Skip to content

Economy of Japan vs Kiribati compared: GDP & Debt

Updated on by Georank

Japan has a GDP of $4.44T compared to $349M for Kiribati, ranking 4/197 and 192/197 by economy size, respectively.

Japan has $9.16T in government debt (206.5% of GDP), compared to $27.8M (7.95% of GDP) in Kiribati.

Japan vs Kiribati GDP by year

Japan
Kiribati
1x
Year GDP, current $
Japan Kiribati
2025 $4,435,162,999,977 $349,227,254
2024 $4,190,008,188,359 $343,153,235
2023 $4,384,854,269,962 $291,657,338
2022 $4,447,976,207,315 $271,214,375
2021 $5,225,933,520,753 $285,451,584
2020 $5,189,197,543,645 $220,909,307
2019 $5,245,755,000,479 $216,891,541
2018 $5,154,293,721,630 $233,859,230
2017 $5,038,231,631,661 $223,029,865
2016 $5,110,357,383,254 $206,467,819
2015 $4,534,438,580,495 $191,559,399
2014 $4,985,763,289,561 $200,287,282
2013 $5,272,297,037,397 $201,730,861
2012 $6,333,803,928,788 $207,001,546
2011 $6,279,422,550,219 $195,970,140
2010 $5,811,578,109,447 $165,458,433
2009 $5,336,765,697,589 $140,177,384
2008 $5,160,197,175,876 $147,017,895
2007 $4,624,670,179,655 $138,054,946
2006 $4,648,058,930,707 $112,338,353
2005 $4,875,648,486,366 $113,895,437
2004 $4,941,485,123,807 $104,085,892
2003 $4,573,413,206,709 $96,105,619
2002 $4,245,946,980,572 $74,743,869
2001 $4,438,792,748,062 $64,935,850
2000 $5,042,381,838,343 $74,910,527
1999 $4,688,983,449,627 $77,323,978
1998 $4,150,359,076,370 $74,905,706
1997 $4,579,780,793,432 $80,205,807
1996 $5,021,441,618,840 $81,456,854
1995 $5,639,649,753,986 $68,596,395
1994 $5,104,063,486,348 $67,055,334
1993 $4,632,480,515,091 $58,953,596
1992 $4,064,529,567,505 $61,491,369
1991 $3,724,887,648,862 $41,247,792
1990 $3,252,994,239,867 $36,534,295
1989 $3,174,934,735,896 $37,645,319
1988 $3,191,546,727,316 $38,278,810
1987 $2,635,094,473,494 $29,554,413
1986 $2,164,729,071,349 $25,993,009
1985 $1,457,070,301,468 $26,126,615
1984 $1,374,165,212,365 $34,394,167
1983 $1,297,622,008,229 $31,000,546
1982 $1,183,132,285,328 $32,742,713
1981 $1,271,443,597,067 $35,267,489
1980 $1,153,159,955,513 $33,157,723
1979 $1,100,608,979,757 $34,466,197
1978 $1,057,419,758,047 $36,563,965
1977 $752,590,681,822 $31,335,459
1976 $611,495,350,304 $33,246,817
1975 $544,082,569,364 $44,547,454
1974 $500,355,087,138 $69,256,489
1973 $450,756,970,744 $25,645,040
1972 $331,776,379,992 $15,314,346
1971 $250,530,994,765 $12,356,134
1970 $221,798,003,144 $11,560,877
1969 $188,179,852,753 -
1968 $160,201,483,788 -
1967 $135,265,319,098 -
1966 $115,427,351,851 -
1965 $99,387,878,008 -
1964 $89,332,989,729 -
1963 $75,945,582,324 -
1962 $66,356,388,224 -
1961 $58,472,696,006 -
1960 $48,417,804,545 -

Data sources: World Bank | Economy & Growth (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08).

GeoRank.org/economy/japan/kiribati | CC BY

GDP per capita in Japan vs Kiribati by year

Japan
GDP per capita

GDP per capita, PPP
Kiribati
GDP per capita

GDP per capita, PPP
1x
Year Current $
Japan Kiribati
GDP per capita GDP per capita, PPP GDP per capita GDP per capita, PPP
2025 $35,951 - $2,559 -
2024 $33,797 $52,039 $2,551 $3,702
2023 $35,215 $50,662 $2,201 $3,486
2022 $35,548 $47,192 $2,079 $3,329
2021 $41,581 $44,355 $2,224 $3,020
2020 $41,099 $42,426 $1,752 $2,711
2019 $41,425 $42,678 $1,750 $2,763
2018 $40,645 $42,142 $1,916 $2,672
2017 $39,680 $41,444 $1,854 $2,562
2016 $40,215 $40,597 $1,743 $2,463
2015 $35,665 $40,899 $1,640 $2,311
2014 $39,173 $39,555 $1,737 $2,084
2013 $41,369 $39,402 $1,772 $2,049
2012 $49,627 $37,606 $1,844 $1,896
2011 $49,122 $36,214 $1,771 $1,786
2010 $45,378 $35,336 $1,522 $1,724
2009 $41,678 $33,543 $1,317 $1,718
2008 $40,294 $35,274 $1,411 $1,735
2007 $36,130 $35,015 $1,353 $1,792
2006 $36,354 $33,632 $1,123 $1,728
2005 $38,159 $32,170 $1,162 $1,617
2004 $38,678 $30,832 $1,083 $1,579
2003 $35,809 $29,392 $1,021 $1,578
2002 $33,316 $28,624 $810 $1,605
2001 $34,910 $27,943 $719 $1,591
2000 $39,753 $27,288 $845 $1,638
1999 $37,029 $25,736 $887 $1,526
1998 $32,835 $25,508 $874 $1,593
1997 $36,331 $25,619 $953 $1,535
1996 $39,930 $24,999 $986 $1,519
1995 $44,947 $23,858 $844 $1,518
1994 $40,774 $22,823 $838 $1,469
1993 $37,111 $22,168 $748 $1,431
1992 $32,667 $21,825 $792 $1,421
1991 $30,048 $21,227 $540 $1,139
1990 $26,345 $19,912 $488 $1,192
1989 $25,798 - $515 -
1988 $26,037 - $536 -
1987 $21,587 - $424 -
1986 $17,819 - $382 -
1985 $12,058 - $393 -
1984 $11,443 - $527 -
1983 $10,876 - $483 -
1982 $9,986 - $519 -
1981 $10,806 - $568 -
1980 $9,872 - $542 -
1979 $9,497 - $573 -
1978 $9,202 - $611 -
1977 $6,609 - $520 -
1976 $5,422 - $548 -
1975 $4,876 - $730 -
1974 $4,542 - $1,131 -
1973 $4,147 - $422 -
1972 $3,095 - $256.2 -
1971 $2,370 - $210.7 -
1970 $2,145 - $201 -
1969 $1,841 - - -
1968 $1,586 - - -
1967 $1,354 - - -
1966 $1,168 - - -
1965 $1,015 - - -
1964 $922 - - -
1963 $792 - - -
1962 $699 - - -
1961 $622 - - -
1960 $519 - - -

Data sources: World Bank | Economy & Growth (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08).

GeoRank.org/economy/japan/kiribati | CC BY

Japan's GDP per capita is $35,951, ranking 34/197, compared to $2,559 in Kiribati, ranking 152/197. Adjusted for purchasing power (GDP per capita PPP), Japan ranks 41st at $52,039, while Kiribati ranks 169th at $3,702.

Economic indicators

Japan Kiribati
Gross domestic product
$4.44T
2025
$349M
2025
GDP rank
4/197
2025
192/197
2025
GDP growth
1.19%
2024-2025
4.22%
2024-2025
GDP per capita
$35,951
2025
$2,559
2025
GDP per capita rank
34/197
2025
152/197
2025
GDP per capita, PPP
$52,039
2024
$3,702
2024
GDP per capita PPP rank
41/197
2024
169/197
2024
Government debt
$9.16T
2025
$27.8M
2025
Debt-to-GDP ratio
206.5%
2025
7.95%
2025
Government debt per person
$74,248
2025
$203.4
2025
Government debt per person rank
3/185
2025
181/185
2025
Average annual personal income after taxes
$22,962
2026
$2,170
2026
Market capitalization of domestic companies
$7.61T
2025
n/a
Number of millionaires
2,902,000
2026
n/a
Number of billionaires
41
2026
n/a
Income share by richest 10%
24.3%
2020
20.9%
2023
Income share by poorest 10%
2.3%
2020
4.4%
2023
Government expenditure, % of GDP
36.9%
2025
88.2%
2025
Consumer prices inflation
3.17%
2024-2025
6.5%
2024-2025
Central bank interest rate
0.75%
2025
n/a
Unemployment rate
2.5%
2025
2.79%
2023
Population
122704252
139471

Spending and national debt comparison by year

Japan
Spending

Debt
Kiribati
Spending

Debt
1x
Year % of GDP
Japan Kiribati
Government spending Government debt Government spending Government debt
2025 36.9% 206.5% 88.2% 7.95%
2024 37.3% 214.5% 86.1% 8.9%
2023 37.8% 220.3% 94.4% 11.3%
2022 40.2% 227.8% 87.2% 16.2%
2021 41.3% 222.7% 84% 17.3%
2020 43.6% 228.8% 102.2% 21%
2019 36.4% 206.3% 108.3% 18.5%
2018 36% 203.7% 108.8% 19%
2017 35.9% 203.1% 92.1% 20.2%
2016 36.5% 202.1% 99% 21.2%
2015 36.6% 200.1% 90.9% 18.8%
2014 37.8% 203.6% 101.2% 8.97%
2013 38.4% 201.2% 78% 8.86%
2012 38.4% 197.1% 83.9% 8.13%
2011 38.4% 190.6% 80.9% 8.8%
2010 37.4% 178.6% 75.7% 9.43%
2009 38.3% 172.9% 74.7% 10.3%
2008 33.7% 153.6% 79.4% 13.9%
2007 32.8% 150.4% 77.3% 11.1%
2006 32.7% 152.1% 82.1% 12.9%
2005 33.2% 153.4% 95.6% 12.1%
2004 33.3% 148.8% 103.8% 13.6%
2003 34.6% 140.2% 84.4% 12.3%
2002 34.9% 134.6% 96.9% 13.3%
2001 34.7% 126.8% 101.3% 17%
2000 35.4% 118.5% 66% 12.7%
1999 35.2% 113.5% 77.6% 11.8%
1998 38.1% 101.6% 74.7% 9.81%
1997 32.4% 91.3% 70.9% 10.7%
1996 33.1% 85.3% 68.4% 11%
1995 32.8% 80.7% 69.6% 12.3%
1994 32.1% 73.3% 54.6% 12.3%
1993 31.4% 63.2% 55.3% 10.9%
1992 29.6% 57.9% 65.9% 7.31%
1991 28.6% 54.1% 82.1% 8.43%
1990 28.8% 54.8% 105.5% 7.72%
1989 29.2% 65.7% - -
1988 29.9% 71.9% - -
1987 30.6% 75.8% - -
1986 30.4% 74.1% - -
1985 30.4% 68.3% - -
1984 31.2% 65.6% - -
1983 31.8% 63.5% - -
1982 31.7% 57.7% - -
1981 31.5% 52.8% - -
1980 33.5% 47.8% - -
1979 33.2% 43.8% - -
1978 32.1% 39% - -
1977 30.4% 31.1% - -
1976 29.1% 26.1% - -
1975 28.5% 20.9% - -
1974 25.5% 16.7% - -
1973 23.3% 15.9% - -
1972 23.1% 16.3% - -
1971 21.8% 12.6% - -
1970 20.2% 11.2% - -
1969 19.8% 11.4% - -
1968 20.1% 11.8% - -
1967 19.9% 11.4% - -
1966 20.8% 11.2% - -
1965 20.4% 9.78% - -
1964 19.8% 8.53% - -
1963 20% 8.66% - -
1962 19.4% 9.01% - -
1961 18.2% 8.44% - -
1960 18.4% 10.4% - -

Data sources: International Monetary Fund (IMF) | Fiscal Monitor (1990–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08); International Monetary Fund (IMF) | Public Finances in Modern History (1960–1989, retrieved 2026-07-08).

GeoRank.org/economy/japan/kiribati | CC BY

In 2025, Japan's government spending was $1.63T, accounting for 36.9% of its GDP, while Kiribati spent $308M, or 88.2% of GDP.

Debt-to-GDP ratio is 206.5% in Japan and 7.95% in Kiribati, ranking 3/185 and 182/185, respectively.

Government deficit by year

Deficit/surplus
Japan

Kiribati
1x
Year Deficit/surplus, % of GDP
Japan Kiribati
2025 -1.05% -14.5%
2024 -1.67% -14.1%
2023 -2.39% 1.81%
2022 -4.23% -18.2%
2021 -6.32% -10.8%
2020 -9.04% 3.57%
2019 -3.05% 10.8%
2018 -2.44% 5.18%
2017 -3.05% 34.1%
2016 -3.58% 20.1%
2015 -3.64% 42.5%
2014 -5.58% 35%
2013 -7.62% 11.8%
2012 -8.22% -5.43%
2011 -9.02% -17.6%
2010 -9.05% -7.8%
2009 -9.62% -8.56%
2008 -4.07% -15.8%
2007 -2.86% -12.5%
2006 -3% -12.3%
2005 -4.39% -9.96%
2004 -5.26% -19.2%
2003 -7.35% -8.93%
2002 -7.22% 3.13%
2001 -6.11% -10.9%
2000 -7.17% -0.03%
1999 -6.68% -1.81%
1998 -9.91% 14.6%
1997 -3.44% 5.92%
1996 -4.75% -20.2%
1995 -4.22% -5.14%
1994 -3.7% 0.74%
1993 -2.34% 6.27%
1992 0.56% 0.79%
1991 1.64% 3.87%
1990 1.91% -4.62%
1989 1.23% -
1988 0.49% -
1987 -0.36% -
1986 -1.36% -
1985 -1.37% -
1984 -2.62% -
1983 -3.95% -
1982 -3.81% -
1981 -3.85% -
1980 -4.66% -
1979 -5% -
1978 -5.79% -
1977 -4.02% -
1976 -3.89% -
1975 -2.92% -
1974 0.38% -
1973 0.56% -
1972 -0.13% -
1971 1.21% -
1970 1.74% -
1969 1.26% -
1968 0.88% -
1967 0.8% -
1966 -0.34% -
1965 0.48% -
1964 0.85% -
1963 1.08% -
1962 1.49% -
1961 2.58% -
1960 1.85% -
1959 0.97% -
1958 -0.1% -
1957 1.27% -
1956 1.39% -
1955 -0.67% -
1954 0.7% -
1953 1.65% -
1952 2.22% -
1951 5.06% -
1950 6.99% -
1949 12.5% -
1948 7.53% -
1947 6.09% -
1946 - -
1945 - -
1944 - -
1943 0.32% -
1942 -0.13% -
1941 -0.19% -
1940 0.31% -
1939 0.11% -
1938 0.45% -
1937 0.71% -
1936 0.34% -
1935 0.26% -
1934 0.34% -
1933 0.28% -
1932 0.31% -
1931 0.23% -
1930 0.19% -
1929 0.5% -
1928 0.42% -
1927 0.58% -
1926 0.65% -
1925 0.75% -
1924 0.84% -
1923 0.87% -
1922 0.89% -
1921 1.43% -
1920 1.19% -
1919 1.21% -
1918 1.58% -
1917 1.54% -
1916 1.37% -
1915 1.41% -
1914 1.31% -
1913 1.21% -
1912 1.27% -
1911 1.21% -
1910 1.57% -
1909 1.51% -
1908 1.63% -
1907 1.77% -
1906 0.46% -
1905 -0.68% -
1904 -0.81% -
1903 0.19% -
1902 0.44% -
1901 0.21% -
1900 0.53% -
1899 0.2% -
1898 0.6% -
1897 0.33% -
1896 0.88% -
1895 0.28% -
1894 -0.24% -
1893 0.6% -
1892 0.63% -
1891 0.61% -
1890 0.74% -
1889 0.18% -
1888 0.13% -
1887 0.11% -
1886 0.03% -
1885 0.01% -
1884 0.001% -
1883 0.03% -
1882 0.001% -
1881 0.001% -
1880 0.004% -
1879 0.02% -
1878 0.02% -
1877 -0.29% -
1876 -0.42% -
1875 0.005% -

Data sources: International Monetary Fund (IMF) | Public Finances in Modern History (1875–1989, retrieved 2026-07-08); International Monetary Fund (IMF) | Fiscal Monitor (1990–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08).

GeoRank.org/economy/japan/kiribati | CC BY

In 2025, Japan's government deficit, the difference between spending and revenue, was $46.7B, equivalent to 1.05% of GDP. This compares to Kiribati's deficit of $50.6M, or 14.5% of GDP.

Over the past 36 years, Japan recorded a fiscal deficit in 33 of those years, while Kiribati ran a deficit in 20 years. On average, Japan posted an annual deficit equal to 4.66% of GDP, compared to deficit of 0.51% of GDP for Kiribati.

Inflation comparison by year

Inflation
Japan

Kiribati
1x
Year Consumer prices inflation
Japan Kiribati
2025 3.17% 6.5%
2024 2.74% 2.5%
2023 3.27% 9.3%
2022 2.5% 5.3%
2021 -0.23% 2.1%
2020 -0.02% 2.6%
2019 0.47% -1.8%
2018 0.99% 0.6%
2017 0.48% 0.4%
2016 -0.13% 1.9%
2015 0.8% 0.6%
2014 2.76% 2.1%
2013 0.34% -1.5%
2012 -0.04% -3%
2011 -0.27% 1.5%
2010 -0.73% -3.9%
2009 -1.35% 9.8%
2008 1.38% 13.7%
2007 0.06% 3.6%
2006 0.25% -1%
2005 -0.28% -0.4%
2004 -0.009% -0.7%
2003 -0.26% 1.6%
2002 -0.92% 3.2%
2001 -0.74% 6%
2000 -0.68% 0.4%
1999 -0.34% 1.8%
1998 0.66% 3.7%
1997 1.75% 2.6%

Data sources: International Monetary Fund (IMF) | World Economic Outlook (1997–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08); World Bank | Economy & Growth (1997–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08).

GeoRank.org/economy/japan/kiribati | CC BY

Over the past 29 years, Japan has recorded an average annual inflation rate of 0.54%, compared with 2.4% in Kiribati. In 2025, inflation was 3.17% in Japan and 6.5% in Kiribati.

Top exports between countries

Japan
Export category Export value
Machinery & equipment $13.3M
Metals $845K
Miscellaneous $690K
Textiles & consumer goods $255K
Chemicals & pharma $242K
Animal & marine products $148K
Raw materials & minerals $54K
Wood & paper products $12K
Processed food, beverages & tobacco $7K
Kiribati
Export category Export value
Animal & marine products $1.69M

Balance of trade

Japan Kiribati
Current account balance
$216B
2025
-$61.3M
2025
Current account balance ranking
3/190
2025
77/190
2025
Current account balance, % of GDP
+4.86%
2025
-17.6%
2025
Goods imports
$729B
2025
$270M
2025
Goods exports
$725B
2025
$17.3M
2025
Service imports
$269B
2025
$110M
2025
Service exports
$246B
2025
$8.63M
2025
Imports of goods and services, % of GDP
22.9%
2024
97.6%
2024
Exports of goods and services, % of GDP
22%
2024
4.52%
2024

Economic freedom indices

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

Japan Kiribati
Economic freedom 70.3 50.8
Economic freedom ranking 36/197 158/197
Property rights 94.2 69.6
Government integrity 81.1 50.5
Judicial effectiveness 97.9 54.6
Tax burden 63 72.6
Government spending 52 0
Fiscal health 41.7 19.8
Business freedom 77.8 60.2
Labor freedom 65.9 65.3
Monetary freedom 74.3 76.7
Trade freedom 76.2 80
Investment freedom 60 30
Financial freedom 60 30

Economic freedom comparison by year

Japan
Kiribati
1x
Year Economic freedom index
Japan Kiribati
2026 70.3 50.8
2025 70.2 50.9
2024 67.5 51.3
2023 69.3 58.8
2022 69.9 59.2
2021 74.1 44.4
2020 73.3 45.2
2019 72.1 47.3
2018 72.3 50.8
2017 69.6 50.9
2016 73.1 46.2
2015 73.3 46.4
2014 72.4 46.3
2013 71.8 45.9
2012 71.6 46.9
2011 72.8 44.8
2010 72.9 43.7
2009 72.8 45.7
2008 73 -
2007 72.7 -
2006 73.3 -
2005 67.3 -
2004 64.3 -
2003 67.6 -
2002 66.7 -
2001 70.9 -
2000 70.7 -
1999 69.1 -
1998 70.2 -
1997 70.3 -
1996 72.6 -
1995 75 -

Data sources: The Heritage Foundation | Economic Freedom Index (1995–2026, retrieved 2026-07-08).

GeoRank.org/economy/japan/kiribati | CC BY

The Economic Freedom Index for Japan is 70.3, ranking 36/197, compared to 50.8 for Kiribati, ranking 158/197. The chart above displays a comparison of annual changes in economic freedom indexes.

Other economic metrics

Japan Kiribati
Services, % of GDP
71.4%
2024
70.3%
2024
Industry, % of GDP
26.8%
2024
11.8%
2024
Agriculture, forestry, and fishing, % of GDP
0.96%
2024
23.2%
2024
GNI, Atlas method
$4.73T
2025
$537M
2025
GNI per capita, PPP
$58,920
2025
$6,080
2025
Total reserves including gold
$1.37T
2025
n/a
Total reserves ranking
3/177
2025
n/a
Net foreign direct investment
$172B
2025
-$4.14M
2025
Net inflows of foreign direct investment
$18.9B
2024
$8.07M
2024
Net outflows of foreign direct investment
$207B
2024
$16.4K
2024
Poverty at national poverty lines
16.1%
2020
5.5%
2023
Gross capital formation, % of GDP
27.7%
2024
29.9%
2024

GDP per capita map

1x

Data sources: World Bank | Economy & Growth (1985–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08); U.S. Census Bureau (1985–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08).

GeoRank.org/economy/japan/kiribati | 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 (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08)
  2. International Monetary Fund (IMF) | Fiscal Monitor (1990–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08)
  3. International Monetary Fund (IMF) | Public Finances in Modern History (1875–1989, retrieved 2026-07-08)
  4. The Heritage Foundation | Economic Freedom Index (1995–2026, retrieved 2026-07-08)
  5. U.S. Census Bureau (1985–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08)
  6. TradeMap (2021–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08)
  7. United Nations | World Population Prospects (2026, retrieved 2026-07-08)
  8. LivingCost (2026, retrieved 2026-07-08)
  9. Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) (2020, retrieved 2026-07-08)

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.

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.