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Economy of Djibouti vs Qatar compared: GDP & Debt

Updated on by Georank team

Djibouti has a GDP of $4.09B compared to $218B for Qatar, ranking 165/197 and 56/197 by economy size, respectively.

Djibouti has $1.36B in government debt (31.2% of GDP), compared to $89B (40.5% of GDP) in Qatar.

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 $
Qatar
GDP, current $

GDP, constant 2015 $
Year GDP
Djibouti Qatar
Current $ Constant $ Current $ Constant $
1970 - - $301,791,302 $8,816,161,355
1971 - - $387,703,106 $9,698,469,706
1972 - - $510,262,500 $10,773,000,939
1973 - - $793,885,560 $11,934,857,801
1974 - - $2,401,403,227 $12,643,579,838
1975 - - $2,512,773,166 $13,386,912,643
1976 - - $3,284,273,987 $14,504,574,217
1977 - - $3,617,564,638 $13,444,952,239
1978 - - $4,052,000,413 $14,636,627,610
1979 - - $5,632,962,997 $15,401,791,822
1980 - - $7,829,165,262 $15,245,244,656
1981 - - $8,661,263,764 $15,382,600,057
1982 - - $7,596,703,214 $14,325,124,118
1983 - - $6,467,582,308 $14,063,666,907
1984 - - $6,704,395,824 $14,718,715,618
1985 $340,989,528 - $6,153,296,456 $14,406,653,786
1986 - - $5,053,021,951 $15,175,362,083
1987 $373,371,738 - $5,446,428,681 $15,182,189,691
1988 $395,794,539 - $6,038,187,033 $16,078,614,414
1989 $409,220,087 - $6,487,912,088 $17,079,059,748
1990 $452,328,087 - $7,360,439,423 $17,662,217,767
1991 $462,421,999 - $6,883,516,484 $17,368,630,639
1992 $478,058,305 - $7,646,153,984 $19,336,588,147
1993 $466,048,469 - $7,156,593,654 $19,080,352,035
1994 $491,689,221 - $7,374,450,769 $19,351,046,596
1995 $497,723,961 - $8,137,911,978 $19,815,323,915
1996 $494,004,648 - $9,059,340,385 $20,682,028,462
1997 $502,675,542 - $11,297,802,115 $26,889,127,081
1998 $514,267,869 - $10,255,495,027 $29,905,724,793
1999 $536,080,148 - $12,393,131,868 $31,186,905,301
2000 $551,230,862 - $17,759,890,110 $33,690,629,183
2001 $572,417,441 - $17,538,461,538 $35,003,952,797
2002 $591,122,040 - $19,363,736,264 $37,517,989,781
2003 $622,044,666 - $23,533,791,209 $38,913,643,497
2004 $666,072,102 - $31,734,065,934 $46,392,423,696
2005 $708,633,195 - $44,530,494,505 $49,868,495,958
2006 $768,873,684 - $60,882,142,857 $62,919,203,862
2007 $847,918,929 - $79,712,087,912 $74,235,635,940
2008 $999,105,339 - $115,270,054,945 $87,348,289,336
2009 $1,049,110,685 - $97,798,351,648 $97,792,140,945
2010 $1,128,611,700 - $125,122,306,346 $116,951,901,413
2011 $1,239,144,502 - $167,775,268,626 $132,594,424,543
2012 $1,353,632,942 - $186,833,502,363 $138,866,156,528
2013 $2,044,440,443 $2,107,658,965 $198,727,642,967 $146,581,616,624
2014 $2,220,637,966 $2,259,262,606 $206,224,598,571 $154,400,753,941
2015 $2,424,391,785 $2,424,391,785 $161,739,955,577 $161,739,955,577
2016 $2,604,955,229 $2,597,091,694 $151,732,181,868 $166,695,978,169
2017 $2,762,581,334 $2,738,843,335 $161,099,122,225 $164,199,531,362
2018 $2,913,464,658 $2,869,605,010 $183,334,953,819 $166,227,185,730
2019 $3,088,851,450 $3,028,726,927 $176,371,267,692 $167,371,229,300
2020 $3,144,136,197 $3,065,135,713 $144,411,363,352 $161,416,823,769
2021 $3,392,796,953 $3,200,221,046 $179,732,009,560 $164,042,828,071
2022 $3,562,814,909 $3,365,561,652 $235,709,325,714 $170,908,036,354
2023 $3,917,150,481 $3,613,673,263 $213,002,809,341 $172,936,988,055
2024 $4,086,402,719 $3,828,825,225 $217,982,967,033 $177,724,600,424

Economic indicators

Djibouti Qatar
Gross domestic product
$4.09B
2024
$218B
2024
GDP rank
165/197
2024
56/197
2024
GDP growth
4.32%
2023-2024
2.34%
2023-2024
GDP per capita
$3,496
2024
$76,276
2024
GDP per capita rank
134/197
2024
11/197
2024
GDP per capita, PPP
$7,776
2024
$126,110
2024
Government debt
$1.36B
2024
$89B
2024
Debt-to-GDP ratio
31.2%
2025
40.5%
2025
Government debt per person
$1,163
2024
$31,151
2024
Government debt per person rank
138/185
2024
23/185
2024
Average annual personal income after taxes
$2,788
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%
32.3%
2017
25.8%
2017
Income share by poorest 10%
1.9%
2017
2.6%
2017
Government expenditure, % of GDP
21.6%
2025
26.5%
2025
Consumer prices inflation
1.5%
2024-2025
0.1%
2024-2025
Central bank interest rate n/a
4.6%
2025
Unemployment rate
40%
2017
0.13%
2022
Population
1196428
2964497

GDP per capita in Djibouti vs Qatar

Djibouti's GDP per capita is $3,496, ranking 134/197, compared to $76,276 in Qatar, ranking 11/197. Adjusted for purchasing power (GDP per capita PPP), Djibouti ranks 143rd at $7,776, while Qatar ranks 5th at $126,110.

Djibouti
GDP per capita

GDP per capita, PPP
Qatar
GDP per capita

GDP per capita, PPP
Year Current $
Djibouti Qatar
GDP per capita GDP per capita, PPP GDP per capita GDP per capita, PPP
1970 - - $2,594 -
1971 - - $2,952 -
1972 - - $3,483 -
1973 - - $4,905 -
1974 - - $13,540 -
1975 - - $13,014 -
1976 - - $15,710 -
1977 - - $16,058 -
1978 - - $16,757 -
1979 - - $21,777 -
1980 - - $28,375 -
1981 - - $29,505 -
1982 - - $24,385 -
1983 - - $19,616 -
1984 - - $19,272 -
1985 $847 - $16,815 -
1986 $800 - $13,213 -
1987 $822 - $13,719 -
1988 $817 - $14,682 -
1989 $782 - $15,243 -
1990 $780 - $16,722 $55,659
1991 $733 - $15,133 $54,759
1992 $764 - $16,280 $60,387
1993 $759 - $14,770 $59,125
1994 $785 - $14,765 $59,415
1995 $786 - $15,823 $60,321
1996 $762 - $17,125 $62,331
1997 $748 - $20,523 $79,219
1998 $735 - $17,665 $84,486
1999 $740 - $20,234 $84,690
2000 $738 - $27,535 $88,849
2001 $742 - $25,871 $89,805
2002 $743 - $27,227 $93,176
2003 $765 - $31,602 $94,120
2004 $806 - $41,036 $110,958
2005 $844 - $53,950 $115,250
2006 $898 - $62,582 $127,181
2007 $970 - $65,954 $124,056
2008 $1,119 - $80,781 $126,015
2009 $1,151 - $60,786 $125,898
2010 $1,213 - $77,387 $151,646
2011 $1,306 - $103,262 $174,620
2012 $1,400 - $108,470 $180,939
2013 $2,076 $3,762 $103,697 $169,203
2014 $2,215 $3,978 $95,841 $148,389
2015 $2,376 $4,264 $68,985 $102,546
2016 $2,510 $4,432 $61,254 $89,935
2017 $2,619 $4,677 $63,280 $99,358
2018 $2,718 $5,083 $71,040 $110,033
2019 $2,837 $5,398 $66,841 $107,502
2020 $2,845 $5,527 $51,684 $82,149
2021 $3,026 $5,960 $71,752 $116,833
2022 $3,133 $6,621 $88,701 $122,920
2023 $3,398 $7,264 $80,196 $128,919
2024 $3,496 $7,776 $76,276 $126,110

Spending and national debt comparison

In 2024, Djibouti's government spending was $898M, accounting for 21.6% of its GDP, while Qatar's spent $56.2B, or 26.5% of GDP.

Debt-to-GDP ratio is 31.2% in Djibouti and 40.5% in Qatar, ranking 158/185 and 133/185, respectively.

Djibouti
Government spending

Government debt
Qatar
Government spending

Government debt
Year % of GDP
Djibouti Qatar
Government spending Government debt Government spending Government debt
1990 30.2% - 50% 12.6%
1991 27.7% - 57.5% 21.8%
1992 34.9% - 54.2% 19.9%
1993 35.3% - 62.8% 46.3%
1994 30.9% - 59.8% 54.8%
1995 27% 50.9% 52.2% 50.2%
1996 23.7% 53.1% 55.2% 57.8%
1997 25% 56% 47.6% 54.4%
1998 24% 55.2% 55.1% 76.6%
1999 23.5% 58.5% 42.4% 81.8%
2000 23.2% 58.1% 29.8% 51.6%
2001 21% 58.1% 32.1% 59.2%
2002 23.4% 63.7% 31.6% 47.7%
2003 25.8% 66.3% 28.5% 38.8%
2004 26.7% 65.3% 29.9% 30.1%
2005 26.2% 60.3% 29% 19.1%
2006 23.8% 58.3% 29.5% 13.9%
2007 26.6% 56.6% 29.5% 9.37%
2008 28.8% 59.3% 23.5% 11.4%
2009 31% 29.5% 36.4% 36%
2010 26.6% 27.9% 32% 30.4%
2011 25.3% 25.7% 28.5% 33.5%
2012 26.5% 25% 31% 32.1%
2013 26.8% 24.6% 28.3% 30.9%
2014 29% 26.9% 32.3% 24.9%
2015 42% 40.3% 38.6% 35.5%
2016 25.9% 45.9% 40.1% 46.7%
2017 23.9% 48% 34.7% 51.6%
2018 25.9% 47.5% 28.9% 52.2%
2019 24.9% 41.1% 32.5% 62.1%
2020 25.8% 42.1% 34.7% 72.6%
2021 23.1% 40.3% 29.4% 58.4%
2022 21% 38.3% 24.3% 42.6%
2023 21.5% 35.4% 27.3% 43.7%
2024 22% 33.3% 25.8% 40.8%
2025 21.6% 31.2% 26.5% 40.5%

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 Qatar's surplus of $1.52B, or 0.7% of GDP.

Over the past 35 years, Djibouti recorded a fiscal deficit in 33 of those years, while Qatar ran a deficit in 12 years. On average, Djibouti posted an annual deficit equal to -3.23% of GDP, compared to surplus of +3.04% of GDP for Qatar.

Deficit/surplus
Djibouti

Qatar
Year Deficit/surplus, % of GDP
Djibouti Qatar
1990 -3.25% 3.23%
1991 -0.86% -2.57%
1992 -6.13% -2.74%
1993 -7.1% -9.53%
1994 -4.97% -11.8%
1995 -5.13% -5.78%
1996 -1.77% -8.73%
1997 -2.86% -9.4%
1998 -3.59% -7%
1999 -5.2% -4.35%
2000 -3.97% 4.62%
2001 -3.61% 4.48%
2002 -4.56% 7.89%
2003 -4.13% 6.71%
2004 -3.67% 17.7%
2005 -1.18% 9.8%
2006 0.26% 8.39%
2007 -1.88% 10.3%
2008 0.62% 9.49%
2009 -3.88% 14.1%
2010 -1.04% 4.6%
2011 -1.18% 5.24%
2012 -2.04% 8.55%
2013 -0.34% 19.3%
2014 -6.92% 13.4%
2015 -15.5% 18.4%
2016 -0.76% -9.2%
2017 -0.21% -6.82%
2018 -1.98% 2.26%
2019 -0.98% 1%
2020 -2.58% -2.13%
2021 -3.05% 0.24%
2022 -1.48% 10.4%
2023 -3.46% 5.48%
2024 -4.51% 0.7%
2025 -3.05% 0.04%

Inflation comparison by year

Over the past 30 years, Djibouti has recorded an average annual inflation rate of 2.56%, compared with 3.11% in Qatar. In 2025, inflation was 1.5% in Djibouti and 0.1% in Qatar.

Inflation
Djibouti

Qatar
Year Inflation
Djibouti Qatar Djibouti Qatar
1996 3.5% 7%
1997 2.5% 2.7%
1998 2.2% 2.9%
1999 -0.4% 2.2%
2000 1.2% 1.6%
2001 1.9% 1.7%
2002 1.4% 0.2%
2003 1.6% 2.3%
2004 2.4% 6.8%
2005 3.3% 9%
2006 3.5% 11.7%
2007 5.9% 13.7%
2008 8.7% 15.1%
2009 5.6% -4.9%
2010 2.5% -2.4%
2011 5.2% 2%
2012 4.2% 1.8%
2013 1.1% 3.1%
2014 1.3% 4.2%
2015 -0.5% 0.9%
2016 2.4% 2.7%
2017 0.6% 0.6%
2018 0.1% 0.1%
2019 3.3% -0.9%
2020 1.8% -2.5%
2021 1.2% 2.3%
2022 5.2% 5%
2023 1.4% 3.1%
2024 2.1% 1.2%
2025 1.5% 0.1%

Top exports between countries

Djibouti
Export category Export value
Machinery & equipment $2M
Raw materials & minerals $253K
Qatar
Export category Export value
Raw materials & minerals $11.7M
Chemicals & pharma $6.98M
Metals $1.32M
Machinery & equipment $58K
Processed food, beverages & tobacco $46K

Balance of trade

Djibouti Qatar
Current account balance
$610M
2024
$37.9B
2024
Current account balance ranking
57/189
2024
15/189
2024
Current account balance, % of GDP
+14.9%
2024
+17.4%
2024
Goods imports
$4.04B
2024
$32.6B
2024
Goods exports
$4.08B
2024
$95B
2024
Service imports
$730M
2024
$37.1B
2024
Service exports
$1.17B
2024
$30.2B
2024
Imports of goods and services, % of GDP
148.3%
2024
31.6%
2022
Exports of goods and services, % of GDP
160.8%
2024
68.6%
2022

Economic freedom indices

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

Djibouti Qatar
Economic freedom 55.7 70.2
Economic freedom ranking 126/197 33/197
Property rights 30.6 71.1
Government integrity 27.7 52.6
Judicial effectiveness 27.7 42.3
Tax burden 83.5 99.9
Government spending 86.2 78.1
Fiscal health 86.6 96.2
Business freedom 53.7 67.9
Labor freedom 52.8 59.3
Monetary freedom 70.3 73.2
Trade freedom 49.8 81.6
Investment freedom 50 60
Financial freedom 50 60

Economic freedom by year comparison

The Economic Freedom Index for Djibouti is 55.7, ranking 126/197, compared to 70.2 for Qatar, ranking 33/197. The chart below displays a comparison of annual changes in economic freedom indexes.

Djibouti
Qatar
Year Economic freedom index
Djibouti Qatar
1997 54.5 -
1998 55.9 -
1999 57.1 62
2000 55.1 62
2001 58.3 60
2002 57.8 61.9
2003 55.7 65.9
2004 55.6 66.5
2005 55.2 63.5
2006 53.2 62.4
2007 52.4 62.9
2008 51.2 62.2
2009 51.3 65.8
2010 51 69
2011 54.5 70.5
2012 53.9 71.3
2013 53.9 71.3
2014 55.9 71.2
2015 57.5 70.8
2016 56 70.7
2017 46.7 73.1
2018 45.1 72.6
2019 47.1 72.6
2020 52.9 72.3
2021 56.2 72
2022 55.3 67.7
2023 56.1 68.6
2024 55.8 68.8
2025 55.7 70.2

More economic indicators

Djibouti Qatar
Services, % of GDP
75.5%
2024
45.9%
2024
Industry, % of GDP
15.4%
2024
58.5%
2024
Agriculture, forestry, and fishing, % of GDP
2.58%
2024
0.29%
2024
GNI, Atlas method
$4.14B
2024
$219B
2024
GNI per capita, PPP
$7,850
2024
$121,930
2024
Total reserves including gold
$349M
2024
$54B
2024
Total reserves ranking
165/177
2024
40/177
2024
Net foreign direct investment
-$67.8M
2024
$1.1B
2024
Net inflows of foreign direct investment
$67.8M
2024
$460M
2024
Net outflows of foreign direct investment
n/a
$1.56B
2024
Servicing debt to the IMF, % of GNI
2.52%
2023
n/a
Poverty at national poverty lines
23%
2020
n/a
Gross capital formation, % of GDP
-3.78%
2024
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.

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.