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Economy of Iceland vs Iraq compared: GDP & Debt

Updated on by Georank team

Iceland has a GDP of $33.3B compared to $280B for Iraq, ranking 108/197 and 50/197 by economy size, respectively.

Iceland has $19.8B in government debt (59.4% of GDP), compared to $130B (46.5% of GDP) in Iraq.

Iceland vs Iraq GDP by year

Iceland
Iraq
1x
Year GDP, current $
Iceland Iraq
2024 $33,255,181,469 $279,641,257,615
2023 $31,677,891,897 $268,881,051,644
2022 $29,166,102,877 $287,372,232,138
2021 $26,234,872,402 $209,691,945,713
2020 $22,034,665,041 $180,898,797,517
2019 $24,985,687,022 $233,636,097,800
2018 $26,677,652,544 $227,367,469,034
2017 $25,060,086,488 $187,217,660,051
2016 $21,083,713,310 $166,743,557,748
2015 $17,700,486,957 $166,774,104,959
2014 $18,052,183,515 $228,415,656,175
2013 $16,244,319,959 $234,637,675,129
2012 $14,943,757,823 $218,002,476,129
2011 $15,394,005,872 $185,749,664,444
2010 $13,922,711,577 $138,516,722,650
2009 $13,212,543,838 $111,657,580,326
2008 $18,247,921,360 $131,614,434,154
2007 $21,960,110,030 $88,837,057,320
2006 $17,671,649,843 $65,147,051,918
2005 $17,146,410,561 $50,065,104,668
2004 $13,963,943,244 $36,633,669,269
2003 $11,564,687,742 $21,921,569,479
2002 $9,416,199,700 $32,928,454,672
2001 $8,323,401,820 $36,176,430,129
2000 $9,140,168,922 $48,364,250,944
1999 $9,107,644,691 $36,881,601,584
1998 $8,637,732,542 $20,617,405,044
1997 $7,716,781,803 $20,764,857,056
1996 $7,686,566,105 $10,433,698,621
1995 $7,372,640,169 $12,894,029,888
1994 $6,612,804,056 $3,991,349,283
1993 $6,435,952,174 $1,031,944,881
1992 $7,328,497,599 $553,671,958
1991 $7,151,260,062 $407,796,350
1990 $6,694,851,159 $180,408,064,516
1989 $5,870,854,233 $65,831,935,484
1988 $6,320,093,411 $62,684,516,129
1987 $5,713,281,235 $56,774,193,548
1986 $4,129,080,094 $47,264,516,129
1985 $3,088,359,967 $48,425,161,290
1984 $2,964,568,006 $46,938,387,097
1983 $2,862,634,164 $40,712,903,226
1982 $3,318,714,326 $42,382,333,333
1981 $3,615,094,820 $37,823,000,000
1980 $3,499,616,683 $52,569,000,000
1979 $2,953,176,971 $37,816,457,839
1978 $2,599,627,089 $23,762,275,652
1977 $2,285,707,749 $19,838,130,715
1976 $1,727,845,419 $17,754,825,601
1975 $1,456,052,700 $13,458,516,763
1974 $1,568,154,077 $11,516,762,614
1973 $1,194,794,186 $5,134,367,778
1972 $869,002,946 $4,113,848,002
1971 $693,679,545 $3,865,346,535
1970 $545,115,909 $3,281,318,687
1969 $435,659,610 $3,007,758,797
1968 $498,365,200 $2,896,598,841
1967 $652,609,076 $2,551,522,656
1966 $660,663,763 $2,530,306,096
1965 $550,150,988 $2,335,785,506
1964 $456,206,299 $2,136,408,198
1963 $357,240,896 $1,805,901,510
1962 $299,309,938 $1,784,174,541
1961 $266,711,460 $1,671,960,965
1960 $260,984,499 $1,537,252,193

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

GeoRank.org/economy/iceland/iraq | CC BY

GDP per capita in Iceland vs Iraq by year

Iceland
GDP per capita

GDP per capita, PPP
Iraq
GDP per capita

GDP per capita, PPP
1x
Year Current $
Iceland Iraq
GDP per capita GDP per capita, PPP GDP per capita GDP per capita, PPP
2024 $86,041 $84,257 $6,074 $14,464
2023 $82,139 $81,608 $5,965 $14,653
2022 $76,350 $75,333 $6,521 $14,391
2021 $70,425 $61,610 $4,868 $12,732
2020 $60,128 $55,797 $4,295 $10,574
2019 $69,296 $60,524 $5,672 $12,249
2018 $75,634 $57,198 $5,647 $12,034
2017 $72,976 $55,638 $4,759 $10,192
2016 $62,854 $53,480 $4,334 $9,079
2015 $53,506 $49,201 $4,440 $9,334
2014 $55,140 $45,997 $6,249 $13,168
2013 $50,173 $44,410 $6,650 $14,669
2012 $46,595 $42,004 $6,478 $14,402
2011 $48,255 $40,937 $5,776 $12,912
2010 $43,776 $39,764 $4,462 $12,186
2009 $41,484 $41,885 $3,715 $11,687
2008 $57,489 $43,728 $4,543 $11,657
2007 $70,483 $41,471 $3,129 $10,783
2006 $58,172 $39,692 $2,277 $10,223
2005 $57,784 $37,323 $1,762 $9,457
2004 $47,810 $35,612 $1,328 $9,290
2003 $39,944 $32,697 $818 $6,068
2002 $32,749 $32,607 $1,266 $9,682
2001 $29,208 $31,882 $1,436 $10,720
2000 $32,504 $29,789 $1,980 $10,628
1999 $32,834 $29,558 $1,560 $9,194
1998 $31,519 $28,723 $901 $7,964
1997 $28,462 $26,874 $936 $6,020
1996 $28,584 $24,776 $485 $5,034
1995 $27,565 $23,954 $619 $4,598
1994 $24,858 $23,562 $198.2 $4,560
1993 $24,404 $22,460 $53.7 $4,509
1992 $28,072 $21,877 $30.3 $3,547
1991 $27,740 $22,416 $23 $2,694
1990 $26,272 $21,985 $10,261 -
1989 $23,219 - $3,791 -
1988 $25,307 - $3,707 -
1987 $23,238 - $3,436 -
1986 $16,980 - $2,940 -
1985 $12,793 - $3,088 -
1984 $12,378 - $3,066 -
1983 $12,080 - $2,743 -
1982 $14,191 - $2,942 -
1981 $15,666 - $2,700 -
1980 $15,340 - $3,868 -
1979 $13,082 - $2,871 -
1978 $11,630 - $1,863 -
1977 $10,305 - $1,609 -
1976 $7,848 - $1,489 -
1975 $6,680 - $1,166 -
1974 $7,287 - $1,031 -
1973 $5,627 - $476 -
1972 $4,155 - $394 -
1971 $3,366 - $384 -
1970 $2,666 - $337 -
1969 $2,142 - $320 -
1968 $2,473 - $319 -
1967 $3,284 - $290.6 -
1966 $3,378 - $298.2 -
1965 $2,861 - $284.8 -
1964 $2,414 - $269.4 -
1963 $1,924 - $235.5 -
1962 $1,641 - $240.7 -
1961 $1,490 - $232.4 -
1960 $1,486 - $218.9 -

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

GeoRank.org/economy/iceland/iraq | CC BY

Iceland's GDP per capita is $86,041, ranking 9/197, compared to $6,074 in Iraq, ranking 113/197. Adjusted for purchasing power (GDP per capita PPP), Iceland ranks 13th at $84,257, while Iraq ranks 115th at $14,464.

Economic indicators

Iceland Iraq
Gross domestic product
$33.3B
2024
$280B
2024
GDP rank
108/197
2024
50/197
2024
GDP growth
-0.97%
2023-2024
-1.55%
2023-2024
GDP per capita
$86,041
2024
$6,074
2024
GDP per capita rank
9/197
2024
113/197
2024
GDP per capita, PPP
$84,257
2024
$14,464
2024
GDP per capita PPP rank
13/197
2024
115/197
2024
Government debt
$19.8B
2024
$130B
2024
Debt-to-GDP ratio
59.4%
2024
46.5%
2024
Government debt per person
$51,148
2024
$2,822
2024
Government debt per person rank
9/185
2024
105/185
2024
Average annual personal income after taxes
$55,565
2026
$5,928
2026
Number of billionaires
1
2025
n/a
Income share by richest 10%
22.4%
2019
24.2%
2023
Income share by poorest 10%
3.7%
2019
3.7%
2023
Government expenditure, % of GDP
46.5%
2024
42.9%
2024
Consumer prices inflation
5.86%
2023-2024
-12.3%
2023-2024
Central bank interest rate
7.25%
2025
n/a
Unemployment rate
3.56%
2024
16.2%
2021
Population
397129
48289334

Spending and national debt comparison by year

Iceland
Spending

Debt
Iraq
Spending

Debt
1x
Year % of GDP
Iceland Iraq
Government spending Government debt Government spending Government debt
2024 46.5% 59.4% 42.9% 46.5%
2023 45% 61.5% 41.2% 42.1%
2022 45.9% 66.4% 33.9% 39%
2021 48.7% 73.6% 36.3% 54.7%
2020 50.2% 76.1% 41.9% 72.5%
2019 43% 65.7% 34.7% 41.7%
2018 43.2% 62.3% 31.1% 44.4%
2017 43.8% 70.8% 35.5% 55.9%
2016 45.8% 81.3% 42.4% 60.3%
2015 43% 96.3% 43.5% 48.3%
2014 45.4% 114.1% 43.8% 27.6%
2013 45.6% 121.1% 48.2% 32%
2012 47.1% 132.2% 42.9% 34.8%
2011 50% 136.6% 43.4% 40.7%
2010 48.2% 131.5% 49.6% 53.5%
2009 53.3% 128.2% 61.1% 87.4%
2008 62.8% 109.3% 57.3% 74.2%
2007 44.1% 67.4% 44% 117.1%
2006 44.3% 69.8% 50.3% 143.2%
2005 44.2% 67.8% 63.2% 227.3%
2004 46.2% 80.1% 91.5% 344%
2003 47.2% 84.1% - -
2002 45% 81.3% - -
2001 46.9% 82.5% - -
2000 44.3% 74.8% - -
1999 44.8% 75.5% - -
1998 40.2% 43.3% - -
1997 41.3% 51.1% - -
1996 43.9% 55.6% - -
1995 44.4% 58.1% - -
1994 45% 54.8% - -
1993 45.1% 52.3% - -
1992 44.7% 45.4% - -
1991 42.8% 37.6% - -
1990 42.6% 35.5% - -
1989 42.9% 35.3% - -
1988 41.4% 30.6% - -
1987 36.5% 27.3% - -
1986 39.5% 29.9% - -
1985 37% 32% - -
1984 34.7% 32.4% - -
1983 37.8% 30.8% - -
1982 36% 28.9% - -
1981 35.3% 22.4% - -
1980 33.9% 24.8% - -
1979 32.4% 21.1% - -
1978 31.9% 19.8% - -
1977 31.7% 18.4% - -
1976 32.1% 17.2% - -
1975 36.9% 16.4% - -
1974 36.6% 12.5% - -
1973 33.7% 11.5% - -
1972 33.3% 14.5% - -
1971 32.5% 11.7% - -
1970 29.9% 11.4% - -
1969 30.3% 14.6% - -
1968 33.3% 14.2% - -
1967 31.6% 8.8% - -
1966 28.3% 5.56% - -
1965 28.3% 7.78% - -
1964 28.2% 7.97% - -
1963 26.2% 7.89% - -
1962 24.9% 7.47% - -
1961 25.3% 8.49% - -
1960 33.2% 13.6% - -

Data sources: International Monetary Fund (IMF) | Fiscal Monitor (1990–2024, retrieved 2026-02-20); International Monetary Fund (IMF) | Public Finances in Modern History (1960–1989, retrieved 2026-02-20).

GeoRank.org/economy/iceland/iraq | CC BY

In 2024, Iceland's government spending was $15.5B, accounting for 46.5% of its GDP, while Iraq spent $120B, or 42.9% of GDP.

Debt-to-GDP ratio is 59.4% in Iceland and 46.5% in Iraq, ranking 80/185 and 117/185, respectively.

Government deficit by year

Deficit/surplus
Iceland

Iraq
1x
Year Deficit/surplus, % of GDP
Iceland Iraq
2024 -3.51% -4.14%
2023 -2.28% -1.14%
2022 -3.93% 8.1%
2021 -8.33% -0.38%
2020 -8.73% -12.8%
2019 -1.57% 0.83%
2018 0.94% 7.69%
2017 0.97% -1.52%
2016 12.4% -14.4%
2015 -0.39% -12.8%
2014 0.29% -5.63%
2013 -1.24% -6.06%
2012 -2.59% 4.09%
2011 -6.46% 4.74%
2010 -6.58% -4.18%
2009 -8.54% -14.9%
2008 -12% -0.86%
2007 5.52% 9.98%
2006 6.37% 10.7%
2005 4.92% 4.07%
2004 0.28% -35.4%
2003 -2.3% -
2002 -2.25% -
2001 -0.28% -
2000 1.43% -
1999 1.3% -
1998 -0.56% -
1997 0.04% -
1996 -1.52% -
1995 -2.87% -
1994 -4.59% -
1993 -4.36% -
1992 -1.86% -
1991 -0.66% -
1990 -3.16% -
1989 -4.29% -
1988 -1.93% -
1987 -0.79% -
1986 -3.93% -
1985 -1.56% -
1984 2.25% -
1983 -1.96% -
1982 1.72% -
1981 1.32% -
1980 1.37% -
1979 -0.07% -
1978 -0.9% -
1977 -1.2% -
1976 0.02% -
1975 -3.87% -
1974 -3.64% -
1973 -0.74% -
1972 0.05% -
1971 -0.69% -
1970 0.27% -
1969 -0.88% -
1968 -0.89% -
1967 0.78% -
1966 1.69% -
1965 0.15% -
1964 -0.41% -
1963 1.8% -
1962 2.25% -
1961 1.64% -
1960 2.38% -
1959 2.44% -
1958 2.16% -
1957 1.2% -
1956 -0.09% -
1955 1.57% -
1954 1.25% -
1953 0.34% -
1952 3.33% -
1951 2.73% -
1950 1.23% -
1949 -0.3% -
1948 0.67% -
1947 -1.95% -
1946 -0.37% -
1945 -2.33% -
1944 -3.23% -
1943 -0.89% -
1942 -0.75% -
1941 -1.33% -
1940 -1.35% -
1939 -2.6% -
1938 -2.01% -
1937 -2.6% -
1936 -3.34% -
1935 -3.46% -
1934 -4.79% -
1933 -3.42% -
1932 -4.65% -
1931 -4.27% -
1930 -4.94% -
1929 -1.94% -
1928 -1.94% -
1927 -3.45% -
1926 -2.43% -
1925 0.43% -
1924 -1.78% -
1923 -4.99% -
1922 -4.67% -
1921 -6.12% -
1920 -7.45% -
1919 -2.5% -
1918 -7.43% -
1917 -11.3% -
1916 -2.53% -
1915 -2.06% -
1914 -3.21% -
1913 -2.3% -
1912 -2.93% -
1911 -3.06% -
1910 -1.27% -
1909 -2.15% -

Data sources: International Monetary Fund (IMF) | Public Finances in Modern History (1909–1989, retrieved 2026-02-20); International Monetary Fund (IMF) | Fiscal Monitor (1990–2024, retrieved 2026-02-20).

GeoRank.org/economy/iceland/iraq | CC BY

In 2024, Iceland's government deficit, the difference between spending and revenue, was $1.17B, equivalent to 3.51% of GDP. This compares to Iraq's deficit of $11.6B, or 4.14% of GDP.

Over the past 21 years, Iceland recorded a fiscal deficit in 13 of those years, while Iraq ran a deficit in 13 years. On average, Iceland posted an annual deficit equal to 1.64% of GDP, compared to deficit of 3.05% of GDP for Iraq.

Inflation comparison by year

Inflation
Iceland

Iraq
1x
Year Consumer prices inflation
Iceland Iraq
2024 5.86% -12.3%
2023 8.74% 4.36%
2022 8.31% 4.99%
2021 4.44% 6.04%
2020 2.85% 0.57%
2019 3.01% -0.2%
2018 2.68% 0.37%
2017 1.76% 0.18%
2016 1.7% 0.56%
2015 1.63% 1.39%
2014 2.04% 2.24%
2013 3.87% 1.88%
2012 5.19% 6.09%
2011 4% 5.8%
2010 5.4% 2.88%
2009 12% 6.87%
2008 12.7% 12.7%
2007 5.05% -10.1%
2006 6.69% 53.2%
2005 3.99% 37%
2004 3.16% 27%
2003 2.06% 33.6%
2002 5.2% 19.3%
2001 6.41% 16.4%
2000 5.14% 4.98%
1999 3.23% 12.6%
1998 1.66% 14.8%
1997 1.82% 23.1%

Data sources: World Bank | Economy & Growth (1997–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06).

GeoRank.org/economy/iceland/iraq | CC BY

Over the past 28 years, Iceland has recorded an average annual inflation rate of 4.66%, compared with 9.86% in Iraq. In 2024, inflation was 5.86% in Iceland and -12.3% in Iraq.

Top exports between countries

Iceland
Export category Export value
Machinery & equipment $10K
Iraq
Export category Export value

Balance of trade

Iceland Iraq
Current account balance
-$867M
2024
$8.37B
2024
Current account balance ranking
121/190
2024
24/190
2024
Current account balance, % of GDP
-2.61%
2024
+2.99%
2024
Goods imports
$9.3B
2024
$74.3B
2024
Goods exports
$6.99B
2024
$101B
2024
Service imports
$5.16B
2024
$30.2B
2024
Service exports
$7.12B
2024
$10.2B
2024
Imports of goods and services, % of GDP
43.5%
2024
33.2%
2024
Exports of goods and services, % of GDP
42.5%
2024
37.5%
2024

Economic freedom indices

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

Iceland Iraq
Economic freedom 75 15.6
Economic freedom ranking 19/197 196/197
Property rights 94.9 8.3
Government integrity 85 20.2
Judicial effectiveness 95.2 5.8
Tax burden 72.2 85.5
Government spending 37 65.3
Fiscal health 76.2 95.7
Business freedom 86.8 42.8
Labor freedom 59.3 60.6
Monetary freedom 73.5 68.6
Trade freedom 79.8 40
Investment freedom 70 10
Financial freedom 70 10

Economic freedom comparison by year

Iceland
Iraq
1x
Year Economic freedom index
Iceland Iraq
2026 75 -
2025 72.8 -
2024 70.5 -
2023 72.2 -
2022 77 -
2021 77.4 -
2020 77.1 -
2019 77.1 -
2018 77 -
2017 74.4 -
2016 73.3 -
2015 72 -
2014 72.4 -
2013 72.1 -
2012 70.9 -
2011 68.2 -
2010 73.7 -
2009 75.9 -
2008 75.8 -
2007 76 -
2006 75.8 -
2005 76.6 -
2004 72.1 -
2003 73.5 -
2002 73.1 15.6
2001 73.4 17.2
2000 74 17.2
1999 71.4 17.2
1998 71.2 17.2
1997 70.5 17.2
1996 - 17.2

Data sources: The Heritage Foundation | Economic Freedom Index (1996–2026, retrieved 2026-03-09).

GeoRank.org/economy/iceland/iraq | CC BY

The Economic Freedom Index for Iceland is 75, ranking 19/197, compared to 15.6 for Iraq, ranking 196/197. The chart above displays a comparison of annual changes in economic freedom indexes.

Other economic metrics

Iceland Iraq
Services, % of GDP
64.9%
2024
45.8%
2024
Industry, % of GDP
20.1%
2024
51.6%
2024
Agriculture, forestry, and fishing, % of GDP
3.98%
2024
3.39%
2024
GNI, Atlas method
$31.8B
2024
$277B
2024
GNI per capita, PPP
$84,060
2024
$14,530
2024
Total reserves including gold
$6.4B
2024
$101B
2024
Total reserves ranking
90/177
2024
28/177
2024
Net foreign direct investment
-$2.24B
2024
$8.09B
2024
Net inflows of foreign direct investment
$2.7B
2024
-$7.65B
2024
Net outflows of foreign direct investment
$461M
2024
$439M
2024
Servicing debt to the IMF, % of GNI n/a
1.22%
2024
Poverty at national poverty lines
8.8%
2017
17.5%
2023
Gross capital formation, % of GDP
26.1%
2024
28.2%
2024

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/iceland/iraq | 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 (1990–2024, retrieved 2026-02-20)
  3. International Monetary Fund (IMF) | Public Finances in Modern History (1909–1989, retrieved 2026-02-20)
  4. The Heritage Foundation | Economic Freedom Index (1996–2026, retrieved 2026-03-09)
  5. U.S. Census Bureau (1985–2024, retrieved 2026-02-08)
  6. United Nations | World Population Prospects (2026, retrieved 2026-03-10)
  7. LivingCost (2026, retrieved 2025-10-14)
  8. TradeMap (2024, retrieved 2026-02-08)

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.