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Economy of Sri Lanka vs Taiwan compared: GDP & Debt

Updated on by Georank team

Sri Lanka has a GDP of $99B compared to $802B for Taiwan, ranking 72/197 and 22/197 by economy size, respectively.

Sri Lanka has $99.8B in government debt (100.8% of GDP), compared to $211B (26.3% of GDP) in Taiwan.

Sri Lanka vs Taiwan GDP by year

Sri Lanka
Taiwan
1x
Year GDP, current $
Sri Lanka Taiwan
2024 $98,963,185,510 $801,529,000,000
2023 $83,716,142,582 $757,328,000,000
2022 $74,143,020,263 $765,529,000,000
2021 $88,556,698,938 $777,062,000,000
2020 $84,335,574,582 $676,935,000,000
2019 $88,998,706,297 $613,453,000,000
2018 $94,450,015,983 $610,744,000,000
2017 $94,369,350,286 $591,734,000,000
2016 $88,000,211,172 $543,002,000,000
2015 $85,090,301,052 $534,474,000,000
2014 $82,531,125,191 $535,332,000,000
2013 $76,976,203,829 $512,957,000,000
2012 $70,447,217,164 $495,536,000,000
2011 $67,753,285,897 $483,957,000,000
2010 $58,636,049,434 $444,245,000,000
2009 $42,066,224,093 $390,788,000,000
2008 $40,713,826,215 $415,824,000,000
2007 $32,350,238,760 $406,940,000,000
2006 $28,267,410,543 $386,492,000,000
2005 $24,405,791,045 $374,042,000,000
2004 $20,662,525,941 $346,881,000,000
2003 $18,881,765,437 $317,374,000,000
2002 $16,536,535,647 $307,429,000,000
2001 $15,749,753,805 $299,303,000,000
2000 $16,595,882,819 $330,725,000,000
1999 $15,711,933,513 $303,827,000,000
1998 $15,760,736,956 $279,926,000,000
1997 $15,091,913,884 $303,315,000,000
1996 $13,897,738,375 $292,473,000,000
1995 $13,029,697,561 $279,013,000,000
1994 $11,717,604,209 $256,213,000,000
1993 $10,338,679,636 $234,943,000,000
1992 $9,703,011,636 $222,947,000,000
1991 $9,000,362,582 $187,100,000,000
1990 $8,032,551,173 $166,392,000,000
1989 $6,987,267,684 $152,687,000,000
1988 $6,978,371,581 $126,378,000,000
1987 $6,682,167,120 $104,956,000,000
1986 $6,405,210,564 $78,347,000,000
1985 $5,978,460,972 $63,599,000,000
1984 $6,043,474,843 $61,036,000,000
1983 $5,167,913,302 $54,155,000,000
1982 $4,768,765,017 $49,540,000,000
1981 $4,415,844,156 $49,047,000,000
1980 $4,024,621,900 $42,292,000,000
1979 $3,364,611,432 $33,875,000,000
1978 $2,733,183,857 $27,373,000,000
1977 $4,104,509,583 $22,252,000,000
1976 $3,591,319,857 $18,988,000,000
1975 $3,791,298,146 $15,836,000,000
1974 $3,574,586,466 $14,739,000,000
1973 $2,875,625,000 $10,940,000,000
1972 $2,553,936,348 $8,063,000,000
1971 $2,369,308,600 $6,727,000,000
1970 $2,296,470,588 $5,785,000,000
1969 $1,965,546,218 $5,017,000,000
1968 $1,801,344,538 $4,325,000,000
1967 $1,859,465,021 $3,709,000,000
1966 $1,751,470,588 $3,207,000,000
1965 $1,698,319,328 $2,869,000,000
1964 $1,309,747,899 $2,592,000,000
1963 $1,240,672,269 $2,218,000,000
1962 $1,434,156,379 $1,960,000,000
1961 $1,444,327,731 $1,778,000,000
1960 $1,409,873,950 $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/sri-lanka/taiwan | CC BY

GDP per capita in Sri Lanka vs Taiwan by year

Sri Lanka
GDP per capita

GDP per capita, PPP
Taiwan
GDP per capita

GDP per capita, PPP
1x
Year Current $
Sri Lanka Taiwan
GDP per capita GDP per capita, PPP GDP per capita GDP per capita, PPP
2024 $4,516 $15,633 $34,238 -
2023 $3,799 $14,456 $32,444 -
2022 $3,343 $14,194 $32,827 -
2021 $3,997 $14,316 $33,111 -
2020 $3,848 $12,941 $28,705 -
2019 $4,082 $14,113 $25,998 -
2018 $4,359 $14,178 $25,901 -
2017 $4,399 $13,610 $25,121 $50,500
2016 $4,149 $13,079 $23,091 -
2015 $4,058 $12,227 $22,780 $46,800
2014 $3,972 $11,721 $22,874 -
2013 $3,739 $11,253 $21,973 $39,600
2012 $3,328 $10,249 $21,295 $39,400
2011 $3,225 $9,076 $20,866 $38,200
2010 $2,808 $8,234 $19,197 $35,700
2009 $2,027 $7,576 $16,933 $32,000
2008 $1,974 $7,317 $18,081 $31,100
2007 $1,579 $6,820 $17,757 $30,100
2006 $1,389 $6,261 $16,934 $29,500
2005 $1,207 $5,679 $16,456 $27,500
2004 $1,029 $5,216 $15,317 $25,300
2003 $946 $4,850 $14,066 $23,400
2002 $835 $4,522 $13,686 $18,000
2001 $804 $4,328 $13,397 $17,200
2000 $860 $4,368 $14,908 $17,400
1999 $829 $4,103 $13,804 $16,100
1998 $848 $3,952 $12,820 -
1997 $827 $3,804 $14,020 -
1996 $776 $3,582 $13,641 -
1995 $742 $3,454 $13,119 -
1994 $678 $3,260 $12,150 -
1993 $607 $3,067 $11,242 -
1992 $580 $2,851 $10,768 -
1991 $546 $2,713 $9,125 -
1990 $491 $2,527 $8,205 -
1989 $430 - $7,613 -
1988 $434 - $6,370 -
1987 $420 - $5,350 -
1986 $407 - $4,036 -
1985 $385 - $3,314 -
1984 $391 - $3,224 -
1983 $336 - $2,903 -
1982 $312 - $2,699 -
1981 $292.5 - $2,720 -
1980 $271.1 - $2,389 -
1979 $230.8 - $1,950 -
1978 $191 - $1,606 -
1977 $292.1 - $1,330 -
1976 $260.3 - $1,158 -
1975 $279.8 - $985 -
1974 $268.7 - $934 -
1973 $220.2 - $706 -
1972 $199.4 - $530 -
1971 $188.8 - $451 -
1970 $186.9 - $397 -
1969 $163.6 - $357 -
1968 $153.5 - $319 -
1967 $162.3 - $280.8 -
1966 $156.6 - $249.1 -
1965 $155.6 - $229.3 -
1964 $122.9 - $213.6 -
1963 $119.4 - $188.6 -
1962 $141.4 - $172 -
1961 $145.9 - $161.2 -
1960 $145.9 - $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/sri-lanka/taiwan | CC BY

Sri Lanka's GDP per capita is $4,516, ranking 124/197, compared to $34,238 in Taiwan, ranking 35/197. Adjusted for purchasing power (GDP per capita PPP), Sri Lanka ranks 111th at $15,633, while Taiwan ranks 44th at $50,500.

Economic indicators

Sri Lanka Taiwan
Gross domestic product
$99B
2024
$802B
2024
GDP rank
72/197
2024
22/197
2024
GDP growth
5.01%
2023-2024
2.3%
2023-2024
GDP per capita
$4,516
2024
$34,238
2024
GDP per capita rank
124/197
2024
35/197
2024
GDP per capita, PPP
$15,633
2024
$50,500
2017
GDP per capita PPP rank
111/197
2024
44/197
2017
Government debt
$99.8B
2024
$211B
2024
Debt-to-GDP ratio
100.8%
2024
26.3%
2024
Government debt per person
$4,554
2024
$9,020
2024
Government debt per person rank
85/185
2024
59/185
2024
Average annual personal income after taxes
$2,874
2026
$18,163
2026
Market capitalization of domestic companies
$19.5B
2024
n/a
Number of millionaires n/a
759,000
2025
Number of billionaires n/a
54
2025
Income share by richest 10%
30.8%
2019
n/a
Income share by poorest 10%
3.1%
2019
n/a
Government expenditure, % of GDP
19.3%
2024
15.8%
2024
Consumer prices inflation
-0.43%
2023-2024
2.2%
2023-2024
Central bank interest rate
7.75%
2025
2%
2024
Unemployment rate
4.67%
2023
3.35%
2025
Population
22185425
23229461

Spending and national debt comparison by year

Sri Lanka
Spending

Debt
Taiwan
Spending

Debt
1x
Year % of GDP
Sri Lanka Taiwan
Government spending Government debt Government spending Government debt
2024 19.3% 100.8% 15.8% 26.3%
2023 19.5% 110.4% 17.1% 29%
2022 18.6% 115.9% 16% 29.5%
2021 20% 102.7% 15.4% 30.1%
2020 22.1% 96.9% 16.2% 32%
2019 19.5% 82.6% 15.3% 32.6%
2018 17.5% 83.6% 15.4% 33.8%
2017 17.9% 72.3% 15.4% 34.5%
2016 18.2% 75% 15.6% 35.4%
2015 19.3% 76.3% 15.5% 35.9%
2014 17.2% 69.6% - 37.5%
2013 16.6% 69.5% - 38.9%
2012 17.3% 67.5% - 39.2%
2011 19.1% 69.4% 18.3% 38.3%
2010 19.3% 68.7% - 36.9%
2009 21% 72.8% - 36.7%
2008 19.1% 68.8% - 33.4%
2007 19.9% 71.8% - 32.2%
2006 20.5% 74.3% - 33.3%
2005 20.1% 76.6% - 34.1%
2004 19.3% 86.5% - 33.4%
2003 19.3% 86.5% - 32.1%
2002 20.8% 96.3% - 29.8%
2001 22.4% 84.4% 22.5% 30.1%
2000 21.7% 79.2% - 26.2%
1999 20.5% 77.7% - 23.7%
1998 21.4% 74.2% - 23.7%
1997 21.4% 70.1% - 25%
1996 23.1% 76.2% - -
1995 24.8% 77.8% - -
1994 24.1% 77.9% - -
1993 23.2% 79.2% - -
1992 23% 77.9% - -
1991 26.4% 80.5% 25.4% -
1990 25.4% 78.9% - -
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/sri-lanka/taiwan | CC BY

In 2024, Sri Lanka's government spending was $19.1B, accounting for 19.3% of its GDP, while Taiwan spent $127B, or 15.8% of GDP.

Debt-to-GDP ratio is 100.8% in Sri Lanka and 26.3% in Taiwan, ranking 23/185 and 160/185, respectively.

Government deficit by year

Deficit/surplus
Sri Lanka

Taiwan
1x
Year Deficit/surplus, % of GDP
Sri Lanka Taiwan
2024 -5.64% 0.43%
2023 -8.32% -0.61%
2022 -10.2% 0.17%
2021 -11.7% -0.18%
2020 -13.4% -1.03%
2019 -7.52% 0.11%
2018 -4.96% 0.02%
2017 -5.1% -0.14%
2016 -5% -0.31%
2015 -6.64% 0.1%
2014 -5.99% -
2013 -5% -
2012 -5.44% -
2011 -6.01% -2.15%
2010 -6.73% -
2009 -8.33% -
2008 -5.93% -
2007 -5.81% -
2006 -5.91% -
2005 -5.93% -
2004 -6.32% -
2003 -6.15% -
2002 -6.9% -
2001 -8.48% -3.71%
2000 -7.78% -
1999 -5.58% -
1998 -6.79% -
1997 -5.71% -
1996 -6.89% -
1995 -7.11% -
1994 -7.41% -
1993 -5.77% -
1992 -4.95% -
1991 -7.97% -4.5%
1990 -6.39% -
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/sri-lanka/taiwan | CC BY

In 2024, Sri Lanka's government deficit, the difference between spending and revenue, was $5.58B, equivalent to 5.64% of GDP. This compares to Taiwan's surplus of $3.45B, or 0.43% of GDP.

Over the past 35 years, Sri Lanka recorded a fiscal deficit in 35 of those years, while Taiwan ran a deficit in 8 years. On average, Sri Lanka posted an annual deficit equal to 6.85% of GDP, compared to deficit of 0.91% of GDP for Taiwan.

Inflation comparison by year

Inflation
Sri Lanka

Taiwan
1x
Year Consumer prices inflation
Sri Lanka Taiwan
2024 -0.43% 2.2%
2023 16.5% 2.5%
2022 49.7% 2.9%
2021 7.01% 2%
2020 6.15% -0.2%
2019 3.53% 0.6%
2018 2.14% 1.4%
2017 7.7% 0.6%
2016 3.96% 1.4%
2015 3.77% -0.3%
2014 3.18% 1.2%
2013 6.91% 0.8%
2012 7.54% 1.9%
2011 6.72% 1.4%
2010 6.22% 1%
2009 3.46% -0.9%
2008 22.6% 3.5%
2007 15.8% 1.8%
2006 10% 0.6%
2005 11.6% 2.3%
2004 7.58% 1.6%
2003 6.31% -0.3%
2002 9.55% -0.2%
2001 14.2% 0%
2000 6.18% 1.2%
1999 4.69% 0.2%
1998 9.36% 1.7%
1997 9.57% 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/sri-lanka/taiwan | CC BY

Over the past 28 years, Sri Lanka has recorded an average annual inflation rate of 9.34%, compared with 1.14% in Taiwan. In 2024, inflation was -0.43% in Sri Lanka and 2.2% in Taiwan.

Balance of trade

Sri Lanka Taiwan
Current account balance
$1.21B
2024
$113B
2024
Current account balance ranking
53/190
2024
4/190
2024
Current account balance, % of GDP
+1.22%
2024
+14.1%
2024
Goods imports
$18.8B
2024
n/a
Goods exports
$12.8B
2024
n/a
Service imports
$3.48B
2024
n/a
Service exports
$6.91B
2024
n/a
Imports of goods and services, % of GDP
22.5%
2024
50.2%
2024
Exports of goods and services, % of GDP
19.9%
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.

Sri Lanka Taiwan
Economic freedom 50.3 79.8
Economic freedom ranking 162/197 6/197
Property rights 47.3 83.4
Government integrity 37.3 74.3
Judicial effectiveness 47.2 94.3
Tax burden 77 78.9
Government spending 89 90
Fiscal health 0 92.9
Business freedom 60.1 78.6
Labor freedom 54.3 69
Monetary freedom 65.9 80.3
Trade freedom 65.6 86
Investment freedom 30 70
Financial freedom 30 60

Economic freedom comparison by year

Sri Lanka
Taiwan
1x
Year Economic freedom index
Sri Lanka Taiwan
2026 50.3 79.8
2025 49.4 79.7
2024 49.2 80
2023 52.2 80.7
2022 53.3 80.1
2021 55.7 78.6
2020 57.4 77.1
2019 56.4 77.3
2018 57.8 76.6
2017 57.4 76.5
2016 59.9 74.7
2015 58.6 75.1
2014 60 73.9
2013 60.7 72.7
2012 58.3 71.9
2011 57.1 70.8
2010 54.6 70.4
2009 56 69.5
2008 58.4 70.3
2007 59.4 69.4
2006 58.7 69.7
2005 61 71.3
2004 61.6 69.6
2003 62.5 71.7
2002 64 71.3
2001 66 72.8
2000 63.2 72.5
1999 64 71.5
1998 64.6 70.4
1997 65.5 70
1996 62.5 74.1
1995 60.6 74.2

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

GeoRank.org/economy/sri-lanka/taiwan | CC BY

The Economic Freedom Index for Sri Lanka is 50.3, ranking 162/197, 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

Sri Lanka Taiwan
Services, % of GDP
57.5%
2024
58.8%
2024
Industry, % of GDP
25.5%
2024
39.8%
2024
Agriculture, forestry, and fishing, % of GDP
8.3%
2024
1.47%
2024
GNI, Atlas method
$84.6B
2024
$832B
2024
GNI per capita, PPP
$15,240
2024
n/a
Total reserves including gold
$6.09B
2024
n/a
Total reserves ranking
92/177
2024
n/a
Net foreign direct investment
-$651M
2024
n/a
Net inflows of foreign direct investment
$761M
2024
n/a
Net outflows of foreign direct investment
$110M
2024
n/a
Servicing debt to the IMF, % of GNI
4.98%
2024
n/a
Poverty at national poverty lines
14.3%
2019
1.5%
2020
Gross capital formation, % of GDP
27%
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/sri-lanka/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.

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.