Browse a full set of economic indicators

Eritrea

Includes historical data for Eritrea’s Gross Domestic Product growth, debt-to-GDP ratio and more, as well as information on trade, banking and financial sector leadership.

Widespread Poverty Despite Resource-Rich Economy

A small coastal country strategically situated along the Red Sea in the Horn of Africa, Eritrea possesses extensive agricultural and mineral resources. Yet, it remains among the poorest nations on the continent. 

Eritrea is a one-party state with a highly militarized society, a matter that the government defends by evoking the threat of war with neighboring Ethiopia. Eritrea’s longstanding challenges include a lack of commitment to structural economic reforms, a critical level of debt and underdeveloped legal and regulatory frameworks. United States economic sanctions, a poor human rights record and exclusion from global financial networks have further contributed to making this country of 3.5 million people a pariah state. Agriculture, accounting for about one-third of Eritrea’s economy, is vulnerable to recurrent droughts and other climate shocks, compounding problems for the population.

Macroeconomy & Sovereign Data

Type of Government Presidential republic
Capital Asmara (Asmera)
Sovereign Ratings S&P: Not rated
Moody’s: Not rated
Fitch: Not rated
Total Population 3.5 million
Median Age 18.9
Adult Per Capita Income (PPP) 4,063.97
Total GDP (2023) N/A

Eritrea GDP & Economic Overview

Most Recent Content

Eritrea

Emerging & Frontier Markets

Africa’s Lion Awakens

Capital Raising & Corporate Finance

Cover Story : Africa in Squeeze

Banking & Finance

Trade & Investment

Total Exports USD 369.6 million (2023)
Leading Exports Zinc
Copper
Gold
Clothing
Stone Grinders
Total Imports USD 855.3 million (2022)
Leading Imports Machinery
Petroleum Products
Food
Manufactured Goods
Source: World Integrated Trade Solution

Eritrea Leading Companies

Commercial Bank of Eritrea Financials
Housing and Commerce Bank of Eritrea Financials
Eritrean National Mining Corporation Materials, Metals & Mining
Red Sea Trading Corporation Consumer Staples, Food Distributors, Broadline Retail
EriTel Telecommunication Services
Segen Construction Construction & Engineering
Asmara Breweries Consumer Staples, Brewers

Data Sources:

IMF World Economic Outlook

UN World Population Prospects

World Inequality Report

S&P Global Ratings

Moody’s

Fitch Ratings

IMF Direction of Trade Statistics (DOTS)

UN Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD)

CIA The World Factbook

World Bank’s World Integrated Trade Solution

Forbes Global 2000

arrow-chevron-right-redarrow-chevron-rightbutton-arrow-left-greybutton-arrow-left-red-400button-arrow-left-red-500button-arrow-left-red-600button-arrow-left-whitebutton-arrow-right-greybutton-arrow-right-red-400button-arrow-right-red-500button-arrow-right-red-600button-arrow-right-whitecaret-downcaret-rightclosecloseemailfacebook-square-holdfacebookhamburger-newhamburgerinstagramlinkedin-square-1linkedinpauseplaysearch-outlinesearchsubscribe-digitalsubscribe-printtwitter-square-holdtwitteryoutube