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Economy of East Timor vs Eritrea compared: GDP & Debt

Updated on by Georank team

East Timor has a GDP of $1.87B compared to $2.07B for Eritrea, ranking 181/197 and 179/197 by economy size, respectively.

East Timor has $249M in government debt (13.3% of GDP), compared to $3.54B (260.4% of GDP) in Eritrea.

East Timor vs Eritrea GDP by year

East Timor
Eritrea
1x
Year GDP, current $
East Timor Eritrea
2024 $1,865,608,515 -
2023 $2,079,767,170 -
2022 $3,208,599,889 -
2021 $3,625,024,341 -
2020 $2,162,619,241 -
2019 $2,032,550,389 -
2018 $1,555,988,614 -
2017 $1,584,878,440 -
2016 $1,640,464,612 -
2015 $1,590,282,371 -
2014 $1,447,535,183 -
2013 $1,395,727,421 -
2012 $1,160,555,040 -
2011 $1,042,534,598 $2,065,001,626
2010 $881,909,347 $1,589,515,447
2009 $726,937,836 $1,856,695,551
2008 $648,523,571 $1,380,188,800
2007 $542,795,447 $1,317,974,491
2006 $453,792,415 $1,211,161,880
2005 $462,267,954 $1,098,424,686
2004 $440,771,962 $1,109,054,005
2003 $490,439,116 $870,248,268
2002 $469,455,491 $729,321,680
2001 $477,359,253 $752,371,689
2000 $366,924,277 $706,370,816
1999 $225,357,600 $688,918,537
1998 $325,729,800 $745,523,117
1997 $319,972,700 $686,490,090
1996 $306,956,900 $693,535,954
1995 $262,819,900 $578,015,625
1994 $239,040,500 $531,688,312
1993 $216,914,400 $467,872,715
1992 $187,891,500 $477,101,652
1991 $147,713,000 -
1990 $128,210,142 -

Data sources: World Bank | Economy & Growth (1990–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06).

GeoRank.org/economy/east-timor/eritrea | CC BY

GDP per capita in East Timor vs Eritrea by year

East Timor
GDP per capita

GDP per capita, PPP
Eritrea
GDP per capita

GDP per capita, PPP
1x
Year Current $
East Timor Eritrea
GDP per capita GDP per capita, PPP GDP per capita GDP per capita, PPP
2024 $1,332 $4,423 - -
2023 $1,502 $4,807 - -
2022 $2,343 $5,730 - -
2021 $2,685 $6,825 - -
2020 $1,631 $6,132 - -
2019 $1,562 $4,557 - -
2018 $1,219 $3,561 - -
2017 $1,266 $3,463 - -
2016 $1,336 $3,391 - -
2015 $1,320 $3,108 - -
2014 $1,225 $2,860 - -
2013 $1,205 $2,566 - -
2012 $1,023 $2,386 - -
2011 $939 $2,066 $689 $1,742
2010 $813 $1,955 $540 $1,599
2009 $687 $1,810 $643 $1,577
2008 $628 $1,675 $490 $1,547
2007 $540 $1,516 $480 $1,727
2006 $465 $1,377 $448 $1,682
2005 $487 $1,435 $413 $1,674
2004 $474 $1,379 $427 $1,621
2003 $535 $1,355 $349 $1,621
2002 $534 $1,417 $305 $1,702
2001 $588 $1,619 $325 $1,684
2000 $492 $1,483 $314 $1,558
1999 $270 $819 $311 $1,597
1998 $346 $1,108 $342 $1,598
1997 $349 $1,149 $319 $1,573
1996 $344 $1,116 $326 $1,449
1995 $303 $1,043 $285.4 $1,369
1994 $283.1 $985 $277.8 $1,379
1993 $264.1 $925 $252.1 $1,149
1992 $235.1 $843 $265.2 $1,021
1991 $189.8 $766 - -
1990 $168.6 $685 - -

Data sources: World Bank | Economy & Growth (1990–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06).

GeoRank.org/economy/east-timor/eritrea | CC BY

East Timor's GDP per capita is $1,332, ranking 167/197, compared to $689 in Eritrea, ranking 188/197. Adjusted for purchasing power (GDP per capita PPP), East Timor ranks 163rd at $4,423, while Eritrea ranks 191st at $1,742.

Economic indicators

East Timor Eritrea
Gross domestic product
$1.87B
2024
$2.07B
2011
GDP rank
181/197
2024
179/197
2011
GDP growth
-9.1%
2023-2024
8.68%
2010-2011
GDP per capita
$1,332
2024
$689
2011
GDP per capita rank
167/197
2024
188/197
2011
GDP per capita, PPP
$4,423
2024
$1,742
2011
GDP per capita PPP rank
163/197
2024
191/197
2011
Government debt
$249M
2024
$3.54B
2011
Debt-to-GDP ratio
13.3%
2024
260.4%
2019
Government debt per person
$177.5
2024
$1,182
2011
Government debt per person rank
182/185
2024
136/185
2011
Average annual personal income after taxes
$1,440
2026
$1,129
2026
Income share by richest 10%
24%
2014
n/a
Income share by poorest 10%
4%
2014
n/a
Government expenditure, % of GDP
90.8%
2024
31.3%
2019
Consumer prices inflation
2.1%
2023-2024
1.3%
2018-2019
Unemployment rate
1.54%
2022
5.8%
2017
Population
1441764
3700586

Spending and national debt comparison by year

East Timor
Spending

Debt
Eritrea
Spending

Debt
1x
Year % of GDP
East Timor Eritrea
Government spending Government debt Government spending Government debt
2024 90.8% 13.3% - -
2023 78.6% 12.4% - -
2022 59.9% 7.9% - -
2021 45.7% 6.53% - -
2020 61.7% 10.1% - -
2019 68.8% 9.51% 31.3% 260.4%
2018 85.5% 9.31% 26.4% 267.1%
2017 87.3% 6.71% 42.5% 290.4%
2016 112.2% 4.71% 30.9% 251.2%
2015 98.1% 2.95% 31.1% 271.4%
2014 111% 1.52% 21.6% 204.5%
2013 96.1% 0.46% 32.7% 232.4%
2012 129.3% 0.002% 33.3% 171.6%
2011 133.3% 0% 32.3% 171.6%
2010 121.3% 0% 42.4% 201.8%
2009 121.8% 0% 44.9% 207.1%
2008 122.4% 0% 69.4% 259.7%
2007 75.8% 0% 51.2% 201.3%
2006 59.8% 0% 50.5% 199%
2005 58.3% 0% 76.6% 205.4%
2004 74.2% 0% 57.1% 193.5%
2003 80.1% 0% 58.1% 264%
2002 93.5% 0% 60.1% 243.4%
2001 95.7% 0% 59.5% 238.6%
2000 - - 84.7% 219.1%
1999 - - 106.1% -
1998 - - 88% -
1997 - - 60.1% -
1996 - - 68.6% -
1995 - - 81.2% -
1994 - - 50.4% -
1993 - - 67.2% -
1992 - - 32.7% -

Data sources: International Monetary Fund (IMF) | Fiscal Monitor (1992–2024, retrieved 2026-02-20).

GeoRank.org/economy/east-timor/eritrea | CC BY

In 2024, East Timor's government spending was $1.69B, accounting for 90.8% of its GDP, while Eritrea spent $666M, or 31.3% of GDP.

Debt-to-GDP ratio is 13.3% in East Timor and 260.4% in Eritrea, ranking 178/185 and 2/185, respectively.

Government deficit by year

Deficit/surplus
East Timor

Eritrea
1x
Year Deficit/surplus, % of GDP
East Timor Eritrea
2024 -43.5% -
2023 -34.7% -
2022 -29.5% -
2021 -20.1% -
2020 -18.9% -
2019 -25.4% 2.72%
2018 -26.9% 5.22%
2017 -33.8% -5.74%
2016 -55.7% -1.44%
2015 -33.2% -2.77%
2014 -37.5% -0.12%
2013 -14.4% -7.62%
2012 -38.7% -5.21%
2011 -25.4% -5.5%
2010 -19.8% -16.5%
2009 -17.2% -22.2%
2008 -18.6% -38%
2007 -29.9% -19.8%
2006 41% -15.5%
2005 -10.5% -31%
2004 -7.48% -7.65%
2003 -8.24% 6.23%
2002 -7.64% -13.3%
2001 3.24% -9.62%
2000 - -25.4%
1999 - -59.7%
1998 - -40.3%
1997 - -5.65%
1996 - -18.4%
1995 - -22.9%
1994 - 8.69%
1993 - 4.22%
1992 - 6.85%

Data sources: International Monetary Fund (IMF) | Fiscal Monitor (1992–2024, retrieved 2026-02-20).

GeoRank.org/economy/east-timor/eritrea | CC BY

In 2011, East Timor's government deficit, the difference between spending and revenue, was $265M, equivalent to 25.4% of GDP. This compares to Eritrea's deficit of $114M, or 5.5% of GDP.

Over the past 11 years, East Timor recorded a fiscal deficit in 9 of those years, while Eritrea ran a deficit in 10 years. On average, East Timor posted an annual deficit equal to 9.13% of GDP, compared to deficit of 15.7% of GDP for Eritrea.

Inflation comparison by year

Inflation
East Timor

Eritrea
1x
Year Consumer prices inflation
East Timor Eritrea
2024 2.1% -
2023 8.4% -
2022 7% -
2021 3.8% -
2020 0.5% -
2019 0.9% 1.3%
2018 2.3% -14.4%
2017 0.5% -13.3%
2016 -1.5% -5.6%
2015 0.6% 28.5%
2014 0.8% 8.4%
2013 9.5% 6.3%
2012 10.9% 6%
2011 13.2% 5.9%
2010 5.2% 10.3%
2009 -0.2% 33.9%
2008 7.4% 22.2%
2007 8.6% 9.4%
2006 5.2% 7.7%
2005 1.6% 12.5%
2004 2.2% 25.1%
2003 8% 22.7%
2002 4.1% 16.9%
2001 3.6% 14.6%
2000 - 19.9%
1999 - 8.4%
1998 - 9.5%
1997 - 3.7%

Data sources: International Monetary Fund (IMF) | World Economic Outlook (1997–2024, retrieved 2026-02-20).

GeoRank.org/economy/east-timor/eritrea | CC BY

Over the past 19 years, East Timor has recorded an average annual inflation rate of 4.36%, compared with 10.4% in Eritrea. In 2019, inflation was 2.1% in East Timor and 1.3% in Eritrea.

Balance of trade

East Timor Eritrea
Current account balance
-$587M
2024
-$105M
2000
Current account balance ranking
108/190
2024
89/190
2000
Current account balance, % of GDP
-31.5%
2024
-14.8%
2000
Goods imports
$839M
2024
$471M
2000
Goods exports
$196M
2024
$36.8M
2000
Service imports
$432M
2024
$28.5M
2000
Service exports
$82.1M
2024
$60.9M
2000
Imports of goods and services, % of GDP
84.9%
2024
29.2%
2011
Exports of goods and services, % of GDP
10.6%
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.

East Timor Eritrea
Economic freedom 47.9 39.6
Economic freedom ranking 173/197 188/197
Property rights 43.5 4.8
Government integrity 43.9 10.9
Judicial effectiveness 34.5 5.5
Tax burden 97.1 80.3
Government spending 0 62.3
Fiscal health 19.6 69
Business freedom 62.7 30.7
Labor freedom 56.5 43.4
Monetary freedom 72.2 80
Trade freedom 79.8 68.4
Investment freedom 45 0
Financial freedom 20 20

Economic freedom comparison by year

East Timor
Eritrea
1x
Year Economic freedom index
East Timor Eritrea
2026 47.9 39.6
2025 47.9 38.6
2024 50.2 39.5
2023 47.2 39.5
2022 46.3 39.7
2021 44.7 42.3
2020 45.9 38.5
2019 44.2 38.9
2018 48.1 41.7
2017 46.3 42.2
2016 45.8 42.7
2015 45.5 38.9
2014 43.2 38.5
2013 43.7 36.3
2012 43.3 36.2
2011 42.8 36.7
2010 45.8 35.3
2009 50.5 38.5

Data sources: The Heritage Foundation | Economic Freedom Index (2009–2026, retrieved 2026-03-09).

GeoRank.org/economy/east-timor/eritrea | CC BY

The Economic Freedom Index for East Timor is 47.9, ranking 173/197, 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

East Timor Eritrea
Services, % of GDP
71.6%
2024
n/a
Industry, % of GDP
11.8%
2024
21.8%
2009
Agriculture, forestry, and fishing, % of GDP
20.2%
2024
14.1%
2009
GNI, Atlas method
$2.31B
2024
$1.94B
2011
GNI per capita, PPP
$5,040
2024
$1,720
2011
Total reserves including gold
$737M
2024
$192M
2019
Total reserves ranking
147/177
2024
170/177
2019
Net foreign direct investment
-$211M
2024
-$27.9M
2000
Net inflows of foreign direct investment
$216M
2024
-$27.9M
2024
Net outflows of foreign direct investment
$4.5M
2024
$0
2024
Servicing debt to the IMF, % of GNI
1.23%
2024
1.07%
2011
Poverty at national poverty lines
41.8%
2014
50%
2020
Gross capital formation, % of GDP
30.1%
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/east-timor/eritrea | CC BY

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Data sources:

  1. World Bank | Economy & Growth (1985–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06)
  2. International Monetary Fund (IMF) | Fiscal Monitor (1992–2024, retrieved 2026-02-20)
  3. The Heritage Foundation | Economic Freedom Index (2009–2026, retrieved 2026-03-09)
  4. U.S. Census Bureau (1985–2024, retrieved 2026-02-08)
  5. Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) (2017–2020, retrieved 2026-02-20)
  6. United Nations | World Population Prospects (2026, retrieved 2026-03-10)
  7. 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.