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Venezuela economy ranking: GDP & GDP per capita, debt

Updated on by Georank team

Venezuela ranked 65/197 by economy size with a GDP of $120B and 128/197 by GDP per capita at $4,218. Venezuela has $197B in government debt, with a debt-to-GDP ratio of 164.3%.

In 2024, Venezuela made up 0.11% of the world's economy, compared to 0.56% in 1960.

Venezuela GDP & GDP growth by year

GDP, current $
Real growth
1x
Year GDP GDP growth
2024 $119,802,963,258 5.3%
2023 $102,376,526,556 4%
2022 $89,013,255,585 8%
2021 $56,614,976,855 0.96%
2020 $42,838,020,721 -30%
2019 $73,014,084,091 -27.7%
2018 $102,021,093,965 -19.7%
2017 $115,883,275,163 -15.7%
2016 $112,915,034,262 -17%
2015 $125,449,241,571 -6.22%
2014 $214,689,614,733 -3.89%
2013 $258,930,655,486 1.34%
2012 $372,592,062,768 5.63%
2011 $316,482,190,800 4.18%
2010 $393,192,354,511 -1.49%
2009 $329,787,628,928 -3.2%
2008 $315,953,388,511 5.28%
2007 $230,364,012,576 8.75%
2006 $183,477,522,124 9.87%
2005 $145,513,489,652 10.3%
2004 $112,451,400,425 18.3%
2003 $83,620,628,582 -7.76%
2002 $92,893,587,734 -8.86%
2001 $122,911,036,747 3.39%
2000 $117,146,466,003 3.69%
1999 $97,972,842,462 -5.97%
1998 $91,336,763,255 0.29%
1997 $85,837,678,560 6.37%
1996 $70,543,211,119 -0.2%
1995 $77,389,487,770 3.95%
1994 $58,418,666,667 -2.35%
1993 $60,037,460,783 0.28%
1992 $60,416,519,620 6.06%
1991 $53,453,444,787 9.73%
1990 $48,606,952,195 6.47%
1989 $43,536,709,104 -13.9%
1988 $60,226,413,793 6.51%
1987 $48,029,034,483 4.8%
1986 $60,516,123,711 6.08%
1985 $61,965,466,667 0.87%
1984 $59,867,743,468 5.22%
1983 $67,556,279,070 -9.86%
1982 $67,736,744,186 2.64%
1981 $66,327,441,860 -1.29%
1980 $59,116,511,628 -4.42%
1979 $48,310,930,233 0.76%
1978 $39,316,279,070 2.35%
1977 $36,210,697,674 6.27%
1976 $31,419,534,884 7.73%
1975 $27,464,651,163 2.9%
1974 $26,100,930,233 2.07%
1973 $17,035,581,395 7.11%
1972 $13,977,727,273 1.28%
1971 $12,986,590,909 1.48%
1970 $11,561,111,111 7.71%
1969 $10,285,111,111 0.71%
1968 $10,034,444,444 7.34%
1967 $9,250,000,000 2.83%
1966 $8,781,333,333 1.51%
1965 $8,427,777,778 4.16%
1964 $8,192,413,793 11.1%
1963 $9,608,717,288 3.9%
1962 $8,814,309,884 8.53%
1961 $8,067,267,031 3.19%
1960 $7,663,938,303 -

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

GeoRank.org/economy/venezuela | CC BY

Venezuela GDP per capita by year

GDP per capita
GDP per capita, PPP
1x
Year Current $
GDP per capita GDP per capita, PPP
2024 $4,218 -
2023 $3,617 -
2022 $3,155 -
2021 $2,005 -
2020 $1,506 -
2019 $2,523 -
2018 $3,423 -
2017 $3,791 -
2016 $3,670 -
2015 $4,103 -
2014 $7,096 -
2013 $8,656 -
2012 $12,607 -
2011 $10,844 $21,241
2010 $13,646 $20,236
2009 $11,597 $20,562
2008 $11,262 $21,402
2007 $8,332 $20,236
2006 $6,739 $18,399
2005 $5,432 $16,511
2004 $4,269 $14,757
2003 $3,230 $12,359
2002 $3,652 $13,375
2001 $4,920 $14,714
2000 $4,776 $14,174
1999 $4,071 $13,623
1998 $3,870 $14,568
1997 $3,711 $14,655
1996 $3,113 $13,824
1995 $3,487 $13,890
1994 $2,689 $13,370
1993 $2,825 $13,702
1992 $2,907 $13,652
1991 $2,633 $12,880
1990 $2,452 $11,628
1989 $2,250 -
1988 $3,191 -
1987 $2,611 -
1986 $3,376 -
1985 $3,549 -
1984 $3,520 -
1983 $4,079 -
1982 $4,202 -
1981 $4,228 -
1980 $3,874 -
1979 $3,257 -
1978 $2,727 -
1977 $2,585 -
1976 $2,309 -
1975 $2,078 -
1974 $2,034 -
1973 $1,367 -
1972 $1,155 -
1971 $1,106 -
1970 $1,015 -
1969 $932 -
1968 $938 -
1967 $893 -
1966 $876 -
1965 $869 -
1964 $874 -
1963 $1,060 -
1962 $1,007 -
1961 $954 -
1960 $939 -

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

GeoRank.org/economy/venezuela | CC BY

Venezuela has a GDP per capita of $4,218, ranking 128/197, a GDP per capita based on purchasing power parity (PPP) of $21,241, ranking 93/197, and a median annual after tax income of $3,792, ranking 129/197.

Venezuela GDP rankings by year

GDP
GDP per capita
GDP per capita, PPP
1x
Year Rank
GDP GDP per capita GDP per capita, PPP
2024 65 120 -
2023 69 130 -
2022 70 135 -
2021 85 154 -
2020 88 158 -
2019 71 139 -
2018 62 129 -
2017 59 124 -
2016 57 120 -
2015 56 111 -
2014 50 92 -
2013 42 78 -
2012 33 63 -
2011 35 67 57
2010 29 54 55
2009 29 57 53
2008 33 61 53
2007 38 66 54
2006 38 67 54
2005 40 69 54
2004 44 76 54
2003 47 79 59
2002 42 74 53
2001 34 61 50
2000 35 61 50
1999 37 65 50
1998 38 67 46
1997 41 68 44
1996 44 74 43
1995 41 69 41
1994 42 72 39
1993 41 70 37
1992 38 68 37
1991 38 70 38
1990 43 72 43
1989 41 67 -
1988 35 53 -
1987 37 56 -
1986 31 49 -
1985 30 45 -
1984 29 42 -
1983 26 41 -
1982 26 41 -
1981 27 41 -
1980 29 42 -
1979 29 40 -
1978 29 41 -
1977 28 40 -
1976 29 40 -
1975 30 41 -
1974 26 40 -
1973 28 42 -
1972 27 40 -
1971 26 37 -
1970 26 38 -
1969 25 30 -
1968 24 30 -
1967 25 30 -
1966 24 30 -
1965 24 29 -
1964 23 25 -
1963 21 22 -
1962 21 22 -
1961 21 21 -
1960 20 20 -

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

GeoRank.org/economy/venezuela | CC BY

Compared with 2000, in 2024 Venezuela is ranked 65th out of 182 by GDP (down from 35th), 120th by GDP per capita (down from 61st), and 57th by GDP per capita PPP (down from 50th).

Economic indicators

Venezuela Rank
Gross domestic product
$120B
2024
65/197
GDP growth
5.3%
2023-2024
32/194
GDP per capita
$4,218
2024
128/197
GDP per capita, PPP
$21,241
2011
93/197
Government debt
$197B
2024
42/185
Debt-to-GDP ratio
164.3%
2024
5/185
Government debt per person
$6,931
2024
69/185
Average annual personal income after taxes
$3,792
2026
129/197
Listed domestic companies
37
2014
77/103
Market capitalization of domestic companies
$3.98B
2002
82/100
Number of billionaires
1
2025
73/78
Billionaire frequency
1 in 18,421,146
2025
71/78
Income share by richest 10%
33.2%
2006
28/169
Income share by poorest 10%
1.2%
2006
165/169
Government expenditure, % of GDP
17.6%
2024
172/195
Consumer prices inflation
49%
2023-2024
7/195
Central bank interest rate
58.4%
2025
1/106
Unemployment rate
7.53%
2020
58/196
Population
28661242
53/197

Government spending, deficit, and debt by year

Spending
Debt
Deficit/surplus
1x
Year % of GDP
Government spending Government debt Government deficit/surplus
2024 17.6% 164.3% -3.6%
2023 13.1% 138.5% -1.25%
2022 15.1% 164.4% -5.29%
2021 13.1% 254.2% -5.85%
2020 11.2% 337% -6.63%
2019 21% 206% -10.9%
2018 37.9% 175.3% -31%
2017 21.8% 133.6% -13.3%
2016 19.7% 138.4% -8.46%
2015 22.9% 129.8% -8.06%
2014 31.6% 84.9% -9.81%
2013 36.5% 85.4% -10.4%
2012 38% 58.4% -9.86%
2011 39.4% 52.5% -8.24%
2010 31.1% 37.7% -4.74%
2009 33.3% 27.6% -8.69%
2008 34.9% 20.3% -3.46%
2007 35.9% 26.4% -2.82%
2006 39.3% 25.7% -1.6%
2005 33.5% 34.9% 4.09%
2004 31.9% 41.8% 2.47%
2003 32.2% 56% 0.17%
2002 31% 48.2% -1.48%
2001 31.9% 30.7% -4.59%
2000 28.3% 27.7% 4.45%
1999 26.1% 29.6% 0.74%
1998 28.8% 30.7% -4.49%
1997 31% 34.8% 2.58%
1996 27.7% 45.9% 7.94%
1995 32.9% 45.9% -5.86%
1994 42.2% 63.9% -11.2%
1993 27.7% 57.7% -2.92%
1992 30.6% 54.8% -6.37%
1991 33.9% 62.2% -2.28%
1990 31.9% 63.3% 3.84%
1989 32.5% 61.8% -0.91%
1988 33.2% 46.3% -9.24%
1987 25.1% 58.3% -7.47%
1986 21.5% 45.9% 0.82%
1985 20.3% 34.1% 6.97%
1984 19.7% 36.4% 5.33%
1983 25.3% 21.4% 1.24%
1982 29% 18.6% -0.17%
1981 29.6% 18.9% 4.74%
1980 22% 16.6% 4.41%
1979 22.3% 19.2% -3.07%
1978 29.2% 16.6% -5.44%
1977 30.6% 12.7% -4.69%
1976 26.6% 9.64% 1.65%
1975 33.8% 8.31% 0.88%
1974 35.3% 7.72% 2.76%
1973 20% 9.78% 1.98%
1972 21.3% 10.6% 0.42%
1971 19.6% 9.64% 0.78%
1970 19.5% 10.6% -1.22%
1969 21% 9.91% -2.17%
1968 19.8% 7.84% -0.32%
1967 19.8% 6.74% 0.51%
1966 19.1% 5.84% 0.23%
1965 18.7% 5.46% 0.39%
1964 17.9% 4.95% 1.91%
1963 18.7% 6.3% 1.92%
1962 17.6% 7.24% 2.14%
1961 11.8% 8.79% -1.91%
1960 23.7% 8.28% -4.08%
1959 25.5% 2.67% -4.98%
1958 24.4% 1.96% -4.86%
1957 16.3% 0.08% 6.7%
1956 15.2% 0.11% 0.76%
1955 15.2% 0.15% 0.38%
1954 14.8% 0.19% 1.84%
1953 15.3% 0.33% 0.03%
1952 18.8% 0.05% -0.5%
1951 16.6% 0.11% -0.24%
1950 16% 0.12% -0.23%
1949 16.9% 0.2% 0.15%
1948 12.9% 0.21% 1.27%
1947 12.7% 0.37% 0.09%
1946 12.9% 0.53% -0.9%
1945 11.2% 0.57% 2.9%
1944 9.93% 0.7% 1.85%
1943 10.8% 0.29% -0.27%
1942 12.5% 0.04% 0.2%
1941 12.6% 0.04% 0.01%
1940 14.2% 0.11% -1.07%
1939 13.6% 0.11% -0.78%
1938 12% 0.11% 0.68%
1937 13% 0.13% 0.73%
1936 13.2% 0.15% -0.52%
1935 11.8% 1.03% -2.23%
1934 9.93% 1.21% 1.34%
1933 8.83% 1.31% 1.03%
1932 8.2% 1.24% 0.51%
1931 9.04% 1.43% 1.02%
1930 10.5% 2.05% -2.03%
1929 10.5% 2.59% -0.34%
1928 11.6% 3.63% -0.68%
1927 7.78% 4.22% 1.55%
1926 8.62% 4.4% 0.14%
1925 9.75% 5.86% 0.54%
1924 8.59% 7.85% 0.37%
1923 7.64% 9.92% 1.32%
1922 7.09% 11.9% 1.57%
1921 7.87% 12.4% -0.97%
1920 8.58% 11.3% -1.75%

Data sources: International Monetary Fund (IMF) | Public Finances in Modern History (1920–1997, retrieved 2026-02-20); International Monetary Fund (IMF) | Fiscal Monitor (1990–2024, retrieved 2026-02-20).

GeoRank.org/economy/venezuela | CC BY

This chart shows Venezuela's government spending, budget balance, and debt over time, each expressed as a share of GDP.

Over the past 50 years, Venezuela recorded a fiscal deficit in 34 of them, with an average annual deficit equal to 3.43% of GDP. In 2024, government spending reached $21.1B (17.6% of GDP), with a deficit of 3.6%.

The national debt reached $197B, ranking 42nd out of 185 countries by total size, with a debt-to-GDP ratio of 164.3%, ranking 5th.

Inflation rate by year

1x
Year Inflation
2024 49%
2023 338%
2022 186.5%
2021 1,589%
2020 2,355%
2019 19,906%
2018 65,374%
2017 438%
2016 254.9%
2015 121.7%
2014 62.2%
2013 40.6%
2012 21.1%
2011 26.1%
2010 28.2%
2009 26%
2008 31.4%
2007 18.7%
2006 13.7%
2005 16%
2004 21.7%
2003 31.1%
2002 22.4%
2001 12.5%
2000 16.2%
1999 23.6%
1998 35.8%
1997 50%
1996 99.9%
1995 59.9%
1994 60.8%
1993 38.1%
1992 31.4%
1991 34.2%
1990 40.7%
1989 84.5%
1988 29.5%
1987 28.1%
1986 11.5%
1985 11.4%
1984 12.2%
1983 6.2%
1982 9.6%
1981 16.2%
1980 21.4%

Data sources: International Monetary Fund (IMF) | World Economic Outlook (1980–2024, retrieved 2026-02-20).

GeoRank.org/economy/venezuela | CC BY

Over the past 20 years, Venezuela has had an average annual inflation rate of 4,545%. In 2024, inflation was 49%. The bar chart above shows consumer price inflation by year.

Balance of trade

Venezuela Rank
Current account balance
-$3.87B
2016
161/190
Current account balance, % of GDP
-3.43%
2016
122/190
Goods imports
$16.3B
2016
86/189
Goods exports
$27.4B
2016
71/189
Service imports
$9.47B
2016
71/189
Service exports
$1.28B
2016
126/189
Imports of goods and services, % of GDP
9.22%
2024
180/181
Exports of goods and services, % of GDP
16.9%
2024
158/193

Venezuela top 10 trading partners

Venezuela's biggest trading partner accounting for 23.8% of all exports and imports is the United States, with a trade balance between the two of -$9.94B: Venezuela exports $550M worth of goods and services to the United States and imports $10.5B.

Below is the list of the top 10 trade partners of Venezuela.

Rank Country Trade value Share of total trade Export to Import from Top export to Top import from
1 United States $11B 23.8% $550M $10.5B Chemicals & pharma Machinery & equipment
2 China $7.9B 17.1% $254M $7.65B Raw materials & minerals Machinery & equipment
3 Brazil $4.68B 10.1% $173M $4.5B Raw materials & minerals Animal & marine products
4 Colombia $2.49B 5.38% $236M $2.26B Chemicals & pharma Animal & marine products
5 Mexico $2.27B 4.91% $42.1M $2.23B Metals Chemicals & pharma
6 Argentina $1.95B 4.2% $34.3M $1.91B Raw materials & minerals Animal & marine products
7 Germany $1.31B 2.84% $20M $1.29B Metals Chemicals & pharma
8 Italy $1.18B 2.55% $34.9M $1.14B Metals Machinery & equipment
9 Spain $1.06B 2.28% $38.1M $1.02B Raw materials & minerals Machinery & equipment
10 Ecuador $1B 2.16% $13.6M $988M Metals Processed food, beverages & tobacco

Top 10 exports

Venezuela Rank
Raw materials & minerals $86.5B 13/193
Chemicals & pharma $738M 77/193
Transport & tourism services $461M 136/188
Metals $448M 90/192
Machinery & equipment $182M 116/193
Animal & marine products $39.1M 128/192
Business & finance services $27.6M 151/188
Processed food, beverages & tobacco $25.8M 151/192
Textiles & consumer goods $20.3M 140/193
IT & IP services $16.5M 146/183

Top 10 imports

Venezuela Rank
Machinery & equipment $14.9B 58/193
Chemicals & pharma $8.09B 49/193
Metals $4.02B 55/193
Animal & marine products $3.73B 29/193
Transport & tourism services $3.69B 75/188
Textiles & consumer goods $3.49B 59/193
Processed food, beverages & tobacco $3.47B 57/193
Raw agricultural goods $2.57B 49/193
Raw materials & minerals $2.13B 117/193
Miscellaneous $1.47B 32/193

Economic freedom indices

Venezuela Rank
Economic freedom 27.3 194/197
Property rights 0 182/182
Government integrity 6.9 179/182
Judicial effectiveness 5.1 175/182
Tax burden 73.4 129/182
Government spending 93 12/180
Fiscal health 29.1 147/181
Business freedom 31.1 174/182
Labor freedom 35.5 175/182
Monetary freedom 0 179/180
Trade freedom 43.2 178/181
Investment freedom 0 181/181
Financial freedom 10 178/181

Economic freedom by year

1x
Year Index
Economic freedom Judicial effectiveness Tax burden Government spending Fiscal health
2026 27.3 5.1 73.4 93 29.1
2025 27.6 4.1 75.9 93.8 29.1
2024 28.1 3.3 75.9 96.6 36.5
2023 25.8 6.5 74.8 95 12
2022 24.8 4.6 74.1 78.3 0
2021 24.7 15.4 71.1 61.5 0
2020 25.2 12.6 72.8 66.3 0
2019 25.9 13.1 74.7 58.1 17.6
2018 25.2 13.8 72.5 57.3 18.4
2017 27 10.3 72.5 51.5 15.2
2016 33.7 - 74.9 56.7 -
2015 34.3 - 75 52 -
2014 36.3 - 75.3 51.8 -
2013 36.1 - 75.6 50.6 -
2012 38.1 - 74.8 67.3 -
2011 37.6 - 75 65.3 -
2010 37.1 - 74 61.8 -
2009 39.9 - 70.6 69.3 -
2008 44.7 - 74.5 79.7 -
2007 47.9 - 75.6 79.9 -
2006 44.6 - 75.6 76.8 -
2005 45.2 - 75.8 80.2 -
2004 46.7 - 75.6 79.2 -
2003 54.8 - 75 86.3 -
2002 54.7 - 75 89.2 -
2001 54.6 - 75.5 88 -
2000 57.4 - 74 86.8 -
1999 56.1 - 75.1 77.1 -
1998 54 - 75.4 67.9 -
1997 52.8 - 75 47.1 -
1996 54.5 - 75.2 76.1 -
1995 59.8 - 80 76.1 -

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

GeoRank.org/economy/venezuela | CC BY

Venezuela is ranked 172/174 for economic freedom with a score of 27.3, compared to 151/162 and a score of 44.6 in 2006.

Other economic metrics

Venezuela Rank
Services, % of GDP
51.7%
2014
122/191
Industry, % of GDP
37.2%
2014
24/194
Agriculture, forestry, and fishing, % of GDP
5.03%
2014
108/193
GNI, Atlas method
$109B
2024
66/194
GNI per capita, PPP
$20,800
2011
89/191
Total reserves including gold
$9.79B
2017
77/177
Net foreign direct investment
-$27M
2016
59/189
Net inflows of foreign direct investment
$1.63B
2024
81/193
Net outflows of foreign direct investment
$2.6B
2024
41/193
Poverty at national poverty lines
33.1%
2015
54/176
Gross capital formation, % of GDP
4.9%
2024
175/178

Compare Venezuela vs other countries

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/venezuela | CC BY

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Data sources:

  1. World Bank | Economy & Growth (1960–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06)
  2. International Monetary Fund (IMF) | Public Finances in Modern History (1920–1997, retrieved 2026-02-20)
  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. TradeMap (2013–2020, retrieved 2026-02-08)
  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.