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Economy of Iceland vs Nauru compared: GDP & Debt

Updated on by Georank team

Iceland has a GDP of $33.3B compared to $163M for Nauru, ranking 108/197 and 195/197 by economy size, respectively.

Iceland has $19.8B in government debt (59.4% of GDP), compared to $28.3M (17.4% of GDP) in Nauru.

Iceland vs Nauru GDP by year

Iceland
Nauru
1x
Year GDP, current $
Iceland Nauru
2024 $33,255,181,469 $162,588,621
2023 $31,677,891,897 $151,435,610
2022 $29,166,102,877 $152,373,434
2021 $26,234,872,402 $175,390,281
2020 $22,034,665,041 $124,685,688
2019 $24,985,687,022 $125,160,116
2018 $26,677,652,544 $130,995,566
2017 $25,060,086,488 $109,355,639
2016 $21,083,713,310 $97,541,943
2015 $17,700,486,957 $84,863,441
2014 $18,052,183,515 $99,149,244
2013 $16,244,319,959 $94,385,015
2012 $14,943,757,823 $101,055,723
2011 $15,394,005,872 $65,071,880
2010 $13,922,711,577 $47,562,845
2009 $13,212,543,838 $44,176,246
2008 $18,247,921,360 $37,602,265
2007 $21,960,110,030 $22,766,972
2006 $17,671,649,843 $29,200,359
2005 $17,146,410,561 $30,070,666
2004 $13,963,943,244 $30,587,566
2003 $11,564,687,742 $24,778,160
2002 $9,416,199,700 $21,017,424
2001 $8,323,401,820 $22,613,288
2000 $9,140,168,922 $26,930,980
1999 $9,107,644,691 $27,328,613
1998 $8,637,732,542 $29,664,451
1997 $7,716,781,803 $37,331,507
1996 $7,686,566,105 $37,458,801
1995 $7,372,640,169 $39,969,706
1994 $6,612,804,056 $39,742,511
1993 $6,435,952,174 $43,542,088
1992 $7,328,497,599 $51,133,123
1991 $7,151,260,062 $52,533,789
1990 $6,694,851,159 $55,572,376
1989 $5,870,854,233 $53,736,786
1988 $6,320,093,411 $45,931,134
1987 $5,713,281,235 $40,118,410
1986 $4,129,080,094 $39,939,391
1985 $3,088,359,967 $41,548,741
1984 $2,964,568,006 $47,363,231
1983 $2,862,634,164 $48,439,093
1982 $3,318,714,326 $52,877,742
1981 $3,615,094,820 $51,689,637
1980 $3,499,616,683 $46,947,124
1979 $2,953,176,971 $44,431,330
1978 $2,599,627,089 $41,754,147
1977 $2,285,707,749 $40,444,702
1976 $1,727,845,419 $40,287,427
1975 $1,456,052,700 $40,106,776
1974 $1,568,154,077 $35,994,511
1973 $1,194,794,186 $26,529,817
1972 $869,002,946 $21,734,269
1971 $693,679,545 $19,009,433
1970 $545,115,909 $17,570,366
1969 $435,659,610 -
1968 $498,365,200 -
1967 $652,609,076 -
1966 $660,663,763 -
1965 $550,150,988 -
1964 $456,206,299 -
1963 $357,240,896 -
1962 $299,309,938 -
1961 $266,711,460 -
1960 $260,984,499 -

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

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

GDP per capita in Iceland vs Nauru by year

Iceland
GDP per capita

GDP per capita, PPP
Nauru
GDP per capita

GDP per capita, PPP
1x
Year Current $
Iceland Nauru
GDP per capita GDP per capita, PPP GDP per capita GDP per capita, PPP
2024 $86,041 $84,257 $13,609 $14,173
2023 $82,139 $81,608 $12,752 $13,732
2022 $76,350 $75,333 $12,912 $13,245
2021 $70,425 $61,610 $14,979 $12,112
2020 $60,128 $55,797 $10,709 $10,811
2019 $69,296 $60,524 $10,802 $10,555
2018 $75,634 $57,198 $11,414 $9,657
2017 $72,976 $55,638 $9,657 $9,650
2016 $62,854 $53,480 $8,748 $10,281
2015 $53,506 $49,201 $7,747 $9,955
2014 $55,140 $45,997 $9,230 $9,726
2013 $50,173 $44,410 $8,975 $8,429
2012 $46,595 $42,004 $9,843 $8,153
2011 $48,255 $40,937 $6,444 $6,544
2010 $43,776 $39,764 $4,736 $5,620
2009 $41,484 $41,885 $4,411 $5,568
2008 $57,489 $43,728 $3,757 $5,863
2007 $70,483 $41,471 $2,272 $4,789
2006 $58,172 $39,692 $2,910 $5,975
2005 $57,784 $37,323 $2,992 $5,336
2004 $47,810 $35,612 $3,041 $5,169
2003 $39,944 $32,697 $2,463 $5,261
2002 $32,749 $32,607 $2,085 $5,132
2001 $29,208 $31,882 $2,232 $5,587
2000 $32,504 $29,789 $2,649 $5,838
1999 $32,834 $29,558 $2,683 $6,118
1998 $31,519 $28,723 $2,909 $6,450
1997 $28,462 $26,874 $3,661 $7,231
1996 $28,584 $24,776 $3,679 $7,818
1995 $27,565 $23,954 $3,932 $8,726
1994 $24,858 $23,562 $3,921 $9,308
1993 $24,404 $22,460 $4,310 $9,513
1992 $28,072 $21,877 $5,103 $11,167
1991 $27,740 $22,416 $5,333 $13,265
1990 $26,272 $21,985 $5,776 $16,215
1989 $23,219 - $5,723 -
1988 $25,307 - $5,012 -
1987 $23,238 - $4,485 -
1986 $16,980 - $4,569 -
1985 $12,793 - $4,859 -
1984 $12,378 - $5,654 -
1983 $12,080 - $5,896 -
1982 $14,191 - $6,577 -
1981 $15,666 - $6,594 -
1980 $15,340 - $6,138 -
1979 $13,082 - $5,950 -
1978 $11,630 - $5,721 -
1977 $10,305 - $5,646 -
1976 $7,848 - $5,703 -
1975 $6,680 - $5,740 -
1974 $7,287 - $5,199 -
1973 $5,627 - $3,864 -
1972 $4,155 - $3,191 -
1971 $3,366 - $2,811 -
1970 $2,666 - $2,619 -
1969 $2,142 - - -
1968 $2,473 - - -
1967 $3,284 - - -
1966 $3,378 - - -
1965 $2,861 - - -
1964 $2,414 - - -
1963 $1,924 - - -
1962 $1,641 - - -
1961 $1,490 - - -
1960 $1,486 - - -

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

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

Iceland's GDP per capita is $86,041, ranking 9/197, compared to $13,609 in Nauru, ranking 74/197. Adjusted for purchasing power (GDP per capita PPP), Iceland ranks 13th at $84,257, while Nauru ranks 119th at $14,173.

Economic indicators

Iceland Nauru
Gross domestic product
$33.3B
2024
$163M
2024
GDP rank
108/197
2024
195/197
2024
GDP growth
-0.97%
2023-2024
1.39%
2023-2024
GDP per capita
$86,041
2024
$13,609
2024
GDP per capita rank
9/197
2024
74/197
2024
GDP per capita, PPP
$84,257
2024
$14,173
2024
GDP per capita PPP rank
13/197
2024
119/197
2024
Government debt
$19.8B
2024
$28.3M
2024
Debt-to-GDP ratio
59.4%
2024
17.4%
2024
Government debt per person
$51,148
2024
$2,367
2024
Government debt per person rank
9/185
2024
113/185
2024
Average annual personal income after taxes
$55,565
2026
$8,783
2026
Number of billionaires
1
2025
n/a
Income share by richest 10%
22.4%
2019
25.3%
2012
Income share by poorest 10%
3.7%
2019
3.4%
2012
Government expenditure, % of GDP
46.5%
2024
122.1%
2024
Consumer prices inflation
5.86%
2023-2024
9.3%
2023-2024
Central bank interest rate
7.25%
2025
n/a
Unemployment rate
3.56%
2024
5.06%
2021
Population
397129
12125

Spending and national debt comparison by year

Iceland
Spending

Debt
Nauru
Spending

Debt
1x
Year % of GDP
Iceland Nauru
Government spending Government debt Government spending Government debt
2024 46.5% 59.4% 122.1% 17.4%
2023 45% 61.5% 118.1% 20.5%
2022 45.9% 66.4% 134.8% 22.4%
2021 48.7% 73.6% 93% 20.5%
2020 50.2% 76.1% 109.4% 56.3%
2019 43% 65.7% 106% 59.6%
2018 43.2% 62.3% 90.8% 71.1%
2017 43.8% 70.8% 102.3% 78%
2016 45.8% 81.3% 96% 86.3%
2015 43% 96.3% 85.4% 113%
2014 45.4% 114.1% 61.3% 147.7%
2013 45.6% 121.1% 66% 166.9%
2012 47.1% 132.2% 46% 157.3%
2011 50% 136.6% 44.7% 236.8%
2010 48.2% 131.5% 73.8% 298.9%
2009 53.3% 128.2% 68% 295.6%
2008 62.8% 109.3% - -
2007 44.1% 67.4% - -
2006 44.3% 69.8% - -
2005 44.2% 67.8% - -
2004 46.2% 80.1% - -
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/nauru | CC BY

In 2024, Iceland's government spending was $15.5B, accounting for 46.5% of its GDP, while Nauru spent $199M, or 122.1% of GDP.

Debt-to-GDP ratio is 59.4% in Iceland and 17.4% in Nauru, ranking 80/185 and 176/185, respectively.

Government deficit by year

Deficit/surplus
Iceland

Nauru
1x
Year Deficit/surplus, % of GDP
Iceland Nauru
2024 -3.51% 29.8%
2023 -2.28% 19.4%
2022 -3.93% 24.3%
2021 -8.33% 44.5%
2020 -8.73% 42.8%
2019 -1.57% 31%
2018 0.94% 29.6%
2017 0.97% 16.2%
2016 12.4% 18.9%
2015 -0.39% 10.7%
2014 0.29% 29.6%
2013 -1.24% 1.71%
2012 -2.59% 8.12%
2011 -6.46% 2.73%
2010 -6.58% 0.09%
2009 -8.54% 0.37%
2008 -12% -
2007 5.52% -
2006 6.37% -
2005 4.92% -
2004 0.28% -
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/nauru | 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 Nauru's surplus of $48.4M, or 29.8% of GDP.

Over the past 16 years, Iceland recorded a fiscal deficit in 12 of those years, while Nauru ran a deficit in 0 years. On average, Iceland posted an annual deficit equal to 2.47% of GDP, compared to surplus of 19.4% of GDP for Nauru.

Inflation comparison by year

Inflation
Iceland

Nauru
1x
Year Consumer prices inflation
Iceland Nauru
2024 5.86% 9.3%
2023 8.74% 4.8%
2022 8.31% 1.1%
2021 4.44% 2%
2020 2.85% 0.9%
2019 3.01% 4.1%
2018 2.68% 1.1%
2017 1.76% 4.5%
2016 1.7% 8.1%
2015 1.63% 9.8%
2014 2.04% 0.3%
2013 3.87% -1.1%
2012 5.19% 0.3%
2011 4% -3.4%
2010 5.4% -2%
2009 12% 22.4%
2008 12.7% 1%
2007 5.05% 5.6%
2006 6.69% 19.3%
2005 3.99% 8.7%
2004 3.16% -
2003 2.06% -
2002 5.2% -
2001 6.41% -
2000 5.14% -
1999 3.23% -
1998 1.66% -
1997 1.82% -

Data sources: World Bank | Economy & Growth (1997–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06); International Monetary Fund (IMF) | World Economic Outlook (2005–2024, retrieved 2026-02-20).

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

Over the past 20 years, Iceland has recorded an average annual inflation rate of 5.1%, compared with 4.84% in Nauru. In 2024, inflation was 5.86% in Iceland and 9.3% in Nauru.

Balance of trade

Iceland Nauru
Current account balance
-$867M
2024
$9.73M
2024
Current account balance ranking
121/190
2024
75/190
2024
Current account balance, % of GDP
-2.61%
2024
+5.98%
2024
Goods imports
$9.3B
2024
$92.7M
2024
Goods exports
$6.99B
2024
$25.5M
2024
Service imports
$5.16B
2024
$88.2M
2024
Service exports
$7.12B
2024
$64.6M
2024
Imports of goods and services, % of GDP
43.5%
2024
110.5%
2024
Exports of goods and services, % of GDP
42.5%
2024
55.3%
2024

Economic freedom indices

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

Iceland Nauru
Economic freedom 75 60
Economic freedom ranking 19/197 97/197
Property rights 94.9 n/a
Government integrity 85 n/a
Judicial effectiveness 95.2 n/a
Tax burden 72.2 n/a
Government spending 37 n/a
Fiscal health 76.2 n/a
Business freedom 86.8 n/a
Labor freedom 59.3 n/a
Monetary freedom 73.5 n/a
Trade freedom 79.8 n/a
Investment freedom 70 n/a
Financial freedom 70 n/a

Other economic metrics

Iceland Nauru
Services, % of GDP
64.9%
2024
n/a
Industry, % of GDP
20.1%
2024
n/a
Agriculture, forestry, and fishing, % of GDP
3.98%
2024
n/a
GNI, Atlas method
$31.8B
2024
$244M
2024
GNI per capita, PPP
$84,060
2024
$21,970
2024
Total reserves including gold
$6.4B
2024
n/a
Total reserves ranking
90/177
2024
n/a
Net foreign direct investment
-$2.24B
2024
$4.51M
2024
Net inflows of foreign direct investment
$2.7B
2024
-$5.85M
2024
Net outflows of foreign direct investment
$461M
2024
-$1.34M
2024
Poverty at national poverty lines
8.8%
2017
n/a
Gross capital formation, % of GDP
26.1%
2024
n/a

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/nauru | CC BY

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Data sources:

  1. World Bank | Economy & Growth (1960–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06)
  2. International Monetary Fund (IMF) | Public Finances in Modern History (1909–1989, retrieved 2026-02-20)
  3. International Monetary Fund (IMF) | Fiscal Monitor (1990–2024, retrieved 2026-02-20)
  4. U.S. Census Bureau (1985–2024, retrieved 2026-02-08)
  5. The Heritage Foundation | Economic Freedom Index (2026, retrieved 2026-03-09)
  6. United Nations | World Population Prospects (2026, retrieved 2026-03-10)
  7. 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.

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.