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Economy of Nigeria vs Palau compared: GDP & Debt

Updated on by Georank

Nigeria has a GDP of $291B compared to $345M for Palau, ranking 50/197 and 193/197 by economy size, respectively.

Nigeria vs Palau GDP by year

Nigeria
Palau
1x
Year GDP, current $
Nigeria Palau
2025 $290,794,361,542 $345,000,000
2024 $252,261,880,140 $321,501,813
2023 $487,387,801,878 $276,157,406
2022 $646,950,257,575 $247,470,813
2021 $609,147,716,965 $235,935,734
2020 $598,586,817,817 $258,985,859
2019 $668,219,992,687 $281,954,000
2018 $421,739,251,509 $288,228,344
2017 $375,745,731,053 $289,983,656
2016 $404,649,125,252 $303,326,125
2015 $493,026,682,801 $283,224,750
2014 $574,183,763,412 $245,436,547
2013 $520,117,180,314 $226,257,828
2012 $463,971,018,239 $214,928,297
2011 $414,466,676,831 $195,163,578
2010 $366,990,417,129 $184,292,328
2009 $295,008,835,381 $184,049,766
2008 $339,476,276,258 $199,046,109
2007 $278,260,846,800 $196,012,719
2006 $238,454,997,161 $190,777,422
2005 $175,670,569,969 $185,658,172
2004 $135,764,731,646 $166,363,734
2003 $104,738,954,264 $154,566,781
2002 $95,054,059,303 $162,658,719
2001 $73,557,840,064 $159,446,234
2000 $69,171,451,627 $149,551,484
1999 $59,145,077,039 $144,206,500
1998 $218,416,200,673 $149,079,600
1997 $200,850,397,618 $143,860,800
1996 $185,730,236,700 $137,494,600
1995 $140,919,776,986 $121,018,500
1994 $80,399,613,064 $106,138,500
1993 $56,721,051,402 $96,455,700
1992 $52,058,181,854 $104,771,300
1991 $59,526,833,412 $106,555,300
1990 $54,035,795,388 $97,702,303
1989 $44,003,061,108 $85,800,543
1988 $49,648,470,440 $75,348,615
1987 $52,676,041,931 $66,169,905
1986 $54,805,852,581 $58,109,314
1985 $73,745,821,158 $51,030,637
1984 $73,484,359,521 $44,814,259
1983 $97,094,911,792 $39,661,530
1982 $142,769,363,314 $36,027,583
1981 $164,475,209,516 $32,726,594
1980 $64,201,788,123 $29,728,054
1979 $47,259,911,894 $27,004,251
1978 $36,527,862,209 $24,530,015
1977 $36,035,407,725 $22,308,104
1976 $36,308,883,249 $20,364,420
1975 $27,778,934,625 $18,521,112
1974 $24,846,641,318 $16,848,759
1973 $15,162,871,287 $15,331,889
1972 $12,274,416,018 $13,956,474
1971 $9,181,769,912 $12,706,874
1970 $12,546,094,982 $11,563,041
1969 $6,634,317,346 -
1968 $5,200,997,920 -
1967 $5,203,237,919 -
1966 $6,366,917,453 -
1965 $5,874,537,650 -
1964 $5,552,931,319 -
1963 $5,165,590,254 -
1962 $4,909,399,176 -
1961 $4,467,287,893 -
1960 $4,196,174,502 -

Data sources: World Bank | Economy & Growth (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08).

GeoRank.org/economy/nigeria/palau | CC BY

GDP per capita in Nigeria vs Palau by year

Nigeria
GDP per capita

GDP per capita, PPP
Palau
GDP per capita

GDP per capita, PPP
1x
Year Current $
Nigeria Palau
GDP per capita GDP per capita, PPP GDP per capita GDP per capita, PPP
2025 $1,224 - $19,532 -
2024 $1,084 $9,087 $18,169 -
2023 $2,139 $8,705 $15,578 $18,230
2022 $2,899 $8,305 $13,935 $17,185
2021 $2,787 $7,588 $13,267 $15,781
2020 $2,797 $7,415 $14,556 $17,390
2019 $3,190 $7,551 $15,842 $18,422
2018 $2,058 $7,158 $16,180 $18,172
2017 $1,876 $7,037 $16,280 $17,991
2016 $2,070 $7,072 $17,044 $18,235
2015 $2,586 $7,308 $15,938 $17,854
2014 $3,089 $7,396 $13,855 $16,442
2013 $2,873 $7,004 $12,821 $15,425
2012 $2,633 $6,671 $12,098 $15,461
2011 $2,418 $6,585 $10,796 $14,673
2010 $2,202 $6,301 $10,018 $13,443
2009 $1,820 $5,927 $9,837 $13,414
2008 $2,154 $5,607 $10,471 $14,039
2007 $1,816 $5,298 $10,155 $14,308
2006 $1,600 $4,975 $9,737 $13,545
2005 $1,211 $4,678 $9,368 $12,960
2004 $962 $4,381 $8,394 $12,213
2003 $763 $4,015 $7,862 $11,588
2002 $712 $3,770 $8,340 $11,704
2001 $566 $3,309 $8,239 $11,092
2000 $547 $3,139 $7,798 $10,197
1999 $481 $3,002 $7,630 $10,388
1998 $1,822 $3,022 $8,048 $11,048
1997 $1,720 $2,990 $7,945 $10,957
1996 $1,633 $2,931 $7,788 $10,800
1995 $1,272 $2,835 $7,038 $9,863
1994 $745 $2,853 $6,329 $8,932
1993 $540 $2,921 $5,892 $8,348
1992 $509 $2,991 $6,553 $9,521
1991 $597 $2,870 $6,824 $10,184
1990 $556 $2,840 $6,403 $9,609
1989 $465 - $5,741 -
1988 $540 - $5,145 -
1987 $588 - $4,616 -
1986 $628 - $4,144 -
1985 $869 - $3,728 -
1984 $890 - $3,360 -
1983 $1,207 - $3,049 -
1982 $1,822 - $2,838 -
1981 $2,162 - $2,639 -
1980 $870 - $2,423 -
1979 $661 - $2,189 -
1978 $527 - $1,972 -
1977 $536 - $1,781 -
1976 $556 - $1,616 -
1975 $438 - $1,464 -
1974 $403 - $1,328 -
1973 $252.4 - $1,221 -
1972 $209.5 - $1,145 -
1971 $160.5 - $1,081 -
1970 $224.5 - $1,017 -
1969 $121.4 - - -
1968 $97.3 - - -
1967 $99.5 - - -
1966 $124.4 - - -
1965 $117.3 - - -
1964 $113.3 - - -
1963 $107.7 - - -
1962 $104.5 - - -
1961 $97.1 - - -
1960 $93.1 - - -

Data sources: World Bank | Economy & Growth (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08).

GeoRank.org/economy/nigeria/palau | CC BY

Nigeria's GDP per capita is $1,224, ranking 172/197, compared to $19,532 in Palau, ranking 63/197. Adjusted for purchasing power (GDP per capita PPP), Nigeria ranks 136th at $9,087, while Palau ranks 103rd at $18,230.

Economic indicators

Nigeria Palau
Gross domestic product
$291B
2025
$345M
2025
GDP rank
50/197
2025
193/197
2025
GDP growth
4.01%
2024-2025
6.29%
2024-2025
GDP per capita
$1,224
2025
$19,532
2025
GDP per capita rank
172/197
2025
63/197
2025
GDP per capita, PPP
$9,087
2024
$18,230
2023
GDP per capita PPP rank
136/197
2024
103/197
2023
Government debt
$103B
2025
n/a
Debt-to-GDP ratio
35.5%
2025
n/a
Government debt per person
$434
2025
n/a
Government debt per person rank
170/185
2025
n/a
Average annual personal income after taxes
$768
2026
$10,433
2026
Market capitalization of domestic companies
$86.9B
2025
n/a
Number of billionaires
4
2026
n/a
Income share by richest 10%
26.3%
2022
n/a
Income share by poorest 10%
3%
2022
n/a
Government expenditure, % of GDP
11.7%
2025
52.1%
2025
Consumer prices inflation
23%
2024-2025
0.3%
2024-2025
Central bank interest rate
26.5%
2026
n/a
Unemployment rate
3.45%
2024
2.09%
2023
Population
245016045
17620

Government deficit by year

Deficit/surplus
Nigeria

Palau
1x
Year Deficit/surplus, % of GDP
Nigeria Palau
2025 -1.76% 1.73%
2024 -1.27% 1.23%
2023 -3.12% -2.28%
2022 -4% -4.26%
2021 -3.97% -9.94%
2020 -4.03% -13%
2019 -3.31% -0.36%
2018 -3.06% 6.18%
2017 -3.85% 4.76%
2016 -3.3% 3.52%
2015 -2.7% 5.08%
2014 -1.72% 3.59%
2013 -1.89% 0.54%
2012 -0.09% 0.98%
2011 0.31% 1.29%
2010 -2.96% -1.27%
2009 -3.78% -2.14%
2008 4.05% -1.71%
2007 -0.79% -2.08%
2006 6.22% 0.14%
2005 3.49% 1.38%
2004 3.9% -4.82%
2003 -1.56% -6.91%
2002 0.95% -12.7%
2001 -2.29% -16.7%
2000 2.89% -13.4%
1999 -1.39% -
1998 -3.47% -
1997 1.14% -
1996 3.37% -
1995 2.52% -
1994 -2.96% -
1993 -6.07% -
1992 0.94% -
1991 -1.18% -
1990 -0.48% -

Data sources: International Monetary Fund (IMF) | Fiscal Monitor (1990–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08).

GeoRank.org/economy/nigeria/palau | CC BY

In 2025, Nigeria's government deficit, the difference between spending and revenue, was $5.12B, equivalent to 1.76% of GDP. This compares to Palau's surplus of $5.95M, or 1.73% of GDP.

Over the past 26 years, Nigeria recorded a fiscal deficit in 19 of those years, while Palau ran a deficit in 14 years. On average, Nigeria posted an annual deficit equal to 1.06% of GDP, compared to deficit of 2.35% of GDP for Palau.

Inflation comparison by year

Inflation
Nigeria

Palau
1x
Year Consumer prices inflation
Nigeria Palau
2025 23% 0.3%
2024 33.2% 3.6%
2023 24.7% 12.4%
2022 18.8% 13.2%
2021 17% -0.5%
2020 13.2% 0.7%
2019 11.4% 0.4%
2018 12.1% 2.4%
2017 16.5% 1.1%
2016 15.7% -1.3%
2015 9.01% 2.2%
2014 8.05% 4%
2013 8.5% 2.8%
2012 12.2% 5.4%
2011 10.8% 2.6%
2010 13.7% 1.1%
2009 12.5% 4.7%
2008 11.6% 9.9%
2007 5.39% 3%
2006 8.23% 4.2%
2005 17.9% 3.6%
2004 15% 0.5%
2003 14% 0.6%
2002 12.9% -0.3%
2001 18.9% -0.7%
2000 6.93% -
1999 6.62% -
1998 10% -
1997 8.53% -

Data sources: World Bank | Economy & Growth (1997–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08); International Monetary Fund (IMF) | World Economic Outlook (2001–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08).

GeoRank.org/economy/nigeria/palau | CC BY

Over the past 25 years, Nigeria has recorded an average annual inflation rate of 14.6%, compared with 3.04% in Palau. In 2025, inflation was 23% in Nigeria and 0.3% in Palau.

Balance of trade

Nigeria Palau
Current account balance
$14B
2025
-$134M
2023
Current account balance ranking
21/190
2025
84/190
2023
Current account balance, % of GDP
+4.83%
2025
-48.6%
2023
Goods imports
$43B
2025
$164M
2023
Goods exports
$57.5B
2025
$1.74M
2023
Service imports
$19.6B
2025
$43M
2023
Service exports
$5.06B
2025
$61.9M
2023
Imports of goods and services, % of GDP
16.9%
1960
73.1%
2024
Exports of goods and services, % of GDP
9.24%
1960
32.7%
2024

Economic freedom indices

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

Nigeria Palau
Economic freedom 54.8 62
Economic freedom ranking 132/197 89/197
Property rights 29.7 n/a
Government integrity 23.5 n/a
Judicial effectiveness 34.4 n/a
Tax burden 84.6 n/a
Government spending 96.3 n/a
Fiscal health 83.5 n/a
Business freedom 50.3 n/a
Labor freedom 75.4 n/a
Monetary freedom 56.1 n/a
Trade freedom 64.4 n/a
Investment freedom 30 n/a
Financial freedom 30 n/a

Other economic metrics

Nigeria Palau
Services, % of GDP
58.2%
2025
73.1%
2024
Industry, % of GDP
16.4%
2025
13%
2024
Agriculture, forestry, and fishing, % of GDP
23%
2025
2.73%
2024
GNI, Atlas method
$324B
2025
$351M
2025
GNI per capita, PPP
$9,230
2025
$23,480
2025
Total reserves including gold
$46B
2025
n/a
Total reserves ranking
52/177
2025
n/a
Net foreign direct investment
-$2.82B
2025
-$79.9M
2023
Net inflows of foreign direct investment
$1.61B
2024
$69.1M
2024
Net outflows of foreign direct investment
$408M
2024
$0
2024
Servicing debt to the IMF, % of GNI
5.46%
2024
n/a
Poverty at national poverty lines
56.2%
2023
24.9%
2020
Gross capital formation, % of GDP n/a
35%
2024

GDP per capita map

1x

Data sources: World Bank | Economy & Growth (1985–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08); U.S. Census Bureau (1985–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08).

GeoRank.org/economy/nigeria/palau | CC BY

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Data sources:

  1. World Bank | Economy & Growth (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08)
  2. International Monetary Fund (IMF) | Fiscal Monitor (1990–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08)
  3. U.S. Census Bureau (1985–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08)
  4. The Heritage Foundation | Economic Freedom Index (2026, retrieved 2026-07-08)
  5. United Nations | World Population Prospects (2026, retrieved 2026-07-08)
  6. LivingCost (2026, retrieved 2026-07-08)
  7. Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) (2020, retrieved 2026-07-08)

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.