Eritrea Economy
Sub-Saharan Africa · Low income · Capital: Asmara
GDP Annual Growth Rate in Eritrea decreased to 3.80 percent in 2019 from 13.00 percent in 2018. Inflation Rate in Eritrea increased to 1.30 percent in 2019 from -14.40 percent in 2018.
GDP Growth Rate
Real GDP, annual % change. Hatched bars are IMF projections.
Inflation Rate
Annual data, %. Source: IMF.
Key Highlights
- Real GDP grew 3.8% in 2019 (previous year: 13.0%).
- Consumer price inflation was 1.3% in 2019, compared with -14.4% in the previous period.
- The unemployment rate was 6.0% in 2025 (previous: 5.9%).
- General government debt was 260.4% of GDP in 2019.
Main Indicators
| Indicator | Last | Previous | Period |
|---|---|---|---|
| GDP Annual Growth Rate | 3.8% | 13.0% | 2019 |
| Inflation Rate | 1.3% | -14.4% | 2019 |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.0% | 5.9% | 2025 |
| Government Debt to GDP | 260.4% | 267.1% | 2019 |
| Balance of Trade | -$0.2B | -$0.4B | 2011 |
| Current Account to GDP | 13.0% | 15.5% | 2019 |
| GDP | $2.0B | $2.0B | 2019 |
GDP
| Indicator | Last | Previous | Period |
|---|---|---|---|
| GDP per Capita | $567 | $581 | 2019 |
| GDP per Capita PPP | $1,821 | $1,765 | 2019 |
| Gross National Income | $2.0B | $1.6B | 2011 |
| GDP from Agriculture | 14.1% | 16.8% | 2009 |
| GDP from Industry | 21.8% | 25.9% | 2009 |
| GDP from Manufacturing | 5.5% | 6.5% | 2009 |
| Gross Fixed Capital Formation | 12.6% | 12.4% | 2011 |
| Household Consumption to GDP | 98.2% | 113.7% | 2011 |
Labour
| Indicator | Last | Previous | Period |
|---|---|---|---|
| Youth Unemployment Rate | 10.2% | 10.1% | 2025 |
| Labour Force Participation Rate | 78.3% | 78.3% | 2025 |
| Employment Rate | 73.7% | 73.7% | 2025 |
| Population | 3.61M | 3.54M | 2025 |
Prices
| Indicator | Last | Previous | Period |
|---|---|---|---|
| GDP Deflator Growth | 19.5% | -16.2% | 2011 |
Money
| Indicator | Last | Previous | Period |
|---|---|---|---|
| Broad Money Growth | 12.9% | 16.5% | 2014 |
| Foreign Exchange Reserves | $0.2B | $0.2B | 2019 |
Trade
| Indicator | Last | Previous | Period |
|---|---|---|---|
| Current Account | -$0.1B | -$0.2B | 2000 |
| Exports | $0.4B | $0.1B | 2011 |
| Imports | $0.6B | $0.5B | 2011 |
| Foreign Direct Investment | $0.08B | $0.01B | 2025 |
| External Debt | $0.7B | $0.7B | 2024 |
| Remittances | $0.00B | $0.00B | 2000 |
| Terms of Trade | 99.0 | 95.7 | 2024 |
| Tourist Arrivals | 0.14M | 0.11M | 2016 |
| Tourism Revenues | $0.05B | $0.03B | 2016 |
Government
| Indicator | Last | Previous | Period |
|---|---|---|---|
| Government Budget | 2.7% | 5.2% | 2019 |
| Military Expenditure | 20.87% | 20.67% | 2003 |
Eritrea economy explained in simple words
Size of the economy
The economy of Eritrea produced goods and services worth $2.0B in 2019, making it the 192nd largest of 214 economies with data.
With a population of about 3.6 million, GDP per person is $567. The World Bank classifies Eritrea as a “low income” economy.
Economic growth
Real GDP grew 3.8% in 2019, compared with world growth of 3.5% (IMF).
Over the last 10 years growth averaged 5.3% a year, ranging from -20.6% to 30.9%.
Prices and interest rates
Consumer price inflation was 1.3% in 2019.
Jobs
The unemployment rate was 6.0% in 2025 (world: 4.8%).
About 78.3% of people aged 15 and over are in the labour force (working or looking for work).
Government finances
General government debt was 260.4% of GDP in 2019, compared with a median of 52.9% across 191 economies.
The government budget balance was 2.7% of GDP (2019) — a surplus, meaning revenue exceeded spending.
Trade and external position
The current account was 13.0% of GDP in 2019 — a surplus with the rest of the world.
Exports of goods and services were $0.4B and imports $0.6B.
Foreign exchange reserves (including gold) stood at $0.2B.
Structure of the economy
By sector, value added is split roughly as: industry 21.8%, agriculture 14.1% of GDP.
How to read this page
The four boxes at the top show the most-watched numbers: GDP growth (how fast the economy is expanding), inflation (how fast prices are rising), the central bank policy rate (the base cost of borrowing) and unemployment (the share of job-seekers without work). The small arrow shows the change from the previous reading.
The tabs group all available indicators by topic — GDP, labour, prices, money, trade, government and housing. Each row shows the latest value, the previous value, the period it refers to, a small trend line and the source. Click any indicator to open its full history, chart, statistics and comparison with other countries.
Monthly and quarterly figures come from national statistics offices and central banks — via the OECD, the Bank for International Settlements (BIS) and, for India, the Ministry of Statistics (MoSPI); annual figures come from the World Bank and the IMF. Different indicators are published at different times, so the periods shown can differ.
Frequently asked questions
What is the GDP growth rate of Eritrea?
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What is the government debt to GDP ratio of Eritrea?
Data are sourced from official international organisations (IMF, World Bank, BIS) and national authorities, and are shown for educational and informational purposes only. They are not investment advice and no recommendation is made. Figures may be revised by the source; IMF figures for the current and future years are projections. This page was last updated on Saturday, October 17, 2026.