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Economy of Nauru vs Norway compared: GDP & Debt

Updated on by Georank

Nauru has a GDP of $176M compared to $531B for Norway, ranking 195/197 and 32/197 by economy size, respectively.

Nauru has $25.8M in government debt (14.6% of GDP), compared to $239B (45% of GDP) in Norway.

Nauru vs Norway GDP by year

Nauru
Norway
1x
Year GDP, current $
Nauru Norway
2025 $176,040,044 $530,755,719,439
2024 $167,833,415 $500,886,328,034
2023 $161,531,317 $502,197,633,323
2022 $180,671,357 $617,321,834,099
2021 $149,268,324 $521,592,200,233
2020 $124,685,688 $382,252,517,922
2019 $125,160,116 $424,244,886,364
2018 $130,995,566 $454,588,871,811
2017 $109,355,639 $415,673,181,543
2016 $97,541,943 $383,284,047,619
2015 $84,863,441 $400,669,174,331
2014 $99,149,244 $515,829,568,897
2013 $94,385,015 $540,132,255,319
2012 $101,055,723 $525,082,939,407
2011 $65,071,880 $512,868,581,628
2010 $47,562,845 $440,132,138,425
2009 $44,176,246 $395,664,488,017
2008 $37,602,265 $472,060,283,688
2007 $22,766,972 $407,813,774,161
2006 $29,200,359 $349,773,283,645
2005 $30,070,666 $311,417,306,946
2004 $30,587,566 $265,662,977,688
2003 $24,778,160 $229,192,678,173
2002 $21,017,424 $195,359,978,957
2001 $22,613,288 $173,590,978,347
2000 $26,930,980 $170,620,327,660
1999 $27,328,613 $161,304,620,987
1998 $29,664,451 $152,955,958,172
1997 $37,331,507 $160,013,571,974
1996 $37,458,801 $162,427,517,132
1995 $39,969,706 $151,083,627,983
1994 $39,742,511 $126,324,387,894
1993 $43,542,088 $119,841,699,440
1992 $51,133,123 $129,998,873,602
1991 $52,533,789 $121,149,331,318
1990 $55,572,376 $119,344,377,526
1989 $53,736,786 $102,226,808,603
1988 $45,931,134 $101,497,621,605
1987 $40,118,410 $93,913,320,965
1986 $39,939,391 $78,438,205,742
1985 $41,548,741 $65,211,464,198
1984 $47,363,231 $61,866,078,539
1983 $48,439,093 $61,417,685,434
1982 $52,877,742 $62,453,362,256
1981 $51,689,637 $63,392,804,251
1980 $46,947,124 $64,176,789,764
1979 $44,431,330 $52,935,763,512
1978 $41,754,147 $46,355,988,784
1977 $40,444,702 $41,362,637,363
1976 $40,287,427 $35,815,449,464
1975 $40,106,776 $32,742,543,381
1974 $35,994,511 $27,033,413,362
1973 $26,529,817 $22,433,660,550
1972 $21,734,269 $17,283,931,878
1971 $19,009,433 $14,523,306,736
1970 $17,570,366 $12,753,503,479
1969 - $11,083,505,596
1968 - $10,178,705,992
1967 - $9,532,076,026
1966 - $8,712,528,095
1965 - $8,073,570,566
1964 - $7,172,430,304
1963 - $6,522,268,053
1962 - $6,078,186,245
1961 - $5,642,867,672
1960 - $5,172,811,442

Data sources: World Bank | Economy & Growth (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08).

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

GDP per capita in Nauru vs Norway by year

Nauru
GDP per capita

GDP per capita, PPP
Norway
GDP per capita

GDP per capita, PPP
1x
Year Current $
Nauru Norway
GDP per capita GDP per capita, PPP GDP per capita GDP per capita, PPP
2025 $14,640 - $94,594 -
2024 $14,048 $14,173 $89,889 $102,038
2023 $13,603 $13,732 $90,984 $103,638
2022 $15,310 $13,245 $113,122 $125,490
2021 $12,748 $12,112 $96,443 $88,984
2020 $10,709 $10,811 $71,058 $67,111
2019 $10,802 $10,555 $79,329 $70,940
2018 $11,414 $9,657 $85,579 $70,254
2017 $9,657 $9,650 $78,771 $64,590
2016 $8,748 $10,281 $73,222 $59,280
2015 $7,747 $9,955 $77,221 $60,738
2014 $9,230 $9,726 $100,410 $66,332
2013 $8,975 $8,429 $106,333 $67,378
2012 $9,843 $8,153 $104,628 $65,774
2011 $6,444 $6,544 $103,545 $62,460
2010 $4,736 $5,620 $90,020 $58,213
2009 $4,411 $5,568 $81,940 $55,648
2008 $3,757 $5,863 $99,002 $62,073
2007 $2,272 $4,789 $86,600 $56,179
2006 $2,910 $5,975 $75,048 $54,358
2005 $2,992 $5,336 $67,358 $47,967
2004 $3,041 $5,169 $57,855 $42,667
2003 $2,463 $5,261 $50,208 $38,680
2002 $2,085 $5,132 $43,048 $38,056
2001 $2,232 $5,587 $38,458 $37,829
2000 $2,649 $5,838 $37,992 $36,994
1999 $2,683 $6,118 $36,151 $30,574
1998 $2,909 $6,450 $34,516 $28,200
1997 $3,661 $7,231 $36,324 $28,610
1996 $3,679 $7,818 $37,073 $26,826
1995 $3,932 $8,726 $34,659 $24,360
1994 $3,921 $9,308 $29,130 $23,027
1993 $4,310 $9,513 $27,793 $21,584
1992 $5,103 $11,167 $30,328 $20,623
1991 $5,333 $13,265 $28,427 $19,580
1990 $5,776 $16,215 $28,137 $18,461
1989 $5,723 - $24,185 -
1988 $5,012 - $24,112 -
1987 $4,485 - $22,430 -
1986 $4,569 - $18,822 -
1985 $4,859 - $15,704 -
1984 $5,654 - $14,943 -
1983 $5,896 - $14,877 -
1982 $6,577 - $15,178 -
1981 $6,594 - $15,463 -
1980 $6,138 - $15,708 -
1979 $5,950 - $12,998 -
1978 $5,721 - $11,421 -
1977 $5,646 - $10,230 -
1976 $5,703 - $8,896 -
1975 $5,740 - $8,171 -
1974 $5,199 - $6,783 -
1973 $3,864 - $5,664 -
1972 $3,191 - $4,395 -
1971 $2,811 - $3,721 -
1970 $2,619 - $3,291 -
1969 - - $2,881 -
1968 - - $2,667 -
1967 - - $2,519 -
1966 - - $2,321 -
1965 - - $2,168 -
1964 - - $1,941 -
1963 - - $1,779 -
1962 - - $1,670 -
1961 - - $1,563 -
1960 - - $1,444 -

Data sources: World Bank | Economy & Growth (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08).

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

Nauru's GDP per capita is $14,640, ranking 74/197, compared to $94,594 in Norway, ranking 9/197. Adjusted for purchasing power (GDP per capita PPP), Nauru ranks 119th at $14,173, while Norway ranks 7th at $102,038.

Economic indicators

Nauru Norway
Gross domestic product
$176M
2025
$531B
2025
GDP rank
195/197
2025
32/197
2025
GDP growth
2.14%
2024-2025
1.09%
2024-2025
GDP per capita
$14,640
2025
$94,594
2025
GDP per capita rank
74/197
2025
9/197
2025
GDP per capita, PPP
$14,173
2024
$102,038
2024
GDP per capita PPP rank
119/197
2024
7/197
2024
Government debt
$25.8M
2025
$239B
2025
Debt-to-GDP ratio
14.6%
2025
45%
2025
Government debt per person
$2,145
2025
$42,567
2025
Government debt per person rank
118/185
2025
15/185
2025
Average annual personal income after taxes
$9,187
2026
$50,036
2026
Market capitalization of domestic companies n/a
$296B
2019
Number of millionaires n/a
348,000
2025
Number of billionaires n/a
17
2026
Income share by richest 10%
25.3%
2012
21.6%
2023
Income share by poorest 10%
3.4%
2012
3.6%
2023
Government expenditure, % of GDP
128.7%
2025
49.6%
2025
Consumer prices inflation
6.1%
2024-2025
3.06%
2024-2025
Central bank interest rate n/a
4.25%
2026
Unemployment rate
5.06%
2021
4.5%
2025
Population
12139
5660666

Spending and national debt comparison by year

Nauru
Spending

Debt
Norway
Spending

Debt
1x
Year % of GDP
Nauru Norway
Government spending Government debt Government spending Government debt
2025 128.7% 14.6% 49.6% 45%
2024 118.4% 16.9% 46.9% 52.8%
2023 111% 19.2% 44.2% 42.4%
2022 113.8% 18.9% 36.2% 34.8%
2021 109.5% 24.2% 44.7% 40.1%
2020 109.4% 56.3% 54.5% 44.3%
2019 106% 59.6% 48.4% 39%
2018 90.8% 71.1% 46.1% 38.1%
2017 102.3% 78% 47.6% 36.9%
2016 96% 86.3% 48.8% 36.7%
2015 85.4% 113% 46.7% 33.2%
2014 61.3% 147.7% 44% 28.8%
2013 66% 166.9% 42.3% 30.6%
2012 46% 157.3% 41.4% 30.2%
2011 44.7% 236.8% 42.3% 28.9%
2010 73.8% 298.9% 43.6% 42.1%
2009 68% 295.6% 44.7% 41.7%
2008 - - 39.2% 46.8%
2007 - - 40.5% 48.9%
2006 - - 40.1% 52.2%
2005 - - 41.6% 42.1%
2004 - - 44.7% 43.8%
2003 - - 47.7% 43.1%
2002 - - 46.3% 34%
2001 - - 43.4% 27.3%
2000 - - 41.5% 28.8%
1999 - - 46.7% 25.1%
1998 - - 48.2% 23.8%
1997 - - 45.9% 26%
1996 - - 47.4% 28.6%
1995 - - 49.6% 32.9%
1994 - - 49.7% 51%
1993 - - 50.5% 54%
1992 - - 51.6% 45.3%
1991 - - 50.3% 39.5%
1990 - - 49.1% 29.1%
1989 - - 52.2% 30.4%
1988 - - 52.6% 30.5%
1987 - - 50.5% 31.3%
1986 - - 48.1% 37.8%
1985 - - 44% 30.2%
1984 - - 44.5% 27.8%
1983 - - 46.4% 27.4%
1982 - - 46.6% 29.7%
1981 - - 46.1% 32.9%
1980 - - 46.1% 36.8%
1979 - - 47.2% 39.6%
1978 - - 47.9% 49.9%
1977 - - 46.5% 43.8%
1976 - - 45.2% 38.5%
1975 - - 43.5% 36.7%
1974 - - 42.2% 35.4%
1973 - - 42.3% 37.7%
1972 - - 42.2% 38.9%
1971 - - 40.7% 38.5%
1970 - - 38.9% 38.6%
1969 - - 38% 22.3%
1968 - - 36.2% 22.5%
1967 - - 34.9% 22.6%
1966 - - 33.5% 22.4%
1965 - - 32.9% 23%
1964 - - 32% 24.2%
1963 - - 31.9% 25.3%
1962 - - 30.6% 26.7%
1961 - - 20.4% 27.7%
1960 - - 18% 29.8%

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/norway | CC BY

In 2025, Nauru's government spending was $227M, accounting for 128.7% of its GDP, while Norway spent $263B, or 49.6% of GDP.

Debt-to-GDP ratio is 14.6% in Nauru and 45% in Norway, ranking 176/185 and 117/185, respectively.

Government deficit by year

Deficit/surplus
Nauru

Norway
1x
Year Deficit/surplus, % of GDP
Nauru Norway
2025 3.51% 9.34%
2024 28.9% 12.8%
2023 18.2% 15.9%
2022 20.5% 24.7%
2021 52.4% 9.93%
2020 42.8% -2.46%
2019 31% 6.28%
2018 29.6% 7.56%
2017 16.2% 4.79%
2016 18.9% 3.91%
2015 10.7% 5.8%
2014 29.6% 8.34%
2013 1.71% 10.3%
2012 8.12% 13.4%
2011 2.73% 13%
2010 0.09% 10.6%
2009 0.37% 10%
2008 - 18.3%
2007 - 16.8%
2006 - 17.7%
2005 - 14.7%
2004 - 10.8%
2003 - 7.21%
2002 - 9.05%
2001 - 13.2%
2000 - 15.1%
1999 - 5.75%
1998 - 3.09%
1997 - 7.41%
1996 - 6.05%
1995 - 2.98%
1994 - 0.04%
1993 - -1.65%
1992 - -2.08%
1991 - -0.12%
1990 - 1.96%
1989 - 1.81%
1988 - 2.65%
1987 - 4.56%
1986 - 5.87%
1985 - 9.84%
1984 - 6.97%
1983 - 6.03%
1982 - 3.96%
1981 - 4.82%
1980 - 5.38%
1979 - 2.16%
1978 - 0.94%
1977 - 1.01%
1976 - 2.2%
1975 - 2.88%
1974 - 4.06%
1973 - 4.99%
1972 - 3.93%
1971 - 3.71%
1970 - 2.83%
1969 - 3.57%
1968 - 3.38%
1967 - 4.19%
1966 - 3.59%
1965 - 2.78%
1964 - 3.08%
1963 - 2.6%
1962 - 4%
1961 - -0.7%
1960 - 1.42%
1959 - 1.89%
1958 - 1.7%
1957 - 1.55%
1956 - 1.22%
1955 - 0.82%
1954 - -0.54%
1953 - 1.3%
1952 - 2.15%
1951 - 1.59%
1950 - -0.89%
1949 - -0.72%
1948 - -0.35%
1947 - -4.66%
1946 - -3.82%
1945 - -
1944 - -
1943 - -
1942 - -
1941 - -
1940 - -
1939 - -0.54%
1938 - 0.03%
1937 - -0.16%
1936 - -0.7%
1935 - -1.1%
1934 - -0.59%
1933 - -1.29%
1932 - -1.14%
1931 - -1.15%
1930 - -0.46%
1929 - -0.83%
1928 - -0.81%
1927 - -0.76%
1926 - -1.59%
1925 - -1.92%
1924 - -2.96%
1923 - -3.58%
1922 - -4.28%
1921 - -5.47%
1920 - -1.15%
1919 - -2.11%
1918 - -1.17%
1917 - 0.2%
1916 - -0.36%
1915 - -2.04%
1914 - -1.09%
1913 - -0.9%
1912 - -0.89%
1911 - -0.05%
1910 - 0.3%
1909 - -0.52%
1908 - -0.06%
1907 - 0.16%
1906 - -0.59%
1905 - -0.52%
1904 - -0.75%
1903 - -1.12%
1902 - -1.52%
1901 - -1.41%
1900 - -1.99%
1899 - -1.35%
1898 - -1.39%
1897 - -0.63%
1896 - -1.57%
1895 - -1.66%
1894 - -1.13%
1893 - -1.25%
1892 - -0.94%
1891 - -0.44%
1890 - -0.2%
1889 - -0.07%
1888 - -0.23%
1887 - -0.17%
1886 - -0.2%
1885 - -0.005%
1884 - -0.08%
1883 - -0.17%
1882 - -0.62%
1881 - -1.13%

Data sources: International Monetary Fund (IMF) | Public Finances in Modern History (1881–1989, retrieved 2026-07-08); International Monetary Fund (IMF) | Fiscal Monitor (1990–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08).

GeoRank.org/economy/nauru/norway | 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 Norway's surplus of $49.6B, or 9.34% of GDP.

Over the past 17 years, Nauru recorded a fiscal deficit in 0 of those years, while Norway ran a deficit in 1 years. On average, Nauru posted an annual surplus equal to 18.5% of GDP, compared to surplus of 9.65% of GDP for Norway.

Inflation comparison by year

Inflation
Nauru

Norway
1x
Year Consumer prices inflation
Nauru Norway
2025 6.1% 3.06%
2024 9.3% 3.15%
2023 4.8% 5.52%
2022 1.1% 5.76%
2021 2% 3.48%
2020 0.9% 1.29%
2019 4.1% 2.17%
2018 1.1% 2.76%
2017 4.5% 1.88%
2016 8.1% 3.55%
2015 9.8% 2.17%
2014 0.3% 2.04%
2013 -1.1% 2.12%
2012 0.3% 0.7%
2011 -3.4% 1.28%
2010 -2% 2.42%
2009 22.4% 2.2%
2008 1% 3.75%
2007 5.6% 0.71%
2006 19.3% 2.33%
2005 8.7% 1.53%
2004 - 0.45%
2003 - 2.49%
2002 - 1.29%
2001 - 3%
2000 - 3.09%
1999 - 2.37%
1998 - 2.25%
1997 - 2.57%

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/norway | CC BY

Over the past 21 years, Nauru has recorded an average annual inflation rate of 4.9%, compared with 2.57% in Norway. In 2025, inflation was 6.1% in Nauru and 3.06% in Norway.

Top exports between countries

Nauru
Export category Export value
Textiles & consumer goods $60K
Norway
Export category Export value
Textiles & consumer goods $1K

Balance of trade

Nauru Norway
Current account balance
$9.73M
2024
$74.1B
2025
Current account balance ranking
69/190
2024
10/190
2025
Current account balance, % of GDP
+5.8%
2024
+14%
2025
Goods imports
$92.7M
2024
$105B
2025
Goods exports
$25.5M
2024
$177B
2025
Service imports
$88.2M
2024
$73.9B
2025
Service exports
$64.6M
2024
$63.5B
2025
Imports of goods and services, % of GDP
103.7%
2025
33.7%
2025
Exports of goods and services, % of GDP
61.8%
2025
45.4%
2025

Economic freedom indices

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

Nauru Norway
Economic freedom 60 78.8
Economic freedom ranking 97/197 9/197
Property rights n/a 99.6
Government integrity n/a 94.3
Judicial effectiveness n/a 96.4
Tax burden n/a 63.3
Government spending n/a 42
Fiscal health n/a 96.4
Business freedom n/a 91.2
Labor freedom n/a 69.3
Monetary freedom n/a 72.4
Trade freedom n/a 85.6
Investment freedom n/a 75
Financial freedom n/a 60

Other economic metrics

Nauru Norway
Services, % of GDP n/a
55%
2025
Industry, % of GDP n/a
34.5%
2025
Agriculture, forestry, and fishing, % of GDP n/a
1.64%
2025
GNI, Atlas method
$249M
2025
$546B
2025
GNI per capita, PPP
$20,200
2025
$107,770
2025
Total reserves including gold n/a
$85.5B
2025
Total reserves ranking n/a
34/177
2025
Net foreign direct investment
$4.51M
2024
$8.93B
2025
Net inflows of foreign direct investment
-$5.85M
2024
$12.1B
2024
Net outflows of foreign direct investment
-$1.34M
2024
$5.62B
2024
Poverty at national poverty lines n/a
12.2%
2021
Gross capital formation, % of GDP n/a
23.2%
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/norway | 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 (1881–1989, 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 (2022–2025, 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.