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Economy of Malta vs South Sudan compared: GDP & Debt

Updated on by Georank

Malta has a GDP of $27.8B compared to $12B for South Sudan, ranking 118/197 and 151/197 by economy size, respectively.

Malta has $13B in government debt (46.8% of GDP), compared to $6.98B (62.1% of GDP) in South Sudan.

Malta vs South Sudan GDP by year

Malta
South Sudan
1x
Year GDP, current $
Malta South Sudan
2025 $27,771,821,561 -
2024 $25,042,712,191 -
2023 $22,625,329,776 -
2022 $18,938,869,147 -
2021 $19,730,119,031 -
2020 $16,404,655,808 -
2019 $16,337,788,881 -
2018 $16,153,785,817 -
2017 $14,161,374,599 -
2016 $12,025,777,078 -
2015 $11,340,789,706 $11,997,800,760
2014 $11,888,029,752 $13,962,212,847
2013 $10,796,780,874 $18,426,469,017
2012 $9,609,530,619 $11,931,472,169
2011 $9,789,363,086 $14,907,308,933
2010 $9,097,044,301 $14,602,072,411
2009 $8,769,897,418 $12,231,264,525
2008 $9,172,399,573 $14,586,253,383
2007 $7,908,412,374 -
2006 $6,749,838,862 -
2005 $6,393,234,965 -
2004 $6,104,141,501 -
2003 $5,418,315,225 -
2002 $4,455,127,398 -
2001 $4,070,867,153 -
2000 $4,036,809,767 -
1999 $4,111,857,836 -
1998 $4,010,111,652 -
1997 $3,787,023,655 -
1996 $3,822,547,151 -
1995 $3,709,396,089 -
1994 $2,998,505,428 -
1993 $2,709,193,538 -
1992 $3,021,942,759 -
1991 $2,750,216,747 -
1990 $2,547,328,748 -
1989 $2,118,655,677 -
1988 $2,019,503,068 -
1987 $1,751,293,461 -
1986 $1,435,038,441 -
1985 $1,117,797,439 -
1984 $1,101,807,023 -
1983 $1,165,729,707 -
1982 $1,234,474,404 -
1981 $1,243,509,394 -
1980 $1,250,198,601 -
1979 $1,001,288,847 -
1978 $793,673,402 -
1977 $625,563,171 -
1976 $527,936,989 -
1975 $474,618,321 -
1974 $376,081,124 -
1973 $345,616,106 -
1972 $295,106,628 -
1971 $264,578,485 -
1970 $250,728,796 -

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

GeoRank.org/economy/malta/south-sudan | CC BY

GDP per capita in Malta vs South Sudan by year

Malta
GDP per capita

GDP per capita, PPP
South Sudan
GDP per capita

GDP per capita, PPP
1x
Year Current $
Malta South Sudan
GDP per capita GDP per capita, PPP GDP per capita GDP per capita, PPP
2025 $47,907 - - -
2024 $44,024 $69,864 - -
2023 $40,933 $67,057 - -
2022 $35,659 $60,589 - -
2021 $38,078 $56,852 - -
2020 $31,823 $49,972 - -
2019 $32,422 $51,393 - -
2018 $33,382 $48,178 - -
2017 $30,317 $45,764 - -
2016 $26,459 $41,000 - -
2015 $25,530 $38,369 $1,080 $1,155
2014 $27,425 $35,206 $1,243 $1,373
2013 $25,416 $33,138 $1,650 $1,917
2012 $22,878 $30,716 $1,109 $1,417
2011 $23,517 $29,426 $1,449 $2,718
2010 $21,947 $28,909 $1,498 $2,948
2009 $21,262 $26,782 $1,323 $2,911
2008 $22,406 $26,654 $1,654 $2,887
2007 $19,444 $25,012 - -
2006 $16,654 $23,219 - -
2005 $15,831 $22,227 - -
2004 $15,212 $21,566 - -
2003 $13,594 $20,813 - -
2002 $11,251 $19,532 - -
2001 $10,358 $18,435 - -
2000 $10,348 $18,214 - -
1999 $10,609 $16,898 - -
1998 $10,408 $16,219 - -
1997 $9,893 $15,465 - -
1996 $10,062 $14,661 - -
1995 $9,828 $13,950 - -
1994 $8,000 $12,938 - -
1993 $7,296 $12,103 - -
1992 $8,220 $11,429 - -
1991 $7,559 $10,784 - -
1990 $7,192 $10,086 - -
1989 $6,041 - - -
1988 $5,814 - - -
1987 $5,084 - - -
1986 $4,195 - - -
1985 $3,322 - - -
1984 $3,333 - - -
1983 $3,527 - - -
1982 $3,788 - - -
1981 $3,898 - - -
1980 $3,948 - - -
1979 $3,196 - - -
1978 $2,559 - - -
1977 $2,038 - - -
1976 $1,727 - - -
1975 $1,560 - - -
1974 $1,245 - - -
1973 $1,144 - - -
1972 $976 - - -
1971 $874 - - -
1970 $828 - - -

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

GeoRank.org/economy/malta/south-sudan | CC BY

Malta's GDP per capita is $47,907, ranking 28/197, compared to $1,080 in South Sudan, ranking 180/197. Adjusted for purchasing power (GDP per capita PPP), Malta ranks 25th at $69,864, while South Sudan ranks 197th at $1,155.

Economic indicators

Malta South Sudan
Gross domestic product
$27.8B
2025
$12B
2015
GDP rank
118/197
2025
151/197
2015
GDP growth
3.96%
2024-2025
-10.8%
2014-2015
GDP per capita
$47,907
2025
$1,080
2015
GDP per capita rank
28/197
2025
180/197
2015
GDP per capita, PPP
$69,864
2024
$1,155
2015
GDP per capita PPP rank
25/197
2024
197/197
2015
Government debt
$13B
2025
$6.98B
2015
Debt-to-GDP ratio
46.8%
2025
62.1%
2025
Government debt per person
$22,407
2025
$628
2015
Government debt per person rank
30/185
2025
160/185
2015
Average annual personal income after taxes
$22,914
2026
$1,514
2026
Market capitalization of domestic companies
$5.35B
2025
n/a
Income share by richest 10%
24.7%
2023
33%
2016
Income share by poorest 10%
2.8%
2023
1.8%
2016
Government expenditure, % of GDP
37%
2025
18.4%
2025
Consumer prices inflation
2.36%
2024-2025
91.4%
2023-2024
Central bank interest rate n/a
13%
2025
Unemployment rate
3.1%
2025
12.3%
2008
Population
586345
12565048

Spending and national debt comparison by year

Malta
Spending

Debt
South Sudan
Spending

Debt
1x
Year % of GDP
Malta South Sudan
Government spending Government debt Government spending Government debt
2025 37% 46.8% 18.4% 62.1%
2024 37.4% 46% 18.9% 53.4%
2023 35.8% 46.8% 21.3% 62%
2022 38.4% 50.1% 29.5% 42.1%
2021 39.5% 49.6% 44.1% 56.4%
2020 42.1% 48.6% 34.1% 48.3%
2019 34.9% 39.2% 47.9% 43.4%
2018 34.5% 41.4% 59.2% 84.3%
2017 32.7% 45.6% 42.2% 77.5%
2016 35.5% 53.1% 52% 128.9%
2015 37.8% 55% 33.7% 58.2%
2014 39.6% 60.7% 37.6% 39.6%
2013 40.1% 64.9% 25.3% 17.6%
2012 41.7% 65.6% 31.6% 8.91%
2011 41.5% 68.9% 20.8% 0%
2010 40.1% 65% - -
2009 41.1% 66% - -
2008 42.1% 61.5% - -
2007 41.2% 62% - -
2006 42.5% 64.5% - -
2005 42.5% 70.2% - -
2004 42% 70.4% - -
2003 45.6% 68.6% - -
2002 43.6% 65.1% - -
2001 44.4% 70% - -
2000 42.9% 64.4% - -
1999 - 69.8% - -
1998 - 66.4% - -
1997 - 60.8% - -
1996 - 51.5% - -
1995 - 45.3% - -

Data sources: International Monetary Fund (IMF) | Fiscal Monitor (1995–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08).

GeoRank.org/economy/malta/south-sudan | CC BY

In 2025, Malta's government spending was $10.3B, accounting for 37% of its GDP, while South Sudan spent $4.04B, or 18.4% of GDP.

Debt-to-GDP ratio is 46.8% in Malta and 62.1% in South Sudan, ranking 113/185 and 71/185, respectively.

Government deficit by year

Deficit/surplus
Malta

South Sudan
1x
Year Deficit/surplus, % of GDP
Malta South Sudan
2025 -3.1% 3.45%
2024 -3.51% 11.5%
2023 -4.43% 9.12%
2022 -5.33% 4.43%
2021 -6.96% -9.3%
2020 -8.71% -5.5%
2019 0.72% 0.04%
2018 1.86% -1.15%
2017 3.4% 4.16%
2016 1.1% -15.5%
2015 -0.84% -16.3%
2014 -1.49% -9.53%
2013 -2.19% -3.45%
2012 -3.31% -14.8%
2011 -2.99% 4.57%
2010 -2.22% -
2009 -3.11% -
2008 -4.06% -
2007 -2.05% -
2006 -2.46% -
2005 -2.83% -
2004 -4.28% -
2003 -9.04% -
2002 -5.62% -
2001 -6.5% -
2000 -5.83% -

Data sources: International Monetary Fund (IMF) | Fiscal Monitor (2000–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08).

GeoRank.org/economy/malta/south-sudan | CC BY

In 2015, Malta's government deficit, the difference between spending and revenue, was $95.1M, equivalent to 0.84% of GDP. This compares to South Sudan's deficit of $1.95B, or 16.3% of GDP.

Over the past 5 years, Malta recorded a fiscal deficit in 5 of those years, while South Sudan ran a deficit in 4 years. On average, Malta posted an annual deficit equal to 2.16% of GDP, compared to deficit of 7.9% of GDP for South Sudan.

Inflation comparison by year

Inflation
Malta

South Sudan
1x
Year Consumer prices inflation
Malta South Sudan
2025 2.36% -
2024 1.65% 91.4%
2023 5.09% 2.38%
2022 6.15% -6.69%
2021 1.5% 10.5%
2020 0.64% 29.7%
2019 1.64% 87.2%
2018 1.16% 83.5%
2017 1.36% 187.9%
2016 0.64% 380%
2015 1.1% 52.8%
2014 0.31% 1.67%
2013 1.18% -0.06%
2012 2.38% 45.5%
2011 2.96% 46.9%
2010 1.52% 1.17%
2009 2.08% 5.01%
2008 4.26% -
2007 1.25% -
2006 2.77% -
2005 3.01% -
2004 2.79% -
2003 1.3% -
2002 2.19% -
2001 2.93% -
2000 2.37% -
1999 2.13% -
1998 2.39% -
1997 3.11% -

Data sources: World Bank | Economy & Growth (1997–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08).

GeoRank.org/economy/malta/south-sudan | CC BY

Over the past 16 years, Malta has recorded an average annual inflation rate of 1.96%, compared with 63.7% in South Sudan. In 2024, inflation was 2.36% in Malta and 91.4% in South Sudan.

Top exports between countries

Malta
Export category Export value
Wood & paper products $10.1M
Processed food, beverages & tobacco $5.34M
South Sudan
Export category Export value

Balance of trade

Malta South Sudan
Current account balance
$1.78B
2024
$578M
2023
Current account balance ranking
45/190
2024
56/190
2023
Current account balance, % of GDP
+7.1%
2024
-4.17%
2015
Goods imports
$7.56B
2024
$2.25B
2023
Goods exports
$4.58B
2024
$4.01B
2023
Service imports
$17.4B
2024
$2.19B
2023
Service exports
$25B
2024
$484M
2023
Imports of goods and services, % of GDP
99.9%
2025
28.9%
2015
Exports of goods and services, % of GDP
119.1%
2025
36.7%
2015

Economic freedom indices

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

Malta South Sudan
Economic freedom 68.2 41
Economic freedom ranking 49/197 186/197
Property rights 85.5 n/a
Government integrity 54.3 n/a
Judicial effectiveness 80.2 n/a
Tax burden 68.5 n/a
Government spending 58.4 n/a
Fiscal health 63.2 n/a
Business freedom 83.2 n/a
Labor freedom 62.6 n/a
Monetary freedom 73.1 n/a
Trade freedom 79.4 n/a
Investment freedom 60 n/a
Financial freedom 50 n/a

Other economic metrics

Malta South Sudan
Services, % of GDP
81.3%
2025
56.6%
2015
Industry, % of GDP
10.1%
2025
33.1%
2015
Agriculture, forestry, and fishing, % of GDP
0.47%
2025
10.4%
2015
GNI, Atlas method
$24B
2025
$11.7B
2015
GNI per capita, PPP
$64,900
2025
$1,010
2015
Total reserves including gold
$1.54B
2025
$16M
2024
Total reserves ranking
134/177
2025
177/177
2024
Net foreign direct investment
-$6.13B
2024
$2.21M
2019
Net inflows of foreign direct investment
$42.6B
2024
$83.4M
2024
Net outflows of foreign direct investment
$36.5B
2024
$0
2024
Poverty at national poverty lines
16.7%
2021
66%
2020
Gross capital formation, % of GDP
18.7%
2025
5.75%
2015

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/malta/south-sudan | 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 (1995–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08)
  3. U.S. Census Bureau (1985–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08)
  4. The Heritage Foundation | Economic Freedom Index (2026, retrieved 2026-07-08)
  5. TradeMap (2024–2025, 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.

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.