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 | Kuwait | 31.7% of GDP | 2012 | ||
| 2 | Libya | 27.7% of GDP | 2012 | ||
| 3 | Macau | 25.6% of GDP | 2012 | ||
| 4 | Qatar | 14.4% of GDP | 2012 | ||
| 5 | Norway | 14% of GDP | 2012 | ||
| 6 | Brunei | 13.4% of GDP | 2012 | ||
| 7 | Saudi Arabia | 13.1% of GDP | 2012 | ||
| OPEC countries average (profile) | 7.57% of GDP | 2012 | |||
| 8 | United Arab Emirates | 7.2% of GDP | 2012 | ||
| 9 | Iraq | 7% of GDP | 2012 | ||
| 10 | Congo, Republic of the | 6.5% of GDP | 2012 | ||
| 11 | Angola | 6.2% of GDP | 2012 | ||
| 12 | Lesotho | 5% of GDP | 2012 | ||
| 13 | Saint Pierre and Miquelon | 4.6% of GDP | 2013 | ||
| 14 | French Polynesia | 3.9% of GDP | 1999 | ||
| 15 | Saint Kitts and Nevis | 3.6% of GDP | 2012 | ||
| 16 | Hong Kong | 3.1% of GDP | 2012 | ||
| 17 | Mauritania | 2.9% of GDP | 2012 | ||
| =18 | Montenegro | 2.4% of GDP | 2012 | ||
| =18 | Brazil | 2.4% of GDP | 2012 | ||
| =20 | Peru | 2.2% of GDP | 2012 | ||
| =20 | Seychelles | 2.2% of GDP | 2012 | ||
| =22 | Singapore | 2.1% of GDP | 2012 | ||
| =22 | Gibraltar | 2.1% of GDP | 2008 | ||
| =24 | Gabon | 2% of GDP | 2012 | ||
| =24 | Solomon Islands | 2% of GDP | 2012 | ||
| 26 | Greenland | 1.9% of GDP | 2010 | ||
| 27 | Bolivia | 1.8% of GDP | 2012 | ||
| 28 | Federated States of Micronesia | 1.6% of GDP | 2011 | ||
| Middle Eastern and North Africa average (profile) | 1.52% of GDP | 2012 | |||
| =29 | South Korea | 1.5% of GDP | 2012 | ||
| =29 | Comoros | 1.5% of GDP | 2012 | ||
| =31 | Turkmenistan | 1.4% of GDP | 2012 | ||
| =31 | Tajikistan | 1.4% of GDP | 2012 | ||
| 33 | Guernsey | 1.2% of GDP | 2005 | ||
| 34 | Cook Islands | 1% of GDP | 2006 | ||
| 35 | Botswana | 0.8% of GDP | 2012 | ||
| 36 | Belarus | 0.7% of GDP | 2012 | ||
| =37 | Colombia | 0.5% of GDP | 2012 | ||
| =37 | Chile | 0.5% of GDP | 2012 | ||
| =37 | Isle of Man | 0.5% of GDP | 2006 | ||
| 40 | Marshall Islands | 0.4% of GDP | 2009 | ||
| =41 | Swaziland | 0.3% of GDP | 2012 | ||
| =41 | Azerbaijan | 0.3% of GDP | 2012 | ||
| 43 | Uzbekistan | 0.2% of GDP | 2012 | ||
| =44 | Latvia | 0.1% of GDP | 2012 | ||
| =44 | Switzerland | 0.1% of GDP | 2012 | ||
| =44 | Germany | 0.1% of GDP | 2012 | ||
| 47 | Russia | -0.1% of GDP | 2012 | ||
| 48 | Nicaragua | -0.2% of GDP | 2012 | ||
| =49 | Estonia | -0.3% of GDP | 2012 | ||
| =49 | Oman | -0.3% of GDP | 2012 | ||
| =51 | North Korea | -0.4% of GDP | 2007 | ||
| =51 | Jersey | -0.4% of GDP | 2005 | ||
| =53 | Benin | -0.5% of GDP | 2012 | ||
| =53 | Bulgaria | -0.5% of GDP | 2012 | ||
| =55 | Central African Republic | -0.7% of GDP | 2012 | ||
| =55 | Sweden | -0.7% of GDP | 2012 | ||
| =57 | Luxembourg | -0.8% of GDP | 2012 | ||
| =57 | Antigua and Barbuda | -0.8% of GDP | 2012 | ||
| 59 | Equatorial Guinea | -0.9% of GDP | 2012 | ||
| Muslim countries average (profile) | -0.964% of GDP | 2012 | |||
| 60 | Saint Vincent and the Grenadines | -1% of GDP | 2012 | ||
| =61 | Belize | 0.0 | 2012 | ||
| =61 | Tonga | 0.0 | 2012 | ||
| =61 | British Virgin Islands | 0.0 | 2012 | ||
| =64 | Ecuador | -1.1% of GDP | 2012 | ||
| =64 | Rwanda | -1.1% of GDP | 2012 | ||
| =64 | Trinidad and Tobago | -1.1% of GDP | 2012 | ||
| 67 | Mali | -1.2% of GDP | 2012 | ||
| 68 | Monaco | -1.3% of GDP | 2011 | ||
| Former Soviet republics average (profile) | -1.32% of GDP | 2012 | |||
| =69 | Laos | -1.4% of GDP | 2012 | ||
| =69 | Austria | -1.4% of GDP | 2012 | ||
| =69 | Andorra | -1.4% of GDP | 2011 | ||
| 72 | San Marino | -1.5% of GDP | 2011 | ||
| =73 | East Timor | -1.6% of GDP | 2012 | ||
| =73 | Papua New Guinea | -1.6% of GDP | 2012 | ||
| =73 | Armenia | -1.6% of GDP | 2012 | ||
| =73 | Liechtenstein | -1.6% of GDP | 2011 | ||
| =77 | Madagascar | -1.7% of GDP | 2012 | ||
| =77 | Fiji | -1.7% of GDP | 2012 | ||
| =77 | Paraguay | -1.7% of GDP | 2012 | ||
| =77 | China | -1.7% of GDP | 2012 | ||
| =77 | Bhutan | -1.7% of GDP | 2012 | ||
| Hot countries average (profile) | -1.736% of GDP | 2012 | |||
| =82 | Mauritius | -1.8% of GDP | 2012 | ||
| =82 | Chad | -1.8% of GDP | 2012 | ||
| =84 | Vanuatu | -1.9% of GDP | 2012 | ||
| =84 | Poland | -1.9% of GDP | 2012 | ||
| =86 | Hungary | -2.1% of GDP | 2013 | ||
| =86 | Turkey | -2.1% of GDP | 2012 | ||
| =86 | Indonesia | -2.1% of GDP | 2012 | ||
| =86 | Panama | -2.1% of GDP | 2012 | ||
| =86 | Nigeria | -2.1% of GDP | 2012 | ||
| =86 | Moldova | -2.1% of GDP | 2012 | ||
| Religious countries average (profile) | -2.152% of GDP | 2012 | |||
| =92 | Bahrain | -2.3% of GDP | 2012 | ||
| =92 | Finland | -2.3% of GDP | 2012 | ||
| =92 | Philippines | -2.3% of GDP | 2012 | ||
| =92 | New Caledonia | -2.3% of GDP | 2001 | ||
| Cold countries average (profile) | -2.316% of GDP | 2012 | |||
| Eastern Europe average (profile) | -2.358% of GDP | 2012 | |||
| =96 | Guatemala | -2.4% of GDP | 2012 | ||
| =96 | Iran | -2.4% of GDP | 2012 | ||
| =96 | Palau | -2.4% of GDP | 2010 | ||
| =96 | Suriname | -2.4% of GDP | 2010 | ||
| =100 | Bermuda | -2.5% of GDP | 2012 | ||
| =100 | Romania | -2.5% of GDP | 2012 | ||
| =100 | Democratic Republic of the Congo | -2.5% of GDP | 2012 | ||
| Emerging markets average (profile) | -2.548% of GDP | 2012 | |||
| Former British colonies average (profile) | -2.596% of GDP | 2012 | |||
| =103 | Taiwan | -2.6% of GDP | 2012 | ||
| =103 | Argentina | -2.6% of GDP | 2012 | ||
| Former Spanish colonies average (profile) | -2.645% of GDP | 2012 | |||
| =105 | Ethiopia | -2.7% of GDP | 2012 | ||
| =105 | Liberia | -2.7% of GDP | 2012 | ||
| =105 | Mexico | -2.7% of GDP | 2012 | ||
| =105 | Cayman Islands | -2.7% of GDP | 2012 | ||
| =105 | Niger | -2.7% of GDP | 2012 | ||
| =105 | Tunisia | -2.7% of GDP | 2012 | ||
| Europe average (profile) | -2.78% of GDP | 2012 | |||
| =111 | Uruguay | -2.8% of GDP | 2012 | ||
| =111 | Djibouti | -2.8% of GDP | 2012 | ||
| =111 | Namibia | -2.8% of GDP | 2012 | ||
| =111 | Saint Lucia | -2.8% of GDP | 2011 | ||
| Non-religious countries average (profile) | -2.838% of GDP | 2012 | |||
| =115 | Bosnia and Herzegovina | -2.9% of GDP | 2012 | ||
| =115 | Italy | -2.9% of GDP | 2012 | ||
| =115 | Cambodia | -2.9% of GDP | 2012 | ||
| =115 | Uganda | -2.9% of GDP | 2012 | ||
| =115 | Kazakhstan | -2.9% of GDP | 2012 | ||
| =120 | Guinea-Bissau | -3% of GDP | 2012 | ||
| =120 | Guam | -3% of GDP | 2011 | ||
| Potential Future EU Members average (profile) | -3% of GDP | 2012 | |||
| NATO countries average (profile) | -3.022% of GDP | 2012 | |||
| Sub-Saharan Africa average (profile) | -3.051% of GDP | 2012 | |||
| Christian countries average (profile) | -3.076% of GDP | 2012 | |||
| =122 | Georgia | -3.1% of GDP | 2012 | ||
| =122 | Puerto Rico | -3.1% of GDP | 2000 | ||
| Latin America and Caribbean average (profile) | -3.156% of GDP | 2012 | |||
| =124 | Burkina Faso | -3.2% of GDP | 2012 | ||
| =124 | Slovenia | -3.2% of GDP | 2012 | ||
| High income OECD countries average (profile) | -3.281% of GDP | 2012 | |||
| =126 | Canada | -3.3% of GDP | 2012 | ||
| =126 | Croatia | -3.3% of GDP | 2012 | ||
| =128 | Guinea | -3.4% of GDP | 2012 | ||
| =128 | Australia | -3.4% of GDP | 2012 | ||
| =128 | Lithuania | -3.4% of GDP | 2012 | ||
| =128 | Albania | -3.4% of GDP | 2012 | ||
| =128 | Malta | -3.4% of GDP | 2012 | ||
| Former French colonies average (profile) | -3.412% of GDP | 2012 | |||
| =133 | El Salvador | -3.5% of GDP | 2012 | ||
| =133 | Cote d'Ivoire | -3.5% of GDP | 2012 | ||
| =133 | Iceland | -3.5% of GDP | 2012 | ||
| 136 | Cameroon | -3.6% of GDP | 2012 | ||
| failed states average (profile) | -3.623% of GDP | 2012 | |||
| =137 | Cuba | -3.7% of GDP | 2012 | ||
| =137 | Togo | -3.7% of GDP | 2012 | ||
| European Union average (profile) | -3.754% of GDP | 2012 | |||
| Catholic countries average (profile) | -3.757% of GDP | 2012 | |||
| =139 | New Zealand | -3.8% of GDP | 2012 | ||
| =139 | Burundi | -3.8% of GDP | 2012 | ||
| =139 | Tuvalu | -3.8% of GDP | 2006 | ||
| 142 | Republic of Macedonia | -3.9% of GDP | 2012 | ||
| Landlocked countries average (profile) | -3.955% of GDP | 2010 | |||
| 143 | Israel | -4% of GDP | 2012 | ||
| Eurozone average (profile) | -4.072% of GDP | 2012 | |||
| =144 | Netherlands | -4.1% of GDP | 2012 | ||
| =144 | Tanzania | -4.1% of GDP | 2012 | ||
| =144 | Denmark | -4.1% of GDP | 2012 | ||
| =144 | Burma | -4.1% of GDP | 2012 | ||
| =148 | Jamaica | -4.2% of GDP | 2012 | ||
| =148 | Vietnam | -4.2% of GDP | 2012 | ||
| =148 | Mozambique | -4.2% of GDP | 2012 | ||
| =148 | Belgium | -4.2% of GDP | 2012 | ||
| South and Central Asia average (profile) | -4.375% of GDP | 2012 | |||
| =152 | Slovakia | -4.4% of GDP | 2012 | ||
| =152 | Thailand | -4.4% of GDP | 2012 | ||
| =152 | Ukraine | -4.4% of GDP | 2012 | ||
| =155 | Malaysia | -4.5% of GDP | 2012 | ||
| =155 | Costa Rica | -4.5% of GDP | 2012 | ||
| =155 | The Gambia | -4.5% of GDP | 2012 | ||
| =155 | Samoa | -4.5% of GDP | 2012 | ||
| =155 | Czech Republic | -4.5% of GDP | 2012 | ||
| =160 | Bangladesh | -4.7% of GDP | 2012 | ||
| =160 | Algeria | -4.7% of GDP | 2012 | ||
| 162 | South Africa | -4.8% of GDP | 2012 | ||
| =163 | France | -4.9% of GDP | 2012 | ||
| =163 | Zambia | -4.9% of GDP | 2012 | ||
| =165 | Anguilla | -5% of GDP | 2012 | ||
| =165 | India | -5% of GDP | 2012 | ||
| =165 | Guyana | -5% of GDP | 2012 | ||
| =165 | Kosovo | -5% of GDP | 2011 | ||
| =165 | Falkland Islands (Islas Malvinas) | -5% of GDP | 2010 | ||
| 170 | Kenya | -5.1% of GDP | 2012 | ||
| Group of 7 countries (G7) average (profile) | -5.143% of GDP | 2012 | |||
| 171 | Grenada | -5.2% of GDP | 2009 | ||
| 172 | Sierra Leone | -5.3% of GDP | 2012 | ||
| South Asia average (profile) | -5.34% of GDP | 2012 | |||
| Heavily indebted countries average (profile) | -5.754% of GDP | 2012 | |||
| 173 | Senegal | -5.9% of GDP | 2012 | ||
| =174 | Haiti | -6% of GDP | 2012 | ||
| =174 | Kyrgyzstan | -6% of GDP | 2012 | ||
| =174 | Honduras | -6% of GDP | 2012 | ||
| 177 | American Samoa | -6.1% of GDP | 2007 | ||
| 178 | The Bahamas | -6.2% of GDP | 2012 | ||
| =179 | Nepal | -6.4% of GDP | 2012 | ||
| =179 | Cyprus | -6.4% of GDP | 2012 | ||
| =181 | Sri Lanka | -6.5% of GDP | 2012 | ||
| =181 | Portugal | -6.5% of GDP | 2012 | ||
| =183 | Dominican Republic | -6.6% of GDP | 2012 | ||
| =183 | Pakistan | -6.6% of GDP | 2012 | ||
| 185 | United States | -6.8% of GDP | 2012 | ||
| 186 | Yemen | -7.2% of GDP | 2012 | ||
| =187 | Ireland | -7.6% of GDP | 2012 | ||
| =187 | Serbia | -7.6% of GDP | 2012 | ||
| =189 | Malawi | -7.9% of GDP | 2012 | ||
| =189 | Northern Mariana Islands | -7.9% of GDP | 2011 | ||
| 191 | Barbados | -8.1% of GDP | 2012 | ||
| 192 | United Kingdom | -8.2% of GDP | 2012 | ||
| 193 | Morocco | -8.4% of GDP | 2012 | ||
| 194 | Mongolia | -8.5% of GDP | 2012 | ||
| 195 | Sudan | -8.6% of GDP | 2012 | ||
| 196 | Afghanistan | -8.7% of GDP | 2012 | ||
| 197 | Lebanon | -9.6% of GDP | 2012 | ||
| =198 | Jordan | -9.8% of GDP | 2012 | ||
| =198 | Aruba | -9.8% of GDP | 2012 | ||
| 200 | Japan | -10% of GDP | 2012 | ||
| 201 | Greece | -10.2% of GDP | 2012 | ||
| =202 | Sao Tome and Principe | -10.9% of GDP | 2012 | ||
| =202 | Spain | -10.9% of GDP | 2012 | ||
| =202 | Egypt | -10.9% of GDP | 2012 | ||
| 205 | Syria | -11.4% of GDP | 2012 | ||
| 206 | Faroe Islands | -11.9% of GDP | 2010 | ||
| 207 | Cape Verde | -12.1% of GDP | 2012 | ||
| 208 | Ghana | -12.2% of GDP | 2012 | ||
| 209 | Dominica | -12.4% of GDP | 2012 | ||
| =210 | Eritrea | -12.6% of GDP | 2012 | ||
| =210 | Niue | -12.6% of GDP | 2005 | ||
| 212 | Maldives | -13.4% of GDP | 2012 | ||
| 213 | Venezuela | -14.8% of GDP | 2012 | ||
| 214 | West Bank | -16.6% of GDP | 2011 | ||
| 215 | Kiribati | -29.9% of GDP | 2010 |
