Inflation Rate (CPI) 2012
Inflation rate measures the annual percentage increase in consumer prices, reflecting the cost of living.
Interactive Map
Complete Data Rankings
Rank | Actions | ||
|---|---|---|---|
1 |  Belarus | 59.22 % | |
2 |  South Sudan | 45.526 % | |
3 |  Syrian Arab Republic | 36.702 % | |
4 |  Sudan | 35.559 % | |
5 |  Iran | 27.257 % | |
6 |  Ethiopia | 23.6 % | |
7 |  Malawi | 21.271 % | |
8 |  Venezuela | 21.069 % | |
9 |  Burundi | 18.161 % | |
10 |  Tanzania | 16.001 % | |
11 |  Guinea | 15.226 % | |
12 |  Mongolia | 14.33 % | |
13 |  Uzbekistan | 13.209 % | |
14 |  Uganda | 12.679 % | |
15 |  Nigeria | 12.224 % | |
16 |  Timor-Leste | 11.8 % | |
17 |  Ghana | 11.186 % | |
18 |  Bhutan | 10.92 % | |
19 |  Maldives | 10.885 % | |
20 |  Sao Tome and Principe | 10.638 % | |
21 |  Angola | 10.278 % | |
22 |  Rwanda | 10.271 % | |
23 |  Yemen | 9.885 % | |
24 |  Congo, Democratic Republic of the | 9.722 % | |
25 |  Pakistan | 9.682 % | |
26 |  India | 9.479 % | |
27 |  Nepal | 9.46 % | |
28 |  Kenya | 9.378 % | |
29 |  Trinidad and Tobago | 9.26 % | |
30 |  Vietnam | 9.095 % | |
31 |  Eswatini | 8.94 % | |
32 |  Turkey | 8.892 % | |
33 |  Algeria | 8.891 % | |
34 |  Uruguay | 8.098 % | |
35 |  Sri Lanka | 7.543 % | |
36 |  Botswana | 7.537 % | |
37 |  Chad | 7.517 % | |
38 |  Serbia | 7.33 % | |
39 |  Nicaragua | 7.194 % | |
40 |  Egypt | 7.112 % | |
41 |  Seychelles | 7.11 % | |
42 |  Jamaica | 6.874 % | |
43 |  Liberia | 6.832 % | |
44 |  Benin | 6.745 % | |
45 |  Namibia | 6.722 % | |
46 |  Sierra Leone | 6.588 % | |
47 |  Lebanon | 6.581 % | |
48 |  Zambia | 6.576 % | |
49 |  Afghanistan | 6.441 % | |
50 |  Comoros | 6.315 % | |
51 |  Bangladesh | 6.218 % | |
52 |  China, Macao SAR | 6.107 % | |
53 |  Iraq | 6.089 % | |
54 |  Libya | 6.06 % | |
55 |  Lesotho | 6.051 % | |
56 |  Solomon Islands | 5.912 % | |
57 |  Tajikistan | 5.831 % | |
58 |  South Africa | 5.738 % | |
59 |  Madagascar | 5.714 % | |
60 |  Panama | 5.698 % | |
61 |  Hungary | 5.652 % | |
62 |  Central African Republic | 5.478 % | |
63 |  Brazil | 5.403 % | |
64 |  Mali | 5.323 % | |
65 |  Honduras | 5.196 % | |
66 |  Kazakhstan | 5.196 % | |
67 |  Iceland | 5.186 % | |
68 |  Ecuador | 5.102 % | |
69 |  Russia | 5.075 % | |
70 |  Micronesia (Fed. States of) | 5.019 % | |
71 |  Haiti | 5.018 % | |
72 |  Congo | 5.01 % | |
73 |  Suriname | 5.007 % | |
74 |  Mauritania | 4.902 % | |
75 |  Tunisia | 4.612 % | |
76 |  Singapore | 4.581 % | |
77 |  Republic of Moldova | 4.546 % | |
78 |  Papua New Guinea | 4.537 % | |
79 |  Barbados | 4.533 % | |
80 |  Bolivia | 4.516 % | |
81 |  Jordan | 4.515 % | |
82 |  Costa Rica | 4.495 % | |
83 |  Indonesia | 4.28 % | |
84 |  Laos | 4.255 % | |
85 |  Gambia | 4.254 % | |
86 |  Saint Lucia | 4.178 % | |
87 |  Montenegro | 4.145 % | |
88 |  Mexico | 4.112 % | |
89 |  China, Hong Kong SAR | 4.054 % | |
90 |  Sint Maarten (Dutch part) | 4.015 % | |
91 |  Estonia | 3.933 % | |
92 |  Mauritius | 3.852 % | |
93 |  Burkina Faso | 3.818 % | |
94 |  Guatemala | 3.782 % | |
95 |  Djibouti | 3.731 % | |
96 |  Zimbabwe | 3.725 % | |
97 |  Dominican Republic | 3.694 % | |
98 |  Paraguay | 3.676 % | |
99 |  Equatorial Guinea | 3.657 % | |
100 |  Palau | 3.614 % | |
101 |  Peru | 3.611 % | |
102 |  Slovakia | 3.606 % | |
103 |  Poland | 3.56 % | |
104 |  Fiji | 3.423 % | |
105 |  Croatia | 3.412 % | |
106 |  Antigua and Barbuda | 3.377 % | |
107 |  Romania | 3.335 % | |
108 |  North Macedonia | 3.316 % | |
109 |  Czech Republic | 3.288 % | |
110 |  Kuwait | 3.255 % | |
111 |  Curaçao | 3.184 % | |
112 |  Colombia | 3.169 % | |
113 |  Lithuania | 3.09 % | |
114 |  Italy | 3.041 % | |
115 |  Philippines | 3.027 % | |
116 |  Thailand | 3.009 % | |
117 |  Chile | 3.007 % | |
118 |  Bulgaria | 2.955 % | |
119 |  Oman | 2.948 % | |
120 |  Cambodia | 2.934 % | |
121 |  Saudi Arabia | 2.866 % | |
122 |  Belgium | 2.84 % | |
123 |  San Marino | 2.827 % | |
124 |  Finland | 2.808 % | |
125 |  State of Palestine | 2.779 % | |
126 |  Portugal | 2.773 % | |
127 |  Kyrgyzstan | 2.768 % | |
128 |  Bahrain | 2.757 % | |
129 |  Cameroon | 2.735 % | |
130 |  Luxembourg | 2.663 % | |
131 |  Gabon | 2.652 % | |
132 |  China | 2.62 % | |
133 |  Mozambique | 2.602 % | |
134 |  Saint Vincent and the Grenadines | 2.598 % | |
135 |  Slovenia | 2.597 % | |
136 |  Togo | 2.577 % | |
137 |  United Kingdom | 2.573 % | |
138 |  Armenia | 2.558 % | |
139 |  Cabo Verde | 2.54 % | |
140 |  Austria | 2.486 % | |
141 |  Netherlands | 2.456 % | |
142 |  Spain | 2.446 % | |
143 |  Grenada | 2.411 % | |
144 |  Denmark | 2.398 % | |
145 |  Guyana | 2.391 % | |
146 |  Cyprus | 2.389 % | |
147 |  Malta | 2.376 % | |
148 |  Qatar | 2.315 % | |
149 |  Latvia | 2.258 % | |
150 |  South Korea | 2.187 % | |
151 |  Guinea-Bissau | 2.131 % | |
152 |  United States | 2.069 % | |
153 |  Bosnia and Herzegovina | 2.053 % | |
154 |  Samoa | 2.049 % | |
155 |  Albania | 2.032 % | |
156 |  Germany | 2.008 % | |
157 |  Bahamas | 1.973 % | |
158 |  France | 1.954 % | |
159 |  Australia | 1.763 % | |
160 |  New Caledonia | 1.75 % | |
161 |  El Salvador | 1.73 % | |
162 |  Ireland | 1.695 % | |
163 |  Israel | 1.676 % | |
164 |  Malaysia | 1.664 % | |
165 |  Canada | 1.516 % | |
166 |  Greece | 1.502 % | |
167 |  Myanmar | 1.468 % | |
168 |  Senegal | 1.418 % | |
169 |  Dominica | 1.357 % | |
170 |  Vanuatu | 1.347 % | |
171 |  Côte d'Ivoire | 1.305 % | |
172 |  Belize | 1.301 % | |
173 |  Morocco | 1.287 % | |
174 |  Cayman Islands | 1.189 % | |
175 |  Tonga | 1.148 % | |
176 |  Azerbaijan | 1.066 % | |
177 |  New Zealand | 1.06 % | |
178 |  Sweden | 0.888 % | |
179 |  Saint Kitts and Nevis | 0.816 % | |
180 |  Norway | 0.697 % | |
181 |  United Arab Emirates | 0.662 % | |
182 |  Aruba | 0.627 % | |
183 |  Ukraine | 0.569 % | |
184 |  Niger | 0.455 % | |
185 |  Brunei Darussalam | 0.112 % | |
186 |  Japan | -0.044 % | |
187 |  Nauru | -0.125 % | |
188 |  Switzerland | -0.693 % | |
189 |  Georgia | -0.944 % | |
190 |  Kiribati | -3.046 % |
- #1Belarus
- #2South Sudan
- #3Syrian Arab Republic
- #4Sudan
- #5Iran
- #6Ethiopia
- #7Malawi
- #8Venezuela
- #9Burundi
- #10Tanzania
Analysis: These countries represent the highest values in this dataset, showcasing significant scale and impact on global statistics.
- #190Kiribati
- #189Georgia
- #188Switzerland
- #187Nauru
- #186Japan
- #185Brunei Darussalam
- #184Niger
- #183Ukraine
- #182Aruba
- #181United Arab Emirates
Context: These countries or territories have the lowest values, often due to geographic size, administrative status, or specific characteristics.
Analysis & Context
In 2012, the country with the highest Inflation Rate (CPI) was Belarus, reaching a staggering 59.22%, while the global range spanned from -3.05% to 59.22%. The median Inflation Rate (CPI) among the 190 countries with available data was 3.73%, offering a glimpse into the varied economic landscapes worldwide.
Global Inflation Patterns and Economic Implications
The significant variability in the Inflation Rate (CPI) across countries in 2012 highlights diverse economic conditions and policy environments. Belarus topped the list with an inflation rate of 59.22%, largely due to economic instability and monetary policy challenges. South Sudan and the Syrian Arab Republic followed with rates of 45.53% and 36.70%, respectively, reflecting the impact of political turmoil and conflict on their economies.
Conversely, countries like Kiribati, with an inflation rate of -3.05%, and Georgia, at -0.94%, experienced deflation, which can indicate an economic slowdown or reduced consumer demand. These figures demonstrate the complex interplay between economic growth, policy decisions, and external factors affecting consumer prices worldwide.
Economic Drivers Behind Inflation Rates
Several economic drivers can explain the disparities in inflation rates globally. In Belarus, hyperinflation was fueled by excessive money supply growth and fiscal imbalances. Meanwhile, in South Sudan and Sudan, inflation soared to 45.53% and 35.56%, respectively, due to ongoing conflicts disrupting production and supply chains, exacerbating price increases for essential goods.
In contrast, the negative inflation rates in countries like Switzerland (-0.69%) and Japan (-0.04%) were influenced by stable economic conditions and effective monetary policies aimed at controlling price levels. These countries often rely on robust economic structures and diversified markets that help maintain low and stable inflation rates.
Year-over-Year Changes and Economic Shifts
Analyzing year-over-year changes, some countries experienced dramatic shifts in their inflation rates. The Syrian Arab Republic saw the most significant increase, with a rise of 31.95% (a 672.2% increase) due to the intensifying civil conflict, which severely disrupted economic activity and supply chains. Similarly, Sudan and Malawi experienced substantial increases of 17.46% and 13.65%, respectively, driven by economic instability and external pressures.
On the other hand, Kyrgyzstan observed the largest decrease, with its inflation rate dropping by 13.87% (-83.4%), reflecting successful stabilization efforts and improved economic conditions. Other notable decreases were seen in Suriname and Yemen, where inflation rates fell by 12.70% and 9.66%, respectively, as these countries implemented policies to curb inflation and stabilize their economies.
Policy Implications and Future Outlook
The wide range of inflation rates in 2012 underscores the importance of effective monetary and fiscal policies in managing economic stability. Countries with high inflation, such as Belarus and Iran (27.26%), often faced challenges related to currency depreciation and fiscal deficits, necessitating comprehensive economic reforms to stabilize prices.
Conversely, nations experiencing deflation, like Switzerland and Nauru (-0.12%), must balance price stability with economic growth to avoid prolonged periods of stagnation. As policymakers navigate these challenges, the lessons from 2012 emphasize the need for adaptive strategies that consider global economic trends and domestic economic conditions.
Frequently Asked Questions About Inflation Rate (CPI) in 2012
Which country had the highest inflation rate in 2012?
Belarus had the highest inflation rate in 2012, with a rate of 59.22%.
Which country had the lowest inflation rate in 2012?
Kiribati had the lowest inflation rate in 2012, with a rate of -3.05%.
What was the average inflation rate across all countries in 2012?
The average inflation rate across all 190 countries in 2012 was 5.76%.
What was the median inflation rate in 2012?
The median inflation rate among the countries in 2012 was 3.73%.
Which countries were in the top 3 for highest inflation rates in 2012?
The countries with the top 3 highest inflation rates in 2012 were Belarus (59.22%), South Sudan (45.53%), and the Syrian Arab Republic (36.7%).
Which countries were in the bottom 3 for lowest inflation rates in 2012?
The countries with the bottom 3 lowest inflation rates in 2012 were Kiribati (-3.05%), Georgia (-0.94%), and Switzerland (-0.69%).
Insights by country
Portugal
In 2012, Portugal had an Inflation Rate (CPI) of 2.7733386 %, ranking #126 out of 190 countries. This rate was higher than the European Union average, reflecting economic challenges following the sovereign debt crisis. Contributing factors included austerity measures implemented to stabilize the economy and rising costs in essential goods and services.
South Korea
In 2012, South Korea had an Inflation Rate (CPI) of 2.187071 %, ranking #150 out of 190 countries. This rate was relatively moderate compared to neighboring Japan, which experienced deflation during the same period. Key drivers of South Korea's inflation included its robust export-driven economy and the impact of global commodity prices, which influenced domestic costs.
Kuwait
Kuwait ranked #110 globally for its Inflation Rate (CPI) in 2012, with a value of 3.255146 %. This rate was higher than the global average, reflecting the challenges faced by the country in managing inflation compared to its neighbors, such as Saudi Arabia, which had a lower rate. Factors contributing to Kuwait's inflation included rising consumer demand, fluctuations in oil prices, and a relatively small population that influences market dynamics.
Montenegro
In 2012, Montenegro had an Inflation Rate (CPI) of 4.1452475 %, ranking #87 out of 190 countries. This rate was notably higher than the European Union average, reflecting economic challenges in the region. Contributing factors included the aftermath of the global financial crisis and reliance on tourism, which can lead to price volatility in goods and services.
Ecuador
Ecuador's Inflation Rate (CPI) in 2012 was 5.101722 %, ranking it #68 out of 190 countries. This rate was notably higher than the regional average for Latin America, which often hovers around 3-4%. Contributing factors included government policies aimed at stabilizing the economy following previous financial crises and fluctuations in global oil prices, which significantly impact Ecuador's dollarized economy.
Zambia
Zambia's Inflation Rate (CPI) in 2012 was 6.5758996 %, ranking it #48 out of 190 countries. This rate was relatively moderate compared to the regional average in Southern Africa, where inflation often exceeds 10%. Contributing factors to Zambia's inflation included fluctuations in global copper prices, which significantly impact its economy, and domestic challenges such as energy shortages and agricultural output variability.
Libya
In 2012, Libya's Inflation Rate (CPI) was 6.059804 %, ranking it #54 out of 190 countries. This rate was relatively moderate compared to some of its North African neighbors, which faced higher inflation pressures during the same period. The inflation rate in Libya was influenced by the post-revolution economic environment, characterized by political instability and disruptions in oil production, which are critical to its economy.
Nauru
Nauru ranked #187 globally with an Inflation Rate (CPI) of -0.1247505 % in 2012. This deflationary figure contrasts sharply with the global average, indicating economic challenges faced by the island nation.
The primary drivers of this negative inflation were Nauru's reliance on phosphate mining, which has declined significantly, and its limited economic diversification. Additionally, Nauru's small population and geographic isolation restrict its market size and economic resilience.
Ghana
In 2012, Ghana had an Inflation Rate (CPI) of 11.186341 %, ranking #17 out of 190 countries. This rate was notably higher than the average inflation rate in West Africa, which often hovers around single digits. Contributing factors to Ghana's inflation included rising food prices and currency depreciation, driven by increased demand and economic challenges in the agricultural sector.
Grenada
In 2012, Grenada had an Inflation Rate (CPI) of 2.410777 %, ranking #143 out of 190 countries. This rate was relatively low compared to regional neighbors, indicating a stable economic environment amidst global fluctuations. The inflation rate in Grenada was influenced by its reliance on tourism and agriculture, sectors that contribute significantly to its GDP and are sensitive to external economic conditions.
Data Source
Inflation of consumer prices | Our World in Data
Our World in Data is a research organization that provides a comprehensive collection of global data on various topics, including economic indicators. The dataset on inflation of consumer prices offers country-level statistics on the rate of inflation, allowing for comparisons across nations and over time.
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