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Economy of Denmark vs Eritrea compared: GDP & Debt

Updated on by Georank team

Denmark has a GDP of $425B compared to $2.07B for Eritrea, ranking 37/197 and 179/197 by economy size, respectively.

Denmark has $134B in government debt (31.5% of GDP), compared to $3.54B (260.4% of GDP) in Eritrea.

Denmark vs Eritrea GDP by year

Denmark
Eritrea
1x
Year GDP, current $
Denmark Eritrea
2024 $424,524,722,037 -
2023 $404,651,706,118 -
2022 $400,114,306,337 -
2021 $406,110,162,088 -
2020 $355,631,021,932 -
2019 $345,401,473,013 -
2018 $355,293,374,912 -
2017 $331,610,593,962 -
2016 $312,181,849,372 -
2015 $301,758,922,338 -
2014 $352,832,602,064 -
2013 $344,631,016,965 -
2012 $326,792,574,245 -
2011 $344,315,595,263 $2,065,001,626
2010 $322,345,594,075 $1,589,515,447
2009 $322,619,152,195 $1,856,695,551
2008 $354,979,471,960 $1,380,188,800
2007 $320,213,157,595 $1,317,974,491
2006 $283,386,151,544 $1,211,161,880
2005 $265,150,087,712 $1,098,424,686
2004 $251,986,155,631 $1,109,054,005
2003 $218,421,193,436 $870,248,268
2002 $178,788,209,558 $729,321,680
2001 $164,881,594,415 $752,371,689
2000 $164,043,817,224 $706,370,816
1999 $177,887,720,536 $688,918,537
1998 $176,877,077,513 $745,523,117
1997 $173,241,365,735 $686,490,090
1996 $187,481,157,846 $693,535,954
1995 $184,848,481,008 $578,015,625
1994 $156,017,919,221 $531,688,312
1993 $143,111,306,004 $467,872,715
1992 $152,966,494,260 $477,101,652
1991 $139,180,507,778 -
1990 $138,217,740,684 -
1989 $112,312,200,761 -
1988 $115,540,189,705 -
1987 $109,183,446,340 -
1986 $87,748,695,217 -
1985 $62,452,421,011 -
1984 $58,868,891,335 -
1983 $60,331,158,447 -
1982 $60,084,214,872 -
1981 $61,459,941,461 -
1980 $70,811,287,816 -
1979 $70,393,030,603 -
1978 $60,320,089,218 -
1977 $49,711,709,588 -
1976 $44,503,607,444 -
1975 $40,418,967,666 -
1974 $34,125,712,481 -
1973 $30,718,181,337 -
1972 $23,230,667,549 -
1971 $19,086,192,720 -
1970 $17,075,457,733 -
1969 $15,414,902,667 -
1968 $13,505,574,133 -
1967 $13,059,064,806 -
1966 $11,931,740,293 -
1965 $10,870,670,865 -
1964 $9,677,401,337 -
1963 $8,466,044,980 -
1962 $7,953,274,741 -
1961 $7,058,361,229 -
1960 $6,361,166,545 -

Data sources: World Bank | Economy & Growth (1960–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06).

GeoRank.org/economy/denmark/eritrea | CC BY

GDP per capita in Denmark vs Eritrea by year

Denmark
GDP per capita

GDP per capita, PPP
Eritrea
GDP per capita

GDP per capita, PPP
1x
Year Current $
Denmark Eritrea
GDP per capita GDP per capita, PPP GDP per capita GDP per capita, PPP
2024 $71,026 $81,878 - -
2023 $68,044 $77,892 - -
2022 $67,781 $78,914 - -
2021 $69,341 $69,715 - -
2020 $60,985 $62,682 - -
2019 $59,404 $60,595 - -
2018 $61,325 $57,234 - -
2017 $57,522 $55,272 - -
2016 $54,501 $51,821 - -
2015 $53,094 $48,897 - -
2014 $62,520 $47,880 - -
2013 $61,378 $46,869 - -
2012 $58,444 $44,755 - -
2011 $61,810 $44,444 $689 $1,742
2010 $58,105 $43,038 $540 $1,599
2009 $58,413 $40,524 $643 $1,577
2008 $64,617 $41,467 $490 $1,547
2007 $58,632 $39,110 $480 $1,727
2006 $52,119 $37,392 $448 $1,682
2005 $48,926 $34,238 $413 $1,674
2004 $46,625 $33,016 $427 $1,621
2003 $40,519 $30,864 $349 $1,621
2002 $33,257 $30,667 $305 $1,702
2001 $30,768 $29,459 $325 $1,684
2000 $30,722 $28,648 $314 $1,558
1999 $33,426 $26,642 $311 $1,597
1998 $33,346 $25,799 $342 $1,598
1997 $32,780 $24,887 $319 $1,573
1996 $35,622 $23,723 $326 $1,449
1995 $35,321 $22,677 $285.4 $1,369
1994 $29,968 $21,669 $277.8 $1,379
1993 $27,582 $20,217 $252.1 $1,149
1992 $29,579 $19,830 $265.2 $1,021
1991 $27,003 $19,067 - -
1990 $26,886 $18,225 - -
1989 $21,882 - - -
1988 $22,525 - - -
1987 $21,296 - - -
1986 $17,137 - - -
1985 $12,213 - - -
1984 $11,517 - - -
1983 $11,797 - - -
1982 $11,740 - - -
1981 $12,000 - - -
1980 $13,822 - - -
1979 $13,757 - - -
1978 $11,818 - - -
1977 $9,770 - - -
1976 $8,773 - - -
1975 $7,988 - - -
1974 $6,764 - - -
1973 $6,117 - - -
1972 $4,654 - - -
1971 $3,846 - - -
1970 $3,464 - - -
1969 $3,151 - - -
1968 $2,776 - - -
1967 $2,701 - - -
1966 $2,487 - - -
1965 $2,284 - - -
1964 $2,049 - - -
1963 $1,807 - - -
1962 $1,711 - - -
1961 $1,531 - - -
1960 $1,389 - - -

Data sources: World Bank | Economy & Growth (1960–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06).

GeoRank.org/economy/denmark/eritrea | CC BY

Denmark's GDP per capita is $71,026, ranking 12/197, compared to $689 in Eritrea, ranking 188/197. Adjusted for purchasing power (GDP per capita PPP), Denmark ranks 14th at $81,878, while Eritrea ranks 191st at $1,742.

Economic indicators

Denmark Eritrea
Gross domestic product
$425B
2024
$2.07B
2011
GDP rank
37/197
2024
179/197
2011
GDP growth
3.48%
2023-2024
8.68%
2010-2011
GDP per capita
$71,026
2024
$689
2011
GDP per capita rank
12/197
2024
188/197
2011
GDP per capita, PPP
$81,878
2024
$1,742
2011
GDP per capita PPP rank
14/197
2024
191/197
2011
Government debt
$134B
2024
$3.54B
2011
Debt-to-GDP ratio
31.5%
2024
260.4%
2019
Government debt per person
$22,340
2024
$1,182
2011
Government debt per person rank
30/185
2024
136/185
2011
Average annual personal income after taxes
$53,468
2026
$1,129
2026
Market capitalization of domestic companies
$151B
2004
n/a
Number of millionaires
376,000
2025
n/a
Number of billionaires
9
2025
n/a
Income share by richest 10%
25.5%
2023
n/a
Income share by poorest 10%
3.6%
2023
n/a
Government expenditure, % of GDP
47.3%
2024
31.3%
2019
Consumer prices inflation
1.37%
2023-2024
1.3%
2018-2019
Central bank interest rate
1.6%
2025
n/a
Unemployment rate
6.15%
2024
5.8%
2017
Population
6032403
3700586

Spending and national debt comparison by year

Denmark
Spending

Debt
Eritrea
Spending

Debt
1x
Year % of GDP
Denmark Eritrea
Government spending Government debt Government spending Government debt
2024 47.3% 31.5% - -
2023 47.4% 33.8% - -
2022 45.1% 34.2% - -
2021 49.7% 40.7% - -
2020 53.3% 46.3% - -
2019 49.8% 38.3% 31.3% 260.4%
2018 50.8% 38.5% 26.4% 267.1%
2017 50.6% 40.2% 42.5% 290.4%
2016 52.4% 41.7% 30.9% 251.2%
2015 54.4% 44.6% 31.1% 271.4%
2014 55.1% 48.7% 21.6% 204.5%
2013 55.6% 47.8% 32.7% 232.4%
2012 57.9% 48.7% 33.3% 171.6%
2011 56.3% 50% 32.3% 171.6%
2010 56.5% 46.1% 42.4% 201.8%
2009 56.3% 43% 44.9% 207.1%
2008 50.3% 35.5% 69.4% 259.7%
2007 49.5% 29.5% 51.2% 201.3%
2006 49.7% 33.2% 50.5% 199%
2005 51.1% 39.4% 76.6% 205.4%
2004 52.8% 46.2% 57.1% 193.5%
2003 53.5% 48.2% 58.1% 264%
2002 53.1% 50.3% 60.1% 243.4%
2001 53% 50.1% 59.5% 238.6%
2000 52.9% 53.6% 84.7% 219.1%
1999 54.7% 56.8% 106.1% -
1998 55.6% 60.3% 88% -
1997 56.2% 64.4% 60.1% -
1996 58.2% 68.3% 68.6% -
1995 58.7% 71.5% 81.2% -
1994 59.5% 75.3% 50.4% -
1993 59.5% 78.7% 67.2% -
1992 56.4% 66.7% 32.7% -
1991 55.5% 63.2% - -
1990 55.1% 62.4% - -
1989 56.2% 62.2% - -
1988 56.1% 64.7% - -
1987 54% 62.5% - -
1986 52.3% 66.8% - -
1985 55.5% 74.7% - -
1984 56.6% 77.7% - -
1983 57.9% 74.2% - -
1982 57.7% 64.5% - -
1981 56.3% 51.7% - -
1980 52.7% 39.2% - -
1979 49.6% 31.8% - -
1978 47.2% 25.5% - -
1977 45.6% 15.2% - -
1976 45% 11.4% - -
1975 45.3% 7.01% - -
1974 43.6% 6.2% - -
1973 39.5% 8.94% - -
1972 42.1% 11.5% - -
1971 42.2% 12.9% - -
1970 24.4% 7.62% - -
1969 25.3% 8.36% - -
1968 24.3% 9.36% - -
1967 22.2% 10.1% - -
1966 21.1% 11.2% - -
1965 17.1% 12.9% - -
1964 17.6% 14.5% - -
1963 18.2% 13.7% - -
1962 17% 15.3% - -
1961 15.6% 16.4% - -
1960 16.4% 20.1% - -

Data sources: International Monetary Fund (IMF) | Fiscal Monitor (1990–2024, retrieved 2026-02-20); International Monetary Fund (IMF) | Public Finances in Modern History (1960–1991, retrieved 2026-02-20).

GeoRank.org/economy/denmark/eritrea | CC BY

In 2024, Denmark's government spending was $201B, accounting for 47.3% of its GDP, while Eritrea spent $666M, or 31.3% of GDP.

Debt-to-GDP ratio is 31.5% in Denmark and 260.4% in Eritrea, ranking 155/185 and 2/185, respectively.

Government deficit by year

Deficit/surplus
Denmark

Eritrea
1x
Year Deficit/surplus, % of GDP
Denmark Eritrea
2024 4.46% -
2023 3.43% -
2022 3.39% -
2021 4.12% -
2020 0.36% -
2019 4.28% 2.72%
2018 0.81% 5.22%
2017 1.69% -5.74%
2016 0.3% -1.44%
2015 -0.9% -2.77%
2014 1.43% -0.12%
2013 -0.94% -7.62%
2012 -3.2% -5.21%
2011 -1.77% -5.5%
2010 -2.52% -16.5%
2009 -2.75% -22.2%
2008 3.46% -38%
2007 5.31% -19.8%
2006 5.29% -15.5%
2005 5.2% -31%
2004 2.23% -7.65%
2003 0.14% 6.23%
2002 0.25% -13.3%
2001 1.13% -9.62%
2000 1.79% -25.4%
1999 1.06% -59.7%
1998 -0.28% -40.3%
1997 -1.22% -5.65%
1996 -2.4% -18.4%
1995 -3.5% -22.9%
1994 -3.85% 8.69%
1993 -3.73% 4.22%
1992 -2.6% 6.85%
1991 -3.15% -
1990 -1.78% -
1989 0.3% -
1988 1.46% -
1987 2.46% -
1986 3.23% -
1985 -1.38% -
1984 -3.58% -
1983 -6.29% -
1982 -8.22% -
1981 -5.84% -
1980 -2.32% -
1979 -0.69% -
1978 0.41% -
1977 0.37% -
1976 0.19% -
1975 -1.23% -
1974 3.7% -
1973 4.97% -
1972 5.01% -
1971 4.96% -
1970 0.7% -
1969 0.3% -
1968 -0.06% -
1967 1.49% -
1966 0.99% -
1965 2.13% -
1964 1.79% -
1963 1.2% -
1962 -0.09% -
1961 1.73% -
1960 1.25% -
1959 0.79% -
1958 0.25% -
1957 0.26% -
1956 -0.01% -
1955 -1.17% -
1954 -0.84% -
1953 1.75% -
1952 1.18% -
1951 0.79% -
1950 1.08% -
1949 0.63% -
1948 1.07% -
1947 0.84% -
1946 2.69% -
1945 -1.03% -
1944 0% -
1943 0% -
1942 0% -
1941 0% -
1940 0% -
1939 0% -
1938 0.03% -
1937 0.22% -
1936 -1.36% -
1935 -0.97% -
1934 0.03% -
1933 1.69% -
1932 -3.22% -
1931 -1.67% -
1930 0.03% -
1929 0.13% -
1928 -4.99% -
1927 -2.33% -
1926 -0.48% -
1925 -3.1% -
1924 -0.8% -
1923 -0.56% -
1922 -1.33% -
1921 -2.41% -
1920 -0.46% -
1919 -0.38% -
1918 1.95% -
1917 3.1% -
1916 1.51% -
1915 -0.48% -
1914 0.43% -
1913 0.07% -
1912 0.13% -
1911 -1.02% -
1910 -1.72% -
1909 -2.49% -
1908 -0.82% -
1907 0.26% -
1906 -0.42% -
1905 0.22% -
1904 -0.1% -
1903 0.03% -
1902 -0.06% -
1901 -0.71% -
1900 -0.84% -
1899 -0.59% -
1898 -0.43% -
1897 -0.61% -
1896 -0.07% -
1895 -0.17% -
1894 -0.26% -
1893 -0.42% -
1892 -0.73% -
1891 -0.76% -
1890 -0.97% -
1889 -0.55% -
1888 -0.49% -
1887 -0.68% -
1886 -0.39% -
1885 0.48% -
1884 1.2% -
1883 0.73% -
1882 0.35% -
1881 0.42% -
1880 -2.65% -

Data sources: International Monetary Fund (IMF) | Public Finances in Modern History (1880–1989, retrieved 2026-02-20); International Monetary Fund (IMF) | Fiscal Monitor (1990–2024, retrieved 2026-02-20).

GeoRank.org/economy/denmark/eritrea | CC BY

In 2011, Denmark's government deficit, the difference between spending and revenue, was $6.08B, equivalent to 1.77% of GDP. This compares to Eritrea's deficit of $114M, or 5.5% of GDP.

Over the past 20 years, Denmark recorded a fiscal deficit in 10 of those years, while Eritrea ran a deficit in 16 years. On average, Denmark posted an annual surplus equal to 0.06% of GDP, compared to deficit of 16.3% of GDP for Eritrea.

Inflation comparison by year

Inflation
Denmark

Eritrea
1x
Year Consumer prices inflation
Denmark Eritrea
2024 1.37% -
2023 3.31% -
2022 7.7% -
2021 1.85% -
2020 0.42% -
2019 0.76% 1.3%
2018 0.81% -14.4%
2017 1.15% -13.3%
2016 0.25% -5.6%
2015 0.45% 28.5%
2014 0.56% 8.4%
2013 0.79% 6.3%
2012 2.4% 6%
2011 2.76% 5.9%
2010 2.31% 10.3%
2009 1.3% 33.9%
2008 3.42% 22.2%
2007 1.69% 9.4%
2006 1.92% 7.7%
2005 1.82% 12.5%
2004 1.15% 25.1%
2003 2.08% 22.7%
2002 2.42% 16.9%
2001 2.34% 14.6%
2000 2.9% 19.9%
1999 2.5% 8.4%
1998 1.85% 9.5%
1997 2.18% 3.7%

Data sources: World Bank | Economy & Growth (1997–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06); International Monetary Fund (IMF) | World Economic Outlook (1997–2019, retrieved 2026-02-20).

GeoRank.org/economy/denmark/eritrea | CC BY

Over the past 23 years, Denmark has recorded an average annual inflation rate of 1.73%, compared with 10.4% in Eritrea. In 2019, inflation was 1.37% in Denmark and 1.3% in Eritrea.

Top exports between countries

Denmark
Export category Export value
Machinery & equipment $798K
Chemicals & pharma $702K
Metals $31K
Wood & paper products $27K
Raw materials & minerals $12K
Textiles & consumer goods $5K
Miscellaneous $1K
Eritrea
Export category Export value

Balance of trade

Denmark Eritrea
Current account balance
$52.1B
2024
-$105M
2000
Current account balance ranking
14/190
2024
89/190
2000
Current account balance, % of GDP
+12.3%
2024
-14.8%
2000
Goods imports
$132B
2024
$471M
2000
Goods exports
$172B
2024
$36.8M
2000
Service imports
$125B
2024
$28.5M
2000
Service exports
$129B
2024
$60.9M
2000
Imports of goods and services, % of GDP
60.8%
2024
29.2%
2011
Exports of goods and services, % of GDP
71%
2024
18.2%
2011

Economic freedom indices

The indices of economic freedom below are issued by the Heritage Foundation. Higher scores indicate stronger economic health.

Denmark Eritrea
Economic freedom 79 39.6
Economic freedom ranking 8/197 188/197
Property rights 99.9 4.8
Government integrity 98 10.9
Judicial effectiveness 89.3 5.5
Tax burden 43.4 80.3
Government spending 34.8 62.3
Fiscal health 98 69
Business freedom 90.4 30.7
Labor freedom 65 43.4
Monetary freedom 80.1 80
Trade freedom 79.4 68.4
Investment freedom 90 0
Financial freedom 80 20

Economic freedom comparison by year

Denmark
Eritrea
1x
Year Economic freedom index
Denmark Eritrea
2026 79 39.6
2025 79.1 38.6
2024 77.8 39.5
2023 77.6 39.5
2022 78 39.7
2021 77.8 42.3
2020 78.3 38.5
2019 76.7 38.9
2018 76.6 41.7
2017 75.1 42.2
2016 75.3 42.7
2015 76.3 38.9
2014 76.1 38.5
2013 76.1 36.3
2012 76.2 36.2
2011 78.6 36.7
2010 77.9 35.3
2009 79.6 38.5
2008 79.2 -
2007 77 -
2006 75.4 -
2005 75.3 -
2004 72.4 -
2003 73.2 -
2002 71.1 -
2001 68.3 -
2000 68.3 -
1999 68.1 -
1998 67.5 -
1997 67.5 -
1996 67.3 -

Data sources: The Heritage Foundation | Economic Freedom Index (1996–2026, retrieved 2026-03-09).

GeoRank.org/economy/denmark/eritrea | CC BY

The Economic Freedom Index for Denmark is 79, ranking 8/197, compared to 39.6 for Eritrea, ranking 188/197. The chart above displays a comparison of annual changes in economic freedom indexes.

Other economic metrics

Denmark Eritrea
Services, % of GDP
63.5%
2024
n/a
Industry, % of GDP
24.1%
2024
21.8%
2009
Agriculture, forestry, and fishing, % of GDP
0.93%
2024
14.1%
2009
GNI, Atlas method
$434B
2024
$1.94B
2011
GNI per capita, PPP
$84,680
2024
$1,720
2011
Total reserves including gold
$108B
2024
$192M
2019
Total reserves ranking
25/177
2024
170/177
2019
Net foreign direct investment
$11.9B
2024
-$27.9M
2000
Net inflows of foreign direct investment
$18.5B
2024
-$27.9M
2024
Net outflows of foreign direct investment
$30.7B
2024
$0
2024
Servicing debt to the IMF, % of GNI n/a
1.07%
2011
Poverty at national poverty lines
12.4%
2021
50%
2020
Gross capital formation, % of GDP
23.2%
2024
12.6%
2011

GDP per capita map

1x

Data sources: World Bank | Economy & Growth (1985–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06); U.S. Census Bureau (1985–2024, retrieved 2026-02-08).

GeoRank.org/economy/denmark/eritrea | CC BY

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Data sources:

  1. World Bank | Economy & Growth (1960–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06)
  2. International Monetary Fund (IMF) | Public Finances in Modern History (1880–1991, retrieved 2026-02-20)
  3. International Monetary Fund (IMF) | Fiscal Monitor (1990–2024, retrieved 2026-02-20)
  4. The Heritage Foundation | Economic Freedom Index (1996–2026, retrieved 2026-03-09)
  5. U.S. Census Bureau (1985–2024, retrieved 2026-02-08)
  6. TradeMap (2021–2024, retrieved 2026-02-08)
  7. Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) (2017–2020, retrieved 2026-02-20)
  8. United Nations | World Population Prospects (2026, retrieved 2026-03-10)
  9. LivingCost (2026, retrieved 2025-10-14)

Creative Commons Attribution (CC BY) — you’re free to copy, share, remix, adapt, and use even commercially as long as you give appropriate credit and clearly indicate if you made changes. Other sources may be subject to different license terms.

The current account balance is the sum of net trade in goods and services, net earnings from cross-border investments, and net transfer payments. It reflects a country's economic transactions with the rest of the world and is a fundamental component of the balance of payments. A surplus indicates that a country exports more than it imports, while a deficit shows the opposite.

Gross National Income (GNI) measures a country's total income. It encompasses income earned by residents, businesses, and foreign sources, defined as employee compensation and investment profits. GNI adds product taxes not included elsewhere and subtracts subsidies. It accounts for income from residents working abroad but excludes earnings from foreigners within the country.

A negative value for Net Foreign Direct Investment indicates a country is a net receiver of investments, as foreign inflows exceed outflows after Balance of Payments adjustments. A positive value indicates a net provider, with outflows exceeding inflows. Inflows are credits (increasing foreign claims on domestic assets), while outflows are debits (increasing domestic assets abroad).

Foreign direct investment (FDI, net inflows) shows how much capital foreign investors bring into a country after accounting for any funds that flow back in the opposite direction. It represents the net value of overseas companies establishing, expanding, or financing businesses in the reporting country. A positive number means more capital entered the country than was withdrawn, while a negative number means foreign investors pulled out more than they invested.

Foreign direct investment (FDI, net outflows) shows how much capital residents of a country invest abroad after accounting for any funds that flow back in the opposite direction. It represents the net value of domestic companies establishing, expanding, or financing businesses in other countries. A positive number means more capital was invested abroad than withdrawn, while a negative number means residents pulled back more than they invested.

Principal and interest payments to the IMF in currency, goods, or services on long-term debt expressed as a share of GNI.

Formerly gross domestic investment, gross capital formation measures the share of a country’s economic output invested in fixed assets, including buildings, machinery, and infrastructure. It indicates how much of the economy is devoted to building productive capacity.