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Economy of Saint Kitts and Nevis vs South Africa compared: GDP & Debt

Updated on by Georank

Saint Kitts and Nevis has a GDP of $1.18B compared to $427B for South Africa, ranking 188/197 and 40/197 by economy size, respectively.

Saint Kitts and Nevis has $691M in government debt (58.4% of GDP), compared to $336B (78.6% of GDP) in South Africa.

Saint Kitts and Nevis vs South Africa GDP by year

Saint Kitts and Nevis
South Africa
1x
Year GDP, current $
Saint Kitts South Africa
2025 $1,183,514,815 $427,184,325,997
2024 $1,122,388,889 $401,144,998,374
2023 $1,055,651,852 $381,440,724,491
2022 $981,429,630 $407,596,043,068
2021 $858,622,222 $419,986,284,375
2020 $883,922,222 $337,974,655,408
2019 $1,107,855,556 $389,330,032,224
2018 $1,076,548,148 $405,260,723,893
2017 $1,056,977,778 $381,448,814,653
2016 $1,006,818,519 $323,585,509,674
2015 $957,222,222 $346,709,790,459
2014 $952,111,111 $381,198,869,776
2013 $874,548,148 $400,886,013,596
2012 $824,585,185 $434,400,545,086
2011 $836,092,593 $458,199,494,831
2010 $778,718,519 $417,363,822,802
2009 $774,274,074 $329,754,060,647
2008 $777,692,593 $316,131,258,616
2007 $689,285,185 $333,077,117,254
2006 $644,414,815 $303,858,675,364
2005 $547,203,704 $288,867,217,197
2004 $506,900,000 $255,806,908,595
2003 $469,869,870 $197,018,965,309
2002 $481,077,374 $129,087,556,612
2001 $458,643,829 $135,429,905,923
2000 $421,695,770 $151,752,757,215
1999 $406,595,484 $151,516,957,079
1998 $383,257,331 $152,982,984,557
1997 $374,641,308 $168,978,057,328
1996 $333,944,444 $163,234,925,381
1995 $313,485,185 $171,735,933,897
1994 $295,159,259 $153,512,712,382
1993 $263,755,556 $147,194,747,566
1992 $242,137,037 $146,956,150,987
1991 $220,540,741 $135,203,698,238
1990 $217,259,259 $126,048,140,142
1989 $192,518,519 $108,055,624,082
1988 $172,692,593 $103,976,831,871
1987 $147,748,148 $96,535,763,418
1986 $130,685,185 $73,354,771,399
1985 $111,007,407 $64,459,376,087
1984 $98,603,704 $84,870,163,366
1983 $86,874,074 $96,204,110,942
1982 $86,022,222 $85,904,057,409
1981 $80,888,889 $93,141,472,164
1980 $68,459,259 $89,411,864,402
1979 $58,840,741 $63,038,658,089
1978 $49,433,333 $51,607,412,902
1977 $44,496,296 $45,328,411,332
1976 $30,095,602 $41,150,460,288
1975 $33,364,055 $42,906,905,672
1974 $31,514,856 $41,389,186,095
1973 $24,196,018 $33,262,772,008
1972 $22,944,849 $24,515,919,217
1971 $19,624,746 $23,411,076,638
1970 $16,300,000 $21,218,391,513
1969 $15,850,000 $19,256,992,297
1968 $14,600,000 $17,124,793,150
1967 $16,742,338 $15,821,393,671
1966 $14,469,078 $14,211,394,315
1965 $13,593,932 $13,068,994,772
1964 $13,416,633 $11,955,995,218
1963 $12,833,301 $10,854,195,658
1962 $12,541,635 $9,813,996,074
1961 $12,483,302 $9,225,996,310
1960 $12,366,636 $8,748,596,501

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

GeoRank.org/economy/saint-kitts-and-nevis/south-africa | CC BY

GDP per capita in Saint Kitts and Nevis vs South Africa by year

Saint Kitts and Nevis
GDP per capita

GDP per capita, PPP
South Africa
GDP per capita

GDP per capita, PPP
1x
Year Current $
Saint Kitts South Africa
GDP per capita GDP per capita, PPP GDP per capita GDP per capita, PPP
2025 $25,223 - $6,598 -
2024 $23,961 $34,847 $6,267 $15,456
2023 $22,577 $33,980 $6,034 $15,200
2022 $21,012 $31,871 $6,534 $14,749
2021 $18,361 $26,897 $6,829 $13,682
2020 $18,859 $27,326 $5,581 $12,671
2019 $23,595 $32,482 $6,534 $13,361
2018 $22,901 $30,795 $6,914 $13,347
2017 $22,465 $29,579 $6,618 $13,738
2016 $21,388 $28,215 $5,651 $13,519
2015 $20,329 $26,877 $6,112 $13,398
2014 $20,219 $26,756 $6,857 $13,359
2013 $18,580 $24,624 $7,332 $13,369
2012 $17,532 $23,458 $8,077 $12,987
2011 $17,832 $24,550 $8,646 $13,143
2010 $16,623 $23,691 $7,973 $12,637
2009 $16,503 $23,385 $6,375 $12,261
2008 $16,605 $24,102 $6,185 $12,525
2007 $14,758 $21,301 $6,592 $12,047
2006 $13,838 $20,676 $6,077 $11,250
2005 $11,784 $19,500 $5,837 $10,441
2004 $10,945 $17,276 $5,221 $9,714
2003 $10,176 $16,226 $4,062 $9,139
2002 $10,454 $16,619 $2,688 $8,792
2001 $10,023 $16,235 $2,847 $8,428
2000 $9,320 $15,256 $3,218 $8,095
1999 $9,116 $13,754 $3,242 $7,667
1998 $8,711 $13,319 $3,310 $7,463
1997 $8,627 $13,409 $3,700 $7,433
1996 $7,788 $12,498 $3,618 $7,208
1995 $7,406 $11,747 $3,856 $6,875
1994 $7,065 $11,062 $3,489 $6,611
1993 $6,395 $10,418 $3,400 $6,375
1992 $5,947 $9,652 $3,462 $6,275
1991 $5,465 $9,131 $3,243 $6,383
1990 $5,373 $8,983 $3,093 $6,382
1989 $4,723 - $2,727 -
1988 $4,206 - $2,702 -
1987 $3,573 - $2,586 -
1986 $3,140 - $2,027 -
1985 $2,651 - $1,839 -
1984 $2,341 - $2,504 -
1983 $2,052 - $2,938 -
1982 $2,023 - $2,717 -
1981 $1,894 - $3,050 -
1980 $1,598 - $3,029 -
1979 $1,367 - $2,202 -
1978 $1,144 - $1,852 -
1977 $1,026 - $1,671 -
1976 $692 - $1,559 -
1975 $765 - $1,670 -
1974 $721 - $1,656 -
1973 $551 - $1,369 -
1972 $521 - $1,038 -
1971 $444 - $1,020 -
1970 $365 - $952 -
1969 $347 - $891 -
1968 $309 - $817 -
1967 $344 - $779 -
1966 $290 - $722 -
1965 $265.8 - $685 -
1964 $256.4 - $646 -
1963 $240.1 - $605 -
1962 $230.3 - $563 -
1961 $225.6 - $546 -
1960 $221.6 - $532 -

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

GeoRank.org/economy/saint-kitts-and-nevis/south-africa | CC BY

Saint Kitts and Nevis' GDP per capita is $25,223, ranking 53/197, compared to $6,598 in South Africa, ranking 109/197. Adjusted for purchasing power (GDP per capita PPP), Saint Kitts and Nevis ranks 64th at $34,847, while South Africa ranks 112th at $15,456.

Economic indicators

Saint Kitts South Africa
Gross domestic product
$1.18B
2025
$427B
2025
GDP rank
188/197
2025
40/197
2025
GDP growth
2.69%
2024-2025
1.11%
2024-2025
GDP per capita
$25,223
2025
$6,598
2025
GDP per capita rank
53/197
2025
109/197
2025
GDP per capita, PPP
$34,847
2024
$15,456
2024
GDP per capita PPP rank
64/197
2024
112/197
2024
Government debt
$691M
2025
$336B
2025
Debt-to-GDP ratio
58.4%
2025
78.6%
2025
Government debt per person
$14,732
2025
$5,189
2025
Government debt per person rank
45/185
2025
84/185
2025
Average annual personal income after taxes
$13,351
2026
$4,738
2026
Market capitalization of domestic companies n/a
$1.4T
2025
Number of millionaires n/a
97,000
2026
Number of billionaires n/a
7
2026
Income share by richest 10% n/a
42.1%
2022
Income share by poorest 10% n/a
1.4%
2022
Government expenditure, % of GDP
42.4%
2025
34.2%
2025
Consumer prices inflation
1.3%
2024-2025
3.21%
2024-2025
Central bank interest rate n/a
7%
2026
Unemployment rate
5.12%
2001
32.3%
2024
Population
47031
65829368

Spending and national debt comparison by year

Saint Kitts and Nevis
Spending

Debt
South Africa
Spending

Debt
1x
Year % of GDP
Saint Kitts South Africa
Government spending Government debt Government spending Government debt
2025 42.4% 58.4% 34.2% 78.6%
2024 44.4% 58.1% 33% 76%
2023 43.7% 60% 32.5% 73.2%
2022 50.4% 64.5% 31.9% 70.7%
2021 42% 73% 32.7% 68.8%
2020 37.2% 71.7% 34.6% 68.9%
2019 37.9% 57.2% 31.4% 56.1%
2018 34.2% 54.7% 30.2% 51.5%
2017 25.5% 56.2% 29.9% 48.6%
2016 26.1% 57.4% 29.9% 47.1%
2015 29% 62.2% 30.2% 45.2%
2014 27.4% 67.9% 29.3% 43.3%
2013 27.9% 89.3% 28.9% 40.4%
2012 26.4% 118% 28.6% 37.4%
2011 30.3% 127.1% 28.1% 34.7%
2010 31.2% 134.9% 28.3% 31.2%
2009 30.4% 129.1% 28.5% 27%
2008 29.5% 123.4% 26% 24%
2007 30.9% 130.1% 24.4% 24.3%
2006 31.2% 134.8% 24.7% 28%
2005 33% 124% 25.1% 29.6%
2004 32.4% 147.2% 22.7% 30.7%
2003 30% 136.6% 22.6% 31.5%
2002 34.1% 115.2% 22.2% 31.8%
2001 29.5% 100.5% 22.6% 38%
2000 33.3% 92.9% 22.6% 37.9%
1999 33.6% 89.2% 26.7% 45.9%
1998 29.1% 79% 27.1% 45.8%
1997 26.3% 67.2% 27.9% 45.8%
1996 26.8% 50.7% 28.5% 44.3%
1995 23.7% - 27.2% 47%
1994 22.2% - 31.3% 46.4%
1993 21.3% - 29.1% 39.8%
1992 19.8% - 29.8% 34.8%
1991 18.2% - 27.8% 34.7%
1990 19.3% - 28.7% 31.8%
1989 - - 29.6% 33.3%
1988 - - 23.9% 30.6%
1987 - - 28% 33.5%
1986 - - 27.8% 32.5%
1985 - - 26.8% 26.3%
1984 - - 25.2% 23.2%
1983 - - 25.1% 28.7%
1982 - - 23.8% 31.3%
1981 - - 23.3% 27.4%
1980 - - 21.8% 33.3%
1979 - - 26.5% 41.9%
1978 - - 26.8% 44.7%
1977 - - 27.3% 45.3%
1976 - - 23% 35%
1975 - - 21.2% 32.8%
1974 - - 19.1% 33.7%
1973 - - 21% 38.2%
1972 - - 22.9% 41.1%
1971 - - 19.9% 41.1%
1970 - - 20% 43.3%
1969 - - 18.8% 44.4%
1968 - - 19.4% 42.7%
1967 - - 18.8% 41.1%
1966 - - 18.3% 41.4%
1965 - - 18.2% 42.7%
1964 - - 11.3% 30%
1963 - - 15.9% 43.4%
1962 - - 15.9% 45.7%
1961 - - 15.7% 52.8%
1960 - - 16.7% 52.9%

Data sources: International Monetary Fund (IMF) | Fiscal Monitor (1990–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08); International Monetary Fund (IMF) | Public Finances in Modern History (1960–1999, retrieved 2026-07-08).

GeoRank.org/economy/saint-kitts-and-nevis/south-africa | CC BY

In 2025, Saint Kitts and Nevis' government spending was $502M, accounting for 42.4% of its GDP, while South Africa spent $146B, or 34.2% of GDP.

Debt-to-GDP ratio is 58.4% in Saint Kitts and Nevis and 78.6% in South Africa, ranking 82/185 and 46/185, respectively.

Government deficit by year

Deficit/surplus
Saint Kitts and Nevis

South Africa
1x
Year Deficit/surplus, % of GDP
Saint Kitts South Africa
2025 -11.7% -5.78%
2024 -11.3% -5.67%
2023 0.21% -5.6%
2022 -4.23% -4.25%
2021 5.5% -5.54%
2020 -3.12% -9.62%
2019 -0.71% -5.07%
2018 1.82% -3.73%
2017 1.68% -4.02%
2016 3.77% -3.72%
2015 5.66% -4.37%
2014 8.33% -3.93%
2013 10.7% -3.9%
2012 4.2% -4.04%
2011 1.6% -3.7%
2010 -4.15% -4.51%
2009 -1.23% -4.67%
2008 -1.57% -0.49%
2007 -0.99% 1.22%
2006 -1.31% 0.81%
2005 -3.29% -0.1%
2004 -6.34% -1.04%
2003 -5.49% -1.59%
2002 -11.3% -0.96%
2001 -10.4% -1.02%
2000 -12.8% -1.38%
1999 -11.1% -2.21%
1998 -5.13% -2.56%
1997 -2.33% -4.08%
1996 -2.27% -4.53%
1995 0.9% -4.38%
1994 0.79% -8.09%
1993 0.24% -8.54%
1992 0.5% -7.09%
1991 0.92% -4.85%
1990 0.62% -3.82%
1989 - -8.3%
1988 - -3.29%
1987 - -6.36%
1986 - -5.69%
1985 - -4.86%
1984 - -5.24%
1983 - -5.3%
1982 - -3.88%
1981 - -3.72%
1980 - -1.91%
1979 - -4.65%
1978 - -5.42%
1977 - -5.52%
1976 - -4.19%
1975 - -2.62%
1974 - -1.5%
1973 - -4.54%
1972 - -5.39%
1971 - -1.96%
1970 - -3.19%
1969 - -3.94%
1968 - -3.38%
1967 - -3.8%
1966 - -3.04%
1965 - -3.15%
1964 - -1.19%
1963 - -2.26%
1962 - -1.4%
1961 - -3.25%
1960 - -2.36%
1959 - -4.4%
1958 - -3.5%
1957 - -2.8%
1956 - -2.12%
1955 - -2.9%
1954 - -2.53%
1953 - -3.72%
1952 - -4.14%
1951 - -0.4%
1950 - -2.33%
1949 - -6.87%
1948 - -6.03%
1947 - -1.82%
1946 - -4.03%
1945 - -7.41%
1944 - -8.94%
1943 - -8.49%
1942 - -9.08%
1941 - -7.3%
1940 - -10.9%
1939 - -2.96%
1938 - -3.91%
1937 - -2.16%
1936 - -2.58%
1935 - -3.2%
1934 - -3.29%
1933 - -3.31%
1932 - -4.72%
1931 - -5.31%
1930 - -5.19%
1929 - -4.41%
1928 - -3.29%
1927 - -3.79%
1926 - -4.76%
1925 - -4.92%
1924 - -4.72%
1923 - -5.53%
1922 - -4.51%
1921 - -5.38%
1920 - -5.52%
1919 - -2.6%
1918 - -3.7%
1917 - -3.52%
1916 - -2.57%
1915 - -10.7%
1914 - -11.6%
1913 - -4.15%

Data sources: International Monetary Fund (IMF) | Public Finances in Modern History (1913–1999, retrieved 2026-07-08); International Monetary Fund (IMF) | Fiscal Monitor (1990–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08).

GeoRank.org/economy/saint-kitts-and-nevis/south-africa | CC BY

In 2025, Saint Kitts and Nevis' government deficit, the difference between spending and revenue, was $139M, equivalent to 11.7% of GDP. This compares to South Africa's deficit of $24.7B, or 5.78% of GDP.

Over the past 36 years, Saint Kitts and Nevis recorded a fiscal deficit in 20 of those years, while South Africa ran a deficit in 34 years. On average, Saint Kitts and Nevis posted an annual deficit equal to 1.76% of GDP, compared to deficit of 3.8% of GDP for South Africa.

Inflation comparison by year

Inflation
Saint Kitts and Nevis

South Africa
1x
Year Consumer prices inflation
Saint Kitts South Africa
2025 1.3% 3.21%
2024 1.1% 4.36%
2023 3.6% 6.08%
2022 2.7% 7.04%
2021 1.2% 4.62%
2020 -1.2% 3.23%
2019 -0.3% 4.1%
2018 -1% 4.51%
2017 0.7% 5.19%
2016 -0.7% 6.6%
2015 -2.3% 4.52%
2014 0.2% 6.13%
2013 1.1% 5.78%
2012 0.8% 5.74%
2011 5.8% 5%
2010 0.9% 4.07%
2009 2.1% 7.24%
2008 5.3% 9.91%
2007 4.5% 6.18%
2006 8.5% 3.24%
2005 3.4% 2.06%
2004 2.2% -0.69%
2003 2.3% 5.68%
2002 2.1% 9.49%
2001 2.1% 5.7%
2000 2.1% 5.34%
1999 3.4% 5.18%
1998 3.7% 6.88%
1997 8.7% 8.6%

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

GeoRank.org/economy/saint-kitts-and-nevis/south-africa | CC BY

Over the past 29 years, Saint Kitts and Nevis has recorded an average annual inflation rate of 2.22%, compared with 5.34% in South Africa. In 2025, inflation was 1.3% in Saint Kitts and Nevis and 3.21% in South Africa.

Top exports between countries

Saint Kitts
Export category Export value
South Africa
Export category Export value
Machinery & equipment $13K
Precious metals & jewellery $9K
Raw materials & minerals $8K
Miscellaneous $5K
Textiles & consumer goods $5K
Processed food, beverages & tobacco $4K
Chemicals & pharma $1K

Balance of trade

Saint Kitts South Africa
Current account balance
-$162M
2025
-$1.81B
2025
Current account balance ranking
88/190
2025
135/190
2025
Current account balance, % of GDP
-13.7%
2025
-0.42%
2025
Goods imports
$448M
2025
$104B
2025
Goods exports
$46.5M
2025
$116B
2025
Service imports
$259M
2025
$21.8B
2025
Service exports
$529M
2025
$18.1B
2025
Imports of goods and services, % of GDP n/a
29.5%
2025
Exports of goods and services, % of GDP
11%
2026
31.4%
2025

Economic freedom indices

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

Saint Kitts South Africa
Economic freedom 62 58.6
Economic freedom ranking 90/197 110/197
Property rights n/a 48.8
Government integrity n/a 46.7
Judicial effectiveness n/a 64.6
Tax burden n/a 65.4
Government spending n/a 68.4
Fiscal health n/a 45.3
Business freedom n/a 67.9
Labor freedom n/a 70.8
Monetary freedom n/a 75.8
Trade freedom n/a 68.8
Investment freedom n/a 40
Financial freedom n/a 40

Other economic metrics

Saint Kitts South Africa
Services, % of GDP
66.2%
2025
63.1%
2025
Industry, % of GDP
20.8%
2025
24.1%
2025
Agriculture, forestry, and fishing, % of GDP
1.29%
2025
2.83%
2025
GNI, Atlas method
$1.15B
2025
$406B
2025
GNI per capita, PPP
$36,430
2025
$15,600
2025
Total reserves including gold
$282M
2025
$76B
2025
Total reserves ranking
167/177
2025
35/177
2025
Net foreign direct investment
-$18.5M
2025
-$1.85B
2025
Net inflows of foreign direct investment
$42.1M
2024
$2.33B
2024
Net outflows of foreign direct investment
$8.97M
2024
-$1.26B
2024
Servicing debt to the IMF, % of GNI n/a
5.74%
2024
Poverty at national poverty lines n/a
37.9%
2022
Gross capital formation, % of GDP n/a
13.9%
2025

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/saint-kitts-and-nevis/south-africa | CC BY

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Data sources:

  1. World Bank | Economy & Growth (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08)
  2. International Monetary Fund (IMF) | Public Finances in Modern History (1913–1999, retrieved 2026-07-08)
  3. International Monetary Fund (IMF) | Fiscal Monitor (1990–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08)
  4. U.S. Census Bureau (1985–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08)
  5. The Heritage Foundation | Economic Freedom Index (2026, retrieved 2026-07-08)
  6. TradeMap (2020–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08)
  7. United Nations | World Population Prospects (2026, retrieved 2026-07-08)
  8. LivingCost (2026, 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.