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Economy of Nicaragua vs Tunisia compared: GDP & Debt

Updated on by Georank team

Nicaragua has a GDP of $19.7B compared to $51.3B for Tunisia, ranking 131/197 and 93/197 by economy size, respectively.

Nicaragua has $7.71B in government debt (39.1% of GDP), compared to $42.8B (83.4% of GDP) in Tunisia.

Nicaragua vs Tunisia GDP by year

Nicaragua
Tunisia
1x
Year GDP, current $
Nicaragua Tunisia
2024 $19,693,982,968 $51,332,285,657
2023 $17,805,842,284 $48,205,328,303
2022 $15,634,572,502 $44,929,920,093
2021 $14,209,020,362 $47,073,234,359
2020 $12,726,422,432 $42,491,780,918
2019 $12,699,023,614 $41,905,642,419
2018 $13,025,221,974 $42,686,504,460
2017 $13,785,893,007 $42,163,530,591
2016 $13,286,093,388 $44,360,072,680
2015 $12,756,696,261 $45,779,494,042
2014 $11,880,438,824 $50,271,812,921
2013 $10,982,988,249 $48,685,446,414
2012 $10,532,017,232 $47,311,401,813
2011 $9,774,329,333 $48,123,325,825
2010 $8,758,602,233 $46,206,091,938
2009 $8,298,702,489 $43,455,740,497
2008 $8,496,967,597 $44,859,439,902
2007 $7,423,375,015 $38,915,353,867
2006 $6,763,672,381 $34,376,664,601
2005 $6,321,324,279 $32,272,186,695
2004 $5,792,932,838 $31,183,885,241
2003 $5,322,228,351 $27,453,902,261
2002 $5,223,727,303 $23,141,616,605
2001 $5,351,752,034 $22,065,832,449
2000 $5,109,587,050 $21,473,528,161
1999 $4,856,026,259 $22,943,202,175
1998 $4,635,347,386 $21,802,893,587
1997 $4,389,973,490 $20,746,210,354
1996 $4,308,351,903 $19,587,161,807
1995 $4,140,470,000 $18,030,876,599
1994 $3,863,185,119 $15,633,174,304
1993 $1,756,454,248 $14,608,335,608
1992 $1,792,800,000 $15,496,708,060
1991 $1,488,804,124 $13,074,782,609
1990 $1,009,455,484 $12,290,568,182
1989 $1,013,184,756 $10,101,851,745
1988 $2,630,900,096 $10,096,245,762
1987 $3,851,200,118 $9,696,715,911
1986 $2,885,799,994 $9,017,806,654
1985 $2,683,699,935 $8,410,226,053
1984 $3,117,599,872 $8,254,541,195
1983 $2,753,100,058 $8,350,582,748
1982 $2,454,499,872 $8,133,580,052
1981 $2,474,700,227 $8,428,445,294
1980 $2,144,300,006 $8,744,134,354
1979 $1,567,599,982 $7,188,863,904
1978 $2,127,699,979 $5,968,460,080
1977 $2,226,999,874 $5,109,324,009
1976 $1,836,899,999 $4,508,191,942
1975 $1,581,599,959 $4,328,965,588
1974 $1,521,400,012 $3,545,868,575
1973 $1,092,900,015 $2,730,813,385
1972 $878,570,045 $2,237,556,149
1971 $828,569,953 $1,685,162,272
1970 $778,569,939 $1,439,238,095
1969 $750,000,003 $1,289,904,762
1968 $692,859,985 $1,214,666,667
1967 $657,140,011 $1,085,714,286
1966 $607,140,010 $1,040,952,381
1965 $564,290,020 $991,047,619
1964 $347,119,918 $1,025,866,792
1963 $297,324,163 $1,026,737,600
1962 $269,283,804 $880,027,733
1961 $244,144,237 $866,155,429
1960 $227,223,322 -

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

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

GDP per capita in Nicaragua vs Tunisia by year

Nicaragua
GDP per capita

GDP per capita, PPP
Tunisia
GDP per capita

GDP per capita, PPP
1x
Year Current $
Nicaragua Tunisia
GDP per capita GDP per capita, PPP GDP per capita GDP per capita, PPP
2024 $2,848 $8,709 $4,181 $14,521
2023 $2,609 $8,320 $3,951 $14,041
2022 $2,323 $7,797 $3,707 $13,619
2021 $2,138 $7,119 $3,907 $12,444
2020 $1,938 $6,274 $3,549 $11,918
2019 $1,959 $5,981 $3,529 $12,495
2018 $2,035 $5,935 $3,628 $11,841
2017 $2,183 $6,225 $3,619 $11,289
2016 $2,132 $5,882 $3,848 $10,994
2015 $2,074 $5,449 $4,015 $10,783
2014 $1,958 $5,068 $4,459 $10,947
2013 $1,835 $4,711 $4,370 $10,672
2012 $1,785 $4,508 $4,297 $10,615
2011 $1,680 $4,325 $4,421 $10,436
2010 $1,527 $4,042 $4,292 $10,555
2009 $1,467 $3,880 $4,080 $10,237
2008 $1,524 $4,044 $4,255 $9,975
2007 $1,350 $3,891 $3,727 $9,479
2006 $1,248 $3,658 $3,323 $8,729
2005 $1,183 $3,456 $3,147 $8,117
2004 $1,099 $3,255 $3,067 $7,672
2003 $1,021 $3,046 $2,726 $7,098
2002 $1,014 $2,948 $2,321 $6,715
2001 $1,052 $2,917 $2,236 $6,593
2000 $1,017 $2,806 $2,199 $6,279
1999 $980 $2,672 $2,376 $5,930
1998 $949 $2,497 $2,285 $5,579
1997 $913 $2,418 $2,202 $5,333
1996 $911 $2,325 $2,107 $5,040
1995 $892 $2,187 $1,968 $4,686
1994 $849 $2,064 $1,733 $4,555
1993 $394 $1,998 $1,649 $4,401
1992 $411 $2,003 $1,785 $4,292
1991 $350 $1,995 $1,538 $3,975
1990 $242.5 $1,979 $1,476 $3,780
1989 $249.2 - $1,239 -
1988 $662 - $1,266 -
1987 $992 - $1,245 -
1986 $761 - $1,187 -
1985 $724 - $1,135 -
1984 $861 - $1,143 -
1983 $780 - $1,184 -
1982 $714 - $1,177 -
1981 $740 - $1,247 -
1980 $659 - $1,324 -
1979 $495 - $1,113 -
1978 $691 - $946 -
1977 $744 - $830 -
1976 $633 - $752 -
1975 $561 - $741 -
1974 $557 - $624 -
1973 $413 - $493 -
1972 $341 - $415 -
1971 $331 - $320 -
1970 $321 - $280.5 -
1969 $319 - $257.7 -
1968 $304 - $248.9 -
1967 $297.9 - $228 -
1966 $284 - $223.8 -
1965 $272.3 - $217.3 -
1964 $172.7 - $228.5 -
1963 $152.5 - $231.9 -
1962 $142.3 - $201.4 -
1961 $132.9 - $200.7 -
1960 $127.5 - - -

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

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

Nicaragua's GDP per capita is $2,848, ranking 141/197, compared to $4,181 in Tunisia, ranking 129/197. Adjusted for purchasing power (GDP per capita PPP), Nicaragua ranks 138th at $8,709, while Tunisia ranks 114th at $14,521.

Economic indicators

Nicaragua Tunisia
Gross domestic product
$19.7B
2024
$51.3B
2024
GDP rank
131/197
2024
93/197
2024
GDP growth
3.59%
2023-2024
1.61%
2023-2024
GDP per capita
$2,848
2024
$4,181
2024
GDP per capita rank
141/197
2024
129/197
2024
GDP per capita, PPP
$8,709
2024
$14,521
2024
GDP per capita PPP rank
138/197
2024
114/197
2024
Government debt
$7.71B
2024
$42.8B
2024
Debt-to-GDP ratio
39.1%
2024
83.4%
2024
Government debt per person
$1,115
2024
$3,487
2024
Government debt per person rank
138/185
2024
94/185
2024
Average annual personal income after taxes
$2,318
2026
$3,951
2026
Market capitalization of domestic companies n/a
$8.3B
2024
Income share by richest 10%
37.2%
2014
27%
2021
Income share by poorest 10%
2%
2014
3.1%
2021
Government expenditure, % of GDP
27.1%
2024
33.8%
2024
Consumer prices inflation
4.6%
2023-2024
7%
2023-2024
Central bank interest rate
6%
2025
7.5%
2025
Unemployment rate
5.2%
2018
15.1%
2023
Population
7124343
12437803

Spending and national debt comparison by year

Nicaragua
Spending

Debt
Tunisia
Spending

Debt
1x
Year % of GDP
Nicaragua Tunisia
Government spending Government debt Government spending Government debt
2024 27.1% 39.1% 33.8% 83.4%
2023 26% 42.3% 35.7% 84%
2022 28.6% 45.9% 36.5% 83%
2021 30% 48.4% 33.2% 79.7%
2020 28.9% 49.2% 34.5% 77.7%
2019 27.7% 44.2% 29.5% 67.3%
2018 27.7% 39.1% 28.7% 72.9%
2017 27.3% 34.7% 28.7% 67.1%
2016 26.8% 30.9% 27.2% 58.9%
2015 25.4% 28.9% 27.4% 52.4%
2014 24.6% 28.7% 27.7% 50.7%
2013 24.2% 28.8% 30.8% 45.6%
2012 24.1% 27.9% 28.3% 49%
2011 23.5% 28.8% 27.9% 43.3%
2010 22.6% 30.3% 24% 38.8%
2009 22.7% 29.3% 24.6% 40.3%
2008 21.9% 26% 23.7% 41.4%
2007 21.5% 30.9% 23.3% 42.7%
2006 21.4% 51.2% 22.9% 45.7%
2005 21.3% 66.6% 23% 50%
2004 20.8% 84% 23% 51.6%
2003 20.9% 109.5% 23.5% 52.6%
2002 18.7% 110.4% 24.1% 51.6%
2001 19.2% 87.5% 24% 52.2%
2000 20.6% 95.2% 24% 62.9%
1999 22.1% 99.8% 24% 61.9%
1998 18.5% 86.5% 24.2% 58.2%
1997 17.9% 86.4% 24.5% 66.6%
1996 18% - 26.7% 66.8%
1995 17.7% - 26.6% 65.6%
1994 18.4% - 25.9% 63.9%
1993 18.4% - 26.7% 63.8%
1992 18.4% - 25.7% 62.1%
1991 16.8% - 27.6% 63.3%
1990 28.2% - - -
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 (1991–2024, retrieved 2026-02-20); International Monetary Fund (IMF) | Public Finances in Modern History (1960–1999, retrieved 2026-02-20).

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

In 2024, Nicaragua's government spending was $5.34B, accounting for 27.1% of its GDP, while Tunisia spent $17.4B, or 33.8% of GDP.

Debt-to-GDP ratio is 39.1% in Nicaragua and 83.4% in Tunisia, ranking 136/185 and 40/185, respectively.

Government deficit by year

Deficit/surplus
Nicaragua

Tunisia
1x
Year Deficit/surplus, % of GDP
Nicaragua Tunisia
2024 2.48% -5.92%
2023 2.31% -7.03%
2022 0.65% -6.91%
2021 -1.26% -7.6%
2020 -2.57% -9.06%
2019 -1.12% -3.6%
2018 -4.35% -4.27%
2017 -1.75% -5.61%
2016 -1.92% -5.87%
2015 -1.64% -4.95%
2014 -0.89% -3.11%
2013 -0.3% -7.05%
2012 0.22% -4.9%
2011 0.59% -3.19%
2010 0.69% -0.46%
2009 -0.9% -2.59%
2008 0.27% -0.62%
2007 1.88% -2.47%
2006 1.36% -2.33%
2005 1.72% -2.59%
2004 1.69% -2.1%
2003 1.3% -2.64%
2002 2.07% -2.55%
2001 0.34% -2.87%
2000 2.15% -3.22%
1999 -6.86% -3.05%
1998 -2.88% -2.84%
1997 -3.31% -3.7%
1996 -5% -5.18%
1995 -4.62% -4.53%
1994 -5.79% -2.87%
1993 -4.66% -3.22%
1992 -3.8% -3.45%
1991 -3.45% -5.25%
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 (1991–2024, retrieved 2026-02-20); International Monetary Fund (IMF) | Public Finances in Modern History (1960–1999, retrieved 2026-02-20).

GeoRank.org/economy/nicaragua/tunisia | 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 Tunisia's deficit of $3.04B, or 5.92% of GDP.

Over the past 34 years, Nicaragua recorded a fiscal deficit in 19 of those years, while Tunisia ran a deficit in 34 years. On average, Nicaragua posted an annual deficit equal to 1.1% of GDP, compared to deficit of 4.05% of GDP for Tunisia.

Inflation comparison by year

Inflation
Nicaragua

Tunisia
1x
Year Consumer prices inflation
Nicaragua Tunisia
2024 4.6% 7%
2023 8.4% 9.3%
2022 10.5% 8.3%
2021 4.9% 5.7%
2020 3.7% 5.6%
2019 5.4% 6.7%
2018 4.9% 7.3%
2017 3.9% 5.3%
2016 3.5% 3.6%
2015 4% 4.4%
2014 6% 4.6%
2013 7.1% 5.3%
2012 7.2% 4.6%
2011 8.1% 3.2%
2010 5.5% 4.4%
2009 3.7% 3.5%
2008 19.8% 4.9%
2007 11.1% 3.4%
2006 9.1% 4.1%
2005 9.6% 2%
2004 8.5% 3.7%
2003 5.3% 2.7%
2002 3.8% 2.7%
2001 7.4% 1.9%
2000 11.5% 2.8%
1999 11.2% 2.8%
1998 13% 3.1%
1997 9.2% 3.6%

Data sources: International Monetary Fund (IMF) | World Economic Outlook (1997–2024, retrieved 2026-02-20).

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

Over the past 28 years, Nicaragua has recorded an average annual inflation rate of 7.53%, compared with 4.52% in Tunisia. In 2024, inflation was 4.6% in Nicaragua and 7% in Tunisia.

Top exports between countries

Nicaragua
Export category Export value
Raw agricultural goods $674K
Tunisia
Export category Export value
Processed food, beverages & tobacco $135K
Machinery & equipment $10K
Animal & marine products $2K

Balance of trade

Nicaragua Tunisia
Current account balance
$818M
2024
-$775M
2024
Current account balance ranking
55/190
2024
117/190
2024
Current account balance, % of GDP
+4.15%
2024
-1.51%
2024
Goods imports
$10.1B
2024
$18.7B
2024
Goods exports
$6.84B
2024
$8.95B
2024
Service imports
$1.31B
2024
$3.92B
2024
Service exports
$1.3B
2024
$11.2B
2024
Imports of goods and services, % of GDP
58.1%
2024
56.3%
2024
Exports of goods and services, % of GDP
40.5%
2024
50%
2024

Economic freedom indices

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

Nicaragua Tunisia
Economic freedom 53.6 48.1
Economic freedom ranking 139/197 172/197
Property rights 23.8 55.7
Government integrity 13.4 42.1
Judicial effectiveness 8.8 39.7
Tax burden 74.5 68.5
Government spending 77.7 62.5
Fiscal health 96.9 16
Business freedom 54.4 59.4
Labor freedom 47.3 55.8
Monetary freedom 69.4 72.4
Trade freedom 67 54.6
Investment freedom 60 20
Financial freedom 50 30

Economic freedom comparison by year

Nicaragua
Tunisia
1x
Year Economic freedom index
Nicaragua Tunisia
2026 53.6 48.1
2025 54 49.1
2024 53.4 48.8
2023 54.9 52.9
2022 54.8 54.2
2021 56.3 56.6
2020 57.2 55.8
2019 57.7 55.4
2018 58.9 58.9
2017 59.2 55.7
2016 58.6 57.6
2015 57.6 57.7
2014 58.4 57.3
2013 56.6 57
2012 57.9 58.6
2011 58.8 58.5
2010 58.3 58.9
2009 59.8 58
2008 60.8 60.1
2007 62.7 60.3
2006 63.8 57.5
2005 62.5 55.4
2004 61.4 58.4
2003 62.6 58.1
2002 61.1 60.2
2001 58 60.8
2000 56.9 61.3
1999 54 61.1
1998 53.8 63.9
1997 53.3 63.8
1996 54.1 63.9
1995 42.5 63.4

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

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

The Economic Freedom Index for Nicaragua is 53.6, ranking 139/197, compared to 48.1 for Tunisia, ranking 172/197. The chart above displays a comparison of annual changes in economic freedom indexes.

Other economic metrics

Nicaragua Tunisia
Services, % of GDP
46.8%
2024
62.6%
2024
Industry, % of GDP
27.6%
2024
22.6%
2024
Agriculture, forestry, and fishing, % of GDP
14.4%
2024
9.74%
2024
GNI, Atlas method
$17.4B
2024
$47.7B
2024
GNI per capita, PPP
$8,270
2024
$14,230
2024
Total reserves including gold
$6.1B
2024
$9.34B
2024
Total reserves ranking
91/177
2024
80/177
2024
Net foreign direct investment
-$1.28B
2024
-$725M
2024
Net inflows of foreign direct investment
$1.35B
2024
$760M
2024
Net outflows of foreign direct investment
$73.8M
2024
$34.6M
2024
Servicing debt to the IMF, % of GNI
9.74%
2024
10.9%
2024
Poverty at national poverty lines
24.9%
2016
16.6%
2021
Gross capital formation, % of GDP
24.7%
2024
7.86%
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/tunisia | 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 (1991–2024, 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 (2021–2023, 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.