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Economy of Denmark vs Nauru compared: GDP & Debt

Updated on by Georank team

Denmark has a GDP of $425B compared to $163M for Nauru, ranking 37/197 and 195/197 by economy size, respectively.

Denmark has $134B in government debt (31.5% of GDP), compared to $28.3M (17.4% of GDP) in Nauru.

Denmark vs Nauru GDP by year

Denmark
Nauru
1x
Year GDP, current $
Denmark Nauru
2024 $424,524,722,037 $162,588,621
2023 $404,651,706,118 $151,435,610
2022 $400,114,306,337 $152,373,434
2021 $406,110,162,088 $175,390,281
2020 $355,631,021,932 $124,685,688
2019 $345,401,473,013 $125,160,116
2018 $355,293,374,912 $130,995,566
2017 $331,610,593,962 $109,355,639
2016 $312,181,849,372 $97,541,943
2015 $301,758,922,338 $84,863,441
2014 $352,832,602,064 $99,149,244
2013 $344,631,016,965 $94,385,015
2012 $326,792,574,245 $101,055,723
2011 $344,315,595,263 $65,071,880
2010 $322,345,594,075 $47,562,845
2009 $322,619,152,195 $44,176,246
2008 $354,979,471,960 $37,602,265
2007 $320,213,157,595 $22,766,972
2006 $283,386,151,544 $29,200,359
2005 $265,150,087,712 $30,070,666
2004 $251,986,155,631 $30,587,566
2003 $218,421,193,436 $24,778,160
2002 $178,788,209,558 $21,017,424
2001 $164,881,594,415 $22,613,288
2000 $164,043,817,224 $26,930,980
1999 $177,887,720,536 $27,328,613
1998 $176,877,077,513 $29,664,451
1997 $173,241,365,735 $37,331,507
1996 $187,481,157,846 $37,458,801
1995 $184,848,481,008 $39,969,706
1994 $156,017,919,221 $39,742,511
1993 $143,111,306,004 $43,542,088
1992 $152,966,494,260 $51,133,123
1991 $139,180,507,778 $52,533,789
1990 $138,217,740,684 $55,572,376
1989 $112,312,200,761 $53,736,786
1988 $115,540,189,705 $45,931,134
1987 $109,183,446,340 $40,118,410
1986 $87,748,695,217 $39,939,391
1985 $62,452,421,011 $41,548,741
1984 $58,868,891,335 $47,363,231
1983 $60,331,158,447 $48,439,093
1982 $60,084,214,872 $52,877,742
1981 $61,459,941,461 $51,689,637
1980 $70,811,287,816 $46,947,124
1979 $70,393,030,603 $44,431,330
1978 $60,320,089,218 $41,754,147
1977 $49,711,709,588 $40,444,702
1976 $44,503,607,444 $40,287,427
1975 $40,418,967,666 $40,106,776
1974 $34,125,712,481 $35,994,511
1973 $30,718,181,337 $26,529,817
1972 $23,230,667,549 $21,734,269
1971 $19,086,192,720 $19,009,433
1970 $17,075,457,733 $17,570,366
1969 $15,414,902,667 -
1968 $13,505,574,133 -
1967 $13,059,064,806 -
1966 $11,931,740,293 -
1965 $10,870,670,865 -
1964 $9,677,401,337 -
1963 $8,466,044,980 -
1962 $7,953,274,741 -
1961 $7,058,361,229 -
1960 $6,361,166,545 -

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

GeoRank.org/economy/denmark/nauru | CC BY

GDP per capita in Denmark vs Nauru by year

Denmark
GDP per capita

GDP per capita, PPP
Nauru
GDP per capita

GDP per capita, PPP
1x
Year Current $
Denmark Nauru
GDP per capita GDP per capita, PPP GDP per capita GDP per capita, PPP
2024 $71,026 $81,878 $13,609 $14,173
2023 $68,044 $77,892 $12,752 $13,732
2022 $67,781 $78,914 $12,912 $13,245
2021 $69,341 $69,715 $14,979 $12,112
2020 $60,985 $62,682 $10,709 $10,811
2019 $59,404 $60,595 $10,802 $10,555
2018 $61,325 $57,234 $11,414 $9,657
2017 $57,522 $55,272 $9,657 $9,650
2016 $54,501 $51,821 $8,748 $10,281
2015 $53,094 $48,897 $7,747 $9,955
2014 $62,520 $47,880 $9,230 $9,726
2013 $61,378 $46,869 $8,975 $8,429
2012 $58,444 $44,755 $9,843 $8,153
2011 $61,810 $44,444 $6,444 $6,544
2010 $58,105 $43,038 $4,736 $5,620
2009 $58,413 $40,524 $4,411 $5,568
2008 $64,617 $41,467 $3,757 $5,863
2007 $58,632 $39,110 $2,272 $4,789
2006 $52,119 $37,392 $2,910 $5,975
2005 $48,926 $34,238 $2,992 $5,336
2004 $46,625 $33,016 $3,041 $5,169
2003 $40,519 $30,864 $2,463 $5,261
2002 $33,257 $30,667 $2,085 $5,132
2001 $30,768 $29,459 $2,232 $5,587
2000 $30,722 $28,648 $2,649 $5,838
1999 $33,426 $26,642 $2,683 $6,118
1998 $33,346 $25,799 $2,909 $6,450
1997 $32,780 $24,887 $3,661 $7,231
1996 $35,622 $23,723 $3,679 $7,818
1995 $35,321 $22,677 $3,932 $8,726
1994 $29,968 $21,669 $3,921 $9,308
1993 $27,582 $20,217 $4,310 $9,513
1992 $29,579 $19,830 $5,103 $11,167
1991 $27,003 $19,067 $5,333 $13,265
1990 $26,886 $18,225 $5,776 $16,215
1989 $21,882 - $5,723 -
1988 $22,525 - $5,012 -
1987 $21,296 - $4,485 -
1986 $17,137 - $4,569 -
1985 $12,213 - $4,859 -
1984 $11,517 - $5,654 -
1983 $11,797 - $5,896 -
1982 $11,740 - $6,577 -
1981 $12,000 - $6,594 -
1980 $13,822 - $6,138 -
1979 $13,757 - $5,950 -
1978 $11,818 - $5,721 -
1977 $9,770 - $5,646 -
1976 $8,773 - $5,703 -
1975 $7,988 - $5,740 -
1974 $6,764 - $5,199 -
1973 $6,117 - $3,864 -
1972 $4,654 - $3,191 -
1971 $3,846 - $2,811 -
1970 $3,464 - $2,619 -
1969 $3,151 - - -
1968 $2,776 - - -
1967 $2,701 - - -
1966 $2,487 - - -
1965 $2,284 - - -
1964 $2,049 - - -
1963 $1,807 - - -
1962 $1,711 - - -
1961 $1,531 - - -
1960 $1,389 - - -

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

GeoRank.org/economy/denmark/nauru | CC BY

Denmark's GDP per capita is $71,026, ranking 12/197, compared to $13,609 in Nauru, ranking 74/197. Adjusted for purchasing power (GDP per capita PPP), Denmark ranks 14th at $81,878, while Nauru ranks 119th at $14,173.

Economic indicators

Denmark Nauru
Gross domestic product
$425B
2024
$163M
2024
GDP rank
37/197
2024
195/197
2024
GDP growth
3.48%
2023-2024
1.39%
2023-2024
GDP per capita
$71,026
2024
$13,609
2024
GDP per capita rank
12/197
2024
74/197
2024
GDP per capita, PPP
$81,878
2024
$14,173
2024
GDP per capita PPP rank
14/197
2024
119/197
2024
Government debt
$134B
2024
$28.3M
2024
Debt-to-GDP ratio
31.5%
2024
17.4%
2024
Government debt per person
$22,340
2024
$2,367
2024
Government debt per person rank
30/185
2024
113/185
2024
Average annual personal income after taxes
$53,468
2026
$8,783
2026
Market capitalization of domestic companies
$151B
2004
n/a
Number of millionaires
376,000
2025
n/a
Number of billionaires
9
2025
n/a
Income share by richest 10%
25.5%
2023
25.3%
2012
Income share by poorest 10%
3.6%
2023
3.4%
2012
Government expenditure, % of GDP
47.3%
2024
122.1%
2024
Consumer prices inflation
1.37%
2023-2024
9.3%
2023-2024
Central bank interest rate
1.6%
2025
n/a
Unemployment rate
6.15%
2024
5.06%
2021
Population
6032403
12125

Spending and national debt comparison by year

Denmark
Spending

Debt
Nauru
Spending

Debt
1x
Year % of GDP
Denmark Nauru
Government spending Government debt Government spending Government debt
2024 47.3% 31.5% 122.1% 17.4%
2023 47.4% 33.8% 118.1% 20.5%
2022 45.1% 34.2% 134.8% 22.4%
2021 49.7% 40.7% 93% 20.5%
2020 53.3% 46.3% 109.4% 56.3%
2019 49.8% 38.3% 106% 59.6%
2018 50.8% 38.5% 90.8% 71.1%
2017 50.6% 40.2% 102.3% 78%
2016 52.4% 41.7% 96% 86.3%
2015 54.4% 44.6% 85.4% 113%
2014 55.1% 48.7% 61.3% 147.7%
2013 55.6% 47.8% 66% 166.9%
2012 57.9% 48.7% 46% 157.3%
2011 56.3% 50% 44.7% 236.8%
2010 56.5% 46.1% 73.8% 298.9%
2009 56.3% 43% 68% 295.6%
2008 50.3% 35.5% - -
2007 49.5% 29.5% - -
2006 49.7% 33.2% - -
2005 51.1% 39.4% - -
2004 52.8% 46.2% - -
2003 53.5% 48.2% - -
2002 53.1% 50.3% - -
2001 53% 50.1% - -
2000 52.9% 53.6% - -
1999 54.7% 56.8% - -
1998 55.6% 60.3% - -
1997 56.2% 64.4% - -
1996 58.2% 68.3% - -
1995 58.7% 71.5% - -
1994 59.5% 75.3% - -
1993 59.5% 78.7% - -
1992 56.4% 66.7% - -
1991 55.5% 63.2% - -
1990 55.1% 62.4% - -
1989 56.2% 62.2% - -
1988 56.1% 64.7% - -
1987 54% 62.5% - -
1986 52.3% 66.8% - -
1985 55.5% 74.7% - -
1984 56.6% 77.7% - -
1983 57.9% 74.2% - -
1982 57.7% 64.5% - -
1981 56.3% 51.7% - -
1980 52.7% 39.2% - -
1979 49.6% 31.8% - -
1978 47.2% 25.5% - -
1977 45.6% 15.2% - -
1976 45% 11.4% - -
1975 45.3% 7.01% - -
1974 43.6% 6.2% - -
1973 39.5% 8.94% - -
1972 42.1% 11.5% - -
1971 42.2% 12.9% - -
1970 24.4% 7.62% - -
1969 25.3% 8.36% - -
1968 24.3% 9.36% - -
1967 22.2% 10.1% - -
1966 21.1% 11.2% - -
1965 17.1% 12.9% - -
1964 17.6% 14.5% - -
1963 18.2% 13.7% - -
1962 17% 15.3% - -
1961 15.6% 16.4% - -
1960 16.4% 20.1% - -

Data sources: International Monetary Fund (IMF) | Fiscal Monitor (1990–2024, retrieved 2026-02-20); International Monetary Fund (IMF) | Public Finances in Modern History (1960–1991, retrieved 2026-02-20).

GeoRank.org/economy/denmark/nauru | CC BY

In 2024, Denmark's government spending was $201B, accounting for 47.3% of its GDP, while Nauru spent $199M, or 122.1% of GDP.

Debt-to-GDP ratio is 31.5% in Denmark and 17.4% in Nauru, ranking 155/185 and 176/185, respectively.

Government deficit by year

Deficit/surplus
Denmark

Nauru
1x
Year Deficit/surplus, % of GDP
Denmark Nauru
2024 4.46% 29.8%
2023 3.43% 19.4%
2022 3.39% 24.3%
2021 4.12% 44.5%
2020 0.36% 42.8%
2019 4.28% 31%
2018 0.81% 29.6%
2017 1.69% 16.2%
2016 0.3% 18.9%
2015 -0.9% 10.7%
2014 1.43% 29.6%
2013 -0.94% 1.71%
2012 -3.2% 8.12%
2011 -1.77% 2.73%
2010 -2.52% 0.09%
2009 -2.75% 0.37%
2008 3.46% -
2007 5.31% -
2006 5.29% -
2005 5.2% -
2004 2.23% -
2003 0.14% -
2002 0.25% -
2001 1.13% -
2000 1.79% -
1999 1.06% -
1998 -0.28% -
1997 -1.22% -
1996 -2.4% -
1995 -3.5% -
1994 -3.85% -
1993 -3.73% -
1992 -2.6% -
1991 -3.15% -
1990 -1.78% -
1989 0.3% -
1988 1.46% -
1987 2.46% -
1986 3.23% -
1985 -1.38% -
1984 -3.58% -
1983 -6.29% -
1982 -8.22% -
1981 -5.84% -
1980 -2.32% -
1979 -0.69% -
1978 0.41% -
1977 0.37% -
1976 0.19% -
1975 -1.23% -
1974 3.7% -
1973 4.97% -
1972 5.01% -
1971 4.96% -
1970 0.7% -
1969 0.3% -
1968 -0.06% -
1967 1.49% -
1966 0.99% -
1965 2.13% -
1964 1.79% -
1963 1.2% -
1962 -0.09% -
1961 1.73% -
1960 1.25% -
1959 0.79% -
1958 0.25% -
1957 0.26% -
1956 -0.01% -
1955 -1.17% -
1954 -0.84% -
1953 1.75% -
1952 1.18% -
1951 0.79% -
1950 1.08% -
1949 0.63% -
1948 1.07% -
1947 0.84% -
1946 2.69% -
1945 -1.03% -
1944 0% -
1943 0% -
1942 0% -
1941 0% -
1940 0% -
1939 0% -
1938 0.03% -
1937 0.22% -
1936 -1.36% -
1935 -0.97% -
1934 0.03% -
1933 1.69% -
1932 -3.22% -
1931 -1.67% -
1930 0.03% -
1929 0.13% -
1928 -4.99% -
1927 -2.33% -
1926 -0.48% -
1925 -3.1% -
1924 -0.8% -
1923 -0.56% -
1922 -1.33% -
1921 -2.41% -
1920 -0.46% -
1919 -0.38% -
1918 1.95% -
1917 3.1% -
1916 1.51% -
1915 -0.48% -
1914 0.43% -
1913 0.07% -
1912 0.13% -
1911 -1.02% -
1910 -1.72% -
1909 -2.49% -
1908 -0.82% -
1907 0.26% -
1906 -0.42% -
1905 0.22% -
1904 -0.1% -
1903 0.03% -
1902 -0.06% -
1901 -0.71% -
1900 -0.84% -
1899 -0.59% -
1898 -0.43% -
1897 -0.61% -
1896 -0.07% -
1895 -0.17% -
1894 -0.26% -
1893 -0.42% -
1892 -0.73% -
1891 -0.76% -
1890 -0.97% -
1889 -0.55% -
1888 -0.49% -
1887 -0.68% -
1886 -0.39% -
1885 0.48% -
1884 1.2% -
1883 0.73% -
1882 0.35% -
1881 0.42% -
1880 -2.65% -

Data sources: International Monetary Fund (IMF) | Public Finances in Modern History (1880–1989, retrieved 2026-02-20); International Monetary Fund (IMF) | Fiscal Monitor (1990–2024, retrieved 2026-02-20).

GeoRank.org/economy/denmark/nauru | CC BY

In 2024, Denmark's government surplus, the difference between spending and revenue, was $18.9B, equivalent to 4.46% of GDP. This compares to Nauru's surplus of $48.4M, or 29.8% of GDP.

Over the past 16 years, Denmark recorded a fiscal deficit in 6 of those years, while Nauru ran a deficit in 0 years. On average, Denmark posted an annual surplus equal to 0.76% of GDP, compared to surplus of 19.4% of GDP for Nauru.

Inflation comparison by year

Inflation
Denmark

Nauru
1x
Year Consumer prices inflation
Denmark Nauru
2024 1.37% 9.3%
2023 3.31% 4.8%
2022 7.7% 1.1%
2021 1.85% 2%
2020 0.42% 0.9%
2019 0.76% 4.1%
2018 0.81% 1.1%
2017 1.15% 4.5%
2016 0.25% 8.1%
2015 0.45% 9.8%
2014 0.56% 0.3%
2013 0.79% -1.1%
2012 2.4% 0.3%
2011 2.76% -3.4%
2010 2.31% -2%
2009 1.3% 22.4%
2008 3.42% 1%
2007 1.69% 5.6%
2006 1.92% 19.3%
2005 1.82% 8.7%
2004 1.15% -
2003 2.08% -
2002 2.42% -
2001 2.34% -
2000 2.9% -
1999 2.5% -
1998 1.85% -
1997 2.18% -

Data sources: World Bank | Economy & Growth (1997–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06); International Monetary Fund (IMF) | World Economic Outlook (2005–2024, retrieved 2026-02-20).

GeoRank.org/economy/denmark/nauru | CC BY

Over the past 20 years, Denmark has recorded an average annual inflation rate of 1.85%, compared with 4.84% in Nauru. In 2024, inflation was 1.37% in Denmark and 9.3% in Nauru.

Top exports between countries

Denmark
Export category Export value
Metals $148K
Machinery & equipment $22K
Wood & paper products $12K
Textiles & consumer goods $1K
Nauru
Export category Export value
Machinery & equipment $11K
Wood & paper products $3K

Balance of trade

Denmark Nauru
Current account balance
$52.1B
2024
$9.73M
2024
Current account balance ranking
14/190
2024
75/190
2024
Current account balance, % of GDP
+12.3%
2024
+5.98%
2024
Goods imports
$132B
2024
$92.7M
2024
Goods exports
$172B
2024
$25.5M
2024
Service imports
$125B
2024
$88.2M
2024
Service exports
$129B
2024
$64.6M
2024
Imports of goods and services, % of GDP
60.8%
2024
110.5%
2024
Exports of goods and services, % of GDP
71%
2024
55.3%
2024

Economic freedom indices

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

Denmark Nauru
Economic freedom 79 60
Economic freedom ranking 8/197 97/197
Property rights 99.9 n/a
Government integrity 98 n/a
Judicial effectiveness 89.3 n/a
Tax burden 43.4 n/a
Government spending 34.8 n/a
Fiscal health 98 n/a
Business freedom 90.4 n/a
Labor freedom 65 n/a
Monetary freedom 80.1 n/a
Trade freedom 79.4 n/a
Investment freedom 90 n/a
Financial freedom 80 n/a

Other economic metrics

Denmark Nauru
Services, % of GDP
63.5%
2024
n/a
Industry, % of GDP
24.1%
2024
n/a
Agriculture, forestry, and fishing, % of GDP
0.93%
2024
n/a
GNI, Atlas method
$434B
2024
$244M
2024
GNI per capita, PPP
$84,680
2024
$21,970
2024
Total reserves including gold
$108B
2024
n/a
Total reserves ranking
25/177
2024
n/a
Net foreign direct investment
$11.9B
2024
$4.51M
2024
Net inflows of foreign direct investment
$18.5B
2024
-$5.85M
2024
Net outflows of foreign direct investment
$30.7B
2024
-$1.34M
2024
Poverty at national poverty lines
12.4%
2021
n/a
Gross capital formation, % of GDP
23.2%
2024
n/a

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/denmark/nauru | 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 (1880–1991, retrieved 2026-02-20)
  3. International Monetary Fund (IMF) | Fiscal Monitor (1990–2024, retrieved 2026-02-20)
  4. U.S. Census Bureau (1985–2024, retrieved 2026-02-08)
  5. The Heritage Foundation | Economic Freedom Index (2026, retrieved 2026-03-09)
  6. TradeMap (2022–2024, 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.

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.