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Economy of Palau vs Somalia compared: GDP & Debt

Updated on by Georank team

Palau has a GDP of $277M compared to $12B for Somalia, ranking 194/197 and 150/197 by economy size, respectively.

Palau vs Somalia GDP by year

Palau
Somalia
1x
Year GDP, current $
Palau Somalia
2024 - $11,967,000,000
2023 $276,733,063 $10,958,000,000
2022 $243,826,813 $10,203,000,000
2021 $231,343,460 $9,483,000,000
2020 $261,688,507 $8,628,000,000
2019 $282,041,290 $8,656,000,000
2018 $287,998,352 $7,873,000,000
2017 $292,148,590 $7,621,501,710
2016 $305,227,020 $6,613,743,070
2015 $287,057,526 $6,152,149,100
2014 $245,591,095 $5,728,399,720
2013 $224,110,611 $5,062,881,600
2012 $215,616,882 $4,364,670,160
2011 $198,742,371 $2,906,000,097
2010 $188,042,374 $2,687,807,004
2009 $189,854,706 $2,948,594,552
2008 $201,067,734 $5,913,620,293
2007 $200,789,764 $5,430,713,729
2006 $193,611,359 $5,026,743,282
2005 $190,961,685 $4,683,246,454
2004 $166,363,739 $3,859,592,813
2003 $154,566,788 $2,836,724,352
2002 $162,658,722 $2,192,684,135
2001 $159,446,228 $2,252,847,465
2000 $149,551,483 $3,412,797,450
1999 $144,206,500 $3,045,751,528
1998 $149,079,600 $2,962,047,564
1997 $143,860,800 $2,191,749,014
1996 $137,494,600 $1,792,234,297
1995 $121,018,500 $1,534,756,135
1994 $106,138,500 $1,481,205,098
1993 $96,455,700 $1,260,132,956
1992 $104,771,300 $709,297,579
1991 $106,555,300 $717,974,930
1990 $97,702,303 $1,031,282,081
1989 $85,800,543 $1,181,360,844
1988 $75,348,615 $1,051,596,967
1987 $66,169,905 $1,018,972,664
1986 $58,109,314 $916,590,786
1985 $51,030,637 $875,702,247
1984 $44,814,259 $787,434,542
1983 $39,661,530 $735,408,642
1982 $36,027,583 $774,578,932
1981 $32,726,594 $699,302,473
1980 $29,728,054 $602,515,548
1979 $27,004,251 $589,566,929
1978 $24,530,015 $564,571,823
1977 $22,308,104 $498,550,725
1976 $20,364,420 $871,344,245
1975 $18,521,112 $757,015,879
1974 $16,848,759 $572,504,036
1973 $15,331,889 $483,699,611
1972 $13,956,474 $447,883,941
1971 $12,706,874 $347,039,446
1970 $11,563,041 $347,985,394
1969 - $306,357,285
1968 - $286,719,885
1967 - $271,781,887
1966 - $257,375,897
1965 - $243,725,898
1964 - $229,529,913
1963 - $216,145,936
1962 - $203,531,928
1961 - $191,659,914
1960 - $180,459,937

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

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

GDP per capita in Palau vs Somalia by year

Palau
GDP per capita

GDP per capita, PPP
Somalia
GDP per capita

GDP per capita, PPP
1x
Year Current $
Palau Somalia
GDP per capita GDP per capita, PPP GDP per capita GDP per capita, PPP
2024 - - $630 $1,602
2023 $15,611 $18,230 $597 $1,556
2022 $13,730 $17,185 $573 $1,486
2021 $13,009 $15,781 $549 $1,392
2020 $14,708 $17,390 $518 $1,454
2019 $15,847 $18,422 $540 $1,548
2018 $16,167 $18,172 $509 $1,552
2017 $16,402 $17,991 $511 $1,597
2016 $17,150 $18,235 $461 $1,469
2015 $16,154 $17,854 $446 $1,341
2014 $13,863 $16,442 $429 $1,128
2013 $12,699 $15,425 $393 $944
2012 $12,137 $15,461 $350 $1,003
2011 $10,994 $14,673 $235.3 $881
2010 $10,222 $13,443 $219.2 $815
2009 $10,148 $13,414 $246.5 $774
2008 $10,578 $14,039 $507 $739
2007 $10,403 $14,308 $480 $700
2006 $9,882 $13,545 $458 $659
2005 $9,635 $12,960 $440 $619
2004 $8,394 $12,213 $375 $580
2003 $7,862 $11,588 $286.3 $547
2002 $8,340 $11,704 $229.6 $517
2001 $8,239 $11,092 $244.9 $492
2000 $7,798 $10,197 $386 $467
1999 $7,630 $10,388 $359 $444
1998 $8,048 $11,048 $363 $425
1997 $7,945 $10,957 $280.1 $411
1996 $7,788 $10,800 $237.2 $413
1995 $7,038 $9,863 $210.7 $389
1994 $6,329 $8,932 $210.8 $380
1993 $5,892 $8,348 $188.6 $477
1992 $6,553 $9,521 $109.2 $461
1991 $6,824 $10,184 $105.4 $469
1990 $6,403 $9,609 $145.6 -
1989 $5,741 - $166 -
1988 $5,145 - $145.3 -
1987 $4,616 - $141 -
1986 $4,144 - $131.4 -
1985 $3,728 - $130.8 -
1984 $3,360 - $122.5 -
1983 $3,049 - $118.6 -
1982 $2,838 - $129 -
1981 $2,639 - $116.9 -
1980 $2,423 - $101.5 -
1979 $2,189 - $108.2 -
1978 $1,972 - $117.3 -
1977 $1,781 - $111.2 -
1976 $1,616 - $199.6 -
1975 $1,464 - $177.8 -
1974 $1,328 - $137.9 -
1973 $1,221 - $119.6 -
1972 $1,145 - $113.7 -
1971 $1,081 - $90.4 -
1970 $1,017 - $93.1 -
1969 - - $84.1 -
1968 - - $80.8 -
1967 - - $78.7 -
1966 - - $76.5 -
1965 - - $74.4 -
1964 - - $71.9 -
1963 - - $69.5 -
1962 - - $67.2 -
1961 - - $64.9 -
1960 - - $62.7 -

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

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

Palau's GDP per capita is $15,611, ranking 67/197, compared to $630 in Somalia, ranking 192/197. Adjusted for purchasing power (GDP per capita PPP), Palau ranks 103rd at $18,230, while Somalia ranks 194th at $1,602.

Economic indicators

Palau Somalia
Gross domestic product
$277M
2023
$12B
2024
GDP rank
194/197
2023
150/197
2024
GDP growth
2.22%
2022-2023
4.11%
2023-2024
GDP per capita
$15,611
2023
$630
2024
GDP per capita rank
67/197
2023
192/197
2024
GDP per capita, PPP
$18,230
2023
$1,602
2024
GDP per capita PPP rank
103/197
2023
194/197
2024
Average annual personal income after taxes
$9,869
2026
$1,885
2026
Government expenditure, % of GDP
52.3%
2024
13%
2025
Consumer prices inflation
3.6%
2023-2024
5.5%
2023-2024
Unemployment rate
2.09%
2023
11.1%
2022
Population
17629
20503678

Inflation comparison by year

Inflation
Palau

Somalia
1x
Year Consumer prices inflation
Palau Somalia
2024 3.6% 5.5%
2023 12.4% 6.2%
2022 13.2% 6.8%
2021 -0.5% 4.6%
2020 0.7% 4.1%
2019 0.4% 4.7%
2018 2.4% 4.3%
2017 1.1% 4%
2016 -1.3% 0%
2015 2.2% 0.9%
2014 4% 1.3%
2013 2.8% 2.8%
2012 5.4% -
2011 2.6% -
2010 1.1% -
2009 4.7% -
2008 9.9% -
2007 3% -
2006 4.2% -
2005 3.6% -
2004 0.5% -
2003 0.6% -
2002 -0.3% -
2001 -0.7% -

Data sources: International Monetary Fund (IMF) | World Economic Outlook (2001–2024, retrieved 2026-02-20).

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

Over the past 12 years, Palau has recorded an average annual inflation rate of 3.42%, compared with 3.77% in Somalia. In 2024, inflation was 3.6% in Palau and 5.5% in Somalia.

Balance of trade

Palau Somalia
Current account balance
-$134M
2023
n/a
Current account balance ranking
91/190
2023
n/a
Current account balance, % of GDP
-48.5%
2023
n/a
Goods imports
$164M
2023
n/a
Goods exports
$1.74M
2023
n/a
Service imports
$43M
2023
n/a
Service exports
$61.9M
2023
n/a
Imports of goods and services, % of GDP
80.4%
2023
99.1%
2024
Exports of goods and services, % of GDP
26.3%
2023
31.2%
2024

Economic freedom indices

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

Palau Somalia
Economic freedom 62 29
Economic freedom ranking 89/197 193/197
Property rights n/a 0.8
Government integrity n/a 9.6
Judicial effectiveness n/a 1.7
Tax burden n/a 99.9
Fiscal health n/a 0
Business freedom n/a 25.9
Labor freedom n/a 26.8

Other economic metrics

Palau Somalia
Services, % of GDP
74.8%
2023
n/a
Industry, % of GDP
10.1%
2023
9.66%
1986
Agriculture, forestry, and fishing, % of GDP
3.04%
2023
55.8%
1990
GNI, Atlas method
$262M
2023
$11.7B
2024
GNI per capita, PPP
$18,320
2023
$1,630
2024
Total reserves including gold n/a
$23.1M
1989
Total reserves ranking n/a
177/177
1989
Net foreign direct investment
-$79.9M
2023
n/a
Net inflows of foreign direct investment
$69.1M
2024
$765M
2024
Net outflows of foreign direct investment
$0
2024
$0
2024
Servicing debt to the IMF, % of GNI n/a
0.13%
2024
Poverty at national poverty lines
24.9%
2020
55.4%
2022
Gross capital formation, % of GDP
35.6%
2023
26.7%
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/palau/somalia | CC BY

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Data sources:

  1. World Bank | Economy & Growth (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-04-06)
  2. U.S. Census Bureau (1985–2024, retrieved 2026-02-08)
  3. International Monetary Fund (IMF) | World Economic Outlook (2001–2024, retrieved 2026-02-20)
  4. The Heritage Foundation | Economic Freedom Index (2017–2026, retrieved 2026-03-09)
  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.