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Economy of Gabon vs Qatar compared: GDP & Debt

Updated on by Georank

Gabon has a GDP of $21.4B compared to $216B for Qatar, ranking 132/197 and 56/197 by economy size, respectively.

Gabon has $16.9B in government debt (78.9% of GDP), compared to $89.2B (41.4% of GDP) in Qatar.

Gabon vs Qatar GDP by year

Gabon
Qatar
1x
Year GDP, current $
Gabon Qatar
2025 $21,427,119,323 $215,559,615,385
2024 $20,895,684,426 $216,294,505,495
2023 $19,388,372,071 $213,002,809,341
2022 $20,440,655,695 $235,709,325,714
2021 $19,444,935,097 $179,732,009,560
2020 $15,342,236,164 $144,411,363,352
2019 $16,874,405,465 $176,371,267,692
2018 $16,867,326,402 $183,334,953,819
2017 $14,929,487,485 $161,099,122,225
2016 $14,023,890,265 $151,732,181,868
2015 $14,383,107,763 $161,739,955,577
2014 $18,203,966,896 $206,224,598,571
2013 $17,595,744,798 $198,727,642,967
2012 $17,170,464,016 $186,833,502,363
2011 $18,210,307,744 $167,775,274,725
2010 $14,372,593,020 $125,122,252,747
2009 $12,113,699,068 $97,798,351,648
2008 $15,571,348,344 $115,269,780,220
2007 $12,455,409,587 $79,711,813,187
2006 $10,327,598,306 $60,882,142,857
2005 $9,582,783,991 $44,530,494,505
2004 $7,770,219,008 $31,734,065,934
2003 $6,511,903,365 $23,533,791,209
2002 $5,335,451,100 $19,363,736,264
2001 $5,023,265,413 $17,538,461,538
2000 $5,080,483,629 $17,759,890,110
1999 $4,662,992,036 $12,393,131,868
1998 $4,483,417,310 $10,255,494,505
1997 $5,326,817,115 $11,297,802,198
1996 $5,694,040,003 $9,059,340,659
1995 $4,958,845,648 $8,137,912,088
1994 $4,190,819,344 $7,374,450,549
1993 $4,378,645,081 $7,156,593,407
1992 $5,592,390,827 $7,646,153,846
1991 $5,402,919,785 $6,883,516,484
1990 $5,952,293,765 $7,360,439,560
1989 $4,186,411,464 $6,487,912,088
1988 $3,834,503,376 $6,038,186,813
1987 $3,281,797,043 $5,446,428,571
1986 $3,403,638,189 $5,053,021,978
1985 $3,339,914,757 $6,153,296,703
1984 $3,561,451,561 $6,870,329,670
1983 $3,391,275,732 $6,484,890,110
1982 $3,618,007,841 $7,611,263,736
1981 $3,862,269,121 $8,672,527,473
1980 $4,279,637,942 $7,837,915,956
1979 $3,030,251,120 $5,632,962,997
1978 $2,389,479,272 $4,052,000,413
1977 $2,809,349,069 $3,617,564,638
1976 $3,009,409,974 $3,284,273,987
1975 $2,157,592,940 $2,512,773,166
1974 $1,544,216,002 $2,401,403,227
1973 $722,780,701 $793,885,560
1972 $430,508,359 $510,262,500
1971 $381,687,073 $387,703,106
1970 $323,802,476 $301,791,302
1969 $318,124,701 -
1968 $294,468,564 -
1967 $271,543,680 -
1966 $245,849,781 -
1965 $226,474,286 -
1964 $215,679,855 -
1963 $154,480,244 -
1962 $182,796,536 -
1961 $167,637,907 -
1960 $141,468,978 -

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

GeoRank.org/economy/gabon/qatar | CC BY

GDP per capita in Gabon vs Qatar by year

Gabon
GDP per capita

GDP per capita, PPP
Qatar
GDP per capita

GDP per capita, PPP
1x
Year Current $
Gabon Qatar
GDP per capita GDP per capita, PPP GDP per capita GDP per capita, PPP
2025 $8,263 - $72,525 -
2024 $8,230 $21,510 $75,685 $126,046
2023 $7,803 $20,756 $80,196 $129,368
2022 $8,409 $19,993 $88,701 $122,921
2021 $8,181 $18,524 $71,752 $116,833
2020 $6,606 $14,477 $51,684 $82,149
2019 $7,441 $15,950 $66,841 $107,503
2018 $7,624 $15,432 $71,040 $110,033
2017 $6,922 $14,797 $63,280 $99,358
2016 $6,677 $13,998 $61,254 $89,935
2015 $7,047 $14,306 $68,985 $102,546
2014 $9,201 $14,854 $95,841 $148,389
2013 $9,198 $14,498 $103,697 $169,203
2012 $9,297 $14,620 $108,470 $180,939
2011 $10,219 $14,784 $103,262 $174,620
2010 $8,357 $14,015 $77,387 $151,646
2009 $7,291 $13,384 $60,786 $125,898
2008 $9,689 $13,734 $80,781 $126,015
2007 $8,004 $14,391 $65,954 $124,056
2006 $6,847 $13,637 $62,582 $127,181
2005 $6,548 $14,028 $53,950 $115,250
2004 $5,466 $13,638 $41,036 $110,958
2003 $4,711 $13,564 $31,602 $94,120
2002 $3,966 $13,369 $27,227 $93,177
2001 $3,836 $13,556 $25,871 $89,805
2000 $3,983 $13,326 $27,535 $88,849
1999 $3,751 $13,629 $20,234 $84,690
1998 $3,700 $15,138 $17,665 $84,486
1997 $4,509 $14,837 $20,523 $79,219
1996 $4,943 $14,147 $17,125 $62,331
1995 $4,415 $13,750 $15,823 $60,321
1994 $3,828 $13,164 $14,765 $59,415
1993 $4,106 $12,757 $14,770 $59,125
1992 $5,386 $12,312 $16,280 $60,387
1991 $5,345 $12,760 $15,133 $54,759
1990 $6,051 $11,952 $16,722 $55,659
1989 $4,374 - $15,243 -
1988 $4,119 - $14,682 -
1987 $3,624 - $13,719 -
1986 $3,865 - $13,213 -
1985 $3,898 - $16,815 -
1984 $4,273 - $19,749 -
1983 $4,182 - $19,669 -
1982 $4,584 - $24,431 -
1981 $5,026 - $29,543 -
1980 $5,718 - $28,407 -
1979 $4,155 - $21,777 -
1978 $3,360 - $16,757 -
1977 $4,048 - $16,058 -
1976 $4,441 - $15,710 -
1975 $3,258 - $13,014 -
1974 $2,384 - $13,540 -
1973 $1,140 - $4,905 -
1972 $693 - $3,483 -
1971 $627 - $2,952 -
1970 $543 - $2,594 -
1969 $545 - - -
1968 $515 - - -
1967 $482 - - -
1966 $443 - - -
1965 $415 - - -
1964 $400 - - -
1963 $290.7 - - -
1962 $348 - - -
1961 $323 - - -
1960 $276.1 - - -

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

GeoRank.org/economy/gabon/qatar | CC BY

Gabon's GDP per capita is $8,263, ranking 96/197, compared to $72,525 in Qatar, ranking 13/197. Adjusted for purchasing power (GDP per capita PPP), Gabon ranks 90th at $21,510, while Qatar ranks 5th at $126,046.

Economic indicators

Gabon Qatar
Gross domestic product
$21.4B
2025
$216B
2025
GDP rank
132/197
2025
56/197
2025
GDP growth
2.47%
2024-2025
2.9%
2024-2025
GDP per capita
$8,263
2025
$72,525
2025
GDP per capita rank
96/197
2025
13/197
2025
GDP per capita, PPP
$21,510
2024
$126,046
2024
GDP per capita PPP rank
90/197
2024
5/197
2024
Government debt
$16.9B
2025
$89.2B
2025
Debt-to-GDP ratio
78.9%
2025
41.4%
2025
Government debt per person
$6,521
2025
$30,009
2025
Government debt per person rank
74/185
2025
24/185
2025
Average annual personal income after taxes
$5,617
2026
$37,042
2026
Market capitalization of domestic companies n/a
$177B
2025
Number of millionaires n/a
30,000
2026
Number of billionaires n/a
2
2026
Income share by richest 10%
27.7%
2017
25.8%
2017
Income share by poorest 10%
2.2%
2017
2.6%
2017
Government expenditure, % of GDP
28.6%
2025
27.1%
2025
Consumer prices inflation
1.77%
2024-2025
0.6%
2024-2025
Central bank interest rate n/a
4.1%
2025
Unemployment rate
17.4%
2024
0.1%
2024
Population
2676097
3058826

Spending and national debt comparison by year

Gabon
Spending

Debt
Qatar
Spending

Debt
1x
Year % of GDP
Gabon Qatar
Government spending Government debt Government spending Government debt
2025 28.6% 78.9% 27.1% 41.4%
2024 24.8% 70.9% 26% 41.3%
2023 21.5% 70.6% 26.7% 42.8%
2022 19.7% 65.6% 24.3% 42.6%
2021 17.3% 72.9% 29.4% 58.4%
2020 19.8% 83% 34.7% 72.6%
2019 17.4% 59.8% 32.5% 62.1%
2018 17.1% 62.3% 28.9% 52.2%
2017 18.1% 62.9% 34.7% 51.6%
2016 21.8% 64.5% 40.1% 46.7%
2015 22.3% 44.7% 38.6% 35.5%
2014 23.8% 34.1% 32.3% 24.9%
2013 34.7% 31.1% 28.3% 30.9%
2012 23.9% 21.4% 31% 32.1%
2011 22.1% 21.4% 28.5% 33.5%
2010 23.1% 21.3% 32% 30.4%
2009 22.6% 26% 36.4% 36%
2008 18.9% 20.1% 23.5% 11.4%
2007 19.4% 39.2% 29.5% 9.37%
2006 21.1% 34.9% 29.5% 13.9%
2005 20.8% 41.7% 29% 19.1%
2004 20.9% 60.3% 29.9% 30.1%
2003 21.2% 70.2% 28.5% 38.8%
2002 25.7% 81.1% 31.6% 47.7%
2001 27.8% 81% 32.1% 59.2%
2000 20.3% 72.5% 29.8% 51.6%
1999 25.5% 73.1% 42.4% 81.8%
1998 45.5% 87.6% 55.1% 76.6%
1997 29.7% 57% 47.6% 54.4%
1996 22.2% 64.5% 55.2% 57.8%
1995 25.1% 73.4% 52.2% 50.2%
1994 23.9% 71.3% 59.8% 54.8%
1993 26.9% 90.1% 62.8% 46.3%
1992 26.5% 87.9% 54.2% 19.9%
1991 25.1% 89.3% 57.5% 21.8%
1990 22.6% 90% 50% 12.6%

Data sources: International Monetary Fund (IMF) | Fiscal Monitor (1990–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08).

GeoRank.org/economy/gabon/qatar | CC BY

In 2025, Gabon's government spending was $6.14B, accounting for 28.6% of its GDP, while Qatar spent $58.4B, or 27.1% of GDP.

Debt-to-GDP ratio is 78.9% in Gabon and 41.4% in Qatar, ranking 44/185 and 127/185, respectively.

Government deficit by year

Deficit/surplus
Gabon

Qatar
1x
Year Deficit/surplus, % of GDP
Gabon Qatar
2025 -8.47% -1%
2024 -3.3% 0.71%
2023 1.79% 5.51%
2022 -0.89% 10.4%
2021 -1.93% 0.24%
2020 -2.19% -2.13%
2019 2.13% 1%
2018 -0.21% 2.26%
2017 -1.7% -6.82%
2016 -4.71% -9.2%
2015 -1.12% 18.4%
2014 5.98% 13.4%
2013 -3.07% 19.3%
2012 6.2% 8.55%
2011 1.41% 5.24%
2010 2.7% 4.6%
2009 6.77% 14.1%
2008 11% 9.49%
2007 8.06% 10.3%
2006 8.67% 8.39%
2005 7.98% 9.8%
2004 6.99% 17.7%
2003 7.75% 6.71%
2002 3.72% 7.89%
2001 4.07% 4.48%
2000 11.1% 4.62%
1999 1.11% -4.35%
1998 -13.1% -7%
1997 1.41% -9.4%
1996 2.12% -8.73%
1995 2.64% -5.78%
1994 -1.53% -11.8%
1993 -5.35% -9.53%
1992 -4.9% -2.74%
1991 -2.03% -2.57%
1990 -3.83% 3.23%

Data sources: International Monetary Fund (IMF) | Fiscal Monitor (1990–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08).

GeoRank.org/economy/gabon/qatar | CC BY

In 2025, Gabon's government deficit, the difference between spending and revenue, was $1.82B, equivalent to 8.47% of GDP. This compares to Qatar's deficit of $2.16B, or 1% of GDP.

Over the past 36 years, Gabon recorded a fiscal deficit in 16 of those years, while Qatar ran a deficit in 13 years. On average, Gabon posted an annual surplus equal to 1.26% of GDP, compared to surplus of 2.92% of GDP for Qatar.

Inflation comparison by year

Inflation
Gabon

Qatar
1x
Year Consumer prices inflation
Gabon Qatar
2025 1.77% 0.6%
2024 1.17% 1.2%
2023 3.63% 3.1%
2022 4.23% 5%
2021 1.09% 2.3%
2020 1.35% -2.5%
2019 2.46% -0.9%
2018 4.75% 0.1%
2017 2.65% 0.6%
2016 2.11% 2.7%
2015 -0.34% 0.9%
2014 4.69% 4.2%
2013 0.51% 3.1%
2012 2.65% 1.8%
2011 1.26% 2%
2010 1.46% -2.4%
2009 1.89% -4.9%
2008 5.26% 15.1%
2007 5.03% 13.7%
2006 -1.41% 11.7%
2005 3.71% 9%
2004 0.41% 6.8%
2003 2.24% 2.3%
2002 0.04% 0.2%
2001 2.14% 1.7%
2000 0.5% 1.6%
1999 -1.94% 2.2%
1998 1.45% 2.9%
1997 3.97% 2.7%

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/gabon/qatar | CC BY

Over the past 29 years, Gabon has recorded an average annual inflation rate of 2.03%, compared with 2.99% in Qatar. In 2025, inflation was 1.77% in Gabon and 0.6% in Qatar.

Top exports between countries

Gabon
Export category Export value
Wood & paper products $184K
Machinery & equipment $69K
Textiles & consumer goods $23K
Metals $4K
Chemicals & pharma $1K
Qatar
Export category Export value
Machinery & equipment $343K
Chemicals & pharma $196K
Wood & paper products $98K
Textiles & consumer goods $43K

Balance of trade

Gabon Qatar
Current account balance
$141M
2015
$31.9B
2025
Current account balance ranking
61/190
2015
17/190
2025
Current account balance, % of GDP
+0.98%
2015
+14.8%
2025
Goods imports
$3.17B
2015
$34.3B
2025
Goods exports
$5.11B
2015
$90B
2025
Service imports
$1.88B
2015
$31.3B
2025
Service exports
$277M
2015
$24.4B
2025
Imports of goods and services, % of GDP
29.4%
2025
31.6%
2022
Exports of goods and services, % of GDP
55.5%
2025
68.6%
2022

Economic freedom indices

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

Gabon Qatar
Economic freedom 56.6 70.2
Economic freedom ranking 120/197 37/197
Property rights 30 66.2
Government integrity 22.6 53.5
Judicial effectiveness 19.9 41.5
Tax burden 76.5 99.9
Government spending 85.5 79.9
Fiscal health 87.9 96.6
Business freedom 63.6 68
Labor freedom 55.4 58.5
Monetary freedom 80.9 76
Trade freedom 57.4 81.8
Investment freedom 60 60
Financial freedom 40 60

Economic freedom comparison by year

Gabon
Qatar
1x
Year Economic freedom index
Gabon Qatar
2026 56.6 70.2
2025 56.3 70.2
2024 56.9 68.8
2023 56.1 68.6
2022 55.8 67.7
2021 58.1 72
2020 56.7 72.3
2019 56.3 72.6
2018 58 72.6
2017 58.6 73.1
2016 59 70.7
2015 58.3 70.8
2014 57.8 71.2
2013 57.8 71.3
2012 56.4 71.3
2011 56.7 70.5
2010 55.4 69
2009 55 65.8
2008 54.2 62.2
2007 54.8 62.9
2006 56.1 62.4
2005 54.8 63.5
2004 57.1 66.5
2003 58.7 65.9
2002 58 61.9
2001 55 60
2000 58.2 62
1999 60.5 62
1998 59.2 -
1997 58.8 -
1996 55.7 -
1995 57.5 -

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

GeoRank.org/economy/gabon/qatar | CC BY

The Economic Freedom Index for Gabon is 56.6, ranking 120/197, compared to 70.2 for Qatar, ranking 37/197. The chart above displays a comparison of annual changes in economic freedom indexes.

Other economic metrics

Gabon Qatar
Services, % of GDP
42.3%
2025
47%
2025
Industry, % of GDP
47.2%
2025
57%
2025
Agriculture, forestry, and fishing, % of GDP
6.75%
2025
0.31%
2025
GNI, Atlas method
$21B
2025
$221B
2025
GNI per capita, PPP
$21,660
2025
$126,290
2025
Total reserves including gold
$639M
2024
$55.8B
2025
Total reserves ranking
150/177
2024
45/177
2025
Net foreign direct investment
-$25.3M
2015
$311M
2025
Net inflows of foreign direct investment
$1.14B
2024
$460M
2024
Net outflows of foreign direct investment
-$33.8M
2019
$1.56B
2024
Servicing debt to the IMF, % of GNI
5.62%
2024
n/a
Poverty at national poverty lines
33.4%
2017
n/a
Gross capital formation, % of GDP
24.8%
2025
30.6%
2022

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/gabon/qatar | 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 (1990–2025, 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 (2022–2024, retrieved 2026-07-08)
  6. United Nations | World Population Prospects (2026, retrieved 2026-07-08)
  7. LivingCost (2026, 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.