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

Updated on by Georank team

Guyana has a GDP of $24.7B compared to $552B for the United Arab Emirates, ranking 120/197 and 27/197 by economy size, respectively.

Guyana has $5.99B in government debt (24.3% of GDP), compared to $193B (34.9% of GDP) in the United Arab Emirates.

Guyana vs United Arab Emirates GDP by year

Guyana
United Arab Emirates
1x
Year GDP, current $
Guyana UAE
2024 $24,662,709,832 $552,324,846,835
2023 $16,918,503,597 $522,622,191,967
2022 $14,718,388,489 $511,403,403,676
2021 $8,041,362,110 $422,441,388,700
2020 $5,471,256,595 $357,161,878,829
2019 $5,173,760,192 $433,926,208,305
2018 $4,787,636,998 $440,560,108,918
2017 $4,748,174,334 $403,365,010,211
2016 $4,482,697,337 $381,717,086,453
2015 $4,279,840,194 $381,973,042,886
2014 $4,127,660,152 $424,935,874,745
2013 $4,167,800,929 $409,632,675,289
2012 $4,063,088,536 $392,793,464,942
2011 $3,691,384,318 $368,881,143,635
2010 $3,432,912,517 $307,736,419,333
2009 $3,165,663,153 $253,547,358,747
2008 $3,025,187,433 $315,474,615,739
2007 $2,730,971,595 $257,916,133,424
2006 $2,379,817,991 $222,116,541,865
2005 $824,880,550 $180,617,467,965
2004 $787,814,379 $147,824,370,320
2003 $743,063,950 $124,346,358,067
2002 $726,131,435 $109,816,201,498
2001 $712,167,450 $103,311,640,572
2000 $712,667,897 $104,337,372,362
1999 $694,754,988 $84,445,473,111
1998 $717,530,683 $75,674,336,283
1997 $749,138,010 $78,839,008,445
1996 $705,406,001 $73,571,233,996
1995 $621,626,786 $65,743,666,576
1994 $540,874,934 $59,305,093,980
1993 $454,101,382 $55,625,170,253
1992 $373,573,141 $54,239,171,888
1991 $348,533,095 $51,552,165,622
1990 $396,582,263 $50,701,443,748
1989 $379,779,390 $41,464,995,914
1988 $413,799,990 $36,275,674,203
1987 $354,591,847 $36,384,908,744
1986 $504,651,140 $33,943,612,095
1985 $453,488,372 $40,603,650,232
1984 $437,631,605 $41,807,954,236
1983 $489,333,333 $42,803,323,345
1982 $482,000,000 $46,622,718,605
1981 $570,357,107 $49,333,424,135
1980 $603,200,000 $43,599,160,050
1979 $530,440,000 $31,225,659,621
1978 $507,080,000 $23,775,764,225
1977 $449,880,000 $24,871,775,165
1976 $454,440,000 $19,213,158,779
1975 $494,791,667 $14,720,728,249
1974 $433,954,545 $11,651,505,689
1973 $307,047,619 $4,231,243,616
1972 $285,380,952 $1,415,086,929
1971 $282,050,000 $939,893,600
1970 $267,800,000 $685,986,701
1969 $249,300,000 -
1968 $229,750,000 -
1967 $250,176,471 -
1966 $228,705,882 -
1965 $213,235,294 -
1964 $194,774,513 -
1963 $175,757,894 -
1962 $194,949,513 -
1961 $185,849,535 -
1960 $170,216,241 -

Data sources: World Bank | Economy & Growth (1960–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06).

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

GDP per capita in Guyana vs United Arab Emirates by year

Guyana
GDP per capita

GDP per capita, PPP
United Arab Emirates
GDP per capita

GDP per capita, PPP
1x
Year Current $
Guyana UAE
GDP per capita GDP per capita, PPP GDP per capita GDP per capita, PPP
2024 $29,675 $80,155 $50,274 $79,229
2023 $20,474 $54,729 $49,851 $77,955
2022 $17,913 $39,711 $50,760 $75,072
2021 $9,861 $22,866 $44,119 $68,580
2020 $6,776 $16,819 $37,992 $66,791
2019 $6,406 $13,241 $45,939 $79,816
2018 $6,048 $12,443 $47,135 $77,446
2017 $6,179 $12,243 $43,734 $70,282
2016 $5,871 $11,516 $42,721 $69,987
2015 $5,640 $11,408 $44,910 $73,986
2014 $5,473 $11,145 $52,725 $87,478
2013 $5,557 $11,200 $53,247 $87,526
2012 $5,444 $10,627 $53,142 $89,198
2011 $4,947 $10,066 $51,922 $89,665
2010 $4,582 $9,337 $44,795 $85,120
2009 $4,209 $8,824 $37,803 $84,780
2008 $4,009 $8,437 $50,054 $94,628
2007 $3,608 $8,110 $45,855 $100,813
2006 $3,136 $7,346 $44,343 $106,814
2005 $1,084 $6,761 $38,719 $101,301
2004 $1,033 $6,673 $33,377 $98,661
2003 $974 $6,392 $29,660 $92,636
2002 $951 $6,304 $27,754 $88,467
2001 $932 $6,131 $27,745 $90,370
2000 $932 $5,860 $29,866 $92,899
1999 $909 $5,812 $25,856 $87,658
1998 $940 $5,573 $24,889 $90,229
1997 $983 $5,615 $27,983 $96,009
1996 $928 $5,210 $28,323 $94,620
1995 $820 $4,753 $27,003 $93,702
1994 $716 $4,447 $25,473 $89,959
1993 $603 $4,027 $25,033 $86,330
1992 $498 $3,651 $25,648 $87,509
1991 $466 $3,322 $25,691 $87,250
1990 $529 $3,022 $26,710 $88,455
1989 $503 - $23,167 -
1988 $545 - $21,570 -
1987 $464 - $23,113 -
1986 $657 - $23,132 -
1985 $588 - $29,468 -
1984 $565 - $32,012 -
1983 $631 - $34,650 -
1982 $621 - $39,972 -
1981 $735 - $44,854 -
1980 $779 - $42,925 -
1979 $689 - $34,238 -
1978 $663 - $29,379 -
1977 $593 - $35,020 -
1976 $604 - $31,197 -
1975 $664 - $27,117 -
1974 $588 - $23,823 -
1973 $421 - $9,696 -
1972 $395 - $3,675 -
1971 $396 - $2,805 -
1970 $381 - $2,394 -
1969 $361 - - -
1968 $340 - - -
1967 $378 - - -
1966 $353 - - -
1965 $336 - - -
1964 $313 - - -
1963 $288.8 - - -
1962 $327 - - -
1961 $319 - - -
1960 $299.1 - - -

Data sources: World Bank | Economy & Growth (1960–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06).

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

Guyana's GDP per capita is $29,675, ranking 41/197, compared to $50,274 in the United Arab Emirates, ranking 24/197. Adjusted for purchasing power (GDP per capita PPP), Guyana ranks 15th at $80,155, while the United Arab Emirates ranks 16th at $79,229.

Economic indicators

Guyana UAE
Gross domestic product
$24.7B
2024
$552B
2024
GDP rank
120/197
2024
27/197
2024
GDP growth
43.8%
2023-2024
3.99%
2023-2024
GDP per capita
$29,675
2024
$50,274
2024
GDP per capita rank
41/197
2024
24/197
2024
GDP per capita, PPP
$80,155
2024
$79,229
2024
GDP per capita PPP rank
15/197
2024
16/197
2024
Government debt
$5.99B
2024
$193B
2024
Debt-to-GDP ratio
24.3%
2024
34.9%
2024
Government debt per person
$7,213
2024
$17,568
2024
Government debt per person rank
66/185
2024
36/185
2024
Average annual personal income after taxes
$13,212
2026
$40,522
2026
Market capitalization of domestic companies n/a
$1.05T
2024
Number of millionaires n/a
339,000
2025
Number of billionaires n/a
6
2025
Income share by richest 10%
34.4%
1998
20.5%
2018
Income share by poorest 10%
1.1%
1998
2.8%
2018
Government expenditure, % of GDP
23.2%
2024
21.4%
2024
Consumer prices inflation
2.5%
2023-2024
1.7%
2023-2024
Central bank interest rate n/a
3.65%
2025
Unemployment rate
13.2%
2019
1.88%
2024
Population
842249
11686438

Spending and national debt comparison by year

Guyana
Spending

Debt
United Arab Emirates
Spending

Debt
1x
Year % of GDP
Guyana UAE
Government spending Government debt Government spending Government debt
2024 23.2% 24.3% 21.4% 34.9%
2023 23.7% 26.7% 22.7% 31.9%
2022 20.3% 24.8% 22.7% 31.5%
2021 24.8% 45.7% 25.9% 35.7%
2020 30.5% 59.5% 30.5% 30.1%
2019 28.1% 54% 27.4% 25.8%
2018 27.6% 47.9% 25.9% 20.7%
2017 26.3% 46.1% 27.2% 21.2%
2016 25.2% 44% 31.7% 18.6%
2015 21.7% 42.2% 26.4% 15.6%
2014 23.1% 38.7% 31.4% 13.5%
2013 21.4% 41.4% 28.9% 15.3%
2012 21.8% 44.7% 27.8% 20.2%
2011 23.5% 51.7% 29.6% 20.4%
2010 23.9% 53.1% 30.4% 18.3%
2009 25.4% 52.3% 35% 21.1%
2008 24.1% 48.2% 22% 8.95%
2007 25.5% 47.7% 17.7% 8.89%
2006 29% 74.5% 15.6% 5.05%
2005 28.4% 90.7% 15.7% 4.48%
2004 23.7% 91.8% 17.7% 4.08%
2003 23.5% 95.6% 20% 3.33%
2002 23.1% 105.1% 21.3% 3.43%
2001 24% 104.6% 25.2% 2.69%
2000 22.9% 97.2% 21.8% 3.12%
1999 17.6% 97.1% 24.3% 4.73%
1998 19.7% 108% 25.8% 4.18%
1997 20.9% 101.3% 22.6% 2.86%
1996 - - 27.6% 3.48%
1995 - - 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 (1991–2024, retrieved 2026-02-20); International Monetary Fund (IMF) | Public Finances in Modern History (1991–1998, retrieved 2026-02-20).

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

In 2024, Guyana's government spending was $5.72B, accounting for 23.2% of its GDP, while the United Arab Emirates spent $118B, or 21.4% of GDP.

Debt-to-GDP ratio is 24.3% in Guyana and 34.9% in the United Arab Emirates, ranking 168/185 and 146/185, respectively.

Government deficit by year

Deficit/surplus
Guyana

United Arab Emirates
1x
Year Deficit/surplus, % of GDP
Guyana UAE
2024 -7.31% 6.41%
2023 -5.78% 5.82%
2022 -5.11% 9.8%
2021 -6.94% 3.96%
2020 -7.78% -2.42%
2019 -2.52% 2.5%
2018 -2.52% 3.65%
2017 -3.14% -0.16%
2016 -3.21% -2.95%
2015 -0.75% -6.35%
2014 -3.88% 1.74%
2013 -2.16% 7.99%
2012 -3.11% 8.59%
2011 -2.13% 5.05%
2010 -1.88% 0.52%
2009 -2.5% -6.13%
2008 -2.78% 17.6%
2007 -3.35% 17.1%
2006 -6.16% 20.2%
2005 -6.54% 16%
2004 -2.88% 6.4%
2003 -4.81% 2.35%
2002 -2.42% -1.24%
2001 -3.71% 1.21%
2000 -2.27% 10.7%
1999 -0.47% 1.31%
1998 -2.67% 1%
1997 -1.7% 6.71%
1996 - 0.92%
1995 - 3.58%
1994 - -1.78%
1993 - -2.89%
1992 - 3.34%
1991 - 3.89%

Data sources: International Monetary Fund (IMF) | Fiscal Monitor (1991–2024, retrieved 2026-02-20).

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

In 2024, Guyana's government deficit, the difference between spending and revenue, was $1.8B, equivalent to 7.31% of GDP. This compares to the United Arab Emirates' surplus of $35.4B, or 6.41% of GDP.

Over the past 28 years, Guyana recorded a fiscal deficit in 28 of those years, while the United Arab Emirates ran a deficit in 6 years. On average, Guyana posted an annual deficit equal to 3.59% of GDP, compared to surplus of 4.9% of GDP for the United Arab Emirates.

Inflation comparison by year

Inflation
Guyana

United Arab Emirates
1x
Year Consumer prices inflation
Guyana UAE
2024 2.5% 1.7%
2023 4.5% 1.6%
2022 6.5% 4.8%
2021 3.3% -0.1%
2020 1.2% -2.1%
2019 2.1% -1.9%
2018 1.3% 3.1%
2017 1.9% 2%
2016 0.8% 1.6%
2015 -0.9% 4.1%
2014 0.7% 2.3%
2013 1.9% 1.1%
2012 2.4% 0.7%
2011 4.4% 0.9%
2010 4.3% 0.9%
2009 3% -4.7%
2008 8.1% 12.3%
2007 12.2% 11.1%
2006 6.7% 9.3%
2005 6.9% 6.2%
2004 4.7% 5%
2003 6% 3.1%
2002 5.4% 2.9%
2001 2.6% 2.8%
2000 6.1% 1.3%
1999 7.5% 2.1%
1998 4.6% 2%
1997 3.6% 3%

Data sources: International Monetary Fund (IMF) | World Economic Outlook (1997–2024, retrieved 2026-02-20).

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

Over the past 28 years, Guyana has recorded an average annual inflation rate of 4.08%, compared with 2.75% in the United Arab Emirates. In 2024, inflation was 2.5% in Guyana and 1.7% in the United Arab Emirates.

Top exports between countries

Guyana
Export category Export value
Precious metals & jewellery $452M
Raw materials & minerals $91.4M
Metals $1.3M
Machinery & equipment $1.17M
Textiles & consumer goods $54K
Chemicals & pharma $45K
Wood & paper products $22K
Animal & marine products $12K
UAE
Export category Export value
Machinery & equipment $15.1M
Raw materials & minerals $4.02M
Chemicals & pharma $2.93M
Metals $694K
Processed food, beverages & tobacco $501K
Textiles & consumer goods $201K
Raw agricultural goods $179K
Wood & paper products $143K
Miscellaneous $52K
Precious metals & jewellery $1K

Balance of trade

Guyana UAE
Current account balance
$2.35B
2023
$80B
2024
Current account balance ranking
43/190
2023
9/190
2024
Current account balance, % of GDP
+13.9%
2023
+14.5%
2024
Goods imports
$6B
2023
$400B
2024
Goods exports
$13.2B
2023
$467B
2024
Service imports
$4.95B
2023
$117B
2024
Service exports
$529M
2023
$181B
2024
Imports of goods and services, % of GDP
109.7%
2005
92.2%
2023
Exports of goods and services, % of GDP
84.6%
2005
106.8%
2023

Economic freedom indices

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

Guyana UAE
Economic freedom 58.7 71.9
Economic freedom ranking 109/197 29/197
Property rights 46.7 62.9
Government integrity 38.8 65.3
Judicial effectiveness 48.6 34.4
Tax burden 76.4 99.9
Government spending 85 85.1
Fiscal health 39.9 97.6
Business freedom 70.9 84.5
Labor freedom 76 63.2
Monetary freedom 78.5 81.2
Trade freedom 59.2 78.6
Investment freedom 55 50
Financial freedom 30 60

Economic freedom comparison by year

Guyana
United Arab Emirates
1x
Year Economic freedom index
Guyana UAE
2026 58.7 71.9
2025 58.2 71.6
2024 57.3 71.1
2023 56.9 70.9
2022 59.5 70.2
2021 57.4 76.9
2020 56.2 76.2
2019 56.8 77.6
2018 58.7 77.6
2017 58.5 76.9
2016 55.4 72.6
2015 55.5 72.4
2014 55.7 71.4
2013 53.8 71.1
2012 51.3 69.3
2011 49.4 67.8
2010 48.4 67.3
2009 48.4 64.7
2008 48.8 62.6
2007 53.7 62.6
2006 56.6 62.2
2005 56.5 65.2
2004 53 67.2
2003 50.3 73.4
2002 54.3 73.6
2001 53.3 74.9
2000 52.4 74.2
1999 53.3 71.5
1998 52.7 72.2
1997 53.2 71.9
1996 50.1 71.6
1995 45.7 -

Data sources: The Heritage Foundation | Economic Freedom Index (1995–2026, retrieved 2026-03-09).

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

The Economic Freedom Index for Guyana is 58.7, ranking 109/197, 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

Guyana UAE
Services, % of GDP
14.5%
2024
54.9%
2024
Industry, % of GDP
76%
2024
44.3%
2024
Agriculture, forestry, and fishing, % of GDP
7.62%
2024
0.77%
2024
GNI, Atlas method
$16.7B
2024
$566B
2024
GNI per capita, PPP
$52,290
2024
$81,530
2024
Total reserves including gold
$1.01B
2024
$238B
2024
Total reserves ranking
141/177
2024
14/177
2024
Net foreign direct investment
$1.14B
2023
$31.5B
2024
Net inflows of foreign direct investment
$8.63B
2024
$45.6B
2024
Net outflows of foreign direct investment
$5.7M
2024
$77.2B
2024
Servicing debt to the IMF, % of GNI
3.73%
2024
n/a
Poverty at national poverty lines
35%
2020
19.5%
2020
Gross capital formation, % of GDP
32.3%
2005
26.6%
2023

GDP per capita map

1x

Data sources: World Bank | Economy & Growth (1985–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06); U.S. Census Bureau (1985–2024, retrieved 2026-02-08).

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

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Data sources:

  1. World Bank | Economy & Growth (1960–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06)
  2. International Monetary Fund (IMF) | Fiscal Monitor (1991–2024, retrieved 2026-02-20)
  3. The Heritage Foundation | Economic Freedom Index (1995–2026, retrieved 2026-03-09)
  4. U.S. Census Bureau (1985–2024, retrieved 2026-02-08)
  5. TradeMap (2022–2024, retrieved 2026-02-08)
  6. International Monetary Fund (IMF) | Public Finances in Modern History (1991–1998, retrieved 2026-02-20)
  7. Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) (2020, retrieved 2026-02-20)
  8. United Nations | World Population Prospects (2026, retrieved 2026-03-10)
  9. LivingCost (2026, retrieved 2025-10-14)

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.