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Economy of Nauru vs Netherlands compared: GDP & Debt

Updated on by Georank

Nauru has a GDP of $176M compared to $1.33T for the Netherlands, ranking 195/197 and 18/197 by economy size, respectively.

Nauru has $25.8M in government debt (14.6% of GDP), compared to $578B (43.3% of GDP) in the Netherlands.

Nauru vs Netherlands GDP by year

Nauru
Netherlands
1x
Year GDP, current $
Nauru Netherlands
2025 $176,040,044 $1,332,767,651,100
2024 $167,833,415 $1,213,936,238,063
2023 $161,531,317 $1,135,475,867,551
2022 $180,671,357 $1,046,540,797,549
2021 $149,268,324 $1,054,472,123,450
2020 $124,685,688 $932,560,861,701
2019 $125,160,116 $928,903,005,576
2018 $130,995,566 $929,733,599,797
2017 $109,355,639 $848,233,537,846
2016 $97,541,943 $797,163,949,290
2015 $84,863,441 $775,743,675,303
2014 $99,149,244 $901,556,501,756
2013 $94,385,015 $883,951,539,007
2012 $101,055,723 $845,689,017,066
2011 $65,071,880 $913,140,741,333
2010 $47,562,845 $852,464,982,433
2009 $44,176,246 $878,954,223,140
2008 $37,602,265 $957,901,566,041
2007 $22,766,972 $853,499,460,873
2006 $29,200,359 $737,593,995,289
2005 $30,070,666 $688,133,699,636
2004 $30,587,566 $661,224,886,143
2003 $24,778,160 $582,435,617,082
2002 $21,017,424 $475,529,972,123
2001 $22,613,288 $432,536,219,669
2000 $26,930,980 $417,649,282,154
1999 $27,328,613 $447,778,514,140
1998 $29,664,451 $438,612,530,549
1997 $37,331,507 $417,506,211,882
1996 $37,458,801 $451,372,549,020
1995 $39,969,706 $452,967,334,614
1994 $39,742,511 $379,688,232,232
1993 $43,542,088 $354,070,495,966
1992 $51,133,123 $363,497,050,125
1991 $52,533,789 $327,982,316,124
1990 $55,572,376 $318,799,003,994
1989 $53,736,786 $258,716,904,292
1988 $45,931,134 $262,295,966,105
1987 $40,118,410 $245,406,949,521
1986 $39,939,391 $201,157,708,221
1985 $41,548,741 $144,057,523,222
1984 $47,363,231 $144,124,462,912
1983 $48,439,093 $153,671,294,109
1982 $52,877,742 $158,712,765,536
1981 $51,689,637 $164,375,775,854
1980 $46,947,124 $195,439,301,707
1979 $44,431,330 $179,933,827,310
1978 $41,754,147 $156,089,077,205
1977 $40,444,702 $127,203,923,857
1976 $40,287,427 $109,329,386,564
1975 $40,106,776 $100,397,061,694
1974 $35,994,511 $87,371,810,804
1973 $26,529,817 $71,946,639,603
1972 $21,734,269 $54,787,070,173
1971 $19,009,433 $44,644,730,576
1970 $17,570,366 $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 (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08).

GeoRank.org/economy/nauru/netherlands | CC BY

GDP per capita in Nauru vs Netherlands by year

Nauru
GDP per capita

GDP per capita, PPP
Netherlands
GDP per capita

GDP per capita, PPP
1x
Year Current $
Nauru Netherlands
GDP per capita GDP per capita, PPP GDP per capita GDP per capita, PPP
2025 $14,640 - $73,684 -
2024 $14,048 $14,173 $67,465 $86,174
2023 $13,603 $13,732 $63,516 $81,729
2022 $15,310 $13,245 $59,123 $78,630
2021 $12,748 $12,112 $60,142 $68,574
2020 $10,709 $10,811 $53,468 $62,597
2019 $10,802 $10,555 $53,555 $62,345
2018 $11,414 $9,657 $53,955 $58,819
2017 $9,657 $9,650 $49,514 $56,038
2016 $8,748 $10,281 $46,809 $53,162
2015 $7,747 $9,955 $45,794 $50,957
2014 $9,230 $9,726 $53,457 $49,751
2013 $8,975 $8,429 $52,602 $49,622
2012 $9,843 $8,153 $50,474 $47,653
2011 $6,444 $6,544 $54,702 $47,004
2010 $4,736 $5,620 $51,306 $45,301
2009 $4,411 $5,568 $53,172 $44,959
2008 $3,757 $5,863 $58,247 $46,714
2007 $2,272 $4,789 $52,101 $44,203
2006 $2,910 $5,975 $45,124 $41,208
2005 $2,992 $5,336 $42,165 $37,778
2004 $3,041 $5,169 $40,611 $35,961
2003 $2,463 $5,261 $35,897 $34,286
2002 $2,085 $5,132 $29,447 $34,568
2001 $2,232 $5,587 $26,956 $33,259
2000 $2,649 $5,838 $26,225 $31,895
1999 $2,683 $6,118 $28,319 $29,316
1998 $2,909 $6,450 $27,924 $27,749
1997 $3,661 $7,231 $26,745 $26,062
1996 $3,679 $7,818 $29,064 $24,564
1995 $3,932 $8,726 $29,301 $23,480
1994 $3,921 $9,308 $24,683 $22,414
1993 $4,310 $9,513 $23,156 $21,443
1992 $5,103 $11,167 $23,939 $20,831
1991 $5,333 $13,265 $21,764 $20,177
1990 $5,776 $16,215 $21,322 $19,203
1989 $5,723 - $17,423 -
1988 $5,012 - $17,771 -
1987 $4,485 - $16,734 -
1986 $4,569 - $13,804 -
1985 $4,859 - $9,941 -
1984 $5,654 - $9,992 -
1983 $5,896 - $10,696 -
1982 $6,577 - $11,089 -
1981 $6,594 - $11,537 -
1980 $6,138 - $13,812 -
1979 $5,950 - $12,817 -
1978 $5,721 - $11,196 -
1977 $5,646 - $9,180 -
1976 $5,703 - $7,937 -
1975 $5,740 - $7,346 -
1974 $5,199 - $6,450 -
1973 $3,864 - $5,353 -
1972 $3,191 - $4,110 -
1971 $2,811 - $3,384 -
1970 $2,619 - $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 (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08).

GeoRank.org/economy/nauru/netherlands | CC BY

Nauru's GDP per capita is $14,640, ranking 74/197, compared to $73,684 in the Netherlands, ranking 12/197. Adjusted for purchasing power (GDP per capita PPP), Nauru ranks 119th at $14,173, while the Netherlands ranks 11th at $86,174.

Economic indicators

Nauru Netherlands
Gross domestic product
$176M
2025
$1.33T
2025
GDP rank
195/197
2025
18/197
2025
GDP growth
2.14%
2024-2025
1.78%
2024-2025
GDP per capita
$14,640
2025
$73,684
2025
GDP per capita rank
74/197
2025
12/197
2025
GDP per capita, PPP
$14,173
2024
$86,174
2024
GDP per capita PPP rank
119/197
2024
11/197
2024
Government debt
$25.8M
2025
$578B
2025
Debt-to-GDP ratio
14.6%
2025
43.3%
2025
Government debt per person
$2,145
2025
$31,942
2025
Government debt per person rank
118/185
2025
23/185
2025
Average annual personal income after taxes
$9,187
2026
$46,674
2026
Market capitalization of domestic companies n/a
$1.1T
2017
Number of millionaires n/a
1,294,000
2026
Number of billionaires n/a
13
2026
Income share by richest 10%
25.3%
2012
21.4%
2021
Income share by poorest 10%
3.4%
2012
3.6%
2021
Government expenditure, % of GDP
128.7%
2025
45.1%
2025
Consumer prices inflation
6.1%
2024-2025
3.26%
2024-2025
Unemployment rate
5.06%
2021
3.9%
2025
Population
12139
18243998

Spending and national debt comparison by year

Nauru
Spending

Debt
Netherlands
Spending

Debt
1x
Year % of GDP
Nauru Netherlands
Government spending Government debt Government spending Government debt
2025 128.7% 14.6% 45.1% 43.3%
2024 118.4% 16.9% 44.4% 43.7%
2023 111% 19.2% 44% 45.8%
2022 113.8% 18.9% 43.3% 48.4%
2021 109.5% 24.2% 45.9% 50.5%
2020 109.4% 56.3% 47.8% 53.4%
2019 106% 59.6% 42.1% 47.7%
2018 90.8% 71.1% 42.4% 51.6%
2017 102.3% 78% 42.8% 56%
2016 96% 86.3% 43.9% 60.9%
2015 85.4% 113% 45.3% 63.8%
2014 61.3% 147.7% 46.7% 67.2%
2013 66% 166.9% 47.5% 67.2%
2012 46% 157.3% 47.6% 65.7%
2011 44.7% 236.8% 47.8% 61.2%
2010 73.8% 298.9% 48.9% 58.9%
2009 68% 295.6% 48.4% 56.3%
2008 - - 44.3% 54.4%
2007 - - 43.3% 42.7%
2006 - - 44% 45%
2005 - - 43.4% 49.6%
2004 - - 44.7% 50.1%
2003 - - 45.8% 49.8%
2002 - - 44.8% 48.7%
2001 - - 44.1% 49.4%
2000 - - 43.2% 52.2%
1999 - - 44.3% 58.6%
1998 - - 44.6% 62.7%
1997 - - 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 (1990–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08); International Monetary Fund (IMF) | Public Finances in Modern History (1960–1989, retrieved 2026-07-08).

GeoRank.org/economy/nauru/netherlands | CC BY

In 2025, Nauru's government spending was $227M, accounting for 128.7% of its GDP, while the Netherlands spent $602B, or 45.1% of GDP.

Debt-to-GDP ratio is 14.6% in Nauru and 43.3% in the Netherlands, ranking 176/185 and 121/185, respectively.

Government deficit by year

Deficit/surplus
Nauru

Netherlands
1x
Year Deficit/surplus, % of GDP
Nauru Netherlands
2025 3.51% -1.84%
2024 28.9% -0.94%
2023 18.2% -0.37%
2022 20.5% 0.002%
2021 52.4% -2.26%
2020 42.8% -3.72%
2019 31% 1.91%
2018 29.6% 1.49%
2017 16.2% 1.35%
2016 18.9% 0.23%
2015 10.7% -1.84%
2014 29.6% -2.17%
2013 1.71% -2.87%
2012 8.12% -3.83%
2011 2.73% -4.42%
2010 0.09% -5.3%
2009 0.37% -5.06%
2008 - -0.06%
2007 - -0.16%
2006 - 0.04%
2005 - -0.51%
2004 - -1.82%
2003 - -3.19%
2002 - -2.23%
2001 - -0.47%
2000 - 1.14%
1999 - 0.28%
1998 - -1.34%
1997 - -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 2026-07-08); International Monetary Fund (IMF) | Fiscal Monitor (1990–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08).

GeoRank.org/economy/nauru/netherlands | CC BY

In 2025, Nauru's government surplus, the difference between spending and revenue, was $6.19M, equivalent to 3.51% of GDP. This compares to the Netherlands' deficit of $24.5B, or 1.84% of GDP.

Over the past 17 years, Nauru recorded a fiscal deficit in 0 of those years, while the Netherlands ran a deficit in 12 years. On average, Nauru posted an annual surplus equal to 18.5% of GDP, compared to deficit of 1.74% of GDP for the Netherlands.

Inflation comparison by year

Inflation
Nauru

Netherlands
1x
Year Consumer prices inflation
Nauru Netherlands
2025 6.1% 3.26%
2024 9.3% 3.35%
2023 4.8% 3.84%
2022 1.1% 10%
2021 2% 2.68%
2020 0.9% 1.27%
2019 4.1% 2.63%
2018 1.1% 1.7%
2017 4.5% 1.38%
2016 8.1% 0.32%
2015 9.8% 0.6%
2014 0.3% 0.98%
2013 -1.1% 2.51%
2012 0.3% 2.46%
2011 -3.4% 2.34%
2010 -2% 1.28%
2009 22.4% 1.19%
2008 1% 2.49%
2007 5.6% 1.61%
2006 19.3% 1.1%
2005 8.7% 1.69%
2004 - 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 (1997–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08); International Monetary Fund (IMF) | World Economic Outlook (2005–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08).

GeoRank.org/economy/nauru/netherlands | CC BY

Over the past 21 years, Nauru has recorded an average annual inflation rate of 4.9%, compared with 2.32% in the Netherlands. In 2025, inflation was 6.1% in Nauru and 3.26% in the Netherlands.

Top exports between countries

Nauru
Export category Export value
Netherlands
Export category Export value
Chemicals & pharma $140K
Animal & marine products $69K
Machinery & equipment $62K
Processed food, beverages & tobacco $30K
Raw agricultural goods $26K

Balance of trade

Nauru Netherlands
Current account balance
$9.73M
2024
$111B
2024
Current account balance ranking
69/190
2024
6/190
2024
Current account balance, % of GDP
+5.8%
2024
+9.14%
2024
Goods imports
$92.7M
2024
$606B
2024
Goods exports
$25.5M
2024
$693B
2024
Service imports
$88.2M
2024
$262B
2024
Service exports
$64.6M
2024
$308B
2024
Imports of goods and services, % of GDP
103.7%
2025
69.5%
2025
Exports of goods and services, % of GDP
61.8%
2025
80.7%
2025

Economic freedom indices

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

Nauru Netherlands
Economic freedom 60 78.5
Economic freedom ranking 97/197 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

Nauru Netherlands
Services, % of GDP n/a
70.4%
2025
Industry, % of GDP n/a
17.7%
2025
Agriculture, forestry, and fishing, % of GDP n/a
1.68%
2025
GNI, Atlas method
$249M
2025
$1.24T
2025
GNI per capita, PPP
$20,200
2025
$85,480
2025
Total reserves including gold n/a
$118B
2025
Total reserves ranking n/a
27/177
2025
Net foreign direct investment
$4.51M
2024
$11.1B
2024
Net inflows of foreign direct investment
-$5.85M
2024
-$17.1B
2024
Net outflows of foreign direct investment
-$1.34M
2024
-$5.93B
2024
Poverty at national poverty lines n/a
14.5%
2021
Gross capital formation, % of GDP n/a
19.8%
2025

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/nauru/netherlands | CC BY

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Data sources:

  1. World Bank | Economy & Growth (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08)
  2. International Monetary Fund (IMF) | Public Finances in Modern History (1880–1989, retrieved 2026-07-08)
  3. International Monetary Fund (IMF) | Fiscal Monitor (1990–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08)
  4. U.S. Census Bureau (1985–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08)
  5. The Heritage Foundation | Economic Freedom Index (2026, retrieved 2026-07-08)
  6. TradeMap (2023–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08)
  7. United Nations | World Population Prospects (2026, retrieved 2026-07-08)
  8. 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.

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.