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Economy of Nicaragua vs Turkmenistan compared: GDP & Debt

Updated on by Georank team

Nicaragua has a GDP of $19.7B compared to $51.4B for Turkmenistan, ranking 131/197 and 92/197 by economy size, respectively.

Nicaragua has $7.71B in government debt (39.1% of GDP), compared to $2.11B (4.11% of GDP) in Turkmenistan.

Nicaragua vs Turkmenistan GDP by year

Nicaragua
Turkmenistan
1x
Year GDP, current $
Nicaragua Turkmenistan
2024 $19,693,982,968 $51,387,209,872
2023 $17,805,842,284 $45,894,538,666
2022 $15,634,572,502 $42,208,726,138
2021 $14,209,020,362 $40,589,905,812
2020 $12,726,422,432 $41,509,903,182
2019 $12,699,023,614 $40,810,067,975
2018 $13,025,221,974 $40,765,428,571
2017 $13,785,893,007 $37,926,285,714
2016 $13,286,093,388 $36,169,428,571
2015 $12,756,696,261 $35,799,714,286
2014 $11,880,438,824 $43,524,210,526
2013 $10,982,988,249 $39,197,543,860
2012 $10,532,017,232 $35,164,210,526
2011 $9,774,329,333 $29,233,333,333
2010 $8,758,602,233 $22,583,157,895
2009 $8,298,702,489 $20,214,385,965
2008 $8,496,967,597 $19,271,523,179
2007 $7,423,375,015 $12,664,165,103
2006 $6,763,672,381 $10,276,674,365
2005 $6,321,324,279 $8,103,901,996
2004 $5,792,932,838 $6,838,351,088
2003 $5,322,228,351 $5,977,440,583
2002 $5,223,727,303 $4,462,029,109
2001 $5,351,752,034 $3,534,772,732
2000 $5,109,587,050 $2,904,663,311
1999 $4,856,026,259 $2,450,564,100
1998 $4,635,347,386 $2,605,689,134
1997 $4,389,973,490 $2,450,350,625
1996 $4,308,351,903 $2,378,759,975
1995 $4,140,470,000 $2,482,228,440
1994 $3,863,185,119 $2,561,118,608
1993 $1,756,454,248 $3,179,225,949
1992 $1,792,800,000 $3,200,539,816
1991 $1,488,804,124 $3,208,098,919
1990 $1,009,455,484 $3,189,539,641
1989 $1,013,184,756 $3,006,988,217
1988 $2,630,900,096 $3,010,982,414
1987 $3,851,200,118 $2,331,358,820
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/turkmenistan | CC BY

GDP per capita in Nicaragua vs Turkmenistan by year

Nicaragua
GDP per capita

GDP per capita, PPP
Turkmenistan
GDP per capita

GDP per capita, PPP
1x
Year Current $
Nicaragua Turkmenistan
GDP per capita GDP per capita, PPP GDP per capita GDP per capita, PPP
2024 $2,848 $8,709 $6,857 $21,213
2023 $2,609 $8,320 $6,232 $19,829
2022 $2,323 $7,797 $5,838 $18,340
2021 $2,138 $7,119 $5,723 $16,434
2020 $1,938 $6,274 $5,973 $15,091
2019 $1,959 $5,981 $5,998 $15,478
2018 $2,035 $5,935 $6,125 $14,368
2017 $2,183 $6,225 $5,828 $13,278
2016 $2,132 $5,882 $5,687 $12,919
2015 $2,074 $5,449 $5,759 $12,715
2014 $1,958 $5,068 $7,164 $12,477
2013 $1,835 $4,711 $6,600 $11,723
2012 $1,785 $4,508 $6,054 $11,035
2011 $1,680 $4,325 $5,144 $10,283
2010 $1,527 $4,042 $4,059 $8,972
2009 $1,467 $3,880 $3,708 $8,285
2008 $1,524 $4,044 $3,606 $7,916
2007 $1,350 $3,891 $2,415 $6,901
2006 $1,248 $3,658 $1,997 $6,164
2005 $1,183 $3,456 $1,604 $5,489
2004 $1,099 $3,255 $1,379 $4,798
2003 $1,021 $3,046 $1,229 $4,536
2002 $1,014 $2,948 $936 $4,393
2001 $1,052 $2,917 $756 $4,401
2000 $1,017 $2,806 $634 $4,209
1999 $980 $2,672 $546 $3,981
1998 $949 $2,497 $591 $3,432
1997 $913 $2,418 $565 $3,222
1996 $911 $2,325 $558 $3,636
1995 $892 $2,187 $592 $3,405
1994 $849 $2,064 $622 $3,659
1993 $394 $1,998 $788 $4,422
1992 $411 $2,003 $811 $4,351
1991 $350 $1,995 $832 $5,117
1990 $242.5 $1,979 $848 $5,321
1989 $249.2 - $821 -
1988 $662 - $846 -
1987 $992 - $675 -
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/turkmenistan | CC BY

Nicaragua's GDP per capita is $2,848, ranking 141/197, compared to $6,857 in Turkmenistan, ranking 104/197. Adjusted for purchasing power (GDP per capita PPP), Nicaragua ranks 138th at $8,709, while Turkmenistan ranks 94th at $21,213.

Economic indicators

Nicaragua Turkmenistan
Gross domestic product
$19.7B
2024
$51.4B
2024
GDP rank
131/197
2024
92/197
2024
GDP growth
3.59%
2023-2024
6.3%
2023-2024
GDP per capita
$2,848
2024
$6,857
2024
GDP per capita rank
141/197
2024
104/197
2024
GDP per capita, PPP
$8,709
2024
$21,213
2024
GDP per capita PPP rank
138/197
2024
94/197
2024
Government debt
$7.71B
2024
$2.11B
2024
Debt-to-GDP ratio
39.1%
2024
4.11%
2024
Government debt per person
$1,115
2024
$282
2024
Government debt per person rank
138/185
2024
179/185
2024
Average annual personal income after taxes
$2,318
2026
$7,520
2026
Income share by richest 10%
37.2%
2014
31.5%
1998
Income share by poorest 10%
2%
2014
2.4%
1998
Government expenditure, % of GDP
27.1%
2024
14.5%
2024
Consumer prices inflation
4.6%
2023-2024
4.6%
2023-2024
Central bank interest rate
6%
2025
n/a
Unemployment rate
5.2%
2018
4%
2010
Population
7124343
7776557

Spending and national debt comparison by year

Nicaragua
Spending

Debt
Turkmenistan
Spending

Debt
1x
Year % of GDP
Nicaragua Turkmenistan
Government spending Government debt Government spending Government debt
2024 27.1% 39.1% 14.5% 4.11%
2023 26% 42.3% 13.7% 5.46%
2022 28.6% 45.9% 13% 7.14%
2021 30% 48.4% 13.4% 12.3%
2020 28.9% 49.2% 13.5% 15.4%
2019 27.7% 44.2% 13.6% 17.7%
2018 27.7% 39.1% 13.7% 22.5%
2017 27.3% 34.7% 17.8% 24.7%
2016 26.8% 30.9% 14.1% 21.1%
2015 25.4% 28.9% 17.3% 19%
2014 24.6% 28.7% 17% 16%
2013 24.2% 28.8% 16.9% 20.4%
2012 24.1% 27.9% 14.7% 17.9%
2011 23.5% 28.8% 15.4% 14.8%
2010 22.6% 30.3% 14.6% 7.04%
2009 22.7% 29.3% 14.4% 3.09%
2008 21.9% 26% 11.7% 3.56%
2007 21.5% 30.9% 14.4% 3.06%
2006 21.4% 51.2% 16% 4.23%
2005 21.3% 66.6% 21.1% 6.82%
2004 20.8% 84% 20.3% 11.4%
2003 20.9% 109.5% 20.8% 16.9%
2002 18.7% 110.4% 19.4% 24.2%
2001 19.2% 87.5% 22.6% 34.1%
2000 20.6% 95.2% 25.9% 55.1%
1999 22.1% 99.8% 20.8% 66.7%
1998 18.5% 86.5% 26.1% 81.6%
1997 17.9% 86.4% 26.9% 64.2%
1996 18% - - -
1995 17.7% - - -
1994 18.4% - - -
1993 18.4% - - -
1992 18.4% - - -
1991 16.8% - - -
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 (1997–2024, retrieved 2026-02-20); International Monetary Fund (IMF) | Public Finances in Modern History (1960–1999, retrieved 2026-02-20).

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

In 2024, Nicaragua's government spending was $5.34B, accounting for 27.1% of its GDP, while Turkmenistan spent $7.46B, or 14.5% of GDP.

Debt-to-GDP ratio is 39.1% in Nicaragua and 4.11% in Turkmenistan, ranking 136/185 and 183/185, respectively.

Government deficit by year

Deficit/surplus
Nicaragua

Turkmenistan
1x
Year Deficit/surplus, % of GDP
Nicaragua Turkmenistan
2024 2.48% -0.08%
2023 2.31% 0.11%
2022 0.65% 3.38%
2021 -1.26% 0.57%
2020 -2.57% -0.16%
2019 -1.12% -0.4%
2018 -4.35% -0.22%
2017 -1.75% -2.84%
2016 -1.92% -2.38%
2015 -1.64% -0.7%
2014 -0.89% 0.89%
2013 -0.3% 1.53%
2012 0.22% 7.53%
2011 0.59% 3.84%
2010 0.69% 2.13%
2009 -0.9% 7.53%
2008 0.27% 10.7%
2007 1.88% 4.19%
2006 1.36% 5.64%
2005 1.72% 0.86%
2004 1.69% 1.47%
2003 1.3% 3.99%
2002 2.07% 0.19%
2001 0.34% 0.77%
2000 2.15% -0.55%
1999 -6.86% 2.48%
1998 -2.88% 1.15%
1997 -3.31% -0.2%
1996 -5% -
1995 -4.62% -
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 (1997–2024, retrieved 2026-02-20); International Monetary Fund (IMF) | Public Finances in Modern History (1960–1999, retrieved 2026-02-20).

GeoRank.org/economy/nicaragua/turkmenistan | 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 Turkmenistan's deficit of $42.9M, or 0.08% of GDP.

Over the past 28 years, Nicaragua recorded a fiscal deficit in 13 of those years, while Turkmenistan ran a deficit in 9 years. On average, Nicaragua posted an annual deficit equal to 0.36% of GDP, compared to surplus of 1.84% of GDP for Turkmenistan.

Inflation comparison by year

Inflation
Nicaragua

Turkmenistan
1x
Year Consumer prices inflation
Nicaragua Turkmenistan
2024 4.6% 4.6%
2023 8.4% -1.6%
2022 10.5% 11.2%
2021 4.9% 19.5%
2020 3.7% 6.1%
2019 5.4% 5.1%
2018 4.9% 13.3%
2017 3.9% 8%
2016 3.5% 3.6%
2015 4% 7.4%
2014 6% 6%
2013 7.1% 6.8%
2012 7.2% 5.3%
2011 8.1% 5.3%
2010 5.5% 4.4%
2009 3.7% -2.7%
2008 19.8% 14.5%
2007 11.1% 6.3%
2006 9.1% 8.2%
2005 9.6% 10.7%
2004 8.5% 5.9%
2003 5.3% 5.6%
2002 3.8% 8.8%
2001 7.4% 11.6%
2000 11.5% 8%
1999 11.2% 23.5%
1998 13% 16.8%
1997 9.2% 83.7%

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

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

Over the past 28 years, Nicaragua has recorded an average annual inflation rate of 7.53%, compared with 10.9% in Turkmenistan. In 2024, inflation was 4.6% in Nicaragua and 4.6% in Turkmenistan.

Balance of trade

Nicaragua Turkmenistan
Current account balance
$818M
2024
n/a
Current account balance ranking
55/190
2024
n/a
Current account balance, % of GDP
+4.15%
2024
n/a
Goods imports
$10.1B
2024
n/a
Goods exports
$6.84B
2024
n/a
Service imports
$1.31B
2024
n/a
Service exports
$1.3B
2024
n/a
Imports of goods and services, % of GDP
58.1%
2024
11.2%
2024
Exports of goods and services, % of GDP
40.5%
2024
17.6%
2024

Economic freedom indices

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

Nicaragua Turkmenistan
Economic freedom 53.6 47
Economic freedom ranking 139/197 177/197
Property rights 23.8 17.4
Government integrity 13.4 8.4
Judicial effectiveness 8.8 12.3
Tax burden 74.5 94.2
Government spending 77.7 94.3
Fiscal health 96.9 99.9
Business freedom 54.4 37.5
Labor freedom 47.3 29.3
Monetary freedom 69.4 76.7
Trade freedom 67 74.2
Investment freedom 60 10
Financial freedom 50 10

Economic freedom comparison by year

Nicaragua
Turkmenistan
1x
Year Economic freedom index
Nicaragua Turkmenistan
2026 53.6 47
2025 54 47.1
2024 53.4 46.3
2023 54.9 46.5
2022 54.8 46.2
2021 56.3 47.4
2020 57.2 46.5
2019 57.7 48.4
2018 58.9 47.1
2017 59.2 47.4
2016 58.6 41.9
2015 57.6 41.4
2014 58.4 42.2
2013 56.6 42.6
2012 57.9 43.8
2011 58.8 43.6
2010 58.3 42.5
2009 59.8 44.2
2008 60.8 43.4
2007 62.7 43
2006 63.8 43.8
2005 62.5 47.6
2004 61.4 50.7
2003 62.6 51.3
2002 61.1 43.2
2001 58 41.8
2000 56.9 37.6
1999 54 36.1
1998 53.8 35
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/turkmenistan | CC BY

The Economic Freedom Index for Nicaragua is 53.6, ranking 139/197, compared to 47 for Turkmenistan, ranking 177/197. The chart above displays a comparison of annual changes in economic freedom indexes.

Other economic metrics

Nicaragua Turkmenistan
Services, % of GDP
46.8%
2024
50.4%
2024
Industry, % of GDP
27.6%
2024
37.5%
2024
Agriculture, forestry, and fishing, % of GDP
14.4%
2024
12.2%
2024
GNI, Atlas method
$17.4B
2024
$48.8B
2024
GNI per capita, PPP
$8,270
2024
$21,020
2024
Total reserves including gold
$6.1B
2024
$1.51B
1999
Total reserves ranking
91/177
2024
135/177
1999
Net foreign direct investment
-$1.28B
2024
n/a
Net inflows of foreign direct investment
$1.35B
2024
$1.64B
2024
Net outflows of foreign direct investment
$73.8M
2024
$0
2024
Servicing debt to the IMF, % of GNI
9.74%
2024
1.91%
2024
Poverty at national poverty lines
24.9%
2016
0.2%
2020
Gross capital formation, % of GDP
24.7%
2024
47.2%
2012

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/turkmenistan | 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 (1997–2024, 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. United Nations | World Population Prospects (2026, retrieved 2026-03-10)
  7. LivingCost (2026, retrieved 2025-10-14)
  8. Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) (2020, retrieved 2026-02-20)

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.