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Economy of Nicaragua vs Poland compared: GDP & Debt

Updated on by Georank team

Nicaragua has a GDP of $19.7B compared to $918B for Poland, ranking 131/197 and 21/197 by economy size, respectively.

Nicaragua has $7.71B in government debt (39.1% of GDP), compared to $507B (55.3% of GDP) in Poland.

Nicaragua vs Poland GDP by year

Nicaragua
Poland
1x
Year GDP, current $
Nicaragua Poland
2024 $19,693,982,968 $917,767,106,147
2023 $17,805,842,284 $812,451,193,396
2022 $15,634,572,502 $695,607,470,875
2021 $14,209,020,362 $689,170,230,665
2020 $12,726,422,432 $605,914,237,904
2019 $12,699,023,614 $602,683,770,145
2018 $13,025,221,974 $594,616,687,350
2017 $13,785,893,007 $528,356,676,667
2016 $13,286,093,388 $473,259,583,970
2015 $12,756,696,261 $480,054,118,583
2014 $11,880,438,824 $542,134,167,179
2013 $10,982,988,249 $518,179,836,405
2012 $10,532,017,232 $498,148,649,703
2011 $9,774,329,333 $527,848,543,023
2010 $8,758,602,233 $478,111,630,684
2009 $8,298,702,489 $440,891,472,247
2008 $8,496,967,597 $535,612,030,672
2007 $7,423,375,015 $429,715,132,138
2006 $6,763,672,381 $345,897,630,736
2005 $6,321,324,279 $306,999,913,151
2004 $5,792,932,838 $256,268,656,145
2003 $5,322,228,351 $218,561,225,998
2002 $5,223,727,303 $199,694,463,256
2001 $5,351,752,034 $191,823,200,371
2000 $5,109,587,050 $172,953,527,033
1999 $4,856,026,259 $170,704,452,715
1998 $4,635,347,386 $175,282,269,667
1997 $4,389,973,490 $159,893,964,917
1996 $4,308,351,903 $160,813,026,223
1995 $4,140,470,000 $142,838,527,115
1994 $3,863,185,119 $110,803,635,288
1993 $1,756,454,248 $96,043,157,273
1992 $1,792,800,000 $94,337,050,693
1991 $1,488,804,124 $85,500,935,935
1990 $1,009,455,484 $65,977,748,211
1989 $1,013,184,756 -
1988 $2,630,900,096 -
1987 $3,851,200,118 -
1986 $2,885,799,994 -
1985 $2,683,699,935 -
1984 $3,117,599,872 -
1983 $2,753,100,058 -
1982 $2,454,499,872 -
1981 $2,474,700,227 -
1980 $2,144,300,006 -
1979 $1,567,599,982 -
1978 $2,127,699,979 -
1977 $2,226,999,874 -
1976 $1,836,899,999 -
1975 $1,581,599,959 -
1974 $1,521,400,012 -
1973 $1,092,900,015 -
1972 $878,570,045 -
1971 $828,569,953 -
1970 $778,569,939 -
1969 $750,000,003 -
1968 $692,859,985 -
1967 $657,140,011 -
1966 $607,140,010 -
1965 $564,290,020 -
1964 $347,119,918 -
1963 $297,324,163 -
1962 $269,283,804 -
1961 $244,144,237 -
1960 $227,223,322 -

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

GeoRank.org/economy/nicaragua/poland | CC BY

GDP per capita in Nicaragua vs Poland by year

Nicaragua
GDP per capita

GDP per capita, PPP
Poland
GDP per capita

GDP per capita, PPP
1x
Year Current $
Nicaragua Poland
GDP per capita GDP per capita, PPP GDP per capita GDP per capita, PPP
2024 $2,848 $8,709 $25,104 $51,263
2023 $2,609 $8,320 $22,145 $48,473
2022 $2,323 $7,797 $18,891 $46,778
2021 $2,138 $7,119 $18,636 $41,060
2020 $1,938 $6,274 $16,151 $37,089
2019 $1,959 $5,981 $15,875 $35,882
2018 $2,035 $5,935 $15,658 $32,345
2017 $2,183 $6,225 $13,913 $30,170
2016 $2,132 $5,882 $12,464 $28,360
2015 $2,074 $5,449 $12,638 $26,988
2014 $1,958 $5,068 $14,262 $25,460
2013 $1,835 $4,711 $13,622 $24,434
2012 $1,785 $4,508 $13,087 $23,728
2011 $1,680 $4,325 $13,868 $22,809
2010 $1,527 $4,042 $12,568 $20,991
2009 $1,467 $3,880 $11,556 $19,300
2008 $1,524 $4,044 $14,049 $18,372
2007 $1,350 $3,891 $11,273 $16,833
2006 $1,248 $3,658 $9,069 $15,205
2005 $1,183 $3,456 $8,044 $13,936
2004 $1,099 $3,255 $6,712 $13,413
2003 $1,021 $3,046 $5,721 $12,329
2002 $1,014 $2,948 $5,223 $11,841
2001 $1,052 $2,917 $5,015 $11,175
2000 $1,017 $2,806 $4,521 $10,721
1999 $980 $2,672 $4,416 $10,081
1998 $949 $2,497 $4,534 $9,521
1997 $913 $2,418 $4,137 $8,967
1996 $911 $2,325 $4,164 $8,310
1995 $892 $2,187 $3,701 $7,715
1994 $849 $2,064 $2,875 $7,040
1993 $394 $1,998 $2,497 $6,560
1992 $411 $2,003 $2,459 $6,193
1991 $350 $1,995 $2,236 $5,925
1990 $242.5 $1,979 $1,731 $6,185
1989 $249.2 - - -
1988 $662 - - -
1987 $992 - - -
1986 $761 - - -
1985 $724 - - -
1984 $861 - - -
1983 $780 - - -
1982 $714 - - -
1981 $740 - - -
1980 $659 - - -
1979 $495 - - -
1978 $691 - - -
1977 $744 - - -
1976 $633 - - -
1975 $561 - - -
1974 $557 - - -
1973 $413 - - -
1972 $341 - - -
1971 $331 - - -
1970 $321 - - -
1969 $319 - - -
1968 $304 - - -
1967 $297.9 - - -
1966 $284 - - -
1965 $272.3 - - -
1964 $172.7 - - -
1963 $152.5 - - -
1962 $142.3 - - -
1961 $132.9 - - -
1960 $127.5 - - -

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

GeoRank.org/economy/nicaragua/poland | CC BY

Nicaragua's GDP per capita is $2,848, ranking 141/197, compared to $25,104 in Poland, ranking 48/197. Adjusted for purchasing power (GDP per capita PPP), Nicaragua ranks 138th at $8,709, while Poland ranks 43rd at $51,263.

Economic indicators

Nicaragua Poland
Gross domestic product
$19.7B
2024
$918B
2024
GDP rank
131/197
2024
21/197
2024
GDP growth
3.59%
2023-2024
3.03%
2023-2024
GDP per capita
$2,848
2024
$25,104
2024
GDP per capita rank
141/197
2024
48/197
2024
GDP per capita, PPP
$8,709
2024
$51,263
2024
GDP per capita PPP rank
138/197
2024
43/197
2024
Government debt
$7.71B
2024
$507B
2024
Debt-to-GDP ratio
39.1%
2024
55.3%
2024
Government debt per person
$1,115
2024
$13,874
2024
Government debt per person rank
138/185
2024
41/185
2024
Average annual personal income after taxes
$2,318
2026
$20,736
2026
Market capitalization of domestic companies n/a
$197B
2024
Number of billionaires n/a
10
2025
Income share by richest 10%
37.2%
2014
22.9%
2023
Income share by poorest 10%
2%
2014
3.3%
2023
Government expenditure, % of GDP
27.1%
2024
49.4%
2024
Consumer prices inflation
4.6%
2023-2024
3.78%
2023-2024
Central bank interest rate
6%
2025
4%
2025
Unemployment rate
5.2%
2018
2.81%
2024
Population
7124343
35806942

Spending and national debt comparison by year

Nicaragua
Spending

Debt
Poland
Spending

Debt
1x
Year % of GDP
Nicaragua Poland
Government spending Government debt Government spending Government debt
2024 27.1% 39.1% 49.4% 55.3%
2023 26% 42.3% 46.9% 49.5%
2022 28.6% 45.9% 43.2% 48.8%
2021 30% 48.4% 43.6% 53%
2020 28.9% 49.2% 47.7% 56.6%
2019 27.7% 44.2% 41.4% 45.2%
2018 27.7% 39.1% 41% 48.2%
2017 27.3% 34.7% 41.1% 50.4%
2016 26.8% 30.9% 41.1% 54.1%
2015 25.4% 28.9% 41.5% 51.1%
2014 24.6% 28.7% 42.7% 51.1%
2013 24.2% 28.8% 43.2% 56.9%
2012 24.1% 27.9% 43.2% 54.5%
2011 23.5% 28.8% 44.1% 54.8%
2010 22.6% 30.3% 46% 53.7%
2009 22.7% 29.3% 44.9% 49.7%
2008 21.9% 26% 44% 46.6%
2007 21.5% 30.9% 42.8% 44.4%
2006 21.4% 51.2% 44.3% 47.1%
2005 21.3% 66.6% 44.1% 46.5%
2004 20.8% 84% 43.3% 44.9%
2003 20.9% 109.5% 45.5% 46.4%
2002 18.7% 110.4% 45.1% 41.6%
2001 19.2% 87.5% 44.7% 37.2%
2000 20.6% 95.2% 43.1% 36.4%
1999 22.1% 99.8% 42.5% 39.4%
1998 18.5% 86.5% 44% 38.7%
1997 17.9% 86.4% 46.1% 42.7%
1996 18% - 50.7% 43.2%
1995 17.7% - 47.5% 48.7%
1994 18.4% - - 64.3%
1993 18.4% - - 83.9%
1992 18.4% - - 81.9%
1991 16.8% - - 76.9%
1990 28.2% - - 89.7%
1989 - - - -
1988 24.8% - - -
1987 - 266.6% - -
1986 26.1% 159.2% - -
1985 29.9% 218% - -
1984 31.9% 198% - -
1983 33.8% 211.6% - -
1982 49.4% 159.1% - -
1981 39.3% 149.1% - -
1980 30.4% 152.1% - -
1979 20.7% 116.3% 35.6% -
1978 17.7% 76.9% 35.8% -
1977 19.9% 62.7% 35.6% -
1976 16.2% 59.5% 34.8% -
1975 17.5% 57.8% 34.1% -
1974 15.3% 40% 28.6% -
1973 12.8% 32.9% 24.5% -
1972 15.1% 30.2% 24.1% -
1971 15.1% 31.6% 24.1% -
1970 13.2% 35.4% 25.8% -
1969 11.1% - 26.3% -
1968 10.9% - 27.3% -
1967 12.7% - 29.6% -
1966 12.2% - 31.7% -
1965 10.9% - 31.8% -
1964 10.2% - 33.5% -
1963 10.5% - 33.3% -
1962 10.6% - 43% -
1961 9.93% - 42.8% -
1960 11.2% - 39.2% -

Data sources: International Monetary Fund (IMF) | Fiscal Monitor (1995–2024, retrieved 2026-02-20); International Monetary Fund (IMF) | Public Finances in Modern History (1960–1999, retrieved 2026-02-20).

GeoRank.org/economy/nicaragua/poland | CC BY

In 2024, Nicaragua's government spending was $5.34B, accounting for 27.1% of its GDP, while Poland spent $453B, or 49.4% of GDP.

Debt-to-GDP ratio is 39.1% in Nicaragua and 55.3% in Poland, ranking 136/185 and 95/185, respectively.

Government deficit by year

Deficit/surplus
Nicaragua

Poland
1x
Year Deficit/surplus, % of GDP
Nicaragua Poland
2024 2.48% -6.59%
2023 2.31% -5.27%
2022 0.65% -3.44%
2021 -1.26% -1.75%
2020 -2.57% -6.85%
2019 -1.12% -0.73%
2018 -4.35% -0.24%
2017 -1.75% -1.49%
2016 -1.92% -2.38%
2015 -1.64% -2.59%
2014 -0.89% -3.66%
2013 -0.3% -4.25%
2012 0.22% -3.8%
2011 0.59% -4.97%
2010 0.69% -7.43%
2009 -0.9% -7.24%
2008 0.27% -3.6%
2007 1.88% -1.88%
2006 1.36% -3.53%
2005 1.72% -3.93%
2004 1.69% -4.99%
2003 1.3% -6.02%
2002 2.07% -4.8%
2001 0.34% -4.73%
2000 2.15% -4%
1999 -6.86% -2.3%
1998 -2.88% -4.25%
1997 -3.31% -4.61%
1996 -5% -4.84%
1995 -4.62% -4.39%
1994 -5.79% -
1993 -4.66% -
1992 -3.8% -
1991 -3.45% -
1990 -15.2% -
1989 - -
1988 -22.4% -
1987 - -
1986 -7.33% -
1985 -11.3% -
1984 -11.8% -
1983 -15.6% -
1982 -20.2% -
1981 -10.6% -
1980 -6.53% -
1979 -5.89% -
1978 -4.44% -
1977 -5.91% -
1976 -2.2% -
1975 -3.53% -
1974 -1.41% -
1973 1.21% -
1972 -2.61% -
1971 -2.33% -
1970 -2.69% -
1969 -1.57% -
1968 -1.21% -
1967 -2.11% -
1966 -1.04% -
1965 0.3% -
1964 0.2% -
1963 0.75% -
1962 -0.29% -
1961 0.04% -
1960 -1.28% -

Data sources: International Monetary Fund (IMF) | Fiscal Monitor (1995–2024, retrieved 2026-02-20); International Monetary Fund (IMF) | Public Finances in Modern History (1960–1999, retrieved 2026-02-20).

GeoRank.org/economy/nicaragua/poland | CC BY

In 2024, Nicaragua's government surplus, the difference between spending and revenue, was $489M, equivalent to 2.48% of GDP. This compares to Poland's deficit of $60.4B, or 6.59% of GDP.

Over the past 30 years, Nicaragua recorded a fiscal deficit in 15 of those years, while Poland ran a deficit in 30 years. On average, Nicaragua posted an annual deficit equal to 0.65% of GDP, compared to deficit of 4.02% of GDP for Poland.

Inflation comparison by year

Inflation
Nicaragua

Poland
1x
Year Consumer prices inflation
Nicaragua Poland
2024 4.6% 3.78%
2023 8.4% 11.5%
2022 10.5% 14.4%
2021 4.9% 5.06%
2020 3.7% 3.37%
2019 5.4% 2.23%
2018 4.9% 1.81%
2017 3.9% 2.08%
2016 3.5% -0.66%
2015 4% -0.87%
2014 6% 0.05%
2013 7.1% 0.99%
2012 7.2% 3.56%
2011 8.1% 4.24%
2010 5.5% 2.58%
2009 3.7% 3.8%
2008 19.8% 4.16%
2007 11.1% 2.46%
2006 9.1% 1.28%
2005 9.6% 2.18%
2004 8.5% 3.38%
2003 5.3% 0.68%
2002 3.8% 1.91%
2001 7.4% 5.41%
2000 11.5% 9.9%
1999 11.2% 7.15%
1998 13% 11.6%
1997 9.2% 14.9%

Data sources: International Monetary Fund (IMF) | World Economic Outlook (1997–2024, retrieved 2026-02-20); World Bank | Economy & Growth (1997–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06).

GeoRank.org/economy/nicaragua/poland | CC BY

Over the past 28 years, Nicaragua has recorded an average annual inflation rate of 7.53%, compared with 4.39% in Poland. In 2024, inflation was 4.6% in Nicaragua and 3.78% in Poland.

Top exports between countries

Nicaragua
Export category Export value
Raw agricultural goods $4.02M
Processed food, beverages & tobacco $147K
Precious metals & jewellery $6K
Machinery & equipment $4K
Miscellaneous $1K
Raw materials & minerals $1K
Textiles & consumer goods $1K
Wood & paper products $1K
Poland
Export category Export value
Precious metals & jewellery $1.22M
Machinery & equipment $696K
Textiles & consumer goods $615K
Raw agricultural goods $468K
Chemicals & pharma $421K
Raw materials & minerals $215K
Metals $55K
Processed food, beverages & tobacco $28K
Wood & paper products $3K

Balance of trade

Nicaragua Poland
Current account balance
$818M
2024
$2.8B
2024
Current account balance ranking
55/190
2024
40/190
2024
Current account balance, % of GDP
+4.15%
2024
+0.3%
2024
Goods imports
$10.1B
2024
$367B
2024
Goods exports
$6.84B
2024
$361B
2024
Service imports
$1.31B
2024
$74.9B
2024
Service exports
$1.3B
2024
$118B
2024
Imports of goods and services, % of GDP
58.1%
2024
48.2%
2024
Exports of goods and services, % of GDP
40.5%
2024
52.2%
2024

Economic freedom indices

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

Nicaragua Poland
Economic freedom 53.6 68.5
Economic freedom ranking 139/197 46/197
Property rights 23.8 71.8
Government integrity 13.4 60.7
Judicial effectiveness 8.8 62.5
Tax burden 74.5 72.7
Government spending 77.7 35.1
Fiscal health 96.9 74.8
Business freedom 54.4 77.5
Labor freedom 47.3 53.7
Monetary freedom 69.4 73.8
Trade freedom 67 79.4
Investment freedom 60 80
Financial freedom 50 80

Economic freedom comparison by year

Nicaragua
Poland
1x
Year Economic freedom index
Nicaragua Poland
2026 53.6 68.5
2025 54 67.1
2024 53.4 66
2023 54.9 67.7
2022 54.8 68.7
2021 56.3 69.7
2020 57.2 69.1
2019 57.7 67.8
2018 58.9 68.5
2017 59.2 68.3
2016 58.6 69.3
2015 57.6 68.6
2014 58.4 67
2013 56.6 66
2012 57.9 64.2
2011 58.8 64.1
2010 58.3 63.2
2009 59.8 60.3
2008 60.8 60.3
2007 62.7 58.1
2006 63.8 59.3
2005 62.5 59.6
2004 61.4 58.7
2003 62.6 61.8
2002 61.1 65
2001 58 61.8
2000 56.9 60
1999 54 59.6
1998 53.8 59.2
1997 53.3 56.8
1996 54.1 57.8
1995 42.5 50.7

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

GeoRank.org/economy/nicaragua/poland | CC BY

The Economic Freedom Index for Nicaragua is 53.6, ranking 139/197, compared to 68.5 for Poland, ranking 46/197. The chart above displays a comparison of annual changes in economic freedom indexes.

Other economic metrics

Nicaragua Poland
Services, % of GDP
46.8%
2024
59.1%
2024
Industry, % of GDP
27.6%
2024
27.2%
2024
Agriculture, forestry, and fishing, % of GDP
14.4%
2024
2.54%
2024
GNI, Atlas method
$17.4B
2024
$789B
2024
GNI per capita, PPP
$8,270
2024
$49,540
2024
Total reserves including gold
$6.1B
2024
$223B
2024
Total reserves ranking
91/177
2024
17/177
2024
Net foreign direct investment
-$1.28B
2024
-$10.6B
2024
Net inflows of foreign direct investment
$1.35B
2024
$20.6B
2024
Net outflows of foreign direct investment
$73.8M
2024
$10B
2024
Servicing debt to the IMF, % of GNI
9.74%
2024
n/a
Poverty at national poverty lines
24.9%
2016
13.3%
2024
Gross capital formation, % of GDP
24.7%
2024
17.8%
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/nicaragua/poland | 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 (1995–2024, retrieved 2026-02-20)
  3. International Monetary Fund (IMF) | Public Finances in Modern History (1960–1999, retrieved 2026-02-20)
  4. The Heritage Foundation | Economic Freedom Index (1995–2026, retrieved 2026-03-09)
  5. U.S. Census Bureau (1985–2024, retrieved 2026-02-08)
  6. TradeMap (2020–2024, 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.

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.