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Economy of Ecuador vs United Arab Emirates compared: GDP & Debt

Updated on by Georank

Ecuador has a GDP of $130B compared to $552B for the United Arab Emirates, ranking 64/197 and 31/197 by economy size, respectively.

Ecuador has $70.9B in government debt (54.4% of GDP), compared to $193B (34.3% of GDP) in the United Arab Emirates.

Ecuador vs United Arab Emirates GDP by year

Ecuador
United Arab Emirates
1x
Year GDP, current $
Ecuador UAE
2025 $130,320,560,400 -
2024 $123,802,374,000 $552,324,919,096
2023 $120,792,801,000 $522,622,268,401
2022 $116,133,121,000 $511,403,404,642
2021 $107,179,074,000 $422,441,282,436
2020 $95,865,473,000 $357,161,776,271
2019 $107,595,830,000 $433,926,218,686
2018 $107,478,961,000 $440,560,003,161
2017 $104,467,486,000 $403,365,056,079
2016 $97,671,433,000 $381,717,208,621
2015 $97,209,558,000 $381,973,135,513
2014 $102,717,794,000 $424,935,834,104
2013 $96,570,334,000 $409,632,574,703
2012 $87,735,048,000 $392,793,559,051
2011 $78,986,648,000 $368,881,033,963
2010 $68,151,329,000 $307,736,348,527
2009 $60,094,978,000 $253,547,358,747
2008 $61,139,438,000 $315,474,615,741
2007 $49,848,725,000 $257,916,148,767
2006 $45,690,762,000 $222,116,532,963
2005 $40,278,849,000 $180,617,467,954
2004 $35,194,947,000 $147,824,249,958
2003 $30,965,208,000 $124,346,476,180
2002 $27,054,197,000 $109,816,091,079
2001 $23,127,055,000 $103,311,631,797
2000 $17,539,454,727 $104,337,463,730
1999 $19,645,272,636 $84,445,399,335
1998 $27,981,896,948 $75,674,384,205
1997 $28,162,053,027 $78,838,886,862
1996 $25,226,393,197 $73,571,217,377
1995 $24,432,884,442 $65,743,604,966
1994 $22,708,673,337 $59,305,111,228
1993 $18,938,717,359 $55,625,269,485
1992 $18,094,238,119 $54,239,188,746
1991 $16,988,535,268 $51,552,058,250
1990 $15,239,272,612 $50,701,374,187
1989 $13,890,823,705 $41,464,966,302
1988 $13,051,881,851 $36,275,613,877
1987 $13,945,426,859 $36,384,802,310
1986 $15,314,138,472 $33,943,568,481
1985 $17,149,088,413 $40,603,631,079
1984 $16,912,509,092 $41,807,931,453
1983 $17,152,477,037 $42,803,373,390
1982 $19,929,846,396 $46,622,715,281
1981 $21,810,759,354 $49,333,471,895
1980 $17,881,508,242 $43,599,134,193
1979 $14,175,160,902 $31,225,557,022
1978 $11,922,497,876 $23,775,718,541
1977 $11,026,342,618 $24,871,660,292
1976 $9,091,921,030 $19,213,212,475
1975 $7,731,674,472 $14,720,729,969
1974 $6,599,257,044 $11,651,505,689
1973 $3,891,754,150 $4,231,243,616
1972 $3,185,986,087 $1,415,086,929
1971 $2,754,219,271 $939,893,600
1970 $2,862,503,139 $685,986,701
1969 $3,112,165,727 -
1968 $2,582,179,864 -
1967 $2,553,595,172 -
1966 $2,429,308,639 -
1965 $2,387,047,396 -
1964 $2,244,146,103 -
1963 $1,824,343,871 -
1962 $1,518,207,703 -
1961 $1,753,850,955 -
1960 $2,069,464,937 -

Data sources: World Bank | Economy & Growth (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08).

GeoRank.org/economy/ecuador/united-arab-emirates | CC BY

GDP per capita in Ecuador vs United Arab Emirates by year

Ecuador
GDP per capita

GDP per capita, PPP
United Arab Emirates
GDP per capita

GDP per capita, PPP
1x
Year Current $
Ecuador UAE
GDP per capita GDP per capita, PPP GDP per capita GDP per capita, PPP
2025 $7,125 - - -
2024 $6,827 $15,840 $50,274 $79,229
2023 $6,718 $15,919 $49,851 $77,955
2022 $6,516 $15,198 $50,760 $75,072
2021 $6,061 $13,507 $44,118 $68,580
2020 $5,464 $11,527 $37,992 $66,791
2019 $6,205 $12,543 $45,939 $79,816
2018 $6,304 $12,187 $47,135 $77,446
2017 $6,233 $11,793 $43,734 $70,282
2016 $5,918 $10,881 $42,721 $69,987
2015 $5,976 $10,878 $44,910 $73,986
2014 $6,406 $11,836 $52,725 $87,478
2013 $6,109 $11,296 $53,247 $87,526
2012 $5,634 $10,245 $53,142 $89,198
2011 $5,154 $9,769 $51,922 $89,665
2010 $4,520 $8,969 $44,795 $85,120
2009 $4,053 $8,662 $37,803 $84,780
2008 $4,195 $8,663 $50,054 $94,628
2007 $3,479 $8,112 $45,855 $100,813
2006 $3,244 $7,885 $44,343 $106,814
2005 $2,909 $7,457 $38,719 $101,301
2004 $2,586 $6,980 $33,377 $98,661
2003 $2,316 $6,475 $29,660 $92,636
2002 $2,059 $6,282 $27,754 $88,467
2001 $1,791 $5,999 $27,745 $90,370
2000 $1,382 $5,728 $29,866 $92,899
1999 $1,575 $5,638 $25,856 $87,658
1998 $2,284 $5,940 $24,889 $90,229
1997 $2,341 $5,793 $27,983 $96,009
1996 $2,136 $5,560 $28,323 $94,620
1995 $2,108 $5,469 $27,003 $93,702
1994 $1,997 $5,339 $25,473 $89,959
1993 $1,698 $5,112 $25,033 $86,330
1992 $1,655 $4,998 $25,648 $87,509
1991 $1,587 $4,887 $25,691 $87,250
1990 $1,455 $4,632 $26,710 $88,455
1989 $1,356 - $23,167 -
1988 $1,304 - $21,570 -
1987 $1,426 - $23,113 -
1986 $1,604 - $23,132 -
1985 $1,842 - $29,468 -
1984 $1,864 - $32,012 -
1983 $1,940 - $34,650 -
1982 $2,314 - $39,972 -
1981 $2,601 - $44,855 -
1980 $2,190 - $42,925 -
1979 $1,783 - $34,238 -
1978 $1,541 - $29,379 -
1977 $1,465 - $35,020 -
1976 $1,242 - $31,197 -
1975 $1,086 - $27,117 -
1974 $954 - $23,823 -
1973 $579 - $9,696 -
1972 $488 - $3,675 -
1971 $434 - $2,805 -
1970 $465 - $2,394 -
1969 $521 - - -
1968 $445 - - -
1967 $454 - - -
1966 $445 - - -
1965 $450 - - -
1964 $436 - - -
1963 $365 - - -
1962 $312 - - -
1961 $371 - - -
1960 $451 - - -

Data sources: World Bank | Economy & Growth (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08).

GeoRank.org/economy/ecuador/united-arab-emirates | CC BY

Ecuador's GDP per capita is $7,125, ranking 102/197, compared to $50,274 in the United Arab Emirates, ranking 25/197. Adjusted for purchasing power (GDP per capita PPP), Ecuador ranks 110th at $15,840, while the United Arab Emirates ranks 16th at $79,229.

Economic indicators

Ecuador UAE
Gross domestic product
$130B
2025
$552B
2024
GDP rank
64/197
2025
31/197
2024
GDP growth
3.73%
2024-2025
3.99%
2023-2024
GDP per capita
$7,125
2025
$50,274
2024
GDP per capita rank
102/197
2025
25/197
2024
GDP per capita, PPP
$15,840
2024
$79,229
2024
GDP per capita PPP rank
110/197
2024
16/197
2024
Government debt
$70.9B
2025
$193B
2024
Debt-to-GDP ratio
54.4%
2025
34.3%
2025
Government debt per person
$3,877
2025
$17,568
2024
Government debt per person rank
94/185
2025
37/185
2024
Average annual personal income after taxes
$6,605
2026
$40,096
2026
Market capitalization of domestic companies
$747M
2000
$1.11T
2025
Number of millionaires n/a
183,000
2026
Number of billionaires n/a
6
2026
Income share by richest 10%
35.1%
2025
20.5%
2018
Income share by poorest 10%
1.7%
2025
2.8%
2018
Government expenditure, % of GDP
38.4%
2025
22.6%
2025
Consumer prices inflation
0.71%
2024-2025
1.3%
2024-2025
Central bank interest rate n/a
3.65%
2025
Unemployment rate
3.23%
2025
1.88%
2024
Population
18524711
11885001

Spending and national debt comparison by year

Ecuador
Spending

Debt
United Arab Emirates
Spending

Debt
1x
Year % of GDP
Ecuador UAE
Government spending Government debt Government spending Government debt
2025 38.4% 54.4% 22.6% 34.3%
2024 38.3% 54.1% 21.4% 34.9%
2023 39.6% 54.5% 22.7% 31.9%
2022 38.9% 57.2% 22.7% 31.5%
2021 37.5% 61.8% 25.9% 35.7%
2020 40.2% 63.6% 30.5% 30.1%
2019 39.8% 52.1% 27.4% 25.8%
2018 40.9% 49.5% 25.9% 20.7%
2017 40.5% 47.4% 27.2% 21.2%
2016 44.1% 46.1% 31.7% 18.6%
2015 44.1% 36.4% 26.4% 15.6%
2014 45.9% 28.2% 31.4% 13.5%
2013 46.7% 23.4% 28.9% 15.3%
2012 43.2% 19.3% 27.8% 20.2%
2011 39.6% 18.6% 29.6% 20.4%
2010 35.4% 18.4% 30.4% 18.3%
2009 34.3% 19.7% 35% 21.1%
2008 35.6% 24.9% 22% 8.95%
2007 24.7% 29.6% 17.7% 8.89%
2006 21.7% 33.1% 15.6% 5.05%
2005 22% 35.8% 15.7% 4.48%
2004 21.3% 40.2% 17.7% 4.08%
2003 21.3% 47.2% 20% 3.33%
2002 22.8% 55% 21.3% 3.43%
2001 21.4% 63.8% 25.2% 2.69%
2000 24.3% 92.2% 21.8% 3.12%
1999 24.1% 105.2% 24.3% 4.73%
1998 21.5% 70.3% 25.8% 4.18%
1997 22% 61.5% 22.6% 2.86%
1996 22.7% 69.3% 27.6% 3.48%
1995 22% 70.5% 26.1% 5.06%
1994 - - 30.1% 5.58%
1993 - - 31.5% 6.01%
1992 - - 29.6% 5.31%
1991 - - 36% 4.97%

Data sources: International Monetary Fund (IMF) | Fiscal Monitor (1991–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08); International Monetary Fund (IMF) | Public Finances in Modern History (1991–2000, retrieved 2026-07-08).

GeoRank.org/economy/ecuador/united-arab-emirates | CC BY

In 2025, Ecuador's government spending was $50B, accounting for 38.4% of its GDP, while the United Arab Emirates spent $118B, or 22.6% of GDP.

Debt-to-GDP ratio is 54.4% in Ecuador and 34.3% in the United Arab Emirates, ranking 92/185 and 146/185, respectively.

Government deficit by year

Deficit/surplus
Ecuador

United Arab Emirates
1x
Year Deficit/surplus, % of GDP
Ecuador UAE
2025 -2.88% 5.15%
2024 -1.28% 6.41%
2023 -3.49% 5.82%
2022 0.04% 9.8%
2021 -1.59% 3.96%
2020 -7.38% -2.42%
2019 -3.47% 2.5%
2018 -2.8% 3.65%
2017 -5.77% -0.16%
2016 -10.3% -2.95%
2015 -6.87% -6.35%
2014 -8.11% 1.74%
2013 -8.17% 7.99%
2012 -2.83% 8.59%
2011 -0.13% 5.05%
2010 -1.39% 0.52%
2009 -3.71% -6.13%
2008 0.57% 17.6%
2007 2.66% 17.1%
2006 2.92% 20.2%
2005 0.66% 16%
2004 1.94% 6.4%
2003 1.05% 2.35%
2002 0.74% -1.24%
2001 0.03% 1.21%
2000 -0.32% 10.7%
1999 -4.82% 1.31%
1998 -5.1% 1%
1997 -2.83% 6.71%
1996 -3.44% 0.92%
1995 -2.02% 3.58%
1994 - -1.78%
1993 - -2.89%
1992 - 3.34%
1991 - 3.89%

Data sources: International Monetary Fund (IMF) | Fiscal Monitor (1991–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08).

GeoRank.org/economy/ecuador/united-arab-emirates | CC BY

In 2024, Ecuador's government deficit, the difference between spending and revenue, was $1.59B, equivalent to 1.28% of GDP. This compares to the United Arab Emirates' surplus of $35.4B, or 6.41% of GDP.

Over the past 30 years, Ecuador recorded a fiscal deficit in 21 of those years, while the United Arab Emirates ran a deficit in 6 years. On average, Ecuador posted an annual deficit equal to 2.51% of GDP, compared to surplus of 4.73% of GDP for the United Arab Emirates.

Inflation comparison by year

Inflation
Ecuador

United Arab Emirates
1x
Year Consumer prices inflation
Ecuador UAE
2025 0.71% 1.3%
2024 1.55% 1.7%
2023 2.22% 1.6%
2022 3.47% 4.8%
2021 0.13% -0.1%
2020 -0.34% -2.1%
2019 0.27% -1.9%
2018 -0.22% 3.1%
2017 0.42% 2%
2016 1.73% 1.6%
2015 3.97% 4.1%
2014 3.59% 2.3%
2013 2.72% 1.1%
2012 5.1% 0.7%
2011 4.47% 0.9%
2010 3.55% 0.9%
2009 5.16% -4.7%
2008 8.4% 12.3%
2007 2.28% 11.1%
2006 3.3% 9.3%
2005 2.17% 6.2%
2004 2.74% 5%
2003 7.93% 3.1%
2002 12.5% 2.9%
2001 37.7% 2.8%
2000 96.1% 1.3%
1999 52.2% 2.1%
1998 36.1% 2%
1997 30.7% 3%

Data sources: International Monetary Fund (IMF) | World Economic Outlook (1997–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08); World Bank | Economy & Growth (1997–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08).

GeoRank.org/economy/ecuador/united-arab-emirates | CC BY

Over the past 29 years, Ecuador has recorded an average annual inflation rate of 11.4%, compared with 2.7% in the United Arab Emirates. In 2025, inflation was 0.71% in Ecuador and 1.3% in the United Arab Emirates.

Top exports between countries

Ecuador
Export category Export value
Raw agricultural goods $87.2M
Animal & marine products $47.8M
Precious metals & jewellery $6.04M
Processed food, beverages & tobacco $5.28M
Machinery & equipment $2.96M
Textiles & consumer goods $1.69M
Wood & paper products $320K
Chemicals & pharma $82K
Miscellaneous $24K
Raw materials & minerals $15K
UAE
Export category Export value
Wood & paper products $18.7M
Metals $13.2M
Machinery & equipment $7.46M
Chemicals & pharma $3.52M
Raw materials & minerals $2.7M
Textiles & consumer goods $615K
Raw agricultural goods $589K
Animal & marine products $298K
Processed food, beverages & tobacco $91K
Precious metals & jewellery $82K

Balance of trade

Ecuador UAE
Current account balance
$7.7B
2025
$80B
2024
Current account balance ranking
28/190
2025
9/190
2024
Current account balance, % of GDP
+5.91%
2025
+14.5%
2024
Goods imports
$31.1B
2025
$400B
2024
Goods exports
$37.4B
2025
$467B
2024
Service imports
$6.22B
2025
$117B
2024
Service exports
$4.14B
2025
$181B
2024
Imports of goods and services, % of GDP
27.9%
2025
92.2%
2023
Exports of goods and services, % of GDP
31.4%
2025
106.8%
2023

Economic freedom indices

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

Ecuador UAE
Economic freedom 55.6 71.9
Economic freedom ranking 127/197 29/197
Property rights 33.2 62.9
Government integrity 33 65.3
Judicial effectiveness 48.1 34.4
Tax burden 74.2 99.9
Government spending 54.9 85.1
Fiscal health 90.3 97.6
Business freedom 64.3 84.5
Labor freedom 56.9 63.2
Monetary freedom 76.3 81.2
Trade freedom 66.4 78.6
Investment freedom 30 50
Financial freedom 40 60

Economic freedom comparison by year

Ecuador
United Arab Emirates
1x
Year Economic freedom index
Ecuador UAE
2026 55.6 71.9
2025 55.8 71.6
2024 55 71.1
2023 55 70.9
2022 54.3 70.2
2021 52.4 76.9
2020 51.3 76.2
2019 46.9 77.6
2018 48.5 77.6
2017 49.3 76.9
2016 48.6 72.6
2015 49.2 72.4
2014 48 71.4
2013 46.9 71.1
2012 48.3 69.3
2011 47.1 67.8
2010 49.3 67.3
2009 52.5 64.7
2008 55.2 62.6
2007 55.3 62.6
2006 54.6 62.2
2005 52.9 65.2
2004 54.4 67.2
2003 54.1 73.4
2002 53.1 73.6
2001 55.1 74.9
2000 59.8 74.2
1999 62.9 71.5
1998 62.8 72.2
1997 61 71.9
1996 60.1 71.6
1995 57.7 -

Data sources: The Heritage Foundation | Economic Freedom Index (1995–2026, retrieved 2026-07-08).

GeoRank.org/economy/ecuador/united-arab-emirates | CC BY

The Economic Freedom Index for Ecuador is 55.6, ranking 127/197, compared to 71.9 for the United Arab Emirates, ranking 29/197. The chart above displays a comparison of annual changes in economic freedom indexes.

Other economic metrics

Ecuador UAE
Services, % of GDP
57%
2025
54.9%
2024
Industry, % of GDP
25.7%
2025
44.3%
2024
Agriculture, forestry, and fishing, % of GDP
9.7%
2025
0.77%
2024
GNI, Atlas method
$126B
2025
$566B
2024
GNI per capita, PPP
$16,290
2025
$81,640
2024
Total reserves including gold
$9.8B
2025
$292B
2025
Total reserves ranking
79/177
2025
14/177
2025
Net foreign direct investment
-$1.3B
2025
$31.5B
2024
Net inflows of foreign direct investment
$446M
2024
$45.6B
2024
Net outflows of foreign direct investment
$0
2024
$77.2B
2024
Servicing debt to the IMF, % of GNI
7.05%
2024
n/a
Poverty at national poverty lines
21.4%
2025
19.5%
2020
Gross capital formation, % of GDP
20.9%
2025
26.6%
2023

GDP per capita map

1x

Data sources: World Bank | Economy & Growth (1985–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08); U.S. Census Bureau (1985–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08).

GeoRank.org/economy/ecuador/united-arab-emirates | CC BY

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Data sources:

  1. World Bank | Economy & Growth (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08)
  2. International Monetary Fund (IMF) | Fiscal Monitor (1991–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08)
  3. The Heritage Foundation | Economic Freedom Index (1995–2026, retrieved 2026-07-08)
  4. U.S. Census Bureau (1985–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08)
  5. TradeMap (2021–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08)
  6. International Monetary Fund (IMF) | Public Finances in Modern History (1991–2000, retrieved 2026-07-08)
  7. United Nations | World Population Prospects (2026, retrieved 2026-07-08)
  8. LivingCost (2026, retrieved 2026-07-08)
  9. Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) (2020, retrieved 2026-07-08)

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.

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.