Nauru has a GDP of $163M compared to $31.8B for Papua New Guinea, ranking 195/197 and 110/197 by economy size, respectively.
Nauru has $28.3M in government debt (17.4% of GDP), compared to $16.6B (52.1% of GDP) in Papua New Guinea.
Nauru vs Papua New Guinea GDP by year
| Year | GDP, current $ | |
|---|---|---|
Nauru
|
Papua New Guinea
|
|
| 2024 | $162,588,621 | $31,800,428,266 |
| 2023 | $151,435,610 | $30,816,367,067 |
| 2022 | $152,373,434 | $31,653,185,953 |
| 2021 | $175,390,281 | $26,109,413,521 |
| 2020 | $124,685,688 | $23,848,447,850 |
| 2019 | $125,160,116 | $24,750,626,030 |
| 2018 | $130,995,566 | $24,109,780,708 |
| 2017 | $109,355,639 | $22,742,699,138 |
| 2016 | $97,541,943 | $20,758,876,953 |
| 2015 | $84,863,441 | $21,723,437,010 |
| 2014 | $99,149,244 | $23,210,823,987 |
| 2013 | $94,385,015 | $21,261,338,065 |
| 2012 | $101,055,723 | $21,295,168,666 |
| 2011 | $65,071,880 | $17,985,138,066 |
| 2010 | $47,562,845 | $14,250,786,675 |
| 2009 | $44,176,246 | $11,619,456,449 |
| 2008 | $37,602,265 | $11,670,892,801 |
| 2007 | $22,766,972 | $9,545,028,944 |
| 2006 | $29,200,359 | $8,354,911,041 |
| 2005 | $30,070,666 | $4,865,892,972 |
| 2004 | $30,587,566 | $3,927,157,867 |
| 2003 | $24,778,160 | $3,536,411,824 |
| 2002 | $21,017,424 | $2,999,511,040 |
| 2001 | $22,613,288 | $3,081,024,212 |
| 2000 | $26,930,980 | $3,521,339,699 |
| 1999 | $27,328,613 | $3,477,038,204 |
| 1998 | $29,664,451 | $3,789,443,015 |
| 1997 | $37,331,507 | $4,936,615,299 |
| 1996 | $37,458,801 | $5,155,311,077 |
| 1995 | $39,969,706 | $4,636,057,476 |
| 1994 | $39,742,511 | $5,502,786,070 |
| 1993 | $43,542,088 | $4,974,550,286 |
| 1992 | $51,133,123 | $4,377,980,510 |
| 1991 | $52,533,789 | $3,787,394,958 |
| 1990 | $55,572,376 | $3,219,729,083 |
| 1989 | $53,736,786 | $3,546,472,566 |
| 1988 | $45,931,134 | $3,656,177,881 |
| 1987 | $40,118,410 | $3,143,851,794 |
| 1986 | $39,939,391 | $2,647,995,602 |
| 1985 | $41,548,741 | $2,423,339,172 |
| 1984 | $47,363,231 | $2,552,662,617 |
| 1983 | $48,439,093 | $2,562,351,551 |
| 1982 | $52,877,742 | $2,368,719,683 |
| 1981 | $51,689,637 | $2,498,190,847 |
| 1980 | $46,947,124 | $2,545,808,456 |
| 1979 | $44,431,330 | $2,293,760,511 |
| 1978 | $41,754,147 | $1,947,878,831 |
| 1977 | $40,444,702 | $1,640,746,619 |
| 1976 | $40,287,427 | $1,511,843,235 |
| 1975 | $40,106,776 | $1,356,603,608 |
| 1974 | $35,994,511 | $1,467,417,672 |
| 1973 | $26,529,817 | $1,299,079,410 |
| 1972 | $21,734,269 | $858,761,926 |
| 1971 | $19,009,433 | $717,750,278 |
| 1970 | $17,570,366 | $645,568,215 |
| 1969 | - | $551,263,864 |
| 1968 | - | $485,184,190 |
| 1967 | - | $441,728,183 |
| 1966 | - | $390,992,063 |
| 1965 | - | $344,176,055 |
| 1964 | - | $305,312,049 |
| 1963 | - | $275,968,044 |
| 1962 | - | $261,184,042 |
| 1961 | - | $244,832,039 |
| 1960 | - | $230,496,037 |
Data sources: World Bank | Economy & Growth (1960–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06).
GeoRank.org/economy/nauru/papua-new-guinea | CC BY 
GDP per capita in Nauru vs Papua New Guinea by year
| Year | Current $ | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Nauru
|
Papua New Guinea
|
|||
| GDP per capita | GDP per capita, PPP | GDP per capita | GDP per capita, PPP | |
| 2024 | $13,609 | $14,173 | $3,007 | $4,875 |
| 2023 | $12,752 | $13,732 | $2,966 | $4,668 |
| 2022 | $12,912 | $13,245 | $3,102 | $4,420 |
| 2021 | $14,979 | $12,112 | $2,608 | $3,977 |
| 2020 | $10,709 | $10,811 | $2,430 | $3,900 |
| 2019 | $10,802 | $10,555 | $2,576 | $4,060 |
| 2018 | $11,414 | $9,657 | $2,566 | $3,910 |
| 2017 | $9,657 | $9,650 | $2,478 | $3,923 |
| 2016 | $8,748 | $10,281 | $2,316 | $3,813 |
| 2015 | $7,747 | $9,955 | $2,485 | $3,670 |
| 2014 | $9,230 | $9,726 | $2,723 | $3,500 |
| 2013 | $8,975 | $8,429 | $2,561 | $3,110 |
| 2012 | $9,843 | $8,153 | $2,635 | $3,026 |
| 2011 | $6,444 | $6,544 | $2,288 | $2,919 |
| 2010 | $4,736 | $5,620 | $1,867 | $2,912 |
| 2009 | $4,411 | $5,568 | $1,569 | $2,692 |
| 2008 | $3,757 | $5,863 | $1,625 | $2,583 |
| 2007 | $2,272 | $4,789 | $1,371 | $2,622 |
| 2006 | $2,910 | $5,975 | $1,238 | $2,444 |
| 2005 | $2,992 | $5,336 | $744 | $2,322 |
| 2004 | $3,041 | $5,169 | $621 | $2,187 |
| 2003 | $2,463 | $5,261 | $577 | $2,142 |
| 2002 | $2,085 | $5,132 | $506 | $2,125 |
| 2001 | $2,232 | $5,587 | $538 | $2,168 |
| 2000 | $2,649 | $5,838 | $636 | $2,196 |
| 1999 | $2,683 | $6,118 | $650 | $2,280 |
| 1998 | $2,909 | $6,450 | $733 | $2,285 |
| 1997 | $3,661 | $7,231 | $990 | $2,432 |
| 1996 | $3,679 | $7,818 | $1,071 | $2,578 |
| 1995 | $3,932 | $8,726 | $998 | $2,436 |
| 1994 | $3,921 | $9,308 | $1,228 | $2,558 |
| 1993 | $4,310 | $9,513 | $1,151 | $2,451 |
| 1992 | $5,103 | $11,167 | $1,051 | $2,100 |
| 1991 | $5,333 | $13,265 | $942 | $1,869 |
| 1990 | $5,776 | $16,215 | $826 | $1,703 |
| 1989 | $5,723 | - | $934 | - |
| 1988 | $5,012 | - | $985 | - |
| 1987 | $4,485 | - | $865 | - |
| 1986 | $4,569 | - | $745 | - |
| 1985 | $4,859 | - | $697 | - |
| 1984 | $5,654 | - | $750 | - |
| 1983 | $5,896 | - | $769 | - |
| 1982 | $6,577 | - | $726 | - |
| 1981 | $6,594 | - | $781 | - |
| 1980 | $6,138 | - | $813 | - |
| 1979 | $5,950 | - | $748 | - |
| 1978 | $5,721 | - | $648 | - |
| 1977 | $5,646 | - | $558 | - |
| 1976 | $5,703 | - | $525 | - |
| 1975 | $5,740 | - | $482 | - |
| 1974 | $5,199 | - | $533 | - |
| 1973 | $3,864 | - | $483 | - |
| 1972 | $3,191 | - | $327 | - |
| 1971 | $2,811 | - | $279.7 | - |
| 1970 | $2,619 | - | $257.6 | - |
| 1969 | - | - | $225.3 | - |
| 1968 | - | - | $202.9 | - |
| 1967 | - | - | $189 | - |
| 1966 | - | - | $171.1 | - |
| 1965 | - | - | $153.9 | - |
| 1964 | - | - | $139.5 | - |
| 1963 | - | - | $128.9 | - |
| 1962 | - | - | $124.7 | - |
| 1961 | - | - | $119.7 | - |
| 1960 | - | - | $115.5 | - |
Data sources: World Bank | Economy & Growth (1960–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06).
GeoRank.org/economy/nauru/papua-new-guinea | CC BY
Nauru's GDP per capita is $13,609, ranking 74/197, compared to $3,007 in Papua New Guinea, ranking 140/197. Adjusted for purchasing power (GDP per capita PPP), Nauru ranks 119th at $14,173, while Papua New Guinea ranks 159th at $4,875.
Economic indicators
|
Nauru
|
Papua New Guinea
|
|
|---|---|---|
| Gross domestic product |
$163M
2024 |
$31.8B
2024 |
| GDP rank |
195/197
2024 |
110/197
2024 |
| GDP growth |
1.39%
2023-2024 |
3.8%
2023-2024 |
| GDP per capita |
$13,609
2024 |
$3,007
2024 |
| GDP per capita rank |
74/197
2024 |
140/197
2024 |
| GDP per capita, PPP |
$14,173
2024 |
$4,875
2024 |
| GDP per capita PPP rank |
119/197
2024 |
159/197
2024 |
| Government debt |
$28.3M
2024 |
$16.6B
2024 |
| Debt-to-GDP ratio |
17.4%
2024 |
52.1%
2024 |
| Government debt per person |
$2,367
2024 |
$1,566
2024 |
| Government debt per person rank |
113/185
2024 |
129/185
2024 |
| Average annual personal income after taxes |
$8,783
2026 |
$2,362
2026 |
| Market capitalization of domestic companies | n/a |
$1.68B
2017 |
| Income share by richest 10% |
25.3%
2012 |
31%
2009 |
| Income share by poorest 10% |
3.4%
2012 |
1.9%
2009 |
| Government expenditure, % of GDP |
122.1%
2024 |
20.4%
2024 |
| Consumer prices inflation |
9.3%
2023-2024 |
0.6%
2023-2024 |
| Central bank interest rate | n/a |
5%
2025 |
| Unemployment rate |
5.06%
2021 |
2.69%
2022 |
| Population |
12125
|
11002753
|
Spending and national debt comparison by year
| Year | % of GDP | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Nauru
|
Papua New Guinea
|
|||
| Government spending | Government debt | Government spending | Government debt | |
| 2024 | 122.1% | 17.4% | 20.4% | 52.1% |
| 2023 | 118.1% | 20.5% | 22.3% | 53.9% |
| 2022 | 134.8% | 22.4% | 21.9% | 48.2% |
| 2021 | 93% | 20.5% | 22% | 52.6% |
| 2020 | 109.4% | 56.3% | 23.5% | 48.7% |
| 2019 | 106% | 59.6% | 21.3% | 38.2% |
| 2018 | 90.8% | 71.1% | 20.3% | 36.7% |
| 2017 | 102.3% | 78% | 18.4% | 32.5% |
| 2016 | 96% | 86.3% | 20.9% | 33.7% |
| 2015 | 85.4% | 113% | 22.8% | 29.9% |
| 2014 | 61.3% | 147.7% | 27.1% | 26.9% |
| 2013 | 66% | 166.9% | 27.6% | 24.9% |
| 2012 | 46% | 157.3% | 22.4% | 19.1% |
| 2011 | 44.7% | 236.8% | 19.7% | 16.3% |
| 2010 | 73.8% | 298.9% | 18.4% | 17.3% |
| 2009 | 68% | 295.6% | 24.7% | 21.7% |
| 2008 | - | - | 19.8% | 21.6% |
| 2007 | - | - | 18% | 22.2% |
| 2006 | - | - | 19.4% | 26% |
| 2005 | - | - | 20.6% | 31.6% |
| 2004 | - | - | 19.4% | 37.2% |
| 2003 | - | - | 18.7% | 40.4% |
| 2002 | - | - | 20.8% | 48.4% |
| 2001 | - | - | 21.6% | 47.7% |
| 2000 | - | - | 20.5% | 42.3% |
| 1999 | - | - | 21.4% | 41.8% |
| 1998 | - | - | 20% | 45.7% |
| 1997 | - | - | 20.6% | 43.9% |
| 1996 | - | - | 17.6% | 37.8% |
| 1995 | - | - | 17.1% | 36.6% |
| 1994 | - | - | 19.3% | 40.1% |
| 1993 | - | - | 23.5% | 30% |
| 1992 | - | - | 22.8% | 30.4% |
| 1991 | - | - | 22.4% | - |
| 1990 | - | - | 24.5% | - |
Data sources: International Monetary Fund (IMF) | Fiscal Monitor (1990–2024, retrieved 2026-02-20); International Monetary Fund (IMF) | Public Finances in Modern History (1992–1993, retrieved 2026-02-20).
GeoRank.org/economy/nauru/papua-new-guinea | CC BY
In 2024, Nauru's government spending was $199M, accounting for 122.1% of its GDP, while Papua New Guinea spent $6.48B, or 20.4% of GDP.
Debt-to-GDP ratio is 17.4% in Nauru and 52.1% in Papua New Guinea, ranking 176/185 and 100/185, respectively.
Government deficit by year
| Year | Deficit/surplus, % of GDP | |
|---|---|---|
|
Nauru
|
Papua New Guinea
|
|
| 2024 | 29.8% | -3.23% |
| 2023 | 19.4% | -4.34% |
| 2022 | 24.3% | -5.25% |
| 2021 | 44.5% | -6.84% |
| 2020 | 42.8% | -8.85% |
| 2019 | 31% | -4.98% |
| 2018 | 29.6% | -2.58% |
| 2017 | 16.2% | -2.47% |
| 2016 | 18.9% | -4.75% |
| 2015 | 10.7% | -4.55% |
| 2014 | 29.6% | -6.27% |
| 2013 | 1.71% | -6.87% |
| 2012 | 8.12% | -1.19% |
| 2011 | 2.73% | 2.22% |
| 2010 | 0.09% | 3.06% |
| 2009 | 0.37% | -5.48% |
| 2008 | - | 2.73% |
| 2007 | - | 6.9% |
| 2006 | - | 5.34% |
| 2005 | - | 2.85% |
| 2004 | - | 2.03% |
| 2003 | - | 0.19% |
| 2002 | - | -1.75% |
| 2001 | - | -1.33% |
| 2000 | - | 0.3% |
| 1999 | - | -1.94% |
| 1998 | - | -0.16% |
| 1997 | - | 0.67% |
| 1996 | - | 2.05% |
| 1995 | - | 1.08% |
| 1994 | - | -1.01% |
| 1993 | - | -4.9% |
| 1992 | - | -4.33% |
| 1991 | - | -0.62% |
| 1990 | - | -2.04% |
Data sources: International Monetary Fund (IMF) | Fiscal Monitor (1990–2024, retrieved 2026-02-20).
GeoRank.org/economy/nauru/papua-new-guinea | CC BY
In 2024, Nauru's government surplus, the difference between spending and revenue, was $48.4M, equivalent to 29.8% of GDP. This compares to Papua New Guinea's deficit of $1.03B, or 3.23% of GDP.
Over the past 16 years, Nauru recorded a fiscal deficit in 0 of those years, while Papua New Guinea ran a deficit in 14 years. On average, Nauru posted an annual surplus equal to 19.4% of GDP, compared to deficit of 3.9% of GDP for Papua New Guinea.
Inflation comparison by year
| Year | Consumer prices inflation | |
|---|---|---|
|
Nauru
|
Papua New Guinea
|
|
| 2024 | 9.3% | 0.6% |
| 2023 | 4.8% | 2.3% |
| 2022 | 1.1% | 5.25% |
| 2021 | 2% | 4.48% |
| 2020 | 0.9% | 4.87% |
| 2019 | 4.1% | 3.93% |
| 2018 | 1.1% | 4.37% |
| 2017 | 4.5% | 5.42% |
| 2016 | 8.1% | 6.67% |
| 2015 | 9.8% | 6% |
| 2014 | 0.3% | 5.22% |
| 2013 | -1.1% | 4.96% |
| 2012 | 0.3% | 4.54% |
| 2011 | -3.4% | 4.44% |
| 2010 | -2% | 6.01% |
| 2009 | 22.4% | 6.92% |
| 2008 | 1% | 10.8% |
| 2007 | 5.6% | 0.91% |
| 2006 | 19.3% | 2.37% |
| 2005 | 8.7% | 1.78% |
| 2004 | - | 2.16% |
| 2003 | - | 14.7% |
| 2002 | - | 11.8% |
| 2001 | - | 9.3% |
| 2000 | - | 15.6% |
| 1999 | - | 14.9% |
| 1998 | - | 13.6% |
| 1997 | - | 3.96% |
Data sources: World Bank | Economy & Growth (1997–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06); International Monetary Fund (IMF) | World Economic Outlook (2005–2024, retrieved 2026-02-20).
GeoRank.org/economy/nauru/papua-new-guinea | CC BY
Over the past 20 years, Nauru has recorded an average annual inflation rate of 4.84%, compared with 4.59% in Papua New Guinea. In 2024, inflation was 9.3% in Nauru and 0.6% in Papua New Guinea.
Top exports between countries
|
Nauru
|
|
|---|---|
| Export category | Export value |
| Animal & marine products | $163K |
| Processed food, beverages & tobacco | $4K |
| Raw materials & minerals | $4K |
| Machinery & equipment | $3K |
| Chemicals & pharma | $1K |
|
Papua New Guinea
|
|
|---|---|
| Export category | Export value |
| Machinery & equipment | $37K |
| Textiles & consumer goods | $9K |
| Metals | $4K |
| Chemicals & pharma | $3K |
| Raw materials & minerals | $1K |
Balance of trade
|
Nauru
|
Papua New Guinea
|
|
|---|---|---|
|
Current account balance
|
$9.73M
2024 |
$4.77B
2024 |
| Current account balance ranking |
75/190
2024 |
33/190
2024 |
| Current account balance, % of GDP |
+5.98%
2024 |
+15%
2024 |
| Goods imports |
$92.7M
2024 |
$4.69B
2024 |
| Goods exports |
$25.5M
2024 |
$13.4B
2024 |
| Service imports |
$88.2M
2024 |
$2.4B
2024 |
| Service exports |
$64.6M
2024 |
$75.2M
2024 |
| Imports of goods and services, % of GDP |
110.5%
2024 |
58.9%
2004 |
| Exports of goods and services, % of GDP |
55.3%
2024 |
72.2%
2004 |
Economic freedom indices
The indices of economic freedom below are issued by the Heritage Foundation. Higher scores indicate stronger economic health.
|
Nauru
|
Papua New Guinea
|
|
|---|---|---|
| Economic freedom | 60 | 54.3 |
| Economic freedom ranking | 97/197 | 134/197 |
| Property rights | n/a | 45 |
| Government integrity | n/a | 30.8 |
| Judicial effectiveness | n/a | 41.1 |
| Tax burden | n/a | 70.9 |
| Government spending | n/a | 86.1 |
| Fiscal health | n/a | 65.3 |
| Business freedom | n/a | 34.2 |
| Labor freedom | n/a | 65.1 |
| Monetary freedom | n/a | 77.4 |
| Trade freedom | n/a | 80.2 |
| Investment freedom | n/a | 25 |
| Financial freedom | n/a | 30 |
Other economic metrics
|
Nauru
|
Papua New Guinea
|
|
|---|---|---|
| Services, % of GDP | n/a |
41.5%
2024 |
| Industry, % of GDP | n/a |
37.2%
2024 |
| Agriculture, forestry, and fishing, % of GDP | n/a |
17.2%
2024 |
|
GNI, Atlas method
|
$244M
2024 |
$30.7B
2024 |
| GNI per capita, PPP |
$21,970
2024 |
$4,580
2024 |
| Total reserves including gold | n/a |
$3.9B
2023 |
| Total reserves ranking | n/a |
107/177
2023 |
|
Net foreign direct investment
|
$4.51M
2024 |
$968M
2024 |
|
Net inflows of foreign direct investment
|
-$5.85M
2024 |
-$198M
2024 |
|
Net outflows of foreign direct investment
|
-$1.34M
2024 |
$770M
2024 |
|
Servicing debt to the IMF, % of GNI
|
n/a |
19.7%
2024 |
| Poverty at national poverty lines | n/a |
39.9%
2009 |
|
Gross capital formation, % of GDP
|
n/a |
20%
2004 |
GDP per capita map
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/nauru/papua-new-guinea | CC BY
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Data sources:
- World Bank | Economy & Growth (1960–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06)
- International Monetary Fund (IMF) | Fiscal Monitor (1990–2024, retrieved 2026-02-20)
- U.S. Census Bureau (1985–2024, retrieved 2026-02-08)
- The Heritage Foundation | Economic Freedom Index (2026, retrieved 2026-03-09)
- TradeMap (2020–2023, retrieved 2026-02-08)
- International Monetary Fund (IMF) | Public Finances in Modern History (1992–1993, retrieved 2026-02-20)
- United Nations | World Population Prospects (2026, retrieved 2026-03-10)
- 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.