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Economy of Guyana vs Sri Lanka compared: GDP & Debt

Updated on by Georank

Guyana has a GDP of $27.1B compared to $109B for Sri Lanka, ranking 120/197 and 71/197 by economy size, respectively.

Guyana has $7.74B in government debt (28.6% of GDP), compared to $100B (100.8% of GDP) in Sri Lanka.

Guyana vs Sri Lanka GDP by year

Guyana
Sri Lanka
1x
Year GDP, current $
Guyana Sri Lanka
2025 $27,097,477,218 $108,825,231,671
2024 $24,662,714,628 $99,616,111,266
2023 $16,918,503,597 $84,080,307,356
2022 $14,718,388,489 $74,143,020,304
2021 $8,041,362,110 $88,556,699,052
2020 $5,471,256,595 $84,335,574,372
2019 $5,173,760,192 $88,998,706,178
2018 $4,787,636,998 $94,450,015,983
2017 $4,748,174,334 $94,369,350,439
2016 $4,482,697,337 $88,000,210,878
2015 $4,279,840,194 $85,090,300,896
2014 $4,127,660,152 $82,531,125,462
2013 $4,167,800,929 $76,976,204,075
2012 $4,063,088,536 $70,447,216,891
2011 $3,691,384,318 $67,753,285,882
2010 $3,432,912,517 $58,636,049,581
2009 $3,165,663,153 $42,066,224,093
2008 $3,025,187,433 $40,713,826,215
2007 $2,730,971,595 $32,350,238,760
2006 $2,379,817,991 $28,267,410,543
2005 $824,880,550 $24,405,791,045
2004 $787,814,379 $20,662,525,941
2003 $743,063,950 $18,881,765,437
2002 $726,131,435 $16,536,535,647
2001 $712,167,450 $15,749,753,805
2000 $712,667,897 $16,595,882,819
1999 $694,754,988 $15,711,933,513
1998 $717,530,683 $15,760,736,956
1997 $749,138,010 $15,091,913,884
1996 $705,406,001 $13,897,738,375
1995 $621,626,786 $13,029,697,561
1994 $545,278,380 $11,717,604,209
1993 $454,101,382 $10,338,679,636
1992 $373,573,141 $9,703,011,636
1991 $348,533,095 $9,000,362,582
1990 $396,582,263 $8,032,551,173
1989 $379,779,390 $6,987,267,684
1988 $413,799,990 $6,978,371,581
1987 $354,591,847 $6,682,167,120
1986 $504,651,140 $6,405,210,564
1985 $453,488,372 $5,978,460,972
1984 $437,631,605 $6,043,474,843
1983 $489,333,333 $5,167,913,302
1982 $482,000,000 $4,768,765,017
1981 $570,357,107 $4,415,844,156
1980 $603,200,000 $4,024,621,900
1979 $530,440,000 $3,364,611,432
1978 $507,080,000 $2,733,183,857
1977 $449,880,000 $4,104,509,583
1976 $454,440,000 $3,591,319,857
1975 $494,791,667 $3,791,298,146
1974 $433,954,545 $3,574,586,466
1973 $307,047,619 $2,875,625,000
1972 $285,380,952 $2,553,936,348
1971 $282,050,000 $2,369,308,600
1970 $267,800,000 $2,296,470,588
1969 $249,300,000 $1,965,546,218
1968 $229,750,000 $1,801,344,538
1967 $250,176,471 $1,859,465,021
1966 $228,705,882 $1,751,470,588
1965 $213,235,294 $1,698,319,328
1964 $194,774,513 $1,309,747,899
1963 $175,757,894 $1,240,672,269
1962 $194,949,513 $1,434,156,379
1961 $185,849,535 $1,444,327,731
1960 $170,216,241 $1,409,873,950

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

GeoRank.org/economy/guyana/sri-lanka | CC BY

GDP per capita in Guyana vs Sri Lanka by year

Guyana
GDP per capita

GDP per capita, PPP
Sri Lanka
GDP per capita

GDP per capita, PPP
1x
Year Current $
Guyana Sri Lanka
GDP per capita GDP per capita, PPP GDP per capita GDP per capita, PPP
2025 $32,414 - $5,002 -
2024 $29,675 $80,155 $4,545 $15,633
2023 $20,474 $54,729 $3,815 $14,456
2022 $17,913 $39,711 $3,343 $14,194
2021 $9,861 $22,866 $3,997 $14,316
2020 $6,776 $16,819 $3,848 $12,941
2019 $6,406 $13,241 $4,082 $14,113
2018 $6,048 $12,443 $4,359 $14,178
2017 $6,179 $12,243 $4,399 $13,610
2016 $5,871 $11,516 $4,149 $13,079
2015 $5,640 $11,408 $4,058 $12,227
2014 $5,473 $11,145 $3,972 $11,721
2013 $5,557 $11,200 $3,739 $11,253
2012 $5,444 $10,627 $3,328 $10,249
2011 $4,947 $10,066 $3,225 $9,076
2010 $4,582 $9,337 $2,808 $8,234
2009 $4,209 $8,824 $2,027 $7,576
2008 $4,009 $8,437 $1,974 $7,317
2007 $3,608 $8,110 $1,579 $6,820
2006 $3,136 $7,346 $1,389 $6,261
2005 $1,084 $6,761 $1,207 $5,679
2004 $1,033 $6,673 $1,029 $5,216
2003 $974 $6,392 $946 $4,850
2002 $951 $6,304 $835 $4,522
2001 $932 $6,131 $804 $4,328
2000 $932 $5,860 $860 $4,368
1999 $909 $5,812 $829 $4,103
1998 $940 $5,573 $848 $3,952
1997 $983 $5,615 $827 $3,804
1996 $928 $5,210 $776 $3,582
1995 $820 $4,753 $742 $3,454
1994 $721 $4,447 $678 $3,260
1993 $603 $4,027 $607 $3,067
1992 $498 $3,651 $580 $2,851
1991 $466 $3,322 $546 $2,713
1990 $529 $3,022 $491 $2,527
1989 $503 - $430 -
1988 $545 - $434 -
1987 $464 - $420 -
1986 $657 - $407 -
1985 $588 - $385 -
1984 $565 - $391 -
1983 $631 - $336 -
1982 $621 - $312 -
1981 $735 - $292.5 -
1980 $779 - $271.1 -
1979 $689 - $230.8 -
1978 $663 - $191 -
1977 $593 - $292.1 -
1976 $604 - $260.3 -
1975 $664 - $279.8 -
1974 $588 - $268.7 -
1973 $421 - $220.2 -
1972 $395 - $199.4 -
1971 $396 - $188.8 -
1970 $381 - $186.9 -
1969 $361 - $163.6 -
1968 $340 - $153.5 -
1967 $378 - $162.3 -
1966 $353 - $156.6 -
1965 $336 - $155.6 -
1964 $313 - $122.9 -
1963 $288.8 - $119.4 -
1962 $327 - $141.4 -
1961 $319 - $145.9 -
1960 $299.1 - $145.9 -

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

GeoRank.org/economy/guyana/sri-lanka | CC BY

Guyana's GDP per capita is $32,414, ranking 40/197, compared to $5,002 in Sri Lanka, ranking 124/197. Adjusted for purchasing power (GDP per capita PPP), Guyana ranks 15th at $80,155, while Sri Lanka ranks 111th at $15,633.

Economic indicators

Guyana Sri Lanka
Gross domestic product
$27.1B
2025
$109B
2025
GDP rank
120/197
2025
71/197
2025
GDP growth
19.3%
2024-2025
4.95%
2024-2025
GDP per capita
$32,414
2025
$5,002
2025
GDP per capita rank
40/197
2025
124/197
2025
GDP per capita, PPP
$80,155
2024
$15,633
2024
GDP per capita PPP rank
15/197
2024
111/197
2024
Government debt
$7.74B
2025
$100B
2024
Debt-to-GDP ratio
28.6%
2025
100.8%
2024
Government debt per person
$9,255
2025
$4,584
2024
Government debt per person rank
63/185
2025
90/185
2024
Average annual personal income after taxes
$13,307
2026
$2,830
2026
Market capitalization of domestic companies n/a
$26.1B
2025
Income share by richest 10%
34.4%
1998
30.8%
2019
Income share by poorest 10%
1.1%
1998
3.1%
2019
Government expenditure, % of GDP
23.9%
2025
19.1%
2024
Consumer prices inflation
3.3%
2024-2025
-4.76%
2024-2025
Central bank interest rate n/a
7.75%
2025
Unemployment rate
14.7%
2021
4.32%
2024
Population
843423
21926160

Spending and national debt comparison by year

Guyana
Spending

Debt
Sri Lanka
Spending

Debt
1x
Year % of GDP
Guyana Sri Lanka
Government spending Government debt Government spending Government debt
2025 23.9% 28.6% - -
2024 23.3% 24.3% 19.1% 100.8%
2023 23.7% 26.7% 19.5% 110.4%
2022 20.4% 24.8% 18.6% 115.9%
2021 24.8% 38.9% 20% 102.7%
2020 30.5% 47.4% 22.1% 96.9%
2019 28.1% 34.2% 19.5% 82.6%
2018 27.6% 37.4% 17.5% 83.6%
2017 26.3% 35.2% 17.9% 72.3%
2016 25.2% 35.7% 18.2% 75%
2015 21.7% 42.2% 19.3% 76.3%
2014 23.1% 38.7% 17.2% 69.6%
2013 21.4% 41.4% 16.6% 69.5%
2012 21.8% 44.7% 17.3% 67.5%
2011 23.5% 51.7% 19.1% 69.4%
2010 23.9% 53.1% 19.3% 68.7%
2009 25.4% 52.3% 21% 72.8%
2008 24.1% 48.2% 19.1% 68.8%
2007 25.5% 47.7% 19.9% 71.8%
2006 29% 74.5% 20.5% 74.3%
2005 28.4% 90.7% 20.1% 76.6%
2004 23.7% 91.8% 19.3% 86.5%
2003 23.5% 95.6% 19.3% 86.5%
2002 23.1% 105.1% 20.8% 96.3%
2001 24% 104.6% 22.4% 84.4%
2000 22.9% 97.2% 21.7% 79.2%
1999 17.6% 97.1% 20.5% 77.7%
1998 19.7% 108% 21.4% 74.2%
1997 20.9% 101.3% 21.4% 70.1%
1996 - - 23.1% 76.2%
1995 - - 24.8% 77.8%
1994 - - 24.1% 77.9%
1993 - - 23.2% 79.2%
1992 - - 23% 77.9%
1991 - - 26.4% 80.5%
1990 - - 25.4% 78.9%

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

GeoRank.org/economy/guyana/sri-lanka | CC BY

In 2025, Guyana's government spending was $6.48B, accounting for 23.9% of its GDP, while Sri Lanka spent $19B, or 19.1% of GDP.

Debt-to-GDP ratio is 28.6% in Guyana and 100.8% in Sri Lanka, ranking 160/185 and 24/185, respectively.

Government deficit by year

Deficit/surplus
Guyana

Sri Lanka
1x
Year Deficit/surplus, % of GDP
Guyana Sri Lanka
2025 -5.37% -
2024 -7.27% -5.43%
2023 -5.62% -8.32%
2022 -5.1% -10.2%
2021 -6.94% -11.7%
2020 -7.78% -13.4%
2019 -2.52% -7.52%
2018 -2.52% -4.96%
2017 -3.14% -5.1%
2016 -3.21% -5%
2015 -0.75% -6.64%
2014 -3.88% -5.99%
2013 -2.16% -5%
2012 -3.11% -5.44%
2011 -2.13% -6.01%
2010 -1.88% -6.73%
2009 -2.5% -8.33%
2008 -2.78% -5.93%
2007 -3.35% -5.81%
2006 -6.16% -5.91%
2005 -6.54% -5.93%
2004 -2.88% -6.32%
2003 -4.81% -6.15%
2002 -2.42% -6.9%
2001 -3.71% -8.48%
2000 -2.27% -7.78%
1999 -0.47% -5.58%
1998 -2.67% -6.79%
1997 -1.7% -5.71%
1996 - -6.89%
1995 - -7.11%
1994 - -7.41%
1993 - -5.77%
1992 - -4.95%
1991 - -7.97%
1990 - -6.39%

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

GeoRank.org/economy/guyana/sri-lanka | CC BY

In 2024, Guyana's government deficit, the difference between spending and revenue, was $1.79B, equivalent to 7.27% of GDP. This compares to Sri Lanka's deficit of $5.4B, or 5.43% of GDP.

Over the past 28 years, Guyana recorded a fiscal deficit in 28 of those years, while Sri Lanka ran a deficit in 28 years. On average, Guyana posted an annual deficit equal to 3.58% of GDP, compared to deficit of 6.89% of GDP for Sri Lanka.

Inflation comparison by year

Inflation
Guyana

Sri Lanka
1x
Year Consumer prices inflation
Guyana Sri Lanka
2025 3.3% -4.76%
2024 2.9% -0.43%
2023 2.8% 16.5%
2022 6.9% 49.7%
2021 4.5% 7.01%
2020 0.7% 6.15%
2019 2.1% 3.53%
2018 1.3% 2.14%
2017 1.9% 7.7%
2016 0.8% 3.96%
2015 -0.9% 3.77%
2014 0.7% 3.18%
2013 1.9% 6.91%
2012 2.4% 7.54%
2011 4.4% 6.72%
2010 4.3% 6.22%
2009 3% 3.46%
2008 8.1% 22.6%
2007 12.2% 15.8%
2006 6.7% 10%
2005 6.9% 11.6%
2004 4.7% 7.58%
2003 6% 6.31%
2002 5.4% 9.55%
2001 2.6% 14.2%
2000 6.1% 6.18%
1999 7.5% 4.69%
1998 4.6% 9.36%
1997 3.6% 9.57%

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/guyana/sri-lanka | CC BY

Over the past 29 years, Guyana has recorded an average annual inflation rate of 4.05%, compared with 8.86% in Sri Lanka. In 2025, inflation was 3.3% in Guyana and -4.76% in Sri Lanka.

Top exports between countries

Guyana
Export category Export value
Animal & marine products $27K
Sri Lanka
Export category Export value
Wood & paper products $435K
Raw agricultural goods $333K
Machinery & equipment $10K
Textiles & consumer goods $7K

Balance of trade

Guyana Sri Lanka
Current account balance
$2.35B
2023
$1.21B
2024
Current account balance ranking
42/190
2023
49/190
2024
Current account balance, % of GDP
+13.9%
2023
+1.21%
2024
Goods imports
$6B
2023
$18.8B
2024
Goods exports
$13.2B
2023
$12.8B
2024
Service imports
$4.95B
2023
$3.48B
2024
Service exports
$529M
2023
$6.91B
2024
Imports of goods and services, % of GDP
109.7%
2005
22.8%
2025
Exports of goods and services, % of GDP
84.6%
2005
19%
2025

Economic freedom indices

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

Guyana Sri Lanka
Economic freedom 58.7 50.3
Economic freedom ranking 109/197 162/197
Property rights 46.7 47.3
Government integrity 38.8 37.3
Judicial effectiveness 48.6 47.2
Tax burden 76.4 77
Government spending 85 89
Fiscal health 39.9 0
Business freedom 70.9 60.1
Labor freedom 76 54.3
Monetary freedom 78.5 65.9
Trade freedom 59.2 65.6
Investment freedom 55 30
Financial freedom 30 30

Economic freedom comparison by year

Guyana
Sri Lanka
1x
Year Economic freedom index
Guyana Sri Lanka
2026 58.7 50.3
2025 58.2 49.4
2024 57.3 49.2
2023 56.9 52.2
2022 59.5 53.3
2021 57.4 55.7
2020 56.2 57.4
2019 56.8 56.4
2018 58.7 57.8
2017 58.5 57.4
2016 55.4 59.9
2015 55.5 58.6
2014 55.7 60
2013 53.8 60.7
2012 51.3 58.3
2011 49.4 57.1
2010 48.4 54.6
2009 48.4 56
2008 48.8 58.4
2007 53.7 59.4
2006 56.6 58.7
2005 56.5 61
2004 53 61.6
2003 50.3 62.5
2002 54.3 64
2001 53.3 66
2000 52.4 63.2
1999 53.3 64
1998 52.7 64.6
1997 53.2 65.5
1996 50.1 62.5
1995 45.7 60.6

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

GeoRank.org/economy/guyana/sri-lanka | CC BY

The Economic Freedom Index for Guyana is 58.7, ranking 109/197, compared to 50.3 for Sri Lanka, ranking 162/197. The chart above displays a comparison of annual changes in economic freedom indexes.

Other economic metrics

Guyana Sri Lanka
Services, % of GDP
14.8%
2025
54.6%
2025
Industry, % of GDP
75.1%
2025
25.4%
2025
Agriculture, forestry, and fishing, % of GDP
7.73%
2025
8.36%
2025
GNI, Atlas method
$23.8B
2025
$102B
2025
GNI per capita, PPP
$80,300
2025
$16,750
2025
Total reserves including gold
$1.36B
2025
$6.09B
2024
Total reserves ranking
136/177
2025
96/177
2024
Net foreign direct investment
$1.14B
2023
-$651M
2024
Net inflows of foreign direct investment
$8.63B
2024
$761M
2024
Net outflows of foreign direct investment
$5.7M
2024
$110M
2024
Servicing debt to the IMF, % of GNI
2.84%
2024
4.96%
2024
Poverty at national poverty lines
35%
2020
14.3%
2019
Gross capital formation, % of GDP
32.3%
2005
29.6%
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/guyana/sri-lanka | 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 (2021–2024, retrieved 2026-07-08)
  6. United Nations | World Population Prospects (2026, retrieved 2026-07-08)
  7. LivingCost (2026, retrieved 2026-07-08)
  8. 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.