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Economy of Marshall Islands vs Netherlands compared: GDP & Debt

Updated on by Georank team

The Marshall Islands has a GDP of $290M compared to $1.21T for the Netherlands, ranking 193/197 and 19/197 by economy size, respectively.

The Marshall Islands has $38.4M in government debt (13.2% of GDP), compared to $532B (43.8% of GDP) in the Netherlands.

Marshall Islands vs Netherlands GDP by year

Marshall Islands
Netherlands
1x
Year GDP, current $
Marshall Islands Netherlands
2024 $290,108,490 $1,214,927,698,573
2023 $263,761,322 $1,135,475,867,551
2022 $258,723,511 $1,046,540,797,549
2021 $261,245,544 $1,054,472,123,450
2020 $241,800,000 $932,560,861,701
2019 $232,900,000 $928,903,005,576
2018 $220,000,000 $929,733,599,797
2017 $213,700,000 $848,233,537,846
2016 $201,800,000 $797,163,949,290
2015 $183,700,000 $775,743,675,303
2014 $186,000,000 $901,556,501,756
2013 $186,400,000 $883,951,539,007
2012 $180,700,000 $845,689,017,066
2011 $172,300,000 $913,140,741,333
2010 $161,100,000 $852,464,982,433
2009 $151,200,000 $878,954,223,140
2008 $146,600,000 $957,901,566,041
2007 $150,500,000 $853,499,460,873
2006 $143,200,000 $737,593,995,289
2005 $138,000,000 $688,133,699,636
2004 $132,900,000 $661,224,886,143
2003 $131,128,500 $582,435,617,082
2002 $131,960,000 $475,529,972,123
2001 $122,406,100 $432,536,219,669
2000 $114,838,500 $417,649,282,154
1999 $113,352,100 $447,778,514,140
1998 $112,070,100 $438,612,530,549
1997 $109,884,700 $417,506,211,882
1996 $110,858,000 $451,372,549,020
1995 $120,230,000 $452,967,334,614
1994 $108,071,000 $379,688,232,232
1993 $99,461,000 $354,070,495,966
1992 $91,063,000 $363,497,050,125
1991 $82,507,000 $327,982,316,124
1990 $78,476,000 $318,799,003,994
1989 $72,798,000 $258,716,904,292
1988 $70,688,000 $262,295,966,105
1987 $62,983,000 $245,406,949,521
1986 $55,989,000 $201,157,708,221
1985 $43,879,000 $144,057,523,222
1984 $45,144,000 $144,124,462,912
1983 $41,749,000 $153,671,294,109
1982 $34,918,000 $158,712,765,536
1981 $31,020,000 $164,375,775,854
1980 $26,710,653 $195,439,301,707
1979 $25,545,346 $179,933,827,310
1978 $22,209,370 $156,089,077,205
1977 $20,210,069 $127,203,923,857
1976 $18,153,647 $109,329,386,564
1975 $16,691,301 $100,397,061,694
1974 $15,217,532 $87,371,810,804
1973 $11,607,366 $71,946,639,603
1972 $9,973,652 $54,787,070,173
1971 $9,116,810 $44,644,730,576
1970 $8,408,486 $38,220,884,519
1969 - $34,086,038,090
1968 - $30,097,635,751
1967 - $27,143,828,099
1966 - $24,741,480,717
1965 - $22,721,869,808
1964 - $20,232,048,553
1963 - $17,193,744,109
1962 - $15,847,582,341
1961 - $14,599,836,396
1960 - $13,282,979,015

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

GeoRank.org/economy/marshall-islands/netherlands | CC BY

GDP per capita in Marshall Islands vs Netherlands by year

Marshall Islands
GDP per capita

GDP per capita, PPP
Netherlands
GDP per capita

GDP per capita, PPP
1x
Year Current $
Marshall Islands Netherlands
GDP per capita GDP per capita, PPP GDP per capita GDP per capita, PPP
2024 $7,726 $8,195 $67,520 $86,174
2023 $6,793 $7,549 $63,516 $81,729
2022 $6,456 $7,431 $59,123 $78,630
2021 $6,315 $6,768 $60,142 $68,574
2020 $5,662 $6,137 $53,468 $62,597
2019 $5,292 $6,045 $53,555 $62,345
2018 $4,858 $5,232 $53,955 $58,819
2017 $4,593 $4,719 $49,514 $56,038
2016 $4,230 $4,366 $46,809 $53,162
2015 $3,764 $4,125 $45,794 $50,957
2014 $3,735 $3,931 $53,457 $49,751
2013 $3,678 $3,845 $52,602 $49,622
2012 $3,514 $3,590 $50,474 $47,653
2011 $3,319 $3,537 $54,702 $47,004
2010 $3,095 $3,473 $51,306 $45,301
2009 $2,907 $3,253 $53,172 $44,959
2008 $2,818 $3,118 $58,247 $46,714
2007 $2,892 $3,309 $52,101 $44,203
2006 $2,754 $3,110 $45,124 $41,208
2005 $2,659 $3,017 $42,165 $37,778
2004 $2,566 $2,880 $40,611 $35,961
2003 $2,539 $2,824 $35,897 $34,286
2002 $2,566 $2,825 $29,447 $34,568
2001 $2,394 $2,700 $26,956 $33,259
2000 $2,265 $2,490 $26,225 $31,895
1999 $2,258 $2,400 $28,319 $29,316
1998 $2,254 $2,422 $27,924 $27,749
1997 $2,231 $2,434 $26,745 $26,062
1996 $2,273 $2,583 $29,064 $24,564
1995 $2,491 $2,858 $29,301 $23,480
1994 $2,265 $2,617 $24,683 $22,414
1993 $2,112 $2,452 $23,156 $21,443
1992 $1,963 $2,293 $23,939 $20,831
1991 $1,811 $2,131 $21,764 $20,177
1990 $1,758 $2,102 $21,322 $19,203
1989 $1,670 - $17,423 -
1988 $1,670 - $17,771 -
1987 $1,543 - $16,734 -
1986 $1,425 - $13,804 -
1985 $1,162 - $9,941 -
1984 $1,245 - $9,992 -
1983 $1,199 - $10,696 -
1982 $1,046 - $11,089 -
1981 $969 - $11,537 -
1980 $868 - $13,812 -
1979 $859 - $12,817 -
1978 $771 - $11,196 -
1977 $724 - $9,180 -
1976 $672 - $7,937 -
1975 $638 - $7,346 -
1974 $602 - $6,450 -
1973 $472 - $5,353 -
1972 $416 - $4,110 -
1971 $390 - $3,384 -
1970 $373 - $2,931 -
1969 - - $2,647 -
1968 - - $2,364 -
1967 - - $2,155 -
1966 - - $1,986 -
1965 - - $1,848 -
1964 - - $1,668 -
1963 - - $1,437 -
1962 - - $1,342 -
1961 - - $1,254 -
1960 - - $1,156 -

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

GeoRank.org/economy/marshall-islands/netherlands | CC BY

The Marshall Islands' GDP per capita is $7,726, ranking 96/197, compared to $67,520 in the Netherlands, ranking 13/197. Adjusted for purchasing power (GDP per capita PPP), the Marshall Islands ranks 139th at $8,195, while the Netherlands ranks 11th at $86,174.

Economic indicators

Marshall Islands Netherlands
Gross domestic product
$290M
2024
$1.21T
2024
GDP rank
193/197
2024
19/197
2024
GDP growth
2.5%
2023-2024
1.08%
2023-2024
GDP per capita
$7,726
2024
$67,520
2024
GDP per capita rank
96/197
2024
13/197
2024
GDP per capita, PPP
$8,195
2024
$86,174
2024
GDP per capita PPP rank
139/197
2024
11/197
2024
Government debt
$38.4M
2024
$532B
2024
Debt-to-GDP ratio
13.2%
2024
43.8%
2024
Government debt per person
$1,022
2024
$29,571
2024
Government debt per person rank
142/185
2024
24/185
2024
Average annual personal income after taxes
$5,044
2026
$47,815
2026
Market capitalization of domestic companies n/a
$1.1T
2017
Number of millionaires n/a
1,267,000
2025
Number of billionaires n/a
13
2025
Income share by richest 10%
27.5%
2019
21.4%
2021
Income share by poorest 10%
2.8%
2019
3.6%
2021
Government expenditure, % of GDP
71.6%
2024
44.4%
2024
Consumer prices inflation
5.2%
2023-2024
3.35%
2023-2024
Unemployment rate
9.82%
2021
3.64%
2024
Population
35058
18252623

Spending and national debt comparison by year

Marshall Islands
Spending

Debt
Netherlands
Spending

Debt
1x
Year % of GDP
Marshall Islands Netherlands
Government spending Government debt Government spending Government debt
2024 71.6% 13.2% 44.4% 43.8%
2023 68.4% 18.2% 44% 45.9%
2022 67.7% 19.8% 43.3% 48.4%
2021 69.8% 20.1% 45.9% 50.5%
2020 67.8% 21.7% 47.8% 53.4%
2019 65.5% 25.1% 42.1% 47.7%
2018 60.5% 24.7% 42.4% 51.6%
2017 63.7% 26.5% 42.8% 56%
2016 56.8% 29.2% 43.9% 60.9%
2015 56.3% 33.9% 45.3% 63.8%
2014 49.2% 34.9% 46.7% 67.2%
2013 55% 33.4% 47.5% 67.2%
2012 53.2% 37.6% 47.6% 65.7%
2011 55.9% 35.9% 47.8% 61.2%
2010 59.2% 38.8% 48.9% 58.9%
2009 63.1% 41.2% 48.4% 56.3%
2008 64.3% 44.1% 44.3% 54.4%
2007 67.2% 42.2% 43.3% 42.7%
2006 61.2% 44.4% 44% 45%
2005 85.3% 45.8% 43.4% 49.6%
2004 54.5% 46.8% 44.7% 50.1%
2003 52.9% 43.7% 45.8% 49.8%
2002 55.2% 37.2% 44.8% 48.7%
2001 58.8% 32.7% 44.1% 49.4%
2000 56.5% 27.3% 43.2% 52.2%
1999 48.7% 26.1% 44.3% 58.6%
1998 50.5% 18.1% 44.6% 62.7%
1997 55% 8.73% 45.7% 65.7%
1996 - - 47.3% 71.2%
1995 - - 53.9% 73%
1994 - - 49.4% 73.5%
1993 - - 50.9% 76.7%
1992 - - 50.2% 75.6%
1991 - - 49.6% 74.8%
1990 - - 48.8% 75%
1989 - - 54.5% 73.7%
1988 - - 56.4% 73.7%
1987 - - 58.5% 71.3%
1986 - - 57% 68.9%
1985 - - 57.3% 67.1%
1984 - - 58.1% 61.9%
1983 - - 59.1% 58.4%
1982 - - 59.1% 52.4%
1981 - - 56.8% 46.9%
1980 - - 55.2% 43.6%
1979 - - 53.7% 39.5%
1978 - - 52.3% 38.1%
1977 - - 50.6% 34.9%
1976 - - 50.8% 35.2%
1975 - - 50.8% 36.1%
1974 - - 46.4% 36.3%
1973 - - 44.6% 38.1%
1972 - - 44.9% 41.3%
1971 - - 44.6% 43.7%
1970 - - 43.2% 46.1%
1969 - - 42.1% 48.2%
1968 - - 25.4% 54.4%
1967 - - 24.1% 55%
1966 - - 24.4% 55.6%
1965 - - 23.4% 55.8%
1964 - - 22.3% 57.1%
1963 - - 21.9% 61.7%
1962 - - 22.1% 63.8%
1961 - - 22.2% 65.9%
1960 - - 20.4% 66.7%

Data sources: International Monetary Fund (IMF) | Fiscal Monitor (1990–2024, retrieved 2026-02-20); International Monetary Fund (IMF) | Public Finances in Modern History (1960–1989, retrieved 2026-02-20).

GeoRank.org/economy/marshall-islands/netherlands | CC BY

In 2024, the Marshall Islands' government spending was $208M, accounting for 71.6% of its GDP, while the Netherlands spent $540B, or 44.4% of GDP.

Debt-to-GDP ratio is 13.2% in the Marshall Islands and 43.8% in the Netherlands, ranking 179/185 and 123/185, respectively.

Government deficit by year

Deficit/surplus
Marshall Islands

Netherlands
1x
Year Deficit/surplus, % of GDP
Marshall Islands Netherlands
2024 3.61% -0.94%
2023 1.14% -0.37%
2022 0.68% 0.002%
2021 0.18% -2.26%
2020 2.54% -3.72%
2019 -1.8% 1.91%
2018 2.55% 1.49%
2017 4.38% 1.35%
2016 3.88% 0.23%
2015 2.81% -1.84%
2014 3.2% -2.17%
2013 -0.23% -2.87%
2012 -0.76% -3.83%
2011 2.13% -4.42%
2010 3.51% -5.3%
2009 1.51% -5.06%
2008 3.68% -0.06%
2007 0.27% -0.16%
2006 0.24% 0.04%
2005 -22.3% -0.51%
2004 -1.6% -1.82%
2003 10.5% -3.19%
2002 5.12% -2.23%
2001 7.83% -0.47%
2000 7.84% 1.14%
1999 9.01% 0.28%
1998 13.5% -1.34%
1997 7.91% -1.6%
1996 - -1.91%
1995 - -8.72%
1994 - -3.53%
1993 - -3.13%
1992 - -3.12%
1991 - -2.05%
1990 - -4.08%
1989 - -5%
1988 - -4.23%
1987 - -5.39%
1986 - -4.62%
1985 - -3.6%
1984 - -5.25%
1983 - -5.47%
1982 - -6.17%
1981 - -4.92%
1980 - -3.95%
1979 - -2.46%
1978 - -2.09%
1977 - -0.75%
1976 - -2.02%
1975 - -2.82%
1974 - -0.26%
1973 - 0.54%
1972 - -0.7%
1971 - -1.58%
1970 - -1.52%
1969 - -1.14%
1968 - -3.06%
1967 - -1.97%
1966 - -2.37%
1965 - -1.15%
1964 - -1.2%
1963 - -0.54%
1962 - -1.38%
1961 - -0.38%
1960 - 0.9%
1959 - -0.74%
1958 - -0.89%
1957 - 0.3%
1956 - -0.83%
1955 - -0.25%
1954 - 0.76%
1953 - -2.95%
1952 - 2.19%
1951 - 2.13%
1950 - 0.81%
1949 - 2.3%
1948 - -
1947 - -
1946 - -
1945 - -
1944 - -
1943 - -
1942 - -
1941 - -
1940 - -
1939 - -3.19%
1938 - -0.37%
1937 - 0.02%
1936 - -0.41%
1935 - -0.69%
1934 - -0.92%
1933 - -2.55%
1932 - -1.97%
1931 - -1.66%
1930 - -0.55%
1929 - -1.16%
1928 - -0.62%
1927 - -0.33%
1926 - -0.78%
1925 - -2.04%
1924 - -3.37%
1923 - -2.62%
1922 - -
1921 - -
1920 - -
1919 - -
1918 - -
1917 - -
1916 - -
1915 - -
1914 - -
1913 - -0.45%
1912 - -0.47%
1911 - -0.13%
1910 - -0.93%
1909 - -0.34%
1908 - -0.57%
1907 - 0.03%
1906 - 0.16%
1905 - 0.1%
1904 - -0.72%
1903 - 0.09%
1902 - -0.14%
1901 - 0.03%
1900 - 0.06%
1899 - -0.13%
1898 - -0.48%
1897 - -0.45%
1896 - 0.08%
1895 - -0.06%
1894 - 0.12%
1893 - -0.76%
1892 - -1.72%
1891 - -0.06%
1890 - -0.06%
1889 - 0.04%
1888 - -0.31%
1887 - -0.37%
1886 - -0.08%
1885 - -0.55%
1884 - 0%
1883 - -2.1%
1882 - -1.11%
1881 - -1.06%
1880 - 0.21%

Data sources: International Monetary Fund (IMF) | Public Finances in Modern History (1880–1989, retrieved 2026-02-20); International Monetary Fund (IMF) | Fiscal Monitor (1990–2024, retrieved 2026-02-20).

GeoRank.org/economy/marshall-islands/netherlands | CC BY

In 2024, the Marshall Islands' government surplus, the difference between spending and revenue, was $10.5M, equivalent to 3.61% of GDP. This compares to the Netherlands' deficit of $11.5B, or 0.94% of GDP.

Over the past 28 years, the Marshall Islands recorded a fiscal deficit in 5 of those years, while the Netherlands ran a deficit in 20 years. On average, the Marshall Islands posted an annual surplus equal to 2.55% of GDP, compared to deficit of 1.35% of GDP for the Netherlands.

Inflation comparison by year

Inflation
Marshall Islands

Netherlands
1x
Year Consumer prices inflation
Marshall Islands Netherlands
2024 5.2% 3.35%
2023 7.4% 3.84%
2022 2.8% 10%
2021 2.2% 2.68%
2020 -0.7% 1.27%
2019 -0.1% 2.63%
2018 0.8% 1.7%
2017 0.1% 1.38%
2016 -1.5% 0.32%
2015 -2.2% 0.6%
2014 1.1% 0.98%
2013 1.9% 2.51%
2012 4.3% 2.46%
2011 5.4% 2.34%
2010 1.8% 1.28%
2009 0.5% 1.19%
2008 14.7% 2.49%
2007 2.6% 1.61%
2006 5.3% 1.1%
2005 3.5% 1.69%
2004 2% 1.26%
2003 - 2.09%
2002 - 3.29%
2001 - 4.16%
2000 - 2.36%
1999 - 2.16%
1998 - 1.96%
1997 - 2.11%

Data sources: World Bank | Economy & Growth (1997–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06); International Monetary Fund (IMF) | World Economic Outlook (2004–2024, retrieved 2026-02-20).

GeoRank.org/economy/marshall-islands/netherlands | CC BY

Over the past 21 years, the Marshall Islands has recorded an average annual inflation rate of 2.72%, compared with 2.22% in the Netherlands. In 2024, inflation was 5.2% in the Marshall Islands and 3.35% in the Netherlands.

Top exports between countries

Marshall Islands
Export category Export value
Machinery & equipment $45.4M
Wood & paper products $2.29M
Animal & marine products $79K
Chemicals & pharma $5K
Textiles & consumer goods $3K
Precious metals & jewellery $1K
Processed food, beverages & tobacco $1K
Netherlands
Export category Export value
Machinery & equipment $682M
Miscellaneous $3.61M
Chemicals & pharma $2.29M
Raw materials & minerals $255K
Processed food, beverages & tobacco $226K
Raw agricultural goods $122K
Metals $48K
Textiles & consumer goods $46K
Animal & marine products $10K
Wood & paper products $1K

Balance of trade

Marshall Islands Netherlands
Current account balance
$76.3M
2021
$111B
2024
Current account balance ranking
70/190
2021
5/190
2024
Current account balance, % of GDP
+29.2%
2021
+9.13%
2024
Goods imports
$133M
2021
$606B
2024
Goods exports
$121M
2021
$693B
2024
Service imports
$73.1M
2021
$262B
2024
Service exports
$9.44M
2021
$308B
2024
Imports of goods and services, % of GDP
81.7%
2024
71.4%
2024
Exports of goods and services, % of GDP
42.1%
2024
82.4%
2024

Economic freedom indices

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

Marshall Islands Netherlands
Economic freedom 58 78.5
Economic freedom ranking 113/197 11/197
Property rights n/a 96
Government integrity n/a 86.8
Judicial effectiveness n/a 96.1
Tax burden n/a 54
Government spending n/a 42.2
Fiscal health n/a 95.9
Business freedom n/a 85
Labor freedom n/a 59.3
Monetary freedom n/a 77
Trade freedom n/a 79.4
Investment freedom n/a 90
Financial freedom n/a 80

Other economic metrics

Marshall Islands Netherlands
Services, % of GDP
67%
2024
70.5%
2024
Industry, % of GDP
13.2%
2024
17.5%
2024
Agriculture, forestry, and fishing, % of GDP
19.6%
2024
1.73%
2024
GNI, Atlas method
$319M
2024
$1.12T
2024
GNI per capita, PPP
$9,680
2024
$84,970
2024
Total reserves including gold n/a
$79.1B
2024
Total reserves ranking n/a
34/177
2024
Net foreign direct investment
-$499K
2021
$11.1B
2024
Net inflows of foreign direct investment
$1.7M
2024
-$17.1B
2024
Net outflows of foreign direct investment
$0
2024
-$5.93B
2024
Poverty at national poverty lines
7.2%
2019
14.5%
2021
Gross capital formation, % of GDP
20.7%
2024
19.7%
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/marshall-islands/netherlands | 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. International Monetary Fund (IMF) | Public Finances in Modern History (1880–1989, retrieved 2026-02-20)
  4. U.S. Census Bureau (1985–2024, retrieved 2026-02-08)
  5. TradeMap (2020–2024, retrieved 2026-02-08)
  6. The Heritage Foundation | Economic Freedom Index (2026, retrieved 2026-03-09)
  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.