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Economy of Denmark vs South Sudan compared: GDP & Debt

Updated on by Georank team

Denmark has a GDP of $425B compared to $12B for South Sudan, ranking 37/197 and 149/197 by economy size, respectively.

Denmark has $134B in government debt (31.5% of GDP), compared to $7.04B (50.7% of GDP) in South Sudan.

Denmark vs South Sudan GDP by year

Denmark
South Sudan
1x
Year GDP, current $
Denmark South Sudan
2024 $424,524,722,037 -
2023 $404,651,706,118 -
2022 $400,114,306,337 -
2021 $406,110,162,088 -
2020 $355,631,021,932 -
2019 $345,401,473,013 -
2018 $355,293,374,912 -
2017 $331,610,593,962 -
2016 $312,181,849,372 -
2015 $301,758,922,338 $11,997,800,760
2014 $352,832,602,064 $13,962,212,847
2013 $344,631,016,965 $18,426,469,017
2012 $326,792,574,245 $11,931,472,169
2011 $344,315,595,263 $14,907,308,933
2010 $322,345,594,075 $14,602,072,411
2009 $322,619,152,195 $12,231,264,525
2008 $354,979,471,960 $14,586,253,383
2007 $320,213,157,595 -
2006 $283,386,151,544 -
2005 $265,150,087,712 -
2004 $251,986,155,631 -
2003 $218,421,193,436 -
2002 $178,788,209,558 -
2001 $164,881,594,415 -
2000 $164,043,817,224 -
1999 $177,887,720,536 -
1998 $176,877,077,513 -
1997 $173,241,365,735 -
1996 $187,481,157,846 -
1995 $184,848,481,008 -
1994 $156,017,919,221 -
1993 $143,111,306,004 -
1992 $152,966,494,260 -
1991 $139,180,507,778 -
1990 $138,217,740,684 -
1989 $112,312,200,761 -
1988 $115,540,189,705 -
1987 $109,183,446,340 -
1986 $87,748,695,217 -
1985 $62,452,421,011 -
1984 $58,868,891,335 -
1983 $60,331,158,447 -
1982 $60,084,214,872 -
1981 $61,459,941,461 -
1980 $70,811,287,816 -
1979 $70,393,030,603 -
1978 $60,320,089,218 -
1977 $49,711,709,588 -
1976 $44,503,607,444 -
1975 $40,418,967,666 -
1974 $34,125,712,481 -
1973 $30,718,181,337 -
1972 $23,230,667,549 -
1971 $19,086,192,720 -
1970 $17,075,457,733 -
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/south-sudan | CC BY

GDP per capita in Denmark vs South Sudan by year

Denmark
GDP per capita

GDP per capita, PPP
South Sudan
GDP per capita

GDP per capita, PPP
1x
Year Current $
Denmark South Sudan
GDP per capita GDP per capita, PPP GDP per capita GDP per capita, PPP
2024 $71,026 $81,878 - -
2023 $68,044 $77,892 - -
2022 $67,781 $78,914 - -
2021 $69,341 $69,715 - -
2020 $60,985 $62,682 - -
2019 $59,404 $60,595 - -
2018 $61,325 $57,234 - -
2017 $57,522 $55,272 - -
2016 $54,501 $51,821 - -
2015 $53,094 $48,897 $1,080 $1,155
2014 $62,520 $47,880 $1,243 $1,373
2013 $61,378 $46,869 $1,650 $1,917
2012 $58,444 $44,755 $1,109 $1,417
2011 $61,810 $44,444 $1,449 $2,718
2010 $58,105 $43,038 $1,498 $2,948
2009 $58,413 $40,524 $1,323 $2,911
2008 $64,617 $41,467 $1,654 $2,887
2007 $58,632 $39,110 - -
2006 $52,119 $37,392 - -
2005 $48,926 $34,238 - -
2004 $46,625 $33,016 - -
2003 $40,519 $30,864 - -
2002 $33,257 $30,667 - -
2001 $30,768 $29,459 - -
2000 $30,722 $28,648 - -
1999 $33,426 $26,642 - -
1998 $33,346 $25,799 - -
1997 $32,780 $24,887 - -
1996 $35,622 $23,723 - -
1995 $35,321 $22,677 - -
1994 $29,968 $21,669 - -
1993 $27,582 $20,217 - -
1992 $29,579 $19,830 - -
1991 $27,003 $19,067 - -
1990 $26,886 $18,225 - -
1989 $21,882 - - -
1988 $22,525 - - -
1987 $21,296 - - -
1986 $17,137 - - -
1985 $12,213 - - -
1984 $11,517 - - -
1983 $11,797 - - -
1982 $11,740 - - -
1981 $12,000 - - -
1980 $13,822 - - -
1979 $13,757 - - -
1978 $11,818 - - -
1977 $9,770 - - -
1976 $8,773 - - -
1975 $7,988 - - -
1974 $6,764 - - -
1973 $6,117 - - -
1972 $4,654 - - -
1971 $3,846 - - -
1970 $3,464 - - -
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/south-sudan | CC BY

Denmark's GDP per capita is $71,026, ranking 12/197, compared to $1,080 in South Sudan, ranking 175/197. Adjusted for purchasing power (GDP per capita PPP), Denmark ranks 14th at $81,878, while South Sudan ranks 197th at $1,155.

Economic indicators

Denmark South Sudan
Gross domestic product
$425B
2024
$12B
2015
GDP rank
37/197
2024
149/197
2015
GDP growth
3.48%
2023-2024
-10.8%
2014-2015
GDP per capita
$71,026
2024
$1,080
2015
GDP per capita rank
12/197
2024
175/197
2015
GDP per capita, PPP
$81,878
2024
$1,155
2015
GDP per capita PPP rank
14/197
2024
197/197
2015
Government debt
$134B
2024
$7.04B
2015
Debt-to-GDP ratio
31.5%
2024
50.7%
2024
Government debt per person
$22,340
2024
$633
2015
Government debt per person rank
30/185
2024
158/185
2015
Average annual personal income after taxes
$53,468
2026
$1,305
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
33%
2016
Income share by poorest 10%
3.6%
2023
1.8%
2016
Government expenditure, % of GDP
47.3%
2024
18.1%
2024
Consumer prices inflation
1.37%
2023-2024
91.4%
2023-2024
Central bank interest rate
1.6%
2025
15%
2023
Unemployment rate
6.15%
2024
12.3%
2008
Population
6032403
12507858

Spending and national debt comparison by year

Denmark
Spending

Debt
South Sudan
Spending

Debt
1x
Year % of GDP
Denmark South Sudan
Government spending Government debt Government spending Government debt
2024 47.3% 31.5% 18.1% 50.7%
2023 47.4% 33.8% 21.4% 51.9%
2022 45.1% 34.2% 29.4% 37.3%
2021 49.7% 40.7% 44.1% 50.2%
2020 53.3% 46.3% 34.1% 49%
2019 49.8% 38.3% 47.9% 43.1%
2018 50.8% 38.5% 54.5% 77.6%
2017 50.6% 40.2% 97% 178.3%
2016 52.4% 41.7% 66.5% 164.7%
2015 54.4% 44.6% 34% 58.6%
2014 55.1% 48.7% 35.8% 37.7%
2013 55.6% 47.8% 25.3% 17.6%
2012 57.9% 48.7% 31.6% 8.91%
2011 56.3% 50% 20.8% -
2010 56.5% 46.1% - -
2009 56.3% 43% - -
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/south-sudan | CC BY

In 2024, Denmark's government spending was $201B, accounting for 47.3% of its GDP, while South Sudan spent $4.08B, or 18.1% of GDP.

Debt-to-GDP ratio is 31.5% in Denmark and 50.7% in South Sudan, ranking 155/185 and 105/185, respectively.

Government deficit by year

Deficit/surplus
Denmark

South Sudan
1x
Year Deficit/surplus, % of GDP
Denmark South Sudan
2024 4.46% 11.7%
2023 3.43% 8.04%
2022 3.39% 4.48%
2021 4.12% -9.3%
2020 0.36% -5.5%
2019 4.28% 0.04%
2018 0.81% -1.06%
2017 1.69% 9.56%
2016 0.3% -19.8%
2015 -0.9% -16.4%
2014 1.43% -9.07%
2013 -0.94% -3.45%
2012 -3.2% -14.8%
2011 -1.77% 4.57%
2010 -2.52% -
2009 -2.75% -
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/south-sudan | CC BY

In 2015, Denmark's government deficit, the difference between spending and revenue, was $2.7B, equivalent to 0.9% of GDP. This compares to South Sudan's deficit of $1.97B, or 16.4% of GDP.

Over the past 5 years, Denmark recorded a fiscal deficit in 4 of those years, while South Sudan ran a deficit in 4 years. On average, Denmark posted an annual deficit equal to 1.08% of GDP, compared to deficit of 7.83% of GDP for South Sudan.

Inflation comparison by year

Inflation
Denmark

South Sudan
1x
Year Consumer prices inflation
Denmark South Sudan
2024 1.37% 91.4%
2023 3.31% 2.38%
2022 7.7% -6.69%
2021 1.85% 10.5%
2020 0.42% 29.7%
2019 0.76% 87.2%
2018 0.81% 83.5%
2017 1.15% 187.9%
2016 0.25% 380%
2015 0.45% 52.8%
2014 0.56% 1.67%
2013 0.79% -0.06%
2012 2.4% 45.5%
2011 2.76% 46.9%
2010 2.31% 1.17%
2009 1.3% 5.01%
2008 3.42% -
2007 1.69% -
2006 1.92% -
2005 1.82% -
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).

GeoRank.org/economy/denmark/south-sudan | CC BY

Over the past 16 years, Denmark has recorded an average annual inflation rate of 1.76%, compared with 63.7% in South Sudan. In 2024, inflation was 1.37% in Denmark and 91.4% in South Sudan.

Top exports between countries

Denmark
Export category Export value
Machinery & equipment $2.57M
Processed food, beverages & tobacco $921K
Chemicals & pharma $267K
Raw materials & minerals $138K
Textiles & consumer goods $134K
Miscellaneous $26K
Metals $15K
Wood & paper products $7K
South Sudan
Export category Export value

Balance of trade

Denmark South Sudan
Current account balance
$52.1B
2024
$578M
2023
Current account balance ranking
14/190
2024
60/190
2023
Current account balance, % of GDP
+12.3%
2024
-4.17%
2015
Goods imports
$132B
2024
$2.25B
2023
Goods exports
$172B
2024
$4.01B
2023
Service imports
$125B
2024
$2.19B
2023
Service exports
$129B
2024
$484M
2023
Imports of goods and services, % of GDP
60.8%
2024
28.9%
2015
Exports of goods and services, % of GDP
71%
2024
36.7%
2015

Economic freedom indices

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

Denmark South Sudan
Economic freedom 79 41
Economic freedom ranking 8/197 186/197
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 South Sudan
Services, % of GDP
63.5%
2024
56.6%
2015
Industry, % of GDP
24.1%
2024
33.1%
2015
Agriculture, forestry, and fishing, % of GDP
0.93%
2024
10.4%
2015
GNI, Atlas method
$434B
2024
$11.7B
2015
GNI per capita, PPP
$84,680
2024
$1,010
2015
Total reserves including gold
$108B
2024
$72.9M
2023
Total reserves ranking
25/177
2024
175/177
2023
Net foreign direct investment
$11.9B
2024
$2.21M
2019
Net inflows of foreign direct investment
$18.5B
2024
$83.4M
2024
Net outflows of foreign direct investment
$30.7B
2024
$0
2024
Poverty at national poverty lines
12.4%
2021
66%
2020
Gross capital formation, % of GDP
23.2%
2024
5.75%
2015

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/south-sudan | CC BY

Compare countries by 7 more topics

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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 (2024, retrieved 2026-02-08)
  7. United Nations | World Population Prospects (2026, retrieved 2026-03-10)
  8. LivingCost (2026, retrieved 2025-10-14)
  9. Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) (2020, retrieved 2026-02-20)

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.