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Economy of Iceland vs Yemen compared: GDP & Debt

Updated on by Georank team

Iceland has a GDP of $33.3B compared to $21.6B for Yemen, ranking 108/197 and 125/197 by economy size, respectively.

Iceland has $19.8B in government debt (59.4% of GDP), compared to $18.8B (70.9% of GDP) in Yemen.

Iceland vs Yemen GDP by year

Iceland
Yemen
1x
Year GDP, current $
Iceland Yemen
2024 $33,255,181,469 -
2023 $31,677,891,897 -
2022 $29,166,102,877 -
2021 $26,234,872,402 -
2020 $22,034,665,041 -
2019 $24,985,687,022 -
2018 $26,677,652,544 $21,606,160,663
2017 $25,060,086,488 $26,842,229,045
2016 $21,083,713,310 $31,317,825,274
2015 $17,700,486,957 $42,444,490,074
2014 $18,052,183,515 $43,228,585,321
2013 $16,244,319,959 $40,415,233,436
2012 $14,943,757,823 $35,401,331,610
2011 $15,394,005,872 $32,726,417,878
2010 $13,922,711,577 $30,906,749,533
2009 $13,212,543,838 $25,130,278,213
2008 $18,247,921,360 $26,910,855,807
2007 $21,960,110,030 $21,650,528,674
2006 $17,671,649,843 $19,063,143,370
2005 $17,146,410,561 $16,731,566,717
2004 $13,963,943,244 $13,867,634,371
2003 $11,564,687,742 $11,777,532,662
2002 $9,416,199,700 $10,693,430,511
2001 $8,323,401,820 $9,852,990,693
2000 $9,140,168,922 $9,679,316,770
1999 $9,107,644,691 $7,639,325,296
1998 $8,637,732,542 $6,322,175,566
1997 $7,716,781,803 $6,838,298,531
1996 $7,686,566,105 $6,496,163,616
1995 $7,372,640,169 $12,796,345,679
1994 $6,612,804,056 $28,019,483,764
1993 $6,435,952,174 $21,736,802,664
1992 $7,328,497,599 $17,959,367,194
1991 $7,151,260,062 $14,665,445,462
1990 $6,694,851,159 $12,643,821,569
1989 $5,870,854,233 -
1988 $6,320,093,411 -
1987 $5,713,281,235 -
1986 $4,129,080,094 -
1985 $3,088,359,967 -
1984 $2,964,568,006 -
1983 $2,862,634,164 -
1982 $3,318,714,326 -
1981 $3,615,094,820 -
1980 $3,499,616,683 -
1979 $2,953,176,971 -
1978 $2,599,627,089 -
1977 $2,285,707,749 -
1976 $1,727,845,419 -
1975 $1,456,052,700 -
1974 $1,568,154,077 -
1973 $1,194,794,186 -
1972 $869,002,946 -
1971 $693,679,545 -
1970 $545,115,909 -
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/yemen | CC BY

GDP per capita in Iceland vs Yemen by year

Iceland
GDP per capita

GDP per capita, PPP
Yemen
GDP per capita

GDP per capita, PPP
1x
Year Current $
Iceland Yemen
GDP per capita GDP per capita, PPP GDP per capita GDP per capita, PPP
2024 $86,041 $84,257 - -
2023 $82,139 $81,608 - -
2022 $76,350 $75,333 - -
2021 $70,425 $61,610 - -
2020 $60,128 $55,797 - -
2019 $69,296 $60,524 - -
2018 $75,634 $57,198 $634 -
2017 $72,976 $55,638 $811 -
2016 $62,854 $53,480 $975 -
2015 $53,506 $49,201 $1,362 -
2014 $55,140 $45,997 $1,430 -
2013 $50,173 $44,410 $1,379 $3,164
2012 $46,595 $42,004 $1,245 $3,005
2011 $48,255 $40,937 $1,186 $3,113
2010 $43,776 $39,764 $1,155 $3,603
2009 $41,484 $41,885 $969 $3,411
2008 $57,489 $43,728 $1,072 $3,370
2007 $70,483 $41,471 $890 $3,294
2006 $58,172 $39,692 $810 $3,205
2005 $57,784 $37,323 $734 $3,113
2004 $47,810 $35,612 $628 $2,949
2003 $39,944 $32,697 $549 $2,844
2002 $32,749 $32,607 $513 $2,768
2001 $29,208 $31,882 $487 $2,702
2000 $32,504 $29,789 $493 $2,624
1999 $32,834 $29,558 $401 $2,492
1998 $31,519 $28,723 $343 $2,442
1997 $28,462 $26,874 $383 $2,351
1996 $28,584 $24,776 $375 $2,268
1995 $27,565 $23,954 $764 $2,201
1994 $24,858 $23,562 $1,735 $2,115
1993 $24,404 $22,460 $1,397 $2,013
1992 $28,072 $21,877 $1,198 $1,963
1991 $27,740 $22,416 $1,016 $1,843
1990 $26,272 $21,985 $910 $1,742
1989 $23,219 - - -
1988 $25,307 - - -
1987 $23,238 - - -
1986 $16,980 - - -
1985 $12,793 - - -
1984 $12,378 - - -
1983 $12,080 - - -
1982 $14,191 - - -
1981 $15,666 - - -
1980 $15,340 - - -
1979 $13,082 - - -
1978 $11,630 - - -
1977 $10,305 - - -
1976 $7,848 - - -
1975 $6,680 - - -
1974 $7,287 - - -
1973 $5,627 - - -
1972 $4,155 - - -
1971 $3,366 - - -
1970 $2,666 - - -
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/yemen | CC BY

Iceland's GDP per capita is $86,041, ranking 9/197, compared to $634 in Yemen, ranking 191/197. Adjusted for purchasing power (GDP per capita PPP), Iceland ranks 13th at $84,257, while Yemen ranks 178th at $3,164.

Economic indicators

Iceland Yemen
Gross domestic product
$33.3B
2024
$21.6B
2018
GDP rank
108/197
2024
125/197
2018
GDP growth
-0.97%
2023-2024
0.75%
2017-2018
GDP per capita
$86,041
2024
$634
2018
GDP per capita rank
9/197
2024
191/197
2018
GDP per capita, PPP
$84,257
2024
$3,164
2013
GDP per capita PPP rank
13/197
2024
178/197
2013
Government debt
$19.8B
2024
$18.8B
2018
Debt-to-GDP ratio
59.4%
2024
70.9%
2024
Government debt per person
$51,148
2024
$551
2018
Government debt per person rank
9/185
2024
165/185
2018
Average annual personal income after taxes
$55,565
2026
$1,127
2026
Number of billionaires
1
2025
n/a
Income share by richest 10%
22.4%
2019
29.4%
2014
Income share by poorest 10%
3.7%
2019
3%
2014
Government expenditure, % of GDP
46.5%
2024
8.91%
2024
Consumer prices inflation
5.86%
2023-2024
33.9%
2023-2024
Central bank interest rate
7.25%
2025
n/a
Unemployment rate
3.56%
2024
13.5%
2014
Population
397129
43325643

Spending and national debt comparison by year

Iceland
Spending

Debt
Yemen
Spending

Debt
1x
Year % of GDP
Iceland Yemen
Government spending Government debt Government spending Government debt
2024 46.5% 59.4% 8.91% 70.9%
2023 45% 61.5% 11.8% 77.9%
2022 45.9% 66.4% 12.2% 65.3%
2021 48.7% 73.6% 8.22% 75.9%
2020 50.2% 76.1% 10.6% 87%
2019 43% 65.7% 13.2% 91.5%
2018 43.2% 62.3% 14.3% 86.9%
2017 43.8% 70.8% 8.39% 83.8%
2016 45.8% 81.3% 16.1% 76.5%
2015 43% 96.3% 19.4% 57.7%
2014 45.4% 114.1% 27.8% 48.9%
2013 45.6% 121.1% 30.8% 48.4%
2012 47.1% 132.2% 36.2% 47.6%
2011 50% 136.6% 29.8% 45.7%
2010 48.2% 131.5% 30.2% 42.4%
2009 53.3% 128.2% 35.2% 49.8%
2008 62.8% 109.3% 41.2% 36.4%
2007 44.1% 67.4% 40.3% 40.4%
2006 44.3% 69.8% 37.4% 40.8%
2005 44.2% 67.8% 36.8% 43.8%
2004 46.2% 80.1% 34.2% 52.1%
2003 47.2% 84.1% 35.3% 56.8%
2002 45% 81.3% 30.8% 57.8%
2001 46.9% 82.5% 30.5% 60.6%
2000 44.3% 74.8% 31.7% 60.8%
1999 44.8% 75.5% 28.2% 96.1%
1998 40.2% 43.3% 34.3% 110.6%
1997 41.3% 51.1% 34.2% 74.2%
1996 43.9% 55.6% 30.7% 114.9%
1995 44.4% 58.1% 24.1% 84.1%
1994 45% 54.8% 25.2% 73.3%
1993 45.1% 52.3% 25.8% 76.7%
1992 44.7% 45.4% 24.6% 78%
1991 42.8% 37.6% 24.7% 82.7%
1990 42.6% 35.5% 26.6% 91.6%
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 (1960–1998, retrieved 2026-02-20).

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

In 2024, Iceland's government spending was $15.5B, accounting for 46.5% of its GDP, while Yemen spent $3.08B, or 8.91% of GDP.

Debt-to-GDP ratio is 59.4% in Iceland and 70.9% in Yemen, ranking 80/185 and 55/185, respectively.

Government deficit by year

Deficit/surplus
Iceland

Yemen
1x
Year Deficit/surplus, % of GDP
Iceland Yemen
2024 -3.51% -2.48%
2023 -2.28% -5.63%
2022 -3.93% -2.15%
2021 -8.33% -0.89%
2020 -8.73% -4.3%
2019 -1.57% -5.89%
2018 0.94% -7.85%
2017 0.97% -4.9%
2016 12.4% -8.51%
2015 -0.39% -8.75%
2014 0.29% -4.14%
2013 -1.24% -6.9%
2012 -2.59% -6.32%
2011 -6.46% -4.51%
2010 -6.58% -4.06%
2009 -8.54% -10.2%
2008 -12% -4.53%
2007 5.52% -7.18%
2006 6.37% 1.19%
2005 4.92% -1.82%
2004 0.28% -2.15%
2003 -2.3% -4.2%
2002 -2.25% -0.56%
2001 -0.28% 2.79%
2000 1.43% 6.09%
1999 1.3% 0.06%
1998 -0.56% -7.77%
1997 0.04% -1.5%
1996 -1.52% -0.92%
1995 -2.87% -5.74%
1994 -4.59% -14%
1993 -4.36% -12.8%
1992 -1.86% -10.9%
1991 -0.66% -5.76%
1990 -3.16% -10.3%
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/yemen | CC BY

In 2018, Iceland's government surplus, the difference between spending and revenue, was $251M, equivalent to 0.94% of GDP. This compares to Yemen's deficit of $1.7B, or 7.85% of GDP.

Over the past 29 years, Iceland recorded a fiscal deficit in 18 of those years, while Yemen ran a deficit in 25 years. On average, Iceland posted an annual deficit equal to 0.96% of GDP, compared to deficit of 5.04% of GDP for Yemen.

Inflation comparison by year

Inflation
Iceland

Yemen
1x
Year Consumer prices inflation
Iceland Yemen
2024 5.86% 33.9%
2023 8.74% 0.9%
2022 8.31% 29.5%
2021 4.44% 31.5%
2020 2.85% 21.7%
2019 3.01% 15.7%
2018 2.68% 33.6%
2017 1.76% 30.4%
2016 1.7% 21.3%
2015 1.63% 22%
2014 2.04% 8.2%
2013 3.87% 11%
2012 5.19% 9.9%
2011 4% 19.5%
2010 5.4% 11.2%
2009 12% 3.7%
2008 12.7% 19%
2007 5.05% 7.9%
2006 6.69% 10.8%
2005 3.99% 9.9%
2004 3.16% 12.5%
2003 2.06% 10.8%
2002 5.2% 12.2%
2001 6.41% 11.9%
2000 5.14% 11%
1999 3.23% 7.9%
1998 1.66% 11.5%
1997 1.82% 4.6%

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

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

Over the past 28 years, Iceland has recorded an average annual inflation rate of 4.66%, compared with 15.5% in Yemen. In 2024, inflation was 5.86% in Iceland and 33.9% in Yemen.

Top exports between countries

Iceland
Export category Export value
Raw materials & minerals $4K
Yemen
Export category Export value

Balance of trade

Iceland Yemen
Current account balance
-$867M
2024
-$2.42B
2016
Current account balance ranking
121/190
2024
148/190
2016
Current account balance, % of GDP
-2.61%
2024
-7.72%
2016
Goods imports
$9.3B
2024
$6.8B
2016
Goods exports
$6.99B
2024
$473M
2016
Service imports
$5.16B
2024
$1.46B
2016
Service exports
$7.12B
2024
$466M
2016
Imports of goods and services, % of GDP
43.5%
2024
47.3%
2018
Exports of goods and services, % of GDP
42.5%
2024
8.76%
2018

Economic freedom indices

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

Iceland Yemen
Economic freedom 75 53.7
Economic freedom ranking 19/197 138/197
Property rights 94.9 3.5
Government integrity 85 6.2
Judicial effectiveness 95.2 9.9
Tax burden 72.2 93.7
Government spending 37 0
Fiscal health 76.2 71.2
Business freedom 86.8 31.3
Labor freedom 59.3 31.2
Monetary freedom 73.5 48.1
Trade freedom 79.8 67.4
Investment freedom 70 50
Financial freedom 70 30

Economic freedom comparison by year

Iceland
Yemen
1x
Year Economic freedom index
Iceland Yemen
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 53.7
2014 72.4 55.5
2013 72.1 55.9
2012 70.9 55.3
2011 68.2 54.2
2010 73.7 54.4
2009 75.9 56.9
2008 75.8 53.8
2007 76 54.1
2006 75.8 52.6
2005 76.6 53.8
2004 72.1 50.5
2003 73.5 50.3
2002 73.1 48.6
2001 73.4 44.3
2000 74 44.5
1999 71.4 43.3
1998 71.2 46.1
1997 70.5 48.4
1996 - 49.6
1995 - 49.8

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

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

The Economic Freedom Index for Iceland is 75, ranking 19/197, compared to 53.7 for Yemen, ranking 138/197. The chart above displays a comparison of annual changes in economic freedom indexes.

Other economic metrics

Iceland Yemen
Services, % of GDP
64.9%
2024
41.8%
2018
Industry, % of GDP
20.1%
2024
25.4%
2018
Agriculture, forestry, and fishing, % of GDP
3.98%
2024
28.7%
2018
GNI, Atlas method
$31.8B
2024
$25.3B
2018
GNI per capita, PPP
$84,060
2024
$3,020
2013
Total reserves including gold
$6.4B
2024
$1.25B
2022
Total reserves ranking
90/177
2024
139/177
2022
Net foreign direct investment
-$2.24B
2024
$15.4M
2015
Net inflows of foreign direct investment
$2.7B
2024
-$371M
2019
Net outflows of foreign direct investment
$461M
2024
$0
2024
Servicing debt to the IMF, % of GNI n/a
0.53%
2018
Poverty at national poverty lines
8.8%
2017
48.6%
2014
Gross capital formation, % of GDP
26.1%
2024
6.18%
2018

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/yemen | CC BY

Compare countries by 7 more topics

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Share a photo of your city and help others discover what it looks like to live there. Your contribution makes our data come alive.

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 (1909–1998, retrieved 2026-02-20)
  4. The Heritage Foundation | Economic Freedom Index (1995–2026, 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.