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Economy of Djibouti vs Equatorial Guinea compared: GDP & Debt

Updated on by Georank team

Djibouti has a GDP of $4.09B compared to $12.8B for Equatorial Guinea, ranking 165/197 and 148/197 by economy size, respectively.

Djibouti has $1.36B in government debt (31.2% of GDP), compared to $4.62B (35.1% of GDP) in Equatorial Guinea.

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

Djibouti
GDP, current $

GDP, constant 2015 $
Equatorial Guinea
GDP, current $

GDP, constant 2015 $
Year GDP
Djibouti Equatorial Guinea
Current $ Constant $ Current $ Constant $
1962 - - $37,253,333 -
1963 - - $44,266,667 -
1964 - - $51,915,000 -
1965 - - $64,748,333 -
1966 - - $69,110,000 -
1967 - - $72,317,447 -
1968 - - $67,514,286 -
1969 - - $67,225,714 -
1970 - - $66,331,429 -
1971 - - $64,946,955 -
1972 - - $65,429,198 -
1973 - - $81,203,227 -
1974 - - $94,159,863 -
1975 - - $104,295,643 -
1976 - - $103,653,050 -
1977 - - $103,987,520 -
1978 - - - -
1979 - - - -
1980 - - $50,642,881 $132,086,051
1981 - - $36,731,423 $139,706,651
1982 - - $44,294,648 $142,782,539
1983 - - $44,442,457 $149,927,930
1984 - - $50,320,914 $151,444,273
1985 $340,989,528 - $62,118,570 $170,988,428
1986 - - $76,407,396 $167,003,446
1987 $373,371,738 - $93,345,860 $174,412,950
1988 $395,794,539 - $100,534,657 $179,044,071
1989 $409,220,087 - $88,265,975 $176,843,301
1990 $452,328,087 - $112,119,411 $173,733,398
1991 $462,421,999 - $110,906,029 $171,957,428
1992 $478,058,305 - $134,707,184 $231,704,586
1993 $466,048,469 - $136,047,906 $257,269,047
1994 $491,689,221 - $100,807,003 $300,152,801
1995 $497,723,961 - $141,853,361 $352,638,312
1996 $494,004,648 - $232,463,023 $587,424,890
1997 $502,675,542 - $442,337,871 $1,468,403,405
1998 $514,267,869 - $370,687,634 $1,817,508,713
1999 $536,080,148 - $621,117,886 $2,283,954,429
2000 $551,230,862 - $1,045,998,496 $2,699,948,864
2001 $572,417,441 - $1,461,139,022 $4,411,173,090
2002 $591,122,040 - $1,806,742,742 $5,269,712,387
2003 $622,044,666 - $2,484,745,935 $6,005,113,942
2004 $666,072,102 - $4,410,764,339 $8,286,980,786
2005 $708,633,195 - $8,217,369,093 $9,674,942,387
2006 $768,873,684 - $10,086,528,699 $10,420,388,727
2007 $847,918,929 - $13,071,718,759 $12,012,844,403
2008 $999,105,339 - $19,749,893,536 $14,151,023,688
2009 $1,049,110,685 - $15,027,795,173 $14,341,122,354
2010 $1,128,611,700 - $16,314,443,436 $13,061,295,371
2011 $1,239,144,502 - $21,357,343,669 $13,913,404,306
2012 $1,353,632,942 - $22,388,344,144 $15,070,007,775
2013 $2,044,440,443 $2,107,658,965 $21,948,834,284 $14,447,134,440
2014 $2,220,637,966 $2,259,262,606 $21,765,453,082 $14,507,099,626
2015 $2,424,391,785 $2,424,391,785 $13,185,496,881 $13,185,496,881
2016 $2,604,955,229 $2,597,091,694 $11,240,808,848 $12,023,008,462
2017 $2,762,581,334 $2,738,843,335 $12,200,913,879 $11,341,603,435
2018 $2,913,464,658 $2,869,605,010 $13,097,012,134 $10,634,279,339
2019 $3,088,851,450 $3,028,726,927 $11,364,133,550 $10,051,326,715
2020 $3,144,136,197 $3,065,135,713 $9,893,816,008 $9,569,759,527
2021 $3,392,796,953 $3,200,221,046 $12,215,878,033 $9,652,085,293
2022 $3,562,814,909 $3,365,561,652 $13,687,643,436 $9,963,221,065
2023 $3,917,150,481 $3,613,673,263 $12,337,550,584 $9,456,161,987
2024 $4,086,402,719 $3,828,825,225 $12,765,777,677 $9,541,952,851

Economic indicators

Djibouti Equatorial Guinea
Gross domestic product
$4.09B
2024
$12.8B
2024
GDP rank
165/197
2024
148/197
2024
GDP growth
4.32%
2023-2024
3.47%
2023-2024
GDP per capita
$3,496
2024
$6,745
2024
GDP per capita rank
134/197
2024
106/197
2024
GDP per capita, PPP
$7,776
2024
$17,567
2024
Government debt
$1.36B
2024
$4.62B
2024
Debt-to-GDP ratio
31.2%
2025
35.1%
2025
Government debt per person
$1,163
2024
$2,442
2024
Government debt per person rank
138/185
2024
112/185
2024
Average annual personal income after taxes
$2,788
2025
$4,393
2025
Income share by richest 10%
32.3%
2017
29.1%
2022
Income share by poorest 10%
1.9%
2017
2.6%
2022
Government expenditure, % of GDP
21.6%
2025
18.7%
2025
Consumer prices inflation
1.5%
2024-2025
2.9%
2024-2025
Unemployment rate
40%
2017
8.6%
2014
Population
1196428
1975406

GDP per capita in Djibouti vs Equatorial Guinea

Djibouti's GDP per capita is $3,496, ranking 134/197, compared to $6,745 in Equatorial Guinea, ranking 106/197. Adjusted for purchasing power (GDP per capita PPP), Djibouti ranks 143rd at $7,776, while Equatorial Guinea ranks 103rd at $17,567.

Djibouti
GDP per capita

GDP per capita, PPP
Equatorial Guinea
GDP per capita

GDP per capita, PPP
Year Current $
Djibouti Equatorial Guinea
GDP per capita GDP per capita, PPP GDP per capita GDP per capita, PPP
1962 - - $132.9 -
1963 - - $154.8 -
1964 - - $177.8 -
1965 - - $217.1 -
1966 - - $226.7 -
1967 - - $231.9 -
1968 - - $211.7 -
1969 - - $208.4 -
1970 - - $206.8 -
1971 - - $205.6 -
1972 - - $211.4 -
1973 - - $268.6 -
1974 - - $319 -
1975 - - $362 -
1976 - - $369 -
1977 - - $376 -
1978 - - $376 -
1979 - - $372 -
1980 - - $175.5 -
1981 - - $121.1 -
1982 - - $137.5 -
1983 - - $129.4 -
1984 - - $137.9 -
1985 $847 - $161.1 -
1986 $800 - $188.8 -
1987 $822 - $220.9 -
1988 $817 - $228.7 -
1989 $782 - $193.2 -
1990 $780 - $236.4 $577
1991 $733 - $225.3 $569
1992 $764 - $263.7 $756
1993 $759 - $256.7 $828
1994 $785 - $183.2 $951
1995 $786 - $248.3 $1,098
1996 $762 - $392 $1,793
1997 $748 - $717 $4,387
1998 $735 - $578 $5,280
1999 $740 - $931 $6,470
2000 $738 - $1,487 $7,420
2001 $742 - $1,949 $11,627
2002 $743 - $2,264 $13,255
2003 $765 - $2,931 $14,496
2004 $806 - $4,901 $19,354
2005 $844 - $8,674 $22,137
2006 $898 - $10,185 $23,511
2007 $970 - $12,617 $26,611
2008 $1,119 - $18,211 $30,523
2009 $1,151 - $13,233 $29,722
2010 $1,213 - $13,720 $26,168
2011 $1,306 - $17,198 $27,242
2012 $1,400 - $17,309 $30,012
2013 $2,076 $3,762 $16,304 $27,910
2014 $2,215 $3,978 $15,549 $27,177
2015 $2,376 $4,264 $9,069 $19,479
2016 $2,510 $4,432 $7,453 $16,649
2017 $2,619 $4,677 $7,809 $18,435
2018 $2,718 $5,083 $8,102 $18,413
2019 $2,837 $5,398 $6,804 $16,451
2020 $2,845 $5,527 $5,764 $13,677
2021 $3,026 $5,960 $6,946 $16,821
2022 $3,133 $6,621 $7,589 $18,140
2023 $3,398 $7,264 $6,678 $17,412
2024 $3,496 $7,776 $6,745 $17,567

Spending and national debt comparison

In 2024, Djibouti's government spending was $898M, accounting for 21.6% of its GDP, while Equatorial Guinea's spent $2.52B, or 18.7% of GDP.

Debt-to-GDP ratio is 31.2% in Djibouti and 35.1% in Equatorial Guinea, ranking 158/185 and 148/185, respectively.

Djibouti
Government spending

Government debt
Equatorial Guinea
Government spending

Government debt
Year % of GDP
Djibouti Equatorial Guinea
Government spending Government debt Government spending Government debt
1985 - - 115.4% 183.8%
1986 - - 119% 152.5%
1987 - - 183% 141.3%
1988 - - 227.9% 154.5%
1989 - - 116.8% 187%
1990 30.2% - 212.9% 157%
1991 27.7% - 284.5% 169.5%
1992 34.9% - 595% 136.9%
1993 35.3% - 256.3% 152.6%
1994 30.9% - 510% 216%
1995 27% 50.9% 141.5% 136.9%
1996 23.7% 53.1% 22.9% 91.2%
1997 25% 56% 14.8% 46.3%
1998 24% 55.2% 35.1% 59.2%
1999 23.5% 58.5% 18.7% 60.5%
2000 23.2% 58.1% 22.6% 36.6%
2001 21% 58.1% 13.5% 25.5%
2002 23.4% 63.7% 11.3% 19.4%
2003 25.8% 66.3% 13.9% 6.77%
2004 26.7% 65.3% 10.8% 4.54%
2005 26.2% 60.3% 14.1% 2.85%
2006 23.8% 58.3% 18.1% 1.22%
2007 26.6% 56.6% 19.7% 0.75%
2008 28.8% 59.3% 19.9% 0.49%
2009 31% 29.5% 39.8% 4.34%
2010 26.6% 27.9% 31.2% 7.89%
2011 25.3% 25.7% 27.5% 7.17%
2012 26.5% 25% 35.2% 7.1%
2013 26.8% 24.6% 29.3% 6.27%
2014 29% 26.9% 31.6% 12.6%
2015 42% 40.3% 41.6% 31.7%
2016 25.9% 45.9% 27.8% 41.1%
2017 23.9% 48% 20.1% 36.2%
2018 25.9% 47.5% 19.1% 40.6%
2019 24.9% 41.1% 16.8% 43.2%
2020 25.8% 42.1% 16.2% 49.4%
2021 23.1% 40.3% 12.7% 42.3%
2022 21% 38.3% 14.8% 29.8%
2023 21.5% 35.4% 19.2% 36.3%
2024 22% 33.3% 19.7% 36.2%
2025 21.6% 31.2% 18.7% 35.1%

Government deficit by year

In 2024, Djibouti's government deficit, the difference between spending and revenue, was -$184M, equivalent to -4.51% of GDP. This compares to Equatorial Guinea's deficit of -$158M, or -1.23% of GDP.

Over the past 35 years, Djibouti recorded a fiscal deficit in 33 of those years, while Equatorial Guinea ran a deficit in 20 years. On average, Djibouti posted an annual deficit equal to -3.23% of GDP, compared to deficit of -48.9% of GDP for Equatorial Guinea.

Deficit/surplus
Djibouti

Equatorial Guinea
Year Deficit/surplus, % of GDP
Djibouti Equatorial Guinea
1985 - -89.3%
1986 - -97.3%
1987 - -158%
1988 - -208.5%
1989 - -76.2%
1990 -3.25% -160.2%
1991 -0.86% -236%
1992 -6.13% -557%
1993 -7.1% -217.9%
1994 -4.97% -487%
1995 -5.13% -123.4%
1996 -1.77% -6.36%
1997 -2.86% 3.21%
1998 -3.59% -7.65%
1999 -5.2% -0.19%
2000 -3.97% -2.67%
2001 -3.61% 14.9%
2002 -4.56% 17.6%
2003 -4.13% 7.85%
2004 -3.67% 13.9%
2005 -1.18% 18.5%
2006 0.26% 21.8%
2007 -1.88% 17.2%
2008 0.62% 14.6%
2009 -3.88% -6.47%
2010 -1.04% -4.53%
2011 -1.18% 0.83%
2012 -2.04% -7.24%
2013 -0.34% -4.4%
2014 -6.92% -7.54%
2015 -15.5% -15.1%
2016 -0.76% -10.9%
2017 -0.21% -2.59%
2018 -1.98% 0.52%
2019 -0.98% 1.82%
2020 -2.58% -1.77%
2021 -3.05% 2.65%
2022 -1.48% 11.7%
2023 -3.46% 2.39%
2024 -4.51% -1.23%
2025 -3.05% -0.78%

Inflation comparison by year

Over the past 30 years, Djibouti has recorded an average annual inflation rate of 2.56%, compared with 3.91% in Equatorial Guinea. In 2025, inflation was 1.5% in Djibouti and 2.9% in Equatorial Guinea.

Inflation
Djibouti

Equatorial Guinea
Year Inflation
Djibouti Equatorial Guinea Djibouti Equatorial Guinea
1996 3.5% 4.5%
1997 2.5% 3%
1998 2.2% 7.9%
1999 -0.4% 0.4%
2000 1.2% 4.8%
2001 1.9% 8.7%
2002 1.4% 7.6%
2003 1.6% 7.3%
2004 2.4% 4.2%
2005 3.3% 5.6%
2006 3.5% 4.5%
2007 5.9% 2.8%
2008 8.7% 4.7%
2009 5.6% 5.7%
2010 2.5% 5.3%
2011 5.2% 4.8%
2012 4.2% 3.4%
2013 1.1% 3.2%
2014 1.3% 4.3%
2015 -0.5% 1.7%
2016 2.4% 1.4%
2017 0.6% 0.7%
2018 0.1% 1.3%
2019 3.3% 1.2%
2020 1.8% 4.8%
2021 1.2% -0.1%
2022 5.2% 4.9%
2023 1.4% 2.4%
2024 2.1% 3.4%
2025 1.5% 2.9%

Balance of trade

Djibouti Equatorial Guinea
Current account balance
$610M
2024
-$344M
1996
Current account balance ranking
57/189
2024
99/189
1996
Current account balance, % of GDP
+14.9%
2024
-148%
1996
Goods imports
$4.04B
2024
$292M
1996
Goods exports
$4.08B
2024
$175M
1996
Service imports
$730M
2024
$185M
1996
Service exports
$1.17B
2024
$4.88M
1996
Imports of goods and services, % of GDP
148.3%
2024
25.4%
2024
Exports of goods and services, % of GDP
160.8%
2024
35.2%
2024

Economic freedom indices

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

Djibouti Equatorial Guinea
Economic freedom 55.7 47.7
Economic freedom ranking 126/197 175/197
Property rights 30.6 18.7
Government integrity 27.7 7.2
Judicial effectiveness 27.7 7.1
Tax burden 83.5 74.9
Government spending 86.2 92.5
Fiscal health 86.6 97.2
Business freedom 53.7 36.5
Labor freedom 52.8 44.9
Monetary freedom 70.3 74.3
Trade freedom 49.8 48.8
Investment freedom 50 40
Financial freedom 50 30

Economic freedom by year comparison

The Economic Freedom Index for Djibouti is 55.7, ranking 126/197, compared to 47.7 for Equatorial Guinea, ranking 175/197. The chart below displays a comparison of annual changes in economic freedom indexes.

Djibouti
Equatorial Guinea
Year Economic freedom index
Djibouti Equatorial Guinea
1997 54.5 -
1998 55.9 -
1999 57.1 45.1
2000 55.1 45.6
2001 58.3 47.9
2002 57.8 46.4
2003 55.7 53.1
2004 55.6 53.3
2005 55.2 53.3
2006 53.2 51.5
2007 52.4 53.2
2008 51.2 51.6
2009 51.3 51.3
2010 51 48.6
2011 54.5 47.5
2012 53.9 42.8
2013 53.9 42.3
2014 55.9 44.4
2015 57.5 40.4
2016 56 43.7
2017 46.7 45
2018 45.1 42
2019 47.1 41
2020 52.9 48.3
2021 56.2 49.2
2022 55.3 47.2
2023 56.1 48.3
2024 55.8 47.7
2025 55.7 47.7

More economic indicators

Djibouti Equatorial Guinea
Services, % of GDP
75.5%
2024
51.1%
2024
Industry, % of GDP
15.4%
2024
45.8%
2024
Agriculture, forestry, and fishing, % of GDP
2.58%
2024
3.15%
2024
GNI, Atlas method
$4.14B
2024
$8.96B
2024
GNI per capita, PPP
$7,850
2024
$12,330
2024
Total reserves including gold
$349M
2024
$1.54B
2023
Total reserves ranking
165/177
2024
134/177
2023
Net foreign direct investment
-$67.8M
2024
-$376M
1996
Net inflows of foreign direct investment
$67.8M
2024
$188M
2024
Net outflows of foreign direct investment
n/a
$154M
2024
Servicing debt to the IMF, % of GNI
2.52%
2023
n/a
Poverty at national poverty lines
23%
2020
50.7%
2022
Gross capital formation, % of GDP
-3.78%
2024
8.96%
2024

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.