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Economy of Jamaica vs Taiwan compared: GDP & Debt

Updated on by Georank team

Jamaica has a GDP of $22B compared to $802B for Taiwan, ranking 124/197 and 22/197 by economy size, respectively.

Jamaica has $14B in government debt (63.4% of GDP), compared to $211B (26.3% of GDP) in Taiwan.

Jamaica vs Taiwan GDP by year

Jamaica
Taiwan
1x
Year GDP, current $
Jamaica Taiwan
2024 $22,014,397,090 $801,529,000,000
2023 $21,418,804,320 $757,328,000,000
2022 $18,813,516,805 $765,529,000,000
2021 $15,963,885,376 $777,062,000,000
2020 $15,000,214,216 $676,935,000,000
2019 $17,026,269,263 $613,453,000,000
2018 $16,855,447,986 $610,744,000,000
2017 $15,783,583,237 $591,734,000,000
2016 $14,898,999,754 $543,002,000,000
2015 $14,963,589,916 $534,474,000,000
2014 $13,899,217,680 $535,332,000,000
2013 $14,264,205,153 $512,957,000,000
2012 $14,807,086,556 $495,536,000,000
2011 $14,444,661,522 $483,957,000,000
2010 $13,220,549,908 $444,245,000,000
2009 $12,120,458,115 $390,788,000,000
2008 $13,709,401,520 $415,824,000,000
2007 $12,799,600,047 $406,940,000,000
2006 $11,930,179,090 $386,492,000,000
2005 $11,243,865,778 $374,042,000,000
2004 $10,174,664,854 $346,881,000,000
2003 $9,430,234,811 $317,374,000,000
2002 $9,719,009,495 $307,429,000,000
2001 $9,194,727,831 $299,303,000,000
2000 $9,005,064,475 $330,725,000,000
1999 $8,887,057,997 $303,827,000,000
1998 $8,787,195,622 $279,926,000,000
1997 $8,400,041,724 $303,315,000,000
1996 $7,393,891,921 $292,473,000,000
1995 $6,577,520,643 $279,013,000,000
1994 $5,452,558,947 $256,213,000,000
1993 $5,440,075,676 $234,943,000,000
1992 $3,535,460,090 $222,947,000,000
1991 $4,106,207,649 $187,100,000,000
1990 $4,592,208,087 $166,392,000,000
1989 $4,404,937,853 $152,687,000,000
1988 $3,828,342,820 $126,378,000,000
1987 $3,287,007,322 $104,956,000,000
1986 $2,754,549,582 $78,347,000,000
1985 $2,100,239,019 $63,599,000,000
1984 $2,373,564,549 $61,036,000,000
1983 $3,619,262,277 $54,155,000,000
1982 $3,293,496,312 $49,540,000,000
1981 $2,979,027,966 $49,047,000,000
1980 $2,679,379,372 $42,292,000,000
1979 $2,425,064,229 $33,875,000,000
1978 $2,644,527,822 $27,373,000,000
1977 $3,249,733,140 $22,252,000,000
1976 $2,966,042,856 $18,988,000,000
1975 $2,860,442,750 $15,836,000,000
1974 $2,375,122,375 $14,739,000,000
1973 $1,905,917,553 $10,940,000,000
1972 $1,875,146,587 $8,063,000,000
1971 $1,539,861,816 $6,727,000,000
1970 $1,404,720,442 $5,785,000,000
1969 $1,191,239,047 $5,017,000,000
1968 $1,083,839,133 $4,325,000,000
1967 $1,148,014,311 $3,709,000,000
1966 $1,096,759,561 $3,207,000,000
1965 $972,159,611 $2,869,000,000
1964 $897,949,001 $2,592,000,000
1963 $826,706,669 $2,218,000,000
1962 $777,727,689 $1,960,000,000
1961 $748,043,501 $1,778,000,000
1960 $699,064,380 $1,743,000,000
1959 - $1,444,000,000
1958 - $1,836,000,000
1957 - $1,636,000,000
1956 - $1,399,000,000
1955 - $1,940,000,000
1954 - $1,628,000,000
1953 - $1,481,000,000
1952 - $1,677,000,000
1951 - $1,197,000,000

Data sources: National Statistics, Taiwan (1951–2024, retrieved 2026-02-09); World Bank | Economy & Growth (1960–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06).

GeoRank.org/economy/jamaica/taiwan | CC BY

GDP per capita in Jamaica vs Taiwan by year

Jamaica
GDP per capita

GDP per capita, PPP
Taiwan
GDP per capita

GDP per capita, PPP
1x
Year Current $
Jamaica Taiwan
GDP per capita GDP per capita, PPP GDP per capita GDP per capita, PPP
2024 $7,754 $12,890 $34,238 -
2023 $7,542 $12,651 $32,444 -
2022 $6,626 $11,888 $32,827 -
2021 $5,626 $10,431 $33,111 -
2020 $5,299 $9,764 $28,705 -
2019 $6,031 $10,845 $25,998 -
2018 $5,977 $10,753 $25,901 -
2017 $5,605 $10,466 $25,121 $50,500
2016 $5,302 $9,948 $23,091 -
2015 $5,339 $9,476 $22,780 $46,800
2014 $4,975 $9,210 $22,874 -
2013 $5,124 $9,101 $21,973 $39,600
2012 $5,341 $8,831 $21,295 $39,400
2011 $5,233 $8,809 $20,866 $38,200
2010 $4,810 $8,521 $19,197 $35,700
2009 $4,428 $8,580 $16,933 $32,000
2008 $5,030 $8,952 $18,081 $31,100
2007 $4,716 $8,893 $17,757 $30,100
2006 $4,417 $8,577 $16,934 $29,500
2005 $4,184 $8,127 $16,456 $27,500
2004 $3,808 $7,854 $15,317 $25,300
2003 $3,550 $7,593 $14,066 $23,400
2002 $3,681 $7,226 $13,686 $18,000
2001 $3,504 $7,019 $13,397 $17,200
2000 $3,453 $6,816 $14,908 $17,400
1999 $3,432 $6,653 $13,804 $16,100
1998 $3,419 $6,543 $12,820 -
1997 $3,297 $6,682 $14,020 -
1996 $2,929 $6,706 $13,641 -
1995 $2,631 $6,657 $13,119 -
1994 $2,203 $6,435 $12,150 -
1993 $2,221 $6,279 $11,242 -
1992 $1,458 $5,664 $10,768 -
1991 $1,710 $5,485 $9,125 -
1990 $1,930 $5,106 $8,205 -
1989 $1,865 - $7,613 -
1988 $1,632 - $6,370 -
1987 $1,411 - $5,350 -
1986 $1,191 - $4,036 -
1985 $917 - $3,314 -
1984 $1,048 - $3,224 -
1983 $1,619 - $2,903 -
1982 $1,494 - $2,699 -
1981 $1,370 - $2,720 -
1980 $1,249 - $2,389 -
1979 $1,144 - $1,950 -
1978 $1,262 - $1,606 -
1977 $1,569 - $1,330 -
1976 $1,450 - $1,158 -
1975 $1,417 - $985 -
1974 $1,193 - $934 -
1973 $972 - $706 -
1972 $971 - $530 -
1971 $809 - $451 -
1970 $748 - $397 -
1969 $642 - $357 -
1968 $591 - $319 -
1967 $633 - $280.8 -
1966 $612 - $249.1 -
1965 $549 - $229.3 -
1964 $514 - $213.6 -
1963 $480 - $188.6 -
1962 $458 - $172 -
1961 $447 - $161.2 -
1960 $424 - $163.4 -
1959 - - $140.4 -
1958 - - $185.1 -
1957 - - $170.5 -
1956 - - $150.6 -
1955 - - $216.3 -
1954 - - $188.3 -
1953 - - $177.7 -
1952 - - $208.4 -
1951 - - $154.3 -

Data sources: National Statistics, Taiwan (1951–2024, retrieved 2026-02-09); World Bank | Economy & Growth (1960–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06); Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) (1999–2017, retrieved 2026-02-20).

GeoRank.org/economy/jamaica/taiwan | CC BY

Jamaica's GDP per capita is $7,754, ranking 95/197, compared to $34,238 in Taiwan, ranking 35/197. Adjusted for purchasing power (GDP per capita PPP), Jamaica ranks 121st at $12,890, while Taiwan ranks 44th at $50,500.

Economic indicators

Jamaica Taiwan
Gross domestic product
$22B
2024
$802B
2024
GDP rank
124/197
2024
22/197
2024
GDP growth
-0.54%
2023-2024
2.3%
2023-2024
GDP per capita
$7,754
2024
$34,238
2024
GDP per capita rank
95/197
2024
35/197
2024
GDP per capita, PPP
$12,890
2024
$50,500
2017
GDP per capita PPP rank
121/197
2024
44/197
2017
Government debt
$14B
2024
$211B
2024
Debt-to-GDP ratio
63.4%
2024
26.3%
2024
Government debt per person
$4,917
2024
$9,020
2024
Government debt per person rank
79/185
2024
59/185
2024
Average annual personal income after taxes
$6,905
2026
$18,163
2026
Market capitalization of domestic companies
$12.4B
2024
n/a
Number of millionaires n/a
759,000
2025
Number of billionaires n/a
54
2025
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
15.8%
2024
Consumer prices inflation
5.41%
2023-2024
2.2%
2023-2024
Central bank interest rate
5.75%
2025
2%
2024
Unemployment rate
3.02%
2023
3.35%
2025
Population
2834980
23229461

Spending and national debt comparison by year

Jamaica
Spending

Debt
Taiwan
Spending

Debt
1x
Year % of GDP
Jamaica Taiwan
Government spending Government debt Government spending Government debt
2024 30.5% 63.4% 15.8% 26.3%
2023 28% 67.3% 17.1% 29%
2022 28.4% 73.5% 16% 29.5%
2021 29% 90.9% 15.4% 30.1%
2020 29.8% 100.1% 16.2% 32%
2019 27.8% 88.6% 15.3% 32.6%
2018 27.8% 89.2% 15.4% 33.8%
2017 27.3% 96.7% 15.4% 34.5%
2016 27% 109.1% 15.6% 35.4%
2015 26.3% 117.6% 15.5% 35.9%
2014 26.5% 136.7% - 37.5%
2013 26.9% 138.1% - 38.9%
2012 29.6% 143% - 39.2%
2011 31.7% 138.1% 18.3% 38.3%
2010 32.9% 140.1% - 36.9%
2009 38.6% 141.5% - 36.7%
2008 34.4% 125.6% - 33.4%
2007 31.6% 115.3% - 32.2%
2006 31.2% 118% - 33.3%
2005 29.3% 124.5% - 34.1%
2004 31.5% 120.1% - 33.4%
2003 32.5% 125.5% - 32.1%
2002 31.1% 119.1% - 29.8%
2001 28.5% 107.9% 22.5% 30.1%
2000 26.2% 91.3% - 26.2%
1999 28.9% 83.5% - 23.7%
1998 28.3% 75.6% - 23.7%
1997 28.3% 74.4% - 25%
1996 27.7% 70.2% - -
1995 23.1% 85.2% - -
1994 21.5% 90.4% - -
1993 21.5% 106.2% - -
1992 20% 100.4% - -
1991 24.5% 175.1% 25.4% -
1990 25.7% 128.8% - -
1989 - - - -
1988 - - - -
1987 - - - -
1986 - - - -
1985 - - - -
1984 - - - -
1983 - - - -
1982 - - - -
1981 - - 23.6% -
1980 - - - -
1979 - - - -
1978 - - - -
1977 - - - -
1976 - - 21.4% -

Data sources: International Monetary Fund (IMF) | Fiscal Monitor (1990–2024, retrieved 2026-02-20); National Statistics, Taiwan (1976–2024, retrieved 2026-02-09); International Monetary Fund (IMF) | Public Finances in Modern History (1990–1998, retrieved 2026-02-20).

GeoRank.org/economy/jamaica/taiwan | CC BY

In 2024, Jamaica's government spending was $6.72B, accounting for 30.5% of its GDP, while Taiwan spent $127B, or 15.8% of GDP.

Debt-to-GDP ratio is 63.4% in Jamaica and 26.3% in Taiwan, ranking 73/185 and 160/185, respectively.

Government deficit by year

Deficit/surplus
Jamaica

Taiwan
1x
Year Deficit/surplus, % of GDP
Jamaica Taiwan
2024 0.22% 0.43%
2023 0.04% -0.61%
2022 0.27% 0.17%
2021 0.89% -0.18%
2020 -2.83% -1.03%
2019 0.85% 0.11%
2018 1.12% 0.02%
2017 0.43% -0.14%
2016 -0.19% -0.31%
2015 -0.28% 0.1%
2014 -0.49% -
2013 0.12% -
2012 -4.05% -
2011 -6.34% -2.15%
2010 -6.27% -
2009 -11.1% -
2008 -7.43% -
2007 -3.82% -
2006 -4.9% -
2005 -3.3% -
2004 -4.68% -
2003 -5.67% -
2002 -6.77% -
2001 -4.89% -3.71%
2000 -0.8% -
1999 -3.53% -
1998 -5.82% -
1997 -6.54% -
1996 -5.32% -
1995 1.6% -
1994 2.59% -
1993 2.6% -
1992 3.11% -
1991 3.87% -4.5%
1990 2.34% -
1989 - -
1988 - -
1987 - -
1986 - -
1985 - -
1984 - -
1983 - -
1982 - -
1981 - -0.78%
1980 - -
1979 - -
1978 - -
1977 - -
1976 - 1.39%

Data sources: International Monetary Fund (IMF) | Fiscal Monitor (1990–2024, retrieved 2026-02-20); National Statistics, Taiwan (1976–2024, retrieved 2026-02-09).

GeoRank.org/economy/jamaica/taiwan | 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 Taiwan's surplus of $3.45B, or 0.43% of GDP.

Over the past 35 years, Jamaica recorded a fiscal deficit in 21 of those years, while Taiwan ran a deficit in 8 years. On average, Jamaica posted an annual deficit equal to 2.14% of GDP, compared to deficit of 0.91% of GDP for Taiwan.

Inflation comparison by year

Inflation
Jamaica

Taiwan
1x
Year Consumer prices inflation
Jamaica Taiwan
2024 5.41% 2.2%
2023 6.47% 2.5%
2022 10.3% 2.9%
2021 5.86% 2%
2020 5.23% -0.2%
2019 3.91% 0.6%
2018 3.74% 1.4%
2017 4.38% 0.6%
2016 2.35% 1.4%
2015 3.69% -0.3%
2014 8.27% 1.2%
2013 9.34% 0.8%
2012 6.87% 1.9%
2011 7.56% 1.4%
2010 12.6% 1%
2009 9.59% -0.9%
2008 22% 3.5%
2007 9.24% 1.8%
2006 8.56% 0.6%
2005 15.1% 2.3%
2004 13.6% 1.6%
2003 10.1% -0.3%
2002 7.08% -0.2%
2001 6.8% 0%
2000 8.17% 1.2%
1999 5.95% 0.2%
1998 8.63% 1.7%
1997 9.66% 0.9%

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/jamaica/taiwan | CC BY

Over the past 28 years, Jamaica has recorded an average annual inflation rate of 8.23%, compared with 1.14% in Taiwan. In 2024, inflation was 5.41% in Jamaica and 2.2% in Taiwan.

Balance of trade

Jamaica Taiwan
Current account balance
$679M
2024
$113B
2024
Current account balance ranking
56/190
2024
4/190
2024
Current account balance, % of GDP
+3.08%
2024
+14.1%
2024
Goods imports
$6.07B
2024
n/a
Goods exports
$1.87B
2024
n/a
Service imports
$3.46B
2024
n/a
Service exports
$5.26B
2024
n/a
Imports of goods and services, % of GDP
52.1%
2019
50.2%
2024
Exports of goods and services, % of GDP
38%
2019
63.3%
2024

Economic freedom indices

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

Jamaica Taiwan
Economic freedom 68.2 79.8
Economic freedom ranking 48/197 6/197
Property rights 66.8 83.4
Government integrity 49.4 74.3
Judicial effectiveness 75.6 94.3
Tax burden 76.3 78.9
Government spending 76 90
Fiscal health 92.2 92.9
Business freedom 68.5 78.6
Labor freedom 59.2 69
Monetary freedom 74.2 80.3
Trade freedom 70.4 86
Investment freedom 60 70
Financial freedom 50 60

Economic freedom comparison by year

Jamaica
Taiwan
1x
Year Economic freedom index
Jamaica Taiwan
2026 68.2 79.8
2025 68.7 79.7
2024 68.1 80
2023 68.1 80.7
2022 67.4 80.1
2021 69 78.6
2020 68.5 77.1
2019 68.6 77.3
2018 69.1 76.6
2017 69.5 76.5
2016 67.5 74.7
2015 67.7 75.1
2014 66.7 73.9
2013 66.8 72.7
2012 65.1 71.9
2011 65.7 70.8
2010 65.5 70.4
2009 65.2 69.5
2008 65.7 70.3
2007 65.5 69.4
2006 66.4 69.7
2005 67 71.3
2004 66.7 69.6
2003 67 71.7
2002 61.7 71.3
2001 63.7 72.8
2000 65.5 72.5
1999 64.7 71.5
1998 67.1 70.4
1997 67.7 70
1996 66.7 74.1
1995 64.4 74.2

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

GeoRank.org/economy/jamaica/taiwan | CC BY

The Economic Freedom Index for Jamaica is 68.2, ranking 48/197, compared to 79.8 for Taiwan, ranking 6/197. The chart above displays a comparison of annual changes in economic freedom indexes.

Other economic metrics

Jamaica Taiwan
Services, % of GDP
60%
2024
58.8%
2024
Industry, % of GDP
16.5%
2024
39.8%
2024
Agriculture, forestry, and fishing, % of GDP
7.97%
2024
1.47%
2024
GNI, Atlas method
$20.5B
2024
$832B
2024
GNI per capita, PPP
$12,690
2024
n/a
Total reserves including gold
$5.63B
2024
n/a
Total reserves ranking
93/177
2024
n/a
Net foreign direct investment
-$304M
2024
n/a
Net inflows of foreign direct investment
$305M
2024
n/a
Net outflows of foreign direct investment
$1.07M
2024
n/a
Servicing debt to the IMF, % of GNI
11.3%
2024
n/a
Poverty at national poverty lines
8.2%
2023
1.5%
2020
Gross capital formation, % of GDP
22.6%
2019
26.7%
2024

GDP per capita map

1x

Data sources: World Bank | Economy & Growth (1985–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06); National Statistics, Taiwan (1985–2024, retrieved 2026-02-09); U.S. Census Bureau (1985–2024, retrieved 2026-02-08).

GeoRank.org/economy/jamaica/taiwan | CC BY

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Data sources:

  1. World Bank | Economy & Growth (1960–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06)
  2. National Statistics, Taiwan (1951–2025, retrieved 2026-02-09)
  3. International Monetary Fund (IMF) | Fiscal Monitor (1990–2024, 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. Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) (1999–2020, retrieved 2026-02-20)
  7. International Monetary Fund (IMF) | Public Finances in Modern History (1990–1998, retrieved 2026-02-20)
  8. United Nations | World Population Prospects (2026, retrieved 2026-03-10)
  9. 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.