Skip to content

Economy of Japan vs Norway compared: GDP & Debt

Updated on by Georank team

Japan has a GDP of $4.03T compared to $484B for Norway, ranking 4/197 and 32/197 by economy size, respectively.

Japan has $9.51T in government debt (236.1% of GDP), compared to $207B (42.7% of GDP) in Norway.

Japan vs Norway GDP by year

Japan
Norway
1x
Year GDP, current $
Japan Norway
2024 $4,027,597,523,551 $483,592,648,313
2023 $4,213,167,237,906 $482,949,731,777
2022 $4,262,463,317,797 $596,297,651,036
2021 $5,039,148,168,861 $503,367,986,030
2020 $5,054,068,005,376 $367,633,418,887
2019 $5,117,993,853,017 $408,742,840,909
2018 $5,040,880,939,325 $439,788,625,884
2017 $4,930,837,369,151 $401,745,275,035
2016 $5,003,677,627,544 $370,956,547,619
2015 $4,444,930,651,964 $388,159,512,246
2014 $4,896,994,405,353 $501,736,471,833
2013 $5,212,328,181,166 $526,014,468,085
2012 $6,272,362,996,105 $512,777,309,841
2011 $6,233,147,172,341 $501,360,549,669
2010 $5,759,071,769,013 $431,052,143,940
2009 $5,289,493,117,994 $387,976,400,617
2008 $5,106,679,115,127 $464,917,553,191
2007 $4,579,750,920,355 $402,643,260,488
2006 $4,601,663,122,650 $346,915,160,682
2005 $4,831,467,035,390 $309,978,579,744
2004 $4,893,116,005,657 $265,268,662,473
2003 $4,519,561,645,254 $229,385,469,337
2002 $4,182,846,045,874 $195,914,852,576
2001 $4,374,711,694,091 $174,239,354,071
2000 $4,968,359,075,957 $171,457,201,936
1999 $4,635,982,224,064 $162,383,706,021
1998 $4,098,362,709,531 $154,230,295,158
1997 $4,492,448,605,639 $161,356,631,888
1996 $4,923,391,533,852 $163,520,109,151
1995 $5,545,563,663,890 $152,029,612,325
1994 $4,998,797,547,741 $127,131,319,429
1993 $4,536,940,479,038 $120,579,213,713
1992 $3,980,702,922,118 $130,838,040,068
1991 $3,648,065,760,649 $121,872,464,483
1990 $3,185,904,656,664 $119,791,843,060
1989 $3,109,455,047,824 $102,633,934,391
1988 $3,125,724,434,401 $101,900,260,856
1987 $2,580,748,422,781 $94,229,907,236
1986 $2,120,083,812,110 $78,693,118,044
1985 $1,427,019,759,717 $65,416,879,914
1984 $1,345,824,500,837 $62,057,955,033
1983 $1,270,859,919,743 $61,627,240,831
1982 $1,158,731,426,906 $62,647,195,538
1981 $1,245,221,410,764 $63,596,654,761
1980 $1,129,377,244,854 $64,439,382,896
1979 $1,077,910,077,676 $53,132,244,624
1978 $1,035,611,588,217 $46,522,900,254
1977 $737,069,290,928 $41,508,030,431
1976 $598,883,902,156 $35,942,270,686
1975 $532,861,438,885 $32,877,805,200
1974 $490,035,789,970 $27,145,693,810
1973 $441,460,582,536 $22,534,253,703
1972 $324,933,841,269 $17,358,610,850
1971 $245,364,056,622 $14,583,114,840
1970 $217,223,652,719 $12,814,123,115
1969 $184,298,841,305 $11,136,187,440
1968 $156,897,496,759 $10,227,087,165
1967 $132,475,614,227 $9,577,383,653
1966 $113,046,784,179 $8,753,940,267
1965 $97,338,107,606 $8,111,945,661
1964 $87,490,590,818 $7,206,522,122
1963 $74,379,284,603 $6,553,269,536
1962 $64,987,857,542 $6,107,076,929
1961 $57,266,758,180 $5,669,689,210
1960 $47,419,238,274 $5,197,398,721

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

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

GDP per capita in Japan vs Norway by year

Japan
GDP per capita

GDP per capita, PPP
Norway
GDP per capita

GDP per capita, PPP
1x
Year Current $
Japan Norway
GDP per capita GDP per capita, PPP GDP per capita GDP per capita, PPP
2024 $32,487 $52,039 $86,785 $102,038
2023 $33,836 $50,662 $87,497 $103,638
2022 $34,066 $47,192 $109,270 $125,490
2021 $40,095 $44,355 $93,073 $88,984
2020 $40,029 $42,426 $68,340 $67,111
2019 $40,416 $42,678 $76,431 $70,940
2018 $39,751 $42,142 $82,793 $70,254
2017 $38,834 $41,444 $76,132 $64,590
2016 $39,375 $40,597 $70,867 $59,280
2015 $34,961 $40,899 $74,810 $60,738
2014 $38,475 $39,555 $97,667 $66,332
2013 $40,899 $39,402 $103,554 $67,378
2012 $49,145 $37,606 $102,176 $65,774
2011 $48,760 $36,214 $101,222 $62,460
2010 $44,968 $35,336 $88,163 $58,213
2009 $41,309 $33,543 $80,348 $55,648
2008 $39,876 $35,274 $97,504 $62,073
2007 $35,779 $35,015 $85,502 $56,179
2006 $35,992 $33,632 $74,434 $54,358
2005 $37,813 $32,170 $67,047 $47,967
2004 $38,299 $30,832 $57,769 $42,667
2003 $35,387 $29,392 $50,250 $38,680
2002 $32,821 $28,624 $43,171 $38,056
2001 $34,406 $27,943 $38,602 $37,829
2000 $39,169 $27,288 $38,178 $36,994
1999 $36,610 $25,736 $36,393 $30,574
1998 $32,424 $25,508 $34,803 $28,200
1997 $35,638 $25,619 $36,629 $28,610
1996 $39,150 $24,999 $37,322 $26,826
1995 $44,198 $23,858 $34,876 $24,360
1994 $39,934 $22,823 $29,316 $23,027
1993 $36,345 $22,168 $27,964 $21,584
1992 $31,993 $21,825 $30,524 $20,623
1991 $29,428 $21,227 $28,597 $19,580
1990 $25,801 $19,912 $28,243 $18,461
1989 $25,266 - $24,281 -
1988 $25,500 - $24,207 -
1987 $21,142 - $22,506 -
1986 $17,452 - $18,883 -
1985 $11,809 - $15,754 -
1984 $11,207 - $14,989 -
1983 $10,652 - $14,928 -
1982 $9,780 - $15,225 -
1981 $10,583 - $15,513 -
1980 $9,669 - $15,772 -
1979 $9,301 - $13,047 -
1978 $9,012 - $11,463 -
1977 $6,473 - $10,266 -
1976 $5,310 - $8,927 -
1975 $4,776 - $8,204 -
1974 $4,448 - $6,812 -
1973 $4,061 - $5,690 -
1972 $3,031 - $4,414 -
1971 $2,321 - $3,736 -
1970 $2,101 - $3,306 -
1969 $1,803 - $2,894 -
1968 $1,553 - $2,680 -
1967 $1,326 - $2,531 -
1966 $1,144 - $2,333 -
1965 $994 - $2,179 -
1964 $903 - $1,951 -
1963 $776 - $1,787 -
1962 $685 - $1,678 -
1961 $609 - $1,571 -
1960 $509 - $1,451 -

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

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

Japan's GDP per capita is $32,487, ranking 38/197, compared to $86,785 in Norway, ranking 8/197. Adjusted for purchasing power (GDP per capita PPP), Japan ranks 41st at $52,039, while Norway ranks 7th at $102,038.

Economic indicators

Japan Norway
Gross domestic product
$4.03T
2024
$484B
2024
GDP rank
4/197
2024
32/197
2024
GDP growth
0.1%
2023-2024
2.1%
2023-2024
GDP per capita
$32,487
2024
$86,785
2024
GDP per capita rank
38/197
2024
8/197
2024
GDP per capita, PPP
$52,039
2024
$102,038
2024
GDP per capita PPP rank
41/197
2024
7/197
2024
Government debt
$9.51T
2024
$207B
2024
Debt-to-GDP ratio
236.1%
2024
42.7%
2024
Government debt per person
$76,704
2024
$37,074
2024
Government debt per person rank
3/185
2024
17/185
2024
Average annual personal income after taxes
$23,653
2026
$49,765
2026
Market capitalization of domestic companies
$6.31T
2024
$296B
2019
Number of millionaires
2,732,000
2025
348,000
2025
Number of billionaires
42
2025
17
2025
Income share by richest 10%
23.9%
2020
21.6%
2023
Income share by poorest 10%
2.4%
2020
3.6%
2023
Government expenditure, % of GDP
39.1%
2024
48.5%
2024
Consumer prices inflation
2.74%
2023-2024
3.15%
2023-2024
Central bank interest rate
0.75%
2025
4%
2025
Unemployment rate
2.54%
2024
3.98%
2024
Population
122677250
5671119

Spending and national debt comparison by year

Japan
Spending

Debt
Norway
Spending

Debt
1x
Year % of GDP
Japan Norway
Government spending Government debt Government spending Government debt
2024 39.1% 236.1% 48.5% 42.7%
2023 39.2% 240.5% 45.9% 44.1%
2022 41.8% 248.2% 37.5% 36.1%
2021 42.5% 253.7% 46.3% 41.6%
2020 44.5% 258.4% 56.7% 46%
2019 37.3% 236.4% 50.2% 40.5%
2018 36.7% 232.4% 47.7% 39.3%
2017 36.7% 231.3% 49.2% 38.2%
2016 37.2% 232.4% 50.4% 37.9%
2015 37.3% 228.3% 48.2% 34.3%
2014 38.4% 233.3% 45.2% 29.6%
2013 38.8% 229.5% 43.5% 31.4%
2012 38.6% 226.1% 42.4% 30.9%
2011 38.6% 219.2% 43.3% 29.6%
2010 37.7% 205.9% 44.5% 43%
2009 38.7% 198.8% 45.6% 42.5%
2008 34.1% 180.9% 39.8% 47.5%
2007 33.1% 173% 41% 49.5%
2006 33.1% 174.1% 40.5% 52.6%
2005 33.5% 174.6% 41.8% 42.3%
2004 33.7% 169.5% 44.7% 43.8%
2003 35% 160% 47.6% 43.1%
2002 35.4% 154.1% 46.1% 33.9%
2001 35.2% 145.1% 43.2% 27.2%
2000 36% 135.6% 41.3% 28.7%
1999 35.6% 129.5% 46.4% 25%
1998 38.6% 116% 47.8% 23.6%
1997 33.1% 105% 45.5% 25.8%
1996 33.8% 98.1% 47% 28.4%
1995 33.4% 92.5% 49.3% 32.7%
1994 32.8% 84.4% 49.4% 50.6%
1993 32.1% 72.8% 50.2% 53.7%
1992 30.3% 66.8% 51.3% 45%
1991 29.3% 62.4% 50% 39.2%
1990 29.5% 63.2% 48.9% 28.9%
1989 29.2% 65.7% 52.2% 30.4%
1988 29.9% 71.9% 52.6% 30.5%
1987 30.6% 75.8% 50.5% 31.3%
1986 30.4% 74.1% 48.1% 37.8%
1985 30.4% 68.3% 44% 30.2%
1984 31.2% 65.6% 44.5% 27.8%
1983 31.8% 63.5% 46.4% 27.4%
1982 31.7% 57.7% 46.6% 29.7%
1981 31.5% 52.8% 46.1% 32.9%
1980 33.5% 47.8% 46.1% 36.8%
1979 33.2% 43.8% 47.2% 39.6%
1978 32.1% 39% 47.9% 49.9%
1977 30.4% 31.1% 46.5% 43.8%
1976 29.1% 26.1% 45.2% 38.5%
1975 28.5% 20.9% 43.5% 36.7%
1974 25.5% 16.7% 42.2% 35.4%
1973 23.3% 15.9% 42.3% 37.7%
1972 23.1% 16.3% 42.2% 38.9%
1971 21.8% 12.6% 40.7% 38.5%
1970 20.2% 11.2% 38.9% 38.6%
1969 19.8% 11.4% 38% 22.3%
1968 20.1% 11.8% 36.2% 22.5%
1967 19.9% 11.4% 34.9% 22.6%
1966 20.8% 11.2% 33.5% 22.4%
1965 20.4% 9.78% 32.9% 23%
1964 19.8% 8.53% 32% 24.2%
1963 20% 8.66% 31.9% 25.3%
1962 19.4% 9.01% 30.6% 26.7%
1961 18.2% 8.44% 20.4% 27.7%
1960 18.4% 10.4% 18% 29.8%

Data sources: International Monetary Fund (IMF) | Fiscal Monitor (1990–2024, retrieved 2026-02-20); International Monetary Fund (IMF) | Public Finances in Modern History (1960–1989, retrieved 2026-02-20).

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

In 2024, Japan's government spending was $1.57T, accounting for 39.1% of its GDP, while Norway spent $234B, or 48.5% of GDP.

Debt-to-GDP ratio is 236.1% in Japan and 42.7% in Norway, ranking 3/185 and 127/185, respectively.

Government deficit by year

Deficit/surplus
Japan

Norway
1x
Year Deficit/surplus, % of GDP
Japan Norway
2024 -1.53% 13.2%
2023 -2.26% 16.6%
2022 -4.21% 25.5%
2021 -6.13% 10.3%
2020 -9.08% -2.56%
2019 -3.04% 6.52%
2018 -2.47% 7.81%
2017 -3.1% 4.96%
2016 -3.6% 4.04%
2015 -3.68% 5.99%
2014 -5.62% 8.57%
2013 -7.61% 10.6%
2012 -8.2% 13.7%
2011 -8.99% 13.3%
2010 -9.08% 10.9%
2009 -9.69% 10.2%
2008 -4.11% 18.5%
2007 -2.9% 17%
2006 -3.03% 17.9%
2005 -4.44% 14.7%
2004 -5.31% 10.8%
2003 -7.43% 7.2%
2002 -7.34% 9.03%
2001 -6.2% 13.2%
2000 -7.28% 15%
1999 -6.75% 5.71%
1998 -10% 3.07%
1997 -3.53% 7.35%
1996 -4.87% 6.01%
1995 -4.3% 2.96%
1994 -3.76% 0.04%
1993 -2.39% -1.64%
1992 0.57% -2.07%
1991 1.67% -0.12%
1990 1.96% 1.95%
1989 1.23% 1.81%
1988 0.49% 2.65%
1987 -0.36% 4.56%
1986 -1.36% 5.87%
1985 -1.37% 9.84%
1984 -2.62% 6.97%
1983 -3.95% 6.03%
1982 -3.81% 3.96%
1981 -3.85% 4.82%
1980 -4.66% 5.38%
1979 -5% 2.16%
1978 -5.79% 0.94%
1977 -4.02% 1.01%
1976 -3.89% 2.2%
1975 -2.92% 2.88%
1974 0.38% 4.06%
1973 0.56% 4.99%
1972 -0.13% 3.93%
1971 1.21% 3.71%
1970 1.74% 2.83%
1969 1.26% 3.57%
1968 0.88% 3.38%
1967 0.8% 4.19%
1966 -0.34% 3.59%
1965 0.48% 2.78%
1964 0.85% 3.08%
1963 1.08% 2.6%
1962 1.49% 4%
1961 2.58% -0.7%
1960 1.85% 1.42%
1959 0.97% 1.89%
1958 -0.1% 1.7%
1957 1.27% 1.55%
1956 1.39% 1.22%
1955 -0.67% 0.82%
1954 0.7% -0.54%
1953 1.65% 1.3%
1952 2.22% 2.15%
1951 5.06% 1.59%
1950 6.99% -0.89%
1949 12.5% -0.72%
1948 7.53% -0.35%
1947 6.09% -4.66%
1946 - -3.82%
1945 - -
1944 - -
1943 0.32% -
1942 -0.13% -
1941 -0.19% -
1940 0.31% -
1939 0.11% -0.54%
1938 0.45% 0.03%
1937 0.71% -0.16%
1936 0.34% -0.7%
1935 0.26% -1.1%
1934 0.34% -0.59%
1933 0.28% -1.29%
1932 0.31% -1.14%
1931 0.23% -1.15%
1930 0.19% -0.46%
1929 0.5% -0.83%
1928 0.42% -0.81%
1927 0.58% -0.76%
1926 0.65% -1.59%
1925 0.75% -1.92%
1924 0.84% -2.96%
1923 0.87% -3.58%
1922 0.89% -4.28%
1921 1.43% -5.47%
1920 1.19% -1.15%
1919 1.21% -2.11%
1918 1.58% -1.17%
1917 1.54% 0.2%
1916 1.37% -0.36%
1915 1.41% -2.04%
1914 1.31% -1.09%
1913 1.21% -0.9%
1912 1.27% -0.89%
1911 1.21% -0.05%
1910 1.57% 0.3%
1909 1.51% -0.52%
1908 1.63% -0.06%
1907 1.77% 0.16%
1906 0.46% -0.59%
1905 -0.68% -0.52%
1904 -0.81% -0.75%
1903 0.19% -1.12%
1902 0.44% -1.52%
1901 0.21% -1.41%
1900 0.53% -1.99%
1899 0.2% -1.35%
1898 0.6% -1.39%
1897 0.33% -0.63%
1896 0.88% -1.57%
1895 0.28% -1.66%
1894 -0.24% -1.13%
1893 0.6% -1.25%
1892 0.63% -0.94%
1891 0.61% -0.44%
1890 0.74% -0.2%
1889 0.18% -0.07%
1888 0.13% -0.23%
1887 0.11% -0.17%
1886 0.03% -0.2%
1885 0.01% -0.005%
1884 0.001% -0.08%
1883 0.03% -0.17%
1882 0.001% -0.62%
1881 0.001% -1.13%
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 2026-02-20); International Monetary Fund (IMF) | Fiscal Monitor (1990–2024, retrieved 2026-02-20).

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

In 2024, Japan's government deficit, the difference between spending and revenue, was $61.6B, equivalent to 1.53% of GDP. This compares to Norway's surplus of $64.1B, or 13.2% of GDP.

Over the past 65 years, Japan recorded a fiscal deficit in 47 of those years, while Norway ran a deficit in 5 years. On average, Japan posted an annual deficit equal to 3% of GDP, compared to surplus of 6.38% of GDP for Norway.

Inflation comparison by year

Inflation
Japan

Norway
1x
Year Consumer prices inflation
Japan Norway
2024 2.74% 3.15%
2023 3.27% 5.52%
2022 2.5% 5.76%
2021 -0.23% 3.48%
2020 -0.02% 1.29%
2019 0.47% 2.17%
2018 0.99% 2.76%
2017 0.48% 1.88%
2016 -0.13% 3.55%
2015 0.8% 2.17%
2014 2.76% 2.04%
2013 0.34% 2.12%
2012 -0.04% 0.7%
2011 -0.27% 1.28%
2010 -0.73% 2.42%
2009 -1.35% 2.2%
2008 1.38% 3.75%
2007 0.06% 0.71%
2006 0.25% 2.33%
2005 -0.28% 1.53%
2004 -0.009% 0.45%
2003 -0.26% 2.49%
2002 -0.92% 1.29%
2001 -0.74% 3%
2000 -0.68% 3.09%
1999 -0.34% 2.37%
1998 0.66% 2.25%
1997 1.75% 2.57%

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

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

Over the past 28 years, Japan has recorded an average annual inflation rate of 0.44%, compared with 2.44% in Norway. In 2024, inflation was 2.74% in Japan and 3.15% in Norway.

Top exports between countries

Japan
Export category Export value
Machinery & equipment $487M
Metals $368M
Raw materials & minerals $74.3M
Miscellaneous $21.3M
Precious metals & jewellery $8.77M
Chemicals & pharma $6.44M
Textiles & consumer goods $5.67M
Processed food, beverages & tobacco $4.21M
Weapons & explosives $613K
Raw agricultural goods $377K
Norway
Export category Export value
Animal & marine products $473M
Machinery & equipment $94.2M
Metals $71.8M
Chemicals & pharma $62.7M
Wood & paper products $29.6M
Raw materials & minerals $28.3M
Processed food, beverages & tobacco $22.8M
Miscellaneous $22.7M
Textiles & consumer goods $5.21M
Precious metals & jewellery $4.05M

Balance of trade

Japan Norway
Current account balance
$194B
2024
$71.6B
2024
Current account balance ranking
3/190
2024
11/190
2024
Current account balance, % of GDP
+4.82%
2024
+14.8%
2024
Goods imports
$719B
2024
$97.5B
2024
Goods exports
$694B
2024
$162B
2024
Service imports
$246B
2024
$63.6B
2024
Service exports
$228B
2024
$55.6B
2024
Imports of goods and services, % of GDP
23.6%
2024
33.9%
2024
Exports of goods and services, % of GDP
22.8%
2024
47.5%
2024

Economic freedom indices

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

Japan Norway
Economic freedom 70.3 78.8
Economic freedom ranking 36/197 9/197
Property rights 94.2 99.6
Government integrity 81.1 94.3
Judicial effectiveness 97.9 96.4
Tax burden 63 63.3
Government spending 52 42
Fiscal health 41.7 96.4
Business freedom 77.8 91.2
Labor freedom 65.9 69.3
Monetary freedom 74.3 72.4
Trade freedom 76.2 85.6
Investment freedom 60 75
Financial freedom 60 60

Economic freedom comparison by year

Japan
Norway
1x
Year Economic freedom index
Japan Norway
2026 70.3 78.8
2025 70.2 78.3
2024 67.5 77.5
2023 69.3 76.9
2022 69.9 76.9
2021 74.1 73.4
2020 73.3 73.4
2019 72.1 73
2018 72.3 74.3
2017 69.6 74
2016 73.1 70.8
2015 73.3 71.8
2014 72.4 70.9
2013 71.8 70.5
2012 71.6 68.8
2011 72.8 70.3
2010 72.9 69.4
2009 72.8 70.2
2008 73 68.6
2007 72.7 67.9
2006 73.3 67.9
2005 67.3 64.5
2004 64.3 66.2
2003 67.6 67.2
2002 66.7 67.4
2001 70.9 67.1
2000 70.7 70.1
1999 69.1 68.6
1998 70.2 68
1997 70.3 65.1
1996 72.6 65.4
1995 75 -

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

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

The Economic Freedom Index for Japan is 70.3, ranking 36/197, compared to 78.8 for Norway, ranking 9/197. The chart above displays a comparison of annual changes in economic freedom indexes.

Other economic metrics

Japan Norway
Services, % of GDP
69.8%
2023
51.8%
2024
Industry, % of GDP
28.6%
2023
37%
2024
Agriculture, forestry, and fishing, % of GDP
0.94%
2023
2.08%
2024
GNI, Atlas method
$4.46T
2024
$547B
2024
GNI per capita, PPP
$55,490
2024
$106,830
2024
Total reserves including gold
$1.23T
2024
$81.2B
2024
Total reserves ranking
2/177
2024
32/177
2024
Net foreign direct investment
$191B
2024
-$7.83B
2024
Net inflows of foreign direct investment
$16.2B
2024
$12B
2024
Net outflows of foreign direct investment
$203B
2024
$4.95B
2024
Poverty at national poverty lines
16.1%
2020
12.2%
2021
Gross capital formation, % of GDP
26.2%
2024
24.1%
2024

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/japan/norway | 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) | Public Finances in Modern History (1875–1989, retrieved 2026-02-20)
  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. TradeMap (2024, retrieved 2026-02-08)
  7. United Nations | World Population Prospects (2026, retrieved 2026-03-10)
  8. LivingCost (2026, retrieved 2025-10-14)
  9. Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) (2020, retrieved 2026-02-20)

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.