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Economy of Namibia vs Tanzania compared: GDP & Debt

Updated on by Georank team

Namibia has a GDP of $13.4B compared to $78.8B for Tanzania, ranking 147/197 and 82/197 by economy size, respectively.

Namibia has $9.05B in government debt (67.7% of GDP), compared to $39.3B (49.9% of GDP) in Tanzania.

Namibia vs Tanzania GDP by year

Namibia
Tanzania
1x
Year GDP, current $
Namibia Tanzania
2024 $13,372,354,512 $78,844,405,385
2023 $12,408,271,449 $79,030,935,627
2022 $12,569,449,123 $75,749,121,843
2021 $12,402,486,184 $70,655,628,148
2020 $10,583,748,542 $66,068,737,786
2019 $12,541,928,303 $61,026,731,926
2018 $13,682,019,076 $57,003,712,892
2017 $12,895,153,371 $53,274,884,533
2016 $10,722,018,732 $49,774,409,374
2015 $11,335,161,084 $47,413,919,817
2014 $12,435,430,970 $49,986,726,461
2013 $12,043,307,277 $45,648,857,242
2012 $13,042,053,592 $39,650,394,363
2011 $12,523,359,441 $34,657,140,096
2010 $11,431,412,421 $32,012,892,919
2009 $8,938,847,189 $29,400,573,554
2008 $8,607,431,497 $27,947,821,398
2007 $8,839,536,476 $21,860,434,823
2006 $8,001,779,551 $18,619,859,795
2005 $7,248,374,838 $18,395,383,647
2004 $6,609,205,995 $16,673,062,473
2003 $4,926,439,384 $15,211,487,709
2002 $3,349,169,826 $14,129,651,896
2001 $3,557,341,215 $13,563,990,022
2000 $3,922,232,165 $13,371,767,082
1999 $3,868,551,730 $12,704,334,196
1998 $3,873,109,866 $12,172,790,056
1997 $4,154,989,950 $11,158,197,942
1996 $3,989,163,197 $9,433,528,150
1995 $3,978,514,206 $7,631,431,840
1994 $3,666,503,530 $6,550,480,484
1993 $3,251,188,833 $6,182,872,708
1992 $3,429,521,699 $6,681,997,469
1991 $2,996,869,281 $7,197,768,159
1990 $2,789,921,854 $6,184,384,225
1989 $2,535,135,798 $6,418,799,007
1988 $2,495,094,746 $7,406,614,407
1987 $2,300,068,217 $7,824,193,222
1986 $1,809,048,527 $10,840,864,521
1985 $1,608,237,350 $15,328,295,175
1984 $1,951,260,038 $12,906,635,133
1983 $2,297,400,688 $14,049,883,809
1982 $2,118,710,248 $13,927,383,240
1981 $2,249,908,578 $13,161,540,378
1980 $2,421,990,338 $11,409,228,087
1979 - $9,804,637,491
1978 - $9,261,675,710
1977 - $7,732,598,995
1976 - $6,472,511,988
1975 - $5,729,917,840
1974 - $4,977,337,978
1973 - $4,144,104,535
1972 - $3,472,787,266
1971 - $3,050,673,517
1970 - $2,851,419,386
1969 - $5,142,066,811
1968 - $4,895,251,824
1967 - $4,565,132,048
1966 - $4,377,998,825
1965 - $3,817,226,546
1964 - $3,748,840,925
1963 - $3,456,579,293
1962 - $3,101,589,993
1961 - $2,826,179,031
1960 - $2,651,729,807

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

GeoRank.org/economy/namibia/tanzania | CC BY

GDP per capita in Namibia vs Tanzania by year

Namibia
GDP per capita

GDP per capita, PPP
Tanzania
GDP per capita

GDP per capita, PPP
1x
Year Current $
Namibia Tanzania
GDP per capita GDP per capita, PPP GDP per capita GDP per capita, PPP
2024 $4,413 $11,687 $1,150 $4,221
2023 $4,188 $11,251 $1,186 $4,019
2022 $4,350 $10,663 $1,171 $3,800
2021 $4,413 $9,709 $1,125 $3,493
2020 $3,879 $9,354 $1,084 $3,291
2019 $4,732 $9,609 $1,031 $2,982
2018 $5,309 $9,854 $992 $2,728
2017 $5,144 $9,888 $957 $2,472
2016 $4,396 $10,200 $925 $2,435
2015 $4,774 $10,466 $911 $2,317
2014 $5,378 $10,365 $993 $2,221
2013 $5,347 $9,699 $935 $2,176
2012 $5,943 $9,364 $837 $2,083
2011 $5,835 $9,002 $753 $2,211
2010 $5,418 $8,538 $715 $2,069
2009 $4,303 $8,079 $674 $1,972
2008 $4,205 $8,125 $657 $1,908
2007 $4,379 $7,875 $528 $1,820
2006 $4,017 $7,374 $462 $1,707
2005 $3,686 $6,767 $469 $1,598
2004 $3,403 $6,480 $438 $1,482
2003 $2,569 $5,693 $410 $1,379
2002 $1,772 $5,433 $391 $1,302
2001 $1,916 $5,196 $385 $1,229
2000 $2,157 $5,129 $390 $1,164
1999 $2,178 $4,961 $382 $1,120
1998 $2,235 $4,852 $375 $1,082
1997 $2,460 $4,764 $353 $1,059
1996 $2,423 $4,612 $305 $1,026
1995 $2,483 $4,509 $251.2 $981
1994 $2,356 $4,376 $222.5 $958
1993 $2,155 $4,345 $218.2 $959
1992 $2,347 $4,452 $243.4 $955
1991 $2,117 $4,192 $268.8 $952
1990 $2,037 $3,875 $236.9 $925
1989 $1,967 - $252.3 -
1988 $2,063 - $299 -
1987 $1,969 - $326 -
1986 $1,599 - $466 -
1985 $1,466 - $681 -
1984 $1,830 - $593 -
1983 $2,214 - $667 -
1982 $2,097 - $683 -
1981 $2,267 - $665 -
1980 $2,468 - $595 -
1979 - - $527 -
1978 - - $515 -
1977 - - $446 -
1976 - - $387 -
1975 - - $355 -
1974 - - $320 -
1973 - - $276.1 -
1972 - - $239.8 -
1971 - - $218.4 -
1970 - - $211.3 -
1969 - - $394 -
1968 - - $388 -
1967 - - $374 -
1966 - - $370 -
1965 - - $333 -
1964 - - $337 -
1963 - - $320 -
1962 - - $295.7 -
1961 - - $277.4 -
1960 - - $267.8 -

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

GeoRank.org/economy/namibia/tanzania | CC BY

Namibia's GDP per capita is $4,413, ranking 126/197, compared to $1,150 in Tanzania, ranking 170/197. Adjusted for purchasing power (GDP per capita PPP), Namibia ranks 128th at $11,687, while Tanzania ranks 165th at $4,221.

Economic indicators

Namibia Tanzania
Gross domestic product
$13.4B
2024
$78.8B
2024
GDP rank
147/197
2024
82/197
2024
GDP growth
3.71%
2023-2024
5.53%
2023-2024
GDP per capita
$4,413
2024
$1,150
2024
GDP per capita rank
126/197
2024
170/197
2024
GDP per capita, PPP
$11,687
2024
$4,221
2024
GDP per capita PPP rank
128/197
2024
165/197
2024
Government debt
$9.05B
2024
$39.3B
2024
Debt-to-GDP ratio
67.7%
2024
49.9%
2024
Government debt per person
$2,988
2024
$573
2024
Government debt per person rank
100/185
2024
160/185
2024
Average annual personal income after taxes
$6,197
2026
$2,309
2026
Market capitalization of domestic companies
$2.48B
2024
$7.32B
2024
Number of billionaires n/a
1
2025
Income share by richest 10%
47.2%
2015
33.1%
2018
Income share by poorest 10%
1%
2015
2.9%
2018
Government expenditure, % of GDP
39.9%
2024
19.1%
2024
Consumer prices inflation
4.2%
2023-2024
3.06%
2023-2024
Central bank interest rate
6.5%
2025
6%
2024
Unemployment rate
19.9%
2018
2.43%
2024
Population
3173089
73145892

Spending and national debt comparison by year

Namibia
Spending

Debt
Tanzania
Spending

Debt
1x
Year % of GDP
Namibia Tanzania
Government spending Government debt Government spending Government debt
2024 39.9% 67.7% 19.1% 49.9%
2023 37% 67.2% 19% 47.8%
2022 36.6% 69.4% 19.1% 44.9%
2021 39.3% 69.6% 18.4% 43.4%
2020 41.5% 64.3% 17.4% 41.3%
2019 37.4% 57.6% 17.3% 40.4%
2018 36.3% 48.7% 17.3% 42%
2017 38.1% 43.8% 16.4% 40.1%
2016 41.8% 45.8% 16.9% 39.8%
2015 43.7% 42.1% 17.2% 39.5%
2014 41.8% 27.6% 17.3% 36.4%
2013 38.3% 26.1% 18.8% 32.7%
2012 35% 24.6% 19.6% 30%
2011 38.5% 27.4% 19% 28.4%
2010 33.5% 16.3% 19.8% 27.6%
2009 32% 15.9% 19.6% 23.9%
2008 28.4% 19.1% 18.1% 21.6%
2007 26.1% 19.4% 17.8% 23.8%
2006 27.4% 26.1% 17.6% 17.4%
2005 27.7% 26.9% 18.3% 25.4%
2004 28.4% 29.2% 17% 44.5%
2003 31.1% 27.1% 15.4% 44.4%
2002 29.8% 22.2% 13.6% 47.4%
2001 30.7% 24.4% 12.4% 50.8%
2000 30.1% 20.9% 12.3% 55.4%
1999 31.8% 21.8% 12.8% 62.9%
1998 31.3% 19.6% 11.4% 62.2%
1997 30.9% 17.7% 12.8% 73.4%
1996 30.4% 18.7% 13.4% 89.6%
1995 29.6% 18% 15.6% 111.1%
1994 28.7% 16.4% 16.8% 126%
1993 32.4% 17.2% 16.4% 129.2%
1992 32.8% 14.1% 17.6% 117.6%
1991 33% 11.8% 14.2% 106.5%
1990 30.2% 12.9% - -

Data sources: International Monetary Fund (IMF) | Fiscal Monitor (1990–2024, retrieved 2026-02-20); International Monetary Fund (IMF) | Public Finances in Modern History (1990–2000, retrieved 2026-02-20).

GeoRank.org/economy/namibia/tanzania | CC BY

In 2024, Namibia's government spending was $5.34B, accounting for 39.9% of its GDP, while Tanzania spent $15.1B, or 19.1% of GDP.

Debt-to-GDP ratio is 67.7% in Namibia and 49.9% in Tanzania, ranking 61/185 and 109/185, respectively.

Government deficit by year

Deficit/surplus
Namibia

Tanzania
1x
Year Deficit/surplus, % of GDP
Namibia Tanzania
2024 -3.59% -3.03%
2023 -3.14% -3.67%
2022 -6.33% -3.92%
2021 -8.68% -3.55%
2020 -8.07% -2.56%
2019 -5.49% -2.06%
2018 -5.09% -2.01%
2017 -4.99% -1.14%
2016 -9.3% -2.08%
2015 -8.3% -3.17%
2014 -6.44% -2.91%
2013 -4.69% -3.76%
2012 -3.1% -4%
2011 -7.09% -3.51%
2010 -4.98% -4.74%
2009 -0.4% -4.46%
2008 3.48% -1.92%
2007 6.01% -1.44%
2006 3.41% -3.38%
2005 -0.31% -3.28%
2004 -2.67% -2.43%
2003 -4.47% -1.77%
2002 -1.38% -0.73%
2001 -2.01% -0.41%
2000 -0.79% -0.73%
1999 -1.88% -1.14%
1998 -2.76% 0.13%
1997 -2.38% -0.03%
1996 -3.7% 1.57%
1995 -1.74% -2.12%
1994 -0.57% -3.74%
1993 -2.73% -2.02%
1992 -2.55% -4.96%
1991 -1.59% 0.6%
1990 1.08% -

Data sources: International Monetary Fund (IMF) | Fiscal Monitor (1990–2024, retrieved 2026-02-20).

GeoRank.org/economy/namibia/tanzania | CC BY

In 2024, Namibia's government deficit, the difference between spending and revenue, was $480M, equivalent to 3.59% of GDP. This compares to Tanzania's deficit of $2.39B, or 3.03% of GDP.

Over the past 34 years, Namibia recorded a fiscal deficit in 31 of those years, while Tanzania ran a deficit in 31 years. On average, Namibia posted an annual deficit equal to 3.19% of GDP, compared to deficit of 2.3% of GDP for Tanzania.

Inflation comparison by year

Inflation
Namibia

Tanzania
1x
Year Consumer prices inflation
Namibia Tanzania
2024 4.2% 3.06%
2023 5.9% 3.8%
2022 6.1% 4.35%
2021 3.6% 3.69%
2020 2.2% 3.29%
2019 3.7% 3.46%
2018 4.3% 3.49%
2017 6.1% 5.32%
2016 6.7% 5.17%
2015 3.4% 5.59%
2014 5.3% 6.13%
2013 5.6% 7.87%
2012 6.7% 16%
2011 5% 12.7%
2010 4.9% 6.2%
2009 9.5% 12.1%
2008 9.1% 10.3%
2007 6.5% 7.03%
2006 5% 7.25%
2005 2.3% 5.03%
2004 4.1% 4.74%
2003 7.2% 5.3%
2002 12.7% 5.32%
2001 10.2% 5.15%
2000 10.2% 5.92%
1999 9.4% 7.89%
1998 6.6% 12.8%
1997 9.7% 16.1%

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

GeoRank.org/economy/namibia/tanzania | CC BY

Over the past 28 years, Namibia has recorded an average annual inflation rate of 6.29%, compared with 6.97% in Tanzania. In 2024, inflation was 4.2% in Namibia and 3.06% in Tanzania.

Top exports between countries

Namibia
Export category Export value
Processed food, beverages & tobacco $4.96M
Textiles & consumer goods $97K
Machinery & equipment $74K
Metals $55K
Wood & paper products $47K
Chemicals & pharma $30K
Miscellaneous $25K
Animal & marine products $18K
Raw materials & minerals $9K
Precious metals & jewellery $3K
Tanzania
Export category Export value
Machinery & equipment $886K
Textiles & consumer goods $95K
Precious metals & jewellery $36K
Raw agricultural goods $13K
Chemicals & pharma $11K
Wood & paper products $11K
Animal & marine products $9K
Processed food, beverages & tobacco $3K
Raw materials & minerals $3K
Metals $2K

Balance of trade

Namibia Tanzania
Current account balance
-$1.89M
2024
-$2.38B
2024
Current account balance ranking
78/190
2024
147/190
2024
Current account balance, % of GDP
-0.01%
2024
-3.02%
2024
Goods imports
$6.77B
2024
$14.2B
2024
Goods exports
$4.67B
2024
$9.12B
2024
Service imports
$2.47B
2024
$2.8B
2024
Service exports
$1.29B
2024
$6.85B
2024
Imports of goods and services, % of GDP
68%
2024
21.7%
2024
Exports of goods and services, % of GDP
41.6%
2024
19.8%
2024

Economic freedom indices

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

Namibia Tanzania
Economic freedom 60.2 59
Economic freedom ranking 95/197 106/197
Property rights 63.1 45.2
Government integrity 51.5 40.9
Judicial effectiveness 67.2 29.6
Tax burden 66.4 80.4
Government spending 57.1 89.1
Fiscal health 60.5 75
Business freedom 58 48.1
Labor freedom 62.7 62.3
Monetary freedom 76.1 73.4
Trade freedom 69.8 58.8
Investment freedom 50 55
Financial freedom 40 50

Economic freedom comparison by year

Namibia
Tanzania
1x
Year Economic freedom index
Namibia Tanzania
2026 60.2 59
2025 58.7 59.3
2024 57.5 59.1
2023 57.7 60
2022 59.2 59.5
2021 62.6 61.3
2020 60.9 61.7
2019 58.7 60.2
2018 58.5 59.9
2017 62.5 58.6
2016 61.9 58.5
2015 59.6 57.5
2014 59.4 57.8
2013 60.3 57.9
2012 61.9 57
2011 62.7 57
2010 62.2 58.3
2009 62.4 58.3
2008 61.4 56.5
2007 63.5 56.8
2006 60.7 58.5
2005 61.4 56.3
2004 62.4 60.1
2003 67.3 56.9
2002 65.1 58.3
2001 64.8 54.9
2000 66.7 56
1999 66.1 60
1998 66.1 59.6
1997 61.6 59.3
1996 - 57.5
1995 - 57.3

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

GeoRank.org/economy/namibia/tanzania | CC BY

The Economic Freedom Index for Namibia is 60.2, ranking 95/197, compared to 59 for Tanzania, ranking 106/197. The chart above displays a comparison of annual changes in economic freedom indexes.

Other economic metrics

Namibia Tanzania
Services, % of GDP
54.5%
2024
29.6%
2024
Industry, % of GDP
28.9%
2024
28.6%
2024
Agriculture, forestry, and fishing, % of GDP
7.29%
2024
23.3%
2024
GNI, Atlas method
$12.8B
2024
$80.2B
2024
GNI per capita, PPP
$11,300
2024
$4,130
2024
Total reserves including gold
$3.36B
2024
$5.05B
2018
Total reserves ranking
115/177
2024
101/177
2018
Net foreign direct investment
-$1.93M
2024
-$1.72B
2024
Net inflows of foreign direct investment
$1.97B
2024
$1.72B
2024
Net outflows of foreign direct investment
$44.5M
2024
$0
2024
Servicing debt to the IMF, % of GNI n/a
2.57%
2024
Poverty at national poverty lines
17.4%
2015
26.4%
2018
Gross capital formation, % of GDP
25.6%
2024
39.8%
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/namibia/tanzania | 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. The Heritage Foundation | Economic Freedom Index (1995–2026, retrieved 2026-03-09)
  4. U.S. Census Bureau (1985–2024, retrieved 2026-02-08)
  5. TradeMap (2021–2024, retrieved 2026-02-08)
  6. International Monetary Fund (IMF) | Public Finances in Modern History (1990–2000, retrieved 2026-02-20)
  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.

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.