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Economy of Eritrea vs Kiribati compared: GDP & Debt

Updated on by Georank team

Eritrea has a GDP of $2.07B compared to $308M for Kiribati, ranking 179/197 and 192/197 by economy size, respectively.

Eritrea has $3.54B in government debt (260.4% of GDP), compared to $30.5M (8.77% of GDP) in Kiribati.

The chart below compares the two countries' GDP growth in both current (nominal) and constant dollars, accounting for inflation over time.

Eritrea
GDP, current $

GDP, constant 2015 $
Kiribati
GDP, current $

GDP, constant 2015 $
Year GDP
Eritrea Kiribati
Current $ Constant $ Current $ Constant $
1970 - - $11,560,877 $84,746,575
1971 - - $12,356,134 $82,805,827
1972 - - $15,314,346 $92,808,131
1973 - - $25,645,040 $112,214,203
1974 - - $69,256,489 $163,050,326
1975 - - $44,547,454 $171,764,420
1976 - - $33,246,817 $125,786,121
1977 - - $31,335,459 $119,984,073
1978 - - $36,563,965 $121,255,417
1979 - - $34,466,197 $107,207,984
1980 - - $33,157,723 $106,050,818
1981 - - $35,267,489 $112,543,455
1982 - - $32,742,713 $111,316,560
1983 - - $31,000,546 $100,432,092
1984 - - $34,394,167 $114,410,720
1985 - - $26,126,615 $99,262,600
1986 - - $25,993,009 $96,815,059
1987 - - $29,554,413 $98,066,620
1988 - - $38,278,810 $119,685,813
1989 - - $37,645,319 $110,957,795
1990 - - $36,534,295 $103,872,769
1991 - - $41,247,792 $98,005,325
1992 $477,101,652 $1,154,926,146 $61,491,369 $121,486,649
1993 $467,872,715 $1,310,318,716 $58,953,596 $121,360,309
1994 $531,688,312 $1,588,386,838 $67,055,334 $123,842,439
1995 $578,015,625 $1,633,788,955 $68,596,395 $127,250,841
1996 $693,535,954 $1,785,058,837 $81,456,854 $127,184,611
1997 $686,490,090 $1,926,233,510 $80,205,807 $128,681,743
1998 $745,523,117 $1,960,377,600 $74,905,706 $134,398,139
1999 $688,918,537 $1,960,641,860 $77,323,978 $129,137,484
2000 $706,370,816 $1,899,038,769 $74,910,527 $137,844,792
2001 $752,371,689 $2,065,307,885 $64,935,850 $133,510,774
2002 $729,321,680 $2,127,379,251 $74,743,869 $135,442,881
2003 $870,248,268 $2,070,886,356 $96,105,619 $133,309,024
2004 $1,109,054,005 $2,100,950,150 $104,085,892 $132,497,215
2005 $1,098,424,686 $2,155,038,051 $113,895,437 $134,209,649
2006 $1,211,161,880 $2,134,151,054 $112,338,353 $141,962,853
2007 $1,317,974,491 $2,164,601,595 $138,054,946 $146,299,931
2008 $1,380,188,800 $1,952,837,971 $147,017,895 $141,933,271
2009 $1,856,695,551 $2,028,539,765 $140,177,384 $142,695,171
2010 $1,589,515,447 $2,073,049,789 $165,458,433 $144,444,545
2011 $2,065,001,626 $2,252,986,366 $195,970,140 $149,158,821
2012 - - $207,001,546 $157,815,491
2013 - - $201,730,861 $170,016,084
2014 - - $200,287,282 $172,164,514
2015 - - $191,559,399 $191,559,399
2016 - - $206,467,819 $205,137,195
2017 - - $222,875,736 $212,828,030
2018 - - $233,514,717 $220,233,253
2019 - - $216,985,388 $227,422,300
2020 - - $220,897,999 $224,083,588
2021 - - $285,259,894 $243,085,289
2022 - - $270,040,457 $254,185,355
2023 - - $288,610,732 $260,926,379
2024 - - $307,862,547 $274,669,108

Economic indicators

Eritrea Kiribati
Gross domestic product
$2.07B
2011
$308M
2024
GDP rank
179/197
2011
192/197
2024
GDP growth
29.9%
2010-2011
6.67%
2023-2024
GDP per capita
$689
2011
$2,289
2024
GDP per capita rank
188/197
2011
151/197
2024
GDP per capita, PPP
$1,742
2011
$3,702
2024
Government debt
$3.54B
2011
$30.5M
2024
Debt-to-GDP ratio
260.4%
2019
8.77%
2025
Government debt per person
$1,182
2011
$226.9
2024
Government debt per person rank
137/185
2011
181/185
2024
Average annual personal income after taxes
$1,342
2025
$2,170
2025
Income share by richest 10% n/a
22.8%
2019
Income share by poorest 10% n/a
4%
2019
Government expenditure, % of GDP
31.3%
2019
126.6%
2025
Consumer prices inflation
1.3%
2018-2019
7.8%
2024-2025
Unemployment rate
5.8%
2017
2.79%
2023
Population
3667774
138067

GDP per capita in Eritrea vs Kiribati

Eritrea's GDP per capita is $689, ranking 188/197, compared to $2,289 in Kiribati, ranking 151/197. Adjusted for purchasing power (GDP per capita PPP), Eritrea ranks 190th at $1,742, while Kiribati ranks 169th at $3,702.

Eritrea
GDP per capita

GDP per capita, PPP
Kiribati
GDP per capita

GDP per capita, PPP
Year Current $
Eritrea Kiribati
GDP per capita GDP per capita, PPP GDP per capita GDP per capita, PPP
1970 - - $201 -
1971 - - $210.7 -
1972 - - $256.2 -
1973 - - $422 -
1974 - - $1,131 -
1975 - - $730 -
1976 - - $548 -
1977 - - $520 -
1978 - - $611 -
1979 - - $573 -
1980 - - $542 -
1981 - - $568 -
1982 - - $519 -
1983 - - $483 -
1984 - - $527 -
1985 - - $393 -
1986 - - $382 -
1987 - - $424 -
1988 - - $536 -
1989 - - $515 -
1990 - - $488 $1,192
1991 - - $540 $1,139
1992 $265.2 $1,021 $792 $1,421
1993 $252.1 $1,149 $748 $1,431
1994 $277.8 $1,379 $838 $1,469
1995 $285.4 $1,369 $844 $1,518
1996 $326 $1,449 $986 $1,519
1997 $319 $1,573 $953 $1,535
1998 $342 $1,598 $874 $1,593
1999 $311 $1,597 $887 $1,526
2000 $314 $1,558 $845 $1,638
2001 $325 $1,684 $719 $1,591
2002 $305 $1,702 $810 $1,605
2003 $349 $1,621 $1,021 $1,578
2004 $427 $1,621 $1,083 $1,579
2005 $413 $1,674 $1,162 $1,617
2006 $448 $1,682 $1,123 $1,728
2007 $480 $1,727 $1,353 $1,792
2008 $490 $1,547 $1,411 $1,735
2009 $643 $1,577 $1,317 $1,718
2010 $540 $1,599 $1,522 $1,724
2011 $689 $1,742 $1,771 $1,786
2012 - - $1,844 $1,896
2013 - - $1,772 $2,049
2014 - - $1,737 $2,084
2015 - - $1,640 $2,311
2016 - - $1,743 $2,463
2017 - - $1,853 $2,562
2018 - - $1,913 $2,672
2019 - - $1,751 $2,763
2020 - - $1,752 $2,711
2021 - - $2,222 $3,020
2022 - - $2,070 $3,329
2023 - - $2,178 $3,486
2024 - - $2,289 $3,702

Spending and national debt comparison

In 2024, Eritrea's government spending was $666M, accounting for 31.3% of its GDP, while Kiribati's spent $302M, or 126.6% of GDP.

Debt-to-GDP ratio is 260.4% in Eritrea and 8.77% in Kiribati, ranking 1/185 and 180/185, respectively.

Eritrea
Government spending

Government debt
Kiribati
Government spending

Government debt
Year % of GDP
Eritrea Kiribati
Government spending Government debt Government spending Government debt
1990 - - 105.5% 7.72%
1991 - - 82.1% 8.43%
1992 32.7% - 65.9% 7.31%
1993 67.2% - 55.3% 10.9%
1994 50.4% - 54.6% 12.3%
1995 81.2% - 69.6% 12.3%
1996 68.6% - 68.4% 11%
1997 60.1% - 70.9% 10.7%
1998 88% - 74.7% 9.81%
1999 106.1% - 77.6% 11.8%
2000 84.7% 219.1% 66% 12.7%
2001 59.5% 238.6% 101.3% 17%
2002 60.1% 243.4% 96.9% 13.3%
2003 58.1% 264% 84.4% 12.3%
2004 57.1% 193.5% 103.8% 13.6%
2005 76.6% 205.4% 95.6% 12.1%
2006 50.5% 199% 82.1% 12.9%
2007 51.2% 201.3% 77.3% 11.1%
2008 69.4% 259.7% 79.4% 13.9%
2009 44.9% 207.1% 74.7% 10.3%
2010 42.4% 201.8% 75.7% 9.43%
2011 32.3% 171.6% 80.9% 8.8%
2012 33.3% 171.6% 83.9% 8.13%
2013 32.7% 232.4% 78% 8.86%
2014 21.6% 204.5% 101.2% 8.97%
2015 31.1% 271.4% 90.9% 18.8%
2016 30.9% 251.2% 99% 21.2%
2017 42.5% 290.4% 92.1% 20.2%
2018 26.4% 267.1% 108.8% 19%
2019 31.3% 260.4% 108.3% 19%
2020 - - 102.2% 21%
2021 - - 84% 17.3%
2022 - - 87.5% 16.3%
2023 - - 95.3% 11.4%
2024 - - 98.1% 9.92%
2025 - - 126.6% 8.77%

Government deficit by year

In 2011, Eritrea's government deficit, the difference between spending and revenue, was -$114M, equivalent to -5.5% of GDP. This compares to Kiribati's deficit of -$34.4M, or -17.6% of GDP.

Over the past 20 years, Eritrea recorded a fiscal deficit in 16 of those years, while Kiribati ran a deficit in 14 years. On average, Eritrea posted an annual deficit equal to -16.3% of GDP, compared to deficit of -5.96% of GDP for Kiribati.

Deficit/surplus
Eritrea

Kiribati
Year Deficit/surplus, % of GDP
Eritrea Kiribati
1990 - -4.62%
1991 - 3.87%
1992 6.85% 0.79%
1993 4.22% 6.27%
1994 8.69% 0.74%
1995 -22.9% -5.14%
1996 -18.4% -20.2%
1997 -5.65% 5.92%
1998 -40.3% 14.6%
1999 -59.7% -1.81%
2000 -25.4% -0.03%
2001 -9.62% -10.9%
2002 -13.3% 3.13%
2003 6.23% -8.93%
2004 -7.65% -19.2%
2005 -31% -9.96%
2006 -15.5% -12.3%
2007 -19.8% -12.5%
2008 -38% -15.8%
2009 -22.2% -8.56%
2010 -16.5% -7.8%
2011 -5.5% -17.6%
2012 -5.21% -5.43%
2013 -7.62% 11.8%
2014 -0.12% 35%
2015 -2.77% 42.5%
2016 -1.44% 20.1%
2017 -5.74% 34.1%
2018 5.22% 5.18%
2019 2.72% 10.8%
2020 - 3.57%
2021 - -10.8%
2022 - -18.3%
2023 - 0.13%
2024 - -22%
2025 - -15.1%

Inflation comparison by year

Over the past 24 years, Eritrea has recorded an average annual inflation rate of 10.4%, compared with 1.65% in Kiribati. In 2019, inflation was 1.3% in Eritrea and 7.8% in Kiribati.

Inflation
Eritrea

Kiribati
Year Inflation
Eritrea Kiribati Eritrea Kiribati
1996 10.3% -1.7%
1997 3.7% 2.6%
1998 9.5% 3.7%
1999 8.4% 1.8%
2000 19.9% 0.4%
2001 14.6% 6%
2002 16.9% 3.2%
2003 22.7% 1.6%
2004 25.1% -0.7%
2005 12.5% -0.4%
2006 7.7% -1%
2007 9.4% 3.6%
2008 22.2% 13.7%
2009 33.9% 9.8%
2010 10.3% -3.9%
2011 5.9% 1.5%
2012 6% -3%
2013 6.3% -1.5%
2014 8.4% 2.1%
2015 28.5% 0.6%
2016 -5.6% 1.9%
2017 -13.3% 0.4%
2018 -14.4% 0.6%
2019 1.3% -1.8%
2020 - 2.6%
2021 - 2.1%
2022 - 5.3%
2023 - 9.3%
2024 - 2.5%
2025 - 7.8%

Balance of trade

Eritrea Kiribati
Current account balance
-$105M
2000
-$59.5M
2024
Current account balance ranking
87/189
2000
81/189
2024
Current account balance, % of GDP
-14.8%
2000
-19.3%
2024
Goods imports
$471M
2000
$227M
2024
Goods exports
$36.8M
2000
$8.49M
2024
Service imports
$28.5M
2000
$108M
2024
Service exports
$60.9M
2000
$7M
2024
Imports of goods and services, % of GDP
29.2%
2011
94.9%
2024
Exports of goods and services, % of GDP
18.2%
2011
6.27%
2024

Economic freedom indices

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

Eritrea Kiribati
Economic freedom 38.6 50.9
Economic freedom ranking 188/197 159/197
Property rights 6.1 68.5
Government integrity 14.5 48.9
Judicial effectiveness 3.8 59.9
Tax burden 80.3 72.9
Government spending 62.3 0
Fiscal health 69 19.7
Business freedom 31.3 62.8
Labor freedom 43.4 65.3
Monetary freedom 63.9 72.5
Trade freedom 68.4 80
Investment freedom 0 30
Financial freedom 20 30

Economic freedom by year comparison

The Economic Freedom Index for Eritrea is 38.6, ranking 188/197, compared to 50.9 for Kiribati, ranking 159/197. The chart below displays a comparison of annual changes in economic freedom indexes.

Eritrea
Kiribati
Year Economic freedom index
Eritrea Kiribati
2009 38.5 45.7
2010 35.3 43.7
2011 36.7 44.8
2012 36.2 46.9
2013 36.3 45.9
2014 38.5 46.3
2015 38.9 46.4
2016 42.7 46.2
2017 42.2 50.9
2018 41.7 50.8
2019 38.9 47.3
2020 38.5 45.2
2021 42.3 44.4
2022 39.7 59.2
2023 39.5 58.8
2024 39.5 51.3
2025 38.6 50.9

More economic indicators

Eritrea Kiribati
Services, % of GDP n/a
65.7%
2022
Industry, % of GDP
21.8%
2009
9.86%
2022
Agriculture, forestry, and fishing, % of GDP
14.1%
2009
27.8%
2022
GNI, Atlas method
$1.94B
2011
$487M
2024
GNI per capita, PPP
$1,720
2011
$5,990
2024
Total reserves including gold
$192M
2019
n/a
Total reserves ranking
170/177
2019
n/a
Net foreign direct investment
-$27.9M
2000
-$8.06M
2024
Net inflows of foreign direct investment
-$27.9M
2024
$8.07M
2024
Net outflows of foreign direct investment
-$27.9M
2000
$16.4K
2024
Servicing debt to the IMF, % of GNI
1.07%
2011
n/a
Poverty at national poverty lines
50%
2020
5.5%
2023
Gross capital formation, % of GDP
12.6%
2011
20.4%
2022

GDP per capita map

GDP per capita

Compare countries by 7 more topics

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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.