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Economy of Jamaica vs Yemen compared: GDP & Debt

Updated on by Georank team

Jamaica has a GDP of $22B compared to $21.6B for Yemen, ranking 124/197 and 125/197 by economy size, respectively.

Jamaica has $14B in government debt (63.4% of GDP), compared to $18.8B (70.9% of GDP) in Yemen.

Jamaica vs Yemen GDP by year

Jamaica
Yemen
1x
Year GDP, current $
Jamaica Yemen
2024 $22,014,397,090 -
2023 $21,418,804,320 -
2022 $18,813,516,805 -
2021 $15,963,885,376 -
2020 $15,000,214,216 -
2019 $17,026,269,263 -
2018 $16,855,447,986 $21,606,160,663
2017 $15,783,583,237 $26,842,229,045
2016 $14,898,999,754 $31,317,825,274
2015 $14,963,589,916 $42,444,490,074
2014 $13,899,217,680 $43,228,585,321
2013 $14,264,205,153 $40,415,233,436
2012 $14,807,086,556 $35,401,331,610
2011 $14,444,661,522 $32,726,417,878
2010 $13,220,549,908 $30,906,749,533
2009 $12,120,458,115 $25,130,278,213
2008 $13,709,401,520 $26,910,855,807
2007 $12,799,600,047 $21,650,528,674
2006 $11,930,179,090 $19,063,143,370
2005 $11,243,865,778 $16,731,566,717
2004 $10,174,664,854 $13,867,634,371
2003 $9,430,234,811 $11,777,532,662
2002 $9,719,009,495 $10,693,430,511
2001 $9,194,727,831 $9,852,990,693
2000 $9,005,064,475 $9,679,316,770
1999 $8,887,057,997 $7,639,325,296
1998 $8,787,195,622 $6,322,175,566
1997 $8,400,041,724 $6,838,298,531
1996 $7,393,891,921 $6,496,163,616
1995 $6,577,520,643 $12,796,345,679
1994 $5,452,558,947 $28,019,483,764
1993 $5,440,075,676 $21,736,802,664
1992 $3,535,460,090 $17,959,367,194
1991 $4,106,207,649 $14,665,445,462
1990 $4,592,208,087 $12,643,821,569
1989 $4,404,937,853 -
1988 $3,828,342,820 -
1987 $3,287,007,322 -
1986 $2,754,549,582 -
1985 $2,100,239,019 -
1984 $2,373,564,549 -
1983 $3,619,262,277 -
1982 $3,293,496,312 -
1981 $2,979,027,966 -
1980 $2,679,379,372 -
1979 $2,425,064,229 -
1978 $2,644,527,822 -
1977 $3,249,733,140 -
1976 $2,966,042,856 -
1975 $2,860,442,750 -
1974 $2,375,122,375 -
1973 $1,905,917,553 -
1972 $1,875,146,587 -
1971 $1,539,861,816 -
1970 $1,404,720,442 -
1969 $1,191,239,047 -
1968 $1,083,839,133 -
1967 $1,148,014,311 -
1966 $1,096,759,561 -
1965 $972,159,611 -
1964 $897,949,001 -
1963 $826,706,669 -
1962 $777,727,689 -
1961 $748,043,501 -
1960 $699,064,380 -

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

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

GDP per capita in Jamaica vs Yemen by year

Jamaica
GDP per capita

GDP per capita, PPP
Yemen
GDP per capita

GDP per capita, PPP
1x
Year Current $
Jamaica Yemen
GDP per capita GDP per capita, PPP GDP per capita GDP per capita, PPP
2024 $7,754 $12,890 - -
2023 $7,542 $12,651 - -
2022 $6,626 $11,888 - -
2021 $5,626 $10,431 - -
2020 $5,299 $9,764 - -
2019 $6,031 $10,845 - -
2018 $5,977 $10,753 $634 -
2017 $5,605 $10,466 $811 -
2016 $5,302 $9,948 $975 -
2015 $5,339 $9,476 $1,362 -
2014 $4,975 $9,210 $1,430 -
2013 $5,124 $9,101 $1,379 $3,164
2012 $5,341 $8,831 $1,245 $3,005
2011 $5,233 $8,809 $1,186 $3,113
2010 $4,810 $8,521 $1,155 $3,603
2009 $4,428 $8,580 $969 $3,411
2008 $5,030 $8,952 $1,072 $3,370
2007 $4,716 $8,893 $890 $3,294
2006 $4,417 $8,577 $810 $3,205
2005 $4,184 $8,127 $734 $3,113
2004 $3,808 $7,854 $628 $2,949
2003 $3,550 $7,593 $549 $2,844
2002 $3,681 $7,226 $513 $2,768
2001 $3,504 $7,019 $487 $2,702
2000 $3,453 $6,816 $493 $2,624
1999 $3,432 $6,653 $401 $2,492
1998 $3,419 $6,543 $343 $2,442
1997 $3,297 $6,682 $383 $2,351
1996 $2,929 $6,706 $375 $2,268
1995 $2,631 $6,657 $764 $2,201
1994 $2,203 $6,435 $1,735 $2,115
1993 $2,221 $6,279 $1,397 $2,013
1992 $1,458 $5,664 $1,198 $1,963
1991 $1,710 $5,485 $1,016 $1,843
1990 $1,930 $5,106 $910 $1,742
1989 $1,865 - - -
1988 $1,632 - - -
1987 $1,411 - - -
1986 $1,191 - - -
1985 $917 - - -
1984 $1,048 - - -
1983 $1,619 - - -
1982 $1,494 - - -
1981 $1,370 - - -
1980 $1,249 - - -
1979 $1,144 - - -
1978 $1,262 - - -
1977 $1,569 - - -
1976 $1,450 - - -
1975 $1,417 - - -
1974 $1,193 - - -
1973 $972 - - -
1972 $971 - - -
1971 $809 - - -
1970 $748 - - -
1969 $642 - - -
1968 $591 - - -
1967 $633 - - -
1966 $612 - - -
1965 $549 - - -
1964 $514 - - -
1963 $480 - - -
1962 $458 - - -
1961 $447 - - -
1960 $424 - - -

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

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

Jamaica's GDP per capita is $7,754, ranking 95/197, compared to $634 in Yemen, ranking 191/197. Adjusted for purchasing power (GDP per capita PPP), Jamaica ranks 121st at $12,890, while Yemen ranks 178th at $3,164.

Economic indicators

Jamaica Yemen
Gross domestic product
$22B
2024
$21.6B
2018
GDP rank
124/197
2024
125/197
2018
GDP growth
-0.54%
2023-2024
0.75%
2017-2018
GDP per capita
$7,754
2024
$634
2018
GDP per capita rank
95/197
2024
191/197
2018
GDP per capita, PPP
$12,890
2024
$3,164
2013
GDP per capita PPP rank
121/197
2024
178/197
2013
Government debt
$14B
2024
$18.8B
2018
Debt-to-GDP ratio
63.4%
2024
70.9%
2024
Government debt per person
$4,917
2024
$551
2018
Government debt per person rank
79/185
2024
165/185
2018
Average annual personal income after taxes
$6,905
2026
$1,127
2026
Market capitalization of domestic companies
$12.4B
2024
n/a
Income share by richest 10%
29.6%
2021
29.4%
2014
Income share by poorest 10%
2.2%
2021
3%
2014
Government expenditure, % of GDP
30.5%
2024
8.91%
2024
Consumer prices inflation
5.41%
2023-2024
33.9%
2023-2024
Central bank interest rate
5.75%
2025
n/a
Unemployment rate
3.02%
2023
13.5%
2014
Population
2834980
43325643

Spending and national debt comparison by year

Jamaica
Spending

Debt
Yemen
Spending

Debt
1x
Year % of GDP
Jamaica Yemen
Government spending Government debt Government spending Government debt
2024 30.5% 63.4% 8.91% 70.9%
2023 28% 67.3% 11.8% 77.9%
2022 28.4% 73.5% 12.2% 65.3%
2021 29% 90.9% 8.22% 75.9%
2020 29.8% 100.1% 10.6% 87%
2019 27.8% 88.6% 13.2% 91.5%
2018 27.8% 89.2% 14.3% 86.9%
2017 27.3% 96.7% 8.39% 83.8%
2016 27% 109.1% 16.1% 76.5%
2015 26.3% 117.6% 19.4% 57.7%
2014 26.5% 136.7% 27.8% 48.9%
2013 26.9% 138.1% 30.8% 48.4%
2012 29.6% 143% 36.2% 47.6%
2011 31.7% 138.1% 29.8% 45.7%
2010 32.9% 140.1% 30.2% 42.4%
2009 38.6% 141.5% 35.2% 49.8%
2008 34.4% 125.6% 41.2% 36.4%
2007 31.6% 115.3% 40.3% 40.4%
2006 31.2% 118% 37.4% 40.8%
2005 29.3% 124.5% 36.8% 43.8%
2004 31.5% 120.1% 34.2% 52.1%
2003 32.5% 125.5% 35.3% 56.8%
2002 31.1% 119.1% 30.8% 57.8%
2001 28.5% 107.9% 30.5% 60.6%
2000 26.2% 91.3% 31.7% 60.8%
1999 28.9% 83.5% 28.2% 96.1%
1998 28.3% 75.6% 34.3% 110.6%
1997 28.3% 74.4% 34.2% 74.2%
1996 27.7% 70.2% 30.7% 114.9%
1995 23.1% 85.2% 24.1% 84.1%
1994 21.5% 90.4% 25.2% 73.3%
1993 21.5% 106.2% 25.8% 76.7%
1992 20% 100.4% 24.6% 78%
1991 24.5% 175.1% 24.7% 82.7%
1990 25.7% 128.8% 26.6% 91.6%

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/yemen | CC BY

In 2024, Jamaica's government spending was $6.72B, accounting for 30.5% of its GDP, while Yemen spent $3.08B, or 8.91% of GDP.

Debt-to-GDP ratio is 63.4% in Jamaica and 70.9% in Yemen, ranking 73/185 and 55/185, respectively.

Government deficit by year

Deficit/surplus
Jamaica

Yemen
1x
Year Deficit/surplus, % of GDP
Jamaica Yemen
2024 0.22% -2.48%
2023 0.04% -5.63%
2022 0.27% -2.15%
2021 0.89% -0.89%
2020 -2.83% -4.3%
2019 0.85% -5.89%
2018 1.12% -7.85%
2017 0.43% -4.9%
2016 -0.19% -8.51%
2015 -0.28% -8.75%
2014 -0.49% -4.14%
2013 0.12% -6.9%
2012 -4.05% -6.32%
2011 -6.34% -4.51%
2010 -6.27% -4.06%
2009 -11.1% -10.2%
2008 -7.43% -4.53%
2007 -3.82% -7.18%
2006 -4.9% 1.19%
2005 -3.3% -1.82%
2004 -4.68% -2.15%
2003 -5.67% -4.2%
2002 -6.77% -0.56%
2001 -4.89% 2.79%
2000 -0.8% 6.09%
1999 -3.53% 0.06%
1998 -5.82% -7.77%
1997 -6.54% -1.5%
1996 -5.32% -0.92%
1995 1.6% -5.74%
1994 2.59% -14%
1993 2.6% -12.8%
1992 3.11% -10.9%
1991 3.87% -5.76%
1990 2.34% -10.3%

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

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

In 2018, Jamaica's government surplus, the difference between spending and revenue, was $188M, equivalent to 1.12% of GDP. This compares to Yemen's deficit of $1.7B, or 7.85% of GDP.

Over the past 29 years, Jamaica recorded a fiscal deficit in 20 of those years, while Yemen ran a deficit in 25 years. On average, Jamaica posted an annual deficit equal to 2.57% of GDP, compared to deficit of 5.04% of GDP for Yemen.

Inflation comparison by year

Inflation
Jamaica

Yemen
1x
Year Consumer prices inflation
Jamaica Yemen
2024 5.41% 33.9%
2023 6.47% 0.9%
2022 10.3% 29.5%
2021 5.86% 31.5%
2020 5.23% 21.7%
2019 3.91% 15.7%
2018 3.74% 33.6%
2017 4.38% 30.4%
2016 2.35% 21.3%
2015 3.69% 22%
2014 8.27% 8.2%
2013 9.34% 11%
2012 6.87% 9.9%
2011 7.56% 19.5%
2010 12.6% 11.2%
2009 9.59% 3.7%
2008 22% 19%
2007 9.24% 7.9%
2006 8.56% 10.8%
2005 15.1% 9.9%
2004 13.6% 12.5%
2003 10.1% 10.8%
2002 7.08% 12.2%
2001 6.8% 11.9%
2000 8.17% 11%
1999 5.95% 7.9%
1998 8.63% 11.5%
1997 9.66% 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/jamaica/yemen | CC BY

Over the past 28 years, Jamaica has recorded an average annual inflation rate of 8.23%, compared with 15.5% in Yemen. In 2024, inflation was 5.41% in Jamaica and 33.9% in Yemen.

Balance of trade

Jamaica Yemen
Current account balance
$679M
2024
-$2.42B
2016
Current account balance ranking
56/190
2024
148/190
2016
Current account balance, % of GDP
+3.08%
2024
-7.72%
2016
Goods imports
$6.07B
2024
$6.8B
2016
Goods exports
$1.87B
2024
$473M
2016
Service imports
$3.46B
2024
$1.46B
2016
Service exports
$5.26B
2024
$466M
2016
Imports of goods and services, % of GDP
52.1%
2019
47.3%
2018
Exports of goods and services, % of GDP
38%
2019
8.76%
2018

Economic freedom indices

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

Jamaica Yemen
Economic freedom 68.2 53.7
Economic freedom ranking 48/197 138/197
Property rights 66.8 3.5
Government integrity 49.4 6.2
Judicial effectiveness 75.6 9.9
Tax burden 76.3 93.7
Government spending 76 0
Fiscal health 92.2 71.2
Business freedom 68.5 31.3
Labor freedom 59.2 31.2
Monetary freedom 74.2 48.1
Trade freedom 70.4 67.4
Investment freedom 60 50
Financial freedom 50 30

Economic freedom comparison by year

Jamaica
Yemen
1x
Year Economic freedom index
Jamaica Yemen
2026 68.2 -
2025 68.7 -
2024 68.1 -
2023 68.1 -
2022 67.4 -
2021 69 -
2020 68.5 -
2019 68.6 -
2018 69.1 -
2017 69.5 -
2016 67.5 -
2015 67.7 53.7
2014 66.7 55.5
2013 66.8 55.9
2012 65.1 55.3
2011 65.7 54.2
2010 65.5 54.4
2009 65.2 56.9
2008 65.7 53.8
2007 65.5 54.1
2006 66.4 52.6
2005 67 53.8
2004 66.7 50.5
2003 67 50.3
2002 61.7 48.6
2001 63.7 44.3
2000 65.5 44.5
1999 64.7 43.3
1998 67.1 46.1
1997 67.7 48.4
1996 66.7 49.6
1995 64.4 49.8

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

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

The Economic Freedom Index for Jamaica is 68.2, ranking 48/197, 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

Jamaica Yemen
Services, % of GDP
60%
2024
41.8%
2018
Industry, % of GDP
16.5%
2024
25.4%
2018
Agriculture, forestry, and fishing, % of GDP
7.97%
2024
28.7%
2018
GNI, Atlas method
$20.5B
2024
$25.3B
2018
GNI per capita, PPP
$12,690
2024
$3,020
2013
Total reserves including gold
$5.63B
2024
$1.25B
2022
Total reserves ranking
93/177
2024
139/177
2022
Net foreign direct investment
-$304M
2024
$15.4M
2015
Net inflows of foreign direct investment
$305M
2024
-$371M
2019
Net outflows of foreign direct investment
$1.07M
2024
$0
2024
Servicing debt to the IMF, % of GNI
11.3%
2024
0.53%
2018
Poverty at national poverty lines
8.2%
2023
48.6%
2014
Gross capital formation, % of GDP
22.6%
2019
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/jamaica/yemen | 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. The Heritage Foundation | Economic Freedom Index (1995–2026, retrieved 2026-03-09)
  4. U.S. Census Bureau (1985–2024, retrieved 2026-02-08)
  5. International Monetary Fund (IMF) | Public Finances in Modern History (1990–1998, retrieved 2026-02-20)
  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.