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Economy of Netherlands vs Singapore compared: GDP & Debt

Updated on by Georank team

The Netherlands has a GDP of $1.21T compared to $547B for Singapore, ranking 19/197 and 28/197 by economy size, respectively.

The Netherlands has $532B in government debt (43.8% of GDP), compared to $950B (173.5% of GDP) in Singapore.

Netherlands vs Singapore GDP by year

Netherlands
Singapore
1x
Year GDP, current $
Netherlands Singapore
2024 $1,214,927,698,573 $547,386,645,892
2023 $1,135,475,867,551 $505,439,514,078
2022 $1,046,540,797,549 $509,017,841,147
2021 $1,054,472,123,450 $436,591,382,250
2020 $932,560,861,701 $349,165,858,545
2019 $928,903,005,576 $376,161,998,830
2018 $929,733,599,797 $377,123,710,561
2017 $848,233,537,846 $343,673,334,902
2016 $797,163,949,290 $319,646,468,521
2015 $775,743,675,303 $307,998,545,269
2014 $901,556,501,756 $314,863,580,758
2013 $883,951,539,007 $307,576,360,585
2012 $845,689,017,066 $295,092,888,077
2011 $913,140,741,333 $279,356,499,090
2010 $852,464,982,433 $239,807,980,591
2009 $878,954,223,140 $194,150,283,772
2008 $957,901,566,041 $193,617,323,539
2007 $853,499,460,873 $180,941,701,358
2006 $737,593,995,289 $148,627,286,361
2005 $688,133,699,636 $127,807,848,728
2004 $661,224,886,143 $115,033,593,101
2003 $582,435,617,082 $97,646,401,096
2002 $475,529,972,123 $92,538,372,870
2001 $432,536,219,669 $89,793,790,670
2000 $417,649,282,154 $96,076,539,926
1999 $447,778,514,140 $86,286,849,755
1998 $438,612,530,549 $85,728,207,782
1997 $417,506,211,882 $100,123,787,215
1996 $451,372,549,020 $96,293,086,513
1995 $452,967,334,614 $87,812,540,788
1994 $379,688,232,232 $73,688,724,431
1993 $354,070,495,966 $60,603,815,716
1992 $363,497,050,125 $52,131,320,033
1991 $327,982,316,124 $45,466,164,978
1990 $318,799,003,994 $36,144,336,769
1989 $258,716,904,292 $30,465,364,739
1988 $262,295,966,105 $25,371,462,488
1987 $245,406,949,521 $20,919,215,578
1986 $201,157,708,221 $18,586,746,057
1985 $144,057,523,222 $19,156,532,746
1984 $144,124,462,912 $19,749,361,098
1983 $153,671,294,109 $17,784,112,150
1982 $158,712,765,536 $16,084,252,378
1981 $164,375,775,854 $14,175,228,844
1980 $195,439,301,707 $11,896,256,783
1979 $179,933,827,310 $9,296,921,724
1978 $156,089,077,205 $7,517,176,355
1977 $127,203,923,857 $6,618,585,074
1976 $109,329,386,564 $6,327,077,974
1975 $100,397,061,694 $5,633,673,930
1974 $87,371,810,804 $5,221,534,956
1973 $71,946,639,603 $3,696,213,333
1972 $54,787,070,173 $2,721,440,981
1971 $44,644,730,576 $2,263,785,444
1970 $38,220,884,519 $1,920,574,150
1969 $34,086,038,090 $1,659,893,768
1968 $30,097,635,751 $1,425,706,091
1967 $27,143,828,099 $1,238,035,816
1966 $24,741,480,717 $1,096,425,608
1965 $22,721,869,808 $974,644,096
1964 $20,232,048,553 $894,153,311
1963 $17,193,744,109 $917,608,012
1962 $15,847,582,341 $826,239,212
1961 $14,599,836,396 $764,629,788
1960 $13,282,979,015 $704,751,700

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

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

GDP per capita in Netherlands vs Singapore by year

Netherlands
GDP per capita

GDP per capita, PPP
Singapore
GDP per capita

GDP per capita, PPP
1x
Year Current $
Netherlands Singapore
GDP per capita GDP per capita, PPP GDP per capita GDP per capita, PPP
2024 $67,520 $86,174 $90,674 $150,689
2023 $63,516 $81,729 $85,412 $143,786
2022 $59,123 $78,630 $90,299 $143,095
2021 $60,142 $68,574 $80,056 $132,617
2020 $53,468 $62,597 $61,410 $101,518
2019 $53,555 $62,345 $65,952 $105,335
2018 $53,955 $58,819 $66,882 $103,963
2017 $49,514 $56,038 $61,236 $95,744
2016 $46,809 $53,162 $57,006 $89,902
2015 $45,794 $50,957 $55,646 $87,156
2014 $53,457 $49,751 $57,565 $84,555
2013 $52,602 $49,622 $56,967 $83,088
2012 $50,474 $47,653 $55,548 $82,108
2011 $54,702 $47,004 $53,891 $80,052
2010 $51,306 $45,301 $47,237 $75,401
2009 $53,172 $44,959 $38,927 $66,213
2008 $58,247 $46,714 $40,009 $67,735
2007 $52,101 $44,203 $39,433 $68,805
2006 $45,124 $41,208 $33,768 $64,061
2005 $42,165 $37,778 $29,961 $58,822
2004 $40,611 $35,961 $27,608 $54,384
2003 $35,897 $34,286 $23,730 $48,778
2002 $29,447 $34,568 $22,160 $45,083
2001 $26,956 $33,259 $21,700 $43,109
2000 $26,225 $31,895 $23,853 $43,781
1999 $28,319 $29,316 $21,797 $39,949
1998 $27,924 $27,749 $21,829 $37,560
1997 $26,745 $26,062 $26,376 $39,286
1996 $29,064 $24,564 $26,233 $36,873
1995 $29,301 $23,480 $24,915 $35,090
1994 $24,683 $22,414 $21,552 $33,058
1993 $23,156 $21,443 $18,290 $30,062
1992 $23,939 $20,831 $16,136 $27,022
1991 $21,764 $20,177 $14,502 $25,530
1990 $21,322 $19,203 $11,862 $23,815
1989 $17,423 - $10,395 -
1988 $17,771 - $8,914 -
1987 $16,734 - $7,539 -
1986 $13,804 - $6,800 -
1985 $9,941 - $7,002 -
1984 $9,992 - $7,228 -
1983 $10,696 - $6,633 -
1982 $11,089 - $6,078 -
1981 $11,537 - $5,597 -
1980 $13,812 - $4,928 -
1979 $12,817 - $3,901 -
1978 $11,196 - $3,194 -
1977 $9,180 - $2,846 -
1976 $7,937 - $2,759 -
1975 $7,346 - $2,490 -
1974 $6,450 - $2,342 -
1973 $5,353 - $1,685 -
1972 $4,110 - $1,264 -
1971 $3,384 - $1,071 -
1970 $2,931 - $926 -
1969 $2,647 - $813 -
1968 $2,364 - $709 -
1967 $2,155 - $626 -
1966 $1,986 - $567 -
1965 $1,848 - $517 -
1964 $1,668 - $486 -
1963 $1,437 - $511 -
1962 $1,342 - $472 -
1961 $1,254 - $449 -
1960 $1,156 - $428 -

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

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

The Netherlands' GDP per capita is $67,520, ranking 13/197, compared to $90,674 in Singapore, ranking 7/197. Adjusted for purchasing power (GDP per capita PPP), the Netherlands ranks 11th at $86,174, while Singapore ranks 2nd at $150,689.

Economic indicators

Netherlands Singapore
Gross domestic product
$1.21T
2024
$547B
2024
GDP rank
19/197
2024
28/197
2024
GDP growth
1.08%
2023-2024
4.39%
2023-2024
GDP per capita
$67,520
2024
$90,674
2024
GDP per capita rank
13/197
2024
7/197
2024
GDP per capita, PPP
$86,174
2024
$150,689
2024
GDP per capita PPP rank
11/197
2024
2/197
2024
Government debt
$532B
2024
$950B
2024
Debt-to-GDP ratio
43.8%
2024
173.5%
2024
Government debt per person
$29,571
2024
$157,326
2024
Government debt per person rank
24/185
2024
1/185
2024
Average annual personal income after taxes
$47,815
2026
$52,793
2026
Market capitalization of domestic companies
$1.1T
2017
$638B
2024
Number of millionaires
1,267,000
2025
331,000
2025
Number of billionaires
13
2025
49
2025
Income share by richest 10%
21.4%
2021
n/a
Income share by poorest 10%
3.6%
2021
n/a
Government expenditure, % of GDP
44.4%
2024
14.6%
2024
Consumer prices inflation
3.35%
2023-2024
2.39%
2023-2024
Unemployment rate
3.64%
2024
2.74%
2024
Population
18252623
6125852

Spending and national debt comparison by year

Netherlands
Spending

Debt
Singapore
Spending

Debt
1x
Year % of GDP
Netherlands Singapore
Government spending Government debt Government spending Government debt
2024 44.4% 43.8% 14.6% 173.5%
2023 44% 45.9% 14.8% 172.8%
2022 43.3% 48.4% 15% 154.3%
2021 45.9% 50.5% 15.6% 141.7%
2020 47.8% 53.4% 24.1% 148.2%
2019 42.1% 47.7% 14% 127.9%
2018 42.4% 51.6% 13.9% 109.4%
2017 42.8% 56% 13.6% 107.6%
2016 43.9% 60.9% 15.3% 106.3%
2015 45.3% 63.8% 14.4% 102.2%
2014 46.7% 67.2% 12.6% 97.7%
2013 47.5% 67.2% 10.9% 98.2%
2012 47.6% 65.7% 9.83% 106.7%
2011 47.8% 61.2% 9.66% 103.1%
2010 48.9% 58.9% 10.2% 98.7%
2009 48.4% 56.3% 15.9% 101.7%
2008 44.3% 54.4% 14% 97.9%
2007 43.3% 42.7% 9.01% 87.8%
2006 44% 45% 12.3% 86.5%
2005 43.4% 49.6% 12.4% 92.7%
2004 44.7% 50.1% 14.1% 95.7%
2003 45.8% 49.8% 15.6% 99.1%
2002 44.8% 48.7% 15.9% 96.3%
2001 44.1% 49.4% 18.2% 94.5%
2000 43.2% 52.2% 16.1% 82.3%
1999 44.3% 58.6% 15.9% 85.3%
1998 44.6% 62.7% 18.1% 84.6%
1997 45.7% 65.7% 14.5% 70.8%
1996 47.3% 71.2% 18.1% 71.3%
1995 53.9% 73% 13.8% 69.8%
1994 49.4% 73.5% 11.7% 70.7%
1993 50.9% 76.7% 14.5% 71.2%
1992 50.2% 75.6% 14.5% 79%
1991 49.6% 74.8% 15.9% 76.4%
1990 48.8% 75% 15.1% 73.5%
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 (1990–2024, retrieved 2026-02-20); International Monetary Fund (IMF) | Public Finances in Modern History (1960–1989, retrieved 2026-02-20).

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

In 2024, the Netherlands' government spending was $540B, accounting for 44.4% of its GDP, while Singapore spent $79.7B, or 14.6% of GDP.

Debt-to-GDP ratio is 43.8% in the Netherlands and 173.5% in Singapore, ranking 123/185 and 4/185, respectively.

Government deficit by year

Deficit/surplus
Netherlands

Singapore
1x
Year Deficit/surplus, % of GDP
Netherlands Singapore
2024 -0.94% 4.44%
2023 -0.37% 3.47%
2022 0.002% 1.21%
2021 -2.26% 1.13%
2020 -3.72% -6.73%
2019 1.91% 3.77%
2018 1.49% 3.68%
2017 1.35% 5.24%
2016 0.23% 3.25%
2015 -1.84% 2.86%
2014 -2.17% 4.6%
2013 -2.87% 5.96%
2012 -3.83% 7.34%
2011 -4.42% 7.96%
2010 -5.3% 5.68%
2009 -5.06% -0.09%
2008 -0.06% 3.59%
2007 -0.16% 7.12%
2006 0.04% 2.16%
2005 -0.51% 2.56%
2004 -1.82% 2.06%
2003 -3.19% 0.68%
2002 -2.23% 2.23%
2001 -0.47% 1.2%
2000 1.14% 4.59%
1999 0.28% 5.2%
1998 -1.34% 2.41%
1997 -1.6% 5.66%
1996 -1.91% 1.98%
1995 -8.72% 4.8%
1994 -3.53% 7.9%
1993 -3.13% 4.36%
1992 -3.12% 2.7%
1991 -2.05% 0.68%
1990 -4.08% 1.97%
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 2026-02-20); International Monetary Fund (IMF) | Fiscal Monitor (1990–2024, retrieved 2026-02-20).

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

In 2024, the Netherlands' government deficit, the difference between spending and revenue, was $11.5B, equivalent to 0.94% of GDP. This compares to Singapore's surplus of $24.3B, or 4.44% of GDP.

Over the past 35 years, the Netherlands recorded a fiscal deficit in 27 of those years, while Singapore ran a deficit in 2 years. On average, the Netherlands posted an annual deficit equal to 1.84% of GDP, compared to surplus of 3.36% of GDP for Singapore.

Inflation comparison by year

Inflation
Netherlands

Singapore
1x
Year Consumer prices inflation
Netherlands Singapore
2024 3.35% 2.39%
2023 3.84% 4.83%
2022 10% 6.13%
2021 2.68% 2.32%
2020 1.27% -0.17%
2019 2.63% 0.57%
2018 1.7% 0.44%
2017 1.38% 0.58%
2016 0.32% -0.53%
2015 0.6% -0.52%
2014 0.98% 1.03%
2013 2.51% 2.36%
2012 2.46% 4.58%
2011 2.34% 5.25%
2010 1.28% 2.83%
2009 1.19% 0.59%
2008 2.49% 6.64%
2007 1.61% 2.11%
2006 1.1% 0.97%
2005 1.69% 0.43%
2004 1.26% 1.66%
2003 2.09% 0.51%
2002 3.29% -0.39%
2001 4.16% 1%
2000 2.36% 1.36%
1999 2.16% 0.02%
1998 1.96% -0.27%
1997 2.11% 2%

Data sources: World Bank | Economy & Growth (1997–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06).

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

Over the past 28 years, the Netherlands has recorded an average annual inflation rate of 2.31%, compared with 1.74% in Singapore. In 2024, inflation was 3.35% in the Netherlands and 2.39% in Singapore.

Top exports between countries

Netherlands
Export category Export value
Machinery & equipment $1.95B
IT & IP services $1.11B
Business & finance services $875M
Raw materials & minerals $532M
Chemicals & pharma $524M
Transport & tourism services $514M
Manufacturing & construction services $239M
Processed food, beverages & tobacco $189M
Miscellaneous $154M
Metals $72.3M
Singapore
Export category Export value
Machinery & equipment $4.79B
Chemicals & pharma $1.1B
Raw materials & minerals $1.06B
Miscellaneous $180M
Processed food, beverages & tobacco $121M
Metals $95.5M
Textiles & consumer goods $46.1M
Wood & paper products $5.17M
Precious metals & jewellery $3.5M
Raw agricultural goods $2.23M

Balance of trade

Netherlands Singapore
Current account balance
$111B
2024
$96B
2024
Current account balance ranking
5/190
2024
8/190
2024
Current account balance, % of GDP
+9.13%
2024
+17.5%
2024
Goods imports
$606B
2024
$435B
2024
Goods exports
$693B
2024
$583B
2024
Service imports
$262B
2024
$351B
2024
Service exports
$308B
2024
$396B
2024
Imports of goods and services, % of GDP
71.4%
2024
143.6%
2024
Exports of goods and services, % of GDP
82.4%
2024
178.8%
2024

Economic freedom indices

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

Netherlands Singapore
Economic freedom 78.5 84.4
Economic freedom ranking 11/197 1/197
Property rights 96 89.2
Government integrity 86.8 86.1
Judicial effectiveness 96.1 58.3
Tax burden 54 89.5
Government spending 42.2 93.4
Fiscal health 95.9 80
Business freedom 85 90.6
Labor freedom 59.3 77
Monetary freedom 77 83.5
Trade freedom 79.4 95
Investment freedom 90 90
Financial freedom 80 80

Economic freedom comparison by year

Netherlands
Singapore
1x
Year Economic freedom index
Netherlands Singapore
2026 78.5 84.4
2025 78.2 84.1
2024 77.3 83.5
2023 78 83.9
2022 79.5 84.4
2021 76.8 89.7
2020 77 89.4
2019 76.8 89.4
2018 76.2 88.8
2017 75.8 88.6
2016 74.6 87.8
2015 73.7 89.4
2014 74.2 89.4
2013 73.5 88
2012 73.3 87.5
2011 74.7 87.2
2010 75 86.1
2009 77 87.1
2008 77.4 87.3
2007 75.5 87.1
2006 75.4 88
2005 72.9 88.6
2004 74.5 88.9
2003 74.6 88.2
2002 75.1 87.4
2001 73 87.8
2000 70.4 87.7
1999 70.2 86.9
1998 69.2 87
1997 70.4 87.3
1996 69.7 86.5
1995 - 86.3

Data sources: The Heritage Foundation | Economic Freedom Index (1995–2026, retrieved 2026-03-09).

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

The Economic Freedom Index for the Netherlands is 78.5, ranking 11/197, compared to 84.4 for Singapore, ranking 1/197. The chart above displays a comparison of annual changes in economic freedom indexes.

Other economic metrics

Netherlands Singapore
Services, % of GDP
70.5%
2024
73%
2024
Industry, % of GDP
17.5%
2024
21.4%
2024
Agriculture, forestry, and fishing, % of GDP
1.73%
2024
0.03%
2024
GNI, Atlas method
$1.12T
2024
$451B
2024
GNI per capita, PPP
$84,970
2024
$126,190
2024
Total reserves including gold
$79.1B
2024
$384B
2024
Total reserves ranking
34/177
2024
9/177
2024
Net foreign direct investment
$11.1B
2024
-$96.7B
2024
Net inflows of foreign direct investment
-$17.1B
2024
$152B
2024
Net outflows of foreign direct investment
-$5.93B
2024
$55.3B
2024
Poverty at national poverty lines
14.5%
2021
n/a
Gross capital formation, % of GDP
19.7%
2024
22.2%
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/netherlands/singapore | 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 (1880–1989, retrieved 2026-02-20)
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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.