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Economy of Gambia vs Qatar compared: GDP & Debt

Updated on by Georank

The Gambia has a GDP of $2.59B compared to $216B for Qatar, ranking 174/197 and 56/197 by economy size, respectively.

The Gambia has $1.92B in government debt (73.9% of GDP), compared to $89.2B (41.4% of GDP) in Qatar.

Gambia vs Qatar GDP by year

Gambia
Qatar
1x
Year GDP, current $
Gambia Qatar
2025 $2,593,673,988 $215,559,615,385
2024 $2,404,888,738 $216,294,505,495
2023 $2,382,262,185 $213,002,809,341
2022 $2,204,734,528 $235,709,325,714
2021 $2,014,158,842 $179,732,009,560
2020 $1,812,170,891 $144,411,363,352
2019 $1,813,609,692 $176,371,267,692
2018 $1,670,671,328 $183,334,953,819
2017 $1,504,909,463 $161,099,122,225
2016 $1,484,578,886 $151,732,181,868
2015 $1,378,176,609 $161,739,955,577
2014 $1,229,461,721 $206,224,598,571
2013 $1,375,609,453 $198,727,642,967
2012 $1,415,004,738 $186,833,502,363
2011 $1,409,693,597 $167,775,274,725
2010 $1,543,294,927 $125,122,252,747
2009 $1,450,142,509 $97,798,351,648
2008 $1,561,766,956 $115,269,780,220
2007 $1,279,703,047 $79,711,813,187
2006 $1,054,112,488 $60,882,142,857
2005 $1,027,701,068 $44,530,494,505
2004 $961,900,651 $31,734,065,934
2003 $487,038,685 $23,533,791,209
2002 $578,235,309 $19,363,736,264
2001 $687,410,645 $17,538,461,538
2000 $782,913,872 $17,759,890,110
1999 $814,724,032 $12,393,131,868
1998 $840,285,265 $10,255,494,505
1997 $803,633,342 $11,297,802,198
1996 $848,239,446 $9,059,340,659
1995 $785,999,865 $8,137,912,088
1994 $746,493,952 $7,374,450,549
1993 $755,040,974 $7,156,593,407
1992 $714,254,256 $7,646,153,846
1991 $690,311,081 $6,883,516,484
1990 $317,083,695 $7,360,439,560
1989 $284,120,329 $6,487,912,088
1988 $266,672,212 $6,038,186,813
1987 $220,626,484 $5,446,428,571
1986 $185,646,987 $5,053,021,978
1985 $225,726,359 $6,153,296,703
1984 $177,340,880 $6,870,329,670
1983 $213,448,585 $6,484,890,110
1982 $216,050,552 $7,611,263,736
1981 $218,767,743 $8,672,527,473
1980 $241,083,090 $7,837,915,956
1979 $207,112,628 $5,632,962,997
1978 $171,833,086 $4,052,000,413
1977 $138,093,099 $3,617,564,638
1976 $112,190,829 $3,284,273,987
1975 $115,179,719 $2,512,773,166
1974 $95,796,022 $2,401,403,227
1973 $75,187,749 $793,885,560
1972 $59,160,569 $510,262,500
1971 $55,728,663 $387,703,106
1970 $52,296,084 $301,791,302
1969 $45,168,072 -
1968 $41,160,066 -
1967 $46,695,007 -
1966 $44,212,081 -

Data sources: World Bank | Economy & Growth (1966–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08).

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

GDP per capita in Gambia vs Qatar by year

Gambia
GDP per capita

GDP per capita, PPP
Qatar
GDP per capita

GDP per capita, PPP
1x
Year Current $
Gambia Qatar
GDP per capita GDP per capita, PPP GDP per capita GDP per capita, PPP
2025 $919 - $72,525 -
2024 $871 $3,476 $75,685 $126,046
2023 $883 $3,289 $80,196 $129,368
2022 $836 $3,067 $88,701 $122,921
2021 $782 $2,778 $71,752 $116,833
2020 $720 $2,531 $51,684 $82,149
2019 $738 $2,422 $66,841 $107,503
2018 $696 $2,277 $71,040 $110,033
2017 $643 $2,039 $63,280 $99,358
2016 $650 $2,013 $61,254 $89,935
2015 $620 $1,990 $68,985 $102,546
2014 $568 $1,934 $95,841 $148,389
2013 $654 $2,007 $103,697 $169,203
2012 $693 $2,065 $108,470 $180,939
2011 $711 $2,064 $103,262 $174,620
2010 $801 $2,267 $77,387 $151,646
2009 $775 $2,177 $60,786 $125,898
2008 $859 $2,088 $80,781 $126,015
2007 $725 $1,985 $65,954 $124,056
2006 $615 $1,931 $62,582 $127,181
2005 $616 $1,938 $53,950 $115,250
2004 $593 $1,979 $41,036 $110,958
2003 $309 $1,850 $31,602 $94,120
2002 $377 $1,744 $27,227 $93,177
2001 $460 $1,823 $25,871 $89,805
2000 $538 $1,731 $27,535 $88,849
1999 $575 $1,649 $20,234 $84,690
1998 $610 $1,572 $17,665 $84,486
1997 $600 $1,544 $20,523 $79,219
1996 $652 $1,489 $17,125 $62,331
1995 $622 $1,472 $15,823 $60,321
1994 $608 $1,473 $14,765 $59,415
1993 $635 $1,487 $14,770 $59,125
1992 $623 $1,462 $16,280 $60,387
1991 $628 $1,440 $15,133 $54,759
1990 $301 $1,409 $16,722 $55,659
1989 $280.9 - $15,243 -
1988 $274.9 - $14,682 -
1987 $237 - $13,719 -
1986 $207.7 - $13,213 -
1985 $262.8 - $16,815 -
1984 $214.8 - $19,749 -
1983 $268.6 - $19,669 -
1982 $282.1 - $24,431 -
1981 $296 - $29,543 -
1980 $338 - $28,407 -
1979 $300 - $21,777 -
1978 $257.6 - $16,757 -
1977 $213.8 - $16,058 -
1976 $179.3 - $15,710 -
1975 $189.8 - $13,014 -
1974 $162.6 - $13,540 -
1973 $131.4 - $4,905 -
1972 $106.5 - $3,483 -
1971 $103.3 - $2,952 -
1970 $99.8 - $2,594 -
1969 $88.7 - - -
1968 $83.1 - - -
1967 $97 - - -
1966 $94.4 - - -

Data sources: World Bank | Economy & Growth (1966–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08).

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

The Gambia's GDP per capita is $919, ranking 183/197, compared to $72,525 in Qatar, ranking 13/197. Adjusted for purchasing power (GDP per capita PPP), the Gambia ranks 172nd at $3,476, while Qatar ranks 5th at $126,046.

Economic indicators

Gambia Qatar
Gross domestic product
$2.59B
2025
$216B
2025
GDP rank
174/197
2025
56/197
2025
GDP growth
5.89%
2024-2025
2.9%
2024-2025
GDP per capita
$919
2025
$72,525
2025
GDP per capita rank
183/197
2025
13/197
2025
GDP per capita, PPP
$3,476
2024
$126,046
2024
GDP per capita PPP rank
172/197
2024
5/197
2024
Government debt
$1.92B
2025
$89.2B
2025
Debt-to-GDP ratio
73.9%
2025
41.4%
2025
Government debt per person
$679
2025
$30,009
2025
Government debt per person rank
156/185
2025
24/185
2025
Average annual personal income after taxes
$710
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%
30.5%
2020
25.8%
2017
Income share by poorest 10%
2.6%
2020
2.6%
2017
Government expenditure, % of GDP
27.1%
2025
27.1%
2025
Consumer prices inflation
11.6%
2023-2024
0.6%
2024-2025
Central bank interest rate
14%
2026
4.1%
2025
Unemployment rate
7.05%
2025
0.1%
2024
Population
2916990
3058826

Spending and national debt comparison by year

Gambia
Spending

Debt
Qatar
Spending

Debt
1x
Year % of GDP
Gambia Qatar
Government spending Government debt Government spending Government debt
2025 27.1% 73.9% 27.1% 41.4%
2024 25.3% 78.5% 26% 41.3%
2023 23.9% 77.4% 26.7% 42.8%
2022 24.6% 83.9% 24.3% 42.6%
2021 21.5% 83.1% 29.4% 58.4%
2020 25.3% 85.9% 34.7% 72.6%
2019 23.9% 83% 32.5% 62.1%
2018 19% 83.6% 28.9% 52.2%
2017 23.6% 87% 34.7% 51.6%
2016 19.4% 79.5% 40.1% 46.7%
2015 19.6% 69.4% 38.6% 35.5%
2014 19% 71.1% 32.3% 24.9%
2013 17.2% 58.2% 28.3% 30.9%
2012 19.1% 49.5% 31% 32.1%
2011 16.5% 49.2% 28.5% 33.5%
2010 14.6% 42.9% 32% 30.4%
2009 14.4% 38.9% 36.4% 36%
2008 11.6% 39.5% 23.5% 11.4%
2007 11.2% 38% 29.5% 9.37%
2006 14% 87.3% 29.5% 13.9%
2005 12.9% 82.6% 29% 19.1%
2004 12.4% 81.3% 29.9% 30.1%
2003 9.3% 91.7% 28.5% 38.8%
2002 8.59% 93.9% 31.6% 47.7%
2001 9.68% 75.2% 32.1% 59.2%
2000 9.54% 73.3% 29.8% 51.6%
1999 - - 42.4% 81.8%
1998 - - 55.1% 76.6%
1997 - - 47.6% 54.4%
1996 - - 55.2% 57.8%
1995 - - 52.2% 50.2%
1994 - - 59.8% 54.8%
1993 - - 62.8% 46.3%
1992 - - 54.2% 19.9%
1991 - - 57.5% 21.8%
1990 - - 50% 12.6%

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

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

In 2025, the Gambia's government spending was $704M, accounting for 27.1% of its GDP, while Qatar spent $58.4B, or 27.1% of GDP.

Debt-to-GDP ratio is 73.9% in the Gambia and 41.4% in Qatar, ranking 51/185 and 127/185, respectively.

Government deficit by year

Deficit/surplus
Gambia

Qatar
1x
Year Deficit/surplus, % of GDP
Gambia Qatar
2025 -2.95% -1%
2024 -4% 0.71%
2023 -3.56% 5.51%
2022 -5.72% 10.4%
2021 -4.77% 0.24%
2020 -2.37% -2.13%
2019 -2.75% 1%
2018 -3.92% 2.26%
2017 -4.35% -6.82%
2016 -6.22% -9.2%
2015 -5.38% 18.4%
2014 -3.94% 13.4%
2013 -5.11% 19.3%
2012 -2.85% 8.55%
2011 -3.03% 5.24%
2010 -2.93% 4.6%
2009 -1.65% 14.1%
2008 -0.45% 9.49%
2007 0.27% 10.3%
2006 -3.19% 8.39%
2005 -3.33% 9.8%
2004 -1.77% 17.7%
2003 -1.73% 6.71%
2002 0.06% 7.89%
2001 -2.52% 4.48%
2000 -0.09% 4.62%
1999 - -4.35%
1998 - -7%
1997 - -9.4%
1996 - -8.73%
1995 - -5.78%
1994 - -11.8%
1993 - -9.53%
1992 - -2.74%
1991 - -2.57%
1990 - 3.23%

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

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

In 2025, the Gambia's government deficit, the difference between spending and revenue, was $76.5M, equivalent to 2.95% of GDP. This compares to Qatar's deficit of $2.16B, or 1% of GDP.

Over the past 26 years, the Gambia recorded a fiscal deficit in 24 of those years, while Qatar ran a deficit in 4 years. On average, the Gambia posted an annual deficit equal to 3.01% of GDP, compared to surplus of 6.31% of GDP for Qatar.

Inflation comparison by year

Inflation
Gambia

Qatar
1x
Year Consumer prices inflation
Gambia Qatar
2025 - 0.6%
2024 11.6% 1.2%
2023 17% 3.1%
2022 11.5% 5%
2021 7.37% 2.3%
2020 5.93% -2.5%
2019 7.12% -0.9%
2018 6.52% 0.1%
2017 8.03% 0.6%
2016 7.23% 2.7%
2015 6.81% 0.9%
2014 5.95% 4.2%
2013 5.7% 3.1%
2012 4.25% 1.8%
2011 4.8% 2%
2010 5.05% -2.4%
2009 4.56% -4.9%
2008 4.44% 15.1%
2007 5.37% 13.7%
2006 2.06% 11.7%
2005 4.84% 9%
2004 14.2% 6.8%
2003 17% 2.3%
2002 8.61% 0.2%
2001 4.49% 1.7%
2000 0.84% 1.6%
1999 3.81% 2.2%
1998 1.11% 2.9%
1997 2.78% 2.7%

Data sources: International Monetary Fund (IMF) | World Economic Outlook (1997–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08); World Bank | Economy & Growth (1997–2024, retrieved 2026-07-08).

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

Over the past 28 years, the Gambia has recorded an average annual inflation rate of 6.75%, compared with 3.08% in Qatar. In 2024, inflation was 11.6% in the Gambia and 0.6% in Qatar.

Top exports between countries

Gambia
Export category Export value
Qatar
Export category Export value
Machinery & equipment $110K
Raw materials & minerals $38K

Balance of trade

Gambia Qatar
Current account balance
-$99.8M
2024
$31.9B
2025
Current account balance ranking
81/190
2024
17/190
2025
Current account balance, % of GDP
-4.15%
2024
+14.8%
2025
Goods imports
$1.39B
2024
$34.3B
2025
Goods exports
$363M
2024
$90B
2025
Service imports
$161M
2024
$31.3B
2025
Service exports
$485M
2024
$24.4B
2025
Imports of goods and services, % of GDP
49.4%
2025
31.6%
2022
Exports of goods and services, % of GDP
12.7%
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.

Gambia Qatar
Economic freedom 56.3 70.2
Economic freedom ranking 123/197 37/197
Property rights 55.4 66.2
Government integrity 40.5 53.5
Judicial effectiveness 45.8 41.5
Tax burden 79.2 99.9
Government spending 81.1 79.9
Fiscal health 54.8 96.6
Business freedom 50.1 68
Labor freedom 46.4 58.5
Monetary freedom 57.3 76
Trade freedom 64.8 81.8
Investment freedom 50 60
Financial freedom 50 60

Economic freedom comparison by year

Gambia
Qatar
1x
Year Economic freedom index
Gambia Qatar
2026 56.3 70.2
2025 56.8 70.2
2024 58.2 68.8
2023 57.9 68.6
2022 58 67.7
2021 58.8 72
2020 56.3 72.3
2019 52.4 72.6
2018 52.3 72.6
2017 53.4 73.1
2016 57.1 70.7
2015 57.5 70.8
2014 59.5 71.2
2013 58.8 71.3
2012 58.8 71.3
2011 57.4 70.5
2010 55.1 69
2009 55.8 65.8
2008 56.9 62.2
2007 57.7 62.9
2006 57.3 62.4
2005 56.5 63.5
2004 55.3 66.5
2003 56.3 65.9
2002 57.7 61.9
2001 56.6 60
2000 52.7 62
1999 52.1 62
1998 53.4 -
1997 52.9 -

Data sources: The Heritage Foundation | Economic Freedom Index (1997–2026, retrieved 2026-07-08).

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

The Economic Freedom Index for the Gambia is 56.3, ranking 123/197, 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

Gambia Qatar
Services, % of GDP
53.1%
2025
47%
2025
Industry, % of GDP
15.8%
2025
57%
2025
Agriculture, forestry, and fishing, % of GDP
23.8%
2025
0.31%
2025
GNI, Atlas method
$2.62B
2025
$221B
2025
GNI per capita, PPP
$3,660
2025
$126,290
2025
Total reserves including gold
$629M
2024
$55.8B
2025
Total reserves ranking
151/177
2024
45/177
2025
Net foreign direct investment
-$232M
2024
$311M
2025
Net inflows of foreign direct investment
$232M
2024
$460M
2024
Net outflows of foreign direct investment
-$665K
2024
$1.56B
2024
Servicing debt to the IMF, % of GNI
3.25%
2024
n/a
Poverty at national poverty lines
53.4%
2020
n/a
Gross capital formation, % of GDP
40.4%
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/gambia/qatar | CC BY

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Data sources:

  1. World Bank | Economy & Growth (1966–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08)
  2. International Monetary Fund (IMF) | Fiscal Monitor (1990–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08)
  3. The Heritage Foundation | Economic Freedom Index (1997–2026, retrieved 2026-07-08)
  4. U.S. Census Bureau (1985–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08)
  5. TradeMap (2021, 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.