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Economy of Saudi Arabia vs Tunisia compared: GDP & Debt

Updated on by Georank team

Saudi Arabia has a GDP of $1.24T compared to $51.3B for Tunisia, ranking 18/197 and 93/197 by economy size, respectively.

Saudi Arabia has $324B in government debt (26.2% of GDP), compared to $42.8B (83.4% of GDP) in Tunisia.

Saudi Arabia vs Tunisia GDP by year

Saudi Arabia
Tunisia
1x
Year GDP, current $
Saudi Arabia Tunisia
2024 $1,239,804,533,333 $51,332,285,657
2023 $1,218,584,533,333 $48,205,328,303
2022 $1,239,075,200,000 $44,929,920,093
2021 $982,661,066,667 $47,073,234,359
2020 $767,951,200,000 $42,491,780,918
2019 $888,890,133,333 $41,905,642,419
2018 $886,564,800,000 $42,686,504,460
2017 $741,266,133,333 $42,163,530,591
2016 $689,279,466,667 $44,360,072,680
2015 $693,414,400,000 $45,779,494,042
2014 $787,153,066,667 $50,271,812,921
2013 $769,755,733,333 $48,685,446,414
2012 $751,921,333,333 $47,311,401,813
2011 $680,660,800,000 $48,123,325,825
2010 $528,207,466,667 $46,206,091,938
2009 $429,097,866,667 $43,455,740,497
2008 $519,796,800,000 $44,859,439,902
2007 $415,964,509,673 $38,915,353,867
2006 $376,900,133,511 $34,376,664,601
2005 $328,459,608,764 $32,272,186,695
2004 $258,742,133,333 $31,183,885,241
2003 $215,807,733,333 $27,453,902,261
2002 $189,605,866,667 $23,141,616,605
2001 $184,137,600,000 $22,065,832,449
2000 $189,514,933,333 $21,473,528,161
1999 $161,717,066,667 $22,943,202,175
1998 $146,775,466,667 $21,802,893,587
1997 $165,963,684,913 $20,746,210,354
1996 $158,662,483,311 $19,587,161,807
1995 $143,343,124,166 $18,030,876,599
1994 $135,174,899,866 $15,633,174,304
1993 $132,967,957,276 $14,608,335,608
1992 $137,087,850,467 $15,496,708,060
1991 $132,223,230,975 $13,074,782,609
1990 $117,630,173,565 $12,290,568,182
1989 $95,344,459,279 $10,101,851,745
1988 $88,256,074,766 $10,096,245,762
1987 $85,695,861,148 $9,696,715,911
1986 $86,961,922,765 $9,017,806,654
1985 $103,897,846,494 $8,410,226,053
1984 $119,624,858,116 $8,254,541,195
1983 $129,171,635,311 $8,350,582,748
1982 $153,240,313,858 $8,133,580,052
1981 $184,291,360,139 $8,428,445,294
1980 $164,539,660,725 $8,744,134,354
1979 $111,858,444,786 $7,188,863,904
1978 $80,266,516,687 $5,968,460,080
1977 $74,188,986,586 $5,109,324,009
1976 $64,005,665,722 $4,508,191,942
1975 $46,773,208,643 $4,328,965,588
1974 $45,412,957,746 $3,545,868,575
1973 $14,947,435,499 $2,730,813,385
1972 $9,664,267,087 $2,237,556,149
1971 $7,184,806,909 $1,685,162,272
1970 $5,377,333,333 $1,439,238,095
1969 $4,485,777,644 $1,289,904,762
1968 $4,187,777,711 $1,214,666,667
1967 $3,257,022,223 $1,085,714,286
1966 $2,920,555,557 $1,040,952,381
1965 $2,647,955,558 $991,047,619
1964 $2,371,808,713 $1,025,866,792
1963 $2,207,393,172 $1,026,737,600
1962 $2,130,606,532 $880,027,733
1961 $1,920,811,284 $866,155,429
1960 $1,748,124,064 -

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

GeoRank.org/economy/saudi-arabia/tunisia | CC BY

GDP per capita in Saudi Arabia vs Tunisia by year

Saudi Arabia
GDP per capita

GDP per capita, PPP
Tunisia
GDP per capita

GDP per capita, PPP
1x
Year Current $
Saudi Arabia Tunisia
GDP per capita GDP per capita, PPP GDP per capita GDP per capita, PPP
2024 $35,122 $71,375 $4,181 $14,521
2023 $36,157 $71,565 $3,951 $14,041
2022 $38,510 $71,968 $3,707 $13,619
2021 $31,921 $62,690 $3,907 $12,444
2020 $24,339 $47,518 $3,549 $11,918
2019 $29,567 $59,560 $3,529 $12,495
2018 $29,360 $59,378 $3,628 $11,841
2017 $23,929 $53,120 $3,619 $11,289
2016 $22,268 $49,937 $3,848 $10,994
2015 $23,256 $53,931 $4,015 $10,783
2014 $27,805 $62,578 $4,459 $10,947
2013 $27,865 $62,203 $4,370 $10,672
2012 $28,733 $65,034 $4,297 $10,615
2011 $27,127 $64,125 $4,421 $10,436
2010 $22,028 $58,829 $4,292 $10,555
2009 $17,718 $54,787 $4,080 $10,237
2008 $22,320 $57,236 $4,255 $9,975
2007 $18,596 $55,030 $3,727 $9,479
2006 $17,564 $54,639 $3,323 $8,729
2005 $15,976 $53,548 $3,147 $8,117
2004 $13,154 $51,225 $3,067 $7,672
2003 $11,487 $48,078 $2,726 $7,098
2002 $10,586 $45,466 $2,321 $6,715
2001 $10,805 $47,381 $2,236 $6,593
2000 $11,715 $48,644 $2,199 $6,279
1999 $10,452 $47,495 $2,376 $5,930
1998 $9,836 $48,867 $2,285 $5,579
1997 $11,545 $48,796 $2,202 $5,333
1996 $11,472 $48,569 $2,107 $5,040
1995 $10,786 $48,052 $1,968 $4,686
1994 $10,602 $48,904 $1,733 $4,555
1993 $10,885 $49,503 $1,649 $4,401
1992 $11,730 $50,355 $1,785 $4,292
1991 $11,847 $49,295 $1,538 $3,975
1990 $11,055 $46,214 $1,476 $3,780
1989 $9,414 - $1,239 -
1988 $9,165 - $1,266 -
1987 $9,386 - $1,245 -
1986 $10,078 - $1,187 -
1985 $12,745 - $1,135 -
1984 $15,541 - $1,143 -
1983 $17,810 - $1,184 -
1982 $22,454 - $1,177 -
1981 $28,703 - $1,247 -
1980 $27,206 - $1,324 -
1979 $19,612 - $1,113 -
1978 $14,914 - $946 -
1977 $14,595 - $830 -
1976 $13,313 - $752 -
1975 $10,266 - $741 -
1974 $10,503 - $624 -
1973 $3,640 - $493 -
1972 $2,474 - $415 -
1971 $1,929 - $320 -
1970 $1,509 - $280.5 -
1969 $1,313 - $257.7 -
1968 $1,276 - $248.9 -
1967 $1,032 - $228 -
1966 $961 - $223.8 -
1965 $904 - $217.3 -
1964 $840 - $228.5 -
1963 $812 - $231.9 -
1962 $813 - $201.4 -
1961 $760 - $200.7 -
1960 $718 - - -

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

GeoRank.org/economy/saudi-arabia/tunisia | CC BY

Saudi Arabia's GDP per capita is $35,122, ranking 33/197, compared to $4,181 in Tunisia, ranking 129/197. Adjusted for purchasing power (GDP per capita PPP), Saudi Arabia ranks 24th at $71,375, while Tunisia ranks 114th at $14,521.

Economic indicators

Saudi Arabia Tunisia
Gross domestic product
$1.24T
2024
$51.3B
2024
GDP rank
18/197
2024
93/197
2024
GDP growth
2%
2023-2024
1.61%
2023-2024
GDP per capita
$35,122
2024
$4,181
2024
GDP per capita rank
33/197
2024
129/197
2024
GDP per capita, PPP
$71,375
2024
$14,521
2024
GDP per capita PPP rank
24/197
2024
114/197
2024
Government debt
$324B
2024
$42.8B
2024
Debt-to-GDP ratio
26.2%
2024
83.4%
2024
Government debt per person
$9,185
2024
$3,487
2024
Government debt per person rank
58/185
2024
94/185
2024
Average annual personal income after taxes
$23,076
2026
$3,951
2026
Market capitalization of domestic companies
$2.73T
2024
$8.3B
2024
Number of millionaires
351,855
2025
n/a
Number of billionaires
15
2025
n/a
Income share by richest 10% n/a
27%
2021
Income share by poorest 10% n/a
3.1%
2021
Government expenditure, % of GDP
29.6%
2024
33.8%
2024
Consumer prices inflation
1.69%
2023-2024
7%
2023-2024
Central bank interest rate
4.25%
2025
7.5%
2025
Unemployment rate
3.52%
2024
15.1%
2023
Population
36734925
12437803

Spending and national debt comparison by year

Saudi Arabia
Spending

Debt
Tunisia
Spending

Debt
1x
Year % of GDP
Saudi Arabia Tunisia
Government spending Government debt Government spending Government debt
2024 29.6% 26.2% 33.8% 83.4%
2023 28.3% 23% 35.7% 84%
2022 25.3% 21.3% 36.5% 83%
2021 28.2% 25.5% 33.2% 79.7%
2020 37.4% 29.7% 34.5% 77.7%
2019 31.8% 20.3% 29.5% 67.3%
2018 32.4% 16.8% 28.7% 72.9%
2017 30.9% 15.9% 28.7% 67.1%
2016 33.3% 12.2% 27.2% 58.9%
2015 38.5% 5.47% 27.4% 52.4%
2014 38.6% 1.5% 27.7% 50.7%
2013 34.5% 2.08% 30.8% 45.6%
2012 32.5% 2.97% 28.3% 49%
2011 32.4% 5.31% 27.9% 43.3%
2010 33% 8.43% 24% 38.8%
2009 37.1% 14% 24.6% 40.3%
2008 26.7% 12.1% 23.7% 41.4%
2007 29.5% 17.1% 23.3% 42.7%
2006 27.3% 25.8% 22.9% 45.7%
2005 28.2% 37.3% 23% 50%
2004 31.1% 62.9% 23% 51.6%
2003 33.1% 81.6% 23.5% 52.6%
2002 35.9% 96.4% 24.1% 51.6%
2001 36.9% 93.1% 24% 52.2%
2000 33.1% 86.7% 24% 62.9%
1999 30.3% 103% 24% 61.9%
1998 34.5% 101.5% 24.2% 58.2%
1997 35.6% 76.7% 24.5% 66.6%
1996 33.3% 75.2% 26.7% 66.8%
1995 32.4% 74.2% 26.6% 65.6%
1994 33.8% 67.9% 25.9% 63.9%
1993 37.7% 58.6% 26.7% 63.8%
1992 41.2% 47.8% 25.7% 62.1%
1991 34.9% 39.4% 27.6% 63.3%
1990 39.3% - - -

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

GeoRank.org/economy/saudi-arabia/tunisia | CC BY

In 2024, Saudi Arabia's government spending was $367B, accounting for 29.6% of its GDP, while Tunisia spent $17.4B, or 33.8% of GDP.

Debt-to-GDP ratio is 26.2% in Saudi Arabia and 83.4% in Tunisia, ranking 163/185 and 40/185, respectively.

Government deficit by year

Deficit/surplus
Saudi Arabia

Tunisia
1x
Year Deficit/surplus, % of GDP
Saudi Arabia Tunisia
2024 -2.49% -5.92%
2023 -1.77% -7.03%
2022 2.24% -6.91%
2021 -1.99% -7.6%
2020 -10.2% -9.06%
2019 -3.96% -3.6%
2018 -5.21% -4.27%
2017 -8.57% -5.61%
2016 -13.2% -5.87%
2015 -14.9% -4.95%
2014 -3.4% -3.11%
2013 5.47% -7.05%
2012 11.7% -4.9%
2011 11.4% -3.19%
2010 4.39% -0.46%
2009 -5.38% -2.59%
2008 29.8% -0.62%
2007 11.8% -2.47%
2006 20.8% -2.33%
2005 18% -2.59%
2004 9.72% -2.1%
2003 1.2% -2.64%
2002 -5.91% -2.55%
2001 -3.91% -2.87%
2000 3.18% -3.22%
1999 -5.99% -3.05%
1998 -8.88% -2.84%
1997 -2.51% -3.7%
1996 -3.25% -5.18%
1995 -5.12% -4.53%
1994 -8.31% -2.87%
1993 -9.33% -3.22%
1992 -8.12% -3.45%
1991 -3.28% -5.25%

Data sources: International Monetary Fund (IMF) | Fiscal Monitor (1991–2024, retrieved 2026-02-20).

GeoRank.org/economy/saudi-arabia/tunisia | CC BY

In 2024, Saudi Arabia's government deficit, the difference between spending and revenue, was $30.9B, equivalent to 2.49% of GDP. This compares to Tunisia's deficit of $3.04B, or 5.92% of GDP.

Over the past 34 years, Saudi Arabia recorded a fiscal deficit in 22 of those years, while Tunisia ran a deficit in 34 years. On average, Saudi Arabia posted an annual deficit equal to 0.18% of GDP, compared to deficit of 4.05% of GDP for Tunisia.

Inflation comparison by year

Inflation
Saudi Arabia

Tunisia
1x
Year Consumer prices inflation
Saudi Arabia Tunisia
2024 1.69% 7%
2023 2.33% 9.3%
2022 2.47% 8.3%
2021 3.06% 5.7%
2020 3.37% 5.6%
2019 -1.19% 6.7%
2018 2.47% 7.3%
2017 -0.83% 5.3%
2016 2.05% 3.6%
2015 1.22% 4.4%
2014 2.24% 4.6%
2013 3.51% 5.3%
2012 2.87% 4.6%
2011 5.83% 3.2%
2010 5.34% 4.4%
2009 5.06% 3.5%
2008 9.87% 4.9%
2007 4.17% 3.4%
2006 2.21% 4.1%
2005 0.48% 2%
2004 0.52% 3.7%
2003 0.61% 2.7%
2002 0.25% 2.7%
2001 -1.12% 1.9%
2000 -1.12% 2.8%
1999 -1.33% 2.8%
1998 -0.37% 3.1%
1997 0.06% 3.6%

Data sources: International Monetary Fund (IMF) | World Economic Outlook (1997–2024, retrieved 2026-02-20); World Bank | Economy & Growth (1997–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06).

GeoRank.org/economy/saudi-arabia/tunisia | CC BY

Over the past 28 years, Saudi Arabia has recorded an average annual inflation rate of 1.99%, compared with 4.52% in Tunisia. In 2024, inflation was 1.69% in Saudi Arabia and 7% in Tunisia.

Top exports between countries

Saudi Arabia
Export category Export value
Chemicals & pharma $179M
Machinery & equipment $17.7M
Metals $14.4M
Textiles & consumer goods $4.47M
Processed food, beverages & tobacco $3.54M
Raw materials & minerals $1.89M
Animal & marine products $1.34M
Wood & paper products $564K
Raw agricultural goods $440K
Precious metals & jewellery $327K
Tunisia
Export category Export value
Processed food, beverages & tobacco $17.6M
Chemicals & pharma $9.7M
Machinery & equipment $5.08M
Wood & paper products $3.98M
Textiles & consumer goods $1.74M
Raw agricultural goods $1.25M
Metals $938K
Animal & marine products $898K
Raw materials & minerals $647K
Miscellaneous $54K

Balance of trade

Saudi Arabia Tunisia
Current account balance
-$16.3B
2024
-$775M
2024
Current account balance ranking
180/190
2024
117/190
2024
Current account balance, % of GDP
-1.31%
2024
-1.51%
2024
Goods imports
$214B
2024
$18.7B
2024
Goods exports
$306B
2024
$8.95B
2024
Service imports
$125B
2024
$3.92B
2024
Service exports
$62.8B
2024
$11.2B
2024
Imports of goods and services, % of GDP
25.6%
2024
56.3%
2024
Exports of goods and services, % of GDP
29.1%
2024
50%
2024

Economic freedom indices

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

Saudi Arabia Tunisia
Economic freedom 65.4 48.1
Economic freedom ranking 65/197 172/197
Property rights 51.4 55.7
Government integrity 52.7 42.1
Judicial effectiveness 38.2 39.7
Tax burden 99.2 68.5
Government spending 77 62.5
Fiscal health 97.9 16
Business freedom 71.2 59.4
Labor freedom 41.8 55.8
Monetary freedom 81.2 72.4
Trade freedom 73.8 54.6
Investment freedom 50 20
Financial freedom 50 30

Economic freedom comparison by year

Saudi Arabia
Tunisia
1x
Year Economic freedom index
Saudi Arabia Tunisia
2026 65.4 48.1
2025 64.4 49.1
2024 61.9 48.8
2023 58.3 52.9
2022 55.5 54.2
2021 66 56.6
2020 62.4 55.8
2019 60.7 55.4
2018 59.6 58.9
2017 64.4 55.7
2016 62.1 57.6
2015 62.1 57.7
2014 62.2 57.3
2013 60.6 57
2012 62.5 58.6
2011 66.2 58.5
2010 64.1 58.9
2009 64.3 58
2008 62.5 60.1
2007 60.9 60.3
2006 63 57.5
2005 63 55.4
2004 60.4 58.4
2003 63.2 58.1
2002 65.3 60.2
2001 62.2 60.8
2000 66.5 61.3
1999 65.5 61.1
1998 69.3 63.9
1997 68.7 63.8
1996 68.3 63.9
1995 - 63.4

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

GeoRank.org/economy/saudi-arabia/tunisia | CC BY

The Economic Freedom Index for Saudi Arabia is 65.4, ranking 65/197, compared to 48.1 for Tunisia, ranking 172/197. The chart above displays a comparison of annual changes in economic freedom indexes.

Other economic metrics

Saudi Arabia Tunisia
Services, % of GDP
47.1%
2024
62.6%
2024
Industry, % of GDP
44.9%
2024
22.6%
2024
Agriculture, forestry, and fishing, % of GDP
2.54%
2024
9.74%
2024
GNI, Atlas method
$1.26T
2024
$47.7B
2024
GNI per capita, PPP
$71,730
2024
$14,230
2024
Total reserves including gold
$464B
2024
$9.34B
2024
Total reserves ranking
7/177
2024
80/177
2024
Net foreign direct investment
$6.27B
2024
-$725M
2024
Net inflows of foreign direct investment
$21.3B
2024
$760M
2024
Net outflows of foreign direct investment
$27.6B
2024
$34.6M
2024
Servicing debt to the IMF, % of GNI n/a
10.9%
2024
Poverty at national poverty lines n/a
16.6%
2021
Gross capital formation, % of GDP
30.2%
2024
7.86%
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/saudi-arabia/tunisia | 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. TradeMap (2023–2024, retrieved 2026-02-08)
  6. United Nations | World Population Prospects (2026, retrieved 2026-03-10)
  7. 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.