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Economy of Ethiopia vs Nigeria compared: GDP & Debt

Updated on by Georank

Ethiopia has a GDP of $126B compared to $291B for Nigeria, ranking 66/197 and 50/197 by economy size, respectively.

Ethiopia has $54.4B in government debt (43.1% of GDP), compared to $103B (35.5% of GDP) in Nigeria.

Ethiopia vs Nigeria GDP by year

Ethiopia
Nigeria
1x
Year GDP, current $
Ethiopia Nigeria
2025 $126,358,758,448 $290,794,361,542
2024 $149,740,297,952 $252,261,880,140
2023 $135,874,093,203 $487,387,801,878
2022 $123,140,304,665 $646,950,257,575
2021 $109,070,960,371 $609,147,716,965
2020 $98,676,811,062 $598,586,817,817
2019 $91,834,517,114 $668,219,992,687
2018 $83,337,901,072 $421,739,251,509
2017 $76,366,081,767 $375,745,731,053
2016 $68,475,871,210 $404,649,125,252
2015 $62,103,418,182 $493,026,682,801
2014 $55,612,228,234 $574,183,763,412
2013 $47,648,276,605 $520,117,180,314
2012 $43,310,721,414 $463,971,018,239
2011 $31,952,763,089 $414,466,676,831
2010 $29,933,790,334 $366,990,417,129
2009 $32,437,389,116 $295,008,835,381
2008 $27,066,912,635 $339,476,276,258
2007 $19,707,616,773 $278,260,846,800
2006 $15,280,861,835 $238,454,997,161
2005 $12,401,139,454 $175,670,569,969
2004 $10,131,187,261 $135,764,731,646
2003 $8,623,691,300 $104,738,954,264
2002 $7,850,809,498 $95,054,059,303
2001 $8,231,326,016 $73,557,840,064
2000 $8,242,349,618 $69,171,451,627
1999 $7,892,973,532 $59,145,077,039
1998 $8,013,274,132 $218,416,200,673
1997 $8,803,539,988 $200,850,397,618
1996 $8,761,215,548 $185,730,236,700
1995 $7,855,205,207 $140,919,776,986
1994 $7,100,806,754 $80,399,613,064
1993 $9,051,043,870 $56,721,051,402
1992 $10,754,799,037 $52,058,181,854
1991 $13,799,799,324 $59,526,833,412
1990 $12,478,943,895 $54,035,795,388
1989 $11,762,932,007 $44,003,061,108
1988 $11,181,119,718 $49,648,470,440
1987 $10,790,001,558 $52,676,041,931
1986 $10,094,328,898 $54,805,852,581
1985 $9,717,392,687 $73,745,821,158
1984 $8,298,309,581 $73,484,359,521
1983 $8,781,664,427 $97,094,911,792
1982 $7,899,988,841 $142,769,363,314
1981 $7,507,663,567 $164,475,209,516
1980 $7,012,585,454 $64,201,788,123
1979 $6,586,048,398 $47,259,911,894
1978 $6,014,961,435 $36,527,862,209
1977 $5,651,840,585 $36,035,407,725
1976 $4,943,806,093 $36,308,883,249
1975 $4,577,047,854 $27,778,934,625
1974 $4,577,209,966 $24,846,641,318
1973 $4,070,570,550 $15,162,871,287
1972 $3,520,252,938 $12,274,416,018
1971 $3,224,280,835 $9,181,769,912
1970 $3,045,354,455 $12,546,094,982
1969 $2,768,987,372 $6,634,317,346
1968 $2,619,948,865 $5,200,997,920
1967 $2,461,762,003 $5,203,237,919
1966 $2,324,466,416 $6,366,917,453
1965 $2,159,998,591 $5,874,537,650
1964 $1,984,129,186 $5,552,931,319
1963 $1,825,058,828 $5,165,590,254
1962 $1,747,566,307 $4,909,399,176
1961 $1,680,859,514 $4,467,287,893
1960 $1,610,511,694 $4,196,174,502

Data sources: World Bank | Economy & Growth (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08).

GeoRank.org/economy/ethiopia/nigeria | CC BY

GDP per capita in Ethiopia vs Nigeria by year

Ethiopia
GDP per capita

GDP per capita, PPP
Nigeria
GDP per capita

GDP per capita, PPP
1x
Year Current $
Ethiopia Nigeria
GDP per capita GDP per capita, PPP GDP per capita GDP per capita, PPP
2025 $933 - $1,224 -
2024 $1,134 $3,288 $1,084 $9,087
2023 $1,056 $3,061 $2,139 $8,705
2022 $982 $2,845 $2,899 $8,305
2021 $893 $2,588 $2,787 $7,588
2020 $830 $2,407 $2,797 $7,415
2019 $793 $2,242 $3,190 $7,551
2018 $740 $2,095 $2,058 $7,158
2017 $696 $2,005 $1,876 $7,037
2016 $642 $1,858 $2,070 $7,072
2015 $598 $1,633 $2,586 $7,308
2014 $550 $1,485 $3,089 $7,396
2013 $484 $1,253 $2,873 $7,004
2012 $452 $1,179 $2,633 $6,671
2011 $343 $1,098 $2,418 $6,585
2010 $331 $996 $2,202 $6,301
2009 $369 $899 $1,820 $5,927
2008 $316 $845 $2,154 $5,607
2007 $237.1 $770 $1,816 $5,298
2006 $189.3 $693 $1,600 $4,975
2005 $158.2 $625 $1,211 $4,678
2004 $133.2 $558 $962 $4,381
2003 $116.8 $493 $763 $4,015
2002 $109.6 $509 $712 $3,770
2001 $118.5 $509 $566 $3,309
2000 $122.3 $474 $547 $3,139
1999 $120.7 $450 $481 $3,002
1998 $126.5 $436 $1,822 $3,022
1997 $143.4 $461 $1,720 $2,990
1996 $147.3 $453 $1,633 $2,931
1995 $136.5 $409 $1,272 $2,835
1994 $127.7 $391 $745 $2,853
1993 $168.5 $384 $540 $2,921
1992 $207.4 $343 $509 $2,991
1991 $277.6 $383 $597 $2,870
1990 $262.1 $417 $556 $2,840
1989 $256.4 - $465 -
1988 $253.2 - $540 -
1987 $254.1 - $588 -
1986 $246 - $628 -
1985 $243.9 - $869 -
1984 $214.2 - $890 -
1983 $232.7 - $1,207 -
1982 $215.3 - $1,822 -
1981 $212.7 - $2,162 -
1980 $203.7 - $870 -
1979 $192.4 - $661 -
1978 $178.3 - $527 -
1977 $170.4 - $536 -
1976 $152 - $556 -
1975 $144.3 - $438 -
1974 $147.9 - $403 -
1973 $134.9 - $252.4 -
1972 $119.8 - $209.5 -
1971 $112.7 - $160.5 -
1970 $109.4 - $224.5 -
1969 $102.3 - $121.4 -
1968 $99.5 - $97.3 -
1967 $96.1 - $99.5 -
1966 $93.2 - $124.4 -
1965 $88.9 - $117.3 -
1964 $83.8 - $113.3 -
1963 $79.2 - $107.7 -
1962 $77.8 - $104.5 -
1961 $76.7 - $97.1 -
1960 $75.3 - $93.1 -

Data sources: World Bank | Economy & Growth (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08).

GeoRank.org/economy/ethiopia/nigeria | CC BY

Ethiopia's GDP per capita is $933, ranking 182/197, compared to $1,224 in Nigeria, ranking 172/197. Adjusted for purchasing power (GDP per capita PPP), Ethiopia ranks 175th at $3,288, while Nigeria ranks 136th at $9,087.

Economic indicators

Ethiopia Nigeria
Gross domestic product
$126B
2025
$291B
2025
GDP rank
66/197
2025
50/197
2025
GDP growth
9.77%
2024-2025
4.01%
2024-2025
GDP per capita
$933
2025
$1,224
2025
GDP per capita rank
182/197
2025
172/197
2025
GDP per capita, PPP
$3,288
2024
$9,087
2024
GDP per capita PPP rank
175/197
2024
136/197
2024
Government debt
$54.4B
2025
$103B
2025
Debt-to-GDP ratio
43.1%
2025
35.5%
2025
Government debt per person
$402
2025
$434
2025
Government debt per person rank
172/185
2025
170/185
2025
Average annual personal income after taxes
$2,030
2026
$768
2026
Market capitalization of domestic companies n/a
$86.9B
2025
Number of billionaires n/a
4
2026
Income share by richest 10%
24.8%
2021
26.3%
2022
Income share by poorest 10%
3.5%
2021
3%
2022
Government expenditure, % of GDP
12%
2025
11.7%
2025
Consumer prices inflation
13.2%
2024-2025
23%
2024-2025
Central bank interest rate n/a
26.5%
2026
Unemployment rate
3.94%
2021
3.45%
2024
Population
140722974
245016045

Spending and national debt comparison by year

Ethiopia
Spending

Debt
Nigeria
Spending

Debt
1x
Year % of GDP
Ethiopia Nigeria
Government spending Government debt Government spending Government debt
2025 12% 43.1% 11.7% 35.5%
2024 9.54% 33.4% 12% 39.3%
2023 10.8% 38.7% 10.4% 36.3%
2022 12.7% 46.9% 10.6% 29.8%
2021 13.8% 53.8% 9.09% 26.6%
2020 14.5% 53.2% 8.73% 25.7%
2019 15.4% 54.7% 8.87% 21.4%
2018 16.1% 58.4% 9.1% 20.4%
2017 18% 55.3% 8.51% 18%
2016 17.9% 51.8% 6.93% 17.4%
2015 17.3% 50.7% 7.85% 14.9%
2014 17.5% 44.2% 9.49% 15.8%
2013 17.8% 44.1% 10% 13%
2012 16.6% 39.4% 10.5% 12.5%
2011 18.2% 44.6% 12.3% 12.4%
2010 18.5% 39.4% 11.8% 6.67%
2009 17.1% 30% 11% 6.12%
2008 18.8% 56.1% 10.2% 5.17%
2007 20.5% 55.7% 12.9% 5.76%
2006 22.1% 79.6% 8.75% 6.68%
2005 22.9% 78.2% 12.6% 13.4%
2004 23.1% 103.1% 13% 25.2%
2003 27% 103.7% 16.5% 29.9%
2002 24.9% 107.4% 13.8% 30.7%
2001 22.4% 97.3% 21.9% 37.7%
2000 25.6% 93.6% 17.6% 40.9%
1999 26.8% 97.8% 14.9% 46.1%
1998 21.1% 89.3% 11.2% 15.8%
1997 17.9% 80.3% 9.68% 17.1%
1996 18.8% 132.8% 7.87% 17.9%
1995 17.4% 146.6% 8.87% 24.2%
1994 17.6% 155.2% 12.1% 39.7%
1993 13.8% 141% 20% 50.4%
1992 14.2% 87.9% 15.9% 49.8%
1991 17.3% 89.3% 13.6% 53.2%
1990 20.9% 91.6% 14.2% 50.9%
1989 24% 84.7% - -
1988 21.6% 84.3% - -
1987 18.4% 82.3% - -
1986 19.8% 75.7% - -
1985 19.7% 67.7% - -
1984 18.8% 65.4% - -
1983 21.3% 55.2% - -
1982 16.4% 48.8% - -
1981 14.2% 30.6% - -
1980 13.5% 18.5% - -

Data sources: International Monetary Fund (IMF) | Fiscal Monitor (1990–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08); International Monetary Fund (IMF) | Public Finances in Modern History (1980–1991, retrieved 2026-07-08).

GeoRank.org/economy/ethiopia/nigeria | CC BY

In 2025, Ethiopia's government spending was $15.2B, accounting for 12% of its GDP, while Nigeria spent $34.1B, or 11.7% of GDP.

Debt-to-GDP ratio is 43.1% in Ethiopia and 35.5% in Nigeria, ranking 122/185 and 143/185, respectively.

Government deficit by year

Deficit/surplus
Ethiopia

Nigeria
1x
Year Deficit/surplus, % of GDP
Ethiopia Nigeria
2025 -1.19% -1.76%
2024 -1.99% -1.27%
2023 -2.6% -3.12%
2022 -4.16% -4%
2021 -2.77% -3.97%
2020 -2.76% -4.03%
2019 -2.53% -3.31%
2018 -3.03% -3.06%
2017 -3.24% -3.85%
2016 -2.3% -3.3%
2015 -1.95% -2.7%
2014 -2.58% -1.72%
2013 -1.93% -1.89%
2012 -1.17% -0.09%
2011 -1.61% 0.31%
2010 -1.32% -2.96%
2009 -0.93% -3.78%
2008 -2.88% 4.05%
2007 -3.57% -0.79%
2006 -3.79% 6.22%
2005 -4.12% 3.49%
2004 -2.65% 3.9%
2003 -5.59% -1.56%
2002 -5.76% 0.95%
2001 -3.76% -2.29%
2000 -8.88% 2.89%
1999 -8.54% -1.39%
1998 -3.65% -3.47%
1997 -1.76% 1.14%
1996 -3.93% 3.37%
1995 -2.76% 2.52%
1994 -5.39% -2.96%
1993 -4.12% -6.07%
1992 -4.92% 0.94%
1991 -6% -1.18%
1990 -6.86% -0.48%
1989 -4.33% -
1988 -3.48% -
1987 -3.54% -
1986 -3.98% -
1985 -4.71% -
1984 -3.69% -
1983 -7.59% -
1982 -3.6% -
1981 -2.19% -
1980 -2.56% -

Data sources: International Monetary Fund (IMF) | Fiscal Monitor (1990–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08); International Monetary Fund (IMF) | Public Finances in Modern History (1980–1989, retrieved 2026-07-08).

GeoRank.org/economy/ethiopia/nigeria | CC BY

In 2025, Ethiopia's government deficit, the difference between spending and revenue, was $1.5B, equivalent to 1.19% of GDP. This compares to Nigeria's deficit of $5.12B, or 1.76% of GDP.

Over the past 36 years, Ethiopia recorded a fiscal deficit in 36 of those years, while Nigeria ran a deficit in 25 years. On average, Ethiopia posted an annual deficit equal to 3.53% of GDP, compared to deficit of 0.98% of GDP for Nigeria.

Inflation comparison by year

Inflation
Ethiopia

Nigeria
1x
Year Consumer prices inflation
Ethiopia Nigeria
2025 13.2% 23%
2024 21% 33.2%
2023 30.2% 24.7%
2022 33.9% 18.8%
2021 26.8% 17%
2020 20.4% 13.2%
2019 15.8% 11.4%
2018 13.8% 12.1%
2017 10.7% 16.5%
2016 6.63% 15.7%
2015 9.57% 9.01%
2014 6.89% 8.05%
2013 7.46% 8.5%
2012 23.6% 12.2%
2011 33.2% 10.8%
2010 8.15% 13.7%
2009 8.48% 12.5%
2008 44.4% 11.6%
2007 17.2% 5.39%
2006 12.3% 8.23%
2005 9.97% 17.9%
2004 3.33% 15%
2003 13.7% 14%
2002 0.68% 12.9%
2001 -8.24% 18.9%
2000 0.66% 6.93%
1999 7.94% 6.62%
1998 0.89% 10%
1997 2.4% 8.53%

Data sources: World Bank | Economy & Growth (1997–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08).

GeoRank.org/economy/ethiopia/nigeria | CC BY

Over the past 29 years, Ethiopia has recorded an average annual inflation rate of 13.6%, compared with 13.7% in Nigeria. In 2025, inflation was 13.2% in Ethiopia and 23% in Nigeria.

Top exports between countries

Ethiopia
Export category Export value
Animal & marine products $605K
Raw agricultural goods $589K
Machinery & equipment $55K
Textiles & consumer goods $46K
Processed food, beverages & tobacco $17K
Wood & paper products $10K
Metals $6K
Precious metals & jewellery $4K
Chemicals & pharma $2K
Nigeria
Export category Export value
Raw materials & minerals $22.4M
Machinery & equipment $886K
Processed food, beverages & tobacco $158K
Wood & paper products $8K

Balance of trade

Ethiopia Nigeria
Current account balance
-$3.79B
2024
$14B
2025
Current account balance ranking
154/190
2024
21/190
2025
Current account balance, % of GDP
-2.53%
2024
+4.83%
2025
Goods imports
$19.6B
2024
$43B
2025
Goods exports
$5.58B
2024
$57.5B
2025
Service imports
$5.51B
2024
$19.6B
2025
Service exports
$7.61B
2024
$5.06B
2025
Imports of goods and services, % of GDP
20.2%
2025
16.9%
1960
Exports of goods and services, % of GDP
13.3%
2025
9.24%
1960

Economic freedom indices

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

Ethiopia Nigeria
Economic freedom 48.1 54.8
Economic freedom ranking 171/197 132/197
Property rights 22.1 29.7
Government integrity 33.2 23.5
Judicial effectiveness 19.1 34.4
Tax burden 78.6 84.6
Government spending 96.4 96.3
Fiscal health 84.3 83.5
Business freedom 44.5 50.3
Labor freedom 37.8 75.4
Monetary freedom 53.7 56.1
Trade freedom 57.4 64.4
Investment freedom 30 30
Financial freedom 20 30

Economic freedom comparison by year

Ethiopia
Nigeria
1x
Year Economic freedom index
Ethiopia Nigeria
2026 48.1 54.8
2025 48.1 53.4
2024 47.9 53.1
2023 48.3 53.9
2022 49.6 54.4
2021 51.7 58.7
2020 53.6 57.2
2019 53.6 57.3
2018 52.8 58.5
2017 52.7 57.1
2016 51.5 57.5
2015 51.5 55.6
2014 50 54.3
2013 49.4 55.1
2012 52 56.3
2011 50.5 56.7
2010 51.2 56.8
2009 53 55.1
2008 52.5 55.1
2007 53.6 55.6
2006 50.9 48.7
2005 51.1 48.4
2004 54.5 49.2
2003 48.8 49.5
2002 49.8 50.9
2001 48.9 49.6
2000 50.2 53.1
1999 46.7 55.7
1998 49.2 52.3
1997 48.1 52.8
1996 45.9 47.4
1995 42.6 47.3

Data sources: The Heritage Foundation | Economic Freedom Index (1995–2026, retrieved 2026-07-08).

GeoRank.org/economy/ethiopia/nigeria | CC BY

The Economic Freedom Index for Ethiopia is 48.1, ranking 171/197, compared to 54.8 for Nigeria, ranking 132/197. The chart above displays a comparison of annual changes in economic freedom indexes.

Other economic metrics

Ethiopia Nigeria
Services, % of GDP
36.6%
2025
58.2%
2025
Industry, % of GDP
27.8%
2025
16.4%
2025
Agriculture, forestry, and fishing, % of GDP
32.8%
2025
23%
2025
GNI, Atlas method
$151B
2025
$324B
2025
GNI per capita, PPP
$3,620
2025
$9,230
2025
Total reserves including gold
$3.78B
2024
$46B
2025
Total reserves ranking
113/177
2024
52/177
2025
Net foreign direct investment
-$4.02B
2024
-$2.82B
2025
Net inflows of foreign direct investment
$4.02B
2024
$1.61B
2024
Net outflows of foreign direct investment
$0
2024
$408M
2024
Servicing debt to the IMF, % of GNI
0.91%
2024
5.46%
2024
Poverty at national poverty lines
33.1%
2021
56.2%
2023
Gross capital formation, % of GDP
20.1%
2025
n/a

GDP per capita map

1x

Data sources: World Bank | Economy & Growth (1985–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08); U.S. Census Bureau (1985–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08).

GeoRank.org/economy/ethiopia/nigeria | CC BY

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Data sources:

  1. World Bank | Economy & Growth (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08)
  2. International Monetary Fund (IMF) | Fiscal Monitor (1990–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08)
  3. The Heritage Foundation | Economic Freedom Index (1995–2026, retrieved 2026-07-08)
  4. International Monetary Fund (IMF) | Public Finances in Modern History (1980–1991, retrieved 2026-07-08)
  5. U.S. Census Bureau (1985–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08)
  6. TradeMap (2020–2023, retrieved 2026-07-08)
  7. United Nations | World Population Prospects (2026, retrieved 2026-07-08)
  8. LivingCost (2026, retrieved 2026-07-08)

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.