Skip to content

Economy of South Sudan vs Tonga compared: GDP & Debt

Updated on by Georank

South Sudan has a GDP of $12B compared to $679M for Tonga, ranking 151/197 and 191/197 by economy size, respectively.

South Sudan has $6.98B in government debt (62.1% of GDP), compared to $186M (27.4% of GDP) in Tonga.

South Sudan vs Tonga GDP by year

South Sudan
Tonga
1x
Year GDP, current $
South Sudan Tonga
2025 - $679,218,219
2024 - $647,488,244
2023 - $591,139,734
2022 - $556,514,556
2021 - $519,306,339
2020 - $506,571,487
2019 - $506,031,248
2018 - $493,530,767
2017 - $459,976,847
2016 - $420,828,255
2015 $11,997,800,760 $437,525,539
2014 $13,962,212,847 $440,997,735
2013 $18,426,469,017 $451,788,498
2012 $11,931,472,169 $471,122,971
2011 $14,907,308,933 $414,143,828
2010 $14,602,072,411 $366,887,375
2009 $12,231,264,525 $312,415,028
2008 $14,586,253,383 $344,438,844
2007 - $298,519,623
2006 - $292,232,703
2005 - $261,823,805
2004 - $230,678,011
2003 - $202,246,591
2002 - $182,764,281
2001 - $181,117,230
2000 - $204,848,488
1999 - $199,208,718
1998 - $191,504,893
1997 - $214,991,452
1996 - $222,100,576
1995 - $208,871,666
1994 - $195,990,986
1993 - $138,489,884
1992 - $137,066,291
1991 - $132,201,141
1990 - $113,563,822
1989 - $106,344,855
1988 - $106,657,267
1987 - $81,667,133
1986 - $68,195,856
1985 - $60,058,663
1984 - $64,248,355
1983 - $60,863,964
1982 - $62,068,161
1981 - $62,242,013
1980 - $53,260,077
1979 - $44,667,002
1978 - $41,567,472
1977 - $34,139,388
1976 - $30,036,417
1975 - $32,506,742

Data sources: World Bank | Economy & Growth (1975–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08).

GeoRank.org/economy/south-sudan/tonga | CC BY

GDP per capita in South Sudan vs Tonga by year

South Sudan
GDP per capita

GDP per capita, PPP
Tonga
GDP per capita

GDP per capita, PPP
1x
Year Current $
South Sudan Tonga
GDP per capita GDP per capita, PPP GDP per capita GDP per capita, PPP
2025 - - $6,547 -
2024 - - $6,215 -
2023 - - $5,652 $7,803
2022 - - $5,298 $7,296
2021 - - $4,923 $6,929
2020 - - $4,792 $6,676
2019 - - $4,789 $6,473
2018 - - $4,675 $6,393
2017 - - $4,366 $6,229
2016 - - $3,988 $5,920
2015 $1,080 $1,155 $4,124 $5,472
2014 $1,243 $1,373 $4,137 $5,336
2013 $1,650 $1,917 $4,219 $5,120
2012 $1,109 $1,417 $4,384 $4,996
2011 $1,449 $2,718 $3,850 $4,855
2010 $1,498 $2,948 $3,416 $4,465
2009 $1,323 $2,911 $2,914 $4,384
2008 $1,654 $2,887 $3,218 $4,600
2007 - - $2,797 $4,316
2006 - - $2,750 $4,327
2005 - - $2,478 $4,315
2004 - - $2,195 $4,235
2003 - - $1,936 $4,231
2002 - - $1,759 $4,171
2001 - - $1,754 $3,955
2000 - - $1,995 $3,834
1999 - - $1,952 $3,636
1998 - - $1,889 $3,527
1997 - - $2,136 $3,434
1996 - - $2,215 $3,410
1995 - - $2,084 $3,347
1994 - - $1,957 $3,088
1993 - - $1,383 $2,882
1992 - - $1,370 $2,716
1991 - - $1,323 $2,652
1990 - - $1,139 $2,416
1989 - - $1,070 -
1988 - - $1,078 -
1987 - - $830 -
1986 - - $696 -
1985 - - $613 -
1984 - - $656 -
1983 - - $621 -
1982 - - $633 -
1981 - - $636 -
1980 - - $545 -
1979 - - $458 -
1978 - - $428 -
1977 - - $353 -
1976 - - $315 -
1975 - - $349 -

Data sources: World Bank | Economy & Growth (1975–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08).

GeoRank.org/economy/south-sudan/tonga | CC BY

South Sudan's GDP per capita is $1,080, ranking 180/197, compared to $6,547 in Tonga, ranking 110/197. Adjusted for purchasing power (GDP per capita PPP), South Sudan ranks 197th at $1,155, while Tonga ranks 144th at $7,803.

Economic indicators

South Sudan Tonga
Gross domestic product
$12B
2015
$679M
2025
GDP rank
151/197
2015
191/197
2025
GDP growth
-10.8%
2014-2015
2.8%
2024-2025
GDP per capita
$1,080
2015
$6,547
2025
GDP per capita rank
180/197
2015
110/197
2025
GDP per capita, PPP
$1,155
2015
$7,803
2023
GDP per capita PPP rank
197/197
2015
144/197
2023
Government debt
$6.98B
2015
$186M
2025
Debt-to-GDP ratio
62.1%
2025
27.4%
2025
Government debt per person
$628
2015
$1,793
2025
Government debt per person rank
160/185
2015
123/185
2025
Average annual personal income after taxes
$1,514
2026
$4,104
2026
Income share by richest 10%
33%
2016
22%
2021
Income share by poorest 10%
1.8%
2016
4%
2021
Government expenditure, % of GDP
18.4%
2025
46.8%
2025
Consumer prices inflation
91.4%
2023-2024
5.59%
2024-2025
Central bank interest rate
13%
2025
n/a
Unemployment rate
12.3%
2008
1.65%
2023
Population
12565048
103283

Spending and national debt comparison by year

South Sudan
Spending

Debt
Tonga
Spending

Debt
1x
Year % of GDP
South Sudan Tonga
Government spending Government debt Government spending Government debt
2025 18.4% 62.1% 46.8% 27.4%
2024 18.9% 53.4% 44.3% 31.9%
2023 21.3% 62% 41.5% 37.2%
2022 29.5% 42.1% 41.3% 40.2%
2021 44.1% 56.4% 44.5% 43%
2020 34.1% 48.3% 37.1% 41.7%
2019 47.9% 43.4% 39% 41.8%
2018 59.2% 84.3% 39.3% 45.5%
2017 42.2% 77.5% 39.7% 44.7%
2016 52% 128.9% 37.2% 49.4%
2015 33.7% 58.2% 37.4% 51.1%
2014 37.6% 39.6% 31.5% 47.4%
2013 25.3% 17.6% 34.3% 48.9%
2012 31.6% 8.91% 32% 60%
2011 20.8% 0% 32.6% 51.9%
2010 - - 28.4% 44.7%
2009 - - 23.9% 39.7%
2008 - - 24% 34%
2007 - - 23.2% 37.8%
2006 - - 25.6% 39.6%
2005 - - 19.8% 43.3%
2004 - - 19.3% 52.2%
2003 - - 20% 56.2%
2002 - - 21.3% 60.7%
2001 - - 19.1% 53.4%
2000 - - 20% 43.6%
1999 - - 18.8% 38.4%

Data sources: International Monetary Fund (IMF) | Fiscal Monitor (1999–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08).

GeoRank.org/economy/south-sudan/tonga | CC BY

In 2025, South Sudan's government spending was $4.04B, accounting for 18.4% of its GDP, while Tonga spent $318M, or 46.8% of GDP.

Debt-to-GDP ratio is 62.1% in South Sudan and 27.4% in Tonga, ranking 71/185 and 162/185, respectively.

Government deficit by year

Deficit/surplus
South Sudan

Tonga
1x
Year Deficit/surplus, % of GDP
South Sudan Tonga
2025 3.45% 4.86%
2024 11.5% 3.6%
2023 9.12% 5.28%
2022 4.43% -0.09%
2021 -9.3% -0.87%
2020 -5.5% 5.15%
2019 0.04% 3.2%
2018 -1.15% 2.9%
2017 4.16% 3.58%
2016 -15.5% 1.47%
2015 -16.3% -2.75%
2014 -9.53% 6.38%
2013 -3.45% -1.3%
2012 -14.8% -1.74%
2011 4.57% -6.02%
2010 - -1.22%
2009 - 6.85%
2008 - 2.14%
2007 - 5.39%
2006 - 1.34%
2005 - 4.23%
2004 - 4.23%
2003 - 2.37%
2002 - 2.59%
2001 - 2.23%
2000 - 1.35%
1999 - 1.55%

Data sources: International Monetary Fund (IMF) | Fiscal Monitor (1999–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08).

GeoRank.org/economy/south-sudan/tonga | CC BY

In 2015, South Sudan's government deficit, the difference between spending and revenue, was $1.95B, equivalent to 16.3% of GDP. This compares to Tonga's deficit of $12M, or 2.75% of GDP.

Over the past 5 years, South Sudan recorded a fiscal deficit in 4 of those years, while Tonga ran a deficit in 4 years. On average, South Sudan posted an annual deficit equal to 7.9% of GDP, compared to deficit of 1.09% of GDP for Tonga.

Inflation comparison by year

Inflation
South Sudan

Tonga
1x
Year Consumer prices inflation
South Sudan Tonga
2025 - 5.59%
2024 91.4% 3.18%
2023 2.38% 6.35%
2022 -6.69% 11%
2021 10.5% 5.64%
2020 29.7% -0.35%
2019 87.2% 1.18%
2018 83.5% 5.03%
2017 187.9% 7.52%
2016 380% 2.58%
2015 52.8% -1.05%
2014 1.67% 2.51%
2013 -0.06% 0.78%
2012 45.5% 1.15%
2011 46.9% 6.27%
2010 1.17% 3.53%
2009 5.01% 1.43%
2008 - 10.4%
2007 - 5.84%
2006 - 6.15%
2005 - 8.67%
2004 - 11%
2003 - 11.6%
2002 - 10.4%
2001 - 8.29%
2000 - 6.33%
1999 - 4.46%
1998 - 3.27%
1997 - 2.12%

Data sources: World Bank | Economy & Growth (1997–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08).

GeoRank.org/economy/south-sudan/tonga | CC BY

Over the past 16 years, South Sudan has recorded an average annual inflation rate of 63.7%, compared with 3.54% in Tonga. In 2024, inflation was 91.4% in South Sudan and 5.59% in Tonga.

Balance of trade

South Sudan Tonga
Current account balance
$578M
2023
-$43.5M
2024
Current account balance ranking
56/190
2023
76/190
2024
Current account balance, % of GDP
-4.17%
2015
-6.72%
2024
Goods imports
$2.25B
2023
$232M
2024
Goods exports
$4.01B
2023
$10.8M
2024
Service imports
$2.19B
2023
$161M
2024
Service exports
$484M
2023
$93.6M
2024
Imports of goods and services, % of GDP
28.9%
2015
60.7%
2024
Exports of goods and services, % of GDP
36.7%
2015
16.9%
2024

Economic freedom indices

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

South Sudan Tonga
Economic freedom 41 58.9
Economic freedom ranking 186/197 107/197
Property rights n/a 71.1
Government integrity n/a 45.1
Judicial effectiveness n/a 64.9
Tax burden n/a 85.6
Government spending n/a 31
Fiscal health n/a 97.3
Business freedom n/a 59.2
Labor freedom n/a 55.9
Monetary freedom n/a 61
Trade freedom n/a 75.4
Investment freedom n/a 40
Financial freedom n/a 20

Other economic metrics

South Sudan Tonga
Services, % of GDP
56.6%
2015
49.5%
2024
Industry, % of GDP
33.1%
2015
17.7%
2024
Agriculture, forestry, and fishing, % of GDP
10.4%
2015
18.6%
2024
GNI, Atlas method
$11.7B
2015
$709M
2025
GNI per capita, PPP
$1,010
2015
$9,240
2025
Total reserves including gold
$16M
2024
$413M
2025
Total reserves ranking
177/177
2024
162/177
2025
Net foreign direct investment
$2.21M
2019
$13.3M
2024
Net inflows of foreign direct investment
$83.4M
2024
-$12.1M
2024
Net outflows of foreign direct investment
$0
2024
$1.25M
2024
Servicing debt to the IMF, % of GNI n/a
6.33%
2024
Poverty at national poverty lines
66%
2020
20.6%
2021
Gross capital formation, % of GDP
5.75%
2015
26.4%
2024

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/south-sudan/tonga | CC BY

Compare countries by 7 more topics

Help us show the world through your eyes

Share a photo of your city and help others discover what it looks like to live there. Your contribution makes our data come alive.

Data sources:

  1. World Bank | Economy & Growth (1975–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08)
  2. International Monetary Fund (IMF) | Fiscal Monitor (1999–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08)
  3. U.S. Census Bureau (1985–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08)
  4. The Heritage Foundation | Economic Freedom Index (2026, retrieved 2026-07-08)
  5. United Nations | World Population Prospects (2026, retrieved 2026-07-08)
  6. LivingCost (2026, retrieved 2026-07-08)
  7. Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) (2020, 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.