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Economy of Lebanon vs Thailand compared: GDP & Debt

Updated on by Georank team

Lebanon has a GDP of $20.1B compared to $527B for Thailand, ranking 128/197 and 31/197 by economy size, respectively.

Lebanon has $38.7B in government debt (163.8% of GDP), compared to $333B (63.2% of GDP) in Thailand.

Lebanon vs Thailand GDP by year

Lebanon
Thailand
1x
Year GDP, current $
Lebanon Thailand
2024 - $526,517,658,842
2023 $20,078,620,357 $515,906,283,941
2022 $20,992,421,949 $495,644,697,588
2021 $23,131,941,557 $506,194,668,790
2020 $31,712,128,254 $500,461,898,480
2019 $51,605,959,131 $543,976,691,794
2018 $54,901,519,156 $506,754,208,404
2017 $53,027,680,686 $456,356,813,537
2016 $51,147,308,774 $413,366,349,748
2015 $49,929,337,837 $401,296,238,228
2014 $48,095,213,747 $407,339,040,198
2013 $46,880,103,081 $420,333,654,593
2012 $44,016,799,516 $397,558,325,279
2011 $39,927,125,962 $370,818,739,624
2010 $38,443,907,042 $341,104,766,329
2009 $35,399,582,929 $281,710,630,187
2008 $29,118,916,105 $291,382,982,431
2007 $24,827,355,015 $262,942,621,455
2006 $22,022,709,851 $221,758,296,022
2005 $21,497,336,499 $189,318,408,469
2004 $21,159,827,992 $172,895,685,155
2003 $20,082,918,740 $152,280,615,246
2002 $19,152,238,806 $134,300,904,400
2001 $17,649,751,244 $120,296,476,180
2000 $17,260,364,842 $126,392,224,254
1999 $17,391,056,369 $126,669,211,779
1998 $17,247,179,006 $113,675,596,788
1997 $15,751,867,489 $150,180,456,566
1996 $13,690,217,334 $183,035,237,429
1995 $11,718,795,529 $169,278,916,593
1994 $9,599,127,050 $146,683,778,959
1993 $7,941,744,492 $128,889,262,951
1992 $5,843,579,161 $111,452,746,518
1991 $4,690,415,093 $98,234,714,971
1990 $2,838,485,354 $85,343,190,719
1989 $2,717,998,688 $72,250,748,100
1988 $3,313,540,068 $61,667,253,471
1987 - $50,535,446,555
1986 - $43,096,773,981
1985 - $38,900,711,333
1984 - $41,797,647,776
1983 - $40,042,798,388
1982 - $36,589,772,404
1981 - $34,846,039,194
1980 - $32,353,514,989
1979 - $27,371,650,825
1978 - $24,006,566,637
1977 - $19,779,312,261
1976 - $16,985,208,648
1975 - $14,882,770,594
1974 - $13,702,998,512
1973 - $10,838,587,358
1972 - $8,177,873,151
1971 - $7,375,000,024
1970 - $7,086,538,438
1969 - $6,695,336,567
1968 - $6,081,009,428
1967 - $5,638,461,442
1966 - $5,279,230,817
1965 - $4,388,937,649
1964 - $3,889,129,942
1963 - $3,540,403,457
1962 - $3,308,912,797
1961 - $3,034,037,811
1960 - $2,760,750,861

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

GeoRank.org/economy/lebanon/thailand | CC BY

GDP per capita in Lebanon vs Thailand by year

Lebanon
GDP per capita

GDP per capita, PPP
Thailand
GDP per capita

GDP per capita, PPP
1x
Year Current $
Lebanon Thailand
GDP per capita GDP per capita, PPP GDP per capita GDP per capita, PPP
2024 - - $7,347 $24,712
2023 $3,478 $12,575 $7,195 $23,519
2022 $3,654 $12,293 $6,909 $22,243
2021 $4,045 $11,600 $7,057 $20,243
2020 $5,561 $16,260 $6,986 $19,164
2019 $8,906 $21,710 $7,606 $19,963
2018 $9,175 $21,985 $7,100 $18,876
2017 $8,608 $20,964 $6,413 $17,573
2016 $8,089 $18,941 $5,834 $16,671
2015 $7,714 $17,046 $5,689 $15,791
2014 $7,578 $16,140 $5,801 $15,365
2013 $8,162 $16,316 $6,018 $15,216
2012 $8,407 $16,121 $5,726 $14,617
2011 $7,835 $14,975 $5,374 $13,227
2010 $7,626 $14,704 $4,974 $12,932
2009 $7,091 $13,586 $4,135 $11,964
2008 $5,912 $12,416 $4,309 $12,062
2007 $5,125 $11,356 $3,919 $11,723
2006 $4,635 $10,312 $3,331 $10,912
2005 $4,602 $10,020 $2,868 $10,169
2004 $4,601 $9,609 $2,642 $9,545
2003 $4,438 $8,914 $2,348 $8,824
2002 $4,291 $8,586 $2,090 $8,148
2001 $4,010 $8,289 $1,890 $7,632
2000 $3,987 $7,938 $2,006 $7,289
1999 $4,087 $7,793 $2,033 $6,901
1998 $4,125 $7,861 $1,848 $6,590
1997 $3,834 $7,632 $2,473 $7,148
1996 $3,393 $7,560 $3,055 $7,322
1995 $2,959 $6,796 $2,864 $6,901
1994 $2,468 $6,367 $2,518 $6,341
1993 $2,079 $5,871 $2,245 $5,834
1992 $1,559 $5,279 $1,972 $5,347
1991 $1,278 $4,527 $1,766 $4,914
1990 $790 $2,990 $1,559 $4,451
1989 $771 - $1,342 -
1988 $959 - $1,164 -
1987 - - $970 -
1986 - - $842 -
1985 - - $774 -
1984 - - $847 -
1983 - - $827 -
1982 - - $770 -
1981 - - $748 -
1980 - - $709 -
1979 - - $612 -
1978 - - $548 -
1977 - - $462 -
1976 - - $405 -
1975 - - $364 -
1974 - - $343 -
1973 - - $278.3 -
1972 - - $215.6 -
1971 - - $199.7 -
1970 - - $197.1 -
1969 - - $191.4 -
1968 - - $178.8 -
1967 - - $170.7 -
1966 - - $164.5 -
1965 - - $140.9 -
1964 - - $128.6 -
1963 - - $120.7 -
1962 - - $116.2 -
1961 - - $109.7 -
1960 - - $102.8 -

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

GeoRank.org/economy/lebanon/thailand | CC BY

Lebanon's GDP per capita is $3,478, ranking 135/197, compared to $7,347 in Thailand, ranking 100/197. Adjusted for purchasing power (GDP per capita PPP), Lebanon ranks 123rd at $12,575, while Thailand ranks 85th at $24,712.

Economic indicators

Lebanon Thailand
Gross domestic product
$20.1B
2023
$527B
2024
GDP rank
128/197
2023
31/197
2024
GDP growth
-0.76%
2022-2023
2.54%
2023-2024
GDP per capita
$3,478
2023
$7,347
2024
GDP per capita rank
135/197
2023
100/197
2024
GDP per capita, PPP
$12,575
2023
$24,712
2024
GDP per capita PPP rank
123/197
2023
85/197
2024
Government debt
$38.7B
2023
$333B
2024
Debt-to-GDP ratio
163.8%
2024
63.2%
2024
Government debt per person
$6,704
2023
$4,643
2024
Government debt per person rank
70/185
2023
84/185
2024
Average annual personal income after taxes
$3,560
2026
$6,733
2026
Market capitalization of domestic companies
$10.6B
2021
$520B
2024
Number of millionaires n/a
100,001
2025
Number of billionaires
6
2025
25
2025
Income share by richest 10%
25.1%
2022
26.1%
2023
Income share by poorest 10%
2.8%
2022
3.4%
2023
Government expenditure, % of GDP
16.5%
2024
22.7%
2024
Consumer prices inflation
45.2%
2023-2024
1.37%
2023-2024
Central bank interest rate
20%
2023
1.5%
2025
Unemployment rate
11.3%
2019
0.78%
2024
Population
5906622
71571743

Spending and national debt comparison by year

Lebanon
Spending

Debt
Thailand
Spending

Debt
1x
Year % of GDP
Lebanon Thailand
Government spending Government debt Government spending Government debt
2024 16.5% 163.8% 22.7% 63.2%
2023 14.9% 192.8% 22.8% 62.3%
2022 13.4% 244.6% 24.7% 60.5%
2021 10.9% 358% 26.8% 58.3%
2020 23.2% 148.7% 24.9% 49.4%
2019 31.3% 172.1% 20.6% 41.1%
2018 32.3% 155.1% 21.2% 41.9%
2017 30.6% 150% 21.5% 41.8%
2016 28.3% 146.4% 21.4% 41.7%
2015 26.7% 140.8% 22.3% 42.6%
2014 28.8% 138.4% 22.2% 43.3%
2013 28.9% 135.4% 21.6% 42.2%
2012 30.2% 131.1% 22.3% 41.9%
2011 28.8% 134.4% 21.1% 39.1%
2010 29.2% 136.8% 22% 39.8%
2009 32.1% 144.5% 21.7% 42.4%
2008 34.3% 161.5% 19.2% 34.9%
2007 35.2% 169.3% 20% 36%
2006 36.1% 183.3% 18.7% 39.2%
2005 31.4% 178.9% 19.6% 45.5%
2004 33.3% 169.5% 19.3% 46.3%
2003 36.4% 171.3% 18.3% 47.5%
2002 36.8% 163.1% 25.7% 54.9%
2001 38.9% 163.1% 20.8% 57.5%
2000 42.8% 148.1% 19.3% 57.8%
1999 35.6% 130.2% 26.5% 56.6%
1998 34.7% 108.2% 23.9% 49.9%
1997 40.5% 100.2% 21.6% 40.5%
1996 43.6% 101.2% 18% 15.2%
1995 31.1% 79.6% 17.2% 5.12%
1994 47.3% 71.5% 16% 6.69%
1993 23% 50.5% 18.8% 9.14%
1992 36.1% 51.7% 17.8% 11.4%
1991 35.6% 67.1% 17% 14.1%
1990 40% 99.7% 16.6% 18%
1989 - - 16.5% 23.7%
1988 - - 15.1% 30.3%
1987 - - 17.5% 38.8%
1986 - - 19.5% 40.1%
1985 - - 20.5% 36.8%
1984 - - 19.3% 30.6%
1983 - - 19.5% 28.9%
1982 - - 20.2% 27.1%
1981 - - 19.1% 24.4%
1980 - - 18.7% 22.1%
1979 - - 16.9% 23.7%
1978 - - 16.6% 22.8%
1977 - - 16.1% 22.4%
1976 - - 15.6% 22%
1975 - - 14.2% 15.8%
1974 - - 13.2% 16.3%
1973 - - 15.9% 21.2%
1972 - - 18.5% 26.8%
1971 - - 18.8% 21.5%
1970 - - 17.6% 18.5%
1969 - - 15.9% 17.7%
1968 - - 16% 15.5%
1967 - - 15.5% 15%
1966 - - 14.7% 14.4%
1965 - - 14.7% 14.8%
1964 - - 13.3% 13.3%
1963 - - 12% 12.6%
1962 - - 11.9% 13.4%
1961 - - 9.58% 12.9%
1960 - - 12.1% 14.3%

Data sources: International Monetary Fund (IMF) | Fiscal Monitor (1990–2024, retrieved 2026-02-20); International Monetary Fund (IMF) | Public Finances in Modern History (1960–1999, retrieved 2026-02-20).

GeoRank.org/economy/lebanon/thailand | CC BY

In 2024, Lebanon's government spending was $2.99B, accounting for 16.5% of its GDP, while Thailand spent $120B, or 22.7% of GDP.

Debt-to-GDP ratio is 163.8% in Lebanon and 63.2% in Thailand, ranking 6/185 and 74/185, respectively.

Government deficit by year

Deficit/surplus
Lebanon

Thailand
1x
Year Deficit/surplus, % of GDP
Lebanon Thailand
2024 -0.19% -1.29%
2023 -1.7% -1.98%
2022 -7.77% -4.61%
2021 -2.67% -6.74%
2020 -7.37% -4.47%
2019 -10.5% 0.43%
2018 -11.3% 0.2%
2017 -8.65% -0.42%
2016 -8.88% 0.41%
2015 -7.48% 0.19%
2014 -6.22% -0.7%
2013 -8.82% 0.6%
2012 -8.43% -0.86%
2011 -5.94% 0.09%
2010 -7.47% -1.07%
2009 -8.1% -2.21%
2008 -9.86% 0.8%
2007 -10.9% 0.22%
2006 -10.6% 1.87%
2005 -8.57% 2.17%
2004 -9.83% 1.11%
2003 -14% 1.98%
2002 -16.2% -6.72%
2001 -21% -1.77%
2000 -23.9% -1.79%
1999 -16.7% -9.02%
1998 -17.3% -6.29%
1997 -24.5% -1.68%
1996 -25.7% 2.75%
1995 -13.6% 3.05%
1994 -29.1% 2.78%
1993 -7.19% 6.67%
1992 -24% -0.18%
1991 -19.5% 1.6%
1990 -30.2% 1.41%
1989 - 0.16%
1988 - 0.58%
1987 - -2.38%
1986 - -4.32%
1985 - -5.11%
1984 - -3.85%
1983 - -4.02%
1982 - -6.18%
1981 - -4.07%
1980 - -4.41%
1979 - -3.62%
1978 - -3.31%
1977 - -2.91%
1976 - -3.35%
1975 - -1.73%
1974 - 1.29%
1973 - -2.7%
1972 - -4.81%
1971 - -5.47%
1970 - -3.73%
1969 - -2.53%
1968 - -2.79%
1967 - -2.1%
1966 - -1.13%
1965 - -1.05%
1964 - -1.01%
1963 - -0.81%
1962 - -0.27%
1961 - 0.05%
1960 - 0.48%
1959 - -1.15%
1958 - -0.91%
1957 - -1.31%
1956 - -1.38%
1955 - -1.65%
1954 - -3.46%
1953 - -3.56%
1952 - -2.4%
1951 - -3.54%
1950 - -0.7%
1949 - 0.7%
1948 - -0.1%

Data sources: International Monetary Fund (IMF) | Fiscal Monitor (1990–2024, retrieved 2026-02-20); International Monetary Fund (IMF) | Public Finances in Modern History (1948–1994, retrieved 2026-02-20).

GeoRank.org/economy/lebanon/thailand | CC BY

In 2023, Lebanon's government deficit, the difference between spending and revenue, was $342M, equivalent to 1.7% of GDP. This compares to Thailand's deficit of $10.2B, or 1.98% of GDP.

Over the past 34 years, Lebanon recorded a fiscal deficit in 34 of those years, while Thailand ran a deficit in 16 years. On average, Lebanon posted an annual deficit equal to 13.1% of GDP, compared to deficit of 0.65% of GDP for Thailand.

Inflation comparison by year

Inflation
Lebanon

Thailand
1x
Year Consumer prices inflation
Lebanon Thailand
2024 45.2% 1.37%
2023 221.3% 8.48%
2022 171.2% -1.61%
2021 154.8% 1.23%
2020 84.9% -0.85%
2019 2.9% 0.71%
2018 6.1% 1.06%
2017 4.5% 0.67%
2016 -0.8% 0.19%
2015 -3.8% -0.9%
2014 1.1% 1.9%
2013 5.6% 2.18%
2012 6.6% 3.01%
2011 5% 3.81%
2010 4% 3.25%
2009 1.2% -0.85%
2008 10.7% 5.47%
2007 4.1% 2.24%
2006 4.1% 4.64%
2005 -1.4% 4.54%
2004 1.7% 2.76%
2003 1.3% 1.8%
2002 1.8% 0.7%
2001 -0.4% 1.63%
2000 -0.4% 1.59%
1999 0.2% 0.28%
1998 4.5% 7.99%
1997 7.7% 5.63%

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/lebanon/thailand | CC BY

Over the past 28 years, Lebanon has recorded an average annual inflation rate of 26.6%, compared with 2.25% in Thailand. In 2024, inflation was 45.2% in Lebanon and 1.37% in Thailand.

Top exports between countries

Lebanon
Export category Export value
Precious metals & jewellery $1.75M
Metals $336K
Machinery & equipment $240K
Chemicals & pharma $28K
Raw agricultural goods $25K
Processed food, beverages & tobacco $16K
Wood & paper products $13K
Miscellaneous $4K
Raw materials & minerals $4K
Textiles & consumer goods $2K
Thailand
Export category Export value
Machinery & equipment $80.2M
Processed food, beverages & tobacco $40.8M
Wood & paper products $10.1M
Raw agricultural goods $8.73M
Raw materials & minerals $8.01M
Chemicals & pharma $5.97M
Textiles & consumer goods $3.78M
Precious metals & jewellery $1.7M
Metals $416K
Animal & marine products $136K

Balance of trade

Lebanon Thailand
Current account balance
-$5.64B
2023
$11.6B
2024
Current account balance ranking
168/190
2023
23/190
2024
Current account balance, % of GDP
-28.1%
2023
+2.21%
2024
Goods imports
$16.7B
2023
$276B
2024
Goods exports
$3.85B
2023
$297B
2024
Service imports
$6.63B
2023
$74B
2024
Service exports
$7.92B
2023
$71.9B
2024
Imports of goods and services, % of GDP
73.7%
2023
66.7%
2024
Exports of goods and services, % of GDP
30.6%
2023
70%
2024

Economic freedom indices

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

Lebanon Thailand
Economic freedom 43.1 62.2
Economic freedom ranking 183/197 88/197
Property rights 21.8 41.8
Government integrity 23.4 38.9
Judicial effectiveness 23.8 35
Tax burden 90.3 80.8
Government spending 93.3 83.6
Fiscal health 63.4 81
Business freedom 47.6 69.9
Labor freedom 48.4 56.4
Monetary freedom 0 73.3
Trade freedom 65.6 70.2
Investment freedom 20 55
Financial freedom 20 60

Economic freedom comparison by year

Lebanon
Thailand
1x
Year Economic freedom index
Lebanon Thailand
2026 43.1 62.2
2025 44.1 60.6
2024 48.3 59
2023 45.6 60.6
2022 47.3 63.2
2021 51.4 69.7
2020 51.7 69.4
2019 51.1 68.3
2018 53.2 67.1
2017 53.3 66.2
2016 59.5 63.9
2015 59.3 62.4
2014 59.4 63.3
2013 59.5 64.1
2012 60.1 64.9
2011 60.1 64.7
2010 59.5 64.1
2009 58.1 63
2008 60 62.3
2007 60.4 63.5
2006 57.5 63.3
2005 57.2 62.5
2004 56.9 63.7
2003 56.7 65.8
2002 57.1 69.1
2001 61 68.9
2000 56.1 66.6
1999 59.1 66.9
1998 59 67.3
1997 63.9 66.1
1996 63.2 71
1995 - 71.3

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

GeoRank.org/economy/lebanon/thailand | CC BY

The Economic Freedom Index for Lebanon is 43.1, ranking 183/197, compared to 62.2 for Thailand, ranking 88/197. The chart above displays a comparison of annual changes in economic freedom indexes.

Other economic metrics

Lebanon Thailand
Services, % of GDP
42.4%
2023
59.2%
2024
Industry, % of GDP
2.09%
2023
32.1%
2024
Agriculture, forestry, and fishing, % of GDP
0.97%
2023
8.71%
2024
GNI, Atlas method
$21.4B
2023
$509B
2024
GNI per capita, PPP
$12,420
2023
$23,960
2024
Total reserves including gold
$33.3B
2024
$237B
2024
Total reserves ranking
54/177
2024
15/177
2024
Net foreign direct investment
-$583M
2023
-$6.95B
2024
Net inflows of foreign direct investment
$1.84B
2024
$14.3B
2024
Net outflows of foreign direct investment
$391M
2024
$7.36B
2024
Servicing debt to the IMF, % of GNI
22%
2023
3.52%
2024
Poverty at national poverty lines
27.4%
2012
5.4%
2022
Gross capital formation, % of GDP
1.9%
2023
21.6%
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/lebanon/thailand | 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. International Monetary Fund (IMF) | Public Finances in Modern History (1948–1999, 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 (2022–2024, retrieved 2026-02-08)
  7. United Nations | World Population Prospects (2026, retrieved 2026-03-10)
  8. 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.