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Economy of Iceland vs Samoa compared: GDP & Debt

Updated on by Georank team

Iceland has a GDP of $33.3B compared to $1.18B for Samoa, ranking 108/197 and 185/197 by economy size, respectively.

Iceland has $19.8B in government debt (59.4% of GDP), compared to $296M (25.2% of GDP) in Samoa.

Iceland vs Samoa GDP by year

Iceland
Samoa
1x
Year GDP, current $
Iceland Samoa
2024 $33,255,181,469 $1,175,749,786
2023 $31,677,891,897 $1,044,909,500
2022 $29,166,102,877 $889,554,712
2021 $26,234,872,402 $859,724,936
2020 $22,034,665,041 $868,884,903
2019 $24,985,687,022 $912,950,466
2018 $26,677,652,544 $878,448,433
2017 $25,060,086,488 $884,844,384
2016 $21,083,713,310 $843,924,797
2015 $17,700,486,957 $824,150,499
2014 $18,052,183,515 $796,683,520
2013 $16,244,319,959 $797,736,334
2012 $14,943,757,823 $773,141,661
2011 $15,394,005,872 $744,097,050
2010 $13,922,711,577 $680,260,907
2009 $13,212,543,838 $628,006,115
2008 $18,247,921,360 $641,346,192
2007 $21,960,110,030 $573,548,460
2006 $17,671,649,843 $499,923,758
2005 $17,146,410,561 $476,801,793
2004 $13,963,943,244 $407,747,565
2003 $11,564,687,742 $333,426,188
2002 $9,416,199,700 $281,790,134
2001 $8,323,401,820 $266,299,591
2000 $9,140,168,922 $258,856,140
1999 $9,107,644,691 $255,408,060
1998 $8,637,732,542 $269,485,244
1997 $7,716,781,803 $285,475,592
1996 $7,686,566,105 $249,907,869
1995 $7,372,640,169 $224,865,731
1994 $6,612,804,056 $221,098,107
1993 $6,435,952,174 $133,122,897
1992 $7,328,497,599 $132,303,041
1991 $7,151,260,062 $125,597,205
1990 $6,694,851,159 $125,766,270
1989 $5,870,854,233 $122,888,610
1988 $6,320,093,411 $133,016,065
1987 $5,713,281,235 $111,713,922
1986 $4,129,080,094 $100,947,849
1985 $3,088,359,967 $95,572,173
1984 $2,964,568,006 $109,200,934
1983 $2,862,634,164 $111,862,824
1982 $3,318,714,326 $121,221,652
1981 $3,615,094,820 $118,190,655
1980 $3,499,616,683 $125,747,038
1979 $2,953,176,971 $122,257,393
1978 $2,599,627,089 $108,223,444
1977 $2,285,707,749 $98,295,671
1976 $1,727,845,419 $85,003,078
1975 $1,456,052,700 $93,489,283
1974 $1,568,154,077 $93,549,611
1973 $1,194,794,186 $82,452,985
1972 $869,002,946 $62,566,116
1971 $693,679,545 $53,719,569
1970 $545,115,909 $45,208,338
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/samoa | CC BY

GDP per capita in Iceland vs Samoa by year

Iceland
GDP per capita

GDP per capita, PPP
Samoa
GDP per capita

GDP per capita, PPP
1x
Year Current $
Iceland Samoa
GDP per capita GDP per capita, PPP GDP per capita GDP per capita, PPP
2024 $86,041 $84,257 $5,393 $8,737
2023 $82,139 $81,608 $4,823 $8,195
2022 $76,350 $75,333 $4,132 $6,909
2021 $70,425 $61,610 $4,022 $6,350
2020 $60,128 $55,797 $4,100 $6,451
2019 $69,296 $60,524 $4,352 $6,638
2018 $75,634 $57,198 $4,232 $6,318
2017 $72,976 $55,638 $4,308 $6,280
2016 $62,854 $53,480 $4,147 $6,141
2015 $53,506 $49,201 $4,084 $5,682
2014 $55,140 $45,997 $3,983 $5,468
2013 $50,173 $44,410 $4,024 $5,387
2012 $46,595 $42,004 $3,935 $5,339
2011 $48,255 $40,937 $3,822 $5,494
2010 $43,776 $39,764 $3,524 $5,229
2009 $41,484 $41,885 $3,279 $4,906
2008 $57,489 $43,728 $3,374 $4,939
2007 $70,483 $41,471 $3,039 $4,713
2006 $58,172 $39,692 $2,663 $4,592
2005 $57,784 $37,323 $2,550 $4,379
2004 $47,810 $35,612 $2,189 $3,997
2003 $39,944 $32,697 $1,798 $3,792
2002 $32,749 $32,607 $1,528 $3,553
2001 $29,208 $31,882 $1,454 $3,335
2000 $32,504 $29,789 $1,425 $3,062
1999 $32,834 $29,558 $1,417 $2,871
1998 $31,519 $28,723 $1,506 $2,792
1997 $28,462 $26,874 $1,608 $2,722
1996 $28,584 $24,776 $1,419 $2,681
1995 $27,565 $23,954 $1,288 $2,478
1994 $24,858 $23,562 $1,277 $2,294
1993 $24,404 $22,460 $775 $2,323
1992 $28,072 $21,877 $777 $2,198
1991 $27,740 $22,416 $742 $2,166
1990 $26,272 $21,985 $744 $2,148
1989 $23,219 - $728 -
1988 $25,307 - $790 -
1987 $23,238 - $666 -
1986 $16,980 - $604 -
1985 $12,793 - $573 -
1984 $12,378 - $655 -
1983 $12,080 - $671 -
1982 $14,191 - $728 -
1981 $15,666 - $713 -
1980 $15,340 - $765 -
1979 $13,082 - $751 -
1978 $11,630 - $671 -
1977 $10,305 - $615 -
1976 $7,848 - $541 -
1975 $6,680 - $610 -
1974 $7,287 - $626 -
1973 $5,627 - $563 -
1972 $4,155 - $433 -
1971 $3,366 - $377 -
1970 $2,666 - $322 -
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/samoa | CC BY

Iceland's GDP per capita is $86,041, ranking 9/197, compared to $5,393 in Samoa, ranking 117/197. Adjusted for purchasing power (GDP per capita PPP), Iceland ranks 13th at $84,257, while Samoa ranks 137th at $8,737.

Economic indicators

Iceland Samoa
Gross domestic product
$33.3B
2024
$1.18B
2024
GDP rank
108/197
2024
185/197
2024
GDP growth
-0.97%
2023-2024
4.75%
2023-2024
GDP per capita
$86,041
2024
$5,393
2024
GDP per capita rank
9/197
2024
117/197
2024
GDP per capita, PPP
$84,257
2024
$8,737
2024
GDP per capita PPP rank
13/197
2024
137/197
2024
Government debt
$19.8B
2024
$296M
2024
Debt-to-GDP ratio
59.4%
2024
25.2%
2024
Government debt per person
$51,148
2024
$1,357
2024
Government debt per person rank
9/185
2024
135/185
2024
Average annual personal income after taxes
$55,565
2026
$3,750
2026
Number of billionaires
1
2025
n/a
Income share by richest 10%
22.4%
2019
31.3%
2013
Income share by poorest 10%
3.7%
2019
2.7%
2013
Government expenditure, % of GDP
46.5%
2024
26.3%
2024
Consumer prices inflation
5.86%
2023-2024
2.17%
2023-2024
Central bank interest rate
7.25%
2025
0.37%
2024
Unemployment rate
3.56%
2024
5.05%
2022
Population
397129
220932

Spending and national debt comparison by year

Iceland
Spending

Debt
Samoa
Spending

Debt
1x
Year % of GDP
Iceland Samoa
Government spending Government debt Government spending Government debt
2024 46.5% 59.4% 26.3% 25.2%
2023 45% 61.5% 28.8% 31.8%
2022 45.9% 66.4% 31.1% 41%
2021 48.7% 73.6% 34.1% 45.4%
2020 50.2% 76.1% 30.5% 43.2%
2019 43% 65.7% 31.8% 44.3%
2018 43.2% 62.3% 30% 49.4%
2017 43.8% 70.8% 30.9% 46.7%
2016 45.8% 81.3% 27.3% 49%
2015 43% 96.3% 30.5% 56.4%
2014 45.4% 114.1% 35.3% 54.9%
2013 45.6% 121.1% 30.7% 54.1%
2012 47.1% 132.2% 33.6% 50.9%
2011 50% 136.6% 33.7% 41.5%
2010 48.2% 131.5% 29.4% 40.3%
2009 53.3% 128.2% 31.5% 33.3%
2008 62.8% 109.3% 27.7% 28.2%
2007 44.1% 67.4% 31.1% 31.5%
2006 44.3% 69.8% 27.7% 33.5%
2005 44.2% 67.8% 30.6% 34.2%
2004 46.2% 80.1% 27.3% 39.8%
2003 47.2% 84.1% 28.5% 42.8%
2002 45% 81.3% 30.7% 50.3%
2001 46.9% 82.5% 30% 53.8%
2000 44.3% 74.8% 30.4% 55.8%
1999 44.8% 75.5% 33.8% 59.4%
1998 40.2% 43.3% 28.1% 58.9%
1997 41.3% 51.1% 31% -
1996 43.9% 55.6% 38.9% -
1995 44.4% 58.1% 42.2% -
1994 45% 54.8% 54.1% -
1993 45.1% 52.3% 49.5% -
1992 44.7% 45.4% 43.4% -
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/samoa | CC BY

In 2024, Iceland's government spending was $15.5B, accounting for 46.5% of its GDP, while Samoa spent $310M, or 26.3% of GDP.

Debt-to-GDP ratio is 59.4% in Iceland and 25.2% in Samoa, ranking 80/185 and 165/185, respectively.

Government deficit by year

Deficit/surplus
Iceland

Samoa
1x
Year Deficit/surplus, % of GDP
Iceland Samoa
2024 -3.51% 9.29%
2023 -2.28% 2.7%
2022 -3.93% 5.03%
2021 -8.33% 1.71%
2020 -8.73% 5.41%
2019 -1.57% 1.51%
2018 0.94% 0.06%
2017 0.97% -1.98%
2016 12.4% -0.35%
2015 -0.39% -3.79%
2014 0.29% -5.38%
2013 -1.24% -3.82%
2012 -2.59% -7.43%
2011 -6.46% -5.25%
2010 -6.58% -5.49%
2009 -8.54% -2.98%
2008 -12% -0.36%
2007 5.52% 0.55%
2006 6.37% -0.44%
2005 4.92% 0.23%
2004 0.28% -0.74%
2003 -2.3% -0.51%
2002 -2.25% -1.77%
2001 -0.28% -1.96%
2000 1.43% -0.62%
1999 1.3% 0.27%
1998 -0.56% 1.64%
1997 0.04% 1.92%
1996 -1.52% 1.21%
1995 -2.87% -5.82%
1994 -4.59% -9.51%
1993 -4.36% -13.2%
1992 -1.86% -9.89%
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/samoa | 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 Samoa's surplus of $109M, or 9.29% of GDP.

Over the past 33 years, Iceland recorded a fiscal deficit in 22 of those years, while Samoa ran a deficit in 20 years. On average, Iceland posted an annual deficit equal to 1.59% of GDP, compared to deficit of 1.51% of GDP for Samoa.

Inflation comparison by year

Inflation
Iceland

Samoa
1x
Year Consumer prices inflation
Iceland Samoa
2024 5.86% 2.17%
2023 8.74% 7.92%
2022 8.31% 11%
2021 4.44% 3.13%
2020 2.85% -1.57%
2019 3.01% 0.98%
2018 2.68% 4.2%
2017 1.76% 1.75%
2016 1.7% 1.3%
2015 1.63% 0.72%
2014 2.04% -0.41%
2013 3.87% 0.61%
2012 5.19% 2.05%
2011 4% 5.24%
2010 5.4% 0.78%
2009 12% 6.32%
2008 12.7% 11.6%
2007 5.05% 5.58%
2006 6.69% 3.7%
2005 3.99% 1.86%
2004 3.16% 16.3%
2003 2.06% 0.12%
2002 5.2% 8.05%
2001 6.41% 3.84%
2000 5.14% 0.97%
1999 3.23% 0.27%
1998 1.66% 2.22%
1997 1.82% 6.86%

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

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

Over the past 28 years, Iceland has recorded an average annual inflation rate of 4.66%, compared with 3.84% in Samoa. In 2024, inflation was 5.86% in Iceland and 2.17% in Samoa.

Balance of trade

Iceland Samoa
Current account balance
-$867M
2024
$65.6M
2024
Current account balance ranking
121/190
2024
72/190
2024
Current account balance, % of GDP
-2.61%
2024
+5.58%
2024
Goods imports
$9.3B
2024
$448M
2024
Goods exports
$6.99B
2024
$42.2M
2024
Service imports
$5.16B
2024
$128M
2024
Service exports
$7.12B
2024
$327M
2024
Imports of goods and services, % of GDP
43.5%
2024
48.9%
2024
Exports of goods and services, % of GDP
42.5%
2024
30.7%
2024

Economic freedom indices

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

Iceland Samoa
Economic freedom 75 68
Economic freedom ranking 19/197 52/197
Property rights 94.9 77.1
Government integrity 85 64.1
Judicial effectiveness 95.2 77.6
Tax burden 72.2 79.3
Government spending 37 75.2
Fiscal health 76.2 98.7
Business freedom 86.8 63.7
Labor freedom 59.3 73.7
Monetary freedom 73.5 69.4
Trade freedom 79.8 67.2
Investment freedom 70 40
Financial freedom 70 30

Economic freedom comparison by year

Iceland
Samoa
1x
Year Economic freedom index
Iceland Samoa
2026 75 68
2025 72.8 66.6
2024 70.5 67.2
2023 72.2 68.3
2022 77 68.3
2021 77.4 61.9
2020 77.1 62.1
2019 77.1 62.2
2018 77 61.5
2017 74.4 58.4
2016 73.3 63.5
2015 72 61.9
2014 72.4 61.1
2013 72.1 57.1
2012 70.9 60.5
2011 68.2 60.6
2010 73.7 60.4
2009 75.9 59.5
2008 75.8 -
2007 76 -
2006 75.8 -
2005 76.6 -
2004 72.1 -
2003 73.5 -
2002 73.1 -
2001 73.4 63.1
2000 74 60.8
1999 71.4 58.7
1998 71.2 49.9
1997 70.5 51.5
1996 - 47.6

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

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

The Economic Freedom Index for Iceland is 75, ranking 19/197, compared to 68 for Samoa, ranking 52/197. The chart above displays a comparison of annual changes in economic freedom indexes.

Other economic metrics

Iceland Samoa
Services, % of GDP
64.9%
2024
69.4%
2024
Industry, % of GDP
20.1%
2024
10.6%
2024
Agriculture, forestry, and fishing, % of GDP
3.98%
2024
9.8%
2024
GNI, Atlas method
$31.8B
2024
$1.1B
2024
GNI per capita, PPP
$84,060
2024
$8,620
2024
Total reserves including gold
$6.4B
2024
$508M
2024
Total reserves ranking
90/177
2024
155/177
2024
Net foreign direct investment
-$2.24B
2024
-$1.69M
2024
Net inflows of foreign direct investment
$2.7B
2024
$3.74M
2024
Net outflows of foreign direct investment
$461M
2024
$2.05M
2024
Servicing debt to the IMF, % of GNI n/a
3.15%
2024
Poverty at national poverty lines
8.8%
2017
21.9%
2018
Gross capital formation, % of GDP
26.1%
2024
29%
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/samoa | 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)

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.