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Economy of Tonga vs Zimbabwe compared: GDP & Debt

Updated on by Georank team

Tonga has a GDP of $591M compared to $41.5B for Zimbabwe, ranking 191/197 and 102/197 by economy size, respectively.

Tonga has $256M in government debt (37% of GDP), compared to $30.3B (73% of GDP) in Zimbabwe.

Tonga vs Zimbabwe GDP by year

Tonga
Zimbabwe
1x
Year GDP, current $
Tonga Zimbabwe
2024 - $41,539,411,516
2023 $591,139,749 $35,871,779,681
2022 $556,514,555 $40,757,561,709
2021 $519,306,353 $41,287,673,690
2020 $506,571,468 $31,980,334,561
2019 $506,031,239 $33,357,695,635
2018 $493,530,783 $34,141,666,667
2017 $459,976,850 $51,035,657,371
2016 $420,828,262 $20,559,250,000
2015 $437,525,514 $19,973,250,000
2014 $440,997,738 $19,505,500,000
2013 $451,788,498 $19,100,750,000
2012 $471,122,971 $17,123,500,000
2011 $414,143,828 $14,109,000,000
2010 $366,887,375 $12,047,750,000
2009 $312,415,028 $9,670,750,000
2008 $344,438,844 $4,418,000,000
2007 $298,519,623 $5,294,750,000
2006 $292,232,703 $5,446,750,000
2005 $261,823,805 $5,758,250,000
2004 $230,678,011 $5,808,500,000
2003 $202,246,591 $5,730,500,000
2002 $182,764,281 $6,345,250,000
2001 $181,117,230 $6,780,750,000
2000 $204,848,488 $6,693,250,000
1999 $199,208,718 $6,861,500,000
1998 $191,504,893 $6,405,250,000
1997 $214,991,452 $8,534,000,000
1996 $222,100,576 $8,557,500,000
1995 $208,871,666 $7,115,000,000
1994 $195,990,986 $6,894,250,000
1993 $138,489,884 $6,567,250,000
1992 $137,066,291 $6,755,000,000
1991 $132,201,141 $8,646,000,000
1990 $113,563,822 $8,788,301,546
1989 $106,344,855 $8,290,553,535
1988 $106,657,267 $7,818,774,177
1987 $81,667,133 $6,744,657,033
1986 $68,195,856 $6,220,698,247
1985 $60,058,663 $5,640,137,575
1984 $64,248,355 $6,355,369,172
1983 $60,863,964 $7,768,031,182
1982 $62,068,161 $8,544,060,905
1981 $62,242,013 $8,015,464,252
1980 $53,260,077 $6,682,278,300
1979 $44,667,002 $5,180,102,910
1978 $41,567,472 $4,353,822,343
1977 $34,139,388 $4,366,610,469
1976 $30,036,417 $4,320,576,877
1975 $32,506,742 $4,373,532,601
1974 - $3,984,194,614
1973 - $3,311,043,292
1972 - $2,679,096,597
1971 - $2,179,828,710
1970 - $1,885,168,339
1969 - $1,748,891,294
1968 - $1,480,355,355
1967 - $1,397,715,282
1966 - $1,282,403,936
1965 - $1,312,105,394
1964 - $1,217,759,447
1963 - $1,160,103,724
1962 - $1,118,172,226
1961 - $1,097,206,526
1960 - $1,053,528,036

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

GeoRank.org/economy/tonga/zimbabwe | CC BY

GDP per capita in Tonga vs Zimbabwe by year

Tonga
GDP per capita

GDP per capita, PPP
Zimbabwe
GDP per capita

GDP per capita, PPP
1x
Year Current $
Tonga Zimbabwe
GDP per capita GDP per capita, PPP GDP per capita GDP per capita, PPP
2024 - - $2,497 $5,928
2023 $5,652 $7,803 $2,195 $5,791
2022 $5,298 $7,296 $2,536 $5,396
2021 $4,923 $6,929 $2,614 $4,827
2020 $4,792 $6,676 $2,060 $4,179
2019 $4,789 $6,473 $2,184 $4,166
2018 $4,675 $6,393 $2,271 $3,993
2017 $4,366 $6,229 $3,445 $10,756
2016 $3,988 $5,920 $1,408 $4,275
2015 $4,124 $5,472 $1,387 $4,046
2014 $4,137 $5,336 $1,373 $3,903
2013 $4,219 $5,120 $1,363 $3,784
2012 $4,384 $4,996 $1,239 $3,472
2011 $3,850 $4,855 $1,038 $3,047
2010 $3,416 $4,465 $902 $2,661
2009 $2,914 $4,384 $736 $2,233
2008 $3,218 $4,600 $341 $1,987
2007 $2,797 $4,316 $414 $2,396
2006 $2,750 $4,327 $431 $2,454
2005 $2,478 $4,315 $461 $2,496
2004 $2,195 $4,235 $470 $2,591
2003 $1,936 $4,231 $468 $2,708
2002 $1,759 $4,171 $525 $3,238
2001 $1,754 $3,955 $566 $3,533
2000 $1,995 $3,834 $563 $3,429
1999 $1,952 $3,636 $582 $3,491
1998 $1,889 $3,527 $552 $3,527
1997 $2,136 $3,434 $751 $3,457
1996 $2,215 $3,410 $767 $3,372
1995 $2,084 $3,347 $648 $3,051
1994 $1,957 $3,088 $634 $3,012
1993 $1,383 $2,882 $605 $2,703
1992 $1,370 $2,716 $631 $2,651
1991 $1,323 $2,652 $831 $2,930
1990 $1,139 $2,416 $867 $2,757
1989 $1,070 - $840 -
1988 $1,078 - $816 -
1987 $830 - $726 -
1986 $696 - $693 -
1985 $613 - $649 -
1984 $656 - $757 -
1983 $621 - $959 -
1982 $633 - $1,096 -
1981 $636 - $1,069 -
1980 $545 - $949 -
1979 $458 - $779 -
1978 $428 - $665 -
1977 $353 - $677 -
1976 $315 - $687 -
1975 $349 - $717 -
1974 - - $674 -
1973 - - $579 -
1972 - - $483 -
1971 - - $406 -
1970 - - $361 -
1969 - - $346 -
1968 - - $302 -
1967 - - $294.4 -
1966 - - $278.7 -
1965 - - $294.3 -
1964 - - $281.9 -
1963 - - $277.1 -
1962 - - $275.7 -
1961 - - $279.2 -
1960 - - $276.6 -

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

GeoRank.org/economy/tonga/zimbabwe | CC BY

Tonga's GDP per capita is $5,652, ranking 115/197, compared to $2,497 in Zimbabwe, ranking 148/197. Adjusted for purchasing power (GDP per capita PPP), Tonga ranks 144th at $7,803, while Zimbabwe ranks 154th at $5,928.

Economic indicators

Tonga Zimbabwe
Gross domestic product
$591M
2023
$41.5B
2024
GDP rank
191/197
2023
102/197
2024
GDP growth
2.79%
2022-2023
1.74%
2023-2024
GDP per capita
$5,652
2023
$2,497
2024
GDP per capita rank
115/197
2023
148/197
2024
GDP per capita, PPP
$7,803
2023
$5,928
2024
GDP per capita PPP rank
144/197
2023
154/197
2024
Government debt
$256M
2023
$30.3B
2024
Debt-to-GDP ratio
37%
2024
73%
2024
Government debt per person
$2,445
2023
$1,824
2024
Government debt per person rank
111/185
2023
121/185
2024
Average annual personal income after taxes
$3,886
2026
$2,897
2026
Market capitalization of domestic companies n/a
$2.46B
1999
Number of billionaires n/a
1
2025
Income share by richest 10%
22%
2021
40.5%
2019
Income share by poorest 10%
4%
2021
1.9%
2019
Government expenditure, % of GDP
51.3%
2024
12.9%
2024
Consumer prices inflation
3.18%
2023-2024
736%
2023-2024
Central bank interest rate n/a
35%
2024
Unemployment rate
1.65%
2023
12.1%
2024
Population
103309
17361868

Spending and national debt comparison by year

Tonga
Spending

Debt
Zimbabwe
Spending

Debt
1x
Year % of GDP
Tonga Zimbabwe
Government spending Government debt Government spending Government debt
2024 51.3% 37% 12.9% 73%
2023 48.2% 43.3% 15.5% 76.1%
2022 44.4% 43.2% 14.4% 66.8%
2021 44.6% 43% 12.8% 39.9%
2020 37.9% 42.6% 9.27% 56.8%
2019 39.9% 42.8% 9.36% 53.9%
2018 39.6% 45.8% 13.9% 33%
2017 39.7% 44.7% 19.8% 49%
2016 37.2% 49.4% 16.6% 35.1%
2015 37.4% 51.1% 14.7% 34.1%
2014 31.5% 47.4% 14.1% 29.2%
2013 34.3% 48.9% 14.7% 26.4%
2012 32% 60% 14.6% 27.2%
2011 32.6% 51.9% 16.2% 30%
2010 28.4% 44.7% 12.8% 33.2%
2009 23.9% 39.7% 7.93% 39.7%
2008 24% 34% 2.54% 41.3%
2007 23.2% 37.8% 3.43% 30.2%
2006 25.6% 39.6% 5.72% 26.7%
2005 19.8% 43.3% 10.5% 22.4%
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 (1999–2024, retrieved 2026-02-20).

GeoRank.org/economy/tonga/zimbabwe | CC BY

In 2024, Tonga's government spending was $285M, accounting for 51.3% of its GDP, while Zimbabwe spent $5.37B, or 12.9% of GDP.

Debt-to-GDP ratio is 37% in Tonga and 73% in Zimbabwe, ranking 142/185 and 50/185, respectively.

Government deficit by year

Deficit/surplus
Tonga

Zimbabwe
1x
Year Deficit/surplus, % of GDP
Tonga Zimbabwe
2024 4.17% -1.06%
2023 6.14% -3.9%
2022 -0.1% -3.3%
2021 -0.87% -2.24%
2020 5.25% -0.34%
2019 3.28% -1.72%
2018 2.92% -3.81%
2017 3.58% -7.37%
2016 1.47% -4.63%
2015 -2.75% -1.45%
2014 6.38% -0.71%
2013 -1.3% -0.69%
2012 -1.74% -0.13%
2011 -6.02% -1.72%
2010 -1.22% -0.11%
2009 6.85% -1.39%
2008 2.14% -1.2%
2007 5.39% -1.67%
2006 1.34% -1.4%
2005 4.23% -3.46%
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 (1999–2024, retrieved 2026-02-20).

GeoRank.org/economy/tonga/zimbabwe | CC BY

In 2023, Tonga's government surplus, the difference between spending and revenue, was $36.3M, equivalent to 6.14% of GDP. This compares to Zimbabwe's deficit of $1.4B, or 3.9% of GDP.

Over the past 19 years, Tonga recorded a fiscal deficit in 7 of those years, while Zimbabwe ran a deficit in 19 years. On average, Tonga posted an annual surplus equal to 1.84% of GDP, compared to deficit of 2.17% of GDP for Zimbabwe.

Inflation comparison by year

Inflation
Tonga

Zimbabwe
1x
Year Consumer prices inflation
Tonga Zimbabwe
2024 3.18% 736%
2023 6.35% 667%
2022 11% 193.4%
2021 5.64% 98.5%
2020 -0.35% 557%
2019 1.18% 255.3%
2018 5.03% 10.6%
2017 7.52% 0.9%
2016 2.58% -1.6%
2015 -1.05% -2.4%
2014 2.51% -0.2%
2013 0.78% 1.6%
2012 1.15% 3.7%
2011 6.27% 3.5%
2010 3.53% 3%
2009 1.43% 6.2%
2008 10.4% 157%
2007 5.84% -72.7%
2006 6.15% 33%
2005 8.67% -31.5%
2004 11% 113.6%
2003 11.6% -8.6%
2002 10.4% -34.4%
2001 8.29% -37.2%
2000 6.33% 4.5%
1999 4.46% -13.4%
1998 3.27% -28%
1997 2.12% -1%

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/tonga/zimbabwe | CC BY

Over the past 28 years, Tonga has recorded an average annual inflation rate of 5.19%, compared with 93.4% in Zimbabwe. In 2024, inflation was 3.18% in Tonga and 736% in Zimbabwe.

Balance of trade

Tonga Zimbabwe
Current account balance
-$43.5M
2024
$501M
2024
Current account balance ranking
83/190
2024
62/190
2024
Current account balance, % of GDP
-7.93%
2023
+1.21%
2024
Goods imports
$232M
2024
$9.06B
2024
Goods exports
$10.8M
2024
$7.79B
2024
Service imports
$161M
2024
$1.66B
2024
Service exports
$93.6M
2024
$457M
2024
Imports of goods and services, % of GDP
64.9%
2023
23.4%
2024
Exports of goods and services, % of GDP
14.7%
2023
18%
2024

Economic freedom indices

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

Tonga Zimbabwe
Economic freedom 58.9 35.2
Economic freedom ranking 107/197 190/197
Property rights 71.1 19.4
Government integrity 45.1 20.7
Judicial effectiveness 64.9 16.8
Tax burden 85.6 73.6
Government spending 31 93.9
Fiscal health 97.3 52.4
Business freedom 59.2 42
Labor freedom 55.9 33.3
Monetary freedom 61 0
Trade freedom 75.4 50.4
Investment freedom 40 10
Financial freedom 20 10

Economic freedom comparison by year

Tonga
Zimbabwe
1x
Year Economic freedom index
Tonga Zimbabwe
2026 58.9 35.2
2025 58.5 35.1
2024 59.2 38.2
2023 60 39
2022 60.8 33.1
2021 57.5 39.5
2020 58.8 43.1
2019 57.7 40.4
2018 63.1 44
2017 63 44
2016 59.6 38.2
2015 59.3 37.6
2014 58.2 35.5
2013 56 28.6
2012 57 26.3
2011 55.8 22.1
2010 53.4 21.4
2009 54.1 22.7
2008 - 29.5
2007 - 32
2006 - 33.5
2005 - 35.2
2004 - 34.4
2003 - 36.7
2002 - 36.7
2001 - 38.8
2000 - 48.7
1999 - 47.2
1998 - 44.6
1997 - 48
1996 - 46.7
1995 - 48.5

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

GeoRank.org/economy/tonga/zimbabwe | CC BY

The Economic Freedom Index for Tonga is 58.9, ranking 107/197, compared to 35.2 for Zimbabwe, ranking 190/197. The chart above displays a comparison of annual changes in economic freedom indexes.

Other economic metrics

Tonga Zimbabwe
Services, % of GDP
50%
2023
50.6%
2024
Industry, % of GDP
14.9%
2023
35%
2024
Agriculture, forestry, and fishing, % of GDP
19%
2023
8.69%
2024
GNI, Atlas method
$619M
2023
$39.9B
2024
GNI per capita, PPP
$8,400
2023
$5,870
2024
Total reserves including gold
$377M
2024
$485M
2024
Total reserves ranking
163/177
2024
157/177
2024
Net foreign direct investment
$13.3M
2024
-$465M
2024
Net inflows of foreign direct investment
-$12.1M
2024
$465M
2024
Net outflows of foreign direct investment
$1.25M
2024
$131M
2024
Servicing debt to the IMF, % of GNI
2.76%
2023
3.44%
2024
Poverty at national poverty lines
20.6%
2021
38.3%
2019
Gross capital formation, % of GDP
25.9%
2023
8.85%
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/tonga/zimbabwe | 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 (1999–2024, 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. United Nations | World Population Prospects (2026, retrieved 2026-03-10)
  6. 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.