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Economy of Latvia vs United States compared: GDP & Debt

Updated on by Georank team

Latvia has a GDP of $43.7B compared to $28.8T for the United States, ranking 99/197 and 1/197 by economy size, respectively.

Latvia has $20.4B in government debt (46.8% of GDP), compared to $35.2T (122.3% of GDP) in the United States.

Latvia vs United States GDP by year

Latvia
United States
1x
Year GDP, current $
Latvia United States
2024 $43,684,254,432 $28,750,956,130,731
2023 $42,779,550,937 $27,292,170,793,214
2022 $38,003,198,509 $25,604,848,907,611
2021 $38,183,326,785 $23,315,080,560,000
2020 $33,379,927,435 $21,060,473,613,000
2019 $33,099,503,951 $21,380,976,119,000
2018 $33,247,935,477 $20,533,057,312,000
2017 $29,391,059,767 $19,477,336,549,000
2016 $27,117,105,060 $18,695,110,842,000
2015 $26,344,565,877 $18,206,020,741,000
2014 $30,277,203,767 $17,550,680,174,000
2013 $29,152,128,168 $16,843,190,993,000
2012 $27,116,149,949 $16,253,972,230,000
2011 $26,575,547,901 $15,599,728,123,000
2010 $23,468,324,572 $15,048,964,444,000
2009 $25,691,530,442 $14,478,064,934,000
2008 $34,135,200,994 $14,769,857,911,000
2007 $29,420,499,248 $14,474,226,905,000
2006 $20,434,922,247 $13,815,586,948,000
2005 $16,306,935,905 $13,039,199,193,000
2004 $13,827,070,379 $12,217,193,198,000
2003 $11,244,337,720 $11,456,442,041,000
2002 $9,249,030,241 $10,929,112,955,000
2001 $8,190,888,740 $10,581,929,774,000
2000 $7,761,252,607 $10,250,947,997,000
1999 $7,324,192,890 $9,631,174,489,000
1998 $6,974,112,951 $9,062,818,202,000
1997 $6,349,481,007 $8,577,554,457,000
1996 $5,799,465,288 $8,073,122,000,000
1995 $5,608,208,785 $7,639,749,000,000
1994 - $7,287,236,000,000
1993 - $6,858,559,000,000
1992 - $6,520,327,000,000
1991 - $6,158,129,000,000
1990 - $5,963,144,000,000
1989 - $5,641,580,000,000
1988 - $5,236,438,000,000
1987 - $4,855,215,000,000
1986 - $4,579,631,000,000
1985 - $4,338,979,000,000
1984 - $4,037,613,000,000
1983 - $3,634,038,000,000
1982 - $3,343,789,000,000
1981 - $3,207,041,000,000
1980 - $2,857,307,000,000
1979 - $2,627,333,000,000
1978 - $2,351,599,000,000
1977 - $2,081,826,000,000
1976 - $1,873,412,000,000
1975 - $1,684,904,000,000
1974 - $1,545,243,000,000
1973 - $1,425,376,000,000
1972 - $1,279,110,000,000
1971 - $1,164,850,000,000
1970 - $1,073,303,000,000
1969 - $1,017,438,172,414
1968 - $940,225,000,000
1967 - $859,620,034,483
1966 - $813,032,758,621
1965 - $741,904,862,069
1964 - $684,144,620,690
1963 - $637,058,551,724
1962 - $603,639,413,793
1961 - $561,940,310,345
1960 - $541,988,586,207

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

GeoRank.org/economy/latvia/united-states | CC BY

GDP per capita in Latvia vs United States by year

Latvia
GDP per capita

GDP per capita, PPP
United States
GDP per capita

GDP per capita, PPP
1x
Year Current $
Latvia United States
GDP per capita GDP per capita, PPP GDP per capita GDP per capita, PPP
2024 $23,409 $43,394 $84,534 $85,810
2023 $22,710 $42,576 $81,490 $82,305
2022 $20,221 $40,559 $76,829 $77,861
2021 $20,262 $36,912 $70,249 $71,307
2020 $17,564 $32,741 $63,526 $64,402
2019 $17,295 $32,199 $65,120 $65,228
2018 $17,252 $29,818 $62,823 $62,876
2017 $15,132 $25,764 $59,908 $60,048
2016 $13,839 $24,063 $57,867 $57,977
2015 $13,322 $22,544 $56,763 $56,849
2014 $15,186 $21,554 $55,124 $55,153
2013 $14,484 $20,474 $53,291 $53,297
2012 $13,329 $19,417 $51,784 $51,708
2011 $12,903 $17,680 $50,066 $50,025
2010 $11,188 $16,373 $48,651 $48,643
2009 $11,996 $15,545 $47,195 $47,195
2008 $15,678 $17,443 $48,570 $48,570
2007 $13,371 $16,246 $48,050 $48,050
2006 $9,212 $14,180 $46,302 $46,302
2005 $7,284 $12,826 $44,123 $44,123
2004 $6,110 $11,319 $41,725 $41,725
2003 $4,915 $10,193 $39,490 $39,490
2002 $4,004 $9,569 $37,998 $37,998
2001 $3,505 $8,808 $37,134 $37,134
2000 $3,278 $7,849 $36,330 $36,330
1999 $3,064 $7,256 $34,484 $34,515
1998 $2,894 $6,922 $32,823 $32,854
1997 $2,610 $6,366 $31,430 $31,459
1996 $2,360 $5,688 $29,937 $29,968
1995 $2,257 $5,391 $28,661 $28,691
1994 - $5,012 $27,662 $27,695
1993 - $4,722 $26,353 $26,387
1992 - $4,760 $25,381 $25,419
1991 - $6,762 $24,293 $24,342
1990 - $7,448 $23,840 $23,889
1989 - - $22,857 -
1988 - - $21,417 -
1987 - - $20,039 -
1986 - - $19,071 -
1985 - - $18,237 -
1984 - - $17,121 -
1983 - - $15,544 -
1982 - - $14,434 -
1981 - - $13,976 -
1980 - - $12,613 -
1979 - - $11,674 -
1978 - - $10,565 -
1977 - - $9,453 -
1976 - - $8,592 -
1975 - - $7,801 -
1974 - - $7,226 -
1973 - - $6,726 -
1972 - - $6,094 -
1971 - - $5,609 -
1970 - - $5,234 -
1969 - - $5,020 -
1968 - - $4,685 -
1967 - - $4,326 -
1966 - - $4,136 -
1965 - - $3,818 -
1964 - - $3,565 -
1963 - - $3,366 -
1962 - - $3,236 -
1961 - - $3,059 -
1960 - - $3,000 -

Data sources: World Bank | Economy & Growth (1960–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06); U.S. Census Bureau (1960–2024, retrieved 2026-02-08).

GeoRank.org/economy/latvia/united-states | CC BY

Latvia's GDP per capita is $23,409, ranking 54/197, compared to $84,534 in the United States, ranking 10/197. Adjusted for purchasing power (GDP per capita PPP), Latvia ranks 53rd at $43,394, while the United States ranks 12th at $85,810.

Economic indicators

Latvia United States
Gross domestic product
$43.7B
2024
$28.8T
2024
GDP rank
99/197
2024
1/197
2024
GDP growth
-0.05%
2023-2024
2.79%
2023-2024
GDP per capita
$23,409
2024
$84,534
2024
GDP per capita rank
54/197
2024
10/197
2024
GDP per capita, PPP
$43,394
2024
$85,810
2024
GDP per capita PPP rank
53/197
2024
12/197
2024
Government debt
$20.4B
2024
$35.2T
2024
Debt-to-GDP ratio
46.8%
2024
122.3%
2024
Government debt per person
$10,945
2024
$103,404
2024
Government debt per person rank
53/185
2024
2/185
2024
Average annual personal income after taxes
$17,033
2026
$53,202
2026
Market capitalization of domestic companies n/a
$62.2T
2024
Number of millionaires n/a
23,831,000
2025
Number of billionaires n/a
902
2025
Income share by richest 10%
26.2%
2023
30.4%
2023
Income share by poorest 10%
2.6%
2023
1.8%
2023
Government expenditure, % of GDP
44.5%
2024
37.9%
2024
Consumer prices inflation
1.27%
2023-2024
2.95%
2023-2024
Central bank interest rate n/a
3.75%
2025
Unemployment rate
6.88%
2024
4.02%
2024
Population
1829763
344023146

Spending and national debt comparison by year

Latvia
Spending

Debt
United States
Spending

Debt
1x
Year % of GDP
Latvia United States
Government spending Government debt Government spending Government debt
2024 44.5% 46.8% 37.9% 122.3%
2023 43.1% 44.6% 37.7% 119.8%
2022 43.5% 44.4% 36.8% 119.1%
2021 44.6% 45.9% 43.2% 125%
2020 42.6% 44% 44.7% 132.5%
2019 39% 37.9% 35.8% 108.8%
2018 39.4% 38.3% 35.3% 107.6%
2017 37.8% 40.3% 35.2% 106.4%
2016 37.4% 41.7% 35.3% 107.4%
2015 38.7% 38.3% 35% 105.4%
2014 39.2% 43.1% 35.3% 104.9%
2013 38.7% 41.8% 35.8% 105%
2012 38.6% 44.4% 37.2% 103.7%
2011 41.2% 46.8% 38.8% 100%
2010 43.6% 48.2% 39.8% 95.6%
2009 43.6% 37.6% 41.4% 87.1%
2008 38.2% 19.3% 37.1% 73.8%
2007 34.8% 9% 34.6% 64.9%
2006 35.5% 10.7% 33.7% 64.5%
2005 35.8% 12.5% 33.9% 65.8%
2004 34.8% 15.3% 33.7% 66.4%
2003 34.4% 15.4% 34% 59%
2002 35.4% 15.4% 33.7% 55.9%
2001 35% 17.8% 32.8% 53.5%
2000 37% 15.1% 31.7% 54.5%
1999 40.4% 14.8% 32.2% 60.5%
1998 38.1% 9.81% 32.8% 64.2%
1997 - - 33.7% 67.4%
1996 - - 34.7% 69.9%
1995 - - 35.5% 70.7%
1994 - - 35.5% 71.1%
1993 - - 36.4% 71.9%
1992 - - 36.7% 70.3%
1991 - - 35.7% 67.9%
1990 - - 34.5% 63.1%
1989 - - 33.7% 61.6%
1988 - - 33.7% 61.3%
1987 - - 34.3% 60.6%
1986 - - 34.8% 58.9%
1985 - - 34.5% 55.4%
1984 - - 34.3% 50.6%
1983 - - 35.7% 48.9%
1982 - - 35.8% 45.9%
1981 - - 33.9% 41.1%
1980 - - 33.7% 41.9%
1979 - - 32% 41.2%
1978 - - 32.6% 42.5%
1977 - - 33.4% 43.6%
1976 - - 34.2% 44.8%
1975 - - 35.2% 44.6%
1974 - - 32.9% 41.4%
1973 - - 31.9% 42.6%
1972 - - 32.8% 45.4%
1971 - - 32.3% 47%
1970 - - 31.5% 46.4%
1969 - - 29.3% 45.9%
1968 - - 29.1% 48.5%
1967 - - 28.3% 50.4%
1966 - - 26.3% 50.6%
1965 - - 25.4% 53.7%
1964 - - 25.6% 56.7%
1963 - - 26% 58.8%
1962 - - 26% 60.2%
1961 - - 25.9% 62.3%
1960 - - 24.9% 61.7%

Data sources: International Monetary Fund (IMF) | Fiscal Monitor (1998–2024, retrieved 2026-02-20); International Monetary Fund (IMF) | Public Finances in Modern History (1960–2000, retrieved 2026-02-20).

GeoRank.org/economy/latvia/united-states | CC BY

In 2024, Latvia's government spending was $19.4B, accounting for 44.5% of its GDP, while the United States spent $10.9T, or 37.9% of GDP.

Debt-to-GDP ratio is 46.8% in Latvia and 122.3% in the United States, ranking 116/185 and 12/185, respectively.

Government deficit by year

Deficit/surplus
Latvia

United States
1x
Year Deficit/surplus, % of GDP
Latvia United States
2024 -1.82% -8.03%
2023 -3.38% -7.8%
2022 -3.94% -3.72%
2021 -5.71% -11.4%
2020 -3.85% -14.1%
2019 -0.39% -5.81%
2018 -0.77% -5.33%
2017 -0.85% -4.79%
2016 -0.41% -4.36%
2015 -1.57% -3.53%
2014 -1.74% -4.03%
2013 -0.58% -4.56%
2012 0.18% -8.11%
2011 -3.38% -9.72%
2010 -6.56% -11%
2009 -7.14% -13.2%
2008 -3.29% -6.61%
2007 0.63% -2.91%
2006 -0.48% -2.04%
2005 -1.06% -3.07%
2004 -1.04% -4.24%
2003 -1.67% -4.77%
2002 -2.59% -3.82%
2001 -2.03% -0.54%
2000 -2.57% 3.62%
1999 -3.54% 2.71%
1998 -0.66% 2.18%
1997 - 0.88%
1996 - -0.46%
1995 - -1.7%
1994 - -2.05%
1993 - -3.35%
1992 - -3.98%
1991 - -2.72%
1990 - -1.64%
1989 - -0.8%
1988 - -1.06%
1987 - -1.53%
1986 - -2.81%
1985 - -2.63%
1984 - -2.97%
1983 - -4.26%
1982 - -3.78%
1981 - -1.58%
1980 - -2.17%
1979 - -0.79%
1978 - -1.7%
1977 - -2.57%
1976 - -3.63%
1975 - -5.4%
1974 - -1.27%
1973 - -0.86%
1972 - -1.86%
1971 - -2.63%
1970 - -1.21%
1969 - 2.11%
1968 - 1.23%
1967 - 0.47%
1966 - 2.07%
1965 - 2.38%
1964 - 2.18%
1963 - 2.87%
1962 - 2.32%
1961 - 2.28%
1960 - 3.2%
1959 - -9.06%
1958 - -8.68%
1957 - -6.72%
1956 - -6.02%
1955 - -7.4%
1954 - -5.55%
1953 - -5.76%
1952 - -5.41%
1951 - -6.93%
1950 - -8.22%
1949 - -7.94%
1948 - -4.16%
1947 - -3.99%
1946 - -6.45%
1945 - -14.1%
1944 - -13.4%
1943 - -19.3%
1942 - -16.3%
1941 - -10.2%
1940 - -9.73%
1939 - -11.9%
1938 - -10.4%
1937 - -9.22%
1936 - -12.1%
1935 - -13.3%
1934 - -14.9%
1933 - -14.3%
1932 - -12.7%
1931 - -9.76%
1930 - -5.46%
1929 - -4.58%

Data sources: International Monetary Fund (IMF) | Public Finances in Modern History (1929–2000, retrieved 2026-02-20); International Monetary Fund (IMF) | Fiscal Monitor (1998–2024, retrieved 2026-02-20).

GeoRank.org/economy/latvia/united-states | CC BY

In 2024, Latvia's government deficit, the difference between spending and revenue, was $797M, equivalent to 1.82% of GDP. This compares to the United States' deficit of $2.31T, or 8.03% of GDP.

Over the past 27 years, Latvia recorded a fiscal deficit in 25 of those years, while the United States ran a deficit in 24 years. On average, Latvia posted an annual deficit equal to 2.23% of GDP, compared to deficit of 5.15% of GDP for the United States.

Inflation comparison by year

Inflation
Latvia

United States
1x
Year Consumer prices inflation
Latvia United States
2024 1.27% 2.95%
2023 8.94% 4.12%
2022 17.3% 8%
2021 3.28% 4.7%
2020 0.22% 1.23%
2019 2.81% 1.81%
2018 2.53% 2.44%
2017 2.93% 2.13%
2016 0.14% 1.26%
2015 0.17% 0.12%
2014 0.62% 1.62%
2013 -0.03% 1.46%
2012 2.26% 2.07%
2011 4.37% 3.16%
2010 -1.08% 1.64%
2009 3.53% -0.36%
2008 15.4% 3.84%
2007 10.1% 2.85%
2006 6.54% 3.23%
2005 6.75% 3.39%
2004 6.19% 2.68%
2003 2.94% 2.27%
2002 1.94% 1.59%
2001 2.49% 2.83%
2000 2.65% 3.38%
1999 2.36% 2.19%
1998 4.64% 1.55%
1997 8.45% 2.34%

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

GeoRank.org/economy/latvia/united-states | CC BY

Over the past 28 years, Latvia has recorded an average annual inflation rate of 4.28%, compared with 2.52% in the United States. In 2024, inflation was 1.27% in Latvia and 2.95% in the United States.

Top exports between countries

Latvia
Export category Export value
IT & IP services $246M
Machinery & equipment $221M
Wood & paper products $162M
Transport & tourism services $154M
Business & finance services $77.9M
Textiles & consumer goods $56.3M
Chemicals & pharma $49.9M
Processed food, beverages & tobacco $30.8M
Animal & marine products $16.1M
Raw materials & minerals $16M
United States
Export category Export value
Machinery & equipment $324M
Transport & tourism services $74M
Processed food, beverages & tobacco $64M
Business & finance services $55M
Chemicals & pharma $43.5M
Raw materials & minerals $40M
Miscellaneous $22.6M
IT & IP services $22M
Raw agricultural goods $19.2M
Textiles & consumer goods $19.1M

Balance of trade

Latvia United States
Current account balance
-$688M
2024
-$1.19T
2024
Current account balance ranking
115/190
2024
190/190
2024
Current account balance, % of GDP
-1.57%
2024
-4.12%
2024
Goods imports
$23.4B
2024
$3.3T
2024
Goods exports
$20.1B
2024
$2.08T
2024
Service imports
$5.86B
2024
$841B
2024
Service exports
$8.42B
2024
$1.15T
2024
Imports of goods and services, % of GDP
66.9%
2024
14.3%
2024
Exports of goods and services, % of GDP
65.3%
2024
11.1%
2024

Economic freedom indices

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

Latvia United States
Economic freedom 71.6 72.8
Economic freedom ranking 31/197 27/197
Property rights 88.8 91.6
Government integrity 67.7 77.1
Judicial effectiveness 70.9 76.4
Tax burden 70.9 75.3
Government spending 42.7 57.9
Fiscal health 80.8 18.5
Business freedom 80.7 88.6
Labor freedom 60.5 76.3
Monetary freedom 76.3 84.2
Trade freedom 79.4 67.6
Investment freedom 80 80
Financial freedom 60 80

Economic freedom comparison by year

Latvia
United States
1x
Year Economic freedom index
Latvia United States
2026 71.6 72.8
2025 71.4 70.2
2024 71.5 70.1
2023 72.8 70.6
2022 74.8 72.1
2021 72.3 74.8
2020 71.9 76.6
2019 70.4 76.8
2018 73.6 75.7
2017 74.8 75.1
2016 70.4 75.4
2015 69.7 76.2
2014 68.7 75.5
2013 66.5 76
2012 65.2 76.3
2011 65.8 77.8
2010 66.2 78
2009 66.6 80.7
2008 68.3 81
2007 67.9 81.2
2006 66.9 81.2
2005 66.3 79.9
2004 67.4 78.7
2003 66 78.2
2002 65 78.4
2001 66.4 79.1
2000 63.4 76.4
1999 64.2 75.5
1998 63.4 75.4
1997 62.4 75.6
1996 55 76.7
1995 - 76.7

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

GeoRank.org/economy/latvia/united-states | CC BY

The Economic Freedom Index for Latvia is 71.6, ranking 31/197, compared to 72.8 for the United States, ranking 27/197. The chart above displays a comparison of annual changes in economic freedom indexes.

Other economic metrics

Latvia United States
Services, % of GDP
64.6%
2024
79.7%
2024
Industry, % of GDP
18.5%
2024
17.3%
2024
Agriculture, forestry, and fishing, % of GDP
4.04%
2024
0.85%
2024
GNI, Atlas method
$40.4B
2024
$28.4T
2024
GNI per capita, PPP
$42,660
2024
$85,980
2024
Total reserves including gold
$5.14B
2024
$910B
2024
Total reserves ranking
98/177
2024
3/177
2024
Net foreign direct investment
-$1.26B
2024
$25.1B
2024
Net inflows of foreign direct investment
$1.51B
2024
$297B
2024
Net outflows of foreign direct investment
$257M
2024
$322B
2024
Poverty at national poverty lines
22.5%
2022
15.1%
2020
Gross capital formation, % of GDP
20.9%
2024
21.8%
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/latvia/united-states | CC BY

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Data sources:

  1. World Bank | Economy & Growth (1960–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06)
  2. International Monetary Fund (IMF) | Public Finances in Modern History (1929–2000, retrieved 2026-02-20)
  3. International Monetary Fund (IMF) | Fiscal Monitor (1998–2024, retrieved 2026-02-20)
  4. The Heritage Foundation | Economic Freedom Index (1995–2026, retrieved 2026-03-09)
  5. U.S. Census Bureau (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-02-08)
  6. TradeMap (2021–2024, 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.