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Economy of Eritrea vs Trinidad and Tobago compared: GDP & Debt

Updated on by Georank team

Eritrea has a GDP of $2.07B compared to $26.4B for Trinidad and Tobago, ranking 179/197 and 114/197 by economy size, respectively.

Eritrea has $3.54B in government debt (260.4% of GDP), compared to $17B (67.2% of GDP) in Trinidad and Tobago.

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 $
Trinidad and Tobago
GDP, current $

GDP, constant 2015 $
Year GDP
Eritrea Trinidad
Current $ Constant $ Current $ Constant $
1960 - - $535,673,252 $3,630,222,802
1961 - - $584,964,621 $4,139,799,750
1962 - - $619,322,810 $4,253,332,232
1963 - - $678,239,329 $4,491,714,373
1964 - - $711,897,520 $4,834,454,628
1965 - - $736,573,159 $4,867,998,505
1966 - - $723,739,857 $5,065,484,518
1967 - - $761,981,912 $5,168,947,937
1968 - - $758,899,950 $5,438,515,892
1969 - - $779,200,000 $5,587,024,608
1970 - - $821,850,000 $5,784,449,703
1971 - - $896,765,215 $5,844,627,406
1972 - - $1,083,391,758 $6,182,467,140
1973 - - $1,308,785,431 $6,284,874,810
1974 - - $2,042,001,071 $6,524,177,955
1975 - - $2,442,669,825 $6,620,603,046
1976 - - $2,500,424,955 $7,044,662,296
1977 - - $3,138,666,667 $7,687,261,624
1978 - - $3,562,333,458 $8,457,254,686
1979 - - $4,602,416,625 $8,761,662,363
1980 - - $6,235,833,333 $9,672,070,064
1981 - - $6,992,083,333 $10,114,780,883
1982 - - $8,140,416,667 $10,499,073,581
1983 - - $7,763,750,000 $9,417,634,514
1984 - - $7,757,083,333 $8,876,035,190
1985 - - $7,375,918,367 $8,510,394,061
1986 - - $4,794,444,444 $8,231,324,363
1987 - - $4,797,777,778 $7,855,829,575
1988 - - $4,496,910,569 $7,547,902,734
1989 - - $4,323,058,824 $7,485,261,616
1990 - - $5,068,000,000 $7,598,226,778
1991 - - $5,307,905,882 $7,834,714,586
1992 $477,101,652 $1,154,926,146 $5,439,552,941 $8,625,470,724
1993 $467,872,715 $1,310,318,716 $4,669,491,134 $8,567,756,425
1994 $531,688,312 $1,588,386,838 $4,947,181,646 $8,873,383,771
1995 $578,015,625 $1,633,788,955 $5,329,217,747 $9,211,451,985
1996 $693,535,954 $1,785,058,837 $5,759,570,336 $9,868,640,951
1997 $686,490,090 $1,926,233,510 $5,737,771,523 $10,611,044,464
1998 $745,523,117 $1,960,377,600 $6,043,686,654 $11,473,145,562
1999 $688,918,537 $1,960,641,860 $6,808,982,521 $12,393,844,571
2000 $706,370,816 $1,899,038,769 $8,154,342,116 $13,249,188,352
2001 $752,371,689 $2,065,307,885 $8,824,849,191 $13,801,483,946
2002 $729,321,680 $2,127,379,251 $9,008,298,229 $14,896,867,659
2003 $870,248,268 $2,070,886,356 $11,305,459,802 $17,048,122,760
2004 $1,109,054,005 $2,100,950,150 $13,280,291,990 $18,403,457,301
2005 $1,098,424,686 $2,155,038,051 $15,982,389,018 $19,546,116,532
2006 $1,211,161,880 $2,134,151,054 $18,369,361,094 $22,127,779,059
2007 $1,317,974,491 $2,164,601,595 $21,641,620,050 $23,179,780,078
2008 $1,380,188,800 $1,952,837,971 $27,871,587,350 $23,965,977,273
2009 $1,856,695,551 $2,028,539,765 $19,172,165,226 $22,913,456,440
2010 $1,589,515,447 $2,073,049,789 $22,157,920,592 $23,674,922,086
2011 $2,065,001,626 $2,252,986,366 $25,433,007,437 $23,605,233,909
2012 - - $27,147,349,937 $25,189,164,853
2013 - - $28,560,536,917 $26,031,643,292
2014 - - $29,474,180,442 $26,993,607,567
2015 - - $26,841,143,095 $26,841,143,095
2016 - - $23,624,333,664 $24,853,971,610
2017 - - $23,847,765,529 $23,656,360,891
2018 - - $23,888,910,152 $23,423,221,520
2019 - - $23,588,037,787 $23,533,735,415
2020 - - $20,991,339,707 $21,438,575,322
2021 - - $24,177,305,760 $21,243,057,044
2022 - - $28,510,328,245 $21,472,954,153
2023 - - $25,489,373,405 $21,779,397,559
2024 - - $26,428,963,758 $22,138,889,024

Economic indicators

Eritrea Trinidad
Gross domestic product
$2.07B
2011
$26.4B
2024
GDP rank
179/197
2011
114/197
2024
GDP growth
29.9%
2010-2011
3.69%
2023-2024
GDP per capita
$689
2011
$19,315
2024
GDP per capita rank
188/197
2011
60/197
2024
GDP per capita, PPP
$1,742
2011
$36,021
2024
Government debt
$3.54B
2011
$17B
2024
Debt-to-GDP ratio
260.4%
2019
67.2%
2025
Government debt per person
$1,182
2011
$12,454
2024
Government debt per person rank
137/185
2011
45/185
2024
Average annual personal income after taxes
$1,342
2025
$11,432
2025
Market capitalization of domestic companies n/a
$3.89B
2001
Income share by richest 10% n/a
29.9%
1992
Income share by poorest 10% n/a
2.1%
1992
Government expenditure, % of GDP
31.3%
2019
32.4%
2025
Consumer prices inflation
1.3%
2018-2019
0.53%
2023-2024
Central bank interest rate n/a
3.5%
2020
Unemployment rate
5.8%
2017
3.36%
2023
Population
3667774
1372940

GDP per capita in Eritrea vs Trinidad and Tobago

Eritrea's GDP per capita is $689, ranking 188/197, compared to $19,315 in Trinidad and Tobago, ranking 60/197. Adjusted for purchasing power (GDP per capita PPP), Eritrea ranks 190th at $1,742, while Trinidad and Tobago ranks 62nd at $36,021.

Eritrea
GDP per capita

GDP per capita, PPP
Trinidad and Tobago
GDP per capita

GDP per capita, PPP
Year Current $
Eritrea Trinidad
GDP per capita GDP per capita, PPP GDP per capita GDP per capita, PPP
1960 - - $634 -
1961 - - $678 -
1962 - - $704 -
1963 - - $756 -
1964 - - $780 -
1965 - - $793 -
1966 - - $768 -
1967 - - $797 -
1968 - - $783 -
1969 - - $795 -
1970 - - $829 -
1971 - - $894 -
1972 - - $1,067 -
1973 - - $1,273 -
1974 - - $1,962 -
1975 - - $2,319 -
1976 - - $2,345 -
1977 - - $2,907 -
1978 - - $3,258 -
1979 - - $4,155 -
1980 - - $5,559 -
1981 - - $6,160 -
1982 - - $7,091 -
1983 - - $6,690 -
1984 - - $6,613 -
1985 - - $6,212 -
1986 - - $3,985 -
1987 - - $3,941 -
1988 - - $3,656 -
1989 - - $3,482 -
1990 - - $4,047 $6,878
1991 - - $4,205 $7,274
1992 $265.2 $1,021 $4,277 $8,129
1993 $252.1 $1,149 $3,647 $8,209
1994 $277.8 $1,379 $3,840 $8,631
1995 $285.4 $1,369 $4,115 $9,099
1996 $326 $1,449 $4,427 $9,883
1997 $319 $1,573 $4,394 $10,769
1998 $342 $1,598 $4,613 $11,735
1999 $311 $1,597 $5,179 $12,812
2000 $314 $1,558 $6,179 $13,953
2001 $325 $1,684 $6,657 $14,797
2002 $305 $1,702 $6,763 $16,141
2003 $349 $1,621 $8,445 $18,743
2004 $427 $1,621 $9,871 $20,674
2005 $413 $1,674 $12,346 $23,536
2006 $448 $1,682 $14,153 $27,393
2007 $480 $1,727 $16,607 $29,355
2008 $490 $1,547 $21,299 $30,807
2009 $643 $1,577 $14,634 $29,602
2010 $540 $1,599 $16,815 $30,778
2011 $689 $1,742 $19,151 $31,078
2012 - - $20,332 $31,883
2013 - - $21,305 $31,746
2014 - - $21,908 $32,027
2015 - - $19,887 $29,825
2016 - - $17,449 $28,232
2017 - - $17,579 $28,505
2018 - - $17,576 $28,680
2019 - - $17,293 $29,454
2020 - - $15,359 $26,863
2021 - - $17,679 $30,425
2022 - - $20,874 $32,989
2023 - - $18,639 $34,620
2024 - - $19,315 $36,021

Spending and national debt comparison

In 2024, Eritrea's government spending was $666M, accounting for 31.3% of its GDP, while Trinidad and Tobago's spent $8.51B, or 32.4% of GDP.

Debt-to-GDP ratio is 260.4% in Eritrea and 67.2% in Trinidad and Tobago, ranking 1/185 and 63/185, respectively.

Eritrea
Government spending

Government debt
Trinidad and Tobago
Government spending

Government debt
Year % of GDP
Eritrea Trinidad
Government spending Government debt Government spending Government debt
1988 - - 45.3% 65.3%
1989 - - 30.9% 51.9%
1990 - - 26.9% 47.7%
1991 - - 29.6% 49.5%
1992 32.7% - 28.6% 49.2%
1993 67.2% - 26.9% 58.8%
1994 50.4% - 25.4% 52.6%
1995 81.2% - 26.2% 50.1%
1996 68.6% - 27.6% 47%
1997 60.1% - 27.2% 46.1%
1998 88% - 26.9% 42.8%
1999 106.1% - 24.1% 42.2%
2000 84.7% 219.1% 23.1% 38.9%
2001 59.5% 238.6% 24.8% 36.6%
2002 60.1% 243.4% 24.4% 37%
2003 58.1% 264% 22.2% 30.2%
2004 57.1% 193.5% 22.5% 24.2%
2005 76.6% 205.4% 26.7% 19.8%
2006 50.5% 199% 31.6% 16.9%
2007 51.2% 201.3% 25.7% 16.2%
2008 69.4% 259.7% 26.7% 13.5%
2009 44.9% 207.1% 37% 20.7%
2010 42.4% 201.8% 30.4% 16.8%
2011 32.3% 171.6% 29.4% 26.4%
2012 33.3% 171.6% 29.5% 21.8%
2013 32.7% 232.4% 31.3% 21.6%
2014 21.6% 204.5% 32.8% 23.5%
2015 31.1% 271.4% 35% 27.1%
2016 30.9% 251.2% 31.9% 35.4%
2017 42.5% 290.4% 30.7% 39.8%
2018 26.4% 267.1% 30.2% 41.5%
2019 31.3% 260.4% 31% 46%
2020 - - 36% 62.2%
2021 - - 30.4% 58.5%
2022 - - 27.1% 51%
2023 - - 32.9% 61.1%
2024 - - 32.2% 64.5%
2025 - - 32.4% 67.2%

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 Trinidad and Tobago's deficit of -$170M, or -0.67% of GDP.

Over the past 20 years, Eritrea recorded a fiscal deficit in 16 of those years, while Trinidad and Tobago ran a deficit in 8 years. On average, Eritrea posted an annual deficit equal to -16.3% of GDP, compared to surplus of +0.27% of GDP for Trinidad and Tobago.

Deficit/surplus
Eritrea

Trinidad and Tobago
Year Deficit/surplus, % of GDP
Eritrea Trinidad
1988 - -9.34%
1989 - -4.46%
1990 - -1.27%
1991 - -0.21%
1992 6.85% -2.74%
1993 4.22% 0.23%
1994 8.69% -0.02%
1995 -22.9% 0.17%
1996 -18.4% -0.45%
1997 -5.65% 0.11%
1998 -40.3% -1.8%
1999 -59.7% -0.88%
2000 -25.4% 0.17%
2001 -9.62% 0.61%
2002 -13.3% -0.2%
2003 6.23% 1.8%
2004 -7.65% 1.84%
2005 -31% 2.36%
2006 -15.5% 1.56%
2007 -19.8% 3.12%
2008 -38% 5.39%
2009 -22.2% -5.42%
2010 -16.5% 0.13%
2011 -5.5% -0.67%
2012 -5.21% -1.26%
2013 -7.62% -2.67%
2014 -0.12% -4.31%
2015 -2.77% -7.56%
2016 -1.44% -10.1%
2017 -5.74% -10.4%
2018 5.22% -5.89%
2019 2.72% -3.72%
2020 - -12.1%
2021 - -8.1%
2022 - 0.92%
2023 - -1.19%
2024 - -5.92%
2025 - -3.39%

Inflation comparison by year

Over the past 24 years, Eritrea has recorded an average annual inflation rate of 10.4%, compared with 5.27% in Trinidad and Tobago. In 2019, inflation was 1.3% in Eritrea and 0.53% in Trinidad and Tobago.

Inflation
Eritrea

Trinidad and Tobago
Year Inflation
Eritrea Trinidad Eritrea Trinidad
1996 10.3% 3.4%
1997 3.7% 3.63%
1998 9.5% 5.61%
1999 8.4% 3.44%
2000 19.9% 3.56%
2001 14.6% 5.54%
2002 16.9% 4.15%
2003 22.7% 3.81%
2004 25.1% 3.72%
2005 12.5% 6.87%
2006 7.7% 8.33%
2007 9.4% 7.89%
2008 22.2% 12%
2009 33.9% 6.98%
2010 10.3% 10.5%
2011 5.9% 5.11%
2012 6% 9.26%
2013 6.3% 5.2%
2014 8.4% 5.68%
2015 28.5% 4.66%
2016 -5.6% 3.07%
2017 -13.3% 1.88%
2018 -14.4% 1.02%
2019 1.3% 1%
2020 - 0.6%
2021 - 2.06%
2022 - 5.83%
2023 - 4.63%
2024 - 0.53%

Balance of trade

Eritrea Trinidad
Current account balance
-$105M
2000
$1.23B
2024
Current account balance ranking
87/189
2000
52/189
2024
Current account balance, % of GDP
-14.8%
2000
+4.67%
2024
Goods imports
$471M
2000
$7.54B
2024
Goods exports
$36.8M
2000
$10B
2024
Service imports
$28.5M
2000
$2.71B
2024
Service exports
$60.9M
2000
$1.26B
2024
Imports of goods and services, % of GDP
29.2%
2011
n/a
Exports of goods and services, % of GDP
18.2%
2011
45%
2025

Economic freedom indices

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

Eritrea Trinidad
Economic freedom 38.6 63.6
Economic freedom ranking 188/197 76/197
Property rights 6.1 58.3
Government integrity 14.5 44.7
Judicial effectiveness 3.8 58.5
Tax burden 80.3 79.5
Government spending 62.3 74.5
Fiscal health 69 80.9
Business freedom 31.3 72.6
Labor freedom 43.4 60.4
Monetary freedom 63.9 76.3
Trade freedom 68.4 67.6
Investment freedom 0 50
Financial freedom 20 40

Economic freedom by year comparison

The Economic Freedom Index for Eritrea is 38.6, ranking 188/197, compared to 63.6 for Trinidad and Tobago, ranking 76/197. The chart below displays a comparison of annual changes in economic freedom indexes.

Eritrea
Trinidad and Tobago
Year Economic freedom index
Eritrea Trinidad
1996 - 69.2
1997 - 71.3
1998 - 72
1999 - 72.4
2000 - 74.5
2001 - 71.8
2002 - 70.1
2003 - 68.8
2004 - 71.3
2005 - 71.5
2006 - 70.4
2007 - 70.6
2008 - 69.5
2009 38.5 68
2010 35.3 65.7
2011 36.7 66.5
2012 36.2 64.4
2013 36.3 62.3
2014 38.5 62.7
2015 38.9 64.1
2016 42.7 62.9
2017 42.2 61.2
2018 41.7 57.7
2019 38.9 57
2020 38.5 58.3
2021 42.3 59
2022 39.7 58.8
2023 39.5 59.5
2024 39.5 60.4
2025 38.6 63.6

More economic indicators

Eritrea Trinidad
Services, % of GDP n/a
59.9%
2023
Industry, % of GDP
21.8%
2009
35%
2023
Agriculture, forestry, and fishing, % of GDP
14.1%
2009
0.82%
2023
GNI, Atlas method
$1.94B
2011
$27.4B
2024
GNI per capita, PPP
$1,720
2011
$36,280
2024
Total reserves including gold
$192M
2019
$5.6B
2024
Total reserves ranking
170/177
2019
94/177
2024
Net foreign direct investment
-$27.9M
2000
$1.57B
2024
Net inflows of foreign direct investment
-$27.9M
2024
-$1.04B
2024
Net outflows of foreign direct investment
-$27.9M
2000
$527M
2024
Servicing debt to the IMF, % of GNI
1.07%
2011
n/a
Poverty at national poverty lines
50%
2020
20%
2020
Gross capital formation, % of GDP
12.6%
2011
20.1%
2021

GDP per capita map

GDP per capita

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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.