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Economy of Nicaragua vs Uganda compared: GDP & Debt

Updated on by Georank team

Nicaragua has a GDP of $19.7B compared to $53.9B for Uganda, ranking 131/197 and 89/197 by economy size, respectively.

Nicaragua has $7.71B in government debt (39.1% of GDP), compared to $27.8B (51.5% of GDP) in Uganda.

Nicaragua vs Uganda GDP by year

Nicaragua
Uganda
1x
Year GDP, current $
Nicaragua Uganda
2024 $19,693,982,968 $53,911,907,086
2023 $17,805,842,284 $48,768,955,863
2022 $15,634,572,502 $45,565,333,211
2021 $14,209,020,362 $40,529,788,749
2020 $12,726,422,432 $37,600,368,242
2019 $12,699,023,614 $35,353,061,003
2018 $13,025,221,974 $32,927,025,620
2017 $13,785,893,007 $30,744,473,841
2016 $13,286,093,388 $29,203,988,696
2015 $12,756,696,261 $32,387,183,730
2014 $11,880,438,824 $32,612,397,257
2013 $10,982,988,249 $28,915,786,517
2012 $10,532,017,232 $27,305,915,911
2011 $9,774,329,333 $27,871,725,241
2010 $8,758,602,233 $26,673,441,431
2009 $8,298,702,489 $25,127,805,567
2008 $8,496,967,597 $14,440,404,132
2007 $7,423,375,015 $11,902,564,495
2006 $6,763,672,381 $9,977,647,683
2005 $6,321,324,279 $9,239,221,763
2004 $5,792,932,838 $7,939,487,548
2003 $5,322,228,351 $6,606,884,275
2002 $5,223,727,303 $6,178,563,591
2001 $5,351,752,034 $5,840,503,869
2000 $5,109,587,050 $6,193,246,837
1999 $4,856,026,259 $5,998,563,258
1998 $4,635,347,386 $6,584,815,847
1997 $4,389,973,490 $6,269,333,313
1996 $4,308,351,903 $6,044,585,327
1995 $4,140,470,000 $5,755,818,842
1994 $3,863,185,119 $3,990,430,447
1993 $1,756,454,248 $3,220,439,044
1992 $1,792,800,000 $2,857,457,762
1991 $1,488,804,124 $3,321,729,160
1990 $1,009,455,484 $4,304,399,310
1989 $1,013,184,756 $5,276,480,799
1988 $2,630,900,096 $6,508,931,652
1987 $3,851,200,118 $6,269,522,042
1986 $2,885,799,994 $3,923,244,050
1985 $2,683,699,935 $3,519,695,444
1984 $3,117,599,872 $3,615,647,477
1983 $2,753,100,058 $2,240,333,333
1982 $2,454,499,872 $2,177,500,000
1981 $2,474,700,227 $1,337,300,000
1980 $2,144,300,006 $1,244,610,000
1979 $1,567,599,982 $2,139,025,000
1978 $2,127,699,979 $2,420,260,870
1977 $2,226,999,874 $2,936,470,588
1976 $1,836,899,999 $2,447,300,000
1975 $1,581,599,959 $2,359,555,556
1974 $1,521,400,012 $2,098,944,967
1973 $1,092,900,015 $1,701,829,789
1972 $878,570,045 $1,490,970,181
1971 $828,569,953 $1,417,191,656
1970 $778,569,939 $1,259,554,809
1969 $750,000,003 $1,168,556,629
1968 $692,859,985 $1,037,379,252
1967 $657,140,011 $967,240,655
1966 $607,140,010 $925,381,492
1965 $564,290,020 $884,502,310
1964 $347,119,918 $589,247,687
1963 $297,324,163 $516,315,231
1962 $269,283,804 $449,158,233
1961 $244,144,237 $441,667,335
1960 $227,223,322 $423,145,605

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

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

GDP per capita in Nicaragua vs Uganda by year

Nicaragua
GDP per capita

GDP per capita, PPP
Uganda
GDP per capita

GDP per capita, PPP
1x
Year Current $
Nicaragua Uganda
GDP per capita GDP per capita, PPP GDP per capita GDP per capita, PPP
2024 $2,848 $8,709 $1,078 $3,273
2023 $2,609 $8,320 $1,002 $3,098
2022 $2,323 $7,797 $963 $2,919
2021 $2,138 $7,119 $883 $2,685
2020 $1,938 $6,274 $846 $2,532
2019 $1,959 $5,981 $822 $2,441
2018 $2,035 $5,935 $792 $2,312
2017 $2,183 $6,225 $765 $2,158
2016 $2,132 $5,882 $753 $2,165
2015 $2,074 $5,449 $863 $2,190
2014 $1,958 $5,068 $896 $2,134
2013 $1,835 $4,711 $818 $2,045
2012 $1,785 $4,508 $795 $2,032
2011 $1,680 $4,325 $836 $2,268
2010 $1,527 $4,042 $823 $2,092
2009 $1,467 $3,880 $799 $2,015
2008 $1,524 $4,044 $473 $1,931
2007 $1,350 $3,891 $401 $1,795
2006 $1,248 $3,658 $347 $1,660
2005 $1,183 $3,456 $330 $1,497
2004 $1,099 $3,255 $292.4 $1,405
2003 $1,021 $3,046 $250.7 $1,320
2002 $1,014 $2,948 $242 $1,255
2001 $1,052 $2,917 $236 $1,173
2000 $1,017 $2,806 $258.1 $1,124
1999 $980 $2,672 $257.9 $1,100
1998 $949 $2,497 $292.5 $1,037
1997 $913 $2,418 $286.8 $1,007
1996 $911 $2,325 $284.7 $969
1995 $892 $2,187 $278.5 $897
1994 $849 $2,064 $198.4 $809
1993 $394 $1,998 $165.6 $770
1992 $411 $2,003 $152.1 $719
1991 $350 $1,995 $183 $703
1990 $242.5 $1,979 $245 $666
1989 $249.2 - $310 -
1988 $662 - $395 -
1987 $992 - $393 -
1986 $761 - $253.6 -
1985 $724 - $234.3 -
1984 $861 - $247.5 -
1983 $780 - $157.5 -
1982 $714 - $157 -
1981 $740 - $98.6 -
1980 $659 - $93.8 -
1979 $495 - $164.5 -
1978 $691 - $190.7 -
1977 $744 - $237.6 -
1976 $633 - $203.3 -
1975 $561 - $201.2 -
1974 $557 - $183.7 -
1973 $413 - $152.7 -
1972 $341 - $137 -
1971 $331 - $133.5 -
1970 $321 - $122 -
1969 $319 - $116.7 -
1968 $304 - $106.9 -
1967 $297.9 - $102.8 -
1966 $284 - $101.4 -
1965 $272.3 - $100 -
1964 $172.7 - $68.6 -
1963 $152.5 - $62 -
1962 $142.3 - $55.5 -
1961 $132.9 - $56.2 -
1960 $127.5 - $55.4 -

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

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

Nicaragua's GDP per capita is $2,848, ranking 141/197, compared to $1,078 in Uganda, ranking 176/197. Adjusted for purchasing power (GDP per capita PPP), Nicaragua ranks 138th at $8,709, while Uganda ranks 176th at $3,273.

Economic indicators

Nicaragua Uganda
Gross domestic product
$19.7B
2024
$53.9B
2024
GDP rank
131/197
2024
89/197
2024
GDP growth
3.59%
2023-2024
6.06%
2023-2024
GDP per capita
$2,848
2024
$1,078
2024
GDP per capita rank
141/197
2024
176/197
2024
GDP per capita, PPP
$8,709
2024
$3,273
2024
GDP per capita PPP rank
138/197
2024
176/197
2024
Government debt
$7.71B
2024
$27.8B
2024
Debt-to-GDP ratio
39.1%
2024
51.5%
2024
Government debt per person
$1,115
2024
$555
2024
Government debt per person rank
138/185
2024
163/185
2024
Average annual personal income after taxes
$2,318
2026
$1,466
2026
Income share by richest 10%
37.2%
2014
34.5%
2019
Income share by poorest 10%
2%
2014
2.4%
2019
Government expenditure, % of GDP
27.1%
2024
18.7%
2024
Consumer prices inflation
4.6%
2023-2024
3.3%
2023-2024
Central bank interest rate
6%
2025
9.75%
2024
Unemployment rate
5.2%
2018
3.42%
2021
Population
7124343
53170946

Spending and national debt comparison by year

Nicaragua
Spending

Debt
Uganda
Spending

Debt
1x
Year % of GDP
Nicaragua Uganda
Government spending Government debt Government spending Government debt
2024 27.1% 39.1% 18.7% 51.5%
2023 26% 42.3% 19.3% 50.5%
2022 28.6% 45.9% 19.5% 50.2%
2021 30% 48.4% 22% 50.3%
2020 28.9% 49.2% 21.4% 46.3%
2019 27.7% 44.2% 18.3% 37.5%
2018 27.7% 39.1% 16.2% 34.9%
2017 27.3% 34.7% 16.3% 33.6%
2016 26.8% 30.9% 15.2% 31.3%
2015 25.4% 28.9% 14.9% 28%
2014 24.6% 28.7% 13.6% 24.8%
2013 24.2% 28.8% 13.3% 22.1%
2012 24.1% 27.9% 13.1% 19.5%
2011 23.5% 28.8% 13.2% 18%
2010 22.6% 30.3% 15.4% 18.4%
2009 22.7% 29.3% 11.8% 14.8%
2008 21.9% 26% 12.9% 15.7%
2007 21.5% 30.9% 13.2% 17%
2006 21.4% 51.2% 13.7% 27.8%
2005 21.3% 66.6% 14.5% 42.6%
2004 20.8% 84% 15.6% 49%
2003 20.9% 109.5% 16.5% 55.1%
2002 18.7% 110.4% 16.8% 54.7%
2001 19.2% 87.5% 16.2% 51.4%
2000 20.6% 95.2% 15.2% 48.5%
1999 22.1% 99.8% 14.7% 47.7%
1998 18.5% 86.5% 14% 45.1%
1997 17.9% 86.4% 13.9% 44.2%
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/uganda | CC BY

In 2024, Nicaragua's government spending was $5.34B, accounting for 27.1% of its GDP, while Uganda spent $10.1B, or 18.7% of GDP.

Debt-to-GDP ratio is 39.1% in Nicaragua and 51.5% in Uganda, ranking 136/185 and 103/185, respectively.

Government deficit by year

Deficit/surplus
Nicaragua

Uganda
1x
Year Deficit/surplus, % of GDP
Nicaragua Uganda
2024 2.48% -3.99%
2023 2.31% -4.87%
2022 0.65% -5.45%
2021 -1.26% -7.76%
2020 -2.57% -7.76%
2019 -1.12% -4.82%
2018 -4.35% -3.02%
2017 -1.75% -3.83%
2016 -1.92% -2.64%
2015 -1.64% -2.59%
2014 -0.89% -2.74%
2013 -0.3% -3.19%
2012 0.22% -2.39%
2011 0.59% -2.04%
2010 0.69% -4.64%
2009 -0.9% -1.61%
2008 0.27% -1.99%
2007 1.88% -0.82%
2006 1.36% -0.64%
2005 1.72% -0.17%
2004 1.69% 0.34%
2003 1.3% -0.97%
2002 2.07% -2.07%
2001 0.34% -0.99%
2000 2.15% -0.62%
1999 -6.86% -1.24%
1998 -2.88% -0.7%
1997 -3.31% -0.83%
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/uganda | 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 Uganda's deficit of $2.15B, or 3.99% of GDP.

Over the past 28 years, Nicaragua recorded a fiscal deficit in 13 of those years, while Uganda ran a deficit in 27 years. On average, Nicaragua posted an annual deficit equal to 0.36% of GDP, compared to deficit of 2.64% of GDP for Uganda.

Inflation comparison by year

Inflation
Nicaragua

Uganda
1x
Year Consumer prices inflation
Nicaragua Uganda
2024 4.6% 3.3%
2023 8.4% 5.4%
2022 10.5% 7.2%
2021 4.9% 2.2%
2020 3.7% 2.8%
2019 5.4% 2.1%
2018 4.9% 2.5%
2017 3.9% 5.6%
2016 3.5% 5.2%
2015 4% 3.7%
2014 6% 4.3%
2013 7.1% 5.5%
2012 7.2% 14%
2011 8.1% 18.7%
2010 5.5% 4%
2009 3.7% 13%
2008 19.8% 12%
2007 11.1% 6.1%
2006 9.1% 7.2%
2005 9.6% 8.6%
2004 8.5% 3.7%
2003 5.3% 8.7%
2002 3.8% -0.3%
2001 7.4% 1.9%
2000 11.5% 3.4%
1999 11.2% 5.8%
1998 13% 5.8%
1997 9.2% 7.7%

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

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

Over the past 28 years, Nicaragua has recorded an average annual inflation rate of 7.53%, compared with 6.08% in Uganda. In 2024, inflation was 4.6% in Nicaragua and 3.3% in Uganda.

Top exports between countries

Nicaragua
Export category Export value
Processed food, beverages & tobacco $4K
Uganda
Export category Export value

Balance of trade

Nicaragua Uganda
Current account balance
$818M
2024
-$4.29B
2024
Current account balance ranking
55/190
2024
164/190
2024
Current account balance, % of GDP
+4.15%
2024
-7.96%
2024
Goods imports
$10.1B
2024
$11.7B
2024
Goods exports
$6.84B
2024
$8.67B
2024
Service imports
$1.31B
2024
$4.38B
2024
Service exports
$1.3B
2024
$2.39B
2024
Imports of goods and services, % of GDP
58.1%
2024
25.9%
2024
Exports of goods and services, % of GDP
40.5%
2024
16.8%
2024

Economic freedom indices

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

Nicaragua Uganda
Economic freedom 53.6 52.4
Economic freedom ranking 139/197 149/197
Property rights 23.8 42.2
Government integrity 13.4 25.1
Judicial effectiveness 8.8 29.4
Tax burden 74.5 73.4
Government spending 77.7 89
Fiscal health 96.9 58.3
Business freedom 54.4 50.2
Labor freedom 47.3 55.9
Monetary freedom 69.4 77.1
Trade freedom 67 58
Investment freedom 60 30
Financial freedom 50 40

Economic freedom comparison by year

Nicaragua
Uganda
1x
Year Economic freedom index
Nicaragua Uganda
2026 53.6 52.4
2025 54 51.3
2024 53.4 50.7
2023 54.9 51.4
2022 54.8 54.2
2021 56.3 58.6
2020 57.2 59.5
2019 57.7 59.7
2018 58.9 62
2017 59.2 60.9
2016 58.6 59.3
2015 57.6 59.7
2014 58.4 59.9
2013 56.6 61.1
2012 57.9 61.9
2011 58.8 61.7
2010 58.3 62.2
2009 59.8 63.5
2008 60.8 63.8
2007 62.7 63.1
2006 63.8 63.9
2005 62.5 62.9
2004 61.4 64.1
2003 62.6 60.1
2002 61.1 61
2001 58 60.4
2000 56.9 58.2
1999 54 64.8
1998 53.8 64.7
1997 53.3 66.6
1996 54.1 66.2
1995 42.5 62.9

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

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

The Economic Freedom Index for Nicaragua is 53.6, ranking 139/197, compared to 52.4 for Uganda, ranking 149/197. The chart above displays a comparison of annual changes in economic freedom indexes.

Other economic metrics

Nicaragua Uganda
Services, % of GDP
46.8%
2024
43.1%
2024
Industry, % of GDP
27.6%
2024
24.9%
2024
Agriculture, forestry, and fishing, % of GDP
14.4%
2024
24.6%
2024
GNI, Atlas method
$17.4B
2024
$50.9B
2024
GNI per capita, PPP
$8,270
2024
$3,190
2024
Total reserves including gold
$6.1B
2024
$3.36B
2018
Total reserves ranking
91/177
2024
114/177
2018
Net foreign direct investment
-$1.28B
2024
-$3.26B
2024
Net inflows of foreign direct investment
$1.35B
2024
$3.26B
2024
Net outflows of foreign direct investment
$73.8M
2024
$400K
2024
Servicing debt to the IMF, % of GNI
9.74%
2024
2.96%
2024
Poverty at national poverty lines
24.9%
2016
20.3%
2019
Gross capital formation, % of GDP
24.7%
2024
22.4%
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/uganda | 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. TradeMap (2023, retrieved 2026-02-08)

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.