The CIA World Factbook Edition 2024 Economy

Economic overview In 36 editions of 36.

Economic overview was published in 36 editions of the CIA World Factbook, from 1990 to 2025. The 2024 edition carries it in 235 entries, in its Economy section. Every entry is shown as that edition published it.

entries in the 2024 edition
235
the first edition with it
1990
the latest edition with it
2025

Published as “Economy - overview” (1997 to 2019), “Economic overview” (1996 to 2025), “Overview” (1990 to 1995), “Economy--overview” (1999) and “Economy-overview” (1998).

the entry has the field in that editionnot in that editionthe open editionEach entry below ends in its editions with Economic overview, 1990 to 2025. Point at a year above to follow it down; choose one in a row to read that edition’s text there.

2024

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Africa

55 entries

Algeria

  • suffering oil and gas economy;
  • lack of sector and market diversification;
  • political instability chilling domestic consumption;
  • poor credit access and declines in business confidence;
  • COVID-19 austerity policies;
  • delayed promised socio-economic reforms

Angola

  • middle-income, oil-dependent African economy;
  • widespread poverty;
  • rising inflation and currency depreciation;
  • seeking diversification through agricultural production;
  • significant corruption in public institutions;
  • major infrastructure investments from China and US;
  • exited OPEC in 2023

Benin

  • robust economic growth;
  • slightly declining but still widespread poverty;
  • strong trade relations with Nigeria;
  • cotton exporter;
  • COVID-19 has led to capital outflows and border closures;
  • WAEMU member with currency pegged to the euro;
  • recent fiscal deficit and debt reductions

Botswana

  • good economic governance and financial management;
  • diamond-driven growth model declining;
  • rapid poverty reductions;
  • high unemployment, particularly among youth;
  • COVID-19 sharply contracted the economy and recovery is slow;
  • public sector wages have posed fiscal challenges

Burkina Faso

  • highly agrarian, low-income economy;
  • limited natural resources;
  • widespread poverty;
  • terrorism disrupting potential economic activity;
  • improving trade balance via increases in gold exports;
  • economy inflating after prior deflation;
  • growing public debt but still manageable

Burundi

  • highly agrarian, low-income Sub-Saharan economy;
  • declining foreign assistance;
  • increasing fiscal insolvencies;
  • dense and still growing population;
  • COVID-19 weakened economic recovery and flipped two years of deflation

Cabo Verde

  • stable, middle-income, developing island economy;
  • strong GDP growth led by tourism sector recovery;
  • sustained poverty reduction through PEDS II development plan;
  • high reliance on foreign remittances and aid to finance external debt

Cameroon

  • largest CEMAC economy with many natural resources;
  • recent political instability and terrorism reducing economic output;
  • systemic corruption;
  • poor property rights enforcement;
  • increasing poverty in northern regions

Central African Republic

  • enormous natural resources;
  • extreme poverty;
  • weak public institutions and infrastructure;
  • political and gender-based violence have led to displacement of roughly 25% of population;
  • Bangui-Douala corridor blockade reduced activity and tax collection;
  • strong agricultural performance offset COVID-19 downturn

Chad

  • oil-dependent economy challenged by market fluctuations, regional instability, refugee influx, and climate vulnerability;
  • high levels of extreme poverty and food insecurity;
  • recent growth driven by oil and agricultural recovery;
  • debt-restructuring agreement under G20 Common Framework

Comoros

  • small trade-based island economy;
  • declining remittances;
  • new structural and fiscal reforms;
  • adverse cyclone and COVID-19 impacts;
  • manageable debts;
  • fragile liquidity environment;
  • large foreign direct investment;
  • state-owned enterprises suffering

Congo, Democratic Republic of the now Democratic Republic of the Congo

  • very poor, large, natural resource-rich sub-Saharan country;
  • possesses the world’s second largest rainforest;
  • increasing Chinese extractive sector trade;
  • massive decrease in government investments;
  • increasing current account deficit and public debts

Congo, Republic of the now Republic of the Congo

  • primarily an oil- and natural resources-based economy;
  • recovery from mid-2010s oil devaluation has been slow and curtailed by COVID-19;
  • extreme poverty increasing, particularly in southern rural regions;
  • attempting to implement recommended CEMAC reforms;
  • increasing likelihood of debt default

Cote d'Ivoire

  • one of West Africa’s most influential, stable, and rapidly developing economies;
  • poverty declines in urban but increases in rural areas;
  • strong construction sector and increasingly diverse economic portfolio;
  • increasing but manageable public debt;
  • large labor force in agriculture

Djibouti

  • food import-dependent Horn of Africa economy driven by various national military bases and port-based trade;
  • fairly resilient from COVID-19 disruptions;
  • major re-exporter;
  • increasing Ethiopian and Chinese trade relations;
  • investing in infrastructure

Egypt

  • Africa’s second-largest economy;
  • 2030 Vision to diversify markets and energy infrastructure;
  • improving fiscal, external, and current accounts;
  • underperforming private sector;
  • poor labor force participation;
  • expanded credit access

Equatorial Guinea

  • growing CEMAC economy and new OPEC member;
  • large oil and gas reserves;
  • targeting economic diversification and poverty reduction;
  • still recovering from CEMAC crisis;
  • improving public financial management;
  • persistent poverty;
  • hard-hit by COVID-19

Eritrea

  • largely agrarian economy with a significant mining sector;
  • substantial fiscal surplus due to tight controls;
  • high and vulnerable debts;
  • increased Ethiopian trade and shared port usage decreasing prices;
  • financial and economic data integrity challenges

Eswatini

  • landlocked southern African economy;
  • South African trade dependent and currency pegging;
  • CMA and SACU member state;
  • COVID-19 economic slowdown;
  • growing utilities inflation;
  • persistent poverty and unemployment;
  • HIV/AIDS labor force disruptions

Ethiopia

  • growing Horn of Africa construction- and services-based economy;
  • port access via Djibouti and Eritrea;
  • widespread but declining poverty;
  • COVID-19, locust invasion, and Tigray crisis disruptions;
  • public investment increases;
  • second largest African labor force

Gabon

  • natural-resource-rich, upper-middle-income, Central African economy;
  • significant reliance on oil and mineral exports;
  • highly urbanized population;
  • high levels of poverty and unemployment;
  • uncertainty on institutional and development reform progress following 2023 military coup

Gambia, The now The Gambia

  • low-income West African economy;
  • agriculture-dominant;
  • high poverty rate;
  • heightened inflation;
  • dependent on foreign assistance and remittances;
  • structural reforms conditioned by IMF Extended Credit Facility program

Ghana

  • West African lower-middle income economy;
  • major gold, oil and cocoa exporter;
  • macroeconomic challenges following nearly four decades of sustained growth;
  • recent progress in debt restructuring, fiscal reforms, financial stability, and curbing runaway inflation under 2023-26 IMF credit facility program

Guinea

  • growing but primarily agrarian West African economy;
  • major mining sector;
  • improving fiscal and debt balances prior to COVID-19;
  • economy increasingly vulnerable to climate change;
  • slow infrastructure improvements;
  • gender wealth and human capital gaps

Guinea-Bissau

  • extremely poor West African economy;
  • ethnically diverse labor force;
  • increasing government expenditures;
  • slight inflation due to food supply disruptions;
  • major cashew exporter;
  • systemic banking instabilities and corruption;
  • vulnerable to oil price shocks

Kenya

  • fast growing, third largest Sub-Saharan economy;
  • strong agriculture sector with emerging services and tourism industries;
  • IMF program to address current account and debt service challenges;
  • business-friendly policies foster infrastructure investment, digital innovation and public-private partnerships;
  • vulnerable to climate change-induced droughts

Lesotho

  • lower middle-income economy surrounded by South Africa;
  • environmentally fragile and politically unstable;
  • key infrastructure and renewable energy investments;
  • dire poverty;
  • urban job and income losses due to COVID-19;
  • systemic corruption

Liberia

  • low-income West African economy;
  • food scarcity, especially in rural areas;
  • high poverty and inflation;
  • bad recession prior to COVID-19 due to Ebola crisis;
  • growing government debt;
  • longest continuously operated rubber plantation;
  • large informal economy

Libya

  • upper middle-income, fossil fuel-based North African economy;
  • 31% economic contraction due to COVID-19 and 2020 oil blockade;
  • reduced government spending;
  • central bank had to devalue currency;
  • public wages are over 60% of expenditures

Madagascar

  • low-income East African island economy;
  • natural resource rich;
  • extreme poverty;
  • return of political stability has helped growth;
  • sharp tax revenue drop due to COVID-19;
  • leading vanilla producer;
  • environmentally fragile

Malawi

  • low-income East African economy;
  • primarily agrarian;
  • investing in human capital;
  • urban poverty increasing due to COVID-19;
  • high public debt;
  • endemic corruption and poor property rights;
  • poor hydroelectric grid;
  • localized pharmaceutical industry

Mali

  • low-income Saharan economy;
  • recession due to COVID-19 and political instability;
  • extreme poverty;
  • environmentally fragile;
  • high public debt;
  • agricultural and gold exporter;
  • terrorism and warfare are common

Mauritania

  • lower middle-income West African economy;
  • primarily agrarian;
  • rising urbanization;
  • poor property rights;
  • systemic corruption;
  • endemic social and workforce tensions;
  • wide-scale terrorism;
  • foreign over-fishing;
  • environmentally fragile

Mauritius

  • upper middle-income Indian Ocean island economy;
  • diversified portfolio;
  • investing in maritime security;
  • strong tourism sector decimated by COVID-19;
  • expanding in information and financial services;
  • environmentally fragile

Morocco

  • lower middle-income North African economy;
  • ongoing recovery from recent drought and earthquake;
  • rebounding via tourism, manufacturing, and raw materials processing;
  • significant trade and investment with EU;
  • reform programs include fiscal rebalancing, state enterprise governance and private sector investments

Mozambique

  • low-income East African economy;
  • subsistence farming dominates labor force;
  • return to growth led by agriculture and extractive industries;
  • Islamist insurgency threatens natural gas projects in north;
  • ongoing foreign debt restructuring and resolution under IMF Highly Indebted Poor Countries (HIPC) initiative

Namibia

  • upper middle-income, export-driven Sub-Saharan economy;
  • natural resource rich;
  • Walvis Bay port expansion for trade;
  • high potential for renewable power generation and energy independence;
  • major nature-based tourist locale;
  • natural resource rich;
  • shortage of skilled labor

Niger

  • low-income Sahel economy;
  • major instability and humanitarian crises limit economic activity;
  • COVID-19 eliminated recent antipoverty gains;
  • economy rebounding since December 2020 Nigerian border reopening and new investments;
  • uranium resource rich

Nigeria

  • largest African market economy;
  • enormous but mostly lower middle income labor force;
  • major oil exporter;
  • key telecommunications and finance industries;
  • susceptible to global energy price shocks;
  • regional leader in critical infrastructure;
  • primarily agrarian employment

Rwanda

  • fast-growing Sub-Saharan economy;
  • major public investments;
  • trade and tourism hit hard by COVID-19;
  • increasing poverty after 2 decades of declines;
  • Ugandan competition for regional influence;
  • major coffee exporter;
  • contested GDP figures

Saint Helena, Ascension, and Tristan da Cunha

  • upper middle-income, British Atlantic Ocean territorial economy;
  • native (but pegged to British pound) currency user on 2 of 3 islands;
  • significant UK financial support;
  • unique land/farming commune structure;
  • military-related economic activity;
  • sport fishing locale

Sao Tome and Principe

  • lower middle-income Central African island economy;
  • falling cocoa production due to drought and mismanagement;
  • joint oil venture with Nigeria;
  • government owns 90% of land;
  • high debt, partly from fuel subsidies;
  • tourism gutted by COVID-19

Senegal

  • lower middle-income, services-driven West African economy;
  • key mining, construction, agriculture, and fishing industries;
  • tourism and exports hit hard by COVID-19;
  • large informal economy;
  • developing offshore oil and gas fields;
  • systemic corruption

Seychelles

  • high-income Indian Ocean island economy;
  • rapidly growing tourism sector;
  • major tuna exporter;
  • offshore financial hub;
  • environmentally fragile and investing in ocean rise mitigation;
  • recently discovered offshore oil potential;
  • successful anticorruption efforts

Sierra Leone

  • low-income West African economy;
  • primarily subsistent agriculture;
  • key iron and diamond mining activities suspended;
  • slow recovery from 1990s civil war;
  • systemic corruption;
  • high-risk debt;
  • high youth unemployment;
  • natural resource rich

Somalia

  • low-income African Horn economy;
  • 30 years of war and instability crippled economic potential;
  • high remittances for basic survival;
  • new fiscal federalism approach;
  • cleared some unsustainable debt;
  • environmentally fragile;
  • digitally driven urbanization efforts

South Africa

  • upper middle-income South African economy;
  • hard hit by COVID-19;
  • poor utilities management;
  • key rare earth goods exporter;
  • high income inequality;
  • hosts Africa’s largest stock exchange;
  • rising unemployment, especially youth;
  • land rights changes

South Sudan

  • low-income, oil-based Sahelian economy;
  • extreme poverty and food insecurity;
  • COVID-19 and ongoing violence threaten socioeconomic potential;
  • environmentally fragile;
  • ongoing land and property rights issues;
  • natural resource rich but lacks infrastructure

Sudan

  • low-income Sahel economy devastated by ongoing civil war;
  • major impacts on rural income, basic commodity prices, industrial production, agricultural supply chain, communications and commerce;
  • hyperinflation and currency depreciation worsening food access and humanitarian conditions

Tanzania

  • emerging lower middle-income East African economy;
  • resource-rich and growing tourism;
  • strong post-pandemic recovery from hospitality, electricity, mining, and transit sectors;
  • declining poverty;
  • stable inflation;
  • gender-based violence economic and labor force disruptions

Togo

  • low-income West African economy;
  • primarily agrarian economy;
  • has a deep-water port;
  • growing international shipping locale;
  • improving privatization and public budgeting transparency;
  • key phosphate mining industry;
  • extremely high rural poverty

Tunisia

  • lower middle-income North African economy;
  • drafting reforms for foreign lenders;
  • high unemployment, especially for youth and women;
  • hit hard by COVID-19;
  • high public sector wages;
  • high public debt;
  • protectionist austerity measures;
  • key EU trade partner

Uganda

  • low-income, primarily agrarian East African economy;
  • COVID-19 hurt economic growth and poverty reduction;
  • lower oil prices threaten prior sector investments;
  • endemic corruption;
  • natural resource rich;
  • high female labor force participation but undervalued

Zambia

  • lower-middle-income sub-Saharan economy;
  • regional hydroelectricity producer;
  • trade ties and infrastructure investments from China;
  • IMF assistance to restructure debt burden;
  • one of youngest and fastest-growing labor forces;
  • systemic corruption;
  • extreme rural poverty

Zimbabwe

  • low income Sub-Saharan economy;
  • political instability and endemic corruption have prevented reforms and stalled debt restructuring;
  • new Zimbabwe Gold (ZiG) currency latest effort to combat ongoing hyperinflation;
  • reliant on natural resource extraction, agriculture and remittances

Antarctic Region

1 entry

French Southern and Antarctic Lands

  • very small,
  • fishing-based,
  • domestic economic activity;
  • military base servicing

Arctic Region

3 entries

Greenland

  • large self-governing Danish territorial economy;
  • preferential EU market access;
  • high-income economy;
  • dependent on Danish financial support, even for whaling and sealing industries;
  • growing tourism;
  • hydropower-fueled but environmentally fragile economy

Iceland

  • high-income north Atlantic island economy;
  • non-EU member but market integration via European Economic Area (EEA);
  • dominant tourism, fishing, and aluminum industries vulnerable to demand swings and volcanic activity;
  • inflation remains above target rate;
  • barriers to foreign business access and economic diversification

Svalbard

  • high-income Norwegian island economy;
  • major coal mining, tourism, and research sectors;
  • recently established northernmost brewery;
  • key whaling and fishing base;
  • home to the Global Seed Vault

Asia

23 entries

Afghanistan

  • extremely low-income South Asian economy;
  • import drops, currency depreciation, disappearing central bank reserves, and increasing inflation after Taliban takeover;
  • increasing Chinese trade;
  • hit hard by COVID;
  • ongoing sanctions

Armenia

  • EEU-and CIS-member state but seeking more EU and US trade;
  • business-friendly growth environments;
  • stable monetary regime but vulnerable demand economy;
  • key copper and gold exporter;
  • persistent unemployment;
  • large diaspora and remittances

Azerbaijan

  • oil-based economy;
  • macroeconomic instabilities due to demand shocks;
  • recent state bailout of largest lender;
  • potential economic gains from Nagorno-Karabakh conflict;
  • negatively impacted by COVID-19;
  • investing in human capital to diversify and retain younger generation

Bangladesh

  • one of the fastest growing emerging market economies;
  • strong economic rebound following COVID-19;
  • significant poverty reduction;
  • exports dominated by textile industry;
  • weakened exports and remittances resulted in declining foreign exchange reserves and 2022 IMF loan request

Bhutan

  • hydropower investments spurring economic development;
  • Gross National Happiness economy;
  • sharp poverty declines;
  • low inflation;
  • strong monetary and fiscal policies;
  • stable currency;
  • fairly resilient response to COVID-19;
  • key economic and strategic relations with India;
  • climate vulnerabilities

British Indian Ocean Territory

  • small island territory economy;
  • economic activity mainly on Diego Garcia with national military installations;
  • recently settled disputes with Mauritius have increased oil exports;
  • established marine reserve has limited commercial fishing

China

  • one of the world’s top two economies;
  • sustained growth due to export relations, its manufacturing sector, and low-wage workers;
  • only major economy to avoid COVID-19 economic decline;
  • recovery efforts slowing due to longstanding poverty imbalances and other institutional issues;
  • state-sponsored economic controls

Georgia

  • main economic activities include cultivation of agricultural products, such as grapes, citrus fruits, and hazelnuts;
  • mining of manganese, copper, and gold;
  • producing alcoholic and nonalcoholic beverages

India

  • largest South Asian economy;
  • strong, sustained GDP growth led by technology and service sectors, foreign investment, and improved regulatory framework;
  • high poverty rate and income inequality;
  • initiatives on infrastructure development, digitization, manufacturing, and financial access

Japan

  • fourth-largest economy;
  • trade-oriented and highly diversified;
  • high public debt levels;
  • real wage declines in inflationary environment;
  • sustained near-zero central bank rates coupled with depreciation of yen;
  • strong rebound in tourism

Kazakhstan

  • oil and gas giant, with growing international investment;
  • domestic economy hit hard by COVID-19 disruptions;
  • reforming civil society and improving business confidence;
  • legacy state controls and Russian influence inhibit growth and autonomy

Korea, North now North Korea

  • one of the last centrally planned economies;
  • hard hit by COVID-19, crop failures, international sanctions, and isolationist policies;
  • declining growth and trade, and heavily reliant on China;
  • poor exchange rate stability;
  • economic data integrity issues

Korea, South now South Korea

  • strong export- and technology-oriented East Asian economy;
  • manufacturing led by semiconductor and automotive industries;
  • aging workforce;
  • increased restraint in fiscal policy while maintaining industry support initiatives

Kyrgyzstan

  • landlocked, lower-middle-income Central Asian economy;
  • natural resource rich;
  • growing hydroelectricity and tourism;
  • high remittances;
  • corruption limits investment;
  • COVID-19 and political turmoil hurt GDP, limited public revenues, and increased spending

Maldives

  • upper middle-income Indian Ocean island economy;
  • major tourism, fishing, and shipping industries;
  • high public debt;
  • systemic corruption;
  • crippled by COVID-19;
  • ongoing deflation;
  • poverty has tripled since pandemic began

Mongolia

  • lower middle-income East Asian economy;
  • large human capital improvements over last 3 decades;
  • agricultural and natural resource rich;
  • export and consumption-led growth;
  • high inflation due to supply bottlenecks and increased food and energy prices;
  • currency depreciation

Nepal

  • low-income South Asian economy;
  • post-conflict fiscal federalism increasing stability;
  • COVID-19 hurt trade and tourism;
  • widening current account deficits;
  • environmentally fragile economy from earthquakes;
  • growing Chinese relations and investments

Pakistan

  • lower middle-income South Asian economy;
  • extremely high debt;
  • endemic corruption;
  • major currency devaluation;
  • major food insecurity and inflation;
  • environmentally fragile agricultural sector;
  • regional disputes with India and Afghanistan hinder investment

Russia

  • natural resource-rich Eurasian economy;
  • leading energy exporter to Europe and Asia;
  • decreased oil export reliance;
  • endemic corruption, Ukrainian invasion, and lack of green infrastructure limit investment and have led to sanctions

Sri Lanka

  • economic contraction in 2022-23 marked by increased poverty and significant inflation;
  • IMF two-year debt relief program following 2022 sovereign default;
  • structural challenges from non-diversified economy and rigid labor laws;
  • heavy dependence on tourism receipts and remittances

Tajikistan

  • lower middle-income Central Asian economy;
  • key gold, cotton, and aluminum exporter;
  • declining poverty;
  • sustained high growth;
  • very limited private sector;
  • substantial illicit drug trade;
  • significant remittances;
  • environmentally fragile

Turkmenistan

  • upper middle-income Central Asian economy;
  • has 10% of global natural gas reserves, exporting to Russia and China;
  • natural resource rich;
  • authoritarian and dominated by state-owned enterprises;
  • major central-south Asian pipeline development

Uzbekistan

  • lower middle-income Central Asian economy;
  • CIS Free Trade Area member but no intention of EAEU membership;
  • key natural gas, cotton, and gold exporter;
  • landlocked and environmentally fragile;
  • positive growth through COVID-19, but poverty increasing

Central America and the Caribbean

32 entries

Anguilla

  • small, tourism-dependent, territorial-island economy;
  • very high public debt;
  • COVID-19 crippled economic activity;
  • partial recovery underway via tourism, benefitting from its high amount of timeshare residences;
  • considering reopening oil refinery

Antigua and Barbuda

  • dual island-tourism and construction-driven economy;
  • emerging “blue economy”;
  • limited water supply and susceptibility to hurricanes limit activity;
  • improving road infrastructure;
  • friendly to foreign direct investment;
  • looking at financial innovation in cryptocurrency and blockchain technologies

Aruba

  • small, tourism-dependent, territorial-island economy;
  • very high public debt;
  • COVID-19 crippled economic activity;
  • partial recovery underway via tourism, benefitting from its high amount of timeshare residences;
  • considering reopening oil refinery

Bahamas, The now The Bahamas

  • high-income tourism and financial services economy;
  • major income inequality;
  • strong US bilateral relations;
  • several tax relief programs;
  • targeted investment in agriculture, energy, light manufacturing, and technology industries

Barbados

  • high-income Eastern Caribbean economy;
  • high standard of living among regional peers;
  • key tourism, construction, and financial sectors driving recent GDP growth;
  • declining but still very high public debt leading to IMF support programs;
  • susceptible to natural disasters and reliance on import partners

Belize

  • tourism- and agriculture-driven economy;
  • strong post-pandemic rebound;
  • innovative and ecological bond restructuring that significantly lowered public debt and expanded marine protections;
  • central bank offering USD-denominated treasury notes;
  • high mobility across borders

British Virgin Islands

  • British Caribbean island territorial economy;
  • strong tourism and services industries;
  • vulnerable to hurricanes;
  • navigating public debt insolvency since 2008 Crisis;
  • considered a tax haven;
  • high electrification costs;
  • major rum exporter

Cayman Islands

  • dominant offshore banking territory;
  • services sector accounts for over 85% of economic activity;
  • recently adopted a fiscal responsibility framework to combat tax evasion and money laundering;
  • large tourism sector;
  • does not have any welfare system;
  • high standard of living

Costa Rica

  • trade-based upper middle-income economy;
  • green economy leader, having reversed deforestation;
  • investing in blue economy infrastructure;
  • declining poverty until hard impacts of COVID-19;
  • lingering inequality and growing government debts have prompted a liquidity crisis

Cuba

  • still largely state-run planned economy, although privatization increasing under new constitution;
  • widespread protests due to lack of basic necessities and electricity;
  • massive foreign investment increases recently;
  • known tobacco exporter;
  • unique oil-for-doctors relationship with Venezuela;
  • widespread corruption

Curacao

  • high-income island economy;
  • developed infrastructure;
  • tourism and financial services-based economy;
  • investing in information technology incentives;
  • oil refineries service Venezuela and China;
  • unique COVID-19 stimulus support applied to government debts rather than household support

Dominica

  • highly agrarian OECS island economy;
  • ECCU-member state;
  • large banana exporter;
  • improved oversight of its citizenship-by-investment program;
  • emerging ecotourism, information and communications, and education industries

Dominican Republic

  • surging middle-income tourism, construction, mining, and telecommunications OECS economy;
  • major foreign US direct investment and free-trade zones;
  • developing local financial markets;
  • improving debt management;
  • declining poverty

El Salvador

  • growth-challenged Central American economy buttressed via remittances;
  • dense labor force;
  • fairly aggressive COVID-19 stimulus plan;
  • new and lower banking reserve requirements;
  • earthquake, tropical storm, and crime disruptions;
  • widespread corruption

Grenada

  • small OECS service-based economy;
  • large tourism, construction, transportation, and education sectors;
  • major spice exporter;
  • shrinking but still high public debt;
  • vulnerable to hurricanes;
  • emerging blue economy incentives

Guatemala

  • developing Central American economy;
  • steady economic growth fueled by remittances;
  • high poverty and income inequality;
  • limited government services, lack of employment opportunities, and frequent natural disasters impede human development efforts and drive emigration

Haiti

  • small Caribbean island economy and OECS-member state;
  • extreme poverty and inflation;
  • enormous income inequality;
  • ongoing civil unrest due to recent presidential assassination;
  • US preferential market access;
  • very open to foreign direct investment

Honduras

  • second-fastest-growing Central American economy;
  • COVID-19 and two hurricanes crippled activity;
  • high poverty and inequality;
  • declining-but-still-high violent crime disruption;
  • systemic corruption;
  • coffee and banana exporter;
  • enormous remittances

Jamaica

  • upper-middle-income Caribbean island economy;
  • key agriculture and tourism sectors;
  • high crime, youth unemployment, and poverty;
  • susceptible to natural disasters and global commodity price shocks;
  • progress in reducing public debt and moderating inflation within target range

Montserrat

  • formerly high-income economy;
  • volcanic activity destroyed much of original infrastructure and economy;
  • new capital and port is being developed;
  • key geothermal and solar power generation;
  • key music recording operations

Nicaragua

  • low-income Central American economy;
  • until 2018, nearly 20 years of sustained GDP growth;
  • recent struggles due to COVID-19, political instability, and hurricanes;
  • significant remittances;
  • increasing poverty and food scarcity since 2005;
  • sanctions limit investment

Panama

  • upper middle-income Central American economy;
  • increasing Chinese trade;
  • US dollar user;
  • canal expansion fueling broader infrastructure investment;
  • services sector dominates economy;
  • historic money-laundering and illegal drug hub

Puerto Rico

  • US Caribbean island territorial economy;
  • hit hard by COVID-19 and hurricanes;
  • declining labor force and job growth after a decade of continuous recession;
  • capital-based industry and tourism;
  • high poverty;
  • energy import-dependent

Saint Barthelemy

  • high-income French Caribbean territorial economy;
  • duty-free luxury commerce and tourism industries;
  • import-dependent for food, water, energy, and manufacturing;
  • large Brazilian and Portuguese labor supply;
  • environmentally fragile

Saint Kitts and Nevis

  • high-income, tourism-based Caribbean OECS economy;
  • better debt balancing;
  • CARICOM and ECCU member;
  • growing offshore financial and telecommunications hub;
  • environmentally fragile;
  • unique citizenship-driven growth model

Saint Lucia

  • upper middle-income, tourism-based Caribbean island economy;
  • environmentally fragile;
  • energy import-dependent;
  • major banana producer;
  • well-educated labor force;
  • key infrastructure, IT, and communications investments

Saint Martin

  • high-income French Caribbean territorial economy;
  • extremely reliant on tourism, with severe COVID-19 impacts;
  • near-total destruction from Hurricane Irma in 2017;
  • some offshore banking;
  • import-dependent;
  • duty-free commerce;
  • yachting destination

Saint Vincent and the Grenadines

  • upper middle-income Caribbean island economy;
  • key agriculture and tourism sectors;
  • environmentally fragile;
  • diversifying economy across services, science and knowledge, and creative industries;
  • CARICOM member and US Caribbean Basin Initiative beneficiary

Sint Maarten

  • high-income, tourism-based Dutch autonomous constituent economy;
  • severe hurricane- and COVID-19-related economic recessions;
  • multilateral trust fund helping offset economic downturn;
  • no property taxation;
  • re-exporter to Saint Martin

Trinidad and Tobago

  • high-income Caribbean economy;
  • major hydrocarbon exporter;
  • key tourism and finance sectors;
  • high inflation and growing public debt;
  • long foreign currency access delays;
  • large foreign reserves and sovereign wealth fund

Turks and Caicos Islands

  • British Caribbean island territorial economy;
  • GDP and its tourism industry hit hard by COVID-19 disruptions;
  • major biodiversity locale;
  • US dollar user;
  • fossil fuel dependent;
  • negative trade balance;
  • increasing unemployment

Virgin Islands

  • high-income, tourism-based American territorial economy;
  • severe COVID-19 economic disruptions;
  • major rum distillery;
  • high public debt;
  • sluggish reopening of large oil refinery;
  • environmentally susceptible to hurricanes;
  • many informal industries

Europe

48 entries

Albania

  • upper-middle -income Balkan economy;
  • EU accession candidate;
  • growth bolstered by tourism, services, construction, and private consumption;
  • fiscal consolidation through revenue collection to address public debt;
  • challenges include weak governance, corruption, climate adaptation, vulnerability to energy sector shocks, and emigration of workers

Andorra

  • high GDP;
  • low unemployment;
  • non-EU Euro user;
  • co-principality duty-free area between Spain and France;
  • tourist hub but hit hard by COVID-19;
  • modern, non-tax haven financial sector;
  • looking for big tech investments;
  • new member of SEPA and IMF

Austria

  • one of the strongest EU and euro economies;
  • diversified trade portfolios and relations;
  • enormous trade economy;
  • Russian energy dependence, but investing in alternative energy;
  • aging labor force but large refugee population;
  • large government debt

Belarus

  • declining Russian energy subsidies will end in 2024;
  • growing public debt;
  • strong currency pressures have led to higher inflation;
  • recent price controls on basic food and drugs;
  • public sector wage increases and fragile private sector threaten household income gains and economic growth

Belgium

  • high-income, core EU and eurozone economy;
  • slow but steady growth supported by household consumption and energy shock recovery;
  • high public debt and structural deficits linked to social spending;
  • aging workforce with weak productivity growth and participation rates

Bosnia and Herzegovina

  • import-dominated economy;
  • remains consumption-heavy;
  • lack of private sector investments and diversification;
  • jointly addressing structural economic challenges;
  • Chinese energy infrastructure investments;
  • high unemployment;
  • tourism industry impacted by COVID-19

Bulgaria

  • upper-middle-income EU economy;
  • currency pegged to the euro with accession pending;
  • joined Schengen area as of March 2024;
  • global events and internal political turmoil triggered export slump and stalled reforms;
  • EU structural funds contributing to investment recovery;
  • skilled labor shortage driven by emigration and aging population

Croatia

  • tourism-based economy that was one of the hardest hit by COVID-19 economic disruptions;
  • newest euro user since 2023, helping recover from a 6-year recession;
  • public debt increases due to COVID-19 and stimulus packages;
  • weak exports;
  • continuing emigration;
  • new liquefied natural gas import terminal

Czechia

  • high-income, diversified EU economy;
  • manufacturing-oriented exporter led by automotive industry;
  • growth stalled by inflation and energy supply disruption;
  • business-friendly regulatory frameworks;
  • tight labor market with low unemployment;
  • seeking reforms to support decarbonization and improve energy efficiency

Denmark

  • high-income, EU member, trade-oriented Nordic economy;
  • growth driven by pharmaceuticals, energy and services;
  • large share of employment in public sector;
  • fixed exchange rate pegged to euro;
  • strong fiscal position;
  • tight labor market addressed by migrant workers and higher average retirement age

Estonia

  • advanced, service-based EU and eurozone economy;
  • economic downturn due to inflation, trade, and energy impacts of Ukraine war;
  • decline in intra-EU trade;
  • low public debt relative to EU members;
  • recovery depends on improving private investment and productivity rates

Faroe Islands

  • high-income Danish territorial economy;
  • party neither to the EU nor the Schengen Area;
  • associate Nordic Council member;
  • very low unemployment;
  • unique foreign ownership allowance in fishing industry;
  • known salmon exporter;
  • growing IT industries

Finland

  • high-income, export-based EU and eurozone economy;
  • major timber, metals, engineering, telecom, and electronics industries;
  • emerging from recession triggered by inflation, weak consumer and export demand, and lower private investment;
  • labor market reform plan to address structural rigidities

France

  • high-income, advanced and diversified EU economy and euro user;
  • strong tourism, aircraft manufacturing, pharmaceuticals, and industrial sectors;
  • high public debt;
  • ongoing pension reform efforts;
  • transitioning to a green economy via "France 2030" strategy

Germany

  • leading diversified, export-driven, core EU and eurozone economy;
  • key automotive, chemical, engineering, finance, and green energy industries;
  • growth stalled by energy crisis;
  • tight labor market with falling working-age population;
  • fiscal rebalancing with phaseout of energy price supports

Gibraltar

  • British territorial high-income economy;
  • Brexit caused significant economic disruption to longstanding financial services, shipping, and tourism industries;
  • ongoing negotiations to rejoin EU Schengen Area;
  • independent taxation authority

Greece

  • developed EU and eurozone economy;
  • strong post-COVID growth driven by tourism, shipping industry, exports, and foreign investment supported by EU cohesion funds;
  • public debt remains high despite recent budget surplus;
  • challenges from negative household savings, high unemployment, corruption, and competitiveness gaps

Guernsey

  • high-income English Channel island economy;
  • strong financial sector but stressed due to COVID-19 disruptions;
  • manufacturing, tourism, and construction industries suffered but expected to recover;
  • stable inflation;
  • maintains independent taxation authority

Holy See (Vatican City)

  • limited, tourism-based economy;
  • euro user but issues commemorative stamps and coins;
  • solar energy producer;
  • some printing industry to support museums and religious needs

Hungary

  • high-income EU and OECD economy;
  • tightening fiscal policy in response to budget deficit;
  • delayed EU cohesion fund disbursement due to judicial independence concerns;
  • high inflation and low consumer confidence;
  • seeking alternatives to dependence on Russian natural gas

Ireland

  • strong, export-based EU economy;
  • multinational-business-friendly environment known for resilience, even amid COVID-19 disruptions;
  • real wage growth beyond other OECD members;
  • high livings standards;
  • strong social equity and cohesion;
  • aging labor force

Isle of Man

  • high-income British island economy;
  • known financial services and tourism industries;
  • taxation incentives for technology and financial firms to operate;
  • historic fishing and agriculture industries are declining;
  • major online gambling and film industry locale

Italy

  • core EU economy;
  • strong services, manufacturing, and tourism sectors;
  • sustained recovery in post-COVID inflationary environment;
  • high public debt levels;
  • increasing poverty levels particularly in poorer south;
  • strong exports to EU and US partners

Jersey

  • British territorial island economy;
  • strong offshore banking and finance sectors;
  • low asset taxation;
  • strong tourism sector prior to COVID-19 and Brexit;
  • one of the most expensive places to live;
  • minimal welfare system;
  • historical cider industry

Kosovo

  • small-but-growing European economy;
  • non-EU member but unilateral euro user;
  • very high unemployment, especially youth;
  • vulnerable reliance on diaspora tourism services, curtailed by COVID-19 disruptions;
  • unclear public loan portfolio health

Latvia

  • high-income EU and eurozone member;
  • economic contraction triggered by export decline and energy shocks;
  • recovery driven by easing inflation, wage growth, and investments supported by EU funds;
  • challenges from skilled labor shortages, capital market access, large informal sector, and green and digital transitions

Liechtenstein

  • high-income European economy;
  • Schengen Area participant;
  • key European financial leader;
  • integrated with Swiss economy and franc currency user;
  • one of the highest GDP per capita countries;
  • relies on US and Eurozone markets for exports

Lithuania

  • high-income EU and eurozone member, largest Baltic economy;
  • growth stalled due to Ukraine war impact on energy, exports, and fiscal spending for defense and refugee support;
  • rebound supported by EU fund-driven investments and reduced inflation;
  • structural challenges include pension reform, labor market inefficiencies, health care, and education spending

Luxembourg

  • high-income EU and eurozone economy;
  • global, highly capitalized banking sector;
  • one of highest GDP-per-capita countries;
  • trending toward recovery after economic contraction from energy-driven inflation, reduced exports and investments, and financial sector weakness

Malta

  • high-income, EU-member European economy;
  • diversified portfolio;
  • euro user;
  • dependent on food and energy imports;
  • strong tourism, trade, and manufacturing sectors;
  • high North African immigration;
  • large welfare system;
  • educated workforce

Moldova

  • upper middle-income Eastern European economy;
  • sustained growth reversed by COVID-19;
  • significant remittances;
  • Russian energy and regional dependence;
  • agricultural exporter;
  • declining workforce due to emigration and low fertility

Monaco

  • high-income European economy;
  • non-EU euro user;
  • considered a tax haven;
  • tourism and banking are largest sectors;
  • negatively impacted by COVID-19;
  • major oceanographic museum;
  • among most expensive real estate;
  • major state-owned enterprises

Montenegro

  • upper middle-income, small Balkan economy;
  • uses euro as de facto currency;
  • strong growth driven by tourism and consumption;
  • new impetus for EU accession under Europe Now government;
  • influx of affluent migrants from Russia and Ukraine;
  • progress in fiscal position subject to risks from pension costs, debt service, and informal sector

Netherlands

  • high-income, core EU- and eurozone-member economy;
  • trade-oriented with strong services, logistics, and high tech sectors;
  • exiting mild recession triggered by inflation and weak export demand;
  • tight labor market;
  • low deficits and manageable public debt;
  • strong ratings for innovation, competitiveness, and business climate

North Macedonia

  • upper-middle-income European economy;
  • recovering from energy-driven inflation;
  • macroeconomic support from IMF and EU lending facilities;
  • stalled progress on EU accession;
  • fiscal consolidation hampered by deficit spending on public works;
  • structural challenges of emigration, low productivity growth, and governance

Norway

  • high-income, non-EU economy with trade links via European Economic Area (EEA);
  • key European energy security role as leader in oil, gas, and electricity exports;
  • major fishing, forestry, and extraction industries;
  • oil sovereign fund supports generous welfare system;
  • low unemployment;
  • inflation and response hampering growth in non-energy sectors

Poland

  • high-income, diversified, EU-member economy;
  • significant growth in GDP, trade, and investment since joining EU in 2004;
  • rebounding from slowdown triggered by inflation and fall in consumer demand;
  • strong foreign investment supported by EU structural funds;
  • income tax reform and defense spending have added to public debt

Portugal

  • high-income EU and eurozone economy;
  • strong services sector led by tourism and banking;
  • tight labor market;
  • private consumption and export recovery driving post-inflation rebound;
  • EU Recovery and Resilience Plan (RRP) funds a key driver of public investment;
  • high public debt but improving fiscal position

Romania

  • high-income EU member economy;
  • joined Schengen area as of March 2024;
  • euro membership delayed over convergence criteria;
  • persistent inflation but recovery driven by consumption and EU-funded investments;
  • skilled labor shortage;
  • regional economic disparities;
  • fiscal reforms to address rising deficits

San Marino

  • high-income, non-EU European economy;
  • surrounded by Italy, which is the dominant importer and exporter;
  • open border to EU and a euro user;
  • strong financial sector;
  • high foreign investments;
  • low taxation;
  • increasingly high and risky debt

Serbia

  • upper middle-income Balkan economy;
  • current EU accession candidate;
  • hit by COVID-19;
  • pursuing green growth development;
  • manageable public debt;
  • new anticorruption efforts;
  • falling unemployment;
  • historic Russian relations;
  • energy import-dependent

Slovakia

  • high-income EU- and eurozone-member economy;
  • manufacturing and exports led by automotive sector;
  • weakening of anti-corruption laws may impact foreign investment and status of EU funds;
  • influx of foreign labor offsets aging workforce;
  • widening fiscal deficit from social spending and EU-financed public investments

Slovenia

  • high-income, EU and eurozone member economy;
  • high per-capita income and low inequality;
  • key exports in automotive and pharmaceuticals;
  • tight labor market with low unemployment;
  • growth supported by EU funds and reconstruction from 2023 floods;
  • pressures over public sector wage demands

Spain

  • high-income core EU and eurozone economy;
  • strong growth driven by public consumption, tourism, and other service exports;
  • tight labor market despite high structural unemployment;
  • government debt remains high amid deficit reductions;
  • innovation and economic freedom ranked lower than EU and OECD peers

Sweden

  • high-income, largest Nordic economy;
  • EU member but non-euro user;
  • export-oriented led by automotive, electronics, machinery and pharmaceuticals;
  • highly ranked for competitiveness, R&D investments and governance;
  • slowdown triggered by high inflation, weak consumption and financial tightening

Switzerland

  • high-income, non-EU European economy;
  • top ten in GDP per capita;
  • renowned banking and financial hub;
  • low unemployment and inflation;
  • slowed GDP growth post-pandemic;
  • highly skilled but aging workforce;
  • key pharmaceutical and precision manufacturing exporter;
  • leader in innovation and competitiveness indices

Ukraine

  • lower-middle-income, non-EU, Eastern European economy;
  • key wheat and corn exporter;
  • gradual recovery after 30% GDP contraction at start of war;
  • damage to infrastructure and agriculture balanced by consumer and business resilience;
  • international aid has stabilized foreign exchange reserves, allowing managed currency float;
  • continued progress on anti-corruption reforms

United Kingdom

  • high-income, diversified, non-EU European economy;
  • global financial center and dominant service sector;
  • sluggish growth from stringent monetary policy, reduced business investment, low productivity and participation rates, and post-Brexit trade frictions;
  • fiscal austerity in face of high public debt

Middle East

15 entries

Bahrain

  • high-income, growing Middle Eastern island economy;
  • oil and aluminum exporter with diversification led by services, construction and manufacturing;
  • regional finance and tourism hub;
  • high public debt linked to oil revenue dependence and limited tax base;
  • vulnerable to water reservoir depletion

Cyprus

  • services-based, high-income EU island economy;
  • heavy tourism;
  • sustained growth between recovery of national banking system and COVID-19 trade restrictions;
  • high living standards;
  • a known financial hub, its stock exchange functions as an investment bridge between EU-and EEU-member countries

note: Even though the whole of the island is part of the EU, implementation of the EU "acquis communautaire" has been suspended in the area administered by Turkish Cypriots, known locally as the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus, until political conditions permit the reunification of the island. Its market-based economy is roughly one-fifth the size of its southern neighbor and is likewise dominated by the service sector with a large portion of the population employed by the government. Manufacturing is limited mainly to food and beverages, furniture and fixtures, construction materials, metal and non-metal products, textiles and clothing. Little trade exists with the Republic of Cyprus outside of construction, historically relying heavily upon Turkey for financial aid, defense, telecommunications, utilities, and postal services. The Turkish Lira is the preferred currency, though foreign currencies are widely accepted in business transactions.

Iran

  • traditionally state-controlled economy but reforming state-owned financial entities;
  • strong oil/gas, agricultural, and service sectors;
  • recent massive inflation due to exchange rate depreciation, international sanctions, and investor uncertainty;
  • increasing poverty

Iraq

  • highly oil-dependent Middle Eastern economy;
  • fiscal sustainability subject to fluctuation in oil prices;
  • rising public confidence in economic conditions;
  • import-dependent for most sectors;
  • persistent challenges of corruption, informal markets, banking access, and political fragility

Israel

  • high-income, technology- and industrial-based economy;
  • economic contraction and fiscal deficits resulting from war in Gaza;
  • labor force stabilizing following military reservist mobilization;
  • high-tech industry remains resilient while construction and tourism among hardest-hit sectors

Jordan

  • upper-middle-income Middle Eastern economy;
  • high debt and unemployment, especially for youth and women;
  • global events triggering trade slump and decreased revenue from tourism;
  • growing manufacturing and agricultural sectors;
  • key US foreign assistance recipient;
  • natural-resource-poor and import-reliant

Kuwait

  • small, high-income, oil-based Middle East economy;
  • renewable energy proponent;
  • regional finance and investment leader;
  • maintains oldest sovereign wealth fund;
  • emerging space and tourism industries;
  • mid-way through 25-year development program

Lebanon

  • upper middle-income Middle Eastern economy;
  • economic activity hurt by economic depression, COVID-19, and port explosion;
  • hyperinflation and sharp poverty increases;
  • banks have ceased lending;
  • new financing facility helping with recovery

Oman

  • high-income, oil-based economy;
  • large welfare system;
  • growing government debt;
  • citizenship-based labor force growth policy;
  • US free trade agreement;
  • diversifying portfolio;
  • high female labor force participation

Qatar

  • high-income, oil-and-gas-based Middle Eastern economy;
  • National Vision 2030 government strategy for economic development, diversification, favorable business conditions to grow investment and employment;
  • infrastructure investments;
  • Islamic finance leader;
  • citizenship-based labor force growth

Saudi Arabia

  • high-income, oil-based Middle Eastern economy;
  • OPEC leader;
  • diversifying portfolio;
  • declining per-capita incomes;
  • young labor force;
  • key human capital gaps;
  • heavy bureaucracy and increasing corruption;
  • substantial poverty;
  • low innovation economy

Syria

  • low-income Middle Eastern economy;
  • prior infrastructure and economy devastated by 11-year civil war;
  • ongoing US sanctions;
  • sporadic trans-migration during conflict;
  • currently being supported by World Bank trust fund;
  • ongoing hyperinflation

Turkey (Turkiye) now Turkiye

  • upper middle-income, diversified Middle Eastern economy;
  • heightened inflation and currency depreciation triggered by expansionary monetary and fiscal policy ahead of 2023 elections, now being reversed;
  • industrializing economy that maintains large agricultural base

United Arab Emirates

  • historically oil-driven Middle Eastern economy;
  • diversifying into a trade-oriented logistics and supply chain leader;
  • strong foreign direct investment orientation;
  • building trade and investment ties through partnership agreements;
  • growing banking sector;
  • recent economic linkages with Israel slowing due to Gaza conflict

Yemen

  • low-income Middle Eastern economy;
  • infrastructure, trade, and economic institutions devastated by civil war;
  • oil/gas-dependent but decreasing reserves;
  • massive poverty, food insecurity, and unemployment;
  • high inflation

North America

5 entries

Bermuda

  • small, tourism- and construction-based, territorial-island economy;
  • American import and tourist destination;
  • known offshore banking hub;
  • increasing inflation;
  • major re-exportation and re-importation area

Canada

  • one of the world’s leading developed economies;
  • globally integrated commercial and financial markets;
  • largest US trading partner;
  • key energy, forestry, manufacturing and service industries;
  • inflation recovering following interest rate hikes;
  • government priorities include climate policy, immigration and affordable housing

Mexico

  • upper-middle income economy;
  • highly integrated with US via trade and nearshore manufacturing;
  • low unemployment;
  • inflation gradually decreasing amid tight monetary policy;
  • state intervention in energy sector and public infrastructure projects;
  • challenges from income inequality, corruption, and cartel-based violence

Saint Pierre and Miquelon

  • high-income, French North American territorial economy;
  • primarily fishing exports;
  • substantial French Government support;
  • highly seasonal labor force;
  • euro user;
  • increasing tourism and aquaculture investments

United States

  • high-income, diversified North American economy;
  • NATO leader;
  • largest importer and second-largest exporter;
  • home to leading financial exchanges;
  • high and growing public debt;
  • rising socioeconomic inequalities;
  • historically low interest rates;
  • hit by COVID-19

Oceania

25 entries

American Samoa

  • tourism, tuna, and government services-based territorial economy;
  • sustained economic decline;
  • vulnerable tuna canning industry;
  • large territorial government presence;
  • minimum wage increases to rise to federal standards by 2036

Australia

  • highly developed, diversified, regionally and globally integrated economy;
  • strong mining, manufacturing, and service sectors;
  • net exporter driven by commodities to East Asian trade partners;
  • “Future Made in Australia” program focused on green energy investments

Cook Islands

  • high-income self-governing New Zealand territorial economy;
  • tourism-based activity but diversifying;
  • severely curtailed by COVID-19 pandemic;
  • copra and tropical fruit exporter;
  • Asian Development Bank aid recipient

Fiji

  • upper-middle income, tourism-based Pacific island economy;
  • susceptible to ocean rises;
  • key energy and infrastructure investments;
  • post-pandemic tourism resurgence;
  • improved debt standing;
  • limited workforce

French Polynesia

  • small, territorial-island tourism-based economy;
  • large French financing;
  • lower EU import duties;
  • Pacific Islands Forum member;
  • fairly resilient from COVID-19;
  • oil-dependent infrastructure

Guam

  • small Pacific island US territorial economy;
  • upper income, tourism-based economy;
  • hard-hit by COVID-19 disruptions;
  • relaunched many industries via vaccination tourism;
  • domestic economy relies on multiple military bases;
  • environmentally fragile economy

Kiribati

  • lower-middle income, Pacific island economy;
  • environmentally fragile;
  • sizable remittances;
  • key phosphate mining fund;
  • tourism and fishing industries;
  • public sector-dominated economy;
  • recent withdrawal from Pacific Islands Forum;
  • ongoing constitutional crisis

Marshall Islands

  • upper middle-income Pacific island economy;
  • US aid reliance;
  • large public sector;
  • coconut oil production as diesel fuel substitute;
  • growing offshore banking locale;
  • fishing rights seller;
  • import-dependent

Micronesia, Federated States of now Federated States of Micronesia

  • lower middle-income Pacific island economy;
  • US aid reliance, sunsetting in 2024;
  • low entrepreneurship;
  • mostly fishing and farming;
  • US dollar user;
  • no patent laws;
  • tourism remains underdeveloped;
  • significant corruption

Nauru

  • upper-middle-income Pacific island country;
  • phosphate resource exhaustion made island interior uninhabitable;
  • licenses fishing rights;
  • houses Australia’s Regional Processing Centre;
  • former tax haven;
  • largely dependent on foreign subsidies

New Caledonia

  • upper-middle-income French Pacific territorial economy;
  • enormous nickel reserves;
  • ongoing French independence negotiations;
  • large Chinese nickel exporter;
  • luxury eco-tourism destination;
  • large French aid recipient;
  • high cost-of-living;
  • lingering wealth disparities

New Zealand

  • high-income, globally integrated Pacific island economy;
  • strong agriculture, manufacturing, and tourism sectors;
  • reliant on Chinese market for exports;
  • slow recovery from post-COVID recession and inflation;
  • challenges of fiscal deficits, below-average productivity, and curbing greenhouse gas emissions

Niue

  • upper-middle-income self-governing New Zealand territorial economy;
  • environmentally fragile;
  • massive emigration;
  • post-pandemic tourism rebound;
  • postage stamps, small-scale agricultural processing, and subsistence farming;
  • most recent Asian Development Bank member

Norfolk Island

  • high-income Australian territorial economy;
  • key tourism and re-exportation industries;
  • small labor force and declining participation creating more part-time jobs;
  • former tax haven;
  • increasing medical cannabis exporter;
  • little transportation infrastructure

Northern Mariana Islands

  • US Pacific island commonwealth economy;
  • growing Chinese and Korean tourist destination;
  • hit hard by 2018 typhoon;
  • dependent on energy imports;
  • exempt from some US labor and immigration laws;
  • longstanding garment production

Palau

  • high-income Pacific island economy;
  • environmentally fragile;
  • subsistence agriculture and fishing industries;
  • US aid reliance;
  • rebounding post-pandemic tourism industry and services sector;
  • very high living standard and low unemployment

Papua New Guinea

  • lower middle-income Pacific island economy;
  • primarily informal agrarian sector;
  • natural resource-rich;
  • key liquified natural gas exporter;
  • growing young workforce;
  • slow post-pandemic recovery;
  • increasingly impoverished citizenry;
  • sustainable inflation

Pitcairn Islands

  • small South Pacific British island territorial economy;
  • exports primarily postage stamps, handicraft goods, honey, and tinctures;
  • extremely limited infrastructure;
  • dependent upon UK and EU aid;
  • recent border reopening post-COVID-19

Samoa

  • ower middle-income Pacific island economy;
  • enormous fishing and agriculture industries;
  • significant remittances;
  • growing offshore financial hub;
  • recently hosted Pacific Games to drive tourism and infrastructure growth

Solomon Islands

  • lower middle-income Pacific island economy;
  • natural resource rich but environmentally fragile;
  • key agrarian sector;
  • growing Chinese economic relationship;
  • infrastructure damage due to social unrest;
  • metal mining operations

Tokelau

  • small New Zealand territorial island economy;
  • labor force can work in New Zealand or Australia;
  • significant remittances;
  • largely solar-powered infrastructure;
  • reliant on New Zealand funding;
  • stamp, coin, and crafts producer

Tonga

  • upper middle-income Pacific island economy;
  • enormous diaspora and remittance reliance;
  • key tourism and agricultural sectors;
  • major fish exporter;
  • rapidly growing Chinese infrastructure investments;
  • rising methamphetamine hub

Tuvalu

  • upper middle-income Pacific island economy;
  • extremely environmentally fragile;
  • currency pegged to Australian dollar;
  • large international aid recipient;
  • subsistence agrarian sector;
  • Te Kakeega sustainable development;
  • domain name licensing incomes

Vanuatu

  • lower-middle income Pacific island economy;
  • extremely reliant on subsistence agriculture and tourism;
  • environmentally fragile;
  • struggling post-pandemic and Tropical Cyclone Harold rebound;
  • sizeable inflation;
  • road infrastructure aid from Australia

Wallis and Futuna

  • lower-middle-income, agrarian French dependency economy;
  • heavily reliant on French subsidies;
  • licenses fishing rights to Japan and South Korea;
  • major remittances from New Caledonia;
  • aging workforce;
  • import-dependent;
  • deforestation-fueled fragility

South America

13 entries

Argentina

  • large diversified economy;
  • financial risks from debt obligations, rapid inflation, and reduced investor appetites;
  • resource-rich, export-led growth model;
  • increasing trade relations with China;
  • G20 and OAS leader;
  • tendency to nationalize businesses and under-report inflation

Bolivia

  • resource-rich economy benefits during commodity booms;
  • has bestowed juridical rights to Mother Earth, impacting extraction industries;
  • increasing Chinese lithium mining trade relations;
  • hard hit by COVID-19;
  • increased fiscal spending amid poverty increases;
  • rampant banking and finance corruption

Brazil

  • upper-middle income, largest Latin American economy;
  • Mercosur, BRICS, G20 member and OECD accession candidate;
  • growth driven by strong domestic consumption;
  • tax simplification reforms aimed at addressing business conditions and lagging productivity;
  • high inequality in income and access to health and education

Chile

  • export-driven economy;
  • leading copper producer;
  • though hit by COVID-19, fairly quick rebound from increased liquidity and rapid vaccine rollouts;
  • decreasing poverty but still lingering inequality;
  • public debt rising but still manageable;
  • recent political violence has had negative economic consequences

Colombia

  • prior to COVID-19, one of the most consistent growth economies;
  • declining poverty;
  • large stimulus package has mitigated economic fallout, but delayed key infrastructure investments;
  • successful inflation management;
  • sound flexible exchange rate regime;
  • domestic economy suffers from lack of trade integration and infrastructure

Ecuador

  • highly informal South American economy;
  • USD currency user;
  • major banana exporter;
  • hard hit by COVID-19;
  • macroeconomic fragility from oil dependency;
  • successful debt restructuring;
  • China funding budget deficits;
  • social unrest hampering economic activity

Falkland Islands (Islas Malvinas)

  • British South American territorial economy;
  • longstanding fishing industry;
  • surging tourism prior to COVID-19 and Brexit;
  • recent offshore hydrocarbon discoveries threaten ecotourism industries;
  • no central bank and must have British approval on currency shifts

Guyana

  • small, hydrocarbon-driven South American export economy;
  • major forest coverage being leveraged in carbon credit offsets to encourage preservation;
  • strengthening financial sector;
  • large bauxite and gold resources

Paraguay

  • upper middle-income South American economy;
  • COVID-19 hit while still recovering from 2019 Argentina-driven recession;
  • global hydroelectricity leader;
  • major corruption and money-laundering locale;
  • highly agrarian economy;
  • significant income inequality

Peru

  • upper-middle-income South American economy;
  • strong post-COVID rebound tempered by political uncertainty and climate risks;
  • exports driven by mineral extraction and agriculture;
  • large informal sector and uneven access to public services;
  • stable fiscal position and financial sector

Suriname

  • upper middle-income South American economy;
  • new floating currency regime;
  • key aluminum goods, gold, and hydrocarbon exporter;
  • new IMF plan for economic recovery and fiscal sustainability;
  • controversial hardwood industry

Uruguay

  • high-income, export-oriented South American economy;
  • South America’s largest middle class;
  • low socioeconomic inequality;
  • growing homicide rates;
  • growing Chinese and EU relations;
  • 2019 Argentine recession hurt;
  • key milk, beef, rice, and wool exporter

Venezuela

  • South American economy;
  • ongoing hyperinflation since mid-2010s;
  • chaotic economy due to political corruption, infrastructure cuts, and human rights abuses;
  • in debt default;
  • oil exporter;
  • hydropower consumer;
  • rising Chinese relations

Southeast Asia

15 entries

Brunei

  • almost exclusively an oil and gas economy;
  • high income country;
  • expansive and robust welfare system;
  • the majority of the population works for the government;
  • promulgating a nationalized halal brand;
  • considering establishment of a bond market and stock exchange

Burma now Burma (Myanmar)

  • slowly recovering Southeast Asian economy;
  • household incomes weaken domestic consumption;
  • growing trade deficit;
  • declining employment;
  • high inflation and reduced currency power;
  • agriculture sector remains most stable

Cambodia

  • one of the fastest growing Southeast Asian economies;
  • rebounding tourism and clothing exports;
  • substantial manufacturing and construction sectors;
  • new trade agreements expanding agricultural markets;
  • significant public debt;
  • investing in new ports and roads

Christmas Island

  • high-income Australian territorial economy;
  • development through government services and phosphate mining;
  • operates Australia’s Immigration Detention Centre;
  • increasing tourism and government investments;
  • sustained environmental protections

Hong Kong

  • high-income tourism- and services-based economy;
  • global financial hub;
  • COVID-19 and political protests fueled recent recession;
  • ongoing recovery but lower-skilled unemployment remains high;
  • investing in job-reskilling programs

Indonesia

  • upper middle-income, largest and growing Southeast Asian economy;
  • higher lending rates to moderate inflation;
  • ongoing relocation of capital fueling infrastructure projects;
  • major tourism sector prompting green economy goals

Laos

  • lower middle-income, industrial Southeast Asian economy;
  • high inflation due to 2022 currency depreciation brought on by persistently high debt;
  • new Laos-China railway and dry port;
  • rising inequities;
  • ongoing labor shortages

Macau

  • high-income, Chinese special administrative region economy;
  • known for apparel exports and gambling tourism;
  • currency pegged to Hong Kong dollar;
  • significant recession due to 2015 Chinese anticorruption campaign;
  • COVID-19 further halved economic activity

Malaysia

  • upper middle-income Southeast Asian economy;
  • implementing key anticorruption policies;
  • major electronics, oil, and chemicals exporter;
  • trade sector employs over 40% of jobs;
  • key economic equity initiative;
  • high labor productivity

Philippines

  • growing Southeast Asian economy;
  • commercial rebound led by transportation, construction and financial services;
  • electronics exports recovering from sector slowdown;
  • significant remittances;
  • interest rate rises following heightened inflation;
  • uncertainties due to increased regional tensions with China

Singapore

  • high-income, service-based economy;
  • global financial hub;
  • business-friendly policies and open to investment and trade;
  • inflation easing but persistent in services;
  • public investments in education, healthcare, and infrastructure;
  • strong human capital development challenged by aging population

Taiwan

  • high-income East Asian economy;
  • most technologically advanced computer microchip manufacturing;
  • increasing Chinese interference threatens market capabilities;
  • minimum wages rising;
  • longstanding regional socioeconomic inequality

Thailand

  • upper middle-income Southeast Asian economy;
  • substantial infrastructure;
  • major electronics, food, and automobile parts exporter;
  • globally used currency;
  • extremely low unemployment;
  • ongoing Thailand 4.0 economic development

Timor-Leste

  • lower middle-income Southeast Asian economy;
  • government expenditures funded via oil fund drawdowns;
  • endemic corruption undermines growth;
  • foreign aid-dependent;
  • wide-scale poverty, unemployment, and illiteracy

Vietnam

  • lower middle-income socialist East Asian economy;
  • rapid economic growth since Đổi Mới reforms;
  • strong investment and productivity growth;
  • tourism and manufacturing hub;
  • TPP signatory;
  • declining poverty aside from ethnic minorities;
  • systemic corruption

Central Intelligence Agency. The World Factbook 2024, “Economic overview”, all entries. Archived by The Factbook, thefactbook.org/fields/economic-overview/2024.

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