Economy > Budget surplus > + or deficit > -: Countries Compared
DEFINITION:
This entry records the difference between national government revenues and expenditures, expressed as a percent of GDP. A positive (+) number indicates that revenues exceeded expenditures (a budget surplus), while a negative (-) number indicates the reverse (a budget deficit). Normalizing the data, by dividing the budget balance by GDP, enables easy comparisons across countries and indicates whether a national government saves or borrows money. Countries with high budget deficits (relative to their GDPs) generally have more difficulty raising funds to finance expenditures, than those with lower deficits.
CONTENTS
# |
COUNTRY |
AMOUNT |
DATE |
GRAPH |
HISTORY |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | KuwaitKuwait | 31.7% of GDP | 2012 | ||
| 2 | LibyaLibya | 27.7% of GDP | 2012 | ||
| 3 | MacauMacau | 25.6% of GDP | 2012 | ||
| 4 | QatarQatar | 14.4% of GDP | 2012 | ||
| 5 | NorwayNorway | 14% of GDP | 2012 | ||
| 6 | BruneiBrunei | 13.4% of GDP | 2012 | ||
| 7 | Saudi ArabiaSaudi Arabia | 13.1% of GDP | 2012 | ||
| OPEC countries averageOPEC countries average (profile) | 7.57% of GDP | 2012 | |||
| 8 | United Arab EmiratesUAE | 7.2% of GDP | 2012 | ||
| 9 | IraqIraq | 7% of GDP | 2012 | ||
| 10 | Congo, Republic of theCongo, Republic of the | 6.5% of GDP | 2012 | ||
| 11 | AngolaAngola | 6.2% of GDP | 2012 | ||
| 12 | LesothoLesotho | 5% of GDP | 2012 | ||
| 13 | Saint Pierre and MiquelonSt Pierre+ | 4.6% of GDP | 2013 | ||
| 14 | French PolynesiaFr. Polynesia | 3.9% of GDP | 1999 | ||
| 15 | Saint Kitts and NevisSt Kitts+ | 3.6% of GDP | 2012 | ||
| 16 | Hong KongHong Kong | 3.1% of GDP | 2012 | ||
| 17 | MauritaniaMauritania | 2.9% of GDP | 2012 | ||
| =18 | MontenegroMontenegro | 2.4% of GDP | 2012 | ||
| =18 | BrazilBrazil | 2.4% of GDP | 2012 | ||
| =20 | PeruPeru | 2.2% of GDP | 2012 | ||
| =20 | SeychellesSeychelles | 2.2% of GDP | 2012 | ||
| =22 | SingaporeSingapore | 2.1% of GDP | 2012 | ||
| =22 | GibraltarGibraltar | 2.1% of GDP | 2008 | ||
| =24 | GabonGabon | 2% of GDP | 2012 | ||
| =24 | Solomon IslandsSolomon Islands | 2% of GDP | 2012 | ||
| 26 | GreenlandGreenland | 1.9% of GDP | 2010 | ||
| 27 | BoliviaBolivia | 1.8% of GDP | 2012 | ||
| 28 | Federated States of MicronesiaMicronesia | 1.6% of GDP | 2011 | ||
| Middle Eastern and North Africa averageMiddle Eastern and North Africa average (profile) | 1.52% of GDP | 2012 | |||
| =29 | South KoreaSouth Korea | 1.5% of GDP | 2012 | ||
| =29 | ComorosComoros | 1.5% of GDP | 2012 | ||
| =31 | TurkmenistanTurkmenistan | 1.4% of GDP | 2012 | ||
| =31 | TajikistanTajikistan | 1.4% of GDP | 2012 | ||
| 33 | GuernseyGuernsey | 1.2% of GDP | 2005 | ||
| 34 | Cook IslandsCook Islands | 1% of GDP | 2006 | ||
| 35 | BotswanaBotswana | 0.8% of GDP | 2012 | ||
| 36 | BelarusBelarus | 0.7% of GDP | 2012 | ||
| =37 | ColombiaColombia | 0.5% of GDP | 2012 | ||
| =37 | ChileChile | 0.5% of GDP | 2012 | ||
| =37 | Isle of ManIsle of Man | 0.5% of GDP | 2006 | ||
| 40 | Marshall IslandsMarshall Isl. | 0.4% of GDP | 2009 | ||
| =41 | SwazilandSwaziland | 0.3% of GDP | 2012 | ||
| =41 | AzerbaijanAzerbaijan | 0.3% of GDP | 2012 | ||
| 43 | UzbekistanUzbekistan | 0.2% of GDP | 2012 | ||
| =44 | LatviaLatvia | 0.1% of GDP | 2012 | ||
| =44 | SwitzerlandSwitzerland | 0.1% of GDP | 2012 | ||
| =44 | GermanyGermany | 0.1% of GDP | 2012 | ||
| 47 | RussiaRussia | -0.1% of GDP | 2012 | ||
| 48 | NicaraguaNicaragua | -0.2% of GDP | 2012 | ||
| =49 | EstoniaEstonia | -0.3% of GDP | 2012 | ||
| =49 | OmanOman | -0.3% of GDP | 2012 | ||
| =51 | North KoreaNorth Korea | -0.4% of GDP | 2007 | ||
| =51 | JerseyJersey | -0.4% of GDP | 2005 | ||
| =53 | BeninBenin | -0.5% of GDP | 2012 | ||
| =53 | BulgariaBulgaria | -0.5% of GDP | 2012 | ||
| =55 | Central African RepublicCentral Africa | -0.7% of GDP | 2012 | ||
| =55 | SwedenSweden | -0.7% of GDP | 2012 | ||
| =57 | LuxembourgLuxembourg | -0.8% of GDP | 2012 | ||
| =57 | Antigua and BarbudaAntigua and Barbuda | -0.8% of GDP | 2012 | ||
| 59 | Equatorial GuineaEqu. Guinea | -0.9% of GDP | 2012 | ||
| Muslim countries averageMuslim countries average (profile) | -0.964% of GDP | 2012 | |||
| 60 | Saint Vincent and the GrenadinesSt Vincent+ | -1% of GDP | 2012 | ||
| =61 | BelizeBelize | 0.0 | 2012 | ||
| =61 | TongaTonga | 0.0 | 2012 | ||
| =61 | British Virgin IslandsBrit. Virgin Isl. | 0.0 | 2012 | ||
| =64 | EcuadorEcuador | -1.1% of GDP | 2012 | ||
| =64 | RwandaRwanda | -1.1% of GDP | 2012 | ||
| =64 | Trinidad and TobagoTrinidad+ | -1.1% of GDP | 2012 | ||
| 67 | MaliMali | -1.2% of GDP | 2012 | ||
| 68 | MonacoMonaco | -1.3% of GDP | 2011 | ||
| Former Soviet republics averageFormer Soviet republics average (profile) | -1.32% of GDP | 2012 | |||
| =69 | LaosLaos | -1.4% of GDP | 2012 | ||
| =69 | AustriaAustria | -1.4% of GDP | 2012 | ||
| =69 | AndorraAndorra | -1.4% of GDP | 2011 | ||
| 72 | San MarinoSan Marino | -1.5% of GDP | 2011 | ||
| =73 | East TimorEast Timor | -1.6% of GDP | 2012 | ||
| =73 | Papua New GuineaPapua NG | -1.6% of GDP | 2012 | ||
| =73 | ArmeniaArmenia | -1.6% of GDP | 2012 | ||
| =73 | LiechtensteinLiechtenstein | -1.6% of GDP | 2011 | ||
| =77 | MadagascarMadagascar | -1.7% of GDP | 2012 | ||
| =77 | FijiFiji | -1.7% of GDP | 2012 | ||
| =77 | ParaguayParaguay | -1.7% of GDP | 2012 | ||
| =77 | ChinaChina | -1.7% of GDP | 2012 | ||
| =77 | BhutanBhutan | -1.7% of GDP | 2012 | ||
| Hot countries averageHot countries average (profile) | -1.736% of GDP | 2012 | |||
| =82 | MauritiusMauritius | -1.8% of GDP | 2012 | ||
| =82 | ChadChad | -1.8% of GDP | 2012 | ||
| =84 | VanuatuVanuatu | -1.9% of GDP | 2012 | ||
| =84 | PolandPoland | -1.9% of GDP | 2012 | ||
| =86 | HungaryHungary | -2.1% of GDP | 2013 | ||
| =86 | TurkeyTurkey | -2.1% of GDP | 2012 | ||
| =86 | IndonesiaIndonesia | -2.1% of GDP | 2012 | ||
| =86 | PanamaPanama | -2.1% of GDP | 2012 | ||
| =86 | NigeriaNigeria | -2.1% of GDP | 2012 | ||
| =86 | MoldovaMoldova | -2.1% of GDP | 2012 | ||
| Religious countries averageReligious countries average (profile) | -2.152% of GDP | 2012 | |||
| =92 | BahrainBahrain | -2.3% of GDP | 2012 | ||
| =92 | FinlandFinland | -2.3% of GDP | 2012 | ||
| =92 | PhilippinesPhilippines | -2.3% of GDP | 2012 | ||
| =92 | New CaledoniaNew Caledonia | -2.3% of GDP | 2001 | ||
| Cold countries averageCold countries average (profile) | -2.316% of GDP | 2012 | |||
| Eastern Europe averageEastern Europe average (profile) | -2.358% of GDP | 2012 | |||
| =96 | GuatemalaGuatemala | -2.4% of GDP | 2012 | ||
| =96 | IranIran | -2.4% of GDP | 2012 | ||
| =96 | PalauPalau | -2.4% of GDP | 2010 | ||
| =96 | SurinameSuriname | -2.4% of GDP | 2010 | ||
| =100 | BermudaBermuda | -2.5% of GDP | 2012 | ||
| =100 | RomaniaRomania | -2.5% of GDP | 2012 | ||
| =100 | Democratic Republic of the CongoCongo, DR. | -2.5% of GDP | 2012 | ||
| Emerging markets averageEmerging markets average (profile) | -2.548% of GDP | 2012 | |||
| Former British colonies averageFormer British colonies average (profile) | -2.596% of GDP | 2012 | |||
| =103 | TaiwanTaiwan | -2.6% of GDP | 2012 | ||
| =103 | ArgentinaArgentina | -2.6% of GDP | 2012 | ||
| Former Spanish colonies averageFormer Spanish colonies average (profile) | -2.645% of GDP | 2012 | |||
| =105 | EthiopiaEthiopia | -2.7% of GDP | 2012 | ||
| =105 | LiberiaLiberia | -2.7% of GDP | 2012 | ||
| =105 | MexicoMexico | -2.7% of GDP | 2012 | ||
| =105 | Cayman IslandsCayman Islands | -2.7% of GDP | 2012 | ||
| =105 | NigerNiger | -2.7% of GDP | 2012 | ||
| =105 | TunisiaTunisia | -2.7% of GDP | 2012 | ||
| Europe averageEurope average (profile) | -2.78% of GDP | 2012 | |||
| =111 | UruguayUruguay | -2.8% of GDP | 2012 | ||
| =111 | DjiboutiDjibouti | -2.8% of GDP | 2012 | ||
| =111 | NamibiaNamibia | -2.8% of GDP | 2012 | ||
| =111 | Saint LuciaSaint Lucia | -2.8% of GDP | 2011 | ||
| Non-religious countries averageNon-religious countries average (profile) | -2.838% of GDP | 2012 | |||
| =115 | Bosnia and HerzegovinaBosnia and Herzegovina | -2.9% of GDP | 2012 | ||
| =115 | ItalyItaly | -2.9% of GDP | 2012 | ||
| =115 | CambodiaCambodia | -2.9% of GDP | 2012 | ||
| =115 | UgandaUganda | -2.9% of GDP | 2012 | ||
| =115 | KazakhstanKazakhstan | -2.9% of GDP | 2012 | ||
| =120 | Guinea-BissauGuinea-Bissau | -3% of GDP | 2012 | ||
| =120 | GuamGuam | -3% of GDP | 2011 | ||
| Potential Future EU Members averagePotential Future EU Members average (profile) | -3% of GDP | 2012 | |||
| NATO countries averageNATO average (profile) | -3.022% of GDP | 2012 | |||
| Sub-Saharan Africa averageSub-Saharan Africa average (profile) | -3.051% of GDP | 2012 | |||
| Christian countries averageChristian countries average (profile) | -3.076% of GDP | 2012 | |||
| =122 | GeorgiaGeorgia | -3.1% of GDP | 2012 | ||
| =122 | Puerto RicoPuerto Rico | -3.1% of GDP | 2000 | ||
| Latin America and Caribbean averageLatin America and Caribbean average (profile) | -3.156% of GDP | 2012 | |||
| =124 | Burkina FasoBurkina Faso | -3.2% of GDP | 2012 | ||
| =124 | SloveniaSlovenia | -3.2% of GDP | 2012 | ||
| High income OECD countries averageHigh income OECD countries average (profile) | -3.281% of GDP | 2012 | |||
| =126 | CanadaCanada | -3.3% of GDP | 2012 | ||
| =126 | CroatiaCroatia | -3.3% of GDP | 2012 | ||
| =128 | GuineaGuinea | -3.4% of GDP | 2012 | ||
| =128 | AustraliaAustralia | -3.4% of GDP | 2012 | ||
| =128 | LithuaniaLithuania | -3.4% of GDP | 2012 | ||
| =128 | AlbaniaAlbania | -3.4% of GDP | 2012 | ||
| =128 | MaltaMalta | -3.4% of GDP | 2012 | ||
| Former French colonies averageFormer French colonies average (profile) | -3.412% of GDP | 2012 | |||
| =133 | El SalvadorEl Salvador | -3.5% of GDP | 2012 | ||
| =133 | Cote d'IvoireCote d'Ivoire | -3.5% of GDP | 2012 | ||
| =133 | IcelandIceland | -3.5% of GDP | 2012 | ||
| 136 | CameroonCameroon | -3.6% of GDP | 2012 | ||
| failed states averagefailed states average (profile) | -3.623% of GDP | 2012 | |||
| =137 | CubaCuba | -3.7% of GDP | 2012 | ||
| =137 | TogoTogo | -3.7% of GDP | 2012 | ||
| European Union averageEuropean Union average (profile) | -3.754% of GDP | 2012 | |||
| Catholic countries averageCatholic countries average (profile) | -3.757% of GDP | 2012 | |||
| =139 | New ZealandNew Zealand | -3.8% of GDP | 2012 | ||
| =139 | BurundiBurundi | -3.8% of GDP | 2012 | ||
| =139 | TuvaluTuvalu | -3.8% of GDP | 2006 | ||
| 142 | Republic of MacedoniaMacedonia Rep. | -3.9% of GDP | 2012 | ||
| Landlocked countries averageLandlocked countries average (profile) | -3.955% of GDP | 2010 | |||
| 143 | IsraelIsrael | -4% of GDP | 2012 | ||
| Eurozone averageEurozone average (profile) | -4.072% of GDP | 2012 | |||
| =144 | NetherlandsNetherlands | -4.1% of GDP | 2012 | ||
| =144 | TanzaniaTanzania | -4.1% of GDP | 2012 | ||
| =144 | DenmarkDenmark | -4.1% of GDP | 2012 | ||
| =144 | BurmaBurma | -4.1% of GDP | 2012 | ||
| =148 | JamaicaJamaica | -4.2% of GDP | 2012 | ||
| =148 | VietnamVietnam | -4.2% of GDP | 2012 | ||
| =148 | MozambiqueMozambique | -4.2% of GDP | 2012 | ||
| =148 | BelgiumBelgium | -4.2% of GDP | 2012 | ||
| South and Central Asia averageSouth and Central Asia average (profile) | -4.375% of GDP | 2012 | |||
| =152 | SlovakiaSlovakia | -4.4% of GDP | 2012 | ||
| =152 | ThailandThailand | -4.4% of GDP | 2012 | ||
| =152 | UkraineUkraine | -4.4% of GDP | 2012 | ||
| =155 | MalaysiaMalaysia | -4.5% of GDP | 2012 | ||
| =155 | Costa RicaCosta Rica | -4.5% of GDP | 2012 | ||
| =155 | The GambiaThe Gambia | -4.5% of GDP | 2012 | ||
| =155 | SamoaSamoa | -4.5% of GDP | 2012 | ||
| =155 | Czech RepublicCzech Republic | -4.5% of GDP | 2012 | ||
| =160 | BangladeshBangladesh | -4.7% of GDP | 2012 | ||
| =160 | AlgeriaAlgeria | -4.7% of GDP | 2012 | ||
| 162 | South AfricaSouth Africa | -4.8% of GDP | 2012 | ||
| =163 | FranceFrance | -4.9% of GDP | 2012 | ||
| =163 | ZambiaZambia | -4.9% of GDP | 2012 | ||
| =165 | AnguillaAnguilla | -5% of GDP | 2012 | ||
| =165 | IndiaIndia | -5% of GDP | 2012 | ||
| =165 | GuyanaGuyana | -5% of GDP | 2012 | ||
| =165 | KosovoKosovo | -5% of GDP | 2011 | ||
| =165 | Falkland Islands (Islas Malvinas)Falklands | -5% of GDP | 2010 | ||
| 170 | KenyaKenya | -5.1% of GDP | 2012 | ||
| Group of 7 countries (G7) averageGroup of 7 countries (G7) average (profile) | -5.143% of GDP | 2012 | |||
| 171 | GrenadaGrenada | -5.2% of GDP | 2009 | ||
| 172 | Sierra LeoneSierra Leone | -5.3% of GDP | 2012 | ||
| South Asia averageSouth Asia average (profile) | -5.34% of GDP | 2012 | |||
| Heavily indebted countries averageHeavily indebted countries average (profile) | -5.754% of GDP | 2012 | |||
| 173 | SenegalSenegal | -5.9% of GDP | 2012 | ||
| =174 | HaitiHaiti | -6% of GDP | 2012 | ||
| =174 | KyrgyzstanKyrgyzstan | -6% of GDP | 2012 | ||
| =174 | HondurasHonduras | -6% of GDP | 2012 | ||
| 177 | American SamoaAmerican Samoa | -6.1% of GDP | 2007 | ||
| 178 | The BahamasThe Bahamas | -6.2% of GDP | 2012 | ||
| =179 | NepalNepal | -6.4% of GDP | 2012 | ||
| =179 | CyprusCyprus | -6.4% of GDP | 2012 | ||
| =181 | Sri LankaSri Lanka | -6.5% of GDP | 2012 | ||
| =181 | PortugalPortugal | -6.5% of GDP | 2012 | ||
| =183 | Dominican RepublicDominican Rep. | -6.6% of GDP | 2012 | ||
| =183 | PakistanPakistan | -6.6% of GDP | 2012 | ||
| 185 | United StatesUnited States | -6.8% of GDP | 2012 | ||
| 186 | YemenYemen | -7.2% of GDP | 2012 | ||
| =187 | IrelandIreland | -7.6% of GDP | 2012 | ||
| =187 | SerbiaSerbia | -7.6% of GDP | 2012 | ||
| =189 | MalawiMalawi | -7.9% of GDP | 2012 | ||
| =189 | Northern Mariana IslandsN. Mariana | -7.9% of GDP | 2011 | ||
| 191 | BarbadosBarbados | -8.1% of GDP | 2012 | ||
| 192 | United KingdomUnited Kingdom | -8.2% of GDP | 2012 | ||
| 193 | MoroccoMorocco | -8.4% of GDP | 2012 | ||
| 194 | MongoliaMongolia | -8.5% of GDP | 2012 | ||
| 195 | SudanSudan | -8.6% of GDP | 2012 | ||
| 196 | AfghanistanAfghanistan | -8.7% of GDP | 2012 | ||
| 197 | LebanonLebanon | -9.6% of GDP | 2012 | ||
| =198 | JordanJordan | -9.8% of GDP | 2012 | ||
| =198 | ArubaAruba | -9.8% of GDP | 2012 | ||
| 200 | JapanJapan | -10% of GDP | 2012 | ||
| 201 | GreeceGreece | -10.2% of GDP | 2012 | ||
| =202 | Sao Tome and PrincipeSoa Tome+ | -10.9% of GDP | 2012 | ||
| =202 | SpainSpain | -10.9% of GDP | 2012 | ||
| =202 | EgyptEgypt | -10.9% of GDP | 2012 | ||
| 205 | SyriaSyria | -11.4% of GDP | 2012 | ||
| 206 | Faroe IslandsFaroe Islands | -11.9% of GDP | 2010 | ||
| 207 | Cape VerdeCape Verde | -12.1% of GDP | 2012 | ||
| 208 | GhanaGhana | -12.2% of GDP | 2012 | ||
| 209 | DominicaDominica | -12.4% of GDP | 2012 | ||
| =210 | EritreaEritrea | -12.6% of GDP | 2012 | ||
| =210 | NiueNiue | -12.6% of GDP | 2005 | ||
| 212 | MaldivesMaldives | -13.4% of GDP | 2012 | ||
| 213 | VenezuelaVenezuela | -14.8% of GDP | 2012 | ||
| 214 | West BankWest Bank | -16.6% of GDP | 2011 | ||
| 215 | KiribatiKiribati | -29.9% of GDP | 2010 |
Citation
Interesting observations about Economy > Budget surplus > + or deficit > -
- 98 of the top 189 countries by budget surplus > + or deficit > - are Christian.
- 2 of the top 4 countries by budget surplus > + or deficit > - are Tourist destination.
- Kuwait has ranked in the top 3 for budget surplus > + or deficit > - since 2010.
- Macau has ranked in the top 3 for budget surplus > + or deficit > - since 2010.
- Qatar has ranked in the top 4 for budget surplus > + or deficit > - since 2010.
- Brazil ranked first for budget surplus > + or deficit > - amongst Emerging markets in 2012.
- 21 of the bottom 37 countries by budget surplus > + or deficit > - are Heavily indebted.
- San Marino has ranked in the top 4 for budget surplus > + or deficit > - since 2009.
- 25 of the top 89 countries by budget surplus > + or deficit > - are Landlocked.
- Norway has ranked in the top 5 for budget surplus > + or deficit > - since 2010.
