GDP
Loading source coverage…
Eritrea
ERISub-Saharan Africa Low incomeCapital: AsmaraEconomy
Fiscal
People
Health
Education
Trade
Energy / Env
Tech
Governance
Equality
Infra
Labor
46/80 indicators · percentile vs world (IMF / WB / WHO)underover
GDP
$1.98B
2019▼ 1.2%
Population
3.6M
2025▲ 2.0%
GDP per Capita
$567
2019▼ 2.4%
Life Expectancy
68.9 years
2024▲ 0.4%
Monthly & quarterly economy
All reviewed economic seriesEach measure keeps its own source, unit and reference period. Open its history for definitions, source evidence and, where the terms allow, downloads.
Inflation
Loading source coverage…
Jobs
Loading source coverage…
Trade
Loading source coverage…
Production
Loading source coverage…
▶About Eritrea
Eritrea's GDP is $1.98B (2019), with a population of 3.6M (2025) and GDP per capita of $567 (2019). Key indicators: real GDP growth of 3.8%, inflation at 1.3% and government debt at 260.4% of GDP (all 2019); life expectancy of 68.9 years (2024). Data sourced from the IMF World Economic Outlook and World Bank World Development Indicators.
▶Economy29 indicators · 2000 to 2024 · IMF / WB
▶Fiscal & Monetary11 indicators · 2000 to 2026 · IMF / WB
| Indicator | Value | Year | Change | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Inflation, Consumer Prices (%) | 1.3% | 2019 | ▲ 15.7 pp | IMF |
| Govt Gross Debt (% of GDP) | 260.4% | 2019 | ▼ 6.7 pp | IMF |
| Fiscal Balance (% of GDP) | 2.7% | 2019 | ▼ 2.5 pp | IMF |
| Current Account Balance (% of GDP) | 13.0% | 2019 | ▼ 2.5 pp | IMF |
| Total Investment (% of GDP) | 6.7% | 2026 (IMF projection) | ▼ 0.1 pp | IMF |
| Gross National Savings (% of GDP) | 17.0% | 2026 (IMF projection) | ▲ 0.2 pp | IMF |
| Total Reserves incl. Gold (USD) | $191.7M | 2019 | ▲ 17.6% | WB |
| Total Reserves (months of imports) | 0.8 | 2000 | – | WB |
| Official Exchange Rate (per USD) | 15.07 | 2025 | 0.0% | WB |
| PPP Conversion Factor | 4.94 | 2021 | ▼ 1.5% | WB |
| Broad Money (% of GDP) | 176.8% | 2014 | ▲ 40.8 pp | WB |
▶Trade14 indicators · 2000 to 2025 · WB
| Indicator | Value | Year | Change | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Trade (% of GDP) | 47.4% | 2011 | ▲ 9.9 pp | WB |
| Exports of Goods & Services (% of GDP) | 18.2% | 2011 | ▲ 11.8 pp | WB |
| Imports of Goods & Services (% of GDP) | 29.2% | 2011 | ▼ 1.9 pp | WB |
| Exports of Goods & Services (USD) | $374.9M | 2011 | ▲ 269.8% | WB |
| Imports of Goods & Services (USD) | $603.8M | 2011 | ▲ 22.2% | WB |
| Merchandise Exports (USD) | $631.0M | 2025 | ▲ 10.1% | WB |
| Merchandise Imports (USD) | $524.0M | 2025 | ▼ 1.7% | WB |
| FDI Inflows (% of GDP) | 0.3% | 2011 | ▼ 0.1 pp | WB |
| FDI Outflows (% of GDP) | -3.9% | 2000 | – | WB |
| FDI Net Inflows (USD) | $82.4M | 2025 | ▲ 555.2% | WB |
| Personal Remittances Received (USD) | $3.3M | 2000 | – | WB |
| Personal Remittances Received (% of GDP) | 0.5% | 2000 | – | WB |
| Current Account Balance (% of GDP) | -14.8% | 2000 | – | WB |
| Current Account Balance (USD) | -$104.7M | 2000 | – | WB |
▶External Debt7 indicators · 2011 to 2024 · WB
| Indicator | Value | Year | Change | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| External Debt (% of GNI) | 51.5% | 2011 | ▼ 14.6 pp | WB |
| External Debt Stocks (USD) | $693.3M | 2024 | ▼ 4.5% | WB |
| Total Debt Service (% of GNI) | 1.1% | 2011 | ▼ 0.6 pp | WB |
| Present Value of External Debt (USD) | $417.6M | 2024 | – | WB |
| Use of IMF Credit (USD) | $39.6M | 2024 | ▼ 2.8% | WB |
| Net ODA Received (% of GNI) | 6.5% | 2011 | ▼ 3.4 pp | WB |
| Net ODA Received (USD) | $129.2M | 2023 | ▲ 103.5% | WB |
▶Finance2 indicators · 2009 to 2014 · WB
| Indicator | Value | Year | Change | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Domestic Credit to Private Sector (% of GDP) | 53.2% | 2014 | ▲ 19.3 pp | WB |
| Firms Using Banks to Finance Investment (%) | 11.9% | 2009 | – | WB |
▶Business Environment1 indicator · 2009 · WB
| Indicator | Value | Year | Change | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Time to Get Electricity (days) | 5 | 2009 | – | WB |
▶Private Sector6 indicators · 2009 · WB
| Indicator | Value | Year | Change | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Firms Expected to Pay Bribes (%) | 0.0% | 2009 | – | WB |
| Firms with Female Participation in Ownership (%) | 4.2% | 2009 | – | WB |
| Firms with a Female Top Manager (%) | 7.6% | 2009 | – | WB |
| Firms Offering Training (%) | 26.1% | 2009 | – | WB |
| Time to Obtain an Operating License (days) | 7 | 2009 | – | WB |
| Firms Competing with Unregistered Firms (%) | 28.2% | 2009 | – | WB |
▶People23 indicators · 2024 to 2025 · WB
| Indicator | Value | Year | Change | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Population | 3.6M | 2025 | ▲ 2.0% | WB |
| Population Growth (%) | 2.0% | 2025 | ▲ 0.1 pp | WB |
| Population Density (per km²) | 29 | 2024 | ▲ 1.9% | WB |
| Surface Area (sq km) | 121,630 | 2024 | 0.0% | WB |
| Land Area (sq km) | 120,800 | 2024 | 0.0% | WB |
| Urban Population (%) | 34.5% | 2025 | 0.0 pp | WB |
| Urban Population (total) | 1.2M | 2025 | ▲ 2.0% | WB |
| Rural Population (%) | 65.5% | 2025 | 0.0 pp | WB |
| Life Expectancy at Birth | 68.9 years | 2024 | ▲ 0.4% | WB |
| Life Expectancy, Male | 66.8 years | 2024 | ▲ 0.4% | WB |
| Life Expectancy, Female | 70.9 years | 2024 | ▲ 0.4% | WB |
| Fertility Rate (births per woman) | 3.7 | 2024 | ▼ 0.9% | WB |
| Birth Rate (per 1,000) | 28.7 | 2024 | ▲ 0.6% | WB |
| Death Rate (per 1,000) | 6 | 2024 | ▼ 0.9% | WB |
| Net Migration | -6,698 | 2025 | ▲ 5,998 | WB |
| Population Ages 0–14 (%) | 37.6% | 2025 | ▼ 0.5 pp | WB |
| Population Ages 15–64 (%) | 58.2% | 2025 | ▲ 0.5 pp | WB |
| Population Ages 65+ (%) | 4.3% | 2025 | ▲ 0.1 pp | WB |
| Age Dependency Ratio (%) | 72.0% | 2025 | ▼ 1.5 pp | WB |
| Old-Age Dependency Ratio (%) | 7.3% | 2025 | 0.0 pp | WB |
| Youth Dependency Ratio (%) | 64.6% | 2025 | ▼ 1.5 pp | WB |
| Mortality Rate, Adult Male (per 1,000) | 214.1 | 2024 | ▼ 1.2% | WB |
| Mortality Rate, Adult Female (per 1,000) | 155.9 | 2024 | ▼ 1.7% | WB |
▶Labor17 indicators · 2025 · WB
| Indicator | Value | Year | Change | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Total Labor Force | 1.8M | 2025 | ▲ 2.9% | WB |
| Labor Force Participation (%) | 78.3% | 2025 | 0.0 pp | WB |
| Female Labor Force Participation (%) | 72.8% | 2025 | 0.0 pp | WB |
| Male Labor Force Participation (%) | 84.1% | 2025 | 0.0 pp | WB |
| Unemployment (%) | 6.0% | 2025 | 0.0 pp | WB |
| Female Unemployment (%) | 6.7% | 2025 | 0.0 pp | WB |
| Male Unemployment (%) | 5.3% | 2025 | 0.0 pp | WB |
| Youth Unemployment (%) | 10.2% | 2025 | ▲ 0.2 pp | WB |
| Employment in Agriculture (%) | 55.5% | 2025 | ▼ 0.5 pp | WB |
| Employment in Industry (%) | 12.7% | 2025 | ▲ 0.1 pp | WB |
| Employment in Services (%) | 31.8% | 2025 | ▲ 0.4 pp | WB |
| Vulnerable Employment (%) | 47.9% | 2025 | ▼ 0.2 pp | WB |
| Wage & Salaried Workers (% of total) | 47.6% | 2025 | ▲ 0.2 pp | WB |
| Employers (% of total employment) | 4.5% | 2025 | 0.0 pp | WB |
| Labor Force, Female (% of total) | 47.7% | 2025 | ▼ 0.1 pp | WB |
| Employment to Population Ratio (%) | 73.7% | 2025 | 0.0 pp | WB |
| Self-Employed (% of total) | 52.4% | 2025 | ▼ 0.2 pp | WB |
▶Education21 indicators · 2004 to 2022 · WB
▶Health49 indicators · 2010 to 2025 · WHO
▶Energy & Environment18 indicators · 2016 to 2025 · WB / WHO
| Indicator | Value | Year | Change | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| CO₂ Emissions per Capita, Excluding LULUCF (t CO2e) | 0.2 | 2024 | ▼ 0.1% | WB |
| CO₂ Emissions, Excluding LULUCF (Mt CO2e) | 1 | 2024 | ▲ 1.8% | WB |
| Energy Use (kg oil eq. per capita) | 294 | 2024 | ▲ 0.7% | WB |
| Electric Power Consumption (kWh per capita) | 128 | 2024 | ▲ 3.2% | WB |
| Renewable Electricity Output (%) | 5.0% | 2021 | ▼ 0.7 pp | WB |
| Renewable Energy Consumption (%) | 80.7% | 2021 | ▼ 0.2 pp | WB |
| Access to Electricity (%) | 55.3% | 2024 | ▲ 0.9 pp | WB |
| Access to Clean Fuels for Cooking (%) | 21.0% | 2024 | ▲ 1.0 pp | WB |
| PM2.5 Air Pollution (µg/m³) | 33.7 | 2023 | ▲ 1.5% | WB |
| Forest Area (%) | 12.0% | 2024 | 0.0 pp | WB |
| Forest Area (sq km) | 14,420 | 2025 | ▼ 0.4% | WB |
| Arable Land (%) | 5.7% | 2024 | 0.0 pp | WB |
| Terrestrial and Marine Protected Areas (%) | 0.0% | 2025 | 0.0 pp | WB |
| Marine Protected Areas (%) | 0.0% | 2025 | 0.0 pp | WB |
| Access to Basic Drinking Water (%) | 51.8% | 2016 | ▲ 0.4 pp | WHO |
| Access to Basic Sanitation (%) | 11.9% | 2016 | ▲ 0.1 pp | WHO |
| Urban PM2.5 Concentration (WHO) | 25 | 2023 | – | WHO |
| Air Pollution Mortality (household + ambient, age-standardized) | 238.3 | 2021 | – | WHO |
▶Agriculture10 indicators · 2022 to 2024 · WB
| Indicator | Value | Year | Change | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Agricultural Land (%) | 62.8% | 2024 | 0.0 pp | WB |
| Cereal Yield (kg per hectare) | 638 | 2024 | 0.0% | WB |
| Food Production Index (2014–2016=100) | 107 | 2024 | ▲ 0.5% | WB |
| Crop Production Index (2014–2016=100) | 100.2 | 2024 | 0.0% | WB |
| Livestock Production Index (2014–2016=100) | 111.1 | 2024 | ▲ 0.8% | WB |
| Land Under Cereal Production (hectares) | 478,367 | 2024 | 0.0% | WB |
| Total Fisheries Production (metric tonnes) | 2,459 | 2024 | ▲ 32.1% | WB |
| Fertilizer Consumption (kg per hectare) | 2.4 | 2024 | ▲ 27.6% | WB |
| Annual Freshwater Withdrawals (% of internal) | 20.8% | 2022 | 0.0 pp | WB |
| Cereal Production (metric tons) | 305,210 | 2024 | 0.0% | WB |
▶Technology7 indicators · 2000 to 2024 · WB
| Indicator | Value | Year | Change | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Internet Users (%) | 14.3% | 2020 | ▲ 3.1 pp | WB |
| Mobile Subscriptions (per 100 people) | 59 | 2022 | ▲ 10.0% | WB |
| Fixed Broadband Subscriptions (per 100) | 0.2 | 2022 | ▲ 10.8% | WB |
| Secure Internet Servers (per million) | 2 | 2024 | ▲ 587.1% | WB |
| Scientific Journal Articles | 29 | 2023 | ▼ 3.0% | WB |
| ICT Service Exports (% of service exports) | 13.5% | 2000 | – | WB |
| ICT Service Exports (USD) | $8.2M | 2000 | – | WB |
▶Infrastructure6 indicators · 2018 to 2024 · WB
| Indicator | Value | Year | Change | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Air Transport, Passengers Carried | 45,104 | 2020 | ▼ 55.5% | WB |
| Air Transport, Freight (million ton-km) | 0 | 2023 | 0 | WB |
| Container Port Traffic (TEU) | 27,453 | 2019 | ▼ 26.3% | WB |
| Logistics Performance Index (1–5) | 2.09 | 2018 | ▼ 3.8%since 2016 | WB |
| Electricity from Oil (%) | 90.0% | 2024 | ▲ 0.7 pp | WB |
| Electricity from Nuclear (%) | 0.0% | 2021 | 0.0 pp | WB |
▶Gender8 indicators · 2002 to 2025 · WB
| Indicator | Value | Year | Change | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Women in Parliament (%) | 22.0% | 2019 | 0.0 pp | WB |
| Female Wage & Salaried Workers (%) | 41.0% | 2025 | ▲ 0.2 pp | WB |
| Gross Intake to First Primary Grade, Female (%) | 68.7% | 2018 | ▲ 8.1 pp | WB |
| Adolescent Fertility Rate (per 1,000) | 65.2 | 2024 | 0.0% | WB |
| Women Who Believe Husband Can Beat Wife (%) | 70.7% | 2002 | – | WB |
| Gross Intake to First Primary Grade, Total (%) | 73.4% | 2018 | ▲ 8.4 pp | WB |
| Gender Parity Index, Secondary | 0.92 | 2019 | ▲ 0.8% | WB |
| Gender Parity in Primary Education | 0.86 | 2019 | ▲ 0.3% | WB |
▶Governance12 indicators · 2025 · WB
| Indicator | Value | Year | Change | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Control of Corruption | -1.61 | 2025 | ▲ 0.02 | WB |
| Government Effectiveness | -1.53 | 2025 | ▼ 0.02 | WB |
| Political Stability | -0.6 | 2025 | ▲ 0.13 | WB |
| Regulatory Quality | -2.11 | 2025 | ▼ 0.03 | WB |
| Rule of Law | -1.77 | 2025 | ▲ 0.02 | WB |
| Voice & Accountability | -2.35 | 2025 | ▲ 0.01 | WB |
| Control of Corruption Score (0-100) | 15.6 | 2025 | ▲ 0.5 | WB |
| Government Effectiveness Score (0-100) | 21.1 | 2025 | ▼ 0.4 | WB |
| Political Stability Score (0-100) | 55.1 | 2025 | ▲ 2.2 | WB |
| Regulatory Quality Score (0-100) | 19.2 | 2025 | ▼ 0.5 | WB |
| Rule of Law Score (0-100) | 29.5 | 2025 | ▲ 0.3 | WB |
| Voice & Accountability Score (0-100) | 14.6 | 2025 | ▲ 0.3 | WB |
▶Military6 indicators · 2003 to 2020 · WB
| Indicator | Value | Year | Change | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Military Spending (% of GDP) | 20.9% | 2003 | ▲ 0.2 pp | WB |
| Military Expenditure (USD) | $181.6M | 2003 | ▲ 20.4% | WB |
| Armed Forces Personnel | 202,000 | 2020 | 0.0% | WB |
| Armed Forces (% of labor force) | 13.3% | 2020 | ▼ 0.2 pp | WB |
| Military Spending (% of govt expenditure) | 46.4% | 2003 | ▲ 1.9 pp | WB |
| Intentional Homicides (per 100,000) | 15.6 | 2012 | – | WB |
▶Tourism3 indicators · 2000 to 2016 · WB
| Indicator | Value | Year | Change | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| International Tourism, Arrivals | 142,000 | 2016 | ▲ 24.6% | WB |
| Tourism Receipts (USD) | $48.0M | 2016 | ▲ 84.6%since 2009 | WB |
| Tourism Receipts (% of total exports) | 36.8% | 2000 | – | WB |
▶Urban Development5 indicators · 2022 to 2025 · WB
| Indicator | Value | Year | Change | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Urban Population Growth (%) | 2.0% | 2025 | ▲ 0.6 pp | WB |
| Population in Largest City | 1.2M | 2025 | ▲ 3.6% | WB |
| Population in Largest City (% of urban) | 92.5% | 2025 | ▲ 1.4 pp | WB |
| Population in Slums (% of urban) | 48.7% | 2022 | ▼ 3.3 ppsince 2020 | WB |
| Rural Population Growth (%) | 2.0% | 2025 | ▼ 0.1 pp | WB |
▶About these figures
Each row shows the latest figure available for Eritrea up to this year, with the year it refers to. Publishers release on different schedules, so the years differ from row to row.
IMF projection: a forecast from the IMF World Economic Outlook, revised at each release, not a measured value.
Change compares a reading with the one before it. Figures measured in percent, such as growth, inflation or a share of GDP, change by percentage points (pp). Amounts and counts, such as GDP or population, change by percent. When either reading is zero or negative, as a current account balance can be, or the figure is a governance score centred on zero, the change is shown in the figure's own unit. When the earlier reading is more than a year older, the year it is measured from is shown. A dash means there is no earlier reading.
