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Economy of Malta vs Uruguay compared: GDP & Debt

Updated on by Georank team

Malta has a GDP of $25B compared to $81B for Uruguay, ranking 119/197 and 81/197 by economy size, respectively.

Malta has $11.5B in government debt (46.2% of GDP), compared to $55.6B (68.7% of GDP) in Uruguay.

Malta vs Uruguay GDP by year

Malta
Uruguay
1x
Year GDP, current $
Malta Uruguay
2024 $24,971,574,502 $80,961,511,074
2023 $22,610,561,526 $77,991,666,838
2022 $18,928,276,162 $70,594,110,920
2021 $19,739,875,611 $60,739,084,241
2020 $16,404,663,226 $53,559,359,262
2019 $16,337,793,531 $62,222,313,619
2018 $16,153,779,511 $65,344,577,416
2017 $14,161,366,724 $65,005,997,963
2016 $12,025,782,834 $57,480,787,465
2015 $11,340,795,042 $57,680,327,999
2014 $11,888,032,874 $61,496,186,974
2013 $10,796,782,636 $61,337,621,934
2012 $9,609,532,089 $54,232,266,359
2011 $9,789,361,703 $50,342,406,067
2010 $9,097,044,159 $41,950,361,212
2009 $8,734,745,698 $32,708,319,078
2008 $9,135,419,465 $31,119,602,539
2007 $7,908,412,306 $23,797,773,024
2006 $6,749,838,806 $19,741,420,740
2005 $6,393,234,993 $17,362,857,684
2004 $6,104,141,520 $13,686,329,890
2003 $5,418,315,224 $12,045,638,352
2002 $4,455,127,414 $13,606,515,723
2001 $4,070,867,133 $20,898,761,742
2000 $4,036,809,815 $22,823,270,892
1999 $4,111,857,809 $23,983,945,191
1998 $4,010,111,688 $25,385,886,978
1997 $3,787,023,707 $23,969,739,234
1996 $3,822,547,197 $20,515,458,114
1995 $3,709,396,045 $19,297,663,097
1994 $2,998,505,428 $17,474,588,896
1993 $2,709,193,538 $15,002,136,971
1992 $3,021,942,759 $12,878,148,791
1991 $2,750,216,747 $11,206,176,651
1990 $2,547,328,748 $9,298,807,850
1989 $2,118,655,677 $8,438,951,476
1988 $2,019,503,068 $8,213,538,369
1987 $1,751,293,461 $7,367,494,080
1986 $1,435,038,441 $5,880,112,788
1985 $1,117,797,439 $4,732,017,873
1984 $1,101,807,023 $4,850,238,550
1983 $1,165,729,707 $5,102,276,308
1982 $1,234,474,404 $9,178,780,077
1981 $1,243,509,394 $11,048,301,421
1980 $1,250,198,601 $10,163,020,116
1979 $1,001,288,847 $7,181,182,224
1978 $793,673,402 $4,910,254,566
1977 $625,563,171 $4,114,670,014
1976 $527,936,989 $3,667,161,241
1975 $474,618,321 $3,538,278,047
1974 $376,081,124 $4,090,209,682
1973 $345,616,106 $3,964,296,443
1972 $295,106,628 $2,189,418,689
1971 $264,578,485 $2,807,258,065
1970 $250,728,796 $2,137,096,774
1969 - $2,004,435,484
1968 - $1,593,674,185
1967 - $1,597,713,469
1966 - $1,809,185,094
1965 - $1,890,767,156
1964 - $1,975,701,816
1963 - $1,539,681,491
1962 - $1,710,004,407
1961 - $1,547,388,781
1960 - $1,242,289,239

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

GeoRank.org/economy/malta/uruguay | CC BY

GDP per capita in Malta vs Uruguay by year

Malta
GDP per capita

GDP per capita, PPP
Uruguay
GDP per capita

GDP per capita, PPP
1x
Year Current $
Malta Uruguay
GDP per capita GDP per capita, PPP GDP per capita GDP per capita, PPP
2024 $43,899 $69,864 $23,907 $36,418
2023 $40,906 $67,057 $23,019 $34,471
2022 $35,639 $60,589 $20,819 $33,001
2021 $38,097 $56,852 $17,882 $29,432
2020 $31,823 $49,972 $15,758 $25,725
2019 $32,422 $51,393 $18,316 $25,783
2018 $33,382 $48,178 $19,250 $24,386
2017 $30,317 $45,764 $19,185 $23,607
2016 $26,459 $41,000 $17,010 $22,841
2015 $25,530 $38,369 $17,126 $22,169
2014 $27,425 $35,206 $18,322 $21,868
2013 $25,416 $33,138 $18,335 $20,661
2012 $22,878 $30,716 $16,260 $19,495
2011 $23,517 $29,426 $15,132 $19,135
2010 $21,947 $28,909 $12,641 $17,873
2009 $21,176 $26,782 $9,881 $16,422
2008 $22,315 $26,654 $9,424 $15,694
2007 $19,444 $25,012 $7,222 $14,397
2006 $16,654 $23,219 $6,001 $13,179
2005 $15,831 $22,227 $5,284 $12,296
2004 $15,212 $21,566 $4,169 $11,103
2003 $13,594 $20,813 $3,671 $10,303
2002 $11,251 $19,532 $4,150 $10,030
2001 $10,358 $18,435 $6,383 $10,719
2000 $10,348 $18,214 $6,988 $10,929
1999 $10,609 $16,898 $7,371 $10,938
1998 $10,408 $16,219 $7,837 $11,002
1997 $9,893 $15,465 $7,436 $10,461
1996 $10,062 $14,661 $6,398 $9,524
1995 $9,828 $13,950 $6,050 $8,906
1994 $8,000 $12,938 $5,508 $8,897
1993 $7,296 $12,103 $4,753 $8,162
1992 $8,220 $11,429 $4,102 $7,808
1991 $7,559 $10,784 $3,589 $7,112
1990 $7,192 $10,086 $2,995 $6,683
1989 $6,041 - $2,734 -
1988 $5,814 - $2,677 -
1987 $5,084 - $2,416 -
1986 $4,195 - $1,939 -
1985 $3,322 - $1,568 -
1984 $3,333 - $1,615 -
1983 $3,527 - $1,707 -
1982 $3,788 - $3,085 -
1981 $3,898 - $3,728 -
1980 $3,948 - $3,443 -
1979 $3,196 - $2,443 -
1978 $2,559 - $1,678 -
1977 $2,038 - $1,414 -
1976 $1,727 - $1,268 -
1975 $1,560 - $1,232 -
1974 $1,245 - $1,433 -
1973 $1,144 - $1,397 -
1972 $976 - $776 -
1971 $874 - $1,000 -
1970 $828 - $766 -
1969 - - $723 -
1968 - - $579 -
1967 - - $585 -
1966 - - $668 -
1965 - - $705 -
1964 - - $745 -
1963 - - $587 -
1962 - - $659 -
1961 - - $604 -
1960 - - $491 -

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

GeoRank.org/economy/malta/uruguay | CC BY

Malta's GDP per capita is $43,899, ranking 28/197, compared to $23,907 in Uruguay, ranking 52/197. Adjusted for purchasing power (GDP per capita PPP), Malta ranks 25th at $69,864, while Uruguay ranks 61st at $36,418.

Economic indicators

Malta Uruguay
Gross domestic product
$25B
2024
$81B
2024
GDP rank
119/197
2024
81/197
2024
GDP growth
6.8%
2023-2024
3.11%
2023-2024
GDP per capita
$43,899
2024
$23,907
2024
GDP per capita rank
28/197
2024
52/197
2024
GDP per capita, PPP
$69,864
2024
$36,418
2024
GDP per capita PPP rank
25/197
2024
61/197
2024
Government debt
$11.5B
2024
$55.6B
2024
Debt-to-GDP ratio
46.2%
2024
68.7%
2024
Government debt per person
$20,269
2024
$16,421
2024
Government debt per person rank
31/185
2024
38/185
2024
Average annual personal income after taxes
$23,692
2026
$12,433
2026
Market capitalization of domestic companies
$4.29B
2024
$284M
1996
Income share by richest 10%
27.7%
2022
30%
2024
Income share by poorest 10%
2.7%
2022
2.2%
2024
Government expenditure, % of GDP
37.3%
2024
31.1%
2024
Consumer prices inflation
1.65%
2023-2024
4.85%
2023-2024
Central bank interest rate n/a
8.25%
2025
Unemployment rate
3.12%
2024
8.21%
2024
Population
581729
3382789

Spending and national debt comparison by year

Malta
Spending

Debt
Uruguay
Spending

Debt
1x
Year % of GDP
Malta Uruguay
Government spending Government debt Government spending Government debt
2024 37.3% 46.2% 31.1% 68.7%
2023 36.1% 46.8% 30.5% 64%
2022 38.3% 50.1% 30% 59.9%
2021 39.4% 49.6% 30.2% 64.1%
2020 42.1% 48.6% 32.8% 68.2%
2019 34.9% 39.2% 30.6% 59.6%
2018 34.5% 41.4% 30.3% 57.9%
2017 32.7% 45.6% 29.7% 55.8%
2016 35.5% 53.1% 29.7% 56.4%
2015 37.8% 55% 28.4% 57.8%
2014 39.6% 60.7% 29.1% 51.1%
2013 40.1% 64.9% 28.8% 50%
2012 41.7% 65.6% 27.7% 49.8%
2011 41.5% 68.9% 26.3% 41.3%
2010 40.1% 65% 27.4% 40.9%
2009 41.1% 66% 27.2% 46.2%
2008 42.1% 61.5% 26.3% 46.2%
2007 41.2% 62% 26.8% 52.8%
2006 42.5% 64.5% 26.8% 61.1%
2005 42.5% 70.2% 26.3% 66.2%
2004 42% 70.4% 26.6% 73.7%
2003 45.6% 68.6% 27.7% 91.9%
2002 43.6% 65.1% 27.6% 90.1%
2001 44.4% 70% 27.8% 39.4%
2000 42.9% 64.4% 26.6% 30.5%
1999 - 69.8% 27.2% 24.1%
1998 - 66.4% 27.3% 19.4%
1997 - 60.8% 27.6% 18.8%
1996 - 51.5% 26.5% 18.3%
1995 - 45.3% 26.2% 18.5%
1994 - - 29.5% 19.3%
1993 - - 27.7% 20%
1992 - - 23.6% 22.2%
1991 - - 22.2% 20.4%
1990 - - 21.1% 26.2%
1989 - - 37% -
1988 - - 26% 34.8%
1987 - - 24.4% 37.3%
1986 - - 25.1% 34.6%
1985 - - 24.6% 29%
1984 - - 25.6% 39.5%
1983 - - 26.5% 21.2%
1982 - - 29.5% 13.5%
1981 - - 25% 4.32%
1980 - - 21.8% 4.59%
1979 - - 20.2% 3.98%
1978 - - 22.9% 5.64%
1977 - - 23.5% 7.26%
1976 - - 24.2% 8.67%
1975 - - 23% 8.13%
1974 - - 23.8% 7.61%
1973 - - 22.6% 7%
1972 - - 24.6% 9.12%
1971 - - 20.1% 9.3%
1970 - - 15.1% 6.11%
1969 - - 14.6% -
1968 - - 14.1% -
1967 - - 14.7% -
1966 - - 14.1% -
1965 - - 15.6% -
1964 - - 14.3% -
1963 - - 14.6% -
1962 - - 16% -
1961 - - 13% -
1960 - - 9.9% -

Data sources: International Monetary Fund (IMF) | Fiscal Monitor (1995–2024, retrieved 2026-02-20); International Monetary Fund (IMF) | Public Finances in Modern History (1960–1998, retrieved 2026-02-20).

GeoRank.org/economy/malta/uruguay | CC BY

In 2024, Malta's government spending was $9.32B, accounting for 37.3% of its GDP, while Uruguay spent $25.2B, or 31.1% of GDP.

Debt-to-GDP ratio is 46.2% in Malta and 68.7% in Uruguay, ranking 118/185 and 59/185, respectively.

Government deficit by year

Deficit/surplus
Malta

Uruguay
1x
Year Deficit/surplus, % of GDP
Malta Uruguay
2024 -3.58% -3.22%
2023 -4.65% -3.13%
2022 -5.31% -2.52%
2021 -6.95% -2.61%
2020 -8.72% -4.64%
2019 0.72% -2.71%
2018 1.86% -1.89%
2017 3.4% -2.51%
2016 1.1% -2.68%
2015 -0.84% -1.86%
2014 -1.49% -2.6%
2013 -2.19% -1.72%
2012 -3.31% -2.17%
2011 -2.99% -0.33%
2010 -2.22% -0.39%
2009 -3.11% -1.39%
2008 -4.06% -1.31%
2007 -2.05% -0.16%
2006 -2.46% -0.64%
2005 -2.83% -0.28%
2004 -4.28% -0.87%
2003 -9.04% -2.19%
2002 -5.62% -3.19%
2001 -6.5% -2.85%
2000 -5.83% -2.76%
1999 - -2.76%
1998 - -0.76%
1997 - -0.97%
1996 - -1.32%
1995 - -1.08%
1994 - -2.37%
1993 - -0.47%
1992 - 0.6%
1991 - 0.88%
1990 - 0.49%
1989 - -13.1%
1988 - -1.47%
1987 - -0.66%
1986 - -0.34%
1985 - -1.88%
1984 - -4.94%
1983 - -3.54%
1982 - -8.22%
1981 - -1.15%
1980 - 0.43%
1979 - 0.99%
1978 - -0.47%
1977 - -0.69%
1976 - -2.01%
1975 - -4.38%
1974 - -3.74%
1973 - -1.09%
1972 - -2.25%
1971 - -5.86%
1970 - -1.33%
1969 - -2.37%
1968 - -2.93%
1967 - -4.12%
1966 - -2.01%
1965 - -5.14%
1964 - -3.61%
1963 - -4.4%
1962 - -5.02%
1961 - -0.86%
1960 - 0.79%
1959 - 0.64%
1958 - -1.38%
1957 - -0.72%
1956 - 0.04%
1955 - -1.24%

Data sources: International Monetary Fund (IMF) | Fiscal Monitor (1999–2024, retrieved 2026-02-20); International Monetary Fund (IMF) | Public Finances in Modern History (1955–1998, retrieved 2026-02-20).

GeoRank.org/economy/malta/uruguay | CC BY

In 2024, Malta's government deficit, the difference between spending and revenue, was $893M, equivalent to 3.58% of GDP. This compares to Uruguay's deficit of $2.6B, or 3.22% of GDP.

Over the past 25 years, Malta recorded a fiscal deficit in 21 of those years, while Uruguay ran a deficit in 25 years. On average, Malta posted an annual deficit equal to 3.24% of GDP, compared to deficit of 2.02% of GDP for Uruguay.

Inflation comparison by year

Inflation
Malta

Uruguay
1x
Year Consumer prices inflation
Malta Uruguay
2024 1.65% 4.85%
2023 5.09% 5.87%
2022 6.15% 9.1%
2021 1.5% 7.75%
2020 0.64% 9.76%
2019 1.64% 7.88%
2018 1.16% 7.61%
2017 1.36% 6.22%
2016 0.64% 9.64%
2015 1.1% 8.67%
2014 0.31% 8.88%
2013 1.18% 8.58%
2012 2.38% 8.1%
2011 2.96% 8.09%
2010 1.52% 6.7%
2009 2.08% 7.06%
2008 4.26% 7.88%
2007 1.25% 8.11%
2006 2.77% 6.4%
2005 3.01% 4.7%
2004 2.79% 9.16%
2003 1.3% 19.4%
2002 2.19% 14%
2001 2.93% 4.36%
2000 2.37% 4.76%
1999 2.13% 5.66%
1998 2.39% 10.8%
1997 3.11% 19.8%

Data sources: World Bank | Economy & Growth (1997–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06).

GeoRank.org/economy/malta/uruguay | CC BY

Over the past 28 years, Malta has recorded an average annual inflation rate of 2.21%, compared with 8.56% in Uruguay. In 2024, inflation was 1.65% in Malta and 4.85% in Uruguay.

Top exports between countries

Malta
Export category Export value
Chemicals & pharma $109K
Textiles & consumer goods $6K
Machinery & equipment $3K
Uruguay
Export category Export value
Machinery & equipment $64K
Raw agricultural goods $45K
Textiles & consumer goods $14K
Processed food, beverages & tobacco $8K
Animal & marine products $5K
Chemicals & pharma $4K

Balance of trade

Malta Uruguay
Current account balance
$1.78B
2024
-$633M
2024
Current account balance ranking
47/190
2024
111/190
2024
Current account balance, % of GDP
+7.12%
2024
-0.78%
2024
Goods imports
$7.56B
2024
$13B
2024
Goods exports
$4.58B
2024
$16.3B
2024
Service imports
$17.4B
2024
$6.22B
2024
Service exports
$25B
2024
$7.1B
2024
Imports of goods and services, % of GDP
99.7%
2024
23.7%
2024
Exports of goods and services, % of GDP
118.5%
2024
28.8%
2024

Economic freedom indices

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

Malta Uruguay
Economic freedom 68.2 69.8
Economic freedom ranking 49/197 39/197
Property rights 85.5 87.4
Government integrity 54.3 79
Judicial effectiveness 80.2 80.9
Tax burden 68.5 73.3
Government spending 58.4 72
Fiscal health 63.2 76.6
Business freedom 83.2 83.8
Labor freedom 62.6 61.7
Monetary freedom 73.1 70.2
Trade freedom 79.4 73.2
Investment freedom 60 50
Financial freedom 50 30

Economic freedom comparison by year

Malta
Uruguay
1x
Year Economic freedom index
Malta Uruguay
2026 68.2 69.8
2025 66.8 70.2
2024 64.5 69.8
2023 67.5 70.2
2022 71.5 70
2021 70.2 69.3
2020 69.5 69.1
2019 68.6 68.6
2018 68.5 69.2
2017 67.7 69.7
2016 66.7 68.8
2015 66.5 68.6
2014 66.4 69.3
2013 67.5 69.7
2012 67 69.9
2011 65.7 70
2010 67.2 69.8
2009 66.1 69.1
2008 66 67.9
2007 66.1 68.4
2006 67.3 65.3
2005 68.9 66.9
2004 63.3 66.7
2003 61.1 69.8
2002 62.2 68.7
2001 62.9 70.7
2000 58.3 69.3
1999 59.3 68.5
1998 61.2 68.6
1997 57.9 67.5
1996 55.8 63.7
1995 56.3 62.5

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

GeoRank.org/economy/malta/uruguay | CC BY

The Economic Freedom Index for Malta is 68.2, ranking 49/197, compared to 69.8 for Uruguay, ranking 39/197. The chart above displays a comparison of annual changes in economic freedom indexes.

Other economic metrics

Malta Uruguay
Services, % of GDP
81.8%
2024
65.3%
2024
Industry, % of GDP
10.7%
2024
16.8%
2024
Agriculture, forestry, and fishing, % of GDP
0.23%
2024
6.42%
2024
GNI, Atlas method
$20.9B
2024
$73.3B
2024
GNI per capita, PPP
$61,340
2024
$34,170
2024
Total reserves including gold
$1.42B
2024
$17.4B
2024
Total reserves ranking
137/177
2024
66/177
2024
Net foreign direct investment
-$6.13B
2024
$2.58B
2024
Net inflows of foreign direct investment
$42.6B
2024
-$3.94B
2024
Net outflows of foreign direct investment
$36.5B
2024
-$1.37B
2024
Poverty at national poverty lines
16.7%
2021
17.3%
2024
Gross capital formation, % of GDP
19%
2024
15.6%
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/malta/uruguay | 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 (1995–2024, retrieved 2026-02-20)
  3. International Monetary Fund (IMF) | Public Finances in Modern History (1955–1998, 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 (2020–2024, 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.

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.