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Economy of Nauru vs Switzerland compared: GDP & Debt

Updated on by Georank team

Nauru has a GDP of $163M compared to $937B for Switzerland, ranking 195/197 and 20/197 by economy size, respectively.

Nauru has $28.3M in government debt (17.4% of GDP), compared to $351B (37.5% of GDP) in Switzerland.

Nauru vs Switzerland GDP by year

Nauru
Switzerland
1x
Year GDP, current $
Nauru Switzerland
2024 $162,588,621 $936,564,198,049
2023 $151,435,610 $894,424,821,645
2022 $152,373,434 $828,508,926,958
2021 $175,390,281 $815,309,330,987
2020 $124,685,688 $741,999,406,006
2019 $125,160,116 $721,369,112,727
2018 $130,995,566 $725,568,717,468
2017 $109,355,639 $695,200,833,086
2016 $97,541,943 $687,895,460,903
2015 $84,863,441 $694,118,186,380
2014 $99,149,244 $726,537,808,338
2013 $94,385,015 $706,234,937,371
2012 $101,055,723 $686,420,221,558
2011 $65,071,880 $715,888,126,682
2010 $47,562,845 $598,851,028,907
2009 $44,176,246 $554,212,916,092
2008 $37,602,265 $567,267,767,519
2007 $22,766,972 $490,740,715,595
2006 $29,200,359 $441,634,672,197
2005 $30,070,666 $418,284,865,885
2004 $30,587,566 $403,912,891,033
2003 $24,778,160 $362,075,086,508
2002 $21,017,424 $309,301,422,430
2001 $22,613,288 $286,582,672,434
2000 $26,930,980 $279,216,033,870
1999 $27,328,613 $297,873,643,323
1998 $29,664,451 $303,459,014,347
1997 $37,331,507 $294,788,198,856
1996 $37,458,801 $340,103,959,547
1995 $39,969,706 $352,835,806,342
1994 $39,742,511 $301,375,055,202
1993 $43,542,088 $272,237,527,071
1992 $51,133,123 $279,921,425,828
1991 $52,533,789 $268,901,693,863
1990 $55,572,376 $265,763,573,999
1989 $53,736,786 $208,105,846,934
1988 $45,931,134 $215,540,625,299
1987 $40,118,410 $199,236,370,038
1986 $39,939,391 $159,089,921,063
1985 $41,548,741 $110,980,314,192
1984 $47,363,231 $109,455,312,168
1983 $48,439,093 $114,634,358,535
1982 $52,877,742 $115,043,365,512
1981 $51,689,637 $112,244,805,519
1980 $46,947,124 $122,557,843,886
1979 $44,431,330 $114,970,094,425
1978 $41,754,147 $102,280,472,036
1977 $40,444,702 $73,135,771,167
1976 $40,287,427 $68,476,524,644
1975 $40,106,776 $65,466,081,819
1974 $35,994,511 $57,103,011,446
1973 $26,529,817 $49,550,006,320
1972 $21,734,269 $36,844,318,854
1971 $19,009,433 $30,040,171,751
1970 $17,570,366 $24,998,066,773
1969 - $22,442,043,274
1968 - $20,712,102,794
1967 - $19,397,044,714
1966 - $18,019,402,374
1965 - $16,780,226,225
1964 - $15,833,133,858
1963 - $14,283,872,299
1962 - $12,989,649,694
1961 - $11,713,348,834
1960 - $10,412,232,621

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

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

GDP per capita in Nauru vs Switzerland by year

Nauru
GDP per capita

GDP per capita, PPP
Switzerland
GDP per capita

GDP per capita, PPP
1x
Year Current $
Nauru Switzerland
GDP per capita GDP per capita, PPP GDP per capita GDP per capita, PPP
2024 $13,609 $14,173 $103,998 $96,498
2023 $12,752 $13,732 $100,624 $95,142
2022 $12,912 $13,245 $94,395 $94,421
2021 $14,979 $12,112 $93,665 $81,001
2020 $10,709 $10,811 $85,898 $72,998
2019 $10,802 $10,555 $84,122 $73,732
2018 $11,414 $9,657 $85,217 $70,689
2017 $9,657 $9,650 $82,254 $68,194
2016 $8,748 $10,281 $82,153 $67,351
2015 $7,747 $9,955 $83,806 $65,265
2014 $9,230 $9,726 $88,725 $63,417
2013 $8,975 $8,429 $87,304 $61,656
2012 $9,843 $8,153 $85,836 $59,441
2011 $6,444 $6,544 $90,477 $57,494
2010 $4,736 $5,620 $76,531 $54,426
2009 $4,411 $5,568 $71,568 $52,999
2008 $3,757 $5,863 $74,175 $53,809
2007 $2,272 $4,789 $64,989 $50,928
2006 $2,910 $5,975 $59,011 $46,266
2005 $2,992 $5,336 $56,243 $41,525
2004 $3,041 $5,169 $54,659 $40,171
2003 $2,463 $5,261 $49,336 $38,732
2002 $2,085 $5,132 $42,459 $38,705
2001 $2,232 $5,587 $39,639 $37,819
2000 $2,649 $5,838 $38,865 $36,703
1999 $2,683 $6,118 $41,696 $34,743
1998 $2,909 $6,450 $42,681 $33,860
1997 $3,661 $7,231 $41,584 $32,736
1996 $3,679 $7,818 $48,093 $31,509
1995 $3,932 $8,726 $50,114 $30,842
1994 $3,921 $9,308 $43,092 $30,265
1993 $4,310 $9,513 $39,237 $29,495
1992 $5,103 $11,167 $40,714 $29,113
1991 $5,333 $13,265 $39,544 $28,792
1990 $5,776 $16,215 $39,575 $28,461
1989 $5,723 - $31,309 -
1988 $5,012 - $32,690 -
1987 $4,485 - $30,441 -
1986 $4,569 - $24,460 -
1985 $4,859 - $17,152 -
1984 $5,654 - $16,991 -
1983 $5,896 - $17,859 -
1982 $6,577 - $18,000 -
1981 $6,594 - $17,665 -
1980 $6,138 - $19,394 -
1979 $5,950 - $18,266 -
1978 $5,721 - $16,282 -
1977 $5,646 - $11,644 -
1976 $5,703 - $10,865 -
1975 $5,740 - $10,328 -
1974 $5,199 - $9,005 -
1973 $3,864 - $7,856 -
1972 $3,191 - $5,885 -
1971 $2,811 - $4,835 -
1970 $2,619 - $4,044 -
1969 - - $3,657 -
1968 - - $3,413 -
1967 - - $3,237 -
1966 - - $3,045 -
1965 - - $2,865 -
1964 - - $2,735 -
1963 - - $2,508 -
1962 - - $2,330 -
1961 - - $2,155 -
1960 - - $1,954 -

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

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

Nauru's GDP per capita is $13,609, ranking 74/197, compared to $103,998 in Switzerland, ranking 5/197. Adjusted for purchasing power (GDP per capita PPP), Nauru ranks 119th at $14,173, while Switzerland ranks 8th at $96,498.

Economic indicators

Nauru Switzerland
Gross domestic product
$163M
2024
$937B
2024
GDP rank
195/197
2024
20/197
2024
GDP growth
1.39%
2023-2024
1.3%
2023-2024
GDP per capita
$13,609
2024
$103,998
2024
GDP per capita rank
74/197
2024
5/197
2024
GDP per capita, PPP
$14,173
2024
$96,498
2024
GDP per capita PPP rank
119/197
2024
8/197
2024
Government debt
$28.3M
2024
$351B
2024
Debt-to-GDP ratio
17.4%
2024
37.5%
2024
Government debt per person
$2,367
2024
$39,021
2024
Government debt per person rank
113/185
2024
15/185
2024
Average annual personal income after taxes
$8,783
2026
$85,867
2026
Market capitalization of domestic companies n/a
$1.97T
2024
Number of millionaires n/a
1,119,000
2025
Number of billionaires n/a
42
2025
Income share by richest 10%
25.3%
2012
26.6%
2022
Income share by poorest 10%
3.4%
2012
2.9%
2022
Government expenditure, % of GDP
122.1%
2024
31.9%
2024
Consumer prices inflation
9.3%
2023-2024
1.06%
2023-2024
Central bank interest rate n/a
0%
2025
Unemployment rate
5.06%
2021
4.34%
2024
Population
12125
9107866

Spending and national debt comparison by year

Nauru
Spending

Debt
Switzerland
Spending

Debt
1x
Year % of GDP
Nauru Switzerland
Government spending Government debt Government spending Government debt
2024 122.1% 17.4% 31.9% 37.5%
2023 118.1% 20.5% 32.1% 38.7%
2022 134.8% 22.4% 31.6% 37.2%
2021 93% 20.5% 34.4% 41%
2020 109.4% 56.3% 37% 43.2%
2019 106% 59.6% 32% 39.6%
2018 90.8% 71.1% 31.7% 39.8%
2017 102.3% 78% 32.4% 41.8%
2016 96% 86.3% 32.4% 40.9%
2015 85.4% 113% 32.5% 42.2%
2014 61.3% 147.7% 32.2% 42.1%
2013 66% 166.9% 32.5% 41.9%
2012 46% 157.3% 31.7% 42.6%
2011 44.7% 236.8% 31.4% 41.9%
2010 73.8% 298.9% 31.4% 41.5%
2009 68% 295.6% 31.8% 43.1%
2008 - - 30% 44.8%
2007 - - 29.4% 44.8%
2006 - - 30.5% 48.5%
2005 - - 32.4% 54.9%
2004 - - 33.1% 57.8%
2003 - - 33.2% 56.9%
2002 - - 34.1% 57.7%
2001 - - 31.6% 51.1%
2000 - - 32.2% 52.2%
1999 - - 33.2% 52.7%
1998 - - 32.7% 55.9%
1997 - - 32.9% 53.7%
1996 - - 33% 51.3%
1995 - - 32.4% 50%
1994 - - 32.5% 47.1%
1993 - - 32.5% 44.4%
1992 - - 31.3% 39.5%
1991 - - 29.5% 35.1%
1990 - - 27.6% 33.3%
1989 - - 30% 32.5%
1988 - - 30.3% 35%
1987 - - 29.8% 36.5%
1986 - - 29.8% 37.6%
1985 - - 30.1% 39.1%
1984 - - 30.4% 39.8%
1983 - - 31.2% 40.2%
1982 - - 30.5% 40%
1981 - - 29.4% 40.8%
1980 - - 29.9% 43.9%
1979 - - 30.5% 44.6%
1978 - - 30.4% 46.6%
1977 - - 31% 46.9%
1976 - - 31.6% 46.7%
1975 - - 29.3% 42.3%
1974 - - 27.5% 38.4%
1973 - - 26.5% 37%
1972 - - 25.7% 38%
1971 - - 25.4% 38.7%
1970 - - 25.8% 38.9%
1969 - - 9.45% 7.08%
1968 - - 8.87% 6.99%
1967 - - 8.68% 7.26%
1966 - - 8.95% 7.62%
1965 - - 8.33% 8.28%
1964 - - 8.85% 9.43%
1963 - - 8.2% 10.8%
1962 - - 8.1% 12%
1961 - - 7.97% 14%
1960 - - 7.11% 16.2%

Data sources: International Monetary Fund (IMF) | Fiscal Monitor (1990–2024, retrieved 2026-02-20); International Monetary Fund (IMF) | Public Finances in Modern History (1960–1989, retrieved 2026-02-20).

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

In 2024, Nauru's government spending was $199M, accounting for 122.1% of its GDP, while Switzerland spent $299B, or 31.9% of GDP.

Debt-to-GDP ratio is 17.4% in Nauru and 37.5% in Switzerland, ranking 176/185 and 141/185, respectively.

Government deficit by year

Deficit/surplus
Nauru

Switzerland
1x
Year Deficit/surplus, % of GDP
Nauru Switzerland
2024 29.8% 0.58%
2023 19.4% 0.12%
2022 24.3% 1.19%
2021 44.5% -0.29%
2020 42.8% -3.01%
2019 31% 1.34%
2018 29.6% 1.29%
2017 16.2% 1.13%
2016 18.9% 0.24%
2015 10.7% 0.55%
2014 29.6% -0.25%
2013 1.71% -0.43%
2012 8.12% 0.24%
2011 2.73% 0.68%
2010 0.09% 0.35%
2009 0.37% 0.5%
2008 - 1.93%
2007 - 1.57%
2006 - 0.85%
2005 - -0.65%
2004 - -1.39%
2003 - -1.36%
2002 - -1.75%
2001 - 0.21%
2000 - 0.28%
1999 - -1.57%
1998 - -1.31%
1997 - -2.33%
1996 - -2.01%
1995 - -1.86%
1994 - -2.59%
1993 - -3.15%
1992 - -2.96%
1991 - -1.85%
1990 - -0.05%
1989 - 0.2%
1988 - 0.42%
1987 - 0.78%
1986 - 0.93%
1985 - -0.25%
1984 - -0.52%
1983 - -1.23%
1982 - -1.21%
1981 - -0.54%
1980 - -1.34%
1979 - -1.79%
1978 - -1.12%
1977 - -1.64%
1976 - -1.89%
1975 - -0.93%
1974 - -1.01%
1973 - -0.93%
1972 - -1.39%
1971 - -1.41%
1970 - -1.44%
1969 - -0.98%
1968 - -0.73%
1967 - -1.07%
1966 - -0.87%
1965 - 0.05%
1964 - 0.77%
1963 - 0.25%
1962 - 0.95%
1961 - 0.34%
1960 - 1.95%
1959 - 0.72%
1958 - 0.59%
1957 - 0.66%
1956 - 2.24%
1955 - 1.1%
1954 - 1.44%
1953 - 0.38%
1952 - -1.17%
1951 - -0.36%
1950 - 1.49%
1949 - 0.04%
1948 - 1.37%
1947 - 1.27%
1946 - 0.52%
1945 - -7.57%
1944 - -9.37%
1943 - -8.55%
1942 - -7.28%
1941 - -8.78%
1940 - -10%
1939 - -5.05%
1938 - -1.53%
1937 - -0.17%
1936 - -0.33%
1935 - -0.23%
1934 - -0.33%
1933 - -0.88%
1932 - -0.3%
1931 - 0.03%
1930 - 0.07%
1929 - 0.22%
1928 - -
1927 - -
1926 - -
1925 - -
1924 - -
1923 - -
1922 - -
1921 - -
1920 - -
1919 - -
1918 - -
1917 - -
1916 - -
1915 - -
1914 - -
1913 - -0.12%
1912 - 0.03%
1911 - -0.006%
1910 - -0.14%
1909 - -0.78%
1908 - -0.1%
1907 - -0.02%
1906 - 0.15%
1905 - 0.41%
1904 - 0.002%
1903 - 0.09%
1902 - 0.02%
1901 - -0.14%
1900 - -0.07%
1899 - 0.1%

Data sources: International Monetary Fund (IMF) | Public Finances in Modern History (1899–1989, retrieved 2026-02-20); International Monetary Fund (IMF) | Fiscal Monitor (1990–2024, retrieved 2026-02-20).

GeoRank.org/economy/nauru/switzerland | 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 Switzerland's surplus of $5.4B, or 0.58% of GDP.

Over the past 16 years, Nauru recorded a fiscal deficit in 0 of those years, while Switzerland ran a deficit in 4 years. On average, Nauru posted an annual surplus equal to 19.4% of GDP, compared to surplus of 0.26% of GDP for Switzerland.

Inflation comparison by year

Inflation
Nauru

Switzerland
1x
Year Consumer prices inflation
Nauru Switzerland
2024 9.3% 1.06%
2023 4.8% 2.14%
2022 1.1% 2.84%
2021 2% 0.58%
2020 0.9% -0.73%
2019 4.1% 0.36%
2018 1.1% 0.94%
2017 4.5% 0.53%
2016 8.1% -0.43%
2015 9.8% -1.14%
2014 0.3% -0.01%
2013 -1.1% -0.22%
2012 0.3% -0.69%
2011 -3.4% 0.23%
2010 -2% 0.69%
2009 22.4% -0.48%
2008 1% 2.43%
2007 5.6% 0.73%
2006 19.3% 1.06%
2005 8.7% 1.17%
2004 - 0.8%
2003 - 0.64%
2002 - 0.64%
2001 - 0.99%
2000 - 1.56%
1999 - 0.81%
1998 - 0.02%
1997 - 0.52%

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/switzerland | CC BY

Over the past 20 years, Nauru has recorded an average annual inflation rate of 4.84%, compared with 0.55% in Switzerland. In 2024, inflation was 9.3% in Nauru and 1.06% in Switzerland.

Top exports between countries

Nauru
Export category Export value
Switzerland
Export category Export value
Machinery & equipment $35K
Chemicals & pharma $6K

Balance of trade

Nauru Switzerland
Current account balance
$9.73M
2024
$72B
2024
Current account balance ranking
75/190
2024
10/190
2024
Current account balance, % of GDP
+5.98%
2024
+7.69%
2024
Goods imports
$92.7M
2024
$371B
2024
Goods exports
$25.5M
2024
$502B
2024
Service imports
$88.2M
2024
$203B
2024
Service exports
$64.6M
2024
$186B
2024
Imports of goods and services, % of GDP
110.5%
2024
61.9%
2024
Exports of goods and services, % of GDP
55.3%
2024
72.2%
2024

Economic freedom indices

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

Nauru Switzerland
Economic freedom 60 83.7
Economic freedom ranking 97/197 2/197
Property rights n/a 94.4
Government integrity n/a 93.3
Judicial effectiveness n/a 98.3
Tax burden n/a 70.9
Government spending n/a 69.5
Fiscal health n/a 97.2
Business freedom n/a 86.3
Labor freedom n/a 60
Monetary freedom n/a 82.3
Trade freedom n/a 87
Investment freedom n/a 85
Financial freedom n/a 80

Other economic metrics

Nauru Switzerland
Services, % of GDP n/a
72%
2024
Industry, % of GDP n/a
24.7%
2024
Agriculture, forestry, and fishing, % of GDP n/a
0.63%
2024
GNI, Atlas method
$244M
2024
$857B
2024
GNI per capita, PPP
$21,970
2024
$93,420
2024
Total reserves including gold n/a
$909B
2024
Total reserves ranking n/a
4/177
2024
Net foreign direct investment
$4.51M
2024
$59.7B
2024
Net inflows of foreign direct investment
-$5.85M
2024
-$108B
2024
Net outflows of foreign direct investment
-$1.34M
2024
-$27.9B
2024
Poverty at national poverty lines n/a
15.8%
2021
Gross capital formation, % of GDP n/a
27%
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/nauru/switzerland | 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. International Monetary Fund (IMF) | Public Finances in Modern History (1899–1989, retrieved 2026-02-20)
  4. U.S. Census Bureau (1985–2024, retrieved 2026-02-08)
  5. The Heritage Foundation | Economic Freedom Index (2026, retrieved 2026-03-09)
  6. TradeMap (2021–2022, retrieved 2026-02-08)
  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.

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.