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Economy of Djibouti vs Maldives compared: GDP & Debt

Updated on by Georank team

Djibouti has a GDP of $4.09B compared to $6.98B for Maldives, ranking 165/197 and 160/197 by economy size, respectively.

Djibouti has $1.36B in government debt (31.2% of GDP), compared to $9.34B (140.8% of GDP) in Maldives.

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 $
Maldives
GDP, current $

GDP, constant 2015 $
Year GDP
Djibouti Maldives
Current $ Constant $ Current $ Constant $
1970 - - $19,328,038 $187,964,777
1971 - - $21,566,404 $197,752,528
1972 - - $25,177,138 $202,546,529
1973 - - $30,862,042 $205,742,529
1974 - - $39,120,171 $217,527,781
1975 - - $24,540,878 $200,149,528
1976 - - $22,399,467 $201,348,029
1977 - - $20,853,789 $224,004,422
1978 - - $24,369,109 $256,898,850
1979 - - $38,523,364 $284,295,074
1980 - - $42,463,576 $337,096,793
1981 - - $44,781,457 $376,755,240
1982 - - $47,911,340 $365,406,574
1983 - - $57,829,787 $424,808,147
1984 - - $109,503,546 $539,317,202
1985 $340,989,528 - $127,190,758 $622,458,577
1986 - - $141,882,254 $680,724,367
1987 $373,371,738 - $141,223,029 $740,826,581
1988 $395,794,539 - $168,514,513 $805,503,273
1989 $409,220,087 - $189,514,434 $880,631,020
1990 $452,328,087 - $215,043,970 $1,029,918,210
1991 $462,421,999 - $244,396,762 $1,044,776,799
1992 $478,058,305 - $284,875,809 $1,114,472,034
1993 $466,048,469 - $322,417,837 $1,176,400,670
1994 $491,689,221 - $356,014,932 $1,267,565,679
1995 $497,723,961 - $398,988,955 $1,432,169,027
1996 $494,004,648 - $450,382,328 $1,544,718,138
1997 $502,675,542 - $508,223,602 $1,674,442,651
1998 $514,267,869 - $540,096,398 $1,799,936,822
1999 $536,080,148 - $589,239,754 $1,911,094,725
2000 $551,230,862 - $624,337,145 $1,984,591,802
2001 $572,417,441 - $870,031,677 $1,906,326,759
2002 $591,122,040 - $897,031,250 $2,044,885,954
2003 $622,044,666 - $1,052,121,055 $2,326,058,788
2004 $666,072,102 - $1,226,829,563 $2,463,875,273
2005 $708,633,195 - $1,163,362,438 $2,188,480,301
2006 $768,873,684 - $1,575,200,391 $2,705,624,151
2007 $847,918,929 - $1,868,383,461 $2,898,626,610
2008 $999,105,339 - $2,271,646,188 $3,158,820,512
2009 $1,049,110,685 - $2,345,294,875 $2,895,352,808
2010 $1,128,611,700 - $2,588,176,055 $3,091,816,044
2011 $1,239,144,502 - $2,774,350,240 $3,365,238,506
2012 $1,353,632,942 - $2,886,163,997 $3,445,643,750
2013 $2,044,440,443 $2,107,658,965 $3,295,009,238 $3,685,976,102
2014 $2,220,637,966 $2,259,262,606 $3,697,353,039 $3,975,719,123
2015 $2,424,391,785 $2,424,391,785 $4,129,505,319 $4,129,505,319
2016 $2,604,955,229 $2,597,091,694 $4,409,942,624 $4,392,772,971
2017 $2,762,581,334 $2,738,843,335 $4,816,426,257 $4,703,536,564
2018 $2,913,464,658 $2,869,605,010 $5,404,344,163 $5,106,580,523
2019 $3,088,851,450 $3,028,726,927 $5,726,094,799 $5,460,112,147
2020 $3,144,136,197 $3,065,135,713 $3,712,604,583 $3,663,253,192
2021 $3,392,796,953 $3,200,221,046 $5,252,457,370 $5,037,261,437
2022 $3,562,814,909 $3,365,561,652 $6,177,118,114 $5,733,717,714
2023 $3,917,150,481 $3,613,673,263 $6,590,894,302 $6,004,715,686
2024 $4,086,402,719 $3,828,825,225 $6,975,146,349 $6,312,995,521

Economic indicators

Djibouti Maldives
Gross domestic product
$4.09B
2024
$6.98B
2024
GDP rank
165/197
2024
160/197
2024
GDP growth
4.32%
2023-2024
5.83%
2023-2024
GDP per capita
$3,496
2024
$13,216
2024
GDP per capita rank
134/197
2024
77/197
2024
GDP per capita, PPP
$7,776
2024
$26,543
2024
Government debt
$1.36B
2024
$9.34B
2024
Debt-to-GDP ratio
31.2%
2025
140.8%
2025
Government debt per person
$1,163
2024
$17,702
2024
Government debt per person rank
138/185
2024
33/185
2024
Average annual personal income after taxes
$2,788
2025
$10,769
2025
Income share by richest 10%
32.3%
2017
23.3%
2019
Income share by poorest 10%
1.9%
2017
3.8%
2019
Government expenditure, % of GDP
21.6%
2025
47.3%
2025
Consumer prices inflation
1.5%
2024-2025
3.9%
2024-2025
Unemployment rate
40%
2017
4.56%
2019
Population
1196428
531152

GDP per capita in Djibouti vs Maldives

Djibouti's GDP per capita is $3,496, ranking 134/197, compared to $13,216 in Maldives, ranking 77/197. Adjusted for purchasing power (GDP per capita PPP), Djibouti ranks 143rd at $7,776, while Maldives ranks 79th at $26,543.

Djibouti
GDP per capita

GDP per capita, PPP
Maldives
GDP per capita

GDP per capita, PPP
Year Current $
Djibouti Maldives
GDP per capita GDP per capita, PPP GDP per capita GDP per capita, PPP
1970 - - $156.9 -
1971 - - $169.8 -
1972 - - $192.2 -
1973 - - $228.7 -
1974 - - $281.5 -
1975 - - $171.4 -
1976 - - $151.8 -
1977 - - $137.3 -
1978 - - $156.1 -
1979 - - $240.2 -
1980 - - $257.6 -
1981 - - $264.1 -
1982 - - $274.8 -
1983 - - $323 -
1984 - - $594 -
1985 $847 - $669 -
1986 $800 - $720 -
1987 $822 - $692 -
1988 $817 - $799 -
1989 $782 - $870 -
1990 $780 - $957 $4,528
1991 $733 - $1,054 $4,604
1992 $764 - $1,194 $4,881
1993 $759 - $1,317 $5,138
1994 $785 - $1,419 $5,520
1995 $786 - $1,555 $6,223
1996 $762 - $1,717 $6,687
1997 $748 - $1,898 $7,226
1998 $735 - $1,980 $7,710
1999 $740 - $2,124 $8,162
2000 $738 - $2,214 $8,526
2001 $742 - $3,034 $8,236
2002 $743 - $3,076 $8,823
2003 $765 - $3,549 $10,065
2004 $806 - $4,070 $10,770
2005 $844 - $3,797 $9,704
2006 $898 - $5,019 $12,075
2007 $970 - $5,758 $12,852
2008 $1,119 - $6,757 $13,779
2009 $1,151 - $6,734 $12,266
2010 $1,213 - $7,174 $12,797
2011 $1,306 - $7,425 $13,726
2012 $1,400 - $7,461 $13,989
2013 $2,076 $3,762 $8,236 $15,264
2014 $2,215 $3,978 $8,939 $16,723
2015 $2,376 $4,264 $9,645 $17,875
2016 $2,510 $4,432 $9,948 $18,770
2017 $2,619 $4,677 $10,510 $19,768
2018 $2,718 $5,083 $11,423 $21,899
2019 $2,837 $5,398 $11,740 $23,077
2020 $2,845 $5,527 $7,394 $13,425
2021 $3,026 $5,960 $10,176 $19,053
2022 $3,133 $6,621 $11,786 $22,881
2023 $3,398 $7,264 $12,530 $24,735
2024 $3,496 $7,776 $13,216 $26,543

Spending and national debt comparison

In 2024, Djibouti's government spending was $898M, accounting for 21.6% of its GDP, while Maldives' spent $3.23B, or 47.3% of GDP.

Debt-to-GDP ratio is 31.2% in Djibouti and 140.8% in Maldives, ranking 158/185 and 9/185, respectively.

Djibouti
Government spending

Government debt
Maldives
Government spending

Government debt
Year % of GDP
Djibouti Maldives
Government spending Government debt Government spending Government debt
1990 30.2% - 33.3% 42.4%
1991 27.7% - 37.7% 46.7%
1992 34.9% - 36.1% 49%
1993 35.3% - 34.7% 55.7%
1994 30.9% - 30.7% 54.6%
1995 27% 50.9% 31.3% 52.2%
1996 23.7% 53.1% 27.3% 46.9%
1997 25% 56% 25.2% 38.1%
1998 24% 55.2% 25.9% 39.3%
1999 23.5% 58.5% 28% 38.9%
2000 23.2% 58.1% 29% 39%
2001 21% 58.1% 29.6% 41.8%
2002 23.4% 63.7% 29.6% 44.3%
2003 25.8% 66.3% 26.4% 37.6%
2004 26.7% 65.3% 24.1% 34.7%
2005 26.2% 60.3% 38.8% 43.2%
2006 23.8% 58.3% 35% 36.8%
2007 26.6% 56.6% 34.8% 35.8%
2008 28.8% 59.3% 35.6% 39%
2009 31% 29.5% 37% 48.4%
2010 26.6% 27.9% 33.2% 52.7%
2011 25.3% 25.7% 31.3% 51.9%
2012 26.5% 25% 29.8% 57.1%
2013 26.8% 24.6% 27% 55.9%
2014 29% 26.9% 29.1% 55.1%
2015 42% 40.3% 33.8% 54.8%
2016 25.9% 45.9% 37.3% 61.9%
2017 23.9% 48% 30.4% 63.8%
2018 25.9% 47.5% 31.9% 70.7%
2019 24.9% 41.1% 32.9% 77.2%
2020 25.8% 42.1% 50.4% 155.7%
2021 23.1% 40.3% 40.6% 123.4%
2022 21% 38.3% 42% 111.6%
2023 21.5% 35.4% 46.9% 123%
2024 22% 33.3% 46.3% 134%
2025 21.6% 31.2% 47.3% 140.8%

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 Maldives' deficit of -$974M, or -14% of GDP.

Over the past 35 years, Djibouti recorded a fiscal deficit in 33 of those years, while Maldives ran a deficit in 35 years. On average, Djibouti posted an annual deficit equal to -3.23% of GDP, compared to deficit of -7.76% of GDP for Maldives.

Deficit/surplus
Djibouti

Maldives
Year Deficit/surplus, % of GDP
Djibouti Maldives
1990 -3.25% -12.8%
1991 -0.86% -10.2%
1992 -6.13% -12.6%
1993 -7.1% -13.9%
1994 -4.97% -4.82%
1995 -5.13% -5.66%
1996 -1.77% -2.01%
1997 -2.86% -1.46%
1998 -3.59% -2.25%
1999 -5.2% -3.03%
2000 -3.97% -3.89%
2001 -3.61% -3.97%
2002 -4.56% -3.97%
2003 -4.13% -3.45%
2004 -3.67% -2.26%
2005 -1.18% -7.81%
2006 0.26% -4.52%
2007 -1.88% -3.16%
2008 0.62% -9.92%
2009 -3.88% -17.9%
2010 -1.04% -13.6%
2011 -1.18% -8.13%
2012 -2.04% -6.91%
2013 -0.34% -3.49%
2014 -6.92% -2.42%
2015 -15.5% -6.52%
2016 -0.76% -9.93%
2017 -0.21% -3.02%
2018 -1.98% -5.17%
2019 -0.98% -6.54%
2020 -2.58% -23.7%
2021 -3.05% -14.2%
2022 -1.48% -11.2%
2023 -3.46% -13.2%
2024 -4.51% -14%
2025 -3.05% -15.2%

Inflation comparison by year

Over the past 30 years, Djibouti has recorded an average annual inflation rate of 2.56%, compared with 3.32% in Maldives. In 2025, inflation was 1.5% in Djibouti and 3.9% in Maldives.

Inflation
Djibouti

Maldives
Year Inflation
Djibouti Maldives Djibouti Maldives
1996 3.5% 6.2%
1997 2.5% 7.6%
1998 2.2% -1.4%
1999 -0.4% 3%
2000 1.2% -1.2%
2001 1.9% 0.7%
2002 1.4% 0.9%
2003 1.6% -2.8%
2004 2.4% 6.3%
2005 3.3% 2.5%
2006 3.5% 3.5%
2007 5.9% 6.8%
2008 8.7% 12%
2009 5.6% 4.5%
2010 2.5% 6.1%
2011 5.2% 11.3%
2012 4.2% 10.9%
2013 1.1% 4%
2014 1.3% 2.4%
2015 -0.5% 1.4%
2016 2.4% 0.8%
2017 0.6% 2.3%
2018 0.1% 1.4%
2019 3.3% 1.3%
2020 1.8% -1.6%
2021 1.2% 0.2%
2022 5.2% 2.6%
2023 1.4% 2.6%
2024 2.1% 1.4%
2025 1.5% 3.9%

Balance of trade

Djibouti Maldives
Current account balance
$610M
2024
-$1.26B
2024
Current account balance ranking
57/189
2024
128/189
2024
Current account balance, % of GDP
+14.9%
2024
-18%
2024
Goods imports
$4.04B
2024
$3.46B
2024
Goods exports
$4.08B
2024
$383M
2024
Service imports
$730M
2024
$1.89B
2024
Service exports
$1.17B
2024
$5.03B
2024
Imports of goods and services, % of GDP
148.3%
2024
75.7%
2023
Exports of goods and services, % of GDP
160.8%
2024
74.4%
2023

Economic freedom indices

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

Djibouti Maldives
Economic freedom 55.7 48.3
Economic freedom ranking 126/197 171/197
Property rights 30.6 51.6
Government integrity 27.7 40.5
Judicial effectiveness 27.7 41
Tax burden 83.5 91.5
Government spending 86.2 44.4
Fiscal health 86.6 0
Business freedom 53.7 48.8
Labor freedom 52.8 58.2
Monetary freedom 70.3 75.2
Trade freedom 49.8 63.2
Investment freedom 50 35
Financial freedom 50 30

Economic freedom by year comparison

The Economic Freedom Index for Djibouti is 55.7, ranking 126/197, compared to 48.3 for Maldives, ranking 171/197. The chart below displays a comparison of annual changes in economic freedom indexes.

Djibouti
Maldives
Year Economic freedom index
Djibouti Maldives
1997 54.5 -
1998 55.9 -
1999 57.1 -
2000 55.1 -
2001 58.3 -
2002 57.8 -
2003 55.7 -
2004 55.6 -
2005 55.2 -
2006 53.2 -
2007 52.4 -
2008 51.2 -
2009 51.3 51.3
2010 51 49
2011 54.5 48.3
2012 53.9 49.2
2013 53.9 49
2014 55.9 51
2015 57.5 53.4
2016 56 53.9
2017 46.7 50.3
2018 45.1 51.1
2019 47.1 53.2
2020 52.9 56.5
2021 56.2 55.2
2022 55.3 47.3
2023 56.1 46.6
2024 55.8 47.8
2025 55.7 48.3

More economic indicators

Djibouti Maldives
Services, % of GDP
75.5%
2024
73.8%
2024
Industry, % of GDP
15.4%
2024
9.02%
2024
Agriculture, forestry, and fishing, % of GDP
2.58%
2024
3.05%
2024
GNI, Atlas method
$4.14B
2024
$6.15B
2024
GNI per capita, PPP
$7,850
2024
$23,630
2024
Total reserves including gold
$349M
2024
$674M
2024
Total reserves ranking
165/177
2024
150/177
2024
Net foreign direct investment
-$67.8M
2024
-$806M
2024
Net inflows of foreign direct investment
$67.8M
2024
$806M
2024
Net outflows of foreign direct investment
n/a
$0
1989
Servicing debt to the IMF, % of GNI
2.52%
2023
8.55%
2023
Poverty at national poverty lines
23%
2020
15%
2020
Gross capital formation, % of GDP
-3.78%
2024
33%
2023

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.