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Economy of Ethiopia vs Sao Tome and Principe compared: GDP & Debt

Updated on by Georank

Ethiopia has a GDP of $126B compared to $981M for Sao Tome and Principe, ranking 66/197 and 189/197 by economy size, respectively.

Ethiopia has $54.4B in government debt (43.1% of GDP), compared to $546M (55.7% of GDP) in Sao Tome and Principe.

Ethiopia vs Sao Tome and Principe GDP by year

Ethiopia
Sao Tome and Principe
1x
Year GDP, current $
Ethiopia Sao Tome
2025 $126,358,758,448 $981,293,587
2024 $149,740,297,952 $824,992,558
2023 $135,874,093,203 $690,456,807
2022 $123,140,304,665 $540,809,499
2021 $109,070,960,371 $524,402,456
2020 $98,676,811,062 $471,229,485
2019 $91,834,517,114 $412,976,083
2018 $83,337,901,072 $383,717,328
2017 $76,366,081,767 $322,002,845
2016 $68,475,871,210 $292,267,272
2015 $62,103,418,182 $259,999,643
2014 $55,612,228,234 $293,119,143
2013 $47,648,276,605 $267,041,748
2012 $43,310,721,414 $229,371,348
2011 $31,952,763,089 $226,455,001
2010 $29,933,790,334 $190,021,192
2009 $32,437,389,116 $200,668,065
2008 $27,066,912,635 $188,021,165
2007 $19,707,616,773 $149,146,919
2006 $15,280,861,835 $142,775,104
2005 $12,401,139,454 $136,450,662
2004 $10,131,187,261 $114,582,284
2003 $8,623,691,300 $102,085,769
2002 $7,850,809,498 $85,171,074
2001 $8,231,326,016 $75,951,133
2000 $8,242,349,618 $76,198,395
1999 $7,892,973,532 $77,302,212
1998 $8,013,274,132 $72,285,404
1997 $8,803,539,988 $91,920,274
1996 $8,761,215,548 $135,188,166
1995 $7,855,205,207 $103,695,237
1994 $7,100,806,754 $131,338,415
1993 $9,051,043,870 $125,742,229
1992 $10,754,799,037 $94,861,781
1991 $13,799,799,324 $107,484,143
1990 $12,478,943,895 $119,297,933
1989 $11,762,932,007 $98,545,367
1988 $11,181,119,718 $99,000,764
1987 $10,790,001,558 $115,952,925
1986 $10,094,328,898 $115,928,907
1985 $9,717,392,687 $82,733,069
1984 $8,298,309,581 $78,213,796
1983 $8,781,664,427 $75,110,289
1982 $7,899,988,841 $80,307,763
1981 $7,507,663,567 $83,499,264
1980 $7,012,585,454 $81,662,231
1979 $6,586,048,398 $65,755,928
1978 $6,014,961,435 $55,044,563
1977 $5,651,840,585 $49,207,692
1976 $4,943,806,093 $52,039,421
1975 $4,577,047,854 $60,101,710
1974 $4,577,209,966 $57,817,591
1973 $4,070,570,550 $56,011,245
1972 $3,520,252,938 $41,430,257
1971 $3,224,280,835 $37,288,845
1970 $3,045,354,455 $37,211,826
1969 $2,768,987,372 -
1968 $2,619,948,865 -
1967 $2,461,762,003 -
1966 $2,324,466,416 -
1965 $2,159,998,591 -
1964 $1,984,129,186 -
1963 $1,825,058,828 -
1962 $1,747,566,307 -
1961 $1,680,859,514 -
1960 $1,610,511,694 -

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

GeoRank.org/economy/ethiopia/sao-tome-and-principe | CC BY

GDP per capita in Ethiopia vs Sao Tome and Principe by year

Ethiopia
GDP per capita

GDP per capita, PPP
Sao Tome and Principe
GDP per capita

GDP per capita, PPP
1x
Year Current $
Ethiopia Sao Tome
GDP per capita GDP per capita, PPP GDP per capita GDP per capita, PPP
2025 $933 - $4,084 -
2024 $1,134 $3,288 $3,503 $6,242
2023 $1,056 $3,061 $2,991 $6,150
2022 $982 $2,845 $2,390 $6,034
2021 $893 $2,588 $2,363 $5,733
2020 $830 $2,407 $2,167 $5,145
2019 $793 $2,242 $1,935 $4,655
2018 $740 $2,095 $1,826 $3,941
2017 $696 $2,005 $1,556 $3,436
2016 $642 $1,858 $1,435 $3,320
2015 $598 $1,633 $1,298 $3,172
2014 $550 $1,485 $1,490 $3,233
2013 $484 $1,253 $1,383 $2,946
2012 $452 $1,179 $1,211 $2,653
2011 $343 $1,098 $1,220 $2,914
2010 $331 $996 $1,045 $2,859
2009 $369 $899 $1,128 $2,846
2008 $316 $845 $1,082 $2,802
2007 $237.1 $770 $879 $2,650
2006 $189.3 $693 $862 $2,551
2005 $158.2 $625 $844 $2,329
2004 $133.2 $558 $727 $2,171
2003 $116.8 $493 $664 $2,094
2002 $109.6 $509 $568 $1,945
2001 $118.5 $509 $519 $1,898
2000 $122.3 $474 $529 $1,830
1999 $120.7 $450 $543 $1,802
1998 $126.5 $436 $514 $1,754
1997 $143.4 $461 $662 $1,714
1996 $147.3 $453 $987 $1,693
1995 $136.5 $409 $769 $1,663
1994 $127.7 $391 $990 $1,623
1993 $168.5 $384 $964 $1,581
1992 $207.4 $343 $740 $1,556
1991 $277.6 $383 $855 $1,540
1990 $262.1 $417 $970 $1,504
1989 $256.4 - $821 -
1988 $253.2 - $847 -
1987 $254.1 - $1,018 -
1986 $246 - $1,043 -
1985 $243.9 - $761 -
1984 $214.2 - $735 -
1983 $232.7 - $720 -
1982 $215.3 - $783 -
1981 $212.7 - $830 -
1980 $203.7 - $829 -
1979 $192.4 - $683 -
1978 $178.3 - $587 -
1977 $170.4 - $539 -
1976 $152 - $585 -
1975 $144.3 - $693 -
1974 $147.9 - $683 -
1973 $134.9 - $676 -
1972 $119.8 - $511 -
1971 $112.7 - $470 -
1970 $109.4 - $479 -
1969 $102.3 - - -
1968 $99.5 - - -
1967 $96.1 - - -
1966 $93.2 - - -
1965 $88.9 - - -
1964 $83.8 - - -
1963 $79.2 - - -
1962 $77.8 - - -
1961 $76.7 - - -
1960 $75.3 - - -

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

GeoRank.org/economy/ethiopia/sao-tome-and-principe | CC BY

Ethiopia's GDP per capita is $933, ranking 182/197, compared to $4,084 in Sao Tome and Principe, ranking 132/197. Adjusted for purchasing power (GDP per capita PPP), Ethiopia ranks 175th at $3,288, while Sao Tome and Principe ranks 151st at $6,242.

Economic indicators

Ethiopia Sao Tome
Gross domestic product
$126B
2025
$981M
2025
GDP rank
66/197
2025
189/197
2025
GDP growth
9.77%
2024-2025
1.03%
2024-2025
GDP per capita
$933
2025
$4,084
2025
GDP per capita rank
182/197
2025
132/197
2025
GDP per capita, PPP
$3,288
2024
$6,242
2024
GDP per capita PPP rank
175/197
2024
151/197
2024
Government debt
$54.4B
2025
$546M
2025
Debt-to-GDP ratio
43.1%
2025
55.7%
2025
Government debt per person
$402
2025
$2,275
2025
Government debt per person rank
172/185
2025
115/185
2025
Average annual personal income after taxes
$2,030
2026
$3,249
2026
Income share by richest 10%
24.8%
2021
32.8%
2017
Income share by poorest 10%
3.5%
2021
2.6%
2017
Government expenditure, % of GDP
12%
2025
21.2%
2025
Consumer prices inflation
13.2%
2024-2025
0.9%
2024-2025
Unemployment rate
3.94%
2021
6.66%
2017
Population
140722974
247495

Spending and national debt comparison by year

Ethiopia
Spending

Debt
Sao Tome and Principe
Spending

Debt
1x
Year % of GDP
Ethiopia Sao Tome
Government spending Government debt Government spending Government debt
2025 12% 43.1% 21.2% 55.7%
2024 9.54% 33.4% 23.8% 65.2%
2023 10.8% 38.7% 23.9% 73.2%
2022 12.7% 46.9% 27.7% 86.8%
2021 13.8% 53.8% 25.6% 85.1%
2020 14.5% 53.2% 23.2% 91%
2019 15.4% 54.7% 22.8% 98.6%
2018 16.1% 58.4% 28% 95.9%
2017 18% 55.3% 31.9% 92.3%
2016 17.9% 51.8% 38.3% 104.6%
2015 17.3% 50.7% 41.6% 101.1%
2014 17.5% 44.2% 36% 92.5%
2013 17.8% 44.1% 35.5% 76.8%
2012 16.6% 39.4% 50.5% 59.6%
2011 18.2% 44.6% 53.4% 86%
2010 18.5% 39.4% 51.7% 83%
2009 17.1% 30% 48.6% 70.3%
2008 18.8% 56.1% 30.4% 60.7%
2007 20.5% 55.7% 38.9% 110.1%
2006 22.1% 79.6% 32.5% 283.2%
2005 22.9% 78.2% 43.7% 334%
2004 23.1% 103.1% 60.6% 354%
2003 27% 103.7% 51.9% 329%
2002 24.9% 107.4% 44.3% 367%
2001 22.4% 97.3% 52.8% 418%
2000 25.6% 93.6% 10.7% -
1999 26.8% 97.8% - -
1998 21.1% 89.3% - -
1997 17.9% 80.3% - -
1996 18.8% 132.8% - -
1995 17.4% 146.6% - -
1994 17.6% 155.2% - -
1993 13.8% 141% - -
1992 14.2% 87.9% - -
1991 17.3% 89.3% - -
1990 20.9% 91.6% - -
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/sao-tome-and-principe | CC BY

In 2025, Ethiopia's government spending was $15.2B, accounting for 12% of its GDP, while Sao Tome and Principe spent $208M, or 21.2% of GDP.

Debt-to-GDP ratio is 43.1% in Ethiopia and 55.7% in Sao Tome and Principe, ranking 122/185 and 88/185, respectively.

Government deficit by year

Deficit/surplus
Ethiopia

Sao Tome and Principe
1x
Year Deficit/surplus, % of GDP
Ethiopia Sao Tome
2025 -1.19% -2.53%
2024 -1.99% 0.92%
2023 -2.6% -2.13%
2022 -4.16% -2.24%
2021 -2.77% -1.52%
2020 -2.76% 2.94%
2019 -2.53% -0.07%
2018 -3.03% -2.02%
2017 -3.24% -3.11%
2016 -2.3% -5.01%
2015 -1.95% -7.6%
2014 -2.58% -6.27%
2013 -1.93% 2.13%
2012 -1.17% -12.3%
2011 -1.61% -13%
2010 -1.32% -12.1%
2009 -0.93% -18%
2008 -2.88% 13.6%
2007 -3.57% 125.1%
2006 -3.79% 18%
2005 -4.12% 26.8%
2004 -2.65% -25.1%
2003 -5.59% -15.9%
2002 -5.76% -10.4%
2001 -3.76% -13.5%
2000 -8.88% 51.5%
1999 -8.54% -
1998 -3.65% -
1997 -1.76% -
1996 -3.93% -
1995 -2.76% -
1994 -5.39% -
1993 -4.12% -
1992 -4.92% -
1991 -6% -
1990 -6.86% -
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/sao-tome-and-principe | 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 Sao Tome and Principe's deficit of $24.8M, or 2.53% of GDP.

Over the past 26 years, Ethiopia recorded a fiscal deficit in 26 of those years, while Sao Tome and Principe ran a deficit in 18 years. On average, Ethiopia posted an annual deficit equal to 3.04% of GDP, compared to surplus of 3.39% of GDP for Sao Tome and Principe.

Inflation comparison by year

Inflation
Ethiopia

Sao Tome and Principe
1x
Year Consumer prices inflation
Ethiopia Sao Tome
2025 13.2% 0.9%
2024 21% 14.4%
2023 30.2% 21.1%
2022 33.9% 18.1%
2021 26.8% 8.1%
2020 20.4% 9.8%
2019 15.8% 7.7%
2018 13.8% 7.9%
2017 10.7% 5.7%
2016 6.63% 5.4%
2015 9.57% 6.1%
2014 6.89% 7%
2013 7.46% 8.1%
2012 23.6% 10.6%
2011 33.2% 14.3%
2010 8.15% 13.3%
2009 8.48% 17%
2008 44.4% 32%
2007 17.2% 18.6%
2006 12.3% 23.1%
2005 9.97% 17.2%
2004 3.33% 13.3%
2003 13.7% 9.8%
2002 0.68% 10.1%
2001 -8.24% 9.2%
2000 0.66% 11%
1999 7.94% 11%
1998 0.89% 42.1%
1997 2.4% 69%

Data sources: International Monetary Fund (IMF) | World Economic Outlook (1997–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08); World Bank | Economy & Growth (1997–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08).

GeoRank.org/economy/ethiopia/sao-tome-and-principe | CC BY

Over the past 29 years, Ethiopia has recorded an average annual inflation rate of 13.6%, compared with 15.2% in Sao Tome and Principe. In 2025, inflation was 13.2% in Ethiopia and 0.9% in Sao Tome and Principe.

Top exports between countries

Ethiopia
Export category Export value
Raw agricultural goods $20K
Sao Tome
Export category Export value

Balance of trade

Ethiopia Sao Tome
Current account balance
-$3.79B
2024
$41.5M
2024
Current account balance ranking
154/190
2024
68/190
2024
Current account balance, % of GDP
-2.53%
2024
+5.03%
2024
Goods imports
$19.6B
2024
$153M
2024
Goods exports
$5.58B
2024
$29.3M
2024
Service imports
$5.51B
2024
$83M
2024
Service exports
$7.61B
2024
$88.2M
2024
Imports of goods and services, % of GDP
20.2%
2025
33.3%
2025
Exports of goods and services, % of GDP
13.3%
2025
13.3%
2025

Economic freedom indices

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

Ethiopia Sao Tome
Economic freedom 48.1 60.6
Economic freedom ranking 171/197 93/197
Property rights 22.1 55.2
Government integrity 33.2 47.2
Judicial effectiveness 19.1 60.8
Tax burden 78.6 88.6
Government spending 96.4 80.6
Fiscal health 84.3 89.5
Business freedom 44.5 59.9
Labor freedom 37.8 40.8
Monetary freedom 53.7 59.4
Trade freedom 57.4 65
Investment freedom 30 50
Financial freedom 20 30

Economic freedom comparison by year

Ethiopia
Sao Tome and Principe
1x
Year Economic freedom index
Ethiopia Sao Tome
2026 48.1 60.6
2025 48.1 60.4
2024 47.9 60.5
2023 48.3 61.5
2022 49.6 60.3
2021 51.7 55.9
2020 53.6 56.2
2019 53.6 54
2018 52.8 53.6
2017 52.7 55.4
2016 51.5 56.7
2015 51.5 53.3
2014 50 48.8
2013 49.4 48
2012 52 50.2
2011 50.5 49.5
2010 51.2 48.8
2009 53 43.8
2008 52.5 -
2007 53.6 -
2006 50.9 -
2005 51.1 -
2004 54.5 -
2003 48.8 -
2002 49.8 -
2001 48.9 -
2000 50.2 -
1999 46.7 -
1998 49.2 -
1997 48.1 -
1996 45.9 -
1995 42.6 -

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

GeoRank.org/economy/ethiopia/sao-tome-and-principe | CC BY

The Economic Freedom Index for Ethiopia is 48.1, ranking 171/197, compared to 60.6 for Sao Tome and Principe, ranking 93/197. The chart above displays a comparison of annual changes in economic freedom indexes.

Other economic metrics

Ethiopia Sao Tome
Services, % of GDP
36.6%
2025
81.4%
2025
Industry, % of GDP
27.8%
2025
2.23%
2025
Agriculture, forestry, and fishing, % of GDP
32.8%
2025
12.2%
2025
GNI, Atlas method
$151B
2025
$913M
2025
GNI per capita, PPP
$3,620
2025
$6,920
2025
Total reserves including gold
$3.78B
2024
$58.8M
2024
Total reserves ranking
113/177
2024
175/177
2024
Net foreign direct investment
-$4.02B
2024
$20.5M
2024
Net inflows of foreign direct investment
$4.02B
2024
-$16.7M
2024
Net outflows of foreign direct investment
$0
2024
$3.83M
2024
Servicing debt to the IMF, % of GNI
0.91%
2024
0.62%
2024
Poverty at national poverty lines
33.1%
2021
66.2%
2020
Gross capital formation, % of GDP
20.1%
2025
8.74%
2025

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/sao-tome-and-principe | 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. United Nations | World Population Prospects (2026, retrieved 2026-07-08)
  7. LivingCost (2026, retrieved 2026-07-08)
  8. Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) (2020, retrieved 2026-07-08)
  9. TradeMap (2020, 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.