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Economy of Singapore vs Taiwan compared: GDP & Debt

Updated on by Georank team

Singapore has a GDP of $547B compared to $802B for Taiwan, ranking 28/197 and 22/197 by economy size, respectively.

Singapore has $950B in government debt (173.5% of GDP), compared to $211B (26.3% of GDP) in Taiwan.

Singapore vs Taiwan GDP by year

Singapore
Taiwan
1x
Year GDP, current $
Singapore Taiwan
2024 $547,386,645,892 $801,529,000,000
2023 $505,439,514,078 $757,328,000,000
2022 $509,017,841,147 $765,529,000,000
2021 $436,591,382,250 $777,062,000,000
2020 $349,165,858,545 $676,935,000,000
2019 $376,161,998,830 $613,453,000,000
2018 $377,123,710,561 $610,744,000,000
2017 $343,673,334,902 $591,734,000,000
2016 $319,646,468,521 $543,002,000,000
2015 $307,998,545,269 $534,474,000,000
2014 $314,863,580,758 $535,332,000,000
2013 $307,576,360,585 $512,957,000,000
2012 $295,092,888,077 $495,536,000,000
2011 $279,356,499,090 $483,957,000,000
2010 $239,807,980,591 $444,245,000,000
2009 $194,150,283,772 $390,788,000,000
2008 $193,617,323,539 $415,824,000,000
2007 $180,941,701,358 $406,940,000,000
2006 $148,627,286,361 $386,492,000,000
2005 $127,807,848,728 $374,042,000,000
2004 $115,033,593,101 $346,881,000,000
2003 $97,646,401,096 $317,374,000,000
2002 $92,538,372,870 $307,429,000,000
2001 $89,793,790,670 $299,303,000,000
2000 $96,076,539,926 $330,725,000,000
1999 $86,286,849,755 $303,827,000,000
1998 $85,728,207,782 $279,926,000,000
1997 $100,123,787,215 $303,315,000,000
1996 $96,293,086,513 $292,473,000,000
1995 $87,812,540,788 $279,013,000,000
1994 $73,688,724,431 $256,213,000,000
1993 $60,603,815,716 $234,943,000,000
1992 $52,131,320,033 $222,947,000,000
1991 $45,466,164,978 $187,100,000,000
1990 $36,144,336,769 $166,392,000,000
1989 $30,465,364,739 $152,687,000,000
1988 $25,371,462,488 $126,378,000,000
1987 $20,919,215,578 $104,956,000,000
1986 $18,586,746,057 $78,347,000,000
1985 $19,156,532,746 $63,599,000,000
1984 $19,749,361,098 $61,036,000,000
1983 $17,784,112,150 $54,155,000,000
1982 $16,084,252,378 $49,540,000,000
1981 $14,175,228,844 $49,047,000,000
1980 $11,896,256,783 $42,292,000,000
1979 $9,296,921,724 $33,875,000,000
1978 $7,517,176,355 $27,373,000,000
1977 $6,618,585,074 $22,252,000,000
1976 $6,327,077,974 $18,988,000,000
1975 $5,633,673,930 $15,836,000,000
1974 $5,221,534,956 $14,739,000,000
1973 $3,696,213,333 $10,940,000,000
1972 $2,721,440,981 $8,063,000,000
1971 $2,263,785,444 $6,727,000,000
1970 $1,920,574,150 $5,785,000,000
1969 $1,659,893,768 $5,017,000,000
1968 $1,425,706,091 $4,325,000,000
1967 $1,238,035,816 $3,709,000,000
1966 $1,096,425,608 $3,207,000,000
1965 $974,644,096 $2,869,000,000
1964 $894,153,311 $2,592,000,000
1963 $917,608,012 $2,218,000,000
1962 $826,239,212 $1,960,000,000
1961 $764,629,788 $1,778,000,000
1960 $704,751,700 $1,743,000,000
1959 - $1,444,000,000
1958 - $1,836,000,000
1957 - $1,636,000,000
1956 - $1,399,000,000
1955 - $1,940,000,000
1954 - $1,628,000,000
1953 - $1,481,000,000
1952 - $1,677,000,000
1951 - $1,197,000,000

Data sources: National Statistics, Taiwan (1951–2024, retrieved 2026-02-09); World Bank | Economy & Growth (1960–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06).

GeoRank.org/economy/singapore/taiwan | CC BY

GDP per capita in Singapore vs Taiwan by year

Singapore
GDP per capita

GDP per capita, PPP
Taiwan
GDP per capita

GDP per capita, PPP
1x
Year Current $
Singapore Taiwan
GDP per capita GDP per capita, PPP GDP per capita GDP per capita, PPP
2024 $90,674 $150,689 $34,238 -
2023 $85,412 $143,786 $32,444 -
2022 $90,299 $143,095 $32,827 -
2021 $80,056 $132,617 $33,111 -
2020 $61,410 $101,518 $28,705 -
2019 $65,952 $105,335 $25,998 -
2018 $66,882 $103,963 $25,901 -
2017 $61,236 $95,744 $25,121 $50,500
2016 $57,006 $89,902 $23,091 -
2015 $55,646 $87,156 $22,780 $46,800
2014 $57,565 $84,555 $22,874 -
2013 $56,967 $83,088 $21,973 $39,600
2012 $55,548 $82,108 $21,295 $39,400
2011 $53,891 $80,052 $20,866 $38,200
2010 $47,237 $75,401 $19,197 $35,700
2009 $38,927 $66,213 $16,933 $32,000
2008 $40,009 $67,735 $18,081 $31,100
2007 $39,433 $68,805 $17,757 $30,100
2006 $33,768 $64,061 $16,934 $29,500
2005 $29,961 $58,822 $16,456 $27,500
2004 $27,608 $54,384 $15,317 $25,300
2003 $23,730 $48,778 $14,066 $23,400
2002 $22,160 $45,083 $13,686 $18,000
2001 $21,700 $43,109 $13,397 $17,200
2000 $23,853 $43,781 $14,908 $17,400
1999 $21,797 $39,949 $13,804 $16,100
1998 $21,829 $37,560 $12,820 -
1997 $26,376 $39,286 $14,020 -
1996 $26,233 $36,873 $13,641 -
1995 $24,915 $35,090 $13,119 -
1994 $21,552 $33,058 $12,150 -
1993 $18,290 $30,062 $11,242 -
1992 $16,136 $27,022 $10,768 -
1991 $14,502 $25,530 $9,125 -
1990 $11,862 $23,815 $8,205 -
1989 $10,395 - $7,613 -
1988 $8,914 - $6,370 -
1987 $7,539 - $5,350 -
1986 $6,800 - $4,036 -
1985 $7,002 - $3,314 -
1984 $7,228 - $3,224 -
1983 $6,633 - $2,903 -
1982 $6,078 - $2,699 -
1981 $5,597 - $2,720 -
1980 $4,928 - $2,389 -
1979 $3,901 - $1,950 -
1978 $3,194 - $1,606 -
1977 $2,846 - $1,330 -
1976 $2,759 - $1,158 -
1975 $2,490 - $985 -
1974 $2,342 - $934 -
1973 $1,685 - $706 -
1972 $1,264 - $530 -
1971 $1,071 - $451 -
1970 $926 - $397 -
1969 $813 - $357 -
1968 $709 - $319 -
1967 $626 - $280.8 -
1966 $567 - $249.1 -
1965 $517 - $229.3 -
1964 $486 - $213.6 -
1963 $511 - $188.6 -
1962 $472 - $172 -
1961 $449 - $161.2 -
1960 $428 - $163.4 -
1959 - - $140.4 -
1958 - - $185.1 -
1957 - - $170.5 -
1956 - - $150.6 -
1955 - - $216.3 -
1954 - - $188.3 -
1953 - - $177.7 -
1952 - - $208.4 -
1951 - - $154.3 -

Data sources: National Statistics, Taiwan (1951–2024, retrieved 2026-02-09); World Bank | Economy & Growth (1960–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06); Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) (1999–2017, retrieved 2026-02-20).

GeoRank.org/economy/singapore/taiwan | CC BY

Singapore's GDP per capita is $90,674, ranking 7/197, compared to $34,238 in Taiwan, ranking 35/197. Adjusted for purchasing power (GDP per capita PPP), Singapore ranks 2nd at $150,689, while Taiwan ranks 44th at $50,500.

Economic indicators

Singapore Taiwan
Gross domestic product
$547B
2024
$802B
2024
GDP rank
28/197
2024
22/197
2024
GDP growth
4.39%
2023-2024
2.3%
2023-2024
GDP per capita
$90,674
2024
$34,238
2024
GDP per capita rank
7/197
2024
35/197
2024
GDP per capita, PPP
$150,689
2024
$50,500
2017
GDP per capita PPP rank
2/197
2024
44/197
2017
Government debt
$950B
2024
$211B
2024
Debt-to-GDP ratio
173.5%
2024
26.3%
2024
Government debt per person
$157,326
2024
$9,020
2024
Government debt per person rank
1/185
2024
59/185
2024
Average annual personal income after taxes
$52,793
2026
$18,163
2026
Market capitalization of domestic companies
$638B
2024
n/a
Number of millionaires
331,000
2025
759,000
2025
Number of billionaires
49
2025
54
2025
Government expenditure, % of GDP
14.6%
2024
15.8%
2024
Consumer prices inflation
2.39%
2023-2024
2.2%
2023-2024
Central bank interest rate n/a
2%
2024
Unemployment rate
2.74%
2024
3.35%
2025
Population
6125852
23229461

Spending and national debt comparison by year

Singapore
Spending

Debt
Taiwan
Spending

Debt
1x
Year % of GDP
Singapore Taiwan
Government spending Government debt Government spending Government debt
2024 14.6% 173.5% 15.8% 26.3%
2023 14.8% 172.8% 17.1% 29%
2022 15% 154.3% 16% 29.5%
2021 15.6% 141.7% 15.4% 30.1%
2020 24.1% 148.2% 16.2% 32%
2019 14% 127.9% 15.3% 32.6%
2018 13.9% 109.4% 15.4% 33.8%
2017 13.6% 107.6% 15.4% 34.5%
2016 15.3% 106.3% 15.6% 35.4%
2015 14.4% 102.2% 15.5% 35.9%
2014 12.6% 97.7% - 37.5%
2013 10.9% 98.2% - 38.9%
2012 9.83% 106.7% - 39.2%
2011 9.66% 103.1% 18.3% 38.3%
2010 10.2% 98.7% - 36.9%
2009 15.9% 101.7% - 36.7%
2008 14% 97.9% - 33.4%
2007 9.01% 87.8% - 32.2%
2006 12.3% 86.5% - 33.3%
2005 12.4% 92.7% - 34.1%
2004 14.1% 95.7% - 33.4%
2003 15.6% 99.1% - 32.1%
2002 15.9% 96.3% - 29.8%
2001 18.2% 94.5% 22.5% 30.1%
2000 16.1% 82.3% - 26.2%
1999 15.9% 85.3% - 23.7%
1998 18.1% 84.6% - 23.7%
1997 14.5% 70.8% - 25%
1996 18.1% 71.3% - -
1995 13.8% 69.8% - -
1994 11.7% 70.7% - -
1993 14.5% 71.2% - -
1992 14.5% 79% - -
1991 15.9% 76.4% 25.4% -
1990 15.1% 73.5% - -
1989 - - - -
1988 - - - -
1987 - - - -
1986 - - - -
1985 - - - -
1984 - - - -
1983 - - - -
1982 - - - -
1981 - - 23.6% -
1980 - - - -
1979 - - - -
1978 - - - -
1977 - - - -
1976 - - 21.4% -

Data sources: International Monetary Fund (IMF) | Fiscal Monitor (1990–2024, retrieved 2026-02-20); National Statistics, Taiwan (1976–2024, retrieved 2026-02-09).

GeoRank.org/economy/singapore/taiwan | CC BY

In 2024, Singapore's government spending was $79.7B, accounting for 14.6% of its GDP, while Taiwan spent $127B, or 15.8% of GDP.

Debt-to-GDP ratio is 173.5% in Singapore and 26.3% in Taiwan, ranking 4/185 and 160/185, respectively.

Government deficit by year

Deficit/surplus
Singapore

Taiwan
1x
Year Deficit/surplus, % of GDP
Singapore Taiwan
2024 4.44% 0.43%
2023 3.47% -0.61%
2022 1.21% 0.17%
2021 1.13% -0.18%
2020 -6.73% -1.03%
2019 3.77% 0.11%
2018 3.68% 0.02%
2017 5.24% -0.14%
2016 3.25% -0.31%
2015 2.86% 0.1%
2014 4.6% -
2013 5.96% -
2012 7.34% -
2011 7.96% -2.15%
2010 5.68% -
2009 -0.09% -
2008 3.59% -
2007 7.12% -
2006 2.16% -
2005 2.56% -
2004 2.06% -
2003 0.68% -
2002 2.23% -
2001 1.2% -3.71%
2000 4.59% -
1999 5.2% -
1998 2.41% -
1997 5.66% -
1996 1.98% -
1995 4.8% -
1994 7.9% -
1993 4.36% -
1992 2.7% -
1991 0.68% -4.5%
1990 1.97% -
1989 - -
1988 - -
1987 - -
1986 - -
1985 - -
1984 - -
1983 - -
1982 - -
1981 - -0.78%
1980 - -
1979 - -
1978 - -
1977 - -
1976 - 1.39%

Data sources: International Monetary Fund (IMF) | Fiscal Monitor (1990–2024, retrieved 2026-02-20); National Statistics, Taiwan (1976–2024, retrieved 2026-02-09).

GeoRank.org/economy/singapore/taiwan | CC BY

In 2024, Singapore's government surplus, the difference between spending and revenue, was $24.3B, equivalent to 4.44% of GDP. This compares to Taiwan's surplus of $3.45B, or 0.43% of GDP.

Over the past 35 years, Singapore recorded a fiscal deficit in 2 of those years, while Taiwan ran a deficit in 8 years. On average, Singapore posted an annual surplus equal to 3.36% of GDP, compared to deficit of 0.91% of GDP for Taiwan.

Inflation comparison by year

Inflation
Singapore

Taiwan
1x
Year Consumer prices inflation
Singapore Taiwan
2024 2.39% 2.2%
2023 4.83% 2.5%
2022 6.13% 2.9%
2021 2.32% 2%
2020 -0.17% -0.2%
2019 0.57% 0.6%
2018 0.44% 1.4%
2017 0.58% 0.6%
2016 -0.53% 1.4%
2015 -0.52% -0.3%
2014 1.03% 1.2%
2013 2.36% 0.8%
2012 4.58% 1.9%
2011 5.25% 1.4%
2010 2.83% 1%
2009 0.59% -0.9%
2008 6.64% 3.5%
2007 2.11% 1.8%
2006 0.97% 0.6%
2005 0.43% 2.3%
2004 1.66% 1.6%
2003 0.51% -0.3%
2002 -0.39% -0.2%
2001 1% 0%
2000 1.36% 1.2%
1999 0.02% 0.2%
1998 -0.27% 1.7%
1997 2% 0.9%

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/singapore/taiwan | CC BY

Over the past 28 years, Singapore has recorded an average annual inflation rate of 1.74%, compared with 1.14% in Taiwan. In 2024, inflation was 2.39% in Singapore and 2.2% in Taiwan.

Balance of trade

Singapore Taiwan
Current account balance
$96B
2024
$113B
2024
Current account balance ranking
8/190
2024
4/190
2024
Current account balance, % of GDP
+17.5%
2024
+14.1%
2024
Goods imports
$435B
2024
n/a
Goods exports
$583B
2024
n/a
Service imports
$351B
2024
n/a
Service exports
$396B
2024
n/a
Imports of goods and services, % of GDP
143.6%
2024
50.2%
2024
Exports of goods and services, % of GDP
178.8%
2024
63.3%
2024

Economic freedom indices

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

Singapore Taiwan
Economic freedom 84.4 79.8
Economic freedom ranking 1/197 6/197
Property rights 89.2 83.4
Government integrity 86.1 74.3
Judicial effectiveness 58.3 94.3
Tax burden 89.5 78.9
Government spending 93.4 90
Fiscal health 80 92.9
Business freedom 90.6 78.6
Labor freedom 77 69
Monetary freedom 83.5 80.3
Trade freedom 95 86
Investment freedom 90 70
Financial freedom 80 60

Economic freedom comparison by year

Singapore
Taiwan
1x
Year Economic freedom index
Singapore Taiwan
2026 84.4 79.8
2025 84.1 79.7
2024 83.5 80
2023 83.9 80.7
2022 84.4 80.1
2021 89.7 78.6
2020 89.4 77.1
2019 89.4 77.3
2018 88.8 76.6
2017 88.6 76.5
2016 87.8 74.7
2015 89.4 75.1
2014 89.4 73.9
2013 88 72.7
2012 87.5 71.9
2011 87.2 70.8
2010 86.1 70.4
2009 87.1 69.5
2008 87.3 70.3
2007 87.1 69.4
2006 88 69.7
2005 88.6 71.3
2004 88.9 69.6
2003 88.2 71.7
2002 87.4 71.3
2001 87.8 72.8
2000 87.7 72.5
1999 86.9 71.5
1998 87 70.4
1997 87.3 70
1996 86.5 74.1
1995 86.3 74.2

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

GeoRank.org/economy/singapore/taiwan | CC BY

The Economic Freedom Index for Singapore is 84.4, ranking 1/197, compared to 79.8 for Taiwan, ranking 6/197. The chart above displays a comparison of annual changes in economic freedom indexes.

Other economic metrics

Singapore Taiwan
Services, % of GDP
73%
2024
58.8%
2024
Industry, % of GDP
21.4%
2024
39.8%
2024
Agriculture, forestry, and fishing, % of GDP
0.03%
2024
1.47%
2024
GNI, Atlas method
$451B
2024
$832B
2024
GNI per capita, PPP
$126,190
2024
n/a
Total reserves including gold
$384B
2024
n/a
Total reserves ranking
9/177
2024
n/a
Net foreign direct investment
-$96.7B
2024
n/a
Net inflows of foreign direct investment
$152B
2024
n/a
Net outflows of foreign direct investment
$55.3B
2024
n/a
Poverty at national poverty lines n/a
1.5%
2020
Gross capital formation, % of GDP
22.2%
2024
26.7%
2024

GDP per capita map

1x

Data sources: World Bank | Economy & Growth (1985–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06); National Statistics, Taiwan (1985–2024, retrieved 2026-02-09); U.S. Census Bureau (1985–2024, retrieved 2026-02-08).

GeoRank.org/economy/singapore/taiwan | CC BY

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Data sources:

  1. World Bank | Economy & Growth (1960–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06)
  2. National Statistics, Taiwan (1951–2025, retrieved 2026-02-09)
  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. Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) (1999–2020, retrieved 2026-02-20)
  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.

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.