 70.2 for Qatar, ranking 33/197. The chart below displays a comparison of annual changes in economic freedom indexes.

Cuba
Qatar
Year Economic freedom index
Cuba Qatar
1995 27.8 -
1996 27.8 -
1997 27.8 -
1998 28.2 -
1999 29.7 62
2000 31.3 62
2001 31.6 60
2002 32.4 61.9
2003 35.1 65.9
2004 34.4 66.5
2005 35.5 63.5
2006 29.3 62.4
2007 28.6 62.9
2008 27.5 62.2
2009 27.9 65.8
2010 26.7 69
2011 27.7 70.5
2012 28.3 71.3
2013 28.5 71.3
2014 28.7 71.2
2015 29.6 70.8
2016 29.8 70.7
2017 33.9 73.1
2018 31.9 72.6
2019 27.8 72.6
2020 26.9 72.3
2021 28.1 72
2022 29.5 67.7
2023 24.3 68.6
2024 25.7 68.8
2025 25.4 70.2

More economic indicators

Cuba Qatar
Services, % of GDP
70%
2023
45.9%
2024
Industry, % of GDP
27.5%
2023
58.5%
2024
Agriculture, forestry, and fishing, % of GDP
1.31%
2023
0.29%
2024
GNI, Atlas method
$101B
2019
$219B
2024
GNI per capita, PPP n/a
$121,930
2024
Total reserves including gold
$144M
1960
$54B
2024
Total reserves ranking
173/177
1960
40/177
2024
Net foreign direct investment
n/a
$1.1B
2024
Net inflows of foreign direct investment
n/a
$460M
2024
Net outflows of foreign direct investment
n/a
$1.56B
2024
Gross capital formation, % of GDP
9.88%
2020
30.6%
2022

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.

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.