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Economy of Nauru vs Seychelles compared: GDP & Debt

Updated on by Georank

Nauru has a GDP of $176M compared to $2.39B for the Seychelles, ranking 195/197 and 177/197 by economy size, respectively.

Nauru has $25.8M in government debt (14.6% of GDP), compared to $1.23B (51.5% of GDP) in the Seychelles.

Nauru vs Seychelles GDP by year

Nauru
Seychelles
1x
Year GDP, current $
Nauru Seychelles
2025 $176,040,044 $2,387,022,853
2024 $167,833,415 $2,228,608,684
2023 $161,531,317 $2,171,547,935
2022 $180,671,357 $1,999,888,599
2021 $149,268,324 $1,487,173,795
2020 $124,685,688 $1,382,551,752
2019 $125,160,116 $1,868,690,097
2018 $130,995,566 $1,784,313,927
2017 $109,355,639 $1,675,370,641
2016 $97,541,943 $1,568,513,348
2015 $84,863,441 $1,432,403,352
2014 $99,149,244 $1,387,577,870
2013 $94,385,015 $1,333,160,407
2012 $101,055,723 $1,089,407,839
2011 $65,071,880 $1,058,918,707
2010 $47,562,845 $981,616,542
2009 $44,176,246 $850,901,620
2008 $37,602,265 $979,597,394
2007 $22,766,972 $1,077,308,814
2006 $29,200,359 $1,081,441,283
2005 $30,070,666 $977,899,382
2004 $30,587,566 $893,012,218
2003 $24,778,160 $750,847,230
2002 $21,017,424 $742,134,838
2001 $22,613,288 $662,064,156
2000 $26,930,980 $654,212,394
1999 $27,328,613 $662,838,615
1998 $29,664,451 $647,287,376
1997 $37,331,507 $598,966,982
1996 $37,458,801 $535,250,347
1995 $39,969,706 $540,733,048
1994 $39,742,511 $517,570,058
1993 $43,542,088 $504,230,621
1992 $51,133,123 $461,409,399
1991 $52,533,789 $398,307,170
1990 $55,572,376 $392,163,561
1989 $53,736,786 $324,333,367
1988 $45,931,134 $301,985,618
1987 $40,118,410 $265,212,957
1986 $39,939,391 $221,147,061
1985 $41,548,741 $179,691,483
1984 $47,363,231 $160,992,921
1983 $48,439,093 $156,098,237
1982 $52,877,742 $157,211,790
1981 $51,689,637 $163,750,728
1980 $46,947,124 $156,783,830
1979 $44,431,330 $127,261,099
1978 $41,754,147 $85,552,366
1977 $40,444,702 $64,526,401
1976 $40,287,427 $49,278,982
1975 $40,106,776 $47,803,146
1974 $35,994,511 $43,134,496
1973 $26,529,817 $36,896,280
1972 $21,734,269 $30,645,123
1971 $19,009,433 $21,965,951
1970 $17,570,366 $18,432,032
1969 - $16,452,028
1968 - $16,074,028
1967 - $16,632,032
1966 - $16,443,034
1965 - $15,603,032
1964 - $15,393,032
1963 - $13,923,029
1962 - $12,642,026
1961 - $11,592,024
1960 - $12,012,025

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

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

GDP per capita in Nauru vs Seychelles by year

Nauru
GDP per capita

GDP per capita, PPP
Seychelles
GDP per capita

GDP per capita, PPP
1x
Year Current $
Nauru Seychelles
GDP per capita GDP per capita, PPP GDP per capita GDP per capita, PPP
2025 $14,640 - $19,449 -
2024 $14,048 $14,173 $18,365 $33,239
2023 $13,603 $13,732 $18,131 $31,781
2022 $15,310 $13,245 $16,683 $29,973
2021 $12,748 $12,112 $14,983 $29,980
2020 $10,709 $10,811 $14,041 $31,056
2019 $10,802 $10,555 $19,142 $34,219
2018 $11,414 $9,657 $18,440 $32,091
2017 $9,657 $9,650 $17,480 $30,675
2016 $8,748 $10,281 $16,567 $28,811
2015 $7,747 $9,955 $15,333 $25,435
2014 $9,230 $9,726 $15,188 $24,985
2013 $8,975 $8,429 $14,821 $22,487
2012 $9,843 $8,153 $12,337 $22,264
2011 $6,444 $6,544 $12,110 $21,781
2010 $4,736 $5,620 $10,935 $18,982
2009 $4,411 $5,568 $9,747 $18,453
2008 $3,757 $5,863 $11,265 $18,881
2007 $2,272 $4,789 $12,669 $19,473
2006 $2,910 $5,975 $12,783 $17,503
2005 $2,992 $5,336 $11,802 $15,846
2004 $3,041 $5,169 $10,828 $14,160
2003 $2,463 $5,261 $9,070 $14,142
2002 $2,085 $5,132 $8,864 $14,570
2001 $2,232 $5,587 $8,153 $14,615
2000 $2,649 $5,838 $8,064 $14,638
1999 $2,683 $6,118 $8,243 $13,853
1998 $2,909 $6,450 $8,210 $13,675
1997 $3,661 $7,231 $7,747 $13,458
1996 $3,679 $7,818 $7,004 $11,931
1995 $3,932 $8,726 $7,181 $10,809
1994 $3,921 $9,308 $6,975 $10,692
1993 $4,310 $9,513 $6,979 $11,020
1992 $5,103 $11,167 $6,520 $10,243
1991 $5,333 $13,265 $5,655 $9,387
1990 $5,776 $16,215 $5,642 $8,955
1989 $5,723 - $4,689 -
1988 $5,012 - $4,392 -
1987 $4,485 - $3,872 -
1986 $4,569 - $3,368 -
1985 $4,859 - $2,754 -
1984 $5,654 - $2,488 -
1983 $5,896 - $2,426 -
1982 $6,577 - $2,441 -
1981 $6,594 - $2,557 -
1980 $6,138 - $2,478 -
1979 $5,950 - $2,030 -
1978 $5,721 - $1,377 -
1977 $5,646 - $1,044 -
1976 $5,703 - $814 -
1975 $5,740 - $806 -
1974 $5,199 - $745 -
1973 $3,864 - $649 -
1972 $3,191 - $547 -
1971 $2,811 - $402 -
1970 $2,619 - $344 -
1969 - - $314 -
1968 - - $314 -
1967 - - $333 -
1966 - - $338 -
1965 - - $328 -
1964 - - $332 -
1963 - - $308 -
1962 - - $287 -
1961 - - $270.3 -
1960 - - $288.1 -

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

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

Nauru's GDP per capita is $14,640, ranking 74/197, compared to $19,449 in the Seychelles, ranking 64/197. Adjusted for purchasing power (GDP per capita PPP), Nauru ranks 119th at $14,173, while the Seychelles ranks 67th at $33,239.

Economic indicators

Nauru Seychelles
Gross domestic product
$176M
2025
$2.39B
2025
GDP rank
195/197
2025
177/197
2025
GDP growth
2.14%
2024-2025
5.8%
2024-2025
GDP per capita
$14,640
2025
$19,449
2025
GDP per capita rank
74/197
2025
64/197
2025
GDP per capita, PPP
$14,173
2024
$33,239
2024
GDP per capita PPP rank
119/197
2024
67/197
2024
Government debt
$25.8M
2025
$1.23B
2025
Debt-to-GDP ratio
14.6%
2025
51.5%
2025
Government debt per person
$2,145
2025
$10,019
2025
Government debt per person rank
118/185
2025
59/185
2025
Average annual personal income after taxes
$9,187
2026
$11,537
2026
Market capitalization of domestic companies n/a
$646M
2025
Income share by richest 10%
25.3%
2012
23.9%
2018
Income share by poorest 10%
3.4%
2012
2.6%
2018
Government expenditure, % of GDP
128.7%
2025
32.7%
2025
Consumer prices inflation
6.1%
2024-2025
0.3%
2024-2025
Central bank interest rate n/a
1.75%
2024
Unemployment rate
5.06%
2021
2.59%
2024
Population
12139
125859

Spending and national debt comparison by year

Nauru
Spending

Debt
Seychelles
Spending

Debt
1x
Year % of GDP
Nauru Seychelles
Government spending Government debt Government spending Government debt
2025 128.7% 14.6% 32.7% 51.5%
2024 118.4% 16.9% 33% 56.1%
2023 111% 19.2% 33.1% 55.1%
2022 113.8% 18.9% 31.6% 60.6%
2021 109.5% 24.2% 38.8% 71%
2020 109.4% 56.3% 46.7% 77.4%
2019 106% 59.6% 31.7% 48.9%
2018 90.8% 71.1% 33% 51.3%
2017 102.3% 78% 34.3% 56.7%
2016 96% 86.3% 34.5% 64.3%
2015 85.4% 113% 31.5% 75.4%
2014 61.3% 147.7% 33.4% 70.4%
2013 66% 166.9% 37.8% 68.2%
2012 46% 157.3% 38.6% 80.1%
2011 44.7% 236.8% 36.4% 82.5%
2010 73.8% 298.9% 34.6% 82.2%
2009 68% 295.6% 32.1% 106.1%
2008 - - 27% 192.1%
2007 - - 41.9% 144%
2006 - - 43.6% 135.1%
2005 - - 39% 144.1%
2004 - - 39.9% 163.2%
2003 - - 44.6% 177%
2002 - - 56.3% 195.9%
2001 - - 46.8% 199.8%
2000 - - 55.4% 177.8%
1999 - - 56.1% 159.8%
1998 - - 60.7% 161.2%
1997 - - 54.7% 143%
1996 - - 59.1% 146.7%
1995 - - 53.1% 133.5%
1994 - - 63.6% 123.5%
1993 - - 60.4% 82.2%
1992 - - 50.7% 79.9%
1991 - - 52.1% 89.2%
1990 - - 46.1% 80.4%
1989 - - 51.7% 39.9%
1988 - - 46.7% 41.3%
1987 - - 49.7% 37%
1986 - - 58% 31.5%
1985 - - 53% 26.5%
1984 - - 50.5% 15.3%
1983 - - 47.9% 12.4%

Data sources: International Monetary Fund (IMF) | Fiscal Monitor (1990–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08); International Monetary Fund (IMF) | Public Finances in Modern History (1983–1989, retrieved 2026-07-08).

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

In 2025, Nauru's government spending was $227M, accounting for 128.7% of its GDP, while the Seychelles spent $781M, or 32.7% of GDP.

Debt-to-GDP ratio is 14.6% in Nauru and 51.5% in the Seychelles, ranking 176/185 and 102/185, respectively.

Government deficit by year

Deficit/surplus
Nauru

Seychelles
1x
Year Deficit/surplus, % of GDP
Nauru Seychelles
2025 3.51% -0.99%
2024 28.9% -0.68%
2023 18.2% -1.15%
2022 20.5% -0.77%
2021 52.4% -5.76%
2020 42.8% -15.7%
2019 31% 0.42%
2018 29.6% -0.8%
2017 16.2% -1.67%
2016 18.9% 0.02%
2015 10.7% 1.39%
2014 29.6% 2.87%
2013 1.71% 0.33%
2012 8.12% 2.93%
2011 2.73% 3.36%
2010 0.09% 0.52%
2009 0.37% 4.84%
2008 - 7.88%
2007 - -9.93%
2006 - -2.54%
2005 - 0.42%
2004 - 0.44%
2003 - 3.4%
2002 - -16.3%
2001 - -8.93%
2000 - -14.7%
1999 - -10.3%
1998 - -16.7%
1997 - -5.91%
1996 - -9.69%
1995 - -2.58%
1994 - -6.95%
1993 - -3.62%
1992 - 6.44%
1991 - 3.15%
1990 - 11.9%
1989 - 8.26%
1988 - 11.8%
1987 - 2.77%
1986 - -10.1%
1985 - -4.86%
1984 - -6.09%
1983 - -3.13%

Data sources: International Monetary Fund (IMF) | Fiscal Monitor (1990–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08); International Monetary Fund (IMF) | Public Finances in Modern History (1983–1989, retrieved 2026-07-08).

GeoRank.org/economy/nauru/seychelles | 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 Seychelles' deficit of $23.5M, or 0.99% of GDP.

Over the past 17 years, Nauru recorded a fiscal deficit in 0 of those years, while the Seychelles ran a deficit in 8 years. On average, Nauru posted an annual surplus equal to 18.5% of GDP, compared to deficit of 0.64% of GDP for the Seychelles.

Inflation comparison by year

Inflation
Nauru

Seychelles
1x
Year Consumer prices inflation
Nauru Seychelles
2025 6.1% 0.3%
2024 9.3% 0.31%
2023 4.8% -1.04%
2022 1.1% 2.63%
2021 2% 9.77%
2020 0.9% 1.2%
2019 4.1% 1.81%
2018 1.1% 3.7%
2017 4.5% 2.86%
2016 8.1% -1.02%
2015 9.8% 4.04%
2014 0.3% 1.39%
2013 -1.1% 4.34%
2012 0.3% 7.11%
2011 -3.4% 2.56%
2010 -2% -2.4%
2009 22.4% 31.8%
2008 1% 37%
2007 5.6% 5.32%
2006 19.3% -0.35%
2005 8.7% 0.91%
2004 - 3.86%
2003 - 3.3%
2002 - 0.18%
2001 - 5.97%
2000 - 6.27%
1999 - 6.35%
1998 - 2.58%
1997 - 0.62%

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/seychelles | CC BY

Over the past 21 years, Nauru has recorded an average annual inflation rate of 4.9%, compared with 5.34% in the Seychelles. In 2025, inflation was 6.1% in Nauru and 0.3% in the Seychelles.

Balance of trade

Nauru Seychelles
Current account balance
$9.73M
2024
-$166M
2024
Current account balance ranking
69/190
2024
90/190
2024
Current account balance, % of GDP
+5.8%
2024
-7.46%
2024
Goods imports
$92.7M
2024
$1.38B
2024
Goods exports
$25.5M
2024
$595M
2024
Service imports
$88.2M
2024
$1B
2024
Service exports
$64.6M
2024
$1.71B
2024
Imports of goods and services, % of GDP
103.7%
2025
92.7%
2025
Exports of goods and services, % of GDP
61.8%
2025
79.6%
2025

Economic freedom indices

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

Nauru Seychelles
Economic freedom 60 66.5
Economic freedom ranking 97/197 60/197
Property rights n/a 82.6
Government integrity n/a 71.7
Judicial effectiveness n/a 61.7
Tax burden n/a 77.3
Government spending n/a 68
Fiscal health n/a 92.2
Business freedom n/a 71.3
Labor freedom n/a 52
Monetary freedom n/a 79.8
Trade freedom n/a 81.2
Investment freedom n/a 30
Financial freedom n/a 30

Other economic metrics

Nauru Seychelles
Services, % of GDP n/a
67.9%
2025
Industry, % of GDP n/a
14.3%
2025
Agriculture, forestry, and fishing, % of GDP n/a
2.61%
2025
GNI, Atlas method
$249M
2025
$2.36B
2025
GNI per capita, PPP
$20,200
2025
$34,930
2025
Total reserves including gold n/a
$774M
2024
Total reserves ranking n/a
146/177
2024
Net foreign direct investment
$4.51M
2024
-$268M
2024
Net inflows of foreign direct investment
-$5.85M
2024
$226M
2024
Net outflows of foreign direct investment
-$1.34M
2024
-$41.4M
2024
Poverty at national poverty lines n/a
25.3%
2018
Gross capital formation, % of GDP n/a
18.7%
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/seychelles | CC BY

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Data sources:

  1. World Bank | Economy & Growth (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08)
  2. International Monetary Fund (IMF) | Fiscal Monitor (1990–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08)
  3. U.S. Census Bureau (1985–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08)
  4. International Monetary Fund (IMF) | Public Finances in Modern History (1983–1989, retrieved 2026-07-08)
  5. The Heritage Foundation | Economic Freedom Index (2026, retrieved 2026-07-08)
  6. United Nations | World Population Prospects (2026, retrieved 2026-07-08)
  7. 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.