Skip to content

Economy of Jamaica vs Saint Kitts and Nevis compared: GDP & Debt

Updated on by Georank team

Jamaica has a GDP of $22B compared to $1.12B for Saint Kitts and Nevis, ranking 124/197 and 187/197 by economy size, respectively.

Jamaica has $14B in government debt (63.4% of GDP), compared to $604M (53.8% of GDP) in Saint Kitts and Nevis.

Jamaica vs Saint Kitts and Nevis GDP by year

Jamaica
Saint Kitts and Nevis
1x
Year GDP, current $
Jamaica Saint Kitts
2024 $22,014,397,090 $1,122,388,889
2023 $21,418,804,320 $1,055,651,852
2022 $18,813,516,805 $981,429,630
2021 $15,963,885,376 $858,622,222
2020 $15,000,214,216 $883,922,222
2019 $17,026,269,263 $1,107,855,556
2018 $16,855,447,986 $1,076,548,148
2017 $15,783,583,237 $1,056,977,778
2016 $14,898,999,754 $1,006,818,519
2015 $14,963,589,916 $957,222,222
2014 $13,899,217,680 $952,111,111
2013 $14,264,205,153 $874,548,148
2012 $14,807,086,556 $824,585,185
2011 $14,444,661,522 $836,092,593
2010 $13,220,549,908 $778,718,519
2009 $12,120,458,115 $774,274,074
2008 $13,709,401,520 $777,692,593
2007 $12,799,600,047 $689,285,185
2006 $11,930,179,090 $644,414,815
2005 $11,243,865,778 $547,203,704
2004 $10,174,664,854 $506,900,000
2003 $9,430,234,811 $469,869,870
2002 $9,719,009,495 $481,077,374
2001 $9,194,727,831 $458,643,829
2000 $9,005,064,475 $421,695,770
1999 $8,887,057,997 $406,595,484
1998 $8,787,195,622 $383,257,331
1997 $8,400,041,724 $374,641,308
1996 $7,393,891,921 $333,944,444
1995 $6,577,520,643 $313,485,185
1994 $5,452,558,947 $295,159,259
1993 $5,440,075,676 $263,755,556
1992 $3,535,460,090 $242,137,037
1991 $4,106,207,649 $220,540,741
1990 $4,592,208,087 $217,259,259
1989 $4,404,937,853 $192,518,519
1988 $3,828,342,820 $172,692,593
1987 $3,287,007,322 $147,748,148
1986 $2,754,549,582 $130,685,185
1985 $2,100,239,019 $111,007,407
1984 $2,373,564,549 $98,603,704
1983 $3,619,262,277 $86,874,074
1982 $3,293,496,312 $86,022,222
1981 $2,979,027,966 $80,888,889
1980 $2,679,379,372 $68,459,259
1979 $2,425,064,229 $58,840,741
1978 $2,644,527,822 $49,433,333
1977 $3,249,733,140 $44,496,296
1976 $2,966,042,856 $30,095,602
1975 $2,860,442,750 $33,364,055
1974 $2,375,122,375 $31,514,856
1973 $1,905,917,553 $24,196,018
1972 $1,875,146,587 $22,944,849
1971 $1,539,861,816 $19,624,746
1970 $1,404,720,442 $16,300,000
1969 $1,191,239,047 $15,850,000
1968 $1,083,839,133 $14,600,000
1967 $1,148,014,311 $16,742,338
1966 $1,096,759,561 $14,469,078
1965 $972,159,611 $13,593,932
1964 $897,949,001 $13,416,633
1963 $826,706,669 $12,833,301
1962 $777,727,689 $12,541,635
1961 $748,043,501 $12,483,302
1960 $699,064,380 $12,366,636

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

GeoRank.org/economy/jamaica/saint-kitts-and-nevis | CC BY

GDP per capita in Jamaica vs Saint Kitts and Nevis by year

Jamaica
GDP per capita

GDP per capita, PPP
Saint Kitts and Nevis
GDP per capita

GDP per capita, PPP
1x
Year Current $
Jamaica Saint Kitts
GDP per capita GDP per capita, PPP GDP per capita GDP per capita, PPP
2024 $7,754 $12,890 $23,961 $34,847
2023 $7,542 $12,651 $22,577 $33,980
2022 $6,626 $11,888 $21,012 $31,871
2021 $5,626 $10,431 $18,361 $26,897
2020 $5,299 $9,764 $18,859 $27,326
2019 $6,031 $10,845 $23,595 $32,482
2018 $5,977 $10,753 $22,901 $30,795
2017 $5,605 $10,466 $22,465 $29,579
2016 $5,302 $9,948 $21,388 $28,215
2015 $5,339 $9,476 $20,329 $26,877
2014 $4,975 $9,210 $20,219 $26,756
2013 $5,124 $9,101 $18,580 $24,624
2012 $5,341 $8,831 $17,532 $23,458
2011 $5,233 $8,809 $17,832 $24,550
2010 $4,810 $8,521 $16,623 $23,691
2009 $4,428 $8,580 $16,503 $23,385
2008 $5,030 $8,952 $16,605 $24,102
2007 $4,716 $8,893 $14,758 $21,301
2006 $4,417 $8,577 $13,838 $20,676
2005 $4,184 $8,127 $11,784 $19,500
2004 $3,808 $7,854 $10,945 $17,276
2003 $3,550 $7,593 $10,176 $16,226
2002 $3,681 $7,226 $10,454 $16,619
2001 $3,504 $7,019 $10,023 $16,235
2000 $3,453 $6,816 $9,320 $15,256
1999 $3,432 $6,653 $9,116 $13,754
1998 $3,419 $6,543 $8,711 $13,319
1997 $3,297 $6,682 $8,627 $13,409
1996 $2,929 $6,706 $7,788 $12,498
1995 $2,631 $6,657 $7,406 $11,747
1994 $2,203 $6,435 $7,065 $11,062
1993 $2,221 $6,279 $6,395 $10,418
1992 $1,458 $5,664 $5,947 $9,652
1991 $1,710 $5,485 $5,465 $9,131
1990 $1,930 $5,106 $5,373 $8,983
1989 $1,865 - $4,723 -
1988 $1,632 - $4,206 -
1987 $1,411 - $3,573 -
1986 $1,191 - $3,140 -
1985 $917 - $2,651 -
1984 $1,048 - $2,341 -
1983 $1,619 - $2,052 -
1982 $1,494 - $2,023 -
1981 $1,370 - $1,894 -
1980 $1,249 - $1,598 -
1979 $1,144 - $1,367 -
1978 $1,262 - $1,144 -
1977 $1,569 - $1,026 -
1976 $1,450 - $692 -
1975 $1,417 - $765 -
1974 $1,193 - $721 -
1973 $972 - $551 -
1972 $971 - $521 -
1971 $809 - $444 -
1970 $748 - $365 -
1969 $642 - $347 -
1968 $591 - $309 -
1967 $633 - $344 -
1966 $612 - $290 -
1965 $549 - $265.8 -
1964 $514 - $256.4 -
1963 $480 - $240.1 -
1962 $458 - $230.3 -
1961 $447 - $225.6 -
1960 $424 - $221.6 -

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

GeoRank.org/economy/jamaica/saint-kitts-and-nevis | CC BY

Jamaica's GDP per capita is $7,754, ranking 95/197, compared to $23,961 in Saint Kitts and Nevis, ranking 51/197. Adjusted for purchasing power (GDP per capita PPP), Jamaica ranks 121st at $12,890, while Saint Kitts and Nevis ranks 64th at $34,847.

Economic indicators

Jamaica Saint Kitts
Gross domestic product
$22B
2024
$1.12B
2024
GDP rank
124/197
2024
187/197
2024
GDP growth
-0.54%
2023-2024
0.31%
2023-2024
GDP per capita
$7,754
2024
$23,961
2024
GDP per capita rank
95/197
2024
51/197
2024
GDP per capita, PPP
$12,890
2024
$34,847
2024
GDP per capita PPP rank
121/197
2024
64/197
2024
Government debt
$14B
2024
$604M
2024
Debt-to-GDP ratio
63.4%
2024
53.8%
2024
Government debt per person
$4,917
2024
$12,897
2024
Government debt per person rank
79/185
2024
44/185
2024
Average annual personal income after taxes
$6,905
2026
$13,301
2026
Market capitalization of domestic companies
$12.4B
2024
n/a
Income share by richest 10%
29.6%
2021
n/a
Income share by poorest 10%
2.2%
2021
n/a
Government expenditure, % of GDP
30.5%
2024
43.2%
2024
Consumer prices inflation
5.41%
2023-2024
1.1%
2023-2024
Central bank interest rate
5.75%
2025
n/a
Unemployment rate
3.02%
2023
5.12%
2001
Population
2834980
47017

Spending and national debt comparison by year

Jamaica
Spending

Debt
Saint Kitts and Nevis
Spending

Debt
1x
Year % of GDP
Jamaica Saint Kitts
Government spending Government debt Government spending Government debt
2024 30.5% 63.4% 43.2% 53.8%
2023 28% 67.3% 43.1% 55.7%
2022 28.4% 73.5% 49.5% 60.3%
2021 29% 90.9% 41.2% 69.1%
2020 29.8% 100.1% 36.5% 68%
2019 27.8% 88.6% 37.2% 54.3%
2018 27.8% 89.2% 33.7% 53.9%
2017 27.3% 96.7% 25.5% 56.2%
2016 27% 109.1% 26.1% 57.4%
2015 26.3% 117.6% 29% 62.2%
2014 26.5% 136.7% 28% 69.3%
2013 26.9% 138.1% 28.6% 91.5%
2012 29.6% 143% 27.2% 121.4%
2011 31.7% 138.1% 30.3% 127.1%
2010 32.9% 140.1% 31.2% 134.9%
2009 38.6% 141.5% 30.4% 129.1%
2008 34.4% 125.6% 29.5% 123.4%
2007 31.6% 115.3% 32.2% 135.4%
2006 31.2% 118% 32.5% 140.3%
2005 29.3% 124.5% 34.7% 130.1%
2004 31.5% 120.1% 33.7% 153.1%
2003 32.5% 125.5% 30.9% 140.7%
2002 31.1% 119.1% 35.4% 119.7%
2001 28.5% 107.9% 30.9% 105.2%
2000 26.2% 91.3% 34.6% 96.5%
1999 28.9% 83.5% 33.6% 89.2%
1998 28.3% 75.6% 29.1% 79%
1997 28.3% 74.4% 26.3% 67.2%
1996 27.7% 70.2% 26.8% 50.7%
1995 23.1% 85.2% 23.7% -
1994 21.5% 90.4% 22.2% -
1993 21.5% 106.2% 21.3% -
1992 20% 100.4% 19.8% -
1991 24.5% 175.1% 18.2% -
1990 25.7% 128.8% 19.3% -

Data sources: International Monetary Fund (IMF) | Fiscal Monitor (1990–2024, retrieved 2026-02-20); International Monetary Fund (IMF) | Public Finances in Modern History (1990–1998, retrieved 2026-02-20).

GeoRank.org/economy/jamaica/saint-kitts-and-nevis | CC BY

In 2024, Jamaica's government spending was $6.72B, accounting for 30.5% of its GDP, while Saint Kitts and Nevis spent $484M, or 43.2% of GDP.

Debt-to-GDP ratio is 63.4% in Jamaica and 53.8% in Saint Kitts and Nevis, ranking 73/185 and 97/185, respectively.

Government deficit by year

Deficit/surplus
Jamaica

Saint Kitts and Nevis
1x
Year Deficit/surplus, % of GDP
Jamaica Saint Kitts
2024 0.22% -11%
2023 0.04% -0.27%
2022 0.27% -4.16%
2021 0.89% 5.41%
2020 -2.83% -3.06%
2019 0.85% -0.7%
2018 1.12% 1.8%
2017 0.43% 1.68%
2016 -0.19% 3.77%
2015 -0.28% 5.66%
2014 -0.49% 8.52%
2013 0.12% 10.9%
2012 -4.05% 4.32%
2011 -6.34% 1.6%
2010 -6.27% -4.15%
2009 -11.1% -1.23%
2008 -7.43% -1.57%
2007 -3.82% -1.03%
2006 -4.9% -1.37%
2005 -3.3% -3.45%
2004 -4.68% -6.6%
2003 -5.67% -5.66%
2002 -6.77% -11.7%
2001 -4.89% -10.9%
2000 -0.8% -13.3%
1999 -3.53% -11.1%
1998 -5.82% -5.13%
1997 -6.54% -2.33%
1996 -5.32% -2.27%
1995 1.6% 0.9%
1994 2.59% 0.79%
1993 2.6% 0.24%
1992 3.11% 0.5%
1991 3.87% 0.92%
1990 2.34% 0.62%

Data sources: International Monetary Fund (IMF) | Fiscal Monitor (1990–2024, retrieved 2026-02-20).

GeoRank.org/economy/jamaica/saint-kitts-and-nevis | CC BY

In 2024, Jamaica's government surplus, the difference between spending and revenue, was $49.1M, equivalent to 0.22% of GDP. This compares to Saint Kitts and Nevis' deficit of $123M, or 11% of GDP.

Over the past 35 years, Jamaica recorded a fiscal deficit in 21 of those years, while Saint Kitts and Nevis ran a deficit in 20 years. On average, Jamaica posted an annual deficit equal to 2.14% of GDP, compared to deficit of 1.52% of GDP for Saint Kitts and Nevis.

Inflation comparison by year

Inflation
Jamaica

Saint Kitts and Nevis
1x
Year Consumer prices inflation
Jamaica Saint Kitts
2024 5.41% 1.1%
2023 6.47% 3.56%
2022 10.3% 2.67%
2021 5.86% 1.2%
2020 5.23% -1.17%
2019 3.91% -0.33%
2018 3.74% -1.04%
2017 4.38% 0.69%
2016 2.35% -0.69%
2015 3.69% -2.3%
2014 8.27% 0.25%
2013 9.34% 1.11%
2012 6.87% 0.82%
2011 7.56% 5.84%
2010 12.6% 0.85%
2009 9.59% 2.06%
2008 22% 5.3%
2007 9.24% 4.48%
2006 8.56% 8.49%
2005 15.1% 3.38%
2004 13.6% 2.31%
2003 10.1% 2.24%
2002 7.08% 2.04%
2001 6.8% 2.3%
2000 8.17% 2.15%
1999 5.95% 3.36%
1998 8.63% 3.45%
1997 9.66% 8.91%

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

GeoRank.org/economy/jamaica/saint-kitts-and-nevis | CC BY

Over the past 28 years, Jamaica has recorded an average annual inflation rate of 8.23%, compared with 2.25% in Saint Kitts and Nevis. In 2024, inflation was 5.41% in Jamaica and 1.1% in Saint Kitts and Nevis.

Top exports between countries

Jamaica
Export category Export value
Raw materials & minerals $9.8M
Processed food, beverages & tobacco $2.11M
Animal & marine products $444K
Machinery & equipment $361K
Chemicals & pharma $233K
Raw agricultural goods $33K
Textiles & consumer goods $33K
Wood & paper products $7K
Metals $4K
Miscellaneous $1K
Saint Kitts
Export category Export value
Precious metals & jewellery $108K
Processed food, beverages & tobacco $10K
Machinery & equipment $8K
Textiles & consumer goods $5K

Balance of trade

Jamaica Saint Kitts
Current account balance
$679M
2024
-$169M
2024
Current account balance ranking
56/190
2024
96/190
2024
Current account balance, % of GDP
+3.08%
2024
-15.1%
2024
Goods imports
$6.07B
2024
$404M
2024
Goods exports
$1.87B
2024
$33.7M
2024
Service imports
$3.46B
2024
$239M
2024
Service exports
$5.26B
2024
$471M
2024
Imports of goods and services, % of GDP
52.1%
2019
n/a
Exports of goods and services, % of GDP
38%
2019
11%
2025

Economic freedom indices

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

Jamaica Saint Kitts
Economic freedom 68.2 62
Economic freedom ranking 48/197 90/197
Property rights 66.8 n/a
Government integrity 49.4 n/a
Judicial effectiveness 75.6 n/a
Tax burden 76.3 n/a
Government spending 76 n/a
Fiscal health 92.2 n/a
Business freedom 68.5 n/a
Labor freedom 59.2 n/a
Monetary freedom 74.2 n/a
Trade freedom 70.4 n/a
Investment freedom 60 n/a
Financial freedom 50 n/a

Other economic metrics

Jamaica Saint Kitts
Services, % of GDP
60%
2024
66.1%
2024
Industry, % of GDP
16.5%
2024
20.9%
2024
Agriculture, forestry, and fishing, % of GDP
7.97%
2024
1.29%
2024
GNI, Atlas method
$20.5B
2024
$1.05B
2024
GNI per capita, PPP
$12,690
2024
$34,460
2024
Total reserves including gold
$5.63B
2024
$295M
2024
Total reserves ranking
93/177
2024
168/177
2024
Net foreign direct investment
-$304M
2024
-$19.5M
2024
Net inflows of foreign direct investment
$305M
2024
$42.1M
2024
Net outflows of foreign direct investment
$1.07M
2024
$8.97M
2024
Servicing debt to the IMF, % of GNI
11.3%
2024
n/a
Poverty at national poverty lines
8.2%
2023
n/a
Gross capital formation, % of GDP
22.6%
2019
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/jamaica/saint-kitts-and-nevis | CC BY

Compare countries by 7 more topics

Help us show the world through your eyes

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. U.S. Census Bureau (1985–2024, retrieved 2026-02-08)
  4. TradeMap (2017–2023, retrieved 2026-02-08)
  5. The Heritage Foundation | Economic Freedom Index (2026, retrieved 2026-03-09)
  6. International Monetary Fund (IMF) | Public Finances in Modern History (1990–1998, retrieved 2026-02-20)
  7. United Nations | World Population Prospects (2026, retrieved 2026-03-10)
  8. 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.