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Economy of Eritrea vs Portugal compared: GDP & Debt

Updated on by Georank team

Eritrea has a GDP of $2.07B compared to $313B for Portugal, ranking 179/197 and 46/197 by economy size, respectively.

Eritrea has $3.54B in government debt (260.4% of GDP), compared to $297B (94.9% of GDP) in Portugal.

Eritrea vs Portugal GDP by year

Eritrea
Portugal
1x
Year GDP, current $
Eritrea Portugal
2024 - $313,271,185,085
2023 - $292,323,800,949
2022 - $256,898,677,175
2021 - $256,055,879,091
2020 - $229,618,773,423
2019 - $240,115,970,063
2018 - $242,092,894,543
2017 - $220,862,990,767
2016 - $206,305,431,242
2015 - $199,038,523,120
2014 - $230,078,616,300
2013 - $226,677,408,292
2012 - $216,536,676,772
2011 $2,065,001,626 $245,426,767,676
2010 $1,589,515,447 $238,443,864,993
2009 $1,856,695,551 $244,667,762,836
2008 $1,380,188,800 $263,416,394,624
2007 $1,317,974,491 $240,496,147,317
2006 $1,211,161,880 $208,756,449,276
2005 $1,098,424,686 $197,253,876,705
2004 $1,109,054,005 $189,382,122,532
2003 $870,248,268 $165,226,175,537
2002 $729,321,680 $134,795,565,549
2001 $752,371,689 $121,604,107,165
2000 $706,370,816 $118,605,192,877
1999 $688,918,537 $127,470,385,557
1998 $745,523,117 $123,946,327,916
1997 $686,490,090 $117,016,535,163
1996 $693,535,954 $122,630,089,680
1995 $578,015,625 $118,122,007,430
1994 $531,688,312 $99,688,641,304
1993 $467,872,715 $95,009,751,901
1992 $477,101,652 $107,592,098,307
1991 - $89,233,599,278
1990 - $78,713,860,217
1989 - $60,594,092,182
1988 - $56,347,250,696
1987 - $48,182,925,857
1986 - $38,745,901,354
1985 - $27,115,807,742
1984 - $25,217,969,050
1983 - $27,239,650,742
1982 - $30,527,754,793
1981 - $31,977,276,873
1980 - $32,896,519,824
1979 - $26,622,819,672
1978 - $23,487,614,051
1977 - $21,439,523,311
1976 - $20,332,831,565
1975 - $19,347,607,843
1974 - $17,512,391,476
1973 - $15,090,564,186
1972 - $11,239,117,865
1971 - $9,201,604,240
1970 - $8,108,235,704
1969 - $7,287,555,035
1968 - $6,644,693,214
1967 - $6,002,607,030
1966 - $5,370,108,031
1965 - $4,901,711,248
1964 - $4,429,202,657
1963 - $4,084,251,593
1962 - $3,835,883,663
1961 - $3,573,719,085
1960 - $3,339,150,158

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

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

GDP per capita in Eritrea vs Portugal by year

Eritrea
GDP per capita

GDP per capita, PPP
Portugal
GDP per capita

GDP per capita, PPP
1x
Year Current $
Eritrea Portugal
GDP per capita GDP per capita, PPP GDP per capita GDP per capita, PPP
2024 - - $29,292 $51,680
2023 - - $27,635 $49,353
2022 - - $24,621 $45,250
2021 - - $24,711 $38,658
2020 - - $22,299 $35,967
2019 - - $23,343 $37,866
2018 - - $23,541 $34,897
2017 - - $21,442 $32,971
2016 - - $19,980 $31,589
2015 - - $19,216 $29,608
2014 - - $22,121 $28,765
2013 - - $21,676 $27,966
2012 - - $20,593 $26,476
2011 $689 $1,742 $23,247 $26,803
2010 $540 $1,599 $22,552 $27,292
2009 $643 $1,577 $23,151 $26,472
2008 $490 $1,547 $24,949 $26,666
2007 $480 $1,727 $22,811 $25,738
2006 $448 $1,682 $19,839 $24,677
2005 $413 $1,674 $18,780 $22,725
2004 $427 $1,621 $18,064 $21,476
2003 $349 $1,621 $15,798 $20,850
2002 $305 $1,702 $12,937 $20,357
2001 $325 $1,684 $11,735 $19,529
2000 $314 $1,558 $11,526 $18,883
1999 $311 $1,597 $12,475 $17,718
1998 $342 $1,598 $12,199 $16,688
1997 $319 $1,573 $11,576 $15,789
1996 $326 $1,449 $12,185 $14,922
1995 $285.4 $1,369 $11,781 $14,406
1994 $277.8 $1,379 $9,977 $13,578
1993 $252.1 $1,149 $9,535 $13,202
1992 $265.2 $1,021 $10,811 $13,182
1991 - - $8,959 $12,739
1990 - - $7,885 $11,780
1989 - - $6,056 -
1988 - - $5,624 -
1987 - - $4,804 -
1986 - - $3,862 -
1985 - - $2,705 -
1984 - - $2,523 -
1983 - - $2,735 -
1982 - - $3,080 -
1981 - - $3,246 -
1980 - - $3,368 -
1979 - - $2,756 -
1978 - - $2,457 -
1977 - - $2,267 -
1976 - - $2,173 -
1975 - - $2,128 -
1974 - - $2,000 -
1973 - - $1,748 -
1972 - - $1,302 -
1971 - - $1,065 -
1970 - - $934 -
1969 - - $832 -
1968 - - $752 -
1967 - - $676 -
1966 - - $601 -
1965 - - $545 -
1964 - - $490 -
1963 - - $452 -
1962 - - $426 -
1961 - - $400 -
1960 - - $377 -

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

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

Eritrea's GDP per capita is $689, ranking 188/197, compared to $29,292 in Portugal, ranking 44/197. Adjusted for purchasing power (GDP per capita PPP), Eritrea ranks 191st at $1,742, while Portugal ranks 42nd at $51,680.

Economic indicators

Eritrea Portugal
Gross domestic product
$2.07B
2011
$313B
2024
GDP rank
179/197
2011
46/197
2024
GDP growth
8.68%
2010-2011
2.14%
2023-2024
GDP per capita
$689
2011
$29,292
2024
GDP per capita rank
188/197
2011
44/197
2024
GDP per capita, PPP
$1,742
2011
$51,680
2024
GDP per capita PPP rank
191/197
2011
42/197
2024
Government debt
$3.54B
2011
$297B
2024
Debt-to-GDP ratio
260.4%
2019
94.9%
2024
Government debt per person
$1,182
2011
$27,807
2024
Government debt per person rank
136/185
2011
27/185
2024
Average annual personal income after taxes
$1,129
2026
$16,747
2026
Market capitalization of domestic companies n/a
$61.9B
2018
Number of millionaires n/a
171,797
2025
Number of billionaires n/a
1
2025
Income share by richest 10% n/a
26.9%
2023
Income share by poorest 10% n/a
2.7%
2023
Government expenditure, % of GDP
31.3%
2019
42.8%
2024
Consumer prices inflation
1.3%
2018-2019
2.42%
2023-2024
Unemployment rate
5.8%
2017
6.43%
2024
Population
3700586
10667081

Spending and national debt comparison by year

Eritrea
Spending

Debt
Portugal
Spending

Debt
1x
Year % of GDP
Eritrea Portugal
Government spending Government debt Government spending Government debt
2024 - - 42.8% 94.9%
2023 - - 42.3% 97.7%
2022 - - 43.9% 111.2%
2021 - - 47.3% 123.9%
2020 - - 49.1% 134.1%
2019 31.3% 260.4% 42.5% 116.1%
2018 26.4% 267.1% 43.3% 121.1%
2017 42.5% 290.4% 45.5% 126%
2016 30.9% 251.2% 44.9% 131.2%
2015 31.1% 271.4% 48.2% 131%
2014 21.6% 204.5% 51.7% 132.5%
2013 32.7% 232.4% 50% 130.8%
2012 33.3% 171.6% 48.8% 128.6%
2011 32.3% 171.6% 50% 114%
2010 42.4% 201.8% 51.9% 100.1%
2009 44.9% 207.1% 50.3% 87.8%
2008 69.4% 259.7% 45.5% 75.6%
2007 51.2% 201.3% 44.5% 72.7%
2006 50.5% 199% 45.1% 73.7%
2005 76.6% 205.4% 46.8% 72.2%
2004 57.1% 193.5% 46.1% 67.1%
2003 58.1% 264% 45.4% 63.9%
2002 60.1% 243.4% 44.2% 60%
2001 59.5% 238.6% 44.1% 57.4%
2000 84.7% 219.1% 42.8% 54.2%
1999 106.1% - 42.5% 55.4%
1998 88% - 42.6% 55.6%
1997 60.1% - 42.4% 58.7%
1996 68.6% - 43% 63.3%
1995 81.2% - 42.6% 62.2%
1994 50.4% - 42.8% 60.4%
1993 67.2% - 46.5% 57.2%
1992 32.7% - 48.2% 58.1%
1991 - - 45.9% 63.9%
1990 - - 42.2% 60.2%
1989 - - 36.2% 55.4%
1988 - - 36.2% 56.8%
1987 - - 37.5% 57.2%
1986 - - 38.9% 59.8%
1985 - - 37.5% 59.4%
1984 - - 34.6% 51.3%
1983 - - 34.7% 46.7%
1982 - - 35.8% 43%
1981 - - 35.3% 39.3%
1980 - - 32.4% 31%
1979 - - 30.8% 35.2%
1978 - - 31.7% 31.4%
1977 - - 35.1% 26.9%
1976 - - 38.2% 24.5%
1975 - - 31.9% 19.2%
1974 - - 25.8% 13.5%
1973 - - 25.7% 13.6%
1972 - - 22.8% 14.5%
1971 - - 15.5% 15.7%
1970 - - 15.5% 16.5%
1969 - - 14.9% 16.8%
1968 - - 14.3% 17.2%
1967 - - 14.1% 18.5%
1966 - - 14.4% 20.2%
1965 - - 13.4% 20.4%
1964 - - 13.9% 21.9%
1963 - - 14.6% 20.8%
1962 - - 14.5% 18.7%
1961 - - 14.6% 17.1%
1960 - - 14.3% 16.4%

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/portugal | CC BY

In 2024, Eritrea's government spending was $666M, accounting for 31.3% of its GDP, while Portugal spent $134B, or 42.8% of GDP.

Debt-to-GDP ratio is 260.4% in Eritrea and 94.9% in Portugal, ranking 2/185 and 27/185, respectively.

Government deficit by year

Deficit/surplus
Eritrea

Portugal
1x
Year Deficit/surplus, % of GDP
Eritrea Portugal
2024 - 0.7%
2023 - 1.21%
2022 - -0.31%
2021 - -2.83%
2020 - -5.75%
2019 2.72% 0.12%
2018 5.22% -0.43%
2017 -5.74% -3%
2016 -1.44% -1.94%
2015 -2.77% -4.37%
2014 -0.12% -7.32%
2013 -7.62% -5.21%
2012 -5.21% -6.2%
2011 -5.5% -7.73%
2010 -16.5% -11.4%
2009 -22.2% -9.87%
2008 -38% -3.81%
2007 -19.8% -2.91%
2006 -15.5% -4.07%
2005 -31% -6.11%
2004 -7.65% -5.99%
2003 6.23% -5.66%
2002 -13.3% -3.73%
2001 -9.62% -4.73%
2000 -25.4% -3.35%
1999 -59.7% -2.99%
1998 -40.3% -4.3%
1997 -5.65% -3.65%
1996 -18.4% -4.63%
1995 -22.9% -5.14%
1994 8.69% -7.37%
1993 4.22% -8.06%
1992 6.85% -5.19%
1991 - -7.93%
1990 - -6.82%
1989 - -2.86%
1988 - -3.52%
1987 - -6.79%
1986 - -7.45%
1985 - -8.35%
1984 - -5.23%
1983 - -4.86%
1982 - -7.02%
1981 - -8.34%
1980 - -6.92%
1979 - -6.08%
1978 - -7.15%
1977 - -7.5%
1976 - -10.2%
1975 - -7.1%
1974 - -3.2%
1973 - -5.39%
1972 - -7.72%
1971 - -0.23%
1970 - -0.24%
1969 - -1.53%
1968 - -1.24%
1967 - -0.46%
1966 - -2%
1965 - -0.03%
1964 - -1.93%
1963 - -3.33%
1962 - -1.69%
1961 - -3.17%
1960 - -3.13%
1959 - -1.73%
1958 - -0.52%
1957 - 0.08%
1956 - -0.18%
1955 - -0.31%
1954 - -0.58%
1953 - -0.35%
1952 - -0.34%
1951 - 0.94%
1950 - -0.83%
1949 - -0.46%
1948 - -2.04%
1947 - -1.65%
1946 - -2.32%
1945 - -2.38%
1944 - -1.44%
1943 - 0.03%
1942 - -0.35%
1941 - -0.08%
1940 - -1.74%
1939 - -0.73%
1938 - -0.08%
1937 - -0.09%
1936 - 0.08%
1935 - 0.75%
1934 - 0.6%
1933 - -0.07%
1932 - -0.03%
1931 - 0.04%
1930 - 0.79%
1929 - 1.86%
1928 - 0.2%
1927 - -2.27%
1926 - -4.21%
1925 - -1.48%
1924 - -3.16%
1923 - -3.47%
1922 - -10%
1921 - -6.5%
1920 - -5.66%
1919 - -8.83%
1918 - -8.3%
1917 - -5.49%
1916 - -
1915 - -
1914 - -
1913 - -0.34%
1912 - -0.02%
1911 - -0.73%
1910 - -0.19%
1909 - -0.82%
1908 - -0.56%
1907 - -0.69%
1906 - -0.45%
1905 - -0.75%
1904 - -0.26%
1903 - -0.91%
1902 - -0.5%
1901 - -0.69%
1900 - -0.35%
1899 - -0.77%
1898 - -0.5%
1897 - -0.93%
1896 - -1.35%
1895 - -0.2%
1894 - -0.16%
1893 - -0.02%
1892 - -0.8%
1891 - -2.15%
1890 - -2.01%
1889 - -1.95%
1888 - -2.14%
1887 - -0.67%
1886 - -1.43%
1885 - -1.68%
1884 - -1.48%
1883 - -1.1%
1882 - -0.39%
1881 - -1.2%
1880 - -1.63%

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/portugal | 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 Portugal's deficit of $19B, or 7.73% of GDP.

Over the past 20 years, Eritrea recorded a fiscal deficit in 16 of those years, while Portugal ran a deficit in 20 years. On average, Eritrea posted an annual deficit equal to 16.3% of GDP, compared to deficit of 5.54% of GDP for Portugal.

Inflation comparison by year

Inflation
Eritrea

Portugal
1x
Year Consumer prices inflation
Eritrea Portugal
2024 - 2.42%
2023 - 4.31%
2022 - 7.83%
2021 - 1.27%
2020 - -0.01%
2019 1.3% 0.34%
2018 -14.4% 0.99%
2017 -13.3% 1.37%
2016 -5.6% 0.61%
2015 28.5% 0.49%
2014 8.4% -0.28%
2013 6.3% 0.27%
2012 6% 2.77%
2011 5.9% 3.65%
2010 10.3% 1.4%
2009 33.9% -0.84%
2008 22.2% 2.59%
2007 9.4% 2.45%
2006 7.7% 3.11%
2005 12.5% 2.28%
2004 25.1% 2.37%
2003 22.7% 3.22%
2002 16.9% 3.6%
2001 14.6% 4.37%
2000 19.9% 2.85%
1999 8.4% 2.34%
1998 9.5% 2.57%
1997 3.7% 2.34%

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/portugal | CC BY

Over the past 23 years, Eritrea has recorded an average annual inflation rate of 10.4%, compared with 1.95% in Portugal. In 2019, inflation was 1.3% in Eritrea and 2.42% in Portugal.

Top exports between countries

Eritrea
Export category Export value
Portugal
Export category Export value
Textiles & consumer goods $68K
Machinery & equipment $38K
Chemicals & pharma $22K

Balance of trade

Eritrea Portugal
Current account balance
-$105M
2000
$6.51B
2024
Current account balance ranking
89/190
2000
28/190
2024
Current account balance, % of GDP
-14.8%
2000
+2.08%
2024
Goods imports
$471M
2000
$109B
2024
Goods exports
$36.8M
2000
$81.4B
2024
Service imports
$28.5M
2000
$27.9B
2024
Service exports
$60.9M
2000
$62.7B
2024
Imports of goods and services, % of GDP
29.2%
2011
43.9%
2024
Exports of goods and services, % of GDP
18.2%
2011
45.8%
2024

Economic freedom indices

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

Eritrea Portugal
Economic freedom 39.6 71.2
Economic freedom ranking 188/197 33/197
Property rights 4.8 88.9
Government integrity 10.9 63.4
Judicial effectiveness 5.5 90.1
Tax burden 80.3 60.6
Government spending 62.3 44.6
Fiscal health 69 82
Business freedom 30.7 83.1
Labor freedom 43.4 54.8
Monetary freedom 80 77.7
Trade freedom 68.4 79.4
Investment freedom 0 70
Financial freedom 20 60

Economic freedom comparison by year

Eritrea
Portugal
1x
Year Economic freedom index
Eritrea Portugal
2026 39.6 71.2
2025 38.6 70.5
2024 39.5 68.7
2023 39.5 69.5
2022 39.7 70.8
2021 42.3 67.5
2020 38.5 67
2019 38.9 65.3
2018 41.7 63.4
2017 42.2 62.6
2016 42.7 65.1
2015 38.9 65.3
2014 38.5 63.5
2013 36.3 63.1
2012 36.2 63
2011 36.7 64
2010 35.3 64.4
2009 38.5 64.9
2008 - 63.9
2007 - 64
2006 - 62.9
2005 - 62.4
2004 - 64.9
2003 - 64.9
2002 - 65.4
2001 - 66
2000 - 65.5
1999 - 65.6
1998 - 65
1997 - 63.6
1996 - 64.5
1995 - 62.4

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

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

The Economic Freedom Index for Eritrea is 39.6, ranking 188/197, compared to 71.2 for Portugal, ranking 33/197. The chart above displays a comparison of annual changes in economic freedom indexes.

Other economic metrics

Eritrea Portugal
Services, % of GDP n/a
66.3%
2024
Industry, % of GDP
21.8%
2009
18.7%
2024
Agriculture, forestry, and fishing, % of GDP
14.1%
2009
2.02%
2024
GNI, Atlas method
$1.94B
2011
$288B
2024
GNI per capita, PPP
$1,720
2011
$50,730
2024
Total reserves including gold
$192M
2019
$42.4B
2024
Total reserves ranking
170/177
2019
48/177
2024
Net foreign direct investment
-$27.9M
2000
-$6.64B
2024
Net inflows of foreign direct investment
-$27.9M
2024
$13.5B
2024
Net outflows of foreign direct investment
$0
2024
$6.84B
2024
Servicing debt to the IMF, % of GNI
1.07%
2011
n/a
Poverty at national poverty lines
50%
2020
16.4%
2021
Gross capital formation, % of GDP
12.6%
2011
20.4%
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/portugal | 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 (1880–1989, retrieved 2026-02-20)
  3. International Monetary Fund (IMF) | Fiscal Monitor (1990–2024, 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 (2023–2024, 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.