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Economy of Eritrea vs South Sudan compared: GDP & Debt

Updated on by Georank team

Eritrea has a GDP of $2.07B compared to $12B for South Sudan, ranking 179/197 and 149/197 by economy size, respectively.

Eritrea has $3.54B in government debt (260.4% of GDP), compared to $7.04B (50.7% of GDP) in South Sudan.

Eritrea vs South Sudan GDP by year

Eritrea
South Sudan
1x
Year GDP, current $
Eritrea South Sudan
2015 - $11,997,800,760
2014 - $13,962,212,847
2013 - $18,426,469,017
2012 - $11,931,472,169
2011 $2,065,001,626 $14,907,308,933
2010 $1,589,515,447 $14,602,072,411
2009 $1,856,695,551 $12,231,264,525
2008 $1,380,188,800 $14,586,253,383
2007 $1,317,974,491 -
2006 $1,211,161,880 -
2005 $1,098,424,686 -
2004 $1,109,054,005 -
2003 $870,248,268 -
2002 $729,321,680 -
2001 $752,371,689 -
2000 $706,370,816 -
1999 $688,918,537 -
1998 $745,523,117 -
1997 $686,490,090 -
1996 $693,535,954 -
1995 $578,015,625 -
1994 $531,688,312 -
1993 $467,872,715 -
1992 $477,101,652 -

Data sources: World Bank | Economy & Growth (1992–2015, retrieved 2026-04-06).

GeoRank.org/economy/eritrea/south-sudan | CC BY

GDP per capita in Eritrea vs South Sudan by year

Eritrea
GDP per capita

GDP per capita, PPP
South Sudan
GDP per capita

GDP per capita, PPP
1x
Year Current $
Eritrea South Sudan
GDP per capita GDP per capita, PPP GDP per capita GDP per capita, PPP
2015 - - $1,080 $1,155
2014 - - $1,243 $1,373
2013 - - $1,650 $1,917
2012 - - $1,109 $1,417
2011 $689 $1,742 $1,449 $2,718
2010 $540 $1,599 $1,498 $2,948
2009 $643 $1,577 $1,323 $2,911
2008 $490 $1,547 $1,654 $2,887
2007 $480 $1,727 - -
2006 $448 $1,682 - -
2005 $413 $1,674 - -
2004 $427 $1,621 - -
2003 $349 $1,621 - -
2002 $305 $1,702 - -
2001 $325 $1,684 - -
2000 $314 $1,558 - -
1999 $311 $1,597 - -
1998 $342 $1,598 - -
1997 $319 $1,573 - -
1996 $326 $1,449 - -
1995 $285.4 $1,369 - -
1994 $277.8 $1,379 - -
1993 $252.1 $1,149 - -
1992 $265.2 $1,021 - -

Data sources: World Bank | Economy & Growth (1992–2015, retrieved 2026-04-06).

GeoRank.org/economy/eritrea/south-sudan | CC BY

Eritrea's GDP per capita is $689, ranking 188/197, compared to $1,080 in South Sudan, ranking 175/197. Adjusted for purchasing power (GDP per capita PPP), Eritrea ranks 191st at $1,742, while South Sudan ranks 197th at $1,155.

Economic indicators

Eritrea South Sudan
Gross domestic product
$2.07B
2011
$12B
2015
GDP rank
179/197
2011
149/197
2015
GDP growth
8.68%
2010-2011
-10.8%
2014-2015
GDP per capita
$689
2011
$1,080
2015
GDP per capita rank
188/197
2011
175/197
2015
GDP per capita, PPP
$1,742
2011
$1,155
2015
GDP per capita PPP rank
191/197
2011
197/197
2015
Government debt
$3.54B
2011
$7.04B
2015
Debt-to-GDP ratio
260.4%
2019
50.7%
2024
Government debt per person
$1,182
2011
$633
2015
Government debt per person rank
136/185
2011
158/185
2015
Average annual personal income after taxes
$1,129
2026
$1,305
2026
Income share by richest 10% n/a
33%
2016
Income share by poorest 10% n/a
1.8%
2016
Government expenditure, % of GDP
31.3%
2019
18.1%
2024
Consumer prices inflation
1.3%
2018-2019
91.4%
2023-2024
Central bank interest rate n/a
15%
2023
Unemployment rate
5.8%
2017
12.3%
2008
Population
3700586
12507858

Spending and national debt comparison by year

Eritrea
Spending

Debt
South Sudan
Spending

Debt
1x
Year % of GDP
Eritrea South Sudan
Government spending Government debt Government spending Government debt
2024 - - 18.1% 50.7%
2023 - - 21.4% 51.9%
2022 - - 29.4% 37.3%
2021 - - 44.1% 50.2%
2020 - - 34.1% 49%
2019 31.3% 260.4% 47.9% 43.1%
2018 26.4% 267.1% 54.5% 77.6%
2017 42.5% 290.4% 97% 178.3%
2016 30.9% 251.2% 66.5% 164.7%
2015 31.1% 271.4% 34% 58.6%
2014 21.6% 204.5% 35.8% 37.7%
2013 32.7% 232.4% 25.3% 17.6%
2012 33.3% 171.6% 31.6% 8.91%
2011 32.3% 171.6% 20.8% -
2010 42.4% 201.8% - -
2009 44.9% 207.1% - -
2008 69.4% 259.7% - -
2007 51.2% 201.3% - -
2006 50.5% 199% - -
2005 76.6% 205.4% - -
2004 57.1% 193.5% - -
2003 58.1% 264% - -
2002 60.1% 243.4% - -
2001 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/eritrea/south-sudan | CC BY

In 2015, Eritrea's government spending was $666M, accounting for 31.3% of its GDP, while South Sudan spent $4.08B, or 18.1% of GDP.

Debt-to-GDP ratio is 260.4% in Eritrea and 50.7% in South Sudan, ranking 2/185 and 105/185, respectively.

Inflation comparison by year

Inflation
Eritrea

South Sudan
1x
Year Consumer prices inflation
Eritrea South Sudan
2024 - 91.4%
2023 - 2.38%
2022 - -6.69%
2021 - 10.5%
2020 - 29.7%
2019 1.3% 87.2%
2018 -14.4% 83.5%
2017 -13.3% 187.9%
2016 -5.6% 380%
2015 28.5% 52.8%
2014 8.4% 1.67%
2013 6.3% -0.06%
2012 6% 45.5%
2011 5.9% 46.9%
2010 10.3% 1.17%
2009 33.9% 5.01%
2008 22.2% -
2007 9.4% -
2006 7.7% -
2005 12.5% -
2004 25.1% -
2003 22.7% -
2002 16.9% -
2001 14.6% -
2000 19.9% -
1999 8.4% -
1998 9.5% -
1997 3.7% -

Data sources: International Monetary Fund (IMF) | World Economic Outlook (1997–2019, retrieved 2026-02-20); World Bank | Economy & Growth (2009–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06).

GeoRank.org/economy/eritrea/south-sudan | CC BY

Over the past 11 years, Eritrea has recorded an average annual inflation rate of 6.12%, compared with 81% in South Sudan. In 2019, inflation was 1.3% in Eritrea and 91.4% in South Sudan.

Balance of trade

Eritrea South Sudan
Current account balance
-$105M
2000
$578M
2023
Current account balance ranking
89/190
2000
60/190
2023
Current account balance, % of GDP
-14.8%
2000
-4.17%
2015
Goods imports
$471M
2000
$2.25B
2023
Goods exports
$36.8M
2000
$4.01B
2023
Service imports
$28.5M
2000
$2.19B
2023
Service exports
$60.9M
2000
$484M
2023
Imports of goods and services, % of GDP
29.2%
2011
28.9%
2015
Exports of goods and services, % of GDP
18.2%
2011
36.7%
2015

Economic freedom indices

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

Eritrea South Sudan
Economic freedom 39.6 41
Economic freedom ranking 188/197 186/197
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 South Sudan
Services, % of GDP n/a
56.6%
2015
Industry, % of GDP
21.8%
2009
33.1%
2015
Agriculture, forestry, and fishing, % of GDP
14.1%
2009
10.4%
2015
GNI, Atlas method
$1.94B
2011
$11.7B
2015
GNI per capita, PPP
$1,720
2011
$1,010
2015
Total reserves including gold
$192M
2019
$72.9M
2023
Total reserves ranking
170/177
2019
175/177
2023
Net foreign direct investment
-$27.9M
2000
$2.21M
2019
Net inflows of foreign direct investment
-$27.9M
2024
$83.4M
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
66%
2020
Gross capital formation, % of GDP
12.6%
2011
5.75%
2015

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/south-sudan | 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. 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.