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Economy of Oman vs Sao Tome and Principe compared: GDP & Debt

Updated on by Georank team

Oman has a GDP of $107B compared to $822M for Sao Tome and Principe, ranking 70/197 and 189/197 by economy size, respectively.

Oman has $38B in government debt (35.5% of GDP), compared to $533M (64.8% of GDP) in Sao Tome and Principe.

Oman vs Sao Tome and Principe GDP by year

Oman
Sao Tome and Principe
1x
Year GDP, current $
Oman Sao Tome
2024 $107,137,198,769 $822,154,621
2023 $106,174,708,037 $690,456,807
2022 $109,852,795,839 $540,809,499
2021 $87,323,797,139 $524,402,456
2020 $75,909,492,848 $471,229,485
2019 $88,060,858,257 $412,976,083
2018 $91,505,851,756 $383,717,328
2017 $80,856,697,009 $322,002,845
2016 $75,128,738,622 $292,267,272
2015 $78,710,793,238 $259,999,643
2014 $92,699,089,727 $293,119,143
2013 $89,936,020,806 $267,041,748
2012 $87,408,842,653 $225,815,132
2011 $77,497,529,259 $226,455,001
2010 $64,993,498,049 $190,021,192
2009 $55,454,096,229 $200,668,065
2008 $69,804,681,404 $188,021,165
2007 $48,300,390,117 $149,146,919
2006 $42,577,633,290 $142,775,104
2005 $35,506,892,068 $136,450,662
2004 $28,378,933,680 $114,582,284
2003 $24,733,680,104 $102,085,769
2002 $23,065,539,662 $85,171,074
2001 $22,205,721,717 $75,951,133
2000 $22,259,557,867 $76,198,395
1999 $17,832,769,831 $77,302,212
1998 $16,044,213,264 $72,285,404
1997 $18,039,791,938 $91,920,274
1996 $17,402,080,624 $135,188,166
1995 $15,722,236,671 $103,695,237
1994 $14,715,214,564 $131,338,415
1993 $14,230,429,129 $125,742,229
1992 $14,183,615,085 $94,861,781
1991 $12,918,335,501 $107,484,143
1990 $13,310,273,082 $119,297,933
1989 $9,372,171,651 $98,545,367
1988 $8,386,215,865 $99,000,764
1987 $7,811,183,095 $115,952,925
1986 $7,324,167,369 $115,928,907
1985 $10,005,645,420 $82,733,069
1984 $8,821,443,151 $78,213,796
1983 $7,932,541,691 $75,110,289
1982 $7,554,719,456 $80,307,763
1981 $7,259,120,151 $83,499,264
1980 $5,981,760,278 $81,662,231
1979 $3,733,352,635 $65,755,928
1978 $2,740,301,390 $55,044,563
1977 $2,741,169,948 $49,207,692
1976 $2,560,220,035 $52,039,421
1975 $2,096,699,189 $60,101,710
1974 $1,645,917,776 $57,817,591
1973 $483,066,991 $56,011,245
1972 $366,883,548 $41,430,257
1971 $301,010,587 $37,288,845
1970 $256,319,795 $37,211,826
1969 $239,999,808 -
1968 $188,879,849 -
1967 $107,151,832 -
1966 $67,759,973 -
1965 $63,279,975 -
1964 $61,872,526 -
1963 $59,912,763 -
1962 $56,273,202 -
1961 $45,634,487 -
1960 $44,234,656 -

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

GeoRank.org/economy/oman/sao-tome-and-principe | CC BY

GDP per capita in Oman vs Sao Tome and Principe by year

Oman
GDP per capita

GDP per capita, PPP
Sao Tome and Principe
GDP per capita

GDP per capita, PPP
1x
Year Current $
Oman Sao Tome
GDP per capita GDP per capita, PPP GDP per capita GDP per capita, PPP
2024 $20,285 $41,740 $3,491 $6,242
2023 $21,028 $41,945 $2,991 $6,150
2022 $23,224 $42,616 $2,390 $6,034
2021 $19,403 $38,719 $2,363 $5,733
2020 $16,785 $35,163 $2,167 $5,145
2019 $19,180 $37,251 $1,935 $4,655
2018 $19,902 $37,780 $1,826 $3,941
2017 $17,820 $33,619 $1,556 $3,436
2016 $17,110 $33,334 $1,435 $3,320
2015 $18,808 $36,058 $1,298 $3,172
2014 $23,161 $44,236 $1,490 $3,233
2013 $23,458 $47,013 $1,383 $2,946
2012 $24,642 $49,989 $1,192 $2,653
2011 $25,188 $52,393 $1,220 $2,914
2010 $23,570 $55,667 $1,045 $2,859
2009 $20,656 $55,127 $1,128 $2,846
2008 $26,577 $52,841 $1,082 $2,802
2007 $18,793 $48,627 $879 $2,650
2006 $16,931 $46,091 $862 $2,551
2005 $14,435 $43,673 $844 $2,329
2004 $11,801 $42,142 $727 $2,171
2003 $10,464 $40,935 $664 $2,094
2002 $9,869 $41,511 $568 $1,945
2001 $9,612 $41,679 $519 $1,898
2000 $9,754 $39,443 $529 $1,830
1999 $7,915 $36,792 $543 $1,802
1998 $7,219 $36,666 $514 $1,754
1997 $8,235 $36,809 $662 $1,714
1996 $8,068 $34,661 $987 $1,693
1995 $7,414 $33,598 $769 $1,663
1994 $7,068 $31,925 $990 $1,623
1993 $7,039 $30,987 $964 $1,581
1992 $7,318 $29,773 $740 $1,556
1991 $6,977 $28,109 $855 $1,540
1990 $7,546 $26,904 $970 $1,504
1989 $5,591 - $821 -
1988 $5,279 - $847 -
1987 $5,204 - $1,018 -
1986 $5,182 - $1,043 -
1985 $7,549 - $761 -
1984 $7,070 - $735 -
1983 $6,714 - $720 -
1982 $6,759 - $783 -
1981 $6,866 - $830 -
1980 $5,974 - $829 -
1979 $3,934 - $683 -
1978 $3,044 - $587 -
1977 $3,205 - $539 -
1976 $3,143 - $585 -
1975 $2,692 - $693 -
1974 $2,203 - $683 -
1973 $670 - $676 -
1972 $524 - $511 -
1971 $442 - $470 -
1970 $387 - $479 -
1969 $372 - - -
1968 $300 - - -
1967 $174.7 - - -
1966 $113.2 - - -
1965 $108.1 - - -
1964 $108.1 - - -
1963 $106.8 - - -
1962 $102.3 - - -
1961 $84.5 - - -
1960 $83.4 - - -

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

GeoRank.org/economy/oman/sao-tome-and-principe | CC BY

Oman's GDP per capita is $20,285, ranking 57/197, compared to $3,491 in Sao Tome and Principe, ranking 134/197. Adjusted for purchasing power (GDP per capita PPP), Oman ranks 55th at $41,740, while Sao Tome and Principe ranks 151st at $6,242.

Economic indicators

Oman Sao Tome
Gross domestic product
$107B
2024
$822M
2024
GDP rank
70/197
2024
189/197
2024
GDP growth
1.63%
2023-2024
1.1%
2023-2024
GDP per capita
$20,285
2024
$3,491
2024
GDP per capita rank
57/197
2024
134/197
2024
GDP per capita, PPP
$41,740
2024
$6,242
2024
GDP per capita PPP rank
55/197
2024
151/197
2024
Government debt
$38B
2024
$533M
2024
Debt-to-GDP ratio
35.5%
2024
64.8%
2024
Government debt per person
$7,204
2024
$2,262
2024
Government debt per person rank
67/185
2024
116/185
2024
Average annual personal income after taxes
$20,894
2026
$3,111
2026
Market capitalization of domestic companies
$22.3B
2022
n/a
Number of billionaires
2
2025
n/a
Income share by richest 10% n/a
32.8%
2017
Income share by poorest 10% n/a
2.6%
2017
Government expenditure, % of GDP
28.7%
2024
24.7%
2024
Consumer prices inflation
0.6%
2023-2024
14.4%
2023-2024
Central bank interest rate
4.5%
2025
n/a
Unemployment rate
3.3%
2024
6.66%
2017
Population
5761708
246362

Spending and national debt comparison by year

Oman
Spending

Debt
Sao Tome and Principe
Spending

Debt
1x
Year % of GDP
Oman Sao Tome
Government spending Government debt Government spending Government debt
2024 28.7% 35.5% 24.7% 64.8%
2023 27.5% 37.5% 23.9% 73.2%
2022 30.9% 41.7% 27.7% 86.8%
2021 36.5% 61.9% 25.6% 85.1%
2020 44.5% 67.9% 23.2% 91%
2019 38.8% 52.5% 22.8% 98.6%
2018 38.3% 44.7% 28% 95.9%
2017 39.4% 40.1% 31.9% 92.3%
2016 44.6% 29.3% 38.3% 104.6%
2015 44.5% 13.9% 41.6% 101.1%
2014 41.4% 4.04% 36% 92.5%
2013 39.3% 4.66% 35.5% 76.8%
2012 38.6% 4.59% 50.5% 59.6%
2011 34.5% 4.44% 53.4% 86%
2010 30.6% 5.46% 51.7% 83%
2009 33.4% 5.8% 48.6% 70.3%
2008 25.6% 3.2% 30.4% 60.7%
2007 30.7% 4.44% 38.9% 110.1%
2006 30.1% 7.56% 32.5% 283.2%
2005 30.6% 8.39% 43.7% 334%
2004 34.1% 14.5% 60.6% 354%
2003 34% 13% 51.9% 329%
2002 34.1% 15.9% 44.3% 367%
2001 33.3% 22.5% 52.8% 418%
2000 31.2% 21.7% 10.7% -
1999 34.2% 28.9% - -
1998 36.1% 30.9% - -
1997 32.1% 20.8% - -
1996 33.5% 21.2% - -
1995 38.2% 21.9% - -
1994 39.7% 23.6% - -
1993 40.1% 22.2% - -
1992 40.1% 23.1% - -
1991 37.4% 22.6% - -
1990 36.5% 17.8% - -

Data sources: International Monetary Fund (IMF) | Fiscal Monitor (1990–2024, retrieved 2026-02-20).

GeoRank.org/economy/oman/sao-tome-and-principe | CC BY

In 2024, Oman's government spending was $30.7B, accounting for 28.7% of its GDP, while Sao Tome and Principe spent $203M, or 24.7% of GDP.

Debt-to-GDP ratio is 35.5% in Oman and 64.8% in Sao Tome and Principe, ranking 145/185 and 69/185, respectively.

Government deficit by year

Deficit/surplus
Oman

Sao Tome and Principe
1x
Year Deficit/surplus, % of GDP
Oman Sao Tome
2024 3.31% 0.92%
2023 6.87% -2.13%
2022 10.5% -2.24%
2021 -3.17% -1.52%
2020 -15.7% 2.94%
2019 -4.83% -0.07%
2018 -6.72% -2.02%
2017 -10.5% -3.11%
2016 -19.6% -5.01%
2015 -13.5% -7.6%
2014 -1.58% -6.27%
2013 2.78% 2.13%
2012 4.07% -12.3%
2011 8.24% -13%
2010 4.95% -12.1%
2009 -0.27% -18%
2008 14.7% 13.6%
2007 10.5% 125.1%
2006 12.2% 18%
2005 11.2% 26.8%
2004 5.43% -25.1%
2003 5.92% -15.9%
2002 5.31% -10.4%
2001 7.55% -13.5%
2000 12.2% 51.5%
1999 0.3% -
1998 -4.37% -
1997 4.77% -
1996 2.22% -
1995 -3.9% -
1994 -7.47% -
1993 -6.84% -
1992 -4.85% -
1991 0.12% -
1990 4.78% -

Data sources: International Monetary Fund (IMF) | Fiscal Monitor (1990–2024, retrieved 2026-02-20).

GeoRank.org/economy/oman/sao-tome-and-principe | CC BY

In 2024, Oman's government surplus, the difference between spending and revenue, was $3.54B, equivalent to 3.31% of GDP. This compares to Sao Tome and Principe's surplus of $7.57M, or 0.92% of GDP.

Over the past 25 years, Oman recorded a fiscal deficit in 9 of those years, while Sao Tome and Principe ran a deficit in 17 years. On average, Oman posted an annual surplus equal to 2% of GDP, compared to surplus of 3.63% of GDP for Sao Tome and Principe.

Inflation comparison by year

Inflation
Oman

Sao Tome and Principe
1x
Year Consumer prices inflation
Oman Sao Tome
2024 0.6% 14.4%
2023 1% 21.2%
2022 2.5% 18%
2021 1.7% 8.1%
2020 -0.4% 9.8%
2019 0.5% 7.7%
2018 0.7% 7.9%
2017 1.5% 5.7%
2016 0.9% 5.4%
2015 0.1% 6.1%
2014 1.2% 7%
2013 1.3% 8.1%
2012 2.9% 10.6%
2011 4.1% 14.3%
2010 3.3% 13.3%
2009 3.5% 17%
2008 12.6% 32%
2007 5.9% 18.6%
2006 3.2% 23.1%
2005 1.9% 17.2%
2004 0.8% 13.3%
2003 0.2% 9.8%
2002 -0.3% 10.1%
2001 -0.8% 9.2%
2000 -1.2% 11%
1999 0.5% 11%
1998 0.4% 42.1%
1997 -0.4% 69%

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

GeoRank.org/economy/oman/sao-tome-and-principe | CC BY

Over the past 28 years, Oman has recorded an average annual inflation rate of 1.72%, compared with 15.8% in Sao Tome and Principe. In 2024, inflation was 0.6% in Oman and 14.4% in Sao Tome and Principe.

Balance of trade

Oman Sao Tome
Current account balance
$3.07B
2024
$41.5M
2024
Current account balance ranking
39/190
2024
74/190
2024
Current account balance, % of GDP
+2.86%
2024
+5.05%
2024
Goods imports
$39.5B
2024
$153M
2024
Goods exports
$65.2B
2024
$29.3M
2024
Service imports
$12.8B
2024
$83M
2024
Service exports
$5.64B
2024
$88.2M
2024
Imports of goods and services, % of GDP
48.8%
2024
n/a
Exports of goods and services, % of GDP
66.1%
2024
10%
2025

Economic freedom indices

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

Oman Sao Tome
Economic freedom 68.5 60.6
Economic freedom ranking 45/197 93/197
Property rights 71.8 55.2
Government integrity 49.4 47.2
Judicial effectiveness 28 60.8
Tax burden 97.6 88.6
Government spending 74.7 80.6
Fiscal health 97.5 89.5
Business freedom 67.8 59.9
Labor freedom 47.7 40.8
Monetary freedom 79.2 59.4
Trade freedom 78.4 65
Investment freedom 70 50
Financial freedom 60 30

Economic freedom comparison by year

Oman
Sao Tome and Principe
1x
Year Economic freedom index
Oman Sao Tome
2026 68.5 60.6
2025 65.4 60.4
2024 62.9 60.5
2023 58.5 61.5
2022 56.6 60.3
2021 64.6 55.9
2020 63.6 56.2
2019 61 54
2018 61 53.6
2017 62.1 55.4
2016 67.1 56.7
2015 66.7 53.3
2014 67.4 48.8
2013 68.1 48
2012 67.9 50.2
2011 69.8 49.5
2010 67.7 48.8
2009 67 43.8
2008 67.3 -
2007 65.8 -
2006 63.7 -
2005 66.5 -
2004 66.9 -
2003 64.6 -
2002 64 -
2001 67.7 -
2000 64.1 -
1999 64.9 -
1998 64.9 -
1997 64.5 -
1996 65.4 -
1995 70.2 -

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

GeoRank.org/economy/oman/sao-tome-and-principe | CC BY

The Economic Freedom Index for Oman is 68.5, ranking 45/197, compared to 60.6 for Sao Tome and Principe, ranking 93/197. The chart above displays a comparison of annual changes in economic freedom indexes.

Other economic metrics

Oman Sao Tome
Services, % of GDP
46%
2024
80.3%
2024
Industry, % of GDP
54.2%
2024
2.83%
2024
Agriculture, forestry, and fishing, % of GDP
2.6%
2024
12.5%
2024
GNI, Atlas method
$103B
2024
$671M
2024
GNI per capita, PPP
$39,340
2024
$6,240
2024
Total reserves including gold
$18.3B
2024
$46.2M
2023
Total reserves ranking
64/177
2024
176/177
2023
Net foreign direct investment
-$12.6B
2024
$20.5M
2024
Net inflows of foreign direct investment
$12.5B
2024
-$16.7M
2024
Net outflows of foreign direct investment
-$143M
2024
$3.83M
2024
Servicing debt to the IMF, % of GNI n/a
0.64%
2024
Poverty at national poverty lines n/a
66.2%
2020
Gross capital formation, % of GDP
24.8%
2024
n/a

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/oman/sao-tome-and-principe | 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. The Heritage Foundation | Economic Freedom Index (1995–2026, retrieved 2026-03-09)
  4. U.S. Census Bureau (1985–2024, retrieved 2026-02-08)
  5. United Nations | World Population Prospects (2026, retrieved 2026-03-10)
  6. LivingCost (2026, retrieved 2025-10-14)
  7. 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.