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Economy of Eritrea vs Greece compared: GDP & Debt

Updated on by Georank team

Eritrea has a GDP of $2.07B compared to $256B for Greece, ranking 179/197 and 53/197 by economy size, respectively.

Eritrea has $3.54B in government debt (260.4% of GDP), compared to $397B (154.8% of GDP) in Greece.

Eritrea vs Greece GDP by year

Eritrea
Greece
1x
Year GDP, current $
Eritrea Greece
2024 - $256,238,371,778
2023 - $242,946,187,738
2022 - $217,990,189,601
2021 - $218,303,801,895
2020 - $191,362,985,555
2019 - $207,305,649,887
2018 - $213,298,873,494
2017 - $200,381,103,984
2016 - $193,097,239,006
2015 - $194,567,373,678
2014 - $233,911,581,521
2013 - $236,556,279,641
2012 - $238,841,140,018
2011 $2,065,001,626 $283,228,079,776
2010 $1,589,515,447 $296,417,644,404
2009 $1,856,695,551 $326,829,054,686
2008 $1,380,188,800 $351,121,399,546
2007 $1,317,974,491 $314,226,996,944
2006 $1,211,161,880 $269,073,415,334
2005 $1,098,424,686 $242,315,668,619
2004 $1,109,054,005 $234,979,615,898
2003 $870,248,268 $196,930,509,813
2002 $729,321,680 $150,253,800,086
2001 $752,371,689 $132,050,474,720
2000 $706,370,816 $125,760,166,225
1999 $688,918,537 $137,131,371,955
1998 $745,523,117 $139,612,812,176
1997 $686,490,090 $138,766,067,640
1996 $693,535,954 $142,502,984,145
1995 $578,015,625 $134,974,613,914
1994 $531,688,312 $114,980,063,202
1993 $467,872,715 $107,295,704,518
1992 $477,101,652 $114,608,178,405
1991 - $103,680,863,713
1990 - $96,529,587,274
1989 - $78,067,933,277
1988 - $75,200,610,137
1987 - $64,739,630,096
1986 - $55,595,445,472
1985 - $47,155,741,426
1984 - $47,352,146,312
1983 - $48,741,397,059
1982 - $53,858,346,939
1981 - $51,618,456,335
1980 - $56,039,256,595
1979 - $53,724,121,435
1978 - $43,654,480,519
1977 - $35,673,080,481
1976 - $30,719,552,239
1975 - $28,129,128,587
1974 - $24,998,715,909
1973 - $22,037,019,563
1972 - $16,650,659,091
1971 - $14,388,806,818
1970 - $12,957,113,636
1969 - $11,454,106,327
1968 - $9,950,331,206
1967 - $9,146,592,856
1966 - $8,472,021,467
1965 - $7,582,209,670
1964 - $6,576,906,345
1963 - $5,813,285,627
1962 - $5,140,542,929
1961 - $4,892,397,431
1960 - $4,274,890,307

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

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

GDP per capita in Eritrea vs Greece by year

Eritrea
GDP per capita

GDP per capita, PPP
Greece
GDP per capita

GDP per capita, PPP
1x
Year Current $
Eritrea Greece
GDP per capita GDP per capita, PPP GDP per capita GDP per capita, PPP
2024 - - $24,626 $44,327
2023 - - $23,344 $42,711
2022 - - $20,887 $39,612
2021 - - $20,655 $33,531
2020 - - $17,887 $29,533
2019 - - $19,335 $31,927
2018 - - $19,873 $29,792
2017 - - $18,632 $28,682
2016 - - $17,919 $27,505
2015 - - $17,981 $26,608
2014 - - $21,475 $26,450
2013 - - $21,573 $25,731
2012 - - $21,624 $24,583
2011 $689 $1,742 $25,505 $25,693
2010 $540 $1,599 $26,653 $27,839
2009 $643 $1,577 $29,425 $29,963
2008 $490 $1,547 $31,696 $30,441
2007 $480 $1,727 $28,441 $28,896
2006 $448 $1,682 $24,416 $28,076
2005 $413 $1,674 $22,054 $25,004
2004 $427 $1,621 $21,449 $24,826
2003 $349 $1,621 $18,021 $23,253
2002 $305 $1,702 $13,782 $21,985
2001 $325 $1,684 $12,157 $20,304
2000 $314 $1,558 $11,638 $18,820
1999 $311 $1,597 $12,743 $17,758
1998 $342 $1,598 $13,023 $17,434
1997 $319 $1,573 $13,016 $16,630
1996 $326 $1,449 $13,433 $15,778
1995 $285.4 $1,369 $12,779 $15,218
1994 $277.8 $1,379 $10,937 $14,667
1993 $252.1 $1,149 $10,257 $14,150
1992 $265.2 $1,021 $11,021 $14,130
1991 - - $10,047 $13,824
1990 - - $9,467 $13,126
1989 - - $7,738 -
1988 - - $7,492 -
1987 - - $6,474 -
1986 - - $5,578 -
1985 - - $4,747 -
1984 - - $4,785 -
1983 - - $4,950 -
1982 - - $5,502 -
1981 - - $5,305 -
1980 - - $5,812 -
1979 - - $5,627 -
1978 - - $4,629 -
1977 - - $3,832 -
1976 - - $3,343 -
1975 - - $3,109 -
1974 - - $2,789 -
1973 - - $2,468 -
1972 - - $1,873 -
1971 - - $1,629 -
1970 - - $1,474 -
1969 - - $1,306 -
1968 - - $1,138 -
1967 - - $1,053 -
1966 - - $984 -
1965 - - $887 -
1964 - - $773 -
1963 - - $686 -
1962 - - $608 -
1961 - - $583 -
1960 - - $513 -

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

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

Eritrea's GDP per capita is $689, ranking 188/197, compared to $24,626 in Greece, ranking 49/197. Adjusted for purchasing power (GDP per capita PPP), Eritrea ranks 191st at $1,742, while Greece ranks 52nd at $44,327.

Economic indicators

Eritrea Greece
Gross domestic product
$2.07B
2011
$256B
2024
GDP rank
179/197
2011
53/197
2024
GDP growth
8.68%
2010-2011
2.09%
2023-2024
GDP per capita
$689
2011
$24,626
2024
GDP per capita rank
188/197
2011
49/197
2024
GDP per capita, PPP
$1,742
2011
$44,327
2024
GDP per capita PPP rank
191/197
2011
52/197
2024
Government debt
$3.54B
2011
$397B
2024
Debt-to-GDP ratio
260.4%
2019
154.8%
2024
Government debt per person
$1,182
2011
$38,119
2024
Government debt per person rank
136/185
2011
16/185
2024
Average annual personal income after taxes
$1,129
2026
$14,396
2026
Market capitalization of domestic companies n/a
$83.2B
2024
Number of billionaires n/a
16
2025
Income share by richest 10% n/a
26%
2023
Income share by poorest 10% n/a
2.7%
2023
Government expenditure, % of GDP
31.3%
2019
48%
2024
Consumer prices inflation
1.3%
2018-2019
2.74%
2023-2024
Unemployment rate
5.8%
2017
10%
2024
Population
3700586
10181414

Spending and national debt comparison by year

Eritrea
Spending

Debt
Greece
Spending

Debt
1x
Year % of GDP
Eritrea Greece
Government spending Government debt Government spending Government debt
2024 - - 48% 154.8%
2023 - - 49.5% 165.2%
2022 - - 52.8% 178.4%
2021 - - 56.7% 197.8%
2020 - - 59.3% 209.9%
2019 31.3% 260.4% 47.6% 183.7%
2018 26.4% 267.1% 48.6% 189.6%
2017 42.5% 290.4% 48.5% 182.6%
2016 30.9% 251.2% 50.3% 183.7%
2015 31.1% 271.4% 51.9% 180%
2014 21.6% 204.5% 51.5% 182.8%
2013 32.7% 232.4% 53% 180.5%
2012 33.3% 171.6% 54.9% 164.3%
2011 32.3% 171.6% 55.1% 175.1%
2010 42.4% 201.8% 53.1% 147.8%
2009 44.9% 207.1% 54.8% 128.5%
2008 69.4% 259.7% 51.5% 110.9%
2007 51.2% 201.3% 47.8% 104.6%
2006 50.5% 199% 45.9% 105.3%
2005 76.6% 205.4% 46.6% 109.9%
2004 57.1% 193.5% 48.8% 105.5%
2003 58.1% 264% 47.9% 104.3%
2002 60.1% 243.4% 47.1% 107.9%
2001 59.5% 238.6% 47.5% 110.5%
2000 84.7% 219.1% 48.2% 108.9%
1999 106.1% - 48% 102.8%
1998 88% - 46.7% 100.8%
1997 60.1% - 45.1% 102.6%
1996 68.6% - 46.1% 103.7%
1995 81.2% - 46.6% 100.4%
1994 50.4% - 36.9% 99.7%
1993 67.2% - 38.6% 101.7%
1992 32.7% - 36.9% 81.1%
1991 - - 35.2% 75.7%
1990 - - 38.5% 74.2%
1989 - - 34.8% 60.7%
1988 - - 33.8% 57.9%
1987 - - 34% 53.2%
1986 - - 33.8% 47.8%
1985 - - 34.2% 47.3%
1984 - - 32% 40.6%
1983 - - 30.2% 34.1%
1982 - - 28.7% 29.7%
1981 - - 28.1% 27.1%
1980 - - 24.5% 22.8%
1979 - - 24.1% 22.7%
1978 - - 30.1% 32.3%
1977 - - 30.1% 24.5%
1976 - - 29.1% 23.7%
1975 - - 28.7% 24.1%
1974 - - 25.3% 22.5%
1973 - - 24.3% 22%
1972 - - 26.8% 26.5%
1971 - - 25.8% 25%
1970 - - 25.2% 24.7%
1969 - - 29.7% 25.8%
1968 - - 26.3% 23%
1967 - - 24.6% 21.1%
1966 - - 22.8% 19%
1965 - - 21.7% 16.5%
1964 - - 20.4% 21.3%
1963 - - 19.5% 22.6%
1962 - - 19.7% 16.6%
1961 - - 19.3% 14.4%
1960 - - 20% 13.4%

Data sources: International Monetary Fund (IMF) | Fiscal Monitor (1990–2024, retrieved 2026-02-20); International Monetary Fund (IMF) | Public Finances in Modern History (1960–1989, retrieved 2026-02-20).

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

In 2024, Eritrea's government spending was $666M, accounting for 31.3% of its GDP, while Greece spent $123B, or 48% of GDP.

Debt-to-GDP ratio is 260.4% in Eritrea and 154.8% in Greece, ranking 2/185 and 7/185, respectively.

Government deficit by year

Deficit/surplus
Eritrea

Greece
1x
Year Deficit/surplus, % of GDP
Eritrea Greece
2024 - 1.34%
2023 - -1.35%
2022 - -2.46%
2021 - -7.58%
2020 - -10.3%
2019 2.72% -0.09%
2018 5.22% 0.78%
2017 -5.74% 1.05%
2016 -1.44% 0.28%
2015 -2.77% -3.03%
2014 -0.12% -4.29%
2013 -7.62% -4.06%
2012 -5.21% -6.94%
2011 -5.5% -10.5%
2010 -16.5% -11.4%
2009 -22.2% -15.4%
2008 -38% -10.3%
2007 -19.8% -6.81%
2006 -15.5% -6.04%
2005 -31% -6.33%
2004 -7.65% -9.05%
2003 6.23% -8.05%
2002 -13.3% -6.2%
2001 -9.62% -5.64%
2000 -25.4% -4.21%
1999 -59.7% -6.02%
1998 -40.3% -6.48%
1997 -5.65% -6.25%
1996 -18.4% -8.35%
1995 -22.9% -9.87%
1994 8.69% -8.48%
1993 4.22% -11.5%
1992 6.85% -10.6%
1991 - -9.63%
1990 - -13.3%
1989 - -11.9%
1988 - -9.63%
1987 - -8.09%
1986 - -8.62%
1985 - -9.56%
1984 - -7.19%
1983 - -6.17%
1982 - -5.49%
1981 - -7.08%
1980 - -2.5%
1979 - -2.34%
1978 - -5.39%
1977 - -5.21%
1976 - -5.05%
1975 - -5.3%
1974 - -4.39%
1973 - -3.71%
1972 - -4.16%
1971 - -3.32%
1970 - -3.24%
1969 - -6.65%
1968 - -3.39%
1967 - -2.59%
1966 - -2.17%
1965 - -2.55%
1964 - -2.89%
1963 - -2.25%
1962 - -2.4%
1961 - -2.69%
1960 - -3.3%
1959 - -2.77%
1958 - -2.27%
1957 - -2.45%
1956 - -0.39%
1955 - -3.57%
1954 - -2.87%
1953 - -3.01%
1952 - -7.21%
1951 - -11.5%
1950 - -12.7%
1949 - -10.4%
1948 - -7.65%
1947 - -
1946 - -
1945 - -
1944 - -
1943 - -
1942 - -
1941 - -
1940 - -
1939 - 0.48%
1938 - 1.78%
1937 - 1.06%
1936 - 0.95%
1935 - 0.72%
1934 - 0.88%
1933 - -2.79%
1932 - -1.78%
1931 - -4%
1930 - -2.23%
1929 - -18.7%
1928 - -0.27%
1927 - 2.65%
1926 - -
1925 - -
1924 - -
1923 - -
1922 - -
1921 - -
1920 - -
1919 - -
1918 - -
1917 - -
1916 - -
1915 - -
1914 - -
1913 - -8.96%
1912 - -7.43%
1911 - -4.61%
1910 - -1.53%
1909 - -2.64%
1908 - -1.54%
1907 - -1.23%
1906 - 0.66%
1905 - 0.91%
1904 - -0.04%
1903 - -0.22%
1902 - -1.67%
1901 - 0.1%
1900 - 0.41%
1899 - 0.86%
1898 - -34.5%
1897 - -8.46%
1896 - 0.82%
1895 - 0.37%
1894 - 2.91%
1893 - 0.14%
1892 - -2.28%
1891 - -6.48%
1890 - -11.2%
1889 - -15.7%
1888 - -3.59%
1887 - -4.88%
1886 - -11.5%
1885 - -12.1%
1884 - -7.16%
1883 - -2.42%
1882 - -1.69%
1881 - -14.5%
1880 - -13.5%

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/eritrea/greece | CC BY

In 2011, Eritrea's government deficit, the difference between spending and revenue, was $114M, equivalent to 5.5% of GDP. This compares to Greece's deficit of $29.7B, or 10.5% of GDP.

Over the past 20 years, Eritrea recorded a fiscal deficit in 16 of those years, while Greece ran a deficit in 20 years. On average, Eritrea posted an annual deficit equal to 16.3% of GDP, compared to deficit of 8.38% of GDP for Greece.

Inflation comparison by year

Inflation
Eritrea

Greece
1x
Year Consumer prices inflation
Eritrea Greece
2024 - 2.74%
2023 - 3.46%
2022 - 9.65%
2021 - 1.22%
2020 - -1.25%
2019 1.3% 0.25%
2018 -14.4% 0.63%
2017 -13.3% 1.12%
2016 -5.6% -0.83%
2015 28.5% -1.74%
2014 8.4% -1.31%
2013 6.3% -0.92%
2012 6% 1.5%
2011 5.9% 3.33%
2010 10.3% 4.71%
2009 33.9% 1.21%
2008 22.2% 4.15%
2007 9.4% 2.9%
2006 7.7% 3.2%
2005 12.5% 3.55%
2004 25.1% 2.9%
2003 22.7% 3.53%
2002 16.9% 3.63%
2001 14.6% 3.37%
2000 19.9% 3.15%
1999 8.4% 2.64%
1998 9.5% 4.77%
1997 3.7% 5.54%

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/eritrea/greece | CC BY

Over the past 23 years, Eritrea has recorded an average annual inflation rate of 10.4%, compared with 2.23% in Greece. In 2019, inflation was 1.3% in Eritrea and 2.74% in Greece.

Top exports between countries

Eritrea
Export category Export value
Animal & marine products $430K
Greece
Export category Export value
Machinery & equipment $674K

Balance of trade

Eritrea Greece
Current account balance
-$105M
2000
-$18.2B
2024
Current account balance ranking
89/190
2000
182/190
2024
Current account balance, % of GDP
-14.8%
2000
-7.11%
2024
Goods imports
$471M
2000
$91.2B
2024
Goods exports
$36.8M
2000
$52.6B
2024
Service imports
$28.5M
2000
$31.1B
2024
Service exports
$60.9M
2000
$55.8B
2024
Imports of goods and services, % of GDP
29.2%
2011
47.7%
2024
Exports of goods and services, % of GDP
18.2%
2011
42.1%
2024

Economic freedom indices

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

Eritrea Greece
Economic freedom 39.6 63.2
Economic freedom ranking 188/197 82/197
Property rights 4.8 78
Government integrity 10.9 54.8
Judicial effectiveness 5.5 68
Tax burden 80.3 59.9
Government spending 62.3 24.7
Fiscal health 69 78.9
Business freedom 30.7 77.8
Labor freedom 43.4 59.7
Monetary freedom 80 72.6
Trade freedom 68.4 79.4
Investment freedom 0 55
Financial freedom 20 50

Economic freedom comparison by year

Eritrea
Greece
1x
Year Economic freedom index
Eritrea Greece
2026 39.6 63.2
2025 38.6 60.6
2024 39.5 55.1
2023 39.5 56.9
2022 39.7 61.5
2021 42.3 60.9
2020 38.5 59.9
2019 38.9 57.7
2018 41.7 57.3
2017 42.2 55
2016 42.7 53.2
2015 38.9 54
2014 38.5 55.7
2013 36.3 55.4
2012 36.2 55.4
2011 36.7 60.3
2010 35.3 62.7
2009 38.5 60.8
2008 - 60.6
2007 - 58.7
2006 - 60.1
2005 - 59
2004 - 59.1
2003 - 58.8
2002 - 59.1
2001 - 63.4
2000 - 61
1999 - 61
1998 - 60.6
1997 - 59.6
1996 - 60.5
1995 - 61.2

Data sources: The Heritage Foundation | Economic Freedom Index (1995–2026, retrieved 2026-03-09).

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

The Economic Freedom Index for Eritrea is 39.6, ranking 188/197, compared to 63.2 for Greece, ranking 82/197. The chart above displays a comparison of annual changes in economic freedom indexes.

Other economic metrics

Eritrea Greece
Services, % of GDP n/a
68%
2024
Industry, % of GDP
21.8%
2009
15%
2024
Agriculture, forestry, and fishing, % of GDP
14.1%
2009
3.77%
2024
GNI, Atlas method
$1.94B
2011
$236B
2024
GNI per capita, PPP
$1,720
2011
$43,340
2024
Total reserves including gold
$192M
2019
$15.2B
2024
Total reserves ranking
170/177
2019
67/177
2024
Net foreign direct investment
-$27.9M
2000
-$4.52B
2024
Net inflows of foreign direct investment
-$27.9M
2024
$6.74B
2024
Net outflows of foreign direct investment
$0
2024
$2.22B
2024
Servicing debt to the IMF, % of GNI
1.07%
2011
n/a
Poverty at national poverty lines
50%
2020
18.8%
2021
Gross capital formation, % of GDP
12.6%
2011
18.3%
2024

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/eritrea/greece | CC BY

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Data sources:

  1. World Bank | Economy & Growth (1960–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06)
  2. International Monetary Fund (IMF) | Fiscal Monitor (1990–2024, retrieved 2026-02-20)
  3. International Monetary Fund (IMF) | Public Finances in Modern History (1880–1989, retrieved 2026-02-20)
  4. The Heritage Foundation | Economic Freedom Index (1995–2026, retrieved 2026-03-09)
  5. U.S. Census Bureau (1985–2024, retrieved 2026-02-08)
  6. TradeMap (2003–2023, 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.