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Economy of Guatemala vs Sao Tome and Principe compared: GDP & Debt

Updated on by Georank

Guatemala has a GDP of $123B compared to $981M for Sao Tome and Principe, ranking 67/197 and 189/197 by economy size, respectively.

Guatemala has $33.5B in government debt (27.2% of GDP), compared to $546M (55.7% of GDP) in Sao Tome and Principe.

Guatemala vs Sao Tome and Principe GDP by year

Guatemala
Sao Tome and Principe
1x
Year GDP, current $
Guatemala Sao Tome
2025 $123,306,008,821 $981,293,587
2024 $113,215,575,151 $824,992,558
2023 $104,298,081,429 $690,456,807
2022 $95,609,727,056 $540,809,499
2021 $86,455,522,273 $524,402,456
2020 $77,719,468,248 $471,229,485
2019 $77,172,331,693 $412,976,083
2018 $73,328,356,008 $383,717,328
2017 $71,653,780,740 $322,002,845
2016 $66,053,408,206 $292,267,272
2015 $62,186,066,548 $259,999,643
2014 $57,852,159,008 $293,119,143
2013 $52,996,420,177 $267,041,748
2012 $49,593,929,487 $229,371,348
2011 $46,876,006,272 $226,455,001
2010 $40,676,578,423 $190,021,192
2009 $37,126,148,265 $200,668,065
2008 $38,503,720,224 $188,021,165
2007 $33,567,850,824 $149,146,919
2006 $29,744,246,827 $142,775,104
2005 $26,783,389,294 $136,450,662
2004 $23,577,298,095 $114,582,284
2003 $21,576,351,799 $102,085,769
2002 $20,444,205,991 $85,171,074
2001 $18,405,220,247 $75,951,133
2000 $19,288,929,030 $76,198,395
1999 $18,318,412,251 $77,302,212
1998 $19,395,491,993 $72,285,404
1997 $17,790,026,222 $91,920,274
1996 $15,674,835,615 $135,188,166
1995 $14,655,404,433 $103,695,237
1994 $12,983,233,311 $131,338,415
1993 $11,400,017,301 $125,742,229
1992 $10,440,781,588 $94,861,781
1991 $9,406,135,143 $107,484,143
1990 $7,650,196,845 $119,297,933
1989 $8,410,724,361 $98,545,367
1988 $7,841,602,824 $99,000,764
1987 $7,084,399,840 $115,952,925
1986 $7,231,963,516 $115,928,907
1985 $9,721,652,087 $82,733,069
1984 $9,470,000,100 $78,213,796
1983 $9,050,000,400 $75,110,289
1982 $8,716,999,700 $80,307,763
1981 $8,607,500,300 $83,499,264
1980 $7,878,700,000 $81,662,231
1979 $6,902,600,200 $65,755,928
1978 $6,070,600,200 $55,044,563
1977 $5,480,500,200 $49,207,692
1976 $4,365,300,200 $52,039,421
1975 $3,645,900,000 $60,101,710
1974 $3,161,499,900 $57,817,591
1973 $2,569,200,100 $56,011,245
1972 $2,101,300,000 $41,430,257
1971 $1,984,800,000 $37,288,845
1970 $1,904,000,000 $37,211,826
1969 $1,715,399,900 -
1968 $1,610,500,000 -
1967 $1,453,500,000 -
1966 $1,390,700,000 -
1965 $1,331,399,900 -
1964 $1,299,099,900 -
1963 $1,262,800,000 -
1962 $1,143,600,000 -
1961 $1,076,699,900 -
1960 $1,043,599,900 -

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

GeoRank.org/economy/guatemala/sao-tome-and-principe | CC BY

GDP per capita in Guatemala vs Sao Tome and Principe by year

Guatemala
GDP per capita

GDP per capita, PPP
Sao Tome and Principe
GDP per capita

GDP per capita, PPP
1x
Year Current $
Guatemala Sao Tome
GDP per capita GDP per capita, PPP GDP per capita GDP per capita, PPP
2025 $6,598 - $4,084 -
2024 $6,151 $14,369 $3,503 $6,242
2023 $5,754 $13,745 $2,991 $6,150
2022 $5,357 $13,014 $2,390 $6,034
2021 $4,913 $11,825 $2,363 $5,733
2020 $4,478 $10,947 $2,167 $5,145
2019 $4,512 $10,756 $1,935 $4,655
2018 $4,353 $9,947 $1,826 $3,941
2017 $4,325 $9,560 $1,556 $3,436
2016 $4,060 $9,201 $1,435 $3,320
2015 $3,894 $8,934 $1,298 $3,172
2014 $3,689 $8,237 $1,490 $3,233
2013 $3,444 $7,700 $1,383 $2,946
2012 $3,287 $7,258 $1,211 $2,653
2011 $3,169 $6,784 $1,220 $2,914
2010 $2,805 $6,510 $1,045 $2,859
2009 $2,612 $6,377 $1,128 $2,846
2008 $2,763 $6,435 $1,082 $2,802
2007 $2,459 $6,238 $879 $2,650
2006 $2,225 $5,833 $862 $2,551
2005 $2,046 $5,486 $844 $2,329
2004 $1,841 $5,263 $727 $2,171
2003 $1,723 $5,081 $664 $2,094
2002 $1,669 $4,969 $568 $1,945
2001 $1,538 $4,822 $519 $1,898
2000 $1,649 $4,715 $529 $1,830
1999 $1,604 $4,557 $543 $1,802
1998 $1,741 $4,437 $514 $1,754
1997 $1,638 $4,287 $662 $1,714
1996 $1,481 $4,143 $987 $1,693
1995 $1,421 $4,055 $769 $1,663
1994 $1,293 $3,886 $990 $1,623
1993 $1,166 $3,756 $964 $1,581
1992 $1,096 $3,626 $740 $1,556
1991 $1,014 $3,473 $855 $1,540
1990 $848 $3,330 $970 $1,504
1989 $958 - $821 -
1988 $919 - $847 -
1987 $854 - $1,018 -
1986 $896 - $1,043 -
1985 $1,238 - $761 -
1984 $1,241 - $735 -
1983 $1,220 - $720 -
1982 $1,204 - $783 -
1981 $1,216 - $830 -
1980 $1,142 - $829 -
1979 $1,026 - $683 -
1978 $925 - $587 -
1977 $856 - $539 -
1976 $697 - $585 -
1975 $595 - $693 -
1974 $529 - $683 -
1973 $441 - $676 -
1972 $370 - $511 -
1971 $358 - $470 -
1970 $353 - $479 -
1969 $326 - - -
1968 $315 - - -
1967 $291.9 - - -
1966 $287.3 - - -
1965 $283 - - -
1964 $284.2 - - -
1963 $284.4 - - -
1962 $265.2 - - -
1961 $257.2 - - -
1960 $256.8 - - -

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

GeoRank.org/economy/guatemala/sao-tome-and-principe | CC BY

Guatemala's GDP per capita is $6,598, ranking 108/197, compared to $4,084 in Sao Tome and Principe, ranking 132/197. Adjusted for purchasing power (GDP per capita PPP), Guatemala ranks 116th at $14,369, while Sao Tome and Principe ranks 151st at $6,242.

Economic indicators

Guatemala Sao Tome
Gross domestic product
$123B
2025
$981M
2025
GDP rank
67/197
2025
189/197
2025
GDP growth
4.28%
2024-2025
1.03%
2024-2025
GDP per capita
$6,598
2025
$4,084
2025
GDP per capita rank
108/197
2025
132/197
2025
GDP per capita, PPP
$14,369
2024
$6,242
2024
GDP per capita PPP rank
116/197
2024
151/197
2024
Government debt
$33.5B
2025
$546M
2025
Debt-to-GDP ratio
27.2%
2025
55.7%
2025
Government debt per person
$1,793
2025
$2,275
2025
Government debt per person rank
122/185
2025
115/185
2025
Average annual personal income after taxes
$4,432
2026
$3,249
2026
Income share by richest 10%
34.1%
2023
32.8%
2017
Income share by poorest 10%
1.6%
2023
2.6%
2017
Government expenditure, % of GDP
14.7%
2025
21.2%
2025
Consumer prices inflation
1.49%
2024-2025
0.9%
2024-2025
Central bank interest rate
4%
2025
n/a
Unemployment rate
1.9%
2024
6.66%
2017
Population
19115361
247495

Spending and national debt comparison by year

Guatemala
Spending

Debt
Sao Tome and Principe
Spending

Debt
1x
Year % of GDP
Guatemala Sao Tome
Government spending Government debt Government spending Government debt
2025 14.7% 27.2% 21.2% 55.7%
2024 13.4% 26.3% 23.8% 65.2%
2023 13.7% 27.2% 23.9% 73.2%
2022 14.3% 29% 27.7% 86.8%
2021 13.5% 30.6% 25.6% 85.1%
2020 15.6% 31.5% 23.2% 91%
2019 13.4% 26.4% 22.8% 98.6%
2018 13.2% 26.4% 28% 95.9%
2017 12.8% 25.1% 31.9% 92.3%
2016 12.6% 24.9% 38.3% 104.6%
2015 12.6% 24.8% 41.6% 101.1%
2014 13.6% 24.7% 36% 92.5%
2013 14% 25% 35.5% 76.8%
2012 14.2% 24.6% 50.5% 59.6%
2011 14.5% 23.8% 53.4% 86%
2010 14.5% 24% 51.7% 83%
2009 14.1% 22.8% 48.6% 70.3%
2008 13.3% 19.6% 30.4% 60.7%
2007 13.9% 20.8% 38.9% 110.1%
2006 14.2% 20.9% 32.5% 283.2%
2005 13.2% 20% 43.7% 334%
2004 12.9% 20.6% 60.6% 354%
2003 14.4% 19.8% 51.9% 329%
2002 13.1% 17.4% 44.3% 367%
2001 13.8% 19.1% 52.8% 418%
2000 13.6% 18% 10.7% -
1999 14.6% 22% - -
1998 13.2% 19% - -
1997 11.2% 18.5% - -
1996 9.85% 19.2% - -
1995 9.77% 21% - -

Data sources: International Monetary Fund (IMF) | Fiscal Monitor (1995–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08); International Monetary Fund (IMF) | Public Finances in Modern History (1995–1999, retrieved 2026-07-08).

GeoRank.org/economy/guatemala/sao-tome-and-principe | CC BY

In 2025, Guatemala's government spending was $18.2B, accounting for 14.7% of its GDP, while Sao Tome and Principe spent $208M, or 21.2% of GDP.

Debt-to-GDP ratio is 27.2% in Guatemala and 55.7% in Sao Tome and Principe, ranking 163/185 and 88/185, respectively.

Government deficit by year

Deficit/surplus
Guatemala

Sao Tome and Principe
1x
Year Deficit/surplus, % of GDP
Guatemala Sao Tome
2025 -1.91% -2.53%
2024 -0.96% 0.92%
2023 -1.25% -2.13%
2022 -1.7% -2.24%
2021 -1.16% -1.52%
2020 -4.91% 2.94%
2019 -2.24% -0.07%
2018 -1.88% -2.02%
2017 -1.38% -3.11%
2016 -1.11% -5.01%
2015 -1.47% -7.6%
2014 -1.92% -6.27%
2013 -2.16% 2.13%
2012 -2.42% -12.3%
2011 -2.8% -13%
2010 -3.28% -12.1%
2009 -3.12% -18%
2008 -1.57% 13.6%
2007 -1.4% 125.1%
2006 -1.88% 18%
2005 -1.67% 26.8%
2004 -1.05% -25.1%
2003 -2.47% -15.9%
2002 -1.03% -10.4%
2001 -2% -13.5%
2000 -1.88% 51.5%
1999 -2.96% -
1998 -2.29% -
1997 -0.79% -
1996 0.04% -
1995 -0.53% -

Data sources: International Monetary Fund (IMF) | Fiscal Monitor (1995–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08).

GeoRank.org/economy/guatemala/sao-tome-and-principe | CC BY

In 2025, Guatemala's government deficit, the difference between spending and revenue, was $2.36B, equivalent to 1.91% of GDP. This compares to Sao Tome and Principe's deficit of $24.8M, or 2.53% of GDP.

Over the past 26 years, Guatemala recorded a fiscal deficit in 26 of those years, while Sao Tome and Principe ran a deficit in 18 years. On average, Guatemala posted an annual deficit equal to 1.95% of GDP, compared to surplus of 3.39% of GDP for Sao Tome and Principe.

Inflation comparison by year

Inflation
Guatemala

Sao Tome and Principe
1x
Year Consumer prices inflation
Guatemala Sao Tome
2025 1.49% 0.9%
2024 2.87% 14.4%
2023 6.21% 21.1%
2022 6.89% 18.1%
2021 4.26% 8.1%
2020 3.21% 9.8%
2019 3.7% 7.7%
2018 3.75% 7.9%
2017 4.42% 5.7%
2016 4.45% 5.4%
2015 2.39% 6.1%
2014 3.42% 7%
2013 4.34% 8.1%
2012 3.78% 10.6%
2011 6.21% 14.3%
2010 3.86% 13.3%
2009 1.86% 17%
2008 11.4% 32%
2007 6.82% 18.6%
2006 6.56% 23.1%
2005 9.11% 17.2%
2004 7.58% 13.3%
2003 5.6% 9.8%
2002 8.13% 10.1%
2001 7.29% 9.2%
2000 5.98% 11%
1999 5.21% 11%
1998 6.61% 42.1%
1997 9.23% 69%

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/guatemala/sao-tome-and-principe | CC BY

Over the past 29 years, Guatemala has recorded an average annual inflation rate of 5.4%, compared with 15.2% in Sao Tome and Principe. In 2025, inflation was 1.49% in Guatemala and 0.9% in Sao Tome and Principe.

Top exports between countries

Guatemala
Export category Export value
Textiles & consumer goods $99K
Processed food, beverages & tobacco $35K
Sao Tome
Export category Export value

Balance of trade

Guatemala Sao Tome
Current account balance
$3.27B
2024
$41.5M
2024
Current account balance ranking
36/190
2024
68/190
2024
Current account balance, % of GDP
+2.89%
2024
+5.03%
2024
Goods imports
$29.1B
2024
$153M
2024
Goods exports
$13.3B
2024
$29.3M
2024
Service imports
$6.45B
2024
$83M
2024
Service exports
$4.65B
2024
$88.2M
2024
Imports of goods and services, % of GDP
31%
2025
33.3%
2025
Exports of goods and services, % of GDP
15.6%
2025
13.3%
2025

Economic freedom indices

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

Guatemala Sao Tome
Economic freedom 63.5 60.6
Economic freedom ranking 79/197 93/197
Property rights 39.1 55.2
Government integrity 25.2 47.2
Judicial effectiveness 26.1 60.8
Tax burden 91.3 88.6
Government spending 94.3 80.6
Fiscal health 95.9 89.5
Business freedom 65.7 59.9
Labor freedom 52.5 40.8
Monetary freedom 77.3 59.4
Trade freedom 74.6 65
Investment freedom 70 50
Financial freedom 50 30

Economic freedom comparison by year

Guatemala
Sao Tome and Principe
1x
Year Economic freedom index
Guatemala Sao Tome
2026 63.5 60.6
2025 63.4 60.4
2024 62.4 60.5
2023 62.7 61.5
2022 63.2 60.3
2021 64 55.9
2020 64 56.2
2019 62.6 54
2018 63.4 53.6
2017 63 55.4
2016 61.8 56.7
2015 60.4 53.3
2014 61.2 48.8
2013 60 48
2012 60.9 50.2
2011 61.9 49.5
2010 61 48.8
2009 59.4 43.8
2008 59.8 -
2007 60.5 -
2006 59.1 -
2005 59.5 -
2004 59.6 -
2003 62.3 -
2002 62.3 -
2001 65.1 -
2000 64.3 -
1999 66.2 -
1998 65.8 -
1997 65.7 -
1996 63.7 -
1995 62 -

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

GeoRank.org/economy/guatemala/sao-tome-and-principe | CC BY

The Economic Freedom Index for Guatemala is 63.5, ranking 79/197, compared to 60.6 for Sao Tome and Principe, ranking 93/197. The chart above displays a comparison of annual changes in economic freedom indexes.

Other economic metrics

Guatemala Sao Tome
Services, % of GDP
62.1%
2025
81.4%
2025
Industry, % of GDP
21.8%
2025
2.23%
2025
Agriculture, forestry, and fishing, % of GDP
9.55%
2025
12.2%
2025
GNI, Atlas method
$119B
2025
$913M
2025
GNI per capita, PPP
$15,020
2025
$6,920
2025
Total reserves including gold
$32.8B
2025
$58.8M
2024
Total reserves ranking
57/177
2025
175/177
2024
Net foreign direct investment
-$983M
2024
$20.5M
2024
Net inflows of foreign direct investment
$1.85B
2024
-$16.7M
2024
Net outflows of foreign direct investment
$865M
2024
$3.83M
2024
Servicing debt to the IMF, % of GNI
1.75%
2024
0.62%
2024
Poverty at national poverty lines
56%
2023
66.2%
2020
Gross capital formation, % of GDP
16.8%
2025
8.74%
2025

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/guatemala/sao-tome-and-principe | 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 (1995–2025, 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. International Monetary Fund (IMF) | Public Finances in Modern History (1995–1999, retrieved 2026-07-08)
  6. TradeMap (2022–2024, 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.