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Economy of Maldives vs Samoa compared: GDP & Debt

Updated on by Georank

Maldives has a GDP of $7.74B compared to $1.29B for Samoa, ranking 159/197 and 186/197 by economy size, respectively.

Maldives has $9.71B in government debt (125.4% of GDP), compared to $273M (21.2% of GDP) in Samoa.

Maldives vs Samoa GDP by year

Maldives
Samoa
1x
Year GDP, current $
Maldives Samoa
2025 $7,741,066,861 $1,287,936,622
2024 $7,061,608,267 $1,175,749,786
2023 $6,621,008,704 $1,044,909,500
2022 $6,177,123,352 $889,554,712
2021 $5,252,457,370 $859,724,936
2020 $3,712,604,583 $868,884,903
2019 $5,726,094,799 $912,950,466
2018 $5,404,344,163 $878,448,433
2017 $4,816,426,257 $884,844,384
2016 $4,409,942,624 $843,924,797
2015 $4,129,505,319 $824,150,499
2014 $3,697,353,039 $796,683,520
2013 $3,295,009,238 $797,736,334
2012 $2,886,163,997 $773,141,661
2011 $2,774,350,240 $744,097,050
2010 $2,588,176,055 $680,260,907
2009 $2,345,294,875 $628,006,115
2008 $2,271,646,188 $641,346,192
2007 $1,868,383,461 $573,548,460
2006 $1,575,200,391 $499,923,758
2005 $1,163,362,438 $476,801,793
2004 $1,226,829,563 $407,747,565
2003 $1,052,121,055 $333,426,188
2002 $897,031,250 $281,790,134
2001 $870,031,677 $266,299,591
2000 $624,337,145 $258,856,140
1999 $589,239,754 $255,408,060
1998 $540,096,398 $269,485,244
1997 $508,223,602 $285,475,592
1996 $450,382,328 $249,907,869
1995 $398,988,955 $224,865,731
1994 $356,014,932 $221,098,107
1993 $322,417,837 $133,122,897
1992 $284,875,809 $132,303,041
1991 $244,396,762 $125,597,205
1990 $215,043,970 $125,766,270
1989 $189,514,434 $122,888,610
1988 $168,514,513 $133,016,065
1987 $141,223,029 $111,713,922
1986 $141,882,254 $100,947,849
1985 $127,190,758 $95,572,173
1984 $109,503,546 $109,200,934
1983 $57,829,787 $111,862,824
1982 $47,911,340 $121,221,652
1981 $44,781,457 $118,190,655
1980 $42,463,576 $125,747,038
1979 $38,523,364 $122,257,393
1978 $24,369,109 $108,223,444
1977 $20,853,789 $98,295,671
1976 $22,399,467 $85,003,078
1975 $24,540,878 $93,489,283
1974 $39,120,171 $93,549,611
1973 $30,862,042 $82,452,985
1972 $25,177,138 $62,566,116
1971 $21,566,404 $53,719,569
1970 $19,328,038 $45,208,338

Data sources: World Bank | Economy & Growth (1970–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08).

GeoRank.org/economy/maldives/samoa | CC BY

GDP per capita in Maldives vs Samoa by year

Maldives
GDP per capita

GDP per capita, PPP
Samoa
GDP per capita

GDP per capita, PPP
1x
Year Current $
Maldives Samoa
GDP per capita GDP per capita, PPP GDP per capita GDP per capita, PPP
2025 $14,615 - $5,873 -
2024 $13,379 $26,183 $5,393 $8,737
2023 $12,588 $24,786 $4,823 $8,195
2022 $11,786 $22,881 $4,132 $6,909
2021 $10,176 $19,053 $4,022 $6,350
2020 $7,394 $13,425 $4,100 $6,451
2019 $11,740 $23,077 $4,352 $6,638
2018 $11,423 $21,899 $4,232 $6,318
2017 $10,510 $19,768 $4,308 $6,280
2016 $9,948 $18,770 $4,147 $6,141
2015 $9,645 $17,875 $4,084 $5,682
2014 $8,939 $16,723 $3,983 $5,468
2013 $8,236 $15,264 $4,024 $5,387
2012 $7,461 $13,989 $3,935 $5,339
2011 $7,425 $13,726 $3,822 $5,494
2010 $7,174 $12,797 $3,524 $5,229
2009 $6,734 $12,266 $3,279 $4,906
2008 $6,757 $13,779 $3,374 $4,939
2007 $5,758 $12,852 $3,039 $4,713
2006 $5,019 $12,075 $2,663 $4,592
2005 $3,797 $9,704 $2,550 $4,379
2004 $4,070 $10,770 $2,189 $3,997
2003 $3,549 $10,065 $1,798 $3,792
2002 $3,076 $8,823 $1,528 $3,553
2001 $3,034 $8,236 $1,454 $3,335
2000 $2,214 $8,526 $1,425 $3,062
1999 $2,124 $8,162 $1,417 $2,871
1998 $1,980 $7,710 $1,506 $2,792
1997 $1,898 $7,226 $1,608 $2,722
1996 $1,717 $6,687 $1,419 $2,681
1995 $1,555 $6,223 $1,288 $2,478
1994 $1,419 $5,520 $1,277 $2,294
1993 $1,317 $5,138 $775 $2,323
1992 $1,194 $4,881 $777 $2,198
1991 $1,054 $4,604 $742 $2,166
1990 $957 $4,528 $744 $2,148
1989 $870 - $728 -
1988 $799 - $790 -
1987 $692 - $666 -
1986 $720 - $604 -
1985 $669 - $573 -
1984 $594 - $655 -
1983 $323 - $671 -
1982 $274.8 - $728 -
1981 $264.1 - $713 -
1980 $257.6 - $765 -
1979 $240.2 - $751 -
1978 $156.1 - $671 -
1977 $137.3 - $615 -
1976 $151.8 - $541 -
1975 $171.4 - $610 -
1974 $281.5 - $626 -
1973 $228.7 - $563 -
1972 $192.2 - $433 -
1971 $169.8 - $377 -
1970 $156.9 - $322 -

Data sources: World Bank | Economy & Growth (1970–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08).

GeoRank.org/economy/maldives/samoa | CC BY

Maldives' GDP per capita is $14,615, ranking 75/197, compared to $5,873 in Samoa, ranking 115/197. Adjusted for purchasing power (GDP per capita PPP), Maldives ranks 81st at $26,183, while Samoa ranks 137th at $8,737.

Economic indicators

Maldives Samoa
Gross domestic product
$7.74B
2025
$1.29B
2025
GDP rank
159/197
2025
186/197
2025
GDP growth
6.31%
2024-2025
4.2%
2024-2025
GDP per capita
$14,615
2025
$5,873
2025
GDP per capita rank
75/197
2025
115/197
2025
GDP per capita, PPP
$26,183
2024
$8,737
2024
GDP per capita PPP rank
81/197
2024
137/197
2024
Government debt
$9.71B
2025
$273M
2025
Debt-to-GDP ratio
125.4%
2025
21.2%
2025
Government debt per person
$18,329
2025
$1,246
2025
Government debt per person rank
35/185
2025
136/185
2025
Average annual personal income after taxes
$9,733
2026
$3,918
2026
Income share by richest 10%
23.3%
2019
31.3%
2013
Income share by poorest 10%
3.8%
2019
2.7%
2013
Government expenditure, % of GDP
36.5%
2025
26.4%
2025
Consumer prices inflation
3.5%
2024-2025
2.21%
2024-2025
Central bank interest rate n/a
2.95%
2026
Unemployment rate
4.56%
2019
5.05%
2022
Population
532468
221158

Spending and national debt comparison by year

Maldives
Spending

Debt
Samoa
Spending

Debt
1x
Year % of GDP
Maldives Samoa
Government spending Government debt Government spending Government debt
2025 36.5% 125.4% 26.4% 21.2%
2024 43.9% 133.3% 26.3% 25.2%
2023 46.7% 122.4% 28.8% 31.8%
2022 42% 111.6% 31.1% 41%
2021 40.6% 123.4% 34.1% 45.4%
2020 50.4% 155.7% 30.5% 43.2%
2019 32.9% 77.2% 31.8% 44.3%
2018 31.9% 70.7% 30% 49.4%
2017 30.4% 63.8% 30.9% 46.7%
2016 37.3% 61.9% 27.3% 49%
2015 33.8% 54.8% 30.5% 56.4%
2014 29.1% 55.1% 35.3% 54.9%
2013 27% 55.9% 30.7% 54.1%
2012 29.8% 57.1% 33.6% 50.9%
2011 31.3% 51.9% 33.7% 41.5%
2010 33.2% 52.7% 29.4% 40.3%
2009 37% 48.4% 31.5% 33.3%
2008 35.6% 39% 27.7% 28.2%
2007 34.8% 35.8% 31.1% 31.5%
2006 35% 36.8% 27.7% 33.5%
2005 38.8% 43.2% 30.6% 34.2%
2004 24.1% 34.7% 27.3% 39.8%
2003 26.4% 37.6% 28.5% 42.8%
2002 29.6% 44.3% 30.7% 50.3%
2001 29.6% 41.8% 30% 53.8%
2000 29% 39% 30.4% 55.8%
1999 28% 38.9% 33.8% 59.4%
1998 25.9% 39.3% 28.1% 58.9%
1997 25.2% 38.1% 31% -
1996 27.3% 46.9% 38.9% -
1995 31.3% 52.2% 42.2% -
1994 30.7% 54.6% 54.1% -
1993 34.7% 55.7% 49.5% -
1992 36.1% 49% 43.4% -
1991 37.7% 46.7% - -
1990 33.3% 42.4% - -

Data sources: International Monetary Fund (IMF) | Fiscal Monitor (1990–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08); International Monetary Fund (IMF) | Public Finances in Modern History (1990–1996, retrieved 2026-07-08).

GeoRank.org/economy/maldives/samoa | CC BY

In 2025, Maldives' government spending was $2.83B, accounting for 36.5% of its GDP, while Samoa spent $340M, or 26.4% of GDP.

Debt-to-GDP ratio is 125.4% in Maldives and 21.2% in Samoa, ranking 11/185 and 172/185, respectively.

Government deficit by year

Deficit/surplus
Maldives

Samoa
1x
Year Deficit/surplus, % of GDP
Maldives Samoa
2025 -2.94% 4.68%
2024 -11.6% 9.29%
2023 -13.2% 2.7%
2022 -11.2% 5.03%
2021 -14.2% 1.71%
2020 -23.7% 5.41%
2019 -6.54% 1.51%
2018 -5.17% 0.06%
2017 -3.02% -1.98%
2016 -9.93% -0.35%
2015 -6.52% -3.79%
2014 -2.42% -5.38%
2013 -3.49% -3.82%
2012 -6.91% -7.43%
2011 -8.13% -5.25%
2010 -13.6% -5.49%
2009 -17.9% -2.98%
2008 -9.92% -0.36%
2007 -3.16% 0.55%
2006 -4.52% -0.44%
2005 -7.81% 0.23%
2004 -2.26% -0.74%
2003 -3.45% -0.51%
2002 -3.97% -1.77%
2001 -3.97% -1.96%
2000 -3.89% -0.62%
1999 -3.03% 0.27%
1998 -2.25% 1.64%
1997 -1.46% 1.92%
1996 -2.01% 1.21%
1995 -5.66% -5.82%
1994 -4.82% -9.51%
1993 -13.9% -13.2%
1992 -12.6% -9.89%
1991 -10.2% -
1990 -12.8% -

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

GeoRank.org/economy/maldives/samoa | CC BY

In 2025, Maldives' government deficit, the difference between spending and revenue, was $228M, equivalent to 2.94% of GDP. This compares to Samoa's surplus of $60.3M, or 4.68% of GDP.

Over the past 34 years, Maldives recorded a fiscal deficit in 34 of those years, while Samoa ran a deficit in 20 years. On average, Maldives posted an annual deficit equal to 7.32% of GDP, compared to deficit of 1.32% of GDP for Samoa.

Inflation comparison by year

Inflation
Maldives

Samoa
1x
Year Consumer prices inflation
Maldives Samoa
2025 3.5% 2.21%
2024 1.4% 2.17%
2023 2.6% 7.92%
2022 2.6% 11%
2021 0.2% 3.13%
2020 -1.6% -1.57%
2019 1.3% 0.98%
2018 1.4% 4.2%
2017 2.3% 1.75%
2016 0.8% 1.3%
2015 1.4% 0.72%
2014 2.4% -0.41%
2013 4% 0.61%
2012 10.9% 2.05%
2011 11.3% 5.24%
2010 6.1% 0.78%
2009 4.5% 6.32%
2008 12% 11.6%
2007 6.8% 5.58%
2006 3.5% 3.7%
2005 2.5% 1.86%
2004 6.3% 16.3%
2003 -2.8% 0.12%
2002 0.9% 8.05%
2001 0.7% 3.84%
2000 -1.2% 0.97%
1999 3% 0.27%
1998 -1.4% 2.22%
1997 7.6% 6.86%

Data sources: International Monetary Fund (IMF) | World Economic Outlook (1997–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08); World Bank | Economy & Growth (1997–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08).

GeoRank.org/economy/maldives/samoa | CC BY

Over the past 29 years, Maldives has recorded an average annual inflation rate of 3.21%, compared with 3.78% in Samoa. In 2025, inflation was 3.5% in Maldives and 2.21% in Samoa.

Balance of trade

Maldives Samoa
Current account balance
-$1.32B
2024
$89.3M
2025
Current account balance ranking
126/190
2024
64/190
2025
Current account balance, % of GDP
-18.7%
2024
+6.93%
2025
Goods imports
$3.46B
2024
$440M
2025
Goods exports
$383M
2024
$24.2M
2025
Service imports
$1.89B
2024
$108M
2025
Service exports
$5.03B
2024
$328M
2025
Imports of goods and services, % of GDP
78.3%
2024
43%
2025
Exports of goods and services, % of GDP
78.2%
2024
27.6%
2025

Economic freedom indices

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

Maldives Samoa
Economic freedom 47.6 68
Economic freedom ranking 174/197 52/197
Property rights 52.2 77.1
Government integrity 41.9 64.1
Judicial effectiveness 39.3 77.6
Tax burden 89.9 79.3
Government spending 39.5 75.2
Fiscal health 0 98.7
Business freedom 49.7 63.7
Labor freedom 54.1 73.7
Monetary freedom 76.4 69.4
Trade freedom 62.8 67.2
Investment freedom 35 40
Financial freedom 30 30

Economic freedom comparison by year

Maldives
Samoa
1x
Year Economic freedom index
Maldives Samoa
2026 47.6 68
2025 48.3 66.6
2024 47.8 67.2
2023 46.6 68.3
2022 47.3 68.3
2021 55.2 61.9
2020 56.5 62.1
2019 53.2 62.2
2018 51.1 61.5
2017 50.3 58.4
2016 53.9 63.5
2015 53.4 61.9
2014 51 61.1
2013 49 57.1
2012 49.2 60.5
2011 48.3 60.6
2010 49 60.4
2009 51.3 59.5
2008 - -
2007 - -
2006 - -
2005 - -
2004 - -
2003 - -
2002 - -
2001 - 63.1
2000 - 60.8
1999 - 58.7
1998 - 49.9
1997 - 51.5
1996 - 47.6

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

GeoRank.org/economy/maldives/samoa | CC BY

The Economic Freedom Index for Maldives is 47.6, ranking 174/197, compared to 68 for Samoa, ranking 52/197. The chart above displays a comparison of annual changes in economic freedom indexes.

Other economic metrics

Maldives Samoa
Services, % of GDP
69.9%
2025
72.1%
2025
Industry, % of GDP
9.33%
2025
10.2%
2025
Agriculture, forestry, and fishing, % of GDP
4.59%
2025
9.09%
2025
GNI, Atlas method
$6.86B
2025
$1.24B
2025
GNI per capita, PPP
$25,600
2025
$9,300
2025
Total reserves including gold
$985M
2025
$598M
2025
Total reserves ranking
143/177
2025
153/177
2025
Net foreign direct investment
-$806M
2024
-$1.83M
2025
Net inflows of foreign direct investment
$806M
2024
$3.74M
2024
Net outflows of foreign direct investment
$0
2024
$2.05M
2024
Servicing debt to the IMF, % of GNI
8.02%
2024
3.15%
2024
Poverty at national poverty lines
15%
2020
21.9%
2018
Gross capital formation, % of GDP
30.8%
2024
30%
2025

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/maldives/samoa | CC BY

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Data sources:

  1. World Bank | Economy & Growth (1970–2025, 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. International Monetary Fund (IMF) | Public Finances in Modern History (1990–1996, retrieved 2026-07-08)
  6. United Nations | World Population Prospects (2026, retrieved 2026-07-08)
  7. LivingCost (2026, retrieved 2026-07-08)
  8. Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) (2020, 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.