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Economy of Marshall Islands vs Tonga compared: GDP & Debt

Updated on by Georank

The Marshall Islands has a GDP of $308M compared to $679M for Tonga, ranking 194/197 and 191/197 by economy size, respectively.

The Marshall Islands has $36.3M in government debt (11.8% of GDP), compared to $186M (27.4% of GDP) in Tonga.

Marshall Islands vs Tonga GDP by year

Marshall Islands
Tonga
1x
Year GDP, current $
Marshall Islands Tonga
2025 $308,000,000 $679,218,219
2024 $285,000,000 $647,488,244
2023 $264,000,000 $591,139,734
2022 $258,723,500 $556,514,556
2021 $261,245,500 $519,306,339
2020 $241,800,000 $506,571,487
2019 $232,900,000 $506,031,248
2018 $220,000,000 $493,530,767
2017 $213,700,000 $459,976,847
2016 $201,800,000 $420,828,255
2015 $183,700,000 $437,525,539
2014 $186,000,000 $440,997,735
2013 $186,400,000 $451,788,498
2012 $180,700,000 $471,122,971
2011 $172,300,000 $414,143,828
2010 $161,100,000 $366,887,375
2009 $151,200,000 $312,415,028
2008 $146,600,000 $344,438,844
2007 $150,500,000 $298,519,623
2006 $143,200,000 $292,232,703
2005 $138,000,000 $261,823,805
2004 $132,900,000 $230,678,011
2003 $131,128,500 $202,246,591
2002 $131,960,000 $182,764,281
2001 $122,406,100 $181,117,230
2000 $114,838,500 $204,848,488
1999 $113,352,100 $199,208,718
1998 $112,070,100 $191,504,893
1997 $109,884,700 $214,991,452
1996 $110,858,000 $222,100,576
1995 $120,230,000 $208,871,666
1994 $108,071,000 $195,990,986
1993 $99,461,000 $138,489,884
1992 $91,063,000 $137,066,291
1991 $82,507,000 $132,201,141
1990 $78,476,000 $113,563,822
1989 $72,798,000 $106,344,855
1988 $70,688,000 $106,657,267
1987 $62,983,000 $81,667,133
1986 $55,989,000 $68,195,856
1985 $43,879,000 $60,058,663
1984 $45,144,000 $64,248,355
1983 $41,749,000 $60,863,964
1982 $34,918,000 $62,068,161
1981 $31,020,000 $62,242,013
1980 $26,710,653 $53,260,077
1979 $25,545,346 $44,667,002
1978 $22,209,370 $41,567,472
1977 $20,210,069 $34,139,388
1976 $18,153,647 $30,036,417
1975 $16,691,301 $32,506,742
1974 $15,217,532 -
1973 $11,607,366 -
1972 $9,973,652 -
1971 $9,116,810 -
1970 $8,408,486 -

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

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

GDP per capita in Marshall Islands vs Tonga by year

Marshall Islands
GDP per capita

GDP per capita, PPP
Tonga
GDP per capita

GDP per capita, PPP
1x
Year Current $
Marshall Islands Tonga
GDP per capita GDP per capita, PPP GDP per capita GDP per capita, PPP
2025 $8,489 - $6,547 -
2024 $7,590 $8,195 $6,215 -
2023 $6,799 $7,549 $5,652 $7,803
2022 $6,456 $7,431 $5,298 $7,296
2021 $6,315 $6,768 $4,923 $6,929
2020 $5,662 $6,137 $4,792 $6,676
2019 $5,292 $6,045 $4,789 $6,473
2018 $4,858 $5,232 $4,675 $6,393
2017 $4,593 $4,719 $4,366 $6,229
2016 $4,230 $4,366 $3,988 $5,920
2015 $3,764 $4,125 $4,124 $5,472
2014 $3,735 $3,931 $4,137 $5,336
2013 $3,678 $3,845 $4,219 $5,120
2012 $3,514 $3,590 $4,384 $4,996
2011 $3,319 $3,537 $3,850 $4,855
2010 $3,095 $3,473 $3,416 $4,465
2009 $2,907 $3,253 $2,914 $4,384
2008 $2,818 $3,118 $3,218 $4,600
2007 $2,892 $3,309 $2,797 $4,316
2006 $2,754 $3,110 $2,750 $4,327
2005 $2,659 $3,017 $2,478 $4,315
2004 $2,566 $2,880 $2,195 $4,235
2003 $2,539 $2,824 $1,936 $4,231
2002 $2,566 $2,825 $1,759 $4,171
2001 $2,394 $2,700 $1,754 $3,955
2000 $2,265 $2,490 $1,995 $3,834
1999 $2,258 $2,400 $1,952 $3,636
1998 $2,254 $2,422 $1,889 $3,527
1997 $2,231 $2,434 $2,136 $3,434
1996 $2,273 $2,583 $2,215 $3,410
1995 $2,491 $2,858 $2,084 $3,347
1994 $2,265 $2,617 $1,957 $3,088
1993 $2,112 $2,452 $1,383 $2,882
1992 $1,963 $2,293 $1,370 $2,716
1991 $1,811 $2,131 $1,323 $2,652
1990 $1,758 $2,102 $1,139 $2,416
1989 $1,670 - $1,070 -
1988 $1,670 - $1,078 -
1987 $1,543 - $830 -
1986 $1,425 - $696 -
1985 $1,162 - $613 -
1984 $1,245 - $656 -
1983 $1,199 - $621 -
1982 $1,046 - $633 -
1981 $969 - $636 -
1980 $868 - $545 -
1979 $859 - $458 -
1978 $771 - $428 -
1977 $724 - $353 -
1976 $672 - $315 -
1975 $638 - $349 -
1974 $602 - - -
1973 $472 - - -
1972 $416 - - -
1971 $390 - - -
1970 $373 - - -

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

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

The Marshall Islands' GDP per capita is $8,489, ranking 95/197, compared to $6,547 in Tonga, ranking 110/197. Adjusted for purchasing power (GDP per capita PPP), the Marshall Islands ranks 139th at $8,195, while Tonga ranks 144th at $7,803.

Economic indicators

Marshall Islands Tonga
Gross domestic product
$308M
2025
$679M
2025
GDP rank
194/197
2025
191/197
2025
GDP growth
2.28%
2024-2025
2.8%
2024-2025
GDP per capita
$8,489
2025
$6,547
2025
GDP per capita rank
95/197
2025
110/197
2025
GDP per capita, PPP
$8,195
2024
$7,803
2023
GDP per capita PPP rank
139/197
2024
144/197
2023
Government debt
$36.3M
2025
$186M
2025
Debt-to-GDP ratio
11.8%
2025
27.4%
2025
Government debt per person
$1,000
2025
$1,793
2025
Government debt per person rank
144/185
2025
123/185
2025
Average annual personal income after taxes
$5,308
2026
$4,104
2026
Income share by richest 10%
27.5%
2019
22%
2021
Income share by poorest 10%
2.8%
2019
4%
2021
Government expenditure, % of GDP
65.3%
2025
46.8%
2025
Consumer prices inflation
5.5%
2024-2025
5.59%
2024-2025
Unemployment rate
9.82%
2021
1.65%
2023
Population
35039
103283

Spending and national debt comparison by year

Marshall Islands
Spending

Debt
Tonga
Spending

Debt
1x
Year % of GDP
Marshall Islands Tonga
Government spending Government debt Government spending Government debt
2025 65.3% 11.8% 46.8% 27.4%
2024 70.9% 14.2% 44.3% 31.9%
2023 67.5% 18.2% 41.5% 37.2%
2022 65.8% 19.6% 41.3% 40.2%
2021 69.2% 19.9% 44.5% 43%
2020 67.8% 21.7% 37.1% 41.7%
2019 65.5% 25.1% 39% 41.8%
2018 60.5% 24.7% 39.3% 45.5%
2017 63.7% 26.5% 39.7% 44.7%
2016 56.8% 29.2% 37.2% 49.4%
2015 56.3% 33.9% 37.4% 51.1%
2014 49.2% 34.9% 31.5% 47.4%
2013 55% 33.4% 34.3% 48.9%
2012 53.2% 37.6% 32% 60%
2011 55.9% 35.9% 32.6% 51.9%
2010 59.2% 38.8% 28.4% 44.7%
2009 63.1% 41.2% 23.9% 39.7%
2008 64.3% 44.1% 24% 34%
2007 67.2% 42.2% 23.2% 37.8%
2006 61.2% 44.4% 25.6% 39.6%
2005 85.3% 45.8% 19.8% 43.3%
2004 54.5% 46.8% 19.3% 52.2%
2003 52.9% 43.7% 20% 56.2%
2002 55.2% 37.2% 21.3% 60.7%
2001 58.8% 32.7% 19.1% 53.4%
2000 56.5% 27.3% 20% 43.6%
1999 48.7% 26.1% 18.8% 38.4%
1998 50.5% 18.1% - -
1997 55% 8.73% - -

Data sources: International Monetary Fund (IMF) | Fiscal Monitor (1997–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08).

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

In 2025, the Marshall Islands' government spending was $201M, accounting for 65.3% of its GDP, while Tonga spent $318M, or 46.8% of GDP.

Debt-to-GDP ratio is 11.8% in the Marshall Islands and 27.4% in Tonga, ranking 180/185 and 162/185, respectively.

Government deficit by year

Deficit/surplus
Marshall Islands

Tonga
1x
Year Deficit/surplus, % of GDP
Marshall Islands Tonga
2025 1.35% 4.86%
2024 2.62% 3.6%
2023 1.01% 5.28%
2022 0.51% -0.09%
2021 0.18% -0.87%
2020 2.54% 5.15%
2019 -1.8% 3.2%
2018 2.55% 2.9%
2017 4.38% 3.58%
2016 3.88% 1.47%
2015 2.81% -2.75%
2014 3.2% 6.38%
2013 -0.23% -1.3%
2012 -0.76% -1.74%
2011 2.13% -6.02%
2010 3.51% -1.22%
2009 1.51% 6.85%
2008 3.68% 2.14%
2007 0.27% 5.39%
2006 0.24% 1.34%
2005 -22.3% 4.23%
2004 -1.6% 4.23%
2003 10.5% 2.37%
2002 5.12% 2.59%
2001 7.83% 2.23%
2000 7.84% 1.35%
1999 9.01% 1.55%
1998 13.5% -
1997 7.91% -

Data sources: International Monetary Fund (IMF) | Fiscal Monitor (1997–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08).

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

In 2025, the Marshall Islands' government surplus, the difference between spending and revenue, was $4.17M, equivalent to 1.35% of GDP. This compares to Tonga's surplus of $33M, or 4.86% of GDP.

Over the past 27 years, the Marshall Islands recorded a fiscal deficit in 5 of those years, while Tonga ran a deficit in 7 years. On average, the Marshall Islands posted an annual surplus equal to 1.85% of GDP, compared to surplus of 2.1% of GDP for Tonga.

Inflation comparison by year

Inflation
Marshall Islands

Tonga
1x
Year Consumer prices inflation
Marshall Islands Tonga
2025 5.5% 5.59%
2024 5.2% 3.18%
2023 7.4% 6.35%
2022 2.8% 11%
2021 2.2% 5.64%
2020 -0.7% -0.35%
2019 -0.1% 1.18%
2018 0.8% 5.03%
2017 0.1% 7.52%
2016 -1.5% 2.58%
2015 -2.2% -1.05%
2014 1.1% 2.51%
2013 1.9% 0.78%
2012 4.3% 1.15%
2011 5.4% 6.27%
2010 1.8% 3.53%
2009 0.5% 1.43%
2008 14.7% 10.4%
2007 2.6% 5.84%
2006 5.3% 6.15%
2005 3.5% 8.67%
2004 2% 11%
2003 - 11.6%
2002 - 10.4%
2001 - 8.29%
2000 - 6.33%
1999 - 4.46%
1998 - 3.27%
1997 - 2.12%

Data sources: World Bank | Economy & Growth (1997–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08); International Monetary Fund (IMF) | World Economic Outlook (2004–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08).

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

Over the past 22 years, the Marshall Islands has recorded an average annual inflation rate of 2.85%, compared with 4.74% in Tonga. In 2025, inflation was 5.5% in the Marshall Islands and 5.59% in Tonga.

Balance of trade

Marshall Islands Tonga
Current account balance
$62.3M
2024
-$43.5M
2024
Current account balance ranking
67/190
2024
76/190
2024
Current account balance, % of GDP
+21.9%
2024
-6.72%
2024
Goods imports
$173M
2024
$232M
2024
Goods exports
$101M
2024
$10.8M
2024
Service imports
$64.2M
2024
$161M
2024
Service exports
$21.1M
2024
$93.6M
2024
Imports of goods and services, % of GDP
79.9%
2025
60.7%
2024
Exports of goods and services, % of GDP
36%
2025
16.9%
2024

Economic freedom indices

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

Marshall Islands Tonga
Economic freedom 58 58.9
Economic freedom ranking 113/197 107/197
Property rights n/a 71.1
Government integrity n/a 45.1
Judicial effectiveness n/a 64.9
Tax burden n/a 85.6
Government spending n/a 31
Fiscal health n/a 97.3
Business freedom n/a 59.2
Labor freedom n/a 55.9
Monetary freedom n/a 61
Trade freedom n/a 75.4
Investment freedom n/a 40
Financial freedom n/a 20

Other economic metrics

Marshall Islands Tonga
Services, % of GDP
68.2%
2024
49.5%
2024
Industry, % of GDP
13.4%
2024
17.7%
2024
Agriculture, forestry, and fishing, % of GDP
19.9%
2024
18.6%
2024
GNI, Atlas method
$352M
2025
$709M
2025
GNI per capita, PPP
$10,590
2025
$9,240
2025
Total reserves including gold n/a
$413M
2025
Total reserves ranking n/a
162/177
2025
Net foreign direct investment
-$13.4M
2024
$13.3M
2024
Net inflows of foreign direct investment
$13.4M
2024
-$12.1M
2024
Net outflows of foreign direct investment
$0
2024
$1.25M
2024
Servicing debt to the IMF, % of GNI n/a
6.33%
2024
Poverty at national poverty lines
7.2%
2019
20.6%
2021
Gross capital formation, % of GDP
21.1%
2024
26.4%
2024

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/marshall-islands/tonga | 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 (1997–2025, 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. United Nations | World Population Prospects (2026, retrieved 2026-07-08)
  6. LivingCost (2026, 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.