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Economy of Taiwan vs Yemen compared: GDP & Debt

Updated on by Georank team

Taiwan has a GDP of $802B compared to $21.6B for Yemen, ranking 22/197 and 125/197 by economy size, respectively.

Taiwan has $211B in government debt (26.3% of GDP), compared to $18.8B (70.9% of GDP) in Yemen.

Taiwan vs Yemen GDP by year

Taiwan
Yemen
1x
Year GDP, current $
Taiwan Yemen
2024 $801,529,000,000 -
2023 $757,328,000,000 -
2022 $765,529,000,000 -
2021 $777,062,000,000 -
2020 $676,935,000,000 -
2019 $613,453,000,000 -
2018 $610,744,000,000 $21,606,160,663
2017 $591,734,000,000 $26,842,229,045
2016 $543,002,000,000 $31,317,825,274
2015 $534,474,000,000 $42,444,490,074
2014 $535,332,000,000 $43,228,585,321
2013 $512,957,000,000 $40,415,233,436
2012 $495,536,000,000 $35,401,331,610
2011 $483,957,000,000 $32,726,417,878
2010 $444,245,000,000 $30,906,749,533
2009 $390,788,000,000 $25,130,278,213
2008 $415,824,000,000 $26,910,855,807
2007 $406,940,000,000 $21,650,528,674
2006 $386,492,000,000 $19,063,143,370
2005 $374,042,000,000 $16,731,566,717
2004 $346,881,000,000 $13,867,634,371
2003 $317,374,000,000 $11,777,532,662
2002 $307,429,000,000 $10,693,430,511
2001 $299,303,000,000 $9,852,990,693
2000 $330,725,000,000 $9,679,316,770
1999 $303,827,000,000 $7,639,325,296
1998 $279,926,000,000 $6,322,175,566
1997 $303,315,000,000 $6,838,298,531
1996 $292,473,000,000 $6,496,163,616
1995 $279,013,000,000 $12,796,345,679
1994 $256,213,000,000 $28,019,483,764
1993 $234,943,000,000 $21,736,802,664
1992 $222,947,000,000 $17,959,367,194
1991 $187,100,000,000 $14,665,445,462
1990 $166,392,000,000 $12,643,821,569
1989 $152,687,000,000 -
1988 $126,378,000,000 -
1987 $104,956,000,000 -
1986 $78,347,000,000 -
1985 $63,599,000,000 -
1984 $61,036,000,000 -
1983 $54,155,000,000 -
1982 $49,540,000,000 -
1981 $49,047,000,000 -
1980 $42,292,000,000 -
1979 $33,875,000,000 -
1978 $27,373,000,000 -
1977 $22,252,000,000 -
1976 $18,988,000,000 -
1975 $15,836,000,000 -
1974 $14,739,000,000 -
1973 $10,940,000,000 -
1972 $8,063,000,000 -
1971 $6,727,000,000 -
1970 $5,785,000,000 -
1969 $5,017,000,000 -
1968 $4,325,000,000 -
1967 $3,709,000,000 -
1966 $3,207,000,000 -
1965 $2,869,000,000 -
1964 $2,592,000,000 -
1963 $2,218,000,000 -
1962 $1,960,000,000 -
1961 $1,778,000,000 -
1960 $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 (1990–2018, retrieved 2026-04-06).

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

GDP per capita in Taiwan vs Yemen by year

Taiwan
GDP per capita

GDP per capita, PPP
Yemen
GDP per capita

GDP per capita, PPP
1x
Year Current $
Taiwan Yemen
GDP per capita GDP per capita, PPP GDP per capita GDP per capita, PPP
2024 $34,238 - - -
2023 $32,444 - - -
2022 $32,827 - - -
2021 $33,111 - - -
2020 $28,705 - - -
2019 $25,998 - - -
2018 $25,901 - $634 -
2017 $25,121 $50,500 $811 -
2016 $23,091 - $975 -
2015 $22,780 $46,800 $1,362 -
2014 $22,874 - $1,430 -
2013 $21,973 $39,600 $1,379 $3,164
2012 $21,295 $39,400 $1,245 $3,005
2011 $20,866 $38,200 $1,186 $3,113
2010 $19,197 $35,700 $1,155 $3,603
2009 $16,933 $32,000 $969 $3,411
2008 $18,081 $31,100 $1,072 $3,370
2007 $17,757 $30,100 $890 $3,294
2006 $16,934 $29,500 $810 $3,205
2005 $16,456 $27,500 $734 $3,113
2004 $15,317 $25,300 $628 $2,949
2003 $14,066 $23,400 $549 $2,844
2002 $13,686 $18,000 $513 $2,768
2001 $13,397 $17,200 $487 $2,702
2000 $14,908 $17,400 $493 $2,624
1999 $13,804 $16,100 $401 $2,492
1998 $12,820 - $343 $2,442
1997 $14,020 - $383 $2,351
1996 $13,641 - $375 $2,268
1995 $13,119 - $764 $2,201
1994 $12,150 - $1,735 $2,115
1993 $11,242 - $1,397 $2,013
1992 $10,768 - $1,198 $1,963
1991 $9,125 - $1,016 $1,843
1990 $8,205 - $910 $1,742
1989 $7,613 - - -
1988 $6,370 - - -
1987 $5,350 - - -
1986 $4,036 - - -
1985 $3,314 - - -
1984 $3,224 - - -
1983 $2,903 - - -
1982 $2,699 - - -
1981 $2,720 - - -
1980 $2,389 - - -
1979 $1,950 - - -
1978 $1,606 - - -
1977 $1,330 - - -
1976 $1,158 - - -
1975 $985 - - -
1974 $934 - - -
1973 $706 - - -
1972 $530 - - -
1971 $451 - - -
1970 $397 - - -
1969 $357 - - -
1968 $319 - - -
1967 $280.8 - - -
1966 $249.1 - - -
1965 $229.3 - - -
1964 $213.6 - - -
1963 $188.6 - - -
1962 $172 - - -
1961 $161.2 - - -
1960 $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 (1990–2018, retrieved 2026-04-06); Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) (1999–2017, retrieved 2026-02-20).

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

Taiwan's GDP per capita is $34,238, ranking 35/197, compared to $634 in Yemen, ranking 191/197. Adjusted for purchasing power (GDP per capita PPP), Taiwan ranks 44th at $50,500, while Yemen ranks 178th at $3,164.

Economic indicators

Taiwan Yemen
Gross domestic product
$802B
2024
$21.6B
2018
GDP rank
22/197
2024
125/197
2018
GDP growth
2.3%
2023-2024
0.75%
2017-2018
GDP per capita
$34,238
2024
$634
2018
GDP per capita rank
35/197
2024
191/197
2018
GDP per capita, PPP
$50,500
2017
$3,164
2013
GDP per capita PPP rank
44/197
2017
178/197
2013
Government debt
$211B
2024
$18.8B
2018
Debt-to-GDP ratio
26.3%
2024
70.9%
2024
Government debt per person
$9,020
2024
$551
2018
Government debt per person rank
59/185
2024
165/185
2018
Average annual personal income after taxes
$18,163
2026
$1,127
2026
Number of millionaires
759,000
2025
n/a
Number of billionaires
54
2025
n/a
Income share by richest 10% n/a
29.4%
2014
Income share by poorest 10% n/a
3%
2014
Government expenditure, % of GDP
15.8%
2024
8.91%
2024
Consumer prices inflation
2.2%
2023-2024
33.9%
2023-2024
Central bank interest rate
2%
2024
n/a
Unemployment rate
3.35%
2025
13.5%
2014
Population
23229461
43325643

Spending and national debt comparison by year

Taiwan
Spending

Debt
Yemen
Spending

Debt
1x
Year % of GDP
Taiwan Yemen
Government spending Government debt Government spending Government debt
2024 15.8% 26.3% 8.91% 70.9%
2023 17.1% 29% 11.8% 77.9%
2022 16% 29.5% 12.2% 65.3%
2021 15.4% 30.1% 8.22% 75.9%
2020 16.2% 32% 10.6% 87%
2019 15.3% 32.6% 13.2% 91.5%
2018 15.4% 33.8% 14.3% 86.9%
2017 15.4% 34.5% 8.39% 83.8%
2016 15.6% 35.4% 16.1% 76.5%
2015 15.5% 35.9% 19.4% 57.7%
2014 - 37.5% 27.8% 48.9%
2013 - 38.9% 30.8% 48.4%
2012 - 39.2% 36.2% 47.6%
2011 18.3% 38.3% 29.8% 45.7%
2010 - 36.9% 30.2% 42.4%
2009 - 36.7% 35.2% 49.8%
2008 - 33.4% 41.2% 36.4%
2007 - 32.2% 40.3% 40.4%
2006 - 33.3% 37.4% 40.8%
2005 - 34.1% 36.8% 43.8%
2004 - 33.4% 34.2% 52.1%
2003 - 32.1% 35.3% 56.8%
2002 - 29.8% 30.8% 57.8%
2001 22.5% 30.1% 30.5% 60.6%
2000 - 26.2% 31.7% 60.8%
1999 - 23.7% 28.2% 96.1%
1998 - 23.7% 34.3% 110.6%
1997 - 25% 34.2% 74.2%
1996 - - 30.7% 114.9%
1995 - - 24.1% 84.1%
1994 - - 25.2% 73.3%
1993 - - 25.8% 76.7%
1992 - - 24.6% 78%
1991 25.4% - 24.7% 82.7%
1990 - - 26.6% 91.6%
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); International Monetary Fund (IMF) | Public Finances in Modern History (1990–1998, retrieved 2026-02-20).

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

In 2024, Taiwan's government spending was $127B, accounting for 15.8% of its GDP, while Yemen spent $3.08B, or 8.91% of GDP.

Debt-to-GDP ratio is 26.3% in Taiwan and 70.9% in Yemen, ranking 160/185 and 55/185, respectively.

Government deficit by year

Deficit/surplus
Taiwan

Yemen
1x
Year Deficit/surplus, % of GDP
Taiwan Yemen
2024 0.43% -2.48%
2023 -0.61% -5.63%
2022 0.17% -2.15%
2021 -0.18% -0.89%
2020 -1.03% -4.3%
2019 0.11% -5.89%
2018 0.02% -7.85%
2017 -0.14% -4.9%
2016 -0.31% -8.51%
2015 0.1% -8.75%
2014 - -4.14%
2013 - -6.9%
2012 - -6.32%
2011 -2.15% -4.51%
2010 - -4.06%
2009 - -10.2%
2008 - -4.53%
2007 - -7.18%
2006 - 1.19%
2005 - -1.82%
2004 - -2.15%
2003 - -4.2%
2002 - -0.56%
2001 -3.71% 2.79%
2000 - 6.09%
1999 - 0.06%
1998 - -7.77%
1997 - -1.5%
1996 - -0.92%
1995 - -5.74%
1994 - -14%
1993 - -12.8%
1992 - -10.9%
1991 -4.5% -5.76%
1990 - -10.3%
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/taiwan/yemen | CC BY

In 2018, Taiwan's government surplus, the difference between spending and revenue, was $103M, equivalent to 0.02% of GDP. This compares to Yemen's deficit of $1.7B, or 7.85% of GDP.

Over the past 29 years, Taiwan recorded a fiscal deficit in 5 of those years, while Yemen ran a deficit in 25 years. On average, Taiwan posted an annual deficit equal to 1.53% of GDP, compared to deficit of 5.04% of GDP for Yemen.

Inflation comparison by year

Inflation
Taiwan

Yemen
1x
Year Consumer prices inflation
Taiwan Yemen
2024 2.2% 33.9%
2023 2.5% 0.9%
2022 2.9% 29.5%
2021 2% 31.5%
2020 -0.2% 21.7%
2019 0.6% 15.7%
2018 1.4% 33.6%
2017 0.6% 30.4%
2016 1.4% 21.3%
2015 -0.3% 22%
2014 1.2% 8.2%
2013 0.8% 11%
2012 1.9% 9.9%
2011 1.4% 19.5%
2010 1% 11.2%
2009 -0.9% 3.7%
2008 3.5% 19%
2007 1.8% 7.9%
2006 0.6% 10.8%
2005 2.3% 9.9%
2004 1.6% 12.5%
2003 -0.3% 10.8%
2002 -0.2% 12.2%
2001 0% 11.9%
2000 1.2% 11%
1999 0.2% 7.9%
1998 1.7% 11.5%
1997 0.9% 4.6%

Data sources: International Monetary Fund (IMF) | World Economic Outlook (1997–2024, retrieved 2026-02-20).

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

Over the past 28 years, Taiwan has recorded an average annual inflation rate of 1.14%, compared with 15.5% in Yemen. In 2024, inflation was 2.2% in Taiwan and 33.9% in Yemen.

Balance of trade

Taiwan Yemen
Current account balance
$113B
2024
-$2.42B
2016
Current account balance ranking
4/190
2024
148/190
2016
Current account balance, % of GDP
+14.1%
2024
-7.72%
2016
Goods imports n/a
$6.8B
2016
Goods exports n/a
$473M
2016
Service imports n/a
$1.46B
2016
Service exports n/a
$466M
2016
Imports of goods and services, % of GDP
50.2%
2024
47.3%
2018
Exports of goods and services, % of GDP
63.3%
2024
8.76%
2018

Economic freedom indices

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

Taiwan Yemen
Economic freedom 79.8 53.7
Economic freedom ranking 6/197 138/197
Property rights 83.4 3.5
Government integrity 74.3 6.2
Judicial effectiveness 94.3 9.9
Tax burden 78.9 93.7
Government spending 90 0
Fiscal health 92.9 71.2
Business freedom 78.6 31.3
Labor freedom 69 31.2
Monetary freedom 80.3 48.1
Trade freedom 86 67.4
Investment freedom 70 50
Financial freedom 60 30

Economic freedom comparison by year

Taiwan
Yemen
1x
Year Economic freedom index
Taiwan Yemen
2026 79.8 -
2025 79.7 -
2024 80 -
2023 80.7 -
2022 80.1 -
2021 78.6 -
2020 77.1 -
2019 77.3 -
2018 76.6 -
2017 76.5 -
2016 74.7 -
2015 75.1 53.7
2014 73.9 55.5
2013 72.7 55.9
2012 71.9 55.3
2011 70.8 54.2
2010 70.4 54.4
2009 69.5 56.9
2008 70.3 53.8
2007 69.4 54.1
2006 69.7 52.6
2005 71.3 53.8
2004 69.6 50.5
2003 71.7 50.3
2002 71.3 48.6
2001 72.8 44.3
2000 72.5 44.5
1999 71.5 43.3
1998 70.4 46.1
1997 70 48.4
1996 74.1 49.6
1995 74.2 49.8

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

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

The Economic Freedom Index for Taiwan is 79.8, ranking 6/197, compared to 53.7 for Yemen, ranking 138/197. The chart above displays a comparison of annual changes in economic freedom indexes.

Other economic metrics

Taiwan Yemen
Services, % of GDP
58.8%
2024
41.8%
2018
Industry, % of GDP
39.8%
2024
25.4%
2018
Agriculture, forestry, and fishing, % of GDP
1.47%
2024
28.7%
2018
GNI, Atlas method
$832B
2024
$25.3B
2018
GNI per capita, PPP n/a
$3,020
2013
Total reserves including gold n/a
$1.25B
2022
Total reserves ranking n/a
139/177
2022
Net foreign direct investment n/a
$15.4M
2015
Net inflows of foreign direct investment n/a
-$371M
2019
Net outflows of foreign direct investment n/a
$0
2024
Servicing debt to the IMF, % of GNI n/a
0.53%
2018
Poverty at national poverty lines
1.5%
2020
48.6%
2014
Gross capital formation, % of GDP
26.7%
2024
6.18%
2018

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/taiwan/yemen | CC BY

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Data sources:

  1. World Bank | Economy & Growth (1985–2024, 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. International Monetary Fund (IMF) | Public Finances in Modern History (1990–1998, retrieved 2026-02-20)
  8. United Nations | World Population Prospects (2026, retrieved 2026-03-10)
  9. 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.