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Economy of Eritrea vs Palau compared: GDP & Debt

Updated on by Georank team

Eritrea has a GDP of $2.07B compared to $277M for Palau, ranking 179/197 and 194/197 by economy size, respectively.

Eritrea vs Palau GDP by year

Eritrea
Palau
1x
Year GDP, current $
Eritrea Palau
2023 - $276,733,063
2022 - $243,826,813
2021 - $231,343,460
2020 - $261,688,507
2019 - $282,041,290
2018 - $287,998,352
2017 - $292,148,590
2016 - $305,227,020
2015 - $287,057,526
2014 - $245,591,095
2013 - $224,110,611
2012 - $215,616,882
2011 $2,065,001,626 $198,742,371
2010 $1,589,515,447 $188,042,374
2009 $1,856,695,551 $189,854,706
2008 $1,380,188,800 $201,067,734
2007 $1,317,974,491 $200,789,764
2006 $1,211,161,880 $193,611,359
2005 $1,098,424,686 $190,961,685
2004 $1,109,054,005 $166,363,739
2003 $870,248,268 $154,566,788
2002 $729,321,680 $162,658,722
2001 $752,371,689 $159,446,228
2000 $706,370,816 $149,551,483
1999 $688,918,537 $144,206,500
1998 $745,523,117 $149,079,600
1997 $686,490,090 $143,860,800
1996 $693,535,954 $137,494,600
1995 $578,015,625 $121,018,500
1994 $531,688,312 $106,138,500
1993 $467,872,715 $96,455,700
1992 $477,101,652 $104,771,300
1991 - $106,555,300
1990 - $97,702,303
1989 - $85,800,543
1988 - $75,348,615
1987 - $66,169,905
1986 - $58,109,314
1985 - $51,030,637
1984 - $44,814,259
1983 - $39,661,530
1982 - $36,027,583
1981 - $32,726,594
1980 - $29,728,054
1979 - $27,004,251
1978 - $24,530,015
1977 - $22,308,104
1976 - $20,364,420
1975 - $18,521,112
1974 - $16,848,759
1973 - $15,331,889
1972 - $13,956,474
1971 - $12,706,874
1970 - $11,563,041

Data sources: World Bank | Economy & Growth (1970–2023, retrieved 2026-04-06).

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

GDP per capita in Eritrea vs Palau by year

Eritrea
GDP per capita

GDP per capita, PPP
Palau
GDP per capita

GDP per capita, PPP
1x
Year Current $
Eritrea Palau
GDP per capita GDP per capita, PPP GDP per capita GDP per capita, PPP
2023 - - $15,611 $18,230
2022 - - $13,730 $17,185
2021 - - $13,009 $15,781
2020 - - $14,708 $17,390
2019 - - $15,847 $18,422
2018 - - $16,167 $18,172
2017 - - $16,402 $17,991
2016 - - $17,150 $18,235
2015 - - $16,154 $17,854
2014 - - $13,863 $16,442
2013 - - $12,699 $15,425
2012 - - $12,137 $15,461
2011 $689 $1,742 $10,994 $14,673
2010 $540 $1,599 $10,222 $13,443
2009 $643 $1,577 $10,148 $13,414
2008 $490 $1,547 $10,578 $14,039
2007 $480 $1,727 $10,403 $14,308
2006 $448 $1,682 $9,882 $13,545
2005 $413 $1,674 $9,635 $12,960
2004 $427 $1,621 $8,394 $12,213
2003 $349 $1,621 $7,862 $11,588
2002 $305 $1,702 $8,340 $11,704
2001 $325 $1,684 $8,239 $11,092
2000 $314 $1,558 $7,798 $10,197
1999 $311 $1,597 $7,630 $10,388
1998 $342 $1,598 $8,048 $11,048
1997 $319 $1,573 $7,945 $10,957
1996 $326 $1,449 $7,788 $10,800
1995 $285.4 $1,369 $7,038 $9,863
1994 $277.8 $1,379 $6,329 $8,932
1993 $252.1 $1,149 $5,892 $8,348
1992 $265.2 $1,021 $6,553 $9,521
1991 - - $6,824 $10,184
1990 - - $6,403 $9,609
1989 - - $5,741 -
1988 - - $5,145 -
1987 - - $4,616 -
1986 - - $4,144 -
1985 - - $3,728 -
1984 - - $3,360 -
1983 - - $3,049 -
1982 - - $2,838 -
1981 - - $2,639 -
1980 - - $2,423 -
1979 - - $2,189 -
1978 - - $1,972 -
1977 - - $1,781 -
1976 - - $1,616 -
1975 - - $1,464 -
1974 - - $1,328 -
1973 - - $1,221 -
1972 - - $1,145 -
1971 - - $1,081 -
1970 - - $1,017 -

Data sources: World Bank | Economy & Growth (1970–2023, retrieved 2026-04-06).

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

Eritrea's GDP per capita is $689, ranking 188/197, compared to $15,611 in Palau, ranking 67/197. Adjusted for purchasing power (GDP per capita PPP), Eritrea ranks 191st at $1,742, while Palau ranks 103rd at $18,230.

Economic indicators

Eritrea Palau
Gross domestic product
$2.07B
2011
$277M
2023
GDP rank
179/197
2011
194/197
2023
GDP growth
8.68%
2010-2011
2.22%
2022-2023
GDP per capita
$689
2011
$15,611
2023
GDP per capita rank
188/197
2011
67/197
2023
GDP per capita, PPP
$1,742
2011
$18,230
2023
GDP per capita PPP rank
191/197
2011
103/197
2023
Government debt
$3.54B
2011
n/a
Debt-to-GDP ratio
260.4%
2019
n/a
Government debt per person
$1,182
2011
n/a
Government debt per person rank
136/185
2011
n/a
Average annual personal income after taxes
$1,129
2026
$9,869
2026
Government expenditure, % of GDP
31.3%
2019
52.3%
2024
Consumer prices inflation
1.3%
2018-2019
3.6%
2023-2024
Unemployment rate
5.8%
2017
2.09%
2023
Population
3700586
17629

Government deficit by year

Deficit/surplus
Eritrea

Palau
1x
Year Deficit/surplus, % of GDP
Eritrea Palau
2024 - 1.67%
2023 - 0.73%
2022 - -3.99%
2021 - -9.94%
2020 - -13%
2019 2.72% -0.36%
2018 5.22% 6.18%
2017 -5.74% 4.76%
2016 -1.44% 3.52%
2015 -2.77% 5.08%
2014 -0.12% 3.59%
2013 -7.62% 0.54%
2012 -5.21% 0.98%
2011 -5.5% 1.29%
2010 -16.5% -1.27%
2009 -22.2% -2.14%
2008 -38% -1.71%
2007 -19.8% -2.08%
2006 -15.5% 0.14%
2005 -31% 1.38%
2004 -7.65% -4.82%
2003 6.23% -3.18%
2002 -13.3% -12.7%
2001 -9.62% -16.7%
2000 -25.4% -13.4%
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/eritrea/palau | 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 Palau's surplus of $2.56M, or 1.29% of GDP.

Over the past 12 years, Eritrea recorded a fiscal deficit in 11 of those years, while Palau ran a deficit in 9 years. On average, Eritrea posted an annual deficit equal to 16.5% of GDP, compared to deficit of 4.6% of GDP for Palau.

Inflation comparison by year

Inflation
Eritrea

Palau
1x
Year Consumer prices inflation
Eritrea Palau
2024 - 3.6%
2023 - 12.4%
2022 - 13.2%
2021 - -0.5%
2020 - 0.7%
2019 1.3% 0.4%
2018 -14.4% 2.4%
2017 -13.3% 1.1%
2016 -5.6% -1.3%
2015 28.5% 2.2%
2014 8.4% 4%
2013 6.3% 2.8%
2012 6% 5.4%
2011 5.9% 2.6%
2010 10.3% 1.1%
2009 33.9% 4.7%
2008 22.2% 9.9%
2007 9.4% 3%
2006 7.7% 4.2%
2005 12.5% 3.6%
2004 25.1% 0.5%
2003 22.7% 0.6%
2002 16.9% -0.3%
2001 14.6% -0.7%
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/eritrea/palau | CC BY

Over the past 19 years, Eritrea has recorded an average annual inflation rate of 10.4%, compared with 2.43% in Palau. In 2019, inflation was 1.3% in Eritrea and 3.6% in Palau.

Balance of trade

Eritrea Palau
Current account balance
-$105M
2000
-$134M
2023
Current account balance ranking
89/190
2000
91/190
2023
Current account balance, % of GDP
-14.8%
2000
-48.5%
2023
Goods imports
$471M
2000
$164M
2023
Goods exports
$36.8M
2000
$1.74M
2023
Service imports
$28.5M
2000
$43M
2023
Service exports
$60.9M
2000
$61.9M
2023
Imports of goods and services, % of GDP
29.2%
2011
80.4%
2023
Exports of goods and services, % of GDP
18.2%
2011
26.3%
2023

Economic freedom indices

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

Eritrea Palau
Economic freedom 39.6 62
Economic freedom ranking 188/197 89/197
Property rights 4.8 n/a
Government integrity 10.9 n/a
Judicial effectiveness 5.5 n/a
Tax burden 80.3 n/a
Government spending 62.3 n/a
Fiscal health 69 n/a
Business freedom 30.7 n/a
Labor freedom 43.4 n/a
Monetary freedom 80 n/a
Trade freedom 68.4 n/a
Investment freedom 0 n/a
Financial freedom 20 n/a

Other economic metrics

Eritrea Palau
Services, % of GDP n/a
74.8%
2023
Industry, % of GDP
21.8%
2009
10.1%
2023
Agriculture, forestry, and fishing, % of GDP
14.1%
2009
3.04%
2023
GNI, Atlas method
$1.94B
2011
$262M
2023
GNI per capita, PPP
$1,720
2011
$18,320
2023
Total reserves including gold
$192M
2019
n/a
Total reserves ranking
170/177
2019
n/a
Net foreign direct investment
-$27.9M
2000
-$79.9M
2023
Net inflows of foreign direct investment
-$27.9M
2024
$69.1M
2024
Net outflows of foreign direct investment
$0
2024
$0
2024
Servicing debt to the IMF, % of GNI
1.07%
2011
n/a
Poverty at national poverty lines
50%
2020
24.9%
2020
Gross capital formation, % of GDP
12.6%
2011
35.6%
2023

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/palau | CC BY

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Data sources:

  1. World Bank | Economy & Growth (1970–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06)
  2. International Monetary Fund (IMF) | Fiscal Monitor (1992–2024, retrieved 2026-02-20)
  3. U.S. Census Bureau (1985–2024, retrieved 2026-02-08)
  4. The Heritage Foundation | Economic Freedom Index (2026, retrieved 2026-03-09)
  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.