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Economy of Liberia vs Yemen compared: GDP & Debt

Updated on by Georank team

Liberia has a GDP of $4.78B compared to $21.6B for Yemen, ranking 163/197 and 125/197 by economy size, respectively.

Liberia has $2.73B in government debt (57.2% of GDP), compared to $18.8B (70.9% of GDP) in Yemen.

Liberia vs Yemen GDP by year

Liberia
Yemen
1x
Year GDP, current $
Liberia Yemen
2024 $4,779,300,900 -
2023 $4,390,000,000 -
2022 $4,001,047,000 -
2021 $3,513,049,500 -
2020 $3,176,126,300 -
2019 $3,319,596,500 -
2018 $3,422,754,800 $21,606,160,663
2017 $3,390,703,400 $26,842,229,045
2016 $3,398,419,600 $31,317,825,274
2015 $3,227,075,700 $42,444,490,074
2014 $3,225,652,000 $43,228,585,321
2013 $3,177,198,100 $40,415,233,436
2012 $2,791,614,000 $35,401,331,610
2011 $2,398,000,000 $32,726,417,878
2010 $1,998,000,000 $30,906,749,533
2009 $1,768,000,000 $25,130,278,213
2008 $1,726,000,000 $26,910,855,807
2007 $1,373,000,000 $21,650,528,674
2006 $1,119,000,000 $19,063,143,370
2005 $949,000,000 $16,731,566,717
2004 $897,000,000 $13,867,634,371
2003 $748,000,000 $11,777,532,662
2002 $927,000,000 $10,693,430,511
2001 $906,000,000 $9,852,990,693
2000 $874,000,000 $9,679,316,770
1999 $441,800,000 $7,639,325,296
1998 $359,600,000 $6,322,175,566
1997 $295,900,000 $6,838,298,531
1996 $159,400,000 $6,496,163,616
1995 $134,800,000 $12,796,345,679
1994 $132,200,000 $28,019,483,764
1993 $160,400,000 $21,736,802,664
1992 $223,500,000 $17,959,367,194
1991 $348,000,000 $14,665,445,462
1990 $384,400,000 $12,643,821,569
1989 $786,300,000 -
1988 $1,038,300,000 -
1987 $972,800,000 -
1986 $840,964,400 -
1985 $851,296,100 -
1984 $848,478,300 -
1983 $823,374,900 -
1982 $863,933,200 -
1981 $846,514,500 -
1980 $854,711,500 -
1979 $814,067,900 -
1978 $717,240,400 -
1977 $673,010,600 -
1976 $596,675,700 -
1975 $577,549,300 -
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/yemen | CC BY

GDP per capita in Liberia vs Yemen by year

Liberia
GDP per capita

GDP per capita, PPP
Yemen
GDP per capita

GDP per capita, PPP
1x
Year Current $
Liberia Yemen
GDP per capita GDP per capita, PPP GDP per capita GDP per capita, PPP
2024 $851 $1,871 - -
2023 $799 $1,795 - -
2022 $745 $1,692 - -
2021 $668 $1,539 - -
2020 $617 $1,660 - -
2019 $658 $1,900 - -
2018 $692 $1,800 $634 -
2017 $699 $1,665 $811 -
2016 $715 $1,490 $975 -
2015 $693 $1,340 $1,362 -
2014 $707 $1,419 $1,430 -
2013 $711 $1,360 $1,379 $3,164
2012 $638 $1,157 $1,245 $3,005
2011 $568 $1,041 $1,186 $3,113
2010 $492 $980 $1,155 $3,603
2009 $448 $939 $969 $3,411
2008 $452 $915 $1,072 $3,370
2007 $374 $873 $890 $3,294
2006 $321 $815 $810 $3,205
2005 $287.5 $774 $734 $3,113
2004 $284.1 $745 $628 $2,949
2003 $239.8 $716 $549 $2,844
2002 $299.5 $1,013 $513 $2,768
2001 $300 $987 $487 $2,702
2000 $298.5 $965 $493 $2,624
1999 $156.6 $762 $401 $2,492
1998 $134.7 $652 $343 $2,442
1997 $122.6 $548 $383 $2,351
1996 $71.4 $282.2 $375 $2,268
1995 $62.1 $254.4 $764 $2,201
1994 $61.5 $262.6 $1,735 $2,115
1993 $74.4 $328 $1,397 $2,013
1992 $107.8 $497 $1,198 $1,963
1991 $177.9 $793 $1,016 $1,843
1990 $172.9 $787 $910 $1,742
1989 $312 - - -
1988 $424 - - -
1987 $409 - - -
1986 $364 - - -
1985 $380 - - -
1984 $390 - - -
1983 $391 - - -
1982 $422 - - -
1981 $426 - - -
1980 $443 - - -
1979 $435 - - -
1978 $394 - - -
1977 $381 - - -
1976 $347 - - -
1975 $346 - - -
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/yemen | CC BY

Liberia's GDP per capita is $851, ranking 184/197, compared to $634 in Yemen, ranking 191/197. Adjusted for purchasing power (GDP per capita PPP), Liberia ranks 188th at $1,871, while Yemen ranks 178th at $3,164.

Economic indicators

Liberia Yemen
Gross domestic product
$4.78B
2024
$21.6B
2018
GDP rank
163/197
2024
125/197
2018
GDP growth
4.02%
2023-2024
0.75%
2017-2018
GDP per capita
$851
2024
$634
2018
GDP per capita rank
184/197
2024
191/197
2018
GDP per capita, PPP
$1,871
2024
$3,164
2013
GDP per capita PPP rank
188/197
2024
178/197
2013
Government debt
$2.73B
2024
$18.8B
2018
Debt-to-GDP ratio
57.2%
2024
70.9%
2024
Government debt per person
$487
2024
$551
2018
Government debt per person rank
167/185
2024
165/185
2018
Average annual personal income after taxes
$1,191
2026
$1,127
2026
Income share by richest 10%
27.1%
2016
29.4%
2014
Income share by poorest 10%
2.9%
2016
3%
2014
Government expenditure, % of GDP
24.3%
2024
8.91%
2024
Consumer prices inflation
8.2%
2023-2024
33.9%
2023-2024
Unemployment rate
5.93%
2017
13.5%
2014
Population
5887000
43325643

Spending and national debt comparison by year

Liberia
Spending

Debt
Yemen
Spending

Debt
1x
Year % of GDP
Liberia Yemen
Government spending Government debt Government spending Government debt
2024 24.3% 57.2% 8.91% 70.9%
2023 27.1% 57.8% 11.8% 77.9%
2022 26.9% 54.3% 12.2% 65.3%
2021 29.8% 53.3% 8.22% 75.9%
2020 35.3% 58.7% 10.6% 87%
2019 32.3% 48.6% 13.2% 91.5%
2018 32.7% 37.1% 14.3% 86.9%
2017 35.1% 31.8% 8.39% 83.8%
2016 35.8% 28.6% 16.1% 76.5%
2015 37.1% 24.8% 19.4% 57.7%
2014 33.4% 24.3% 27.8% 48.9%
2013 27.4% 20.6% 30.8% 48.4%
2012 30.8% 20.5% 36.2% 47.6%
2011 30.1% 22.7% 29.8% 45.7%
2010 25.2% 25.6% 30.2% 42.4%
2009 23.7% 130.9% 35.2% 49.8%
2008 21.6% 233.1% 41.2% 36.4%
2007 17.2% 394% 40.3% 40.4%
2006 11.1% 472% 37.4% 40.8%
2005 12.8% 535% 36.8% 43.8%
2004 12.1% 543% 34.2% 52.1%
2003 9.85% 658% 35.3% 56.8%
2002 13.2% 481% 30.8% 57.8%
2001 12.6% 484% 30.5% 60.6%
2000 15.2% 489% 31.7% 60.8%
1999 - - 28.2% 96.1%
1998 - - 34.3% 110.6%
1997 - - 34.2% 74.2%
1996 - - 30.7% 114.9%
1995 - - 24.1% 84.1%
1994 - - 25.2% 73.3%
1993 - - 25.8% 76.7%
1992 - - 24.6% 78%
1991 - - 24.7% 82.7%
1990 - - 26.6% 91.6%

Data sources: International Monetary Fund (IMF) | Fiscal Monitor (1990–2024, retrieved 2026-02-20); International Monetary Fund (IMF) | Public Finances in Modern History (1990–1998, retrieved 2026-02-20).

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

In 2024, Liberia's government spending was $1.16B, accounting for 24.3% of its GDP, while Yemen spent $3.08B, or 8.91% of GDP.

Debt-to-GDP ratio is 57.2% in Liberia and 70.9% in Yemen, ranking 91/185 and 55/185, respectively.

Government deficit by year

Deficit/surplus
Liberia

Yemen
1x
Year Deficit/surplus, % of GDP
Liberia Yemen
2024 -1.98% -2.48%
2023 -7.03% -5.63%
2022 -5.33% -2.15%
2021 -2.5% -0.89%
2020 -4.02% -4.3%
2019 -4.92% -5.89%
2018 -4.7% -7.85%
2017 -7.14% -4.9%
2016 -3.83% -8.51%
2015 -3.74% -8.75%
2014 -4.92% -4.14%
2013 1.29% -6.9%
2012 -2.86% -6.32%
2011 -4.43% -4.51%
2010 1.17% -4.06%
2009 -1.39% -10.2%
2008 -2.68% -4.53%
2007 2.44% -7.18%
2006 4.42% 1.19%
2005 -0.55% -1.82%
2004 -0.56% -2.15%
2003 0.39% -4.2%
2002 -1.63% -0.56%
2001 -0.98% 2.79%
2000 -0.08% 6.09%
1999 - 0.06%
1998 - -7.77%
1997 - -1.5%
1996 - -0.92%
1995 - -5.74%
1994 - -14%
1993 - -12.8%
1992 - -10.9%
1991 - -5.76%
1990 - -10.3%

Data sources: International Monetary Fund (IMF) | Fiscal Monitor (1990–2024, retrieved 2026-02-20).

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

In 2018, Liberia's government deficit, the difference between spending and revenue, was $161M, equivalent to 4.7% of GDP. This compares to Yemen's deficit of $1.7B, or 7.85% of GDP.

Over the past 19 years, Liberia recorded a fiscal deficit in 14 of those years, while Yemen ran a deficit in 16 years. On average, Liberia posted an annual deficit equal to 1.57% of GDP, compared to deficit of 4.03% of GDP for Yemen.

Inflation comparison by year

Inflation
Liberia

Yemen
1x
Year Consumer prices inflation
Liberia Yemen
2024 8.2% 33.9%
2023 10.1% 0.9%
2022 7.6% 29.5%
2021 7.8% 31.5%
2020 17% 21.7%
2019 27% 15.7%
2018 23.5% 33.6%
2017 12.4% 30.4%
2016 8.8% 21.3%
2015 7.7% 22%
2014 9.9% 8.2%
2013 7.6% 11%
2012 6.8% 9.9%
2011 8.5% 19.5%
2010 7.3% 11.2%
2009 7.4% 3.7%
2008 17.5% 19%
2007 11.4% 7.9%
2006 9.5% 10.8%
2005 6.9% 9.9%
2004 3.6% 12.5%
2003 10.3% 10.8%
2002 14.2% 12.2%
2001 12.1% 11.9%
2000 5.3% 11%
1999 2% 7.9%
1998 - 11.5%
1997 - 4.6%

Data sources: International Monetary Fund (IMF) | World Economic Outlook (1997–2024, retrieved 2026-02-20).

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

Over the past 26 years, Liberia has recorded an average annual inflation rate of 10.4%, compared with 16.1% in Yemen. In 2024, inflation was 8.2% in Liberia and 33.9% in Yemen.

Balance of trade

Liberia Yemen
Current account balance
$64.8M
2022
-$2.42B
2016
Current account balance ranking
73/190
2022
148/190
2016
Current account balance, % of GDP
+1.62%
2022
-7.72%
2016
Goods imports
$1.53B
2022
$6.8B
2016
Goods exports
$1.03B
2022
$473M
2016
Service imports
$434M
2022
$1.46B
2016
Service exports
$192M
2022
$466M
2016
Imports of goods and services, % of GDP n/a
47.3%
2018
Exports of goods and services, % of GDP
28.5%
2025
8.76%
2018

Economic freedom indices

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

Liberia Yemen
Economic freedom 49.8 53.7
Economic freedom ranking 163/197 138/197
Property rights 40.4 3.5
Government integrity 25.8 6.2
Judicial effectiveness 23.4 9.9
Tax burden 86.1 93.7
Government spending 79.5 0
Fiscal health 56.9 71.2
Business freedom 38 31.3
Labor freedom 43.4 31.2
Monetary freedom 71.4 48.1
Trade freedom 57.4 67.4
Investment freedom 55 50
Financial freedom 20 30

Economic freedom comparison by year

Liberia
Yemen
1x
Year Economic freedom index
Liberia Yemen
2026 49.8 -
2025 48.5 -
2024 49.9 -
2023 49.6 -
2022 47.9 -
2021 49.2 -
2020 49 -
2019 49.7 -
2018 50.9 -
2017 49.1 -
2016 52.2 -
2015 52.7 53.7
2014 52.4 55.5
2013 49.3 55.9
2012 48.6 55.3
2011 46.5 54.2
2010 46.2 54.4
2009 48.1 56.9
2008 - 53.8
2007 - 54.1
2006 - 52.6
2005 - 53.8
2004 - 50.5
2003 - 50.3
2002 - 48.6
2001 - 44.3
2000 - 44.5
1999 - 43.3
1998 - 46.1
1997 - 48.4
1996 - 49.6
1995 - 49.8

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

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

The Economic Freedom Index for Liberia is 49.8, ranking 163/197, compared to 53.7 for Yemen, ranking 138/197. The chart above displays a comparison of annual changes in economic freedom indexes.

Other economic metrics

Liberia Yemen
Services, % of GDP
41.9%
2024
41.8%
2018
Industry, % of GDP
22.7%
2024
25.4%
2018
Agriculture, forestry, and fishing, % of GDP
33.8%
2024
28.7%
2018
GNI, Atlas method
$4.28B
2024
$25.3B
2018
GNI per capita, PPP
$1,750
2024
$3,020
2013
Total reserves including gold
$600M
2022
$1.25B
2022
Total reserves ranking
153/177
2022
139/177
2022
Net foreign direct investment
-$960M
2022
$15.4M
2015
Net inflows of foreign direct investment
$472M
2024
-$371M
2019
Net outflows of foreign direct investment
$74.9M
2024
$0
2024
Servicing debt to the IMF, % of GNI
3.09%
2024
0.53%
2018
Poverty at national poverty lines
50.9%
2016
48.6%
2014
Gross capital formation, % of GDP n/a
6.18%
2018

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/yemen | 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. The Heritage Foundation | Economic Freedom Index (1995–2026, retrieved 2026-03-09)
  4. U.S. Census Bureau (1985–2024, retrieved 2026-02-08)
  5. International Monetary Fund (IMF) | Public Finances in Modern History (1990–1998, retrieved 2026-02-20)
  6. United Nations | World Population Prospects (2026, retrieved 2026-03-10)
  7. 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.