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Economy of Liberia vs Tonga compared: GDP & Debt

Updated on by Georank team

Liberia has a GDP of $4.78B compared to $591M for Tonga, ranking 163/197 and 191/197 by economy size, respectively.

Liberia has $2.73B in government debt (57.2% of GDP), compared to $256M (37% of GDP) in Tonga.

Liberia vs Tonga GDP by year

Liberia
Tonga
1x
Year GDP, current $
Liberia Tonga
2024 $4,779,300,900 -
2023 $4,390,000,000 $591,139,749
2022 $4,001,047,000 $556,514,555
2021 $3,513,049,500 $519,306,353
2020 $3,176,126,300 $506,571,468
2019 $3,319,596,500 $506,031,239
2018 $3,422,754,800 $493,530,783
2017 $3,390,703,400 $459,976,850
2016 $3,398,419,600 $420,828,262
2015 $3,227,075,700 $437,525,514
2014 $3,225,652,000 $440,997,738
2013 $3,177,198,100 $451,788,498
2012 $2,791,614,000 $471,122,971
2011 $2,398,000,000 $414,143,828
2010 $1,998,000,000 $366,887,375
2009 $1,768,000,000 $312,415,028
2008 $1,726,000,000 $344,438,844
2007 $1,373,000,000 $298,519,623
2006 $1,119,000,000 $292,232,703
2005 $949,000,000 $261,823,805
2004 $897,000,000 $230,678,011
2003 $748,000,000 $202,246,591
2002 $927,000,000 $182,764,281
2001 $906,000,000 $181,117,230
2000 $874,000,000 $204,848,488
1999 $441,800,000 $199,208,718
1998 $359,600,000 $191,504,893
1997 $295,900,000 $214,991,452
1996 $159,400,000 $222,100,576
1995 $134,800,000 $208,871,666
1994 $132,200,000 $195,990,986
1993 $160,400,000 $138,489,884
1992 $223,500,000 $137,066,291
1991 $348,000,000 $132,201,141
1990 $384,400,000 $113,563,822
1989 $786,300,000 $106,344,855
1988 $1,038,300,000 $106,657,267
1987 $972,800,000 $81,667,133
1986 $840,964,400 $68,195,856
1985 $851,296,100 $60,058,663
1984 $848,478,300 $64,248,355
1983 $823,374,900 $60,863,964
1982 $863,933,200 $62,068,161
1981 $846,514,500 $62,242,013
1980 $854,711,500 $53,260,077
1979 $814,067,900 $44,667,002
1978 $717,240,400 $41,567,472
1977 $673,010,600 $34,139,388
1976 $596,675,700 $30,036,417
1975 $577,549,300 $32,506,742
1974 $486,955,000 -
1973 $386,968,300 -
1972 $368,098,000 -
1971 $341,543,100 -
1970 $323,099,700 -
1969 $306,961,800 -
1968 $276,820,700 -
1967 $261,024,300 -
1966 $244,459,500 -
1965 $229,260,800 -
1964 $218,929,100 -
1963 $200,229,600 -
1962 $191,861,800 -
1961 $183,920,900 -
1960 $190,495,600 -

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

GeoRank.org/economy/liberia/tonga | CC BY

GDP per capita in Liberia vs Tonga by year

Liberia
GDP per capita

GDP per capita, PPP
Tonga
GDP per capita

GDP per capita, PPP
1x
Year Current $
Liberia Tonga
GDP per capita GDP per capita, PPP GDP per capita GDP per capita, PPP
2024 $851 $1,871 - -
2023 $799 $1,795 $5,652 $7,803
2022 $745 $1,692 $5,298 $7,296
2021 $668 $1,539 $4,923 $6,929
2020 $617 $1,660 $4,792 $6,676
2019 $658 $1,900 $4,789 $6,473
2018 $692 $1,800 $4,675 $6,393
2017 $699 $1,665 $4,366 $6,229
2016 $715 $1,490 $3,988 $5,920
2015 $693 $1,340 $4,124 $5,472
2014 $707 $1,419 $4,137 $5,336
2013 $711 $1,360 $4,219 $5,120
2012 $638 $1,157 $4,384 $4,996
2011 $568 $1,041 $3,850 $4,855
2010 $492 $980 $3,416 $4,465
2009 $448 $939 $2,914 $4,384
2008 $452 $915 $3,218 $4,600
2007 $374 $873 $2,797 $4,316
2006 $321 $815 $2,750 $4,327
2005 $287.5 $774 $2,478 $4,315
2004 $284.1 $745 $2,195 $4,235
2003 $239.8 $716 $1,936 $4,231
2002 $299.5 $1,013 $1,759 $4,171
2001 $300 $987 $1,754 $3,955
2000 $298.5 $965 $1,995 $3,834
1999 $156.6 $762 $1,952 $3,636
1998 $134.7 $652 $1,889 $3,527
1997 $122.6 $548 $2,136 $3,434
1996 $71.4 $282.2 $2,215 $3,410
1995 $62.1 $254.4 $2,084 $3,347
1994 $61.5 $262.6 $1,957 $3,088
1993 $74.4 $328 $1,383 $2,882
1992 $107.8 $497 $1,370 $2,716
1991 $177.9 $793 $1,323 $2,652
1990 $172.9 $787 $1,139 $2,416
1989 $312 - $1,070 -
1988 $424 - $1,078 -
1987 $409 - $830 -
1986 $364 - $696 -
1985 $380 - $613 -
1984 $390 - $656 -
1983 $391 - $621 -
1982 $422 - $633 -
1981 $426 - $636 -
1980 $443 - $545 -
1979 $435 - $458 -
1978 $394 - $428 -
1977 $381 - $353 -
1976 $347 - $315 -
1975 $346 - $349 -
1974 $299.4 - - -
1973 $244.4 - - -
1972 $238.6 - - -
1971 $227.1 - - -
1970 $220.3 - - -
1969 $214.7 - - -
1968 $198.6 - - -
1967 $192.2 - - -
1966 $184.6 - - -
1965 $177.6 - - -
1964 $173.9 - - -
1963 $163.1 - - -
1962 $160.3 - - -
1961 $157.5 - - -
1960 $167.2 - - -

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

GeoRank.org/economy/liberia/tonga | CC BY

Liberia's GDP per capita is $851, ranking 184/197, compared to $5,652 in Tonga, ranking 115/197. Adjusted for purchasing power (GDP per capita PPP), Liberia ranks 188th at $1,871, while Tonga ranks 144th at $7,803.

Economic indicators

Liberia Tonga
Gross domestic product
$4.78B
2024
$591M
2023
GDP rank
163/197
2024
191/197
2023
GDP growth
4.02%
2023-2024
2.79%
2022-2023
GDP per capita
$851
2024
$5,652
2023
GDP per capita rank
184/197
2024
115/197
2023
GDP per capita, PPP
$1,871
2024
$7,803
2023
GDP per capita PPP rank
188/197
2024
144/197
2023
Government debt
$2.73B
2024
$256M
2023
Debt-to-GDP ratio
57.2%
2024
37%
2024
Government debt per person
$487
2024
$2,445
2023
Government debt per person rank
167/185
2024
111/185
2023
Average annual personal income after taxes
$1,191
2026
$3,886
2026
Income share by richest 10%
27.1%
2016
22%
2021
Income share by poorest 10%
2.9%
2016
4%
2021
Government expenditure, % of GDP
24.3%
2024
51.3%
2024
Consumer prices inflation
8.2%
2023-2024
3.18%
2023-2024
Unemployment rate
5.93%
2017
1.65%
2023
Population
5887000
103309

Spending and national debt comparison by year

Liberia
Spending

Debt
Tonga
Spending

Debt
1x
Year % of GDP
Liberia Tonga
Government spending Government debt Government spending Government debt
2024 24.3% 57.2% 51.3% 37%
2023 27.1% 57.8% 48.2% 43.3%
2022 26.9% 54.3% 44.4% 43.2%
2021 29.8% 53.3% 44.6% 43%
2020 35.3% 58.7% 37.9% 42.6%
2019 32.3% 48.6% 39.9% 42.8%
2018 32.7% 37.1% 39.6% 45.8%
2017 35.1% 31.8% 39.7% 44.7%
2016 35.8% 28.6% 37.2% 49.4%
2015 37.1% 24.8% 37.4% 51.1%
2014 33.4% 24.3% 31.5% 47.4%
2013 27.4% 20.6% 34.3% 48.9%
2012 30.8% 20.5% 32% 60%
2011 30.1% 22.7% 32.6% 51.9%
2010 25.2% 25.6% 28.4% 44.7%
2009 23.7% 130.9% 23.9% 39.7%
2008 21.6% 233.1% 24% 34%
2007 17.2% 394% 23.2% 37.8%
2006 11.1% 472% 25.6% 39.6%
2005 12.8% 535% 19.8% 43.3%
2004 12.1% 543% 19.3% 52.2%
2003 9.85% 658% 20% 56.2%
2002 13.2% 481% 21.3% 60.7%
2001 12.6% 484% 19.1% 53.4%
2000 15.2% 489% 20% 43.6%
1999 - - 18.8% 38.4%

Data sources: International Monetary Fund (IMF) | Fiscal Monitor (1999–2024, retrieved 2026-02-20).

GeoRank.org/economy/liberia/tonga | CC BY

In 2024, Liberia's government spending was $1.16B, accounting for 24.3% of its GDP, while Tonga spent $285M, or 51.3% of GDP.

Debt-to-GDP ratio is 57.2% in Liberia and 37% in Tonga, ranking 91/185 and 142/185, respectively.

Government deficit by year

Deficit/surplus
Liberia

Tonga
1x
Year Deficit/surplus, % of GDP
Liberia Tonga
2024 -1.98% 4.17%
2023 -7.03% 6.14%
2022 -5.33% -0.1%
2021 -2.5% -0.87%
2020 -4.02% 5.25%
2019 -4.92% 3.28%
2018 -4.7% 2.92%
2017 -7.14% 3.58%
2016 -3.83% 1.47%
2015 -3.74% -2.75%
2014 -4.92% 6.38%
2013 1.29% -1.3%
2012 -2.86% -1.74%
2011 -4.43% -6.02%
2010 1.17% -1.22%
2009 -1.39% 6.85%
2008 -2.68% 2.14%
2007 2.44% 5.39%
2006 4.42% 1.34%
2005 -0.55% 4.23%
2004 -0.56% 4.23%
2003 0.39% 2.37%
2002 -1.63% 2.59%
2001 -0.98% 2.23%
2000 -0.08% 1.35%
1999 - 1.55%

Data sources: International Monetary Fund (IMF) | Fiscal Monitor (1999–2024, retrieved 2026-02-20).

GeoRank.org/economy/liberia/tonga | CC BY

In 2023, Liberia's government deficit, the difference between spending and revenue, was $309M, equivalent to 7.03% of GDP. This compares to Tonga's surplus of $36.3M, or 6.14% of GDP.

Over the past 24 years, Liberia recorded a fiscal deficit in 19 of those years, while Tonga ran a deficit in 7 years. On average, Liberia posted an annual deficit equal to 2.23% of GDP, compared to surplus of 1.99% of GDP for Tonga.

Inflation comparison by year

Inflation
Liberia

Tonga
1x
Year Consumer prices inflation
Liberia Tonga
2024 8.2% 3.18%
2023 10.1% 6.35%
2022 7.6% 11%
2021 7.8% 5.64%
2020 17% -0.35%
2019 27% 1.18%
2018 23.5% 5.03%
2017 12.4% 7.52%
2016 8.8% 2.58%
2015 7.7% -1.05%
2014 9.9% 2.51%
2013 7.6% 0.78%
2012 6.8% 1.15%
2011 8.5% 6.27%
2010 7.3% 3.53%
2009 7.4% 1.43%
2008 17.5% 10.4%
2007 11.4% 5.84%
2006 9.5% 6.15%
2005 6.9% 8.67%
2004 3.6% 11%
2003 10.3% 11.6%
2002 14.2% 10.4%
2001 12.1% 8.29%
2000 5.3% 6.33%
1999 2% 4.46%
1998 - 3.27%
1997 - 2.12%

Data sources: World Bank | Economy & Growth (1997–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06); International Monetary Fund (IMF) | World Economic Outlook (1999–2024, retrieved 2026-02-20).

GeoRank.org/economy/liberia/tonga | CC BY

Over the past 26 years, Liberia has recorded an average annual inflation rate of 10.4%, compared with 5.38% in Tonga. In 2024, inflation was 8.2% in Liberia and 3.18% in Tonga.

Balance of trade

Liberia Tonga
Current account balance
$64.8M
2022
-$43.5M
2024
Current account balance ranking
73/190
2022
83/190
2024
Current account balance, % of GDP
+1.62%
2022
-7.93%
2023
Goods imports
$1.53B
2022
$232M
2024
Goods exports
$1.03B
2022
$10.8M
2024
Service imports
$434M
2022
$161M
2024
Service exports
$192M
2022
$93.6M
2024
Imports of goods and services, % of GDP n/a
64.9%
2023
Exports of goods and services, % of GDP
28.5%
2025
14.7%
2023

Economic freedom indices

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

Liberia Tonga
Economic freedom 49.8 58.9
Economic freedom ranking 163/197 107/197
Property rights 40.4 71.1
Government integrity 25.8 45.1
Judicial effectiveness 23.4 64.9
Tax burden 86.1 85.6
Government spending 79.5 31
Fiscal health 56.9 97.3
Business freedom 38 59.2
Labor freedom 43.4 55.9
Monetary freedom 71.4 61
Trade freedom 57.4 75.4
Investment freedom 55 40
Financial freedom 20 20

Economic freedom comparison by year

Liberia
Tonga
1x
Year Economic freedom index
Liberia Tonga
2026 49.8 58.9
2025 48.5 58.5
2024 49.9 59.2
2023 49.6 60
2022 47.9 60.8
2021 49.2 57.5
2020 49 58.8
2019 49.7 57.7
2018 50.9 63.1
2017 49.1 63
2016 52.2 59.6
2015 52.7 59.3
2014 52.4 58.2
2013 49.3 56
2012 48.6 57
2011 46.5 55.8
2010 46.2 53.4
2009 48.1 54.1

Data sources: The Heritage Foundation | Economic Freedom Index (2009–2026, retrieved 2026-03-09).

GeoRank.org/economy/liberia/tonga | CC BY

The Economic Freedom Index for Liberia is 49.8, ranking 163/197, compared to 58.9 for Tonga, ranking 107/197. The chart above displays a comparison of annual changes in economic freedom indexes.

Other economic metrics

Liberia Tonga
Services, % of GDP
41.9%
2024
50%
2023
Industry, % of GDP
22.7%
2024
14.9%
2023
Agriculture, forestry, and fishing, % of GDP
33.8%
2024
19%
2023
GNI, Atlas method
$4.28B
2024
$619M
2023
GNI per capita, PPP
$1,750
2024
$8,400
2023
Total reserves including gold
$600M
2022
$377M
2024
Total reserves ranking
153/177
2022
163/177
2024
Net foreign direct investment
-$960M
2022
$13.3M
2024
Net inflows of foreign direct investment
$472M
2024
-$12.1M
2024
Net outflows of foreign direct investment
$74.9M
2024
$1.25M
2024
Servicing debt to the IMF, % of GNI
3.09%
2024
2.76%
2023
Poverty at national poverty lines
50.9%
2016
20.6%
2021
Gross capital formation, % of GDP n/a
25.9%
2023

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/liberia/tonga | 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 (1999–2024, retrieved 2026-02-20)
  3. The Heritage Foundation | Economic Freedom Index (2009–2026, retrieved 2026-03-09)
  4. U.S. Census Bureau (1985–2024, retrieved 2026-02-08)
  5. United Nations | World Population Prospects (2026, retrieved 2026-03-10)
  6. 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.