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Economy of Nicaragua vs Qatar compared: GDP & Debt

Updated on by Georank team

Nicaragua has a GDP of $19.7B compared to $219B for Qatar, ranking 131/197 and 56/197 by economy size, respectively.

Nicaragua has $7.71B in government debt (39.1% of GDP), compared to $90.2B (41.2% of GDP) in Qatar.

Nicaragua vs Qatar GDP by year

Nicaragua
Qatar
1x
Year GDP, current $
Nicaragua Qatar
2024 $19,693,982,968 $219,162,637,363
2023 $17,805,842,284 $217,308,516,484
2022 $15,634,572,502 $235,709,340,659
2021 $14,209,020,362 $179,732,142,857
2020 $12,726,422,432 $144,411,538,462
2019 $12,699,023,614 $176,371,428,571
2018 $13,025,221,974 $183,335,164,835
2017 $13,785,893,007 $161,099,175,824
2016 $13,286,093,388 $151,732,142,857
2015 $12,756,696,261 $161,739,835,165
2014 $11,880,438,824 $206,224,725,275
2013 $10,982,988,249 $198,727,747,253
2012 $10,532,017,232 $186,833,516,484
2011 $9,774,329,333 $167,775,274,725
2010 $8,758,602,233 $123,627,197,802
2009 $8,298,702,489 $97,798,351,648
2008 $8,496,967,597 $115,270,054,945
2007 $7,423,375,015 $79,712,087,912
2006 $6,763,672,381 $60,882,142,857
2005 $6,321,324,279 $44,530,494,505
2004 $5,792,932,838 $31,734,065,934
2003 $5,322,228,351 $23,533,791,209
2002 $5,223,727,303 $19,363,736,264
2001 $5,351,752,034 $17,538,461,538
2000 $5,109,587,050 $17,759,890,110
1999 $4,856,026,259 $12,393,131,868
1998 $4,635,347,386 $10,255,495,027
1997 $4,389,973,490 $11,297,802,115
1996 $4,308,351,903 $9,059,340,385
1995 $4,140,470,000 $8,137,911,978
1994 $3,863,185,119 $7,374,450,769
1993 $1,756,454,248 $7,156,593,654
1992 $1,792,800,000 $7,646,153,984
1991 $1,488,804,124 $6,883,516,484
1990 $1,009,455,484 $7,360,439,423
1989 $1,013,184,756 $6,487,912,088
1988 $2,630,900,096 $6,038,187,033
1987 $3,851,200,118 $5,446,428,681
1986 $2,885,799,994 $5,053,021,951
1985 $2,683,699,935 $6,153,296,456
1984 $3,117,599,872 $6,704,395,824
1983 $2,753,100,058 $6,467,582,308
1982 $2,454,499,872 $7,596,703,214
1981 $2,474,700,227 $8,661,263,764
1980 $2,144,300,006 $7,829,165,262
1979 $1,567,599,982 $5,632,962,997
1978 $2,127,699,979 $4,052,000,413
1977 $2,226,999,874 $3,617,564,638
1976 $1,836,899,999 $3,284,273,987
1975 $1,581,599,959 $2,512,773,166
1974 $1,521,400,012 $2,401,403,227
1973 $1,092,900,015 $793,885,560
1972 $878,570,045 $510,262,500
1971 $828,569,953 $387,703,106
1970 $778,569,939 $301,791,302
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/qatar | CC BY

GDP per capita in Nicaragua vs Qatar by year

Nicaragua
GDP per capita

GDP per capita, PPP
Qatar
GDP per capita

GDP per capita, PPP
1x
Year Current $
Nicaragua Qatar
GDP per capita GDP per capita, PPP GDP per capita GDP per capita, PPP
2024 $2,848 $8,709 $76,689 $126,046
2023 $2,609 $8,320 $81,817 $129,368
2022 $2,323 $7,797 $88,701 $122,921
2021 $2,138 $7,119 $71,752 $116,833
2020 $1,938 $6,274 $51,684 $82,149
2019 $1,959 $5,981 $66,841 $107,503
2018 $2,035 $5,935 $71,040 $110,033
2017 $2,183 $6,225 $63,280 $99,358
2016 $2,132 $5,882 $61,254 $89,935
2015 $2,074 $5,449 $68,985 $102,546
2014 $1,958 $5,068 $95,841 $148,389
2013 $1,835 $4,711 $103,697 $169,203
2012 $1,785 $4,508 $108,470 $180,939
2011 $1,680 $4,325 $103,262 $174,620
2010 $1,527 $4,042 $76,463 $151,646
2009 $1,467 $3,880 $60,786 $125,898
2008 $1,524 $4,044 $80,781 $126,015
2007 $1,350 $3,891 $65,954 $124,056
2006 $1,248 $3,658 $62,582 $127,181
2005 $1,183 $3,456 $53,950 $115,250
2004 $1,099 $3,255 $41,036 $110,958
2003 $1,021 $3,046 $31,602 $94,120
2002 $1,014 $2,948 $27,227 $93,177
2001 $1,052 $2,917 $25,871 $89,805
2000 $1,017 $2,806 $27,535 $88,849
1999 $980 $2,672 $20,234 $84,690
1998 $949 $2,497 $17,665 $84,486
1997 $913 $2,418 $20,523 $79,219
1996 $911 $2,325 $17,125 $62,331
1995 $892 $2,187 $15,823 $60,321
1994 $849 $2,064 $14,765 $59,415
1993 $394 $1,998 $14,770 $59,125
1992 $411 $2,003 $16,280 $60,387
1991 $350 $1,995 $15,133 $54,759
1990 $242.5 $1,979 $16,722 $55,659
1989 $249.2 - $15,243 -
1988 $662 - $14,682 -
1987 $992 - $13,719 -
1986 $761 - $13,213 -
1985 $724 - $16,815 -
1984 $861 - $19,272 -
1983 $780 - $19,616 -
1982 $714 - $24,385 -
1981 $740 - $29,505 -
1980 $659 - $28,375 -
1979 $495 - $21,777 -
1978 $691 - $16,757 -
1977 $744 - $16,058 -
1976 $633 - $15,710 -
1975 $561 - $13,014 -
1974 $557 - $13,540 -
1973 $413 - $4,905 -
1972 $341 - $3,483 -
1971 $331 - $2,952 -
1970 $321 - $2,594 -
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/qatar | CC BY

Nicaragua's GDP per capita is $2,848, ranking 141/197, compared to $76,689 in Qatar, ranking 11/197. Adjusted for purchasing power (GDP per capita PPP), Nicaragua ranks 138th at $8,709, while Qatar ranks 5th at $126,046.

Economic indicators

Nicaragua Qatar
Gross domestic product
$19.7B
2024
$219B
2024
GDP rank
131/197
2024
56/197
2024
GDP growth
3.59%
2023-2024
2.36%
2023-2024
GDP per capita
$2,848
2024
$76,689
2024
GDP per capita rank
141/197
2024
11/197
2024
GDP per capita, PPP
$8,709
2024
$126,046
2024
GDP per capita PPP rank
138/197
2024
5/197
2024
Government debt
$7.71B
2024
$90.2B
2024
Debt-to-GDP ratio
39.1%
2024
41.2%
2024
Government debt per person
$1,115
2024
$31,579
2024
Government debt per person rank
138/185
2024
23/185
2024
Average annual personal income after taxes
$2,318
2026
$35,660
2026
Market capitalization of domestic companies n/a
$170M
2024
Number of millionaires n/a
26,163
2025
Number of billionaires n/a
2
2025
Income share by richest 10%
37.2%
2014
25.8%
2017
Income share by poorest 10%
2%
2014
2.6%
2017
Government expenditure, % of GDP
27.1%
2024
26%
2024
Consumer prices inflation
4.6%
2023-2024
1.27%
2023-2024
Central bank interest rate
6%
2025
4.1%
2025
Unemployment rate
5.2%
2018
0.13%
2022
Population
7124343
2999260

Spending and national debt comparison by year

Nicaragua
Spending

Debt
Qatar
Spending

Debt
1x
Year % of GDP
Nicaragua Qatar
Government spending Government debt Government spending Government debt
2024 27.1% 39.1% 26% 41.2%
2023 26% 42.3% 27.3% 43.7%
2022 28.6% 45.9% 24.3% 42.6%
2021 30% 48.4% 29.4% 58.4%
2020 28.9% 49.2% 34.7% 72.6%
2019 27.7% 44.2% 32.5% 62.1%
2018 27.7% 39.1% 28.9% 52.2%
2017 27.3% 34.7% 34.7% 51.6%
2016 26.8% 30.9% 40.1% 46.7%
2015 25.4% 28.9% 38.6% 35.5%
2014 24.6% 28.7% 32.3% 24.9%
2013 24.2% 28.8% 28.3% 30.9%
2012 24.1% 27.9% 31% 32.1%
2011 23.5% 28.8% 28.5% 33.5%
2010 22.6% 30.3% 32% 30.4%
2009 22.7% 29.3% 36.4% 36%
2008 21.9% 26% 23.5% 11.4%
2007 21.5% 30.9% 29.5% 9.37%
2006 21.4% 51.2% 29.5% 13.9%
2005 21.3% 66.6% 29% 19.1%
2004 20.8% 84% 29.9% 30.1%
2003 20.9% 109.5% 28.5% 38.8%
2002 18.7% 110.4% 31.6% 47.7%
2001 19.2% 87.5% 32.1% 59.2%
2000 20.6% 95.2% 29.8% 51.6%
1999 22.1% 99.8% 42.4% 81.8%
1998 18.5% 86.5% 55.1% 76.6%
1997 17.9% 86.4% 47.6% 54.4%
1996 18% - 55.2% 57.8%
1995 17.7% - 52.2% 50.2%
1994 18.4% - 59.8% 54.8%
1993 18.4% - 62.8% 46.3%
1992 18.4% - 54.2% 19.9%
1991 16.8% - 57.5% 21.8%
1990 28.2% - 50% 12.6%
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% - -
1978 17.7% 76.9% - -
1977 19.9% 62.7% - -
1976 16.2% 59.5% - -
1975 17.5% 57.8% - -
1974 15.3% 40% - -
1973 12.8% 32.9% - -
1972 15.1% 30.2% - -
1971 15.1% 31.6% - -
1970 13.2% 35.4% - -
1969 11.1% - - -
1968 10.9% - - -
1967 12.7% - - -
1966 12.2% - - -
1965 10.9% - - -
1964 10.2% - - -
1963 10.5% - - -
1962 10.6% - - -
1961 9.93% - - -
1960 11.2% - - -

Data sources: International Monetary Fund (IMF) | Fiscal Monitor (1990–2024, retrieved 2026-02-20); International Monetary Fund (IMF) | Public Finances in Modern History (1960–1999, retrieved 2026-02-20).

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

In 2024, Nicaragua's government spending was $5.34B, accounting for 27.1% of its GDP, while Qatar spent $56.9B, or 26% of GDP.

Debt-to-GDP ratio is 39.1% in Nicaragua and 41.2% in Qatar, ranking 136/185 and 130/185, respectively.

Government deficit by year

Deficit/surplus
Nicaragua

Qatar
1x
Year Deficit/surplus, % of GDP
Nicaragua Qatar
2024 2.48% 0.69%
2023 2.31% 5.56%
2022 0.65% 10.4%
2021 -1.26% 0.24%
2020 -2.57% -2.13%
2019 -1.12% 1%
2018 -4.35% 2.26%
2017 -1.75% -6.82%
2016 -1.92% -9.2%
2015 -1.64% 18.4%
2014 -0.89% 13.4%
2013 -0.3% 19.3%
2012 0.22% 8.55%
2011 0.59% 5.24%
2010 0.69% 4.6%
2009 -0.9% 14.1%
2008 0.27% 9.49%
2007 1.88% 10.3%
2006 1.36% 8.39%
2005 1.72% 9.8%
2004 1.69% 17.7%
2003 1.3% 6.71%
2002 2.07% 7.89%
2001 0.34% 4.48%
2000 2.15% 4.62%
1999 -6.86% -4.35%
1998 -2.88% -7%
1997 -3.31% -9.4%
1996 -5% -8.73%
1995 -4.62% -5.78%
1994 -5.79% -11.8%
1993 -4.66% -9.53%
1992 -3.8% -2.74%
1991 -3.45% -2.57%
1990 -15.2% 3.23%
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 (1990–2024, retrieved 2026-02-20); International Monetary Fund (IMF) | Public Finances in Modern History (1960–1999, retrieved 2026-02-20).

GeoRank.org/economy/nicaragua/qatar | 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 Qatar's surplus of $1.52B, or 0.69% of GDP.

Over the past 35 years, Nicaragua recorded a fiscal deficit in 20 of those years, while Qatar ran a deficit in 12 years. On average, Nicaragua posted an annual deficit equal to 1.5% of GDP, compared to surplus of 3.04% of GDP for Qatar.

Inflation comparison by year

Inflation
Nicaragua

Qatar
1x
Year Consumer prices inflation
Nicaragua Qatar
2024 4.6% 1.27%
2023 8.4% 3.03%
2022 10.5% 5%
2021 4.9% 2.3%
2020 3.7% -2.54%
2019 5.4% -0.67%
2018 4.9% 0.26%
2017 3.9% 0.39%
2016 3.5% 2.68%
2015 4% 1.81%
2014 6% 3.35%
2013 7.1% 3.22%
2012 7.2% 2.32%
2011 8.1% 1.14%
2010 5.5% -2.43%
2009 3.7% -4.86%
2008 19.8% 15.1%
2007 11.1% 13.8%
2006 9.1% 11.8%
2005 9.6% 8.81%
2004 8.5% 6.8%
2003 5.3% 2.26%
2002 3.8% 0.24%
2001 7.4% 1.47%
2000 11.5% 1.65%
1999 11.2% 2.18%
1998 13% 2.95%
1997 9.2% 4.83%

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/qatar | CC BY

Over the past 28 years, Nicaragua has recorded an average annual inflation rate of 7.53%, compared with 3.15% in Qatar. In 2024, inflation was 4.6% in Nicaragua and 1.27% in Qatar.

Top exports between countries

Nicaragua
Export category Export value
Processed food, beverages & tobacco $5K
Raw agricultural goods $1K
Qatar
Export category Export value

Balance of trade

Nicaragua Qatar
Current account balance
$818M
2024
$37.9B
2024
Current account balance ranking
55/190
2024
16/190
2024
Current account balance, % of GDP
+4.15%
2024
+17.3%
2024
Goods imports
$10.1B
2024
$32.6B
2024
Goods exports
$6.84B
2024
$95B
2024
Service imports
$1.31B
2024
$37.1B
2024
Service exports
$1.3B
2024
$30.2B
2024
Imports of goods and services, % of GDP
58.1%
2024
31.6%
2022
Exports of goods and services, % of GDP
40.5%
2024
68.6%
2022

Economic freedom indices

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

Nicaragua Qatar
Economic freedom 53.6 70.2
Economic freedom ranking 139/197 37/197
Property rights 23.8 66.2
Government integrity 13.4 53.5
Judicial effectiveness 8.8 41.5
Tax burden 74.5 99.9
Government spending 77.7 79.9
Fiscal health 96.9 96.6
Business freedom 54.4 68
Labor freedom 47.3 58.5
Monetary freedom 69.4 76
Trade freedom 67 81.8
Investment freedom 60 60
Financial freedom 50 60

Economic freedom comparison by year

Nicaragua
Qatar
1x
Year Economic freedom index
Nicaragua Qatar
2026 53.6 70.2
2025 54 70.2
2024 53.4 68.8
2023 54.9 68.6
2022 54.8 67.7
2021 56.3 72
2020 57.2 72.3
2019 57.7 72.6
2018 58.9 72.6
2017 59.2 73.1
2016 58.6 70.7
2015 57.6 70.8
2014 58.4 71.2
2013 56.6 71.3
2012 57.9 71.3
2011 58.8 70.5
2010 58.3 69
2009 59.8 65.8
2008 60.8 62.2
2007 62.7 62.9
2006 63.8 62.4
2005 62.5 63.5
2004 61.4 66.5
2003 62.6 65.9
2002 61.1 61.9
2001 58 60
2000 56.9 62
1999 54 62
1998 53.8 -
1997 53.3 -
1996 54.1 -
1995 42.5 -

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

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

The Economic Freedom Index for Nicaragua is 53.6, ranking 139/197, compared to 70.2 for Qatar, ranking 37/197. The chart above displays a comparison of annual changes in economic freedom indexes.

Other economic metrics

Nicaragua Qatar
Services, % of GDP
46.8%
2024
46.1%
2024
Industry, % of GDP
27.6%
2024
58.2%
2024
Agriculture, forestry, and fishing, % of GDP
14.4%
2024
0.29%
2024
GNI, Atlas method
$17.4B
2024
$221B
2024
GNI per capita, PPP
$8,270
2024
$121,900
2024
Total reserves including gold
$6.1B
2024
$54B
2024
Total reserves ranking
91/177
2024
40/177
2024
Net foreign direct investment
-$1.28B
2024
$1.1B
2024
Net inflows of foreign direct investment
$1.35B
2024
$460M
2024
Net outflows of foreign direct investment
$73.8M
2024
$1.56B
2024
Servicing debt to the IMF, % of GNI
9.74%
2024
n/a
Poverty at national poverty lines
24.9%
2016
n/a
Gross capital formation, % of GDP
24.7%
2024
30.6%
2022

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/qatar | 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 (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.