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Economy of Latvia vs Syria compared: GDP & Debt

Updated on by Georank

Latvia has a GDP of $48.6B compared to $20B for Syria, ranking 99/197 and 134/197 by economy size, respectively.

Latvia has $22.8B in government debt (46.9% of GDP), compared to $18.4B (30% of GDP) in Syria.

Latvia vs Syria GDP by year

Latvia
Syria
1x
Year GDP, current $
Latvia Syria
2025 $48,618,869,160 -
2024 $44,001,275,013 -
2023 $42,779,550,937 $19,993,439,950
2022 $38,003,198,509 $23,737,634,644
2021 $38,183,326,785 $14,892,885,528
2020 $33,379,927,435 $12,501,503,673
2019 $33,099,503,951 $22,583,046,645
2018 $33,247,935,477 $21,497,779,248
2017 $29,391,059,767 $16,369,842,725
2016 $27,117,105,060 $12,597,854,088
2015 $26,344,565,877 $16,466,861,435
2014 $30,277,203,767 $21,502,061,466
2013 $29,152,128,168 $21,361,254,635
2012 $27,116,149,949 $43,190,318,033
2011 $26,575,547,901 $67,539,433,544
2010 $23,468,324,572 $61,390,833,273
2009 $25,691,530,442 $54,111,721,044
2008 $34,135,200,994 $52,557,913,397
2007 $29,420,499,248 $40,465,331,020
2006 $20,434,922,247 $33,751,812,959
2005 $16,306,935,905 $28,858,937,499
2004 $13,827,070,379 $25,086,910,448
2003 $11,244,337,720 $21,828,144,686
2002 $9,249,030,241 $20,786,986,580
2001 $8,190,888,740 $20,078,599,626
2000 $7,761,252,607 $18,937,031,610
1999 $7,324,192,890 $15,873,875,969
1998 $6,974,112,951 $15,200,846,154
1997 $6,349,481,007 $14,505,233,463
1996 $5,799,465,288 $13,789,560,878
1995 $5,608,208,785 $11,396,706,587
1994 - $10,122,020,000
1993 - $13,695,962,055
1992 - $13,253,565,861
1991 - $12,981,833,333
1990 - $12,308,624,418
1989 - $9,853,395,762
1988 - $10,577,041,645
1987 - $11,356,215,543
1986 - $13,293,205,278
1985 - $16,403,539,893
1984 - $17,503,078,174
1983 - $17,589,277,143
1982 - $16,298,929,011
1981 - $15,518,201,335
1980 - $13,062,420,382
1979 - $9,929,681,529
1978 - $9,275,200,458
1977 - $7,696,011,396
1976 - $7,633,528,867
1975 - $6,826,980,444
1974 - $5,159,557,148
1973 - $3,239,487,516
1972 - $3,059,681,698
1971 - $2,589,851,325
1970 - $2,140,384,010
1969 - $2,245,011,515
1968 - $1,753,746,430
1967 - $1,580,229,799
1966 - $1,342,287,553
1965 - $1,472,036,540
1964 - $1,339,494,267
1963 - $1,200,447,408
1962 - $1,110,565,881
1961 - $945,244,972
1960 - $857,704,413

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

GeoRank.org/economy/latvia/syria | CC BY

GDP per capita in Latvia vs Syria by year

Latvia
GDP per capita

GDP per capita, PPP
Syria
GDP per capita

GDP per capita, PPP
1x
Year Current $
Latvia Syria
GDP per capita GDP per capita, PPP GDP per capita GDP per capita, PPP
2025 $26,312 - - -
2024 $23,579 $43,394 - -
2023 $22,710 $42,576 $847 $4,650
2022 $20,221 $40,559 $1,057 $4,772
2021 $20,262 $36,912 $689 $4,593
2020 $17,564 $32,741 $594 $3,738
2019 $17,295 $32,199 $1,110 $3,502
2018 $17,252 $29,818 $1,098 $3,456
2017 $15,132 $25,764 $852 $3,265
2016 $13,839 $24,063 $656 -
2015 $13,322 $22,544 $848 -
2014 $15,186 $21,554 $1,061 -
2013 $14,484 $20,474 $986 -
2012 $13,329 $19,417 $1,898 -
2011 $12,903 $17,680 $2,952 -
2010 $11,188 $16,373 $2,731 -
2009 $11,996 $15,545 $2,462 -
2008 $15,678 $17,443 $2,429 -
2007 $13,371 $16,246 $1,938 -
2006 $9,212 $14,180 $1,719 -
2005 $7,284 $12,826 $1,534 -
2004 $6,110 $11,319 $1,368 -
2003 $4,915 $10,193 $1,220 -
2002 $4,004 $9,569 $1,190 -
2001 $3,505 $8,808 $1,178 -
2000 $3,278 $7,849 $1,138 -
1999 $3,064 $7,256 $978 -
1998 $2,894 $6,922 $961 -
1997 $2,610 $6,366 $941 -
1996 $2,360 $5,688 $918 -
1995 $2,257 $5,391 $780 -
1994 - $5,012 $712 -
1993 - $4,722 $993 -
1992 - $4,760 $990 -
1991 - $6,762 $1,000 -
1990 - $7,448 $978 -
1989 - - $809 -
1988 - - $898 -
1987 - - $997 -
1986 - - $1,208 -
1985 - - $1,544 -
1984 - - $1,706 -
1983 - - $1,776 -
1982 - - $1,703 -
1981 - - $1,676 -
1980 - - $1,458 -
1979 - - $1,146 -
1978 - - $1,108 -
1977 - - $951 -
1976 - - $976 -
1975 - - $904 -
1974 - - $707 -
1973 - - $459 -
1972 - - $448 -
1971 - - $393 -
1970 - - $335 -
1969 - - $364 -
1968 - - $293.3 -
1967 - - $272.9 -
1966 - - $239.3 -
1965 - - $270.8 -
1964 - - $254.2 -
1963 - - $234.9 -
1962 - - $223.9 -
1961 - - $196.3 -
1960 - - $183.5 -

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

GeoRank.org/economy/latvia/syria | CC BY

Latvia's GDP per capita is $26,312, ranking 51/197, compared to $847 in Syria, ranking 185/197. Adjusted for purchasing power (GDP per capita PPP), Latvia ranks 53rd at $43,394, while Syria ranks 160th at $4,650.

Economic indicators

Latvia Syria
Gross domestic product
$48.6B
2025
$20B
2023
GDP rank
99/197
2025
134/197
2023
GDP growth
2.14%
2024-2025
-1.85%
2022-2023
GDP per capita
$26,312
2025
$847
2023
GDP per capita rank
51/197
2025
185/197
2023
GDP per capita, PPP
$43,394
2024
$4,650
2023
GDP per capita PPP rank
53/197
2024
160/197
2023
Government debt
$22.8B
2025
$18.4B
2010
Debt-to-GDP ratio
46.9%
2025
30%
2010
Government debt per person
$12,353
2025
$820
2010
Government debt per person rank
50/185
2025
150/185
2010
Average annual personal income after taxes
$16,702
2026
$693
2026
Income share by richest 10%
26.2%
2023
20.9%
2022
Income share by poorest 10%
2.6%
2023
3.8%
2022
Government expenditure, % of GDP
45.4%
2025
28.6%
2010
Consumer prices inflation
3.75%
2024-2025
13.4%
2018-2019
Unemployment rate
6.9%
2025
14.9%
2011
Population
1826986
26956472

Spending and national debt comparison by year

Latvia
Spending

Debt
Syria
Spending

Debt
1x
Year % of GDP
Latvia Syria
Government spending Government debt Government spending Government debt
2025 45.4% 46.9% - -
2024 44% 46.2% - -
2023 42.9% 44.4% - -
2022 43.6% 44.4% - -
2021 44.6% 45.9% - -
2020 42.6% 44% - -
2019 39% 37.9% - -
2018 39.4% 38.3% - -
2017 37.8% 40.3% - -
2016 37.4% 41.7% - -
2015 38.7% 38.3% - -
2014 39.2% 43.1% - -
2013 38.7% 41.8% - -
2012 38.6% 44.4% - -
2011 41.2% 46.8% - -
2010 43.6% 48.2% 28.6% 30%
2009 43.6% 37.6% 26.7% 31.2%
2008 38.2% 19.3% 22.9% 37.3%
2007 34.8% 9% 25.7% 42.7%
2006 35.5% 10.7% 26.3% 45%
2005 35.8% 12.5% 28.2% 50.7%
2004 34.8% 15.3% 31.3% 113%
2003 34.4% 15.4% 32.6% 133.4%
2002 35.4% 15.4% 28.5% 132.4%
2001 35% 17.8% 28% 144.5%
2000 37% 15.1% 27.4% 152.1%
1999 40.4% 14.8% 28% 147.7%
1998 38.1% 9.81% 28.8% 151.2%
1997 - - 29% 147.6%
1996 - - 27.7% 141.5%
1995 - - 29.8% 152.6%
1994 - - 30.3% 163%
1993 - - 29.4% 171.9%
1992 - - 34.2% 173.6%
1991 - - 34.3% 182.4%
1990 - - 28.3% 189.8%

Data sources: International Monetary Fund (IMF) | Fiscal Monitor (1990–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08).

GeoRank.org/economy/latvia/syria | CC BY

In 2025, Latvia's government spending was $22.1B, accounting for 45.4% of its GDP, while Syria spent $17.6B, or 28.6% of GDP.

Debt-to-GDP ratio is 46.9% in Latvia and 30% in Syria, ranking 112/185 and 155/185, respectively.

Government deficit by year

Deficit/surplus
Latvia

Syria
1x
Year Deficit/surplus, % of GDP
Latvia Syria
2025 -4.05% -
2024 -1.72% -
2023 -3.36% -
2022 -3.95% -
2021 -5.71% -
2020 -3.85% -
2019 -0.39% -
2018 -0.77% -
2017 -0.85% -
2016 -0.41% -
2015 -1.57% -
2014 -1.74% -
2013 -0.58% -
2012 0.18% -
2011 -3.38% -
2010 -6.56% -7.79%
2009 -7.14% -2.89%
2008 -3.29% -2.86%
2007 0.63% -2.99%
2006 -0.48% -1.12%
2005 -1.06% -4.41%
2004 -1.04% -4.18%
2003 -1.67% -2.7%
2002 -2.59% -2.02%
2001 -2.03% 2.3%
2000 -2.57% -1.36%
1999 -3.54% -1.47%
1998 -0.66% -2.81%
1997 - -1.78%
1996 - -2.83%
1995 - -3.81%
1994 - -6%
1993 - -4.96%
1992 - -7.26%
1991 - -6.57%
1990 - -3.92%

Data sources: International Monetary Fund (IMF) | Fiscal Monitor (1990–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08).

GeoRank.org/economy/latvia/syria | CC BY

In 2010, Latvia's government deficit, the difference between spending and revenue, was $1.54B, equivalent to 6.56% of GDP. This compares to Syria's deficit of $4.78B, or 7.79% of GDP.

Over the past 13 years, Latvia recorded a fiscal deficit in 12 of those years, while Syria ran a deficit in 12 years. On average, Latvia posted an annual deficit equal to 2.46% of GDP, compared to deficit of 2.64% of GDP for Syria.

Inflation comparison by year

Inflation
Latvia

Syria
1x
Year Consumer prices inflation
Latvia Syria
2025 3.75% -
2024 1.27% -
2023 8.94% -
2022 17.3% -
2021 3.28% -
2020 0.22% -
2019 2.81% 13.4%
2018 2.53% 0.94%
2017 2.93% 18.1%
2016 0.14% 47.7%
2015 0.17% 38.5%
2014 0.62% 10.9%
2013 -0.03% 40%
2012 2.26% 36.7%
2011 4.37% 4.75%
2010 -1.08% 4.4%
2009 3.53% 2.92%
2008 15.4% 15.7%
2007 10.1% 3.91%
2006 6.54% 10%
2005 6.75% 7.24%
2004 6.19% 4.43%
2003 2.94% 5.8%
2002 1.94% -0.13%
2001 2.49% 3%
2000 2.65% -3.85%
1999 2.36% -3.7%
1998 4.64% -0.8%
1997 8.45% 1.89%

Data sources: World Bank | Economy & Growth (1997–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08).

GeoRank.org/economy/latvia/syria | CC BY

Over the past 23 years, Latvia has recorded an average annual inflation rate of 3.86%, compared with 11.4% in Syria. In 2019, inflation was 3.75% in Latvia and 13.4% in Syria.

Top exports between countries

Latvia
Export category Export value
Wood & paper products $470K
Raw materials & minerals $94K
Chemicals & pharma $52K
Machinery & equipment $47K
Syria
Export category Export value
Metals $9K
Chemicals & pharma $1K

Balance of trade

Latvia Syria
Current account balance
-$1.64B
2025
-$367M
2010
Current account balance ranking
133/190
2025
99/190
2010
Current account balance, % of GDP
-3.38%
2025
-0.6%
2010
Goods imports
$25.6B
2025
$15.9B
2010
Goods exports
$21.1B
2025
$12.3B
2010
Service imports
$7.07B
2025
$3.53B
2010
Service exports
$9.33B
2025
$7.33B
2010
Imports of goods and services, % of GDP
67.2%
2025
28.7%
2022
Exports of goods and services, % of GDP
62.6%
2025
6.78%
2022

Economic freedom indices

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

Latvia Syria
Economic freedom 71.6 51.2
Economic freedom ranking 31/197 155/197
Property rights 88.8 4
Government integrity 67.7 3.6
Judicial effectiveness 70.9 3.7
Tax burden 70.9 87.3
Government spending 42.7 78.5
Fiscal health 80.8 13.8
Business freedom 80.7 33.8
Labor freedom 60.5 37.2
Monetary freedom 76.3 80
Trade freedom 79.4 47
Investment freedom 80 0
Financial freedom 60 20

Economic freedom comparison by year

Latvia
Syria
1x
Year Economic freedom index
Latvia Syria
2026 71.6 -
2025 71.4 -
2024 71.5 -
2023 72.8 -
2022 74.8 -
2021 72.3 -
2020 71.9 -
2019 70.4 -
2018 73.6 -
2017 74.8 -
2016 70.4 -
2015 69.7 -
2014 68.7 -
2013 66.5 -
2012 65.2 51.2
2011 65.8 51.3
2010 66.2 49.4
2009 66.6 51.3
2008 68.3 47.2
2007 67.9 48.3
2006 66.9 51.2
2005 66.3 46.3
2004 67.4 40.6
2003 66 41.3
2002 65 36.3
2001 66.4 36.6
2000 63.4 37.2
1999 64.2 39
1998 63.4 42.2
1997 62.4 43
1996 55 42.3

Data sources: The Heritage Foundation | Economic Freedom Index (1996–2026, retrieved 2026-07-08).

GeoRank.org/economy/latvia/syria | CC BY

The Economic Freedom Index for Latvia is 71.6, ranking 31/197, compared to 51.2 for Syria, ranking 155/197. The chart above displays a comparison of annual changes in economic freedom indexes.

Other economic metrics

Latvia Syria
Services, % of GDP
64.2%
2025
44.7%
2022
Industry, % of GDP
18.7%
2025
11.9%
2022
Agriculture, forestry, and fishing, % of GDP
4.01%
2025
42.9%
2022
GNI, Atlas method
$46.1B
2025
$18.2B
2023
GNI per capita, PPP
$45,740
2025
$4,480
2023
Total reserves including gold
$6.1B
2025
$20.6B
2010
Total reserves ranking
95/177
2025
66/177
2010
Net foreign direct investment
$72.5M
2025
-$1.47B
2010
Net inflows of foreign direct investment
$1.51B
2024
$0
2024
Net outflows of foreign direct investment
$257M
2024
$0
2024
Servicing debt to the IMF, % of GNI n/a
0.15%
2023
Poverty at national poverty lines
22.5%
2022
35.2%
2007
Gross capital formation, % of GDP
24.1%
2025
16%
1969

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/latvia/syria | CC BY

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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. The Heritage Foundation | Economic Freedom Index (1996–2026, retrieved 2026-07-08)
  4. U.S. Census Bureau (1985–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08)
  5. TradeMap (2010–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08)
  6. United Nations | World Population Prospects (2026, retrieved 2026-07-08)
  7. LivingCost (2026, 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.

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.