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Economy of Papua New Guinea vs United Kingdom compared: GDP & Debt

Updated on by Georank team

Papua New Guinea has a GDP of $31.8B compared to $3.69T for the United Kingdom, ranking 110/197 and 6/197 by economy size, respectively.

Papua New Guinea has $16.6B in government debt (52.1% of GDP), compared to $3.73T (101.2% of GDP) in the United Kingdom.

Papua New Guinea vs United Kingdom GDP by year

Papua New Guinea
United Kingdom
1x
Year GDP, current $
Papua New Guinea United Kingdom
2024 $31,800,428,266 $3,686,033,044,482
2023 $30,816,367,067 $3,420,796,653,789
2022 $31,653,185,953 $3,181,244,350,465
2021 $26,109,413,521 $3,194,559,188,926
2020 $23,848,447,850 $2,724,001,478,305
2019 $24,750,626,030 $2,875,710,080,015
2018 $24,109,780,708 $2,897,028,009,916
2017 $22,742,699,138 $2,699,118,387,873
2016 $20,758,876,953 $2,706,807,606,539
2015 $21,723,437,010 $2,945,579,890,258
2014 $23,210,823,987 $3,085,362,169,410
2013 $21,261,338,065 $2,796,908,333,283
2012 $21,295,168,666 $2,719,715,961,540
2011 $17,985,138,066 $2,675,590,034,129
2010 $14,250,786,675 $2,496,740,681,057
2009 $11,619,456,449 $2,429,358,155,476
2008 $11,670,892,801 $2,945,251,838,235
2007 $9,545,028,944 $3,104,699,879,952
2006 $8,354,911,041 $2,719,558,417,663
2005 $4,865,892,972 $2,551,361,818,182
2004 $3,927,157,867 $2,429,774,807,763
2003 $3,536,411,824 $2,061,227,755,102
2002 $2,999,511,040 $1,790,536,570,743
2001 $3,081,024,212 $1,656,171,009,069
2000 $3,521,339,699 $1,671,597,821,153
1999 $3,477,038,204 $1,693,458,987,219
1998 $3,789,443,015 $1,660,821,464,061
1997 $4,936,615,299 $1,569,317,288,802
1996 $5,155,311,077 $1,425,287,051,482
1995 $4,636,057,476 $1,349,094,208,616
1994 $5,502,786,070 $1,140,489,745,944
1993 $4,974,550,286 $1,061,388,722,256
1992 $4,377,980,510 $1,179,659,529,660
1991 $3,787,394,958 $1,142,797,178,131
1990 $3,219,729,083 $1,093,169,389,205
1989 $3,546,472,566 $926,884,816,754
1988 $3,656,177,881 $910,122,732,124
1987 $3,143,851,794 $745,162,608,269
1986 $2,647,995,602 $601,452,653,181
1985 $2,423,339,172 $489,285,164,271
1984 $2,552,662,617 $461,487,097,632
1983 $2,562,351,551 $489,618,008,186
1982 $2,368,719,683 $515,048,916,841
1981 $2,498,190,847 $540,765,675,241
1980 $2,545,808,456 $564,947,710,899
1979 $2,293,760,511 $438,994,070,309
1978 $1,947,878,831 $335,883,029,722
1977 $1,640,746,619 $263,066,457,352
1976 $1,511,843,235 $232,614,555,256
1975 $1,356,603,608 $241,756,637,168
1974 $1,467,417,672 $206,131,369,799
1973 $1,299,079,410 $192,537,971,583
1972 $858,761,926 $169,965,034,965
1971 $717,750,278 $148,113,896,325
1970 $645,568,215 $130,671,946,244
1969 $551,263,864 $116,464,702,803
1968 $485,184,190 $107,759,910,068
1967 $441,728,183 $113,116,888,211
1966 $390,992,063 $108,572,752,102
1965 $344,176,055 $101,824,755,079
1964 $305,312,049 $94,407,558,351
1963 $275,968,044 $86,561,961,812
1962 $261,184,042 $81,247,564,157
1961 $244,832,039 $77,741,965,703
1960 $230,496,037 $73,233,967,692

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

GeoRank.org/economy/papua-new-guinea/united-kingdom | CC BY

GDP per capita in Papua New Guinea vs United Kingdom by year

Papua New Guinea
GDP per capita

GDP per capita, PPP
United Kingdom
GDP per capita

GDP per capita, PPP
1x
Year Current $
Papua New Guinea United Kingdom
GDP per capita GDP per capita, PPP GDP per capita GDP per capita, PPP
2024 $3,007 $4,875 $53,246 $62,009
2023 $2,966 $4,668 $49,944 $59,911
2022 $3,102 $4,420 $47,057 $59,022
2021 $2,608 $3,977 $47,691 $51,004
2020 $2,430 $3,900 $40,813 $48,230
2019 $2,576 $4,060 $43,159 $50,065
2018 $2,566 $3,910 $43,703 $47,212
2017 $2,478 $3,923 $40,917 $46,113
2016 $2,316 $3,813 $41,258 $44,085
2015 $2,485 $3,670 $45,255 $42,515
2014 $2,723 $3,500 $47,746 $41,267
2013 $2,561 $3,110 $43,607 $39,948
2012 $2,635 $3,026 $42,688 $38,337
2011 $2,288 $2,919 $42,296 $37,224
2010 $1,867 $2,912 $39,778 $36,484
2009 $1,569 $2,692 $39,009 $35,042
2008 $1,625 $2,583 $47,652 $36,745
2007 $1,371 $2,622 $50,629 $35,522
2006 $1,238 $2,444 $44,695 $34,727
2005 $744 $2,322 $42,240 $32,726
2004 $621 $2,187 $40,504 $32,051
2003 $577 $2,142 $34,557 $30,314
2002 $506 $2,125 $30,159 $29,089
2001 $538 $2,168 $28,014 $27,913
2000 $636 $2,196 $28,384 $26,536
1999 $650 $2,280 $28,858 $24,494
1998 $733 $2,285 $28,396 $23,689
1997 $990 $2,432 $26,910 $23,071
1996 $1,071 $2,578 $24,503 $21,947
1995 $998 $2,436 $23,253 $20,595
1994 $1,228 $2,558 $19,709 $19,605
1993 $1,151 $2,451 $18,389 $18,336
1992 $1,051 $2,100 $20,487 $17,349
1991 $942 $1,869 $19,901 $16,791
1990 $826 $1,703 $19,095 $16,505
1989 $934 - $16,239 -
1988 $985 - $15,987 -
1987 $865 - $13,119 -
1986 $745 - $10,611 -
1985 $697 - $8,652 -
1984 $750 - $8,179 -
1983 $769 - $8,692 -
1982 $726 - $9,146 -
1981 $781 - $9,599 -
1980 $813 - $10,032 -
1979 $748 - $7,805 -
1978 $648 - $5,977 -
1977 $558 - $4,681 -
1976 $525 - $4,138 -
1975 $482 - $4,300 -
1974 $533 - $3,666 -
1973 $483 - $3,426 -
1972 $327 - $3,030 -
1971 $279.7 - $2,650 -
1970 $257.6 - $2,348 -
1969 $225.3 - $2,101 -
1968 $202.9 - $1,952 -
1967 $189 - $2,059 -
1966 $171.1 - $1,987 -
1965 $153.9 - $1,874 -
1964 $139.5 - $1,748 -
1963 $128.9 - $1,613 -
1962 $124.7 - $1,526 -
1961 $119.7 - $1,472 -
1960 $115.5 - $1,398 -

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

GeoRank.org/economy/papua-new-guinea/united-kingdom | CC BY

Papua New Guinea's GDP per capita is $3,007, ranking 140/197, compared to $53,246 in the United Kingdom, ranking 22/197. Adjusted for purchasing power (GDP per capita PPP), Papua New Guinea ranks 159th at $4,875, while the United Kingdom ranks 32nd at $62,009.

Economic indicators

Papua New Guinea United Kingdom
Gross domestic product
$31.8B
2024
$3.69T
2024
GDP rank
110/197
2024
6/197
2024
GDP growth
3.8%
2023-2024
1.13%
2023-2024
GDP per capita
$3,007
2024
$53,246
2024
GDP per capita rank
140/197
2024
22/197
2024
GDP per capita, PPP
$4,875
2024
$62,009
2024
GDP per capita PPP rank
159/197
2024
32/197
2024
Government debt
$16.6B
2024
$3.73T
2024
Debt-to-GDP ratio
52.1%
2024
101.2%
2024
Government debt per person
$1,566
2024
$53,900
2024
Government debt per person rank
129/185
2024
7/185
2024
Average annual personal income after taxes
$2,362
2026
$39,230
2026
Market capitalization of domestic companies
$1.68B
2017
$3.1T
2022
Number of millionaires n/a
2,624,000
2025
Number of billionaires n/a
55
2025
Income share by richest 10%
31%
2009
24.6%
2021
Income share by poorest 10%
1.9%
2009
3%
2021
Government expenditure, % of GDP
20.4%
2024
44%
2024
Consumer prices inflation
0.6%
2023-2024
3.27%
2023-2024
Central bank interest rate
5%
2025
3.75%
2025
Unemployment rate
2.69%
2022
4.36%
2024
Population
11002753
70154914

Spending and national debt comparison by year

Papua New Guinea
Spending

Debt
United Kingdom
Spending

Debt
1x
Year % of GDP
Papua New Guinea United Kingdom
Government spending Government debt Government spending Government debt
2024 20.4% 52.1% 44% 101.2%
2023 22.3% 53.9% 44.8% 100.4%
2022 21.9% 48.2% 44.1% 99.6%
2021 22% 52.6% 45.8% 105.1%
2020 23.5% 48.7% 50% 105.8%
2019 21.3% 38.2% 38.8% 85.7%
2018 20.3% 36.7% 38.9% 86.3%
2017 18.4% 32.5% 39.2% 86.7%
2016 20.9% 33.7% 39.6% 87.8%
2015 22.8% 29.9% 40.4% 87.9%
2014 27.1% 26.9% 41.2% 87.1%
2013 27.6% 24.9% 41.8% 85.3%
2012 22.4% 19.1% 43.6% 84.5%
2011 19.7% 16.3% 43.5% 81.4%
2010 18.4% 17.3% 44.7% 75.9%
2009 24.7% 21.7% 44.6% 64.9%
2008 19.8% 21.6% 41% 50.8%
2007 18% 22.2% 38.7% 43.2%
2006 19.4% 26% 38.4% 42.1%
2005 20.6% 31.6% 38.4% 41%
2004 19.4% 37.2% 38% 39.8%
2003 18.7% 40.4% 37.2% 36.8%
2002 20.8% 48.4% 35.9% 35.4%
2001 21.6% 47.7% 34.7% 35%
2000 20.5% 42.3% 33.9% 37.7%
1999 21.4% 41.8% 33.9% 40.4%
1998 20% 45.7% 34.5% 42%
1997 20.6% 43.9% 34.9% 44.1%
1996 17.6% 37.8% 35.7% 43.7%
1995 17.1% 36.6% 37.6% 43.7%
1994 19.3% 40.1% 37.5% 40.7%
1993 23.5% 30% 37.8% 38%
1992 22.8% 30.4% 37.8% 33.2%
1991 22.4% - 35.9% 28.5%
1990 24.5% - 35% 28.5%
1989 - - 39.7% 31.4%
1988 - - 40.3% 36.6%
1987 - - 42.7% 41.8%
1986 - - 44.6% 42.9%
1985 - - 48.7% 42.9%
1984 - - 50.3% 44.1%
1983 - - 50.4% 44.2%
1982 - - 50.8% 44.7%
1981 - - 51.2% 41.1%
1980 - - 47.6% 43.7%
1979 - - 45.1% 44.5%
1978 - - 46.2% 47.3%
1977 - - 46.8% 53.7%
1976 - - 49.2% 47.7%
1975 - - 49.1% 49.6%
1974 - - 47.8% 56.2%
1973 - - 43.5% 58.5%
1972 - - 42.3% 65%
1971 - - 41.2% 67.9%
1970 - - 42% 73.4%
1969 - - 39.2% 82.8%
1968 - - 40.3% 88.5%
1967 - - 40.1% 89.1%
1966 - - 35.7% 91.9%
1965 - - 34.6% 94.6%
1964 - - 32.8% 101.1%
1963 - - 37.4% 108.6%
1962 - - 33.8% 110.5%
1961 - - 31.5% 113.8%
1960 - - 33.1% 117.9%

Data sources: International Monetary Fund (IMF) | Fiscal Monitor (1990–2024, retrieved 2026-02-20); International Monetary Fund (IMF) | Public Finances in Modern History (1960–1993, retrieved 2026-02-20).

GeoRank.org/economy/papua-new-guinea/united-kingdom | CC BY

In 2024, Papua New Guinea's government spending was $6.48B, accounting for 20.4% of its GDP, while the United Kingdom spent $1.62T, or 44% of GDP.

Debt-to-GDP ratio is 52.1% in Papua New Guinea and 101.2% in the United Kingdom, ranking 100/185 and 22/185, respectively.

Government deficit by year

Deficit/surplus
Papua New Guinea

United Kingdom
1x
Year Deficit/surplus, % of GDP
Papua New Guinea United Kingdom
2024 -3.23% -5.75%
2023 -4.34% -6.05%
2022 -5.25% -4.56%
2021 -6.84% -7.72%
2020 -8.85% -13.2%
2019 -4.98% -2.47%
2018 -2.58% -2.27%
2017 -2.47% -2.49%
2016 -4.75% -3.31%
2015 -4.55% -4.59%
2014 -6.27% -5.53%
2013 -6.87% -5.34%
2012 -1.19% -7.45%
2011 2.22% -7.38%
2010 3.06% -9.22%
2009 -5.48% -10.1%
2008 2.73% -5.09%
2007 6.9% -2.65%
2006 5.34% -2.76%
2005 2.85% -3.15%
2004 2.03% -3.16%
2003 0.19% -3.22%
2002 -1.75% -1.96%
2001 -1.33% 0.34%
2000 0.3% 1.4%
1999 -1.94% 0.76%
1998 -0.16% -0.21%
1997 0.67% -2.01%
1996 2.05% -3.65%
1995 1.08% -4.99%
1994 -1.01% -5.74%
1993 -4.9% -6.62%
1992 -4.33% -5.41%
1991 -0.62% -2.77%
1990 -2.04% -1.54%
1989 - 0.77%
1988 - 0.46%
1987 - -1.79%
1986 - -2.56%
1985 - -5.57%
1984 - -6.39%
1983 - -6.26%
1982 - -5.66%
1981 - -7.03%
1980 - -5.65%
1979 - -5.79%
1978 - -6.63%
1977 - -4.41%
1976 - -5.61%
1975 - -5.08%
1974 - -4.06%
1973 - -4.29%
1972 - -1.66%
1971 - 1.48%
1970 - 2.61%
1969 - 1.03%
1968 - -2.3%
1967 - -4.57%
1966 - -1.59%
1965 - -2.06%
1964 - -1.76%
1963 - -5.47%
1962 - -0.49%
1961 - 0.56%
1960 - -2.75%
1959 - -0.58%
1958 - -1.73%
1957 - -1.04%
1956 - 0.55%
1955 - -0.39%
1954 - -1.65%
1953 - -2.84%
1952 - -1.26%
1951 - 2.03%
1950 - 0.34%
1949 - 3.01%
1948 - -0.39%
1947 - -15.8%
1946 - -22.5%
1945 - -30.9%
1944 - -29.7%
1943 - -33.3%
1942 - -31.6%
1941 - -32%
1940 - -12.1%
1939 - -2.99%
1938 - 0%
1937 - 0.82%
1936 - 0.17%
1935 - 0.37%
1934 - 0.48%
1933 - 0.99%
1932 - -0.15%
1931 - 0.8%
1930 - 1.01%
1929 - 0.75%
1928 - 1.75%
1927 - 1.62%
1926 - 0.6%
1925 - 0.84%
1924 - 1.19%
1923 - 2.23%
1922 - 2.45%
1921 - 1.15%
1920 - 4.2%
1919 - -6.28%
1918 - -34.4%
1917 - -48.8%
1916 - -50.6%
1915 - -30%
1914 - -14.6%
1913 - 0.25%
1912 - 0.22%
1911 - 0.51%
1910 - 1.75%
1909 - -1.25%
1908 - 0.34%
1907 - 0.66%
1906 - 0.58%
1905 - 0.36%
1904 - 0.2%
1903 - -0.22%
1902 - -1.77%
1901 - -2.74%
1900 - -2.96%
1899 - -0.79%
1898 - 0.01%
1897 - 0.25%
1896 - 0.17%
1895 - 0.3%
1894 - 0.06%
1893 - -0.007%
1892 - 0.14%
1891 - 0.19%
1890 - 0.23%
1889 - 0.3%
1888 - 0.27%
1887 - 0.25%
1886 - 0.07%
1885 - -0.21%
1884 - -0.04%
1883 - 0.06%
1882 - 0.02%
1881 - 0.06%
1880 - 0.1%
1879 - -0.86%
1878 - -0.18%
1877 - -0.18%
1876 - 0.09%
1875 - 0%
1874 - 0.09%
1873 - 0%
1872 - 0.55%
1871 - 0.29%
1870 - 0%
1869 - 0.77%
1868 - -0.45%
1867 - -0.45%
1866 - 0.11%
1865 - 0%
1864 - 0.24%
1863 - 0%
1862 - -0.13%
1861 - -0.4%
1860 - -0.43%
1859 - 0%
1858 - -0.15%
1857 - -0.15%
1856 - -0.6%
1855 - -3.57%
1854 - -3.39%
1853 - 0.5%
1852 - 0.35%
1851 - 0.35%
1850 - 0.37%
1849 - 0.34%
1848 - -0.17%
1847 - -6.13%
1846 - 0.52%
1845 - 0.56%
1844 - 0.59%
1843 - 0.44%
1842 - -0.87%
1841 - -0.42%
1840 - -0.2%
1839 - -0.18%
1838 - -0.19%
1837 - -0.21%
1836 - 0.59%
1835 - 0.42%
1834 - 0.23%
1833 - 0.24%
1832 - 0%
1831 - 0%
1830 - 0.45%

Data sources: International Monetary Fund (IMF) | Public Finances in Modern History (1830–1989, retrieved 2026-02-20); International Monetary Fund (IMF) | Fiscal Monitor (1990–2024, retrieved 2026-02-20).

GeoRank.org/economy/papua-new-guinea/united-kingdom | CC BY

In 2024, Papua New Guinea's government deficit, the difference between spending and revenue, was $1.03B, equivalent to 3.23% of GDP. This compares to the United Kingdom's deficit of $212B, or 5.75% of GDP.

Over the past 35 years, Papua New Guinea recorded a fiscal deficit in 23 of those years, while the United Kingdom ran a deficit in 32 years. On average, Papua New Guinea posted an annual deficit equal to 1.61% of GDP, compared to deficit of 4.28% of GDP for the United Kingdom.

Inflation comparison by year

Inflation
Papua New Guinea

United Kingdom
1x
Year Consumer prices inflation
Papua New Guinea United Kingdom
2024 0.6% 3.27%
2023 2.3% 6.79%
2022 5.25% 7.92%
2021 4.48% 2.52%
2020 4.87% 0.99%
2019 3.93% 1.74%
2018 4.37% 2.29%
2017 5.42% 2.56%
2016 6.67% 1.01%
2015 6% 0.37%
2014 5.22% 1.45%
2013 4.96% 2.29%
2012 4.54% 2.57%
2011 4.44% 3.86%
2010 6.01% 2.49%
2009 6.92% 1.96%
2008 10.8% 3.52%
2007 0.91% 2.39%
2006 2.37% 2.46%
2005 1.78% 2.09%
2004 2.16% 1.39%
2003 14.7% 1.38%
2002 11.8% 1.52%
2001 9.3% 1.53%
2000 15.6% 1.18%
1999 14.9% 1.75%
1998 13.6% 1.82%
1997 3.96% 2.2%

Data sources: World Bank | Economy & Growth (1997–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06).

GeoRank.org/economy/papua-new-guinea/united-kingdom | CC BY

Over the past 28 years, Papua New Guinea has recorded an average annual inflation rate of 6.35%, compared with 2.4% in the United Kingdom. In 2024, inflation was 0.6% in Papua New Guinea and 3.27% in the United Kingdom.

Top exports between countries

Papua New Guinea
Export category Export value
Processed food, beverages & tobacco $253M
Raw agricultural goods $1.19M
Textiles & consumer goods $324K
Machinery & equipment $211K
Miscellaneous $187K
Wood & paper products $10K
Precious metals & jewellery $8K
Animal & marine products $4K
Metals $4K
United Kingdom
Export category Export value
Machinery & equipment $7.34M
Metals $1.18M
Raw materials & minerals $794K
Chemicals & pharma $419K
Processed food, beverages & tobacco $327K
Textiles & consumer goods $305K
Wood & paper products $121K
Animal & marine products $91K
Precious metals & jewellery $69K
Miscellaneous $18K

Balance of trade

Papua New Guinea United Kingdom
Current account balance
$4.77B
2024
-$80.6B
2024
Current account balance ranking
33/190
2024
189/190
2024
Current account balance, % of GDP
+15%
2024
-2.19%
2024
Goods imports
$4.69B
2024
$763B
2024
Goods exports
$13.4B
2024
$494B
2024
Service imports
$2.4B
2024
$411B
2024
Service exports
$75.2M
2024
$648B
2024
Imports of goods and services, % of GDP
58.9%
2004
31.9%
2024
Exports of goods and services, % of GDP
72.2%
2004
31%
2024

Economic freedom indices

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

Papua New Guinea United Kingdom
Economic freedom 54.3 70.4
Economic freedom ranking 134/197 35/197
Property rights 45 93.6
Government integrity 30.8 83
Judicial effectiveness 41.1 83.1
Tax burden 70.9 61.7
Government spending 86.1 41.1
Fiscal health 65.3 32.4
Business freedom 34.2 83.6
Labor freedom 65.1 61.2
Monetary freedom 77.4 71.9
Trade freedom 80.2 82.8
Investment freedom 25 70
Financial freedom 30 80

Economic freedom comparison by year

Papua New Guinea
United Kingdom
1x
Year Economic freedom index
Papua New Guinea United Kingdom
2026 54.3 70.4
2025 52.5 69.3
2024 49.4 68.6
2023 51.7 69.9
2022 54.6 72.7
2021 58.9 78.4
2020 58.4 79.3
2019 58.4 78.9
2018 55.7 78
2017 50.9 76.4
2016 53.2 76.4
2015 53.1 75.8
2014 53.9 74.9
2013 53.6 74.8
2012 53.8 74.1
2011 52.6 74.5
2010 53.5 76.5
2009 54.8 79
2008 - 79.4
2007 - 79.9
2006 - 80.4
2005 - 79.2
2004 - 77.7
2003 - 77.5
2002 - 78.5
2001 57.2 77.6
2000 55.8 77.3
1999 56.3 76.2
1998 55.2 76.5
1997 56.7 76.4
1996 58.6 76.4
1995 - 77.9

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

GeoRank.org/economy/papua-new-guinea/united-kingdom | CC BY

The Economic Freedom Index for Papua New Guinea is 54.3, ranking 134/197, compared to 70.4 for the United Kingdom, ranking 35/197. The chart above displays a comparison of annual changes in economic freedom indexes.

Other economic metrics

Papua New Guinea United Kingdom
Services, % of GDP
41.5%
2024
72.4%
2024
Industry, % of GDP
37.2%
2024
17.1%
2024
Agriculture, forestry, and fishing, % of GDP
17.2%
2024
0.64%
2024
GNI, Atlas method
$30.7B
2024
$3.42T
2024
GNI per capita, PPP
$4,580
2024
$61,460
2024
Total reserves including gold
$3.9B
2023
$175B
2024
Total reserves ranking
107/177
2023
19/177
2024
Net foreign direct investment
$968M
2024
$42.8B
2024
Net inflows of foreign direct investment
-$198M
2024
-$13B
2024
Net outflows of foreign direct investment
$770M
2024
-$72.5B
2024
Servicing debt to the IMF, % of GNI
19.7%
2024
n/a
Poverty at national poverty lines
39.9%
2009
18.6%
2017
Gross capital formation, % of GDP
20%
2004
19.1%
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/papua-new-guinea/united-kingdom | CC BY

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Data sources:

  1. World Bank | Economy & Growth (1960–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06)
  2. International Monetary Fund (IMF) | Public Finances in Modern History (1830–1993, retrieved 2026-02-20)
  3. International Monetary Fund (IMF) | Fiscal Monitor (1990–2024, 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. TradeMap (2023–2024, retrieved 2026-02-08)
  7. United Nations | World Population Prospects (2026, retrieved 2026-03-10)
  8. LivingCost (2026, retrieved 2025-10-14)

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.