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Economy of Ethiopia vs United States compared: GDP & Debt

Updated on by Georank team

Ethiopia has a GDP of $150B compared to $28.8T for the United States, ranking 60/197 and 1/197 by economy size, respectively.

Ethiopia has $48.4B in government debt (37% of GDP), compared to $34.7T (123.7% of GDP) in the United States.

The chart below compares the two countries' GDP growth in both current (nominal) and constant dollars, accounting for inflation over time.

Ethiopia
GDP, current $

GDP, constant 2015 $
United States
GDP, current $

GDP, constant 2015 $
Year GDP
Ethiopia United States
Current $ Constant $ Current $ Constant $
1960 $1,610,511,694 - $541,988,586,207 $3,414,529,777,329
1961 $1,680,859,514 $5,060,754,513 $561,940,310,345 $3,493,063,962,207
1962 $1,747,566,307 $5,279,687,375 $603,639,413,793 $3,706,140,863,902
1963 $1,825,058,828 $5,518,257,120 $637,058,551,724 $3,869,211,061,913
1964 $1,984,129,186 $5,743,980,634 $684,144,620,690 $4,093,625,303,504
1965 $2,159,998,591 $6,075,519,291 $741,904,862,069 $4,355,617,322,929
1966 $2,324,466,416 $6,516,395,305 $813,032,758,621 $4,638,732,448,919
1967 $2,461,762,003 $6,781,064,427 $859,620,034,483 $4,754,700,760,142
1968 $2,619,948,865 $7,061,948,853 $940,225,000,000 $4,982,926,396,629
1969 $2,768,987,372 $7,160,015,129 $1,017,438,172,414 $5,137,397,114,924
1970 $3,045,354,455 $7,409,379,033 $1,073,303,000,000 $5,148,525,050,913
1971 $3,224,280,835 $7,892,950,390 $1,164,850,000,000 $5,318,051,691,111
1972 $3,520,252,938 $8,226,597,999 $1,279,110,000,000 $5,597,542,001,855
1973 $4,070,570,550 $8,646,966,422 $1,425,376,000,000 $5,913,561,297,888
1974 $4,577,209,966 $8,930,038,558 $1,545,243,000,000 $5,881,595,530,901
1975 $4,577,047,854 $9,041,318,601 $1,684,904,000,000 $5,869,501,841,745
1976 $4,943,806,093 $9,054,773,015 $1,873,412,000,000 $6,185,752,591,778
1977 $5,651,840,585 $9,301,577,300 $2,081,826,000,000 $6,471,793,328,423
1978 $6,014,961,435 $9,556,441,107 $2,351,599,000,000 $6,830,020,452,268
1979 $6,586,048,398 $9,451,247,273 $2,627,333,000,000 $7,046,258,095,085
1980 $7,012,585,454 $10,058,411,102 $2,857,307,000,000 $7,028,165,014,325
1981 $7,507,663,567 $10,499,125,225 $3,207,041,000,000 $7,206,518,847,031
1982 $7,899,988,841 $10,595,298,667 $3,343,789,000,000 $7,076,584,318,487
1983 $8,781,664,427 $11,467,822,118 $3,634,038,000,000 $7,400,960,152,427
1984 $8,298,309,581 $11,141,216,084 $4,037,613,000,000 $7,936,527,167,598
1985 $9,717,392,687 $9,899,599,638 $4,338,979,000,000 $8,267,446,647,786
1986 $10,094,328,898 $10,856,060,580 $4,579,631,000,000 $8,553,719,807,216
1987 $10,790,001,558 $12,360,637,884 $4,855,215,000,000 $8,849,219,149,442
1988 $11,181,119,718 $12,422,895,312 $5,236,438,000,000 $9,218,849,474,658
1989 $11,762,932,007 $12,378,043,171 $5,641,580,000,000 $9,557,387,553,833
1990 $12,478,943,895 $12,715,524,550 $5,963,144,000,000 $9,737,636,593,625
1991 $13,799,799,324 $11,807,956,564 $6,158,129,000,000 $9,727,089,478,756
1992 $10,754,799,037 $10,783,913,879 $6,520,327,000,000 $10,069,725,930,662
1993 $9,051,043,870 $12,201,225,772 $6,858,559,000,000 $10,346,824,232,650
1994 $7,100,806,754 $12,590,440,553 $7,287,236,000,000 $10,763,700,132,799
1995 $7,855,205,207 $13,361,921,235 $7,639,749,000,000 $11,052,644,207,040
1996 $8,761,215,548 $15,022,296,789 $8,073,122,000,000 $11,469,635,349,339
1997 $8,803,539,988 $15,493,081,577 $8,577,554,457,000 $11,979,704,707,078
1998 $8,013,274,132 $14,957,309,260 $9,062,818,202,000 $12,516,770,844,481
1999 $7,892,973,532 $15,729,427,375 $9,631,174,489,000 $13,116,127,034,705
2000 $8,242,349,618 $16,684,709,708 $10,250,947,997,000 $13,650,948,362,520
2001 $8,231,326,016 $18,069,758,570 $10,581,929,774,000 $13,781,388,409,036
2002 $7,850,809,498 $18,343,465,848 $10,929,112,955,000 $14,015,733,659,784
2003 $8,623,691,300 $17,946,997,565 $11,456,442,041,000 $14,407,558,345,763
2004 $10,131,187,261 $20,382,872,321 $12,217,193,198,000 $14,961,928,297,814
2005 $12,401,139,454 $22,791,876,294 $13,039,199,193,000 $15,483,134,541,390
2006 $15,280,861,835 $25,261,313,884 $13,815,586,948,000 $15,914,268,559,669
2007 $19,707,616,773 $28,155,292,189 $14,474,226,905,000 $16,233,167,950,744
2008 $27,066,912,635 $31,192,831,993 $14,769,857,911,000 $16,251,606,759,788
2009 $32,437,389,116 $33,938,597,624 $14,478,064,934,000 $15,832,884,074,311
2010 $29,933,790,334 $38,198,074,329 $15,048,964,444,000 $16,259,610,790,677
2011 $31,952,763,089 $42,467,968,231 $15,599,728,123,000 $16,513,977,256,911
2012 $43,310,721,414 $46,140,518,129 $16,253,972,230,000 $16,892,000,920,976
2013 $47,648,276,605 $51,023,232,360 $16,843,190,993,000 $17,249,744,800,618
2014 $55,612,228,234 $56,256,936,829 $17,550,680,174,000 $17,685,097,277,698
2015 $62,103,418,182 $62,103,418,182 $18,206,020,741,000 $18,206,020,741,000
2016 $68,475,871,210 $67,961,933,367 $18,695,110,842,000 $18,537,270,454,436
2017 $76,366,081,767 $74,461,941,569 $19,477,336,549,000 $18,992,846,546,662
2018 $83,337,901,072 $79,537,377,551 $20,533,057,312,000 $19,556,270,302,218
2019 $91,834,517,113 $86,189,951,999 $21,380,976,119,000 $20,061,570,168,698
2020 $98,676,811,061 $91,412,658,765 $21,060,473,613,000 $19,627,632,559,935
2021 $109,070,960,372 $96,569,731,966 $23,315,080,560,000 $20,816,096,100,825
2022 $123,140,304,666 $101,708,941,222 $25,604,848,907,611 $21,339,074,561,820
2023 $135,874,093,202 $108,415,879,003 $27,292,170,793,214 $21,955,252,291,274
2024 $149,740,297,953 $116,669,335,367 $28,750,956,130,731 $22,568,462,768,174

Economic indicators

Ethiopia United States
Gross domestic product
$150B
2024
$28.8T
2024
GDP rank
60/197
2024
1/197
2024
GDP growth
10.2%
2023-2024
5.35%
2023-2024
GDP per capita
$1,134
2024
$84,534
2024
GDP per capita rank
171/197
2024
10/197
2024
GDP per capita, PPP
$3,288
2024
$85,810
2024
Government debt
$48.4B
2024
$34.7T
2024
Debt-to-GDP ratio
37%
2026
123.7%
2026
Government debt per person
$366
2024
$102,105
2024
Government debt per person rank
172/185
2024
2/185
2024
Average annual personal income after taxes
$2,273
2026
$54,474
2026
Market capitalization of domestic companies n/a
$62.2T
2024
Number of millionaires n/a
21,951,319
2024
Number of billionaires n/a
902
2025
Income share by richest 10%
24.8%
2021
30.4%
2023
Income share by poorest 10%
3.5%
2021
1.8%
2023
Government expenditure, % of GDP
12.3%
2026
38%
2026
Consumer prices inflation
21%
2023-2024
2.95%
2023-2024
Central bank interest rate n/a
4.25%
2025
Unemployment rate
3.94%
2021
4.02%
2024
Population
138940022
343682585

GDP per capita in Ethiopia vs United States

Ethiopia's GDP per capita is $1,134, ranking 171/197, compared to $84,534 in the United States, ranking 10/197. Adjusted for purchasing power (GDP per capita PPP), Ethiopia ranks 175th at $3,288, while the United States ranks 11th at $85,810.

Ethiopia
GDP per capita

GDP per capita, PPP
United States
GDP per capita

GDP per capita, PPP
Year Current $
Ethiopia United States
GDP per capita GDP per capita, PPP GDP per capita GDP per capita, PPP
1960 $75.3 - $3,000 -
1961 $76.7 - $3,059 -
1962 $77.8 - $3,236 -
1963 $79.2 - $3,366 -
1964 $83.8 - $3,565 -
1965 $88.9 - $3,818 -
1966 $93.2 - $4,136 -
1967 $96.1 - $4,326 -
1968 $99.5 - $4,685 -
1969 $102.3 - $5,020 -
1970 $109.4 - $5,234 -
1971 $112.7 - $5,609 -
1972 $119.8 - $6,094 -
1973 $134.9 - $6,726 -
1974 $147.9 - $7,226 -
1975 $144.3 - $7,801 -
1976 $152 - $8,592 -
1977 $170.4 - $9,453 -
1978 $178.3 - $10,565 -
1979 $192.4 - $11,674 -
1980 $203.7 - $12,613 -
1981 $212.7 - $13,976 -
1982 $215.3 - $14,434 -
1983 $232.7 - $15,544 -
1984 $214.2 - $17,121 -
1985 $243.9 - $18,237 -
1986 $246 - $19,071 -
1987 $254.1 - $20,039 -
1988 $253.2 - $21,417 -
1989 $256.4 - $22,857 -
1990 $262.1 $417 $23,840 $23,889
1991 $277.6 $383 $24,293 $24,342
1992 $207.4 $343 $25,381 $25,419
1993 $168.5 $384 $26,353 $26,387
1994 $127.7 $391 $27,662 $27,695
1995 $136.5 $409 $28,661 $28,691
1996 $147.3 $453 $29,937 $29,968
1997 $143.4 $461 $31,430 $31,459
1998 $126.5 $436 $32,823 $32,854
1999 $120.7 $450 $34,484 $34,515
2000 $122.3 $474 $36,330 $36,330
2001 $118.5 $509 $37,134 $37,134
2002 $109.6 $509 $37,998 $37,998
2003 $116.8 $493 $39,490 $39,490
2004 $133.2 $558 $41,725 $41,725
2005 $158.2 $625 $44,123 $44,123
2006 $189.3 $693 $46,302 $46,302
2007 $237.1 $770 $48,050 $48,050
2008 $316 $845 $48,570 $48,570
2009 $369 $899 $47,195 $47,195
2010 $331 $996 $48,651 $48,643
2011 $343 $1,098 $50,066 $50,025
2012 $452 $1,179 $51,784 $51,708
2013 $484 $1,253 $53,291 $53,297
2014 $550 $1,485 $55,124 $55,153
2015 $598 $1,633 $56,763 $56,849
2016 $642 $1,858 $57,867 $57,977
2017 $696 $2,005 $59,908 $60,048
2018 $740 $2,095 $62,823 $62,876
2019 $793 $2,242 $65,120 $65,228
2020 $830 $2,407 $63,526 $64,402
2021 $893 $2,588 $70,249 $71,307
2022 $982 $2,845 $76,829 $77,861
2023 $1,056 $3,061 $81,490 $82,305
2024 $1,134 $3,288 $84,534 $85,810

Spending and national debt comparison

In 2024, Ethiopia's government spending was $14.3B, accounting for 12.3% of its GDP, while the United States' spent $10.8T, or 38% of GDP.

Debt-to-GDP ratio is 37% in Ethiopia and 123.7% in the United States, ranking 139/185 and 11/185, respectively.

Ethiopia
Government spending

Government debt
United States
Government spending

Government debt
Year % of GDP
Ethiopia United States
Government spending Government debt Government spending Government debt
1960 - - 24.9% 61.7%
1961 - - 25.9% 62.3%
1962 - - 26% 60.2%
1963 - - 26% 58.8%
1964 - - 25.6% 56.7%
1965 - - 25.4% 53.7%
1966 - - 26.3% 50.6%
1967 - - 28.3% 50.4%
1968 - - 29.1% 48.5%
1969 - - 29.3% 45.9%
1970 - - 31.5% 46.4%
1971 - - 32.3% 47%
1972 - - 32.8% 45.4%
1973 - - 31.9% 42.6%
1974 - - 32.9% 41.4%
1975 - - 35.2% 44.6%
1976 - - 34.2% 44.8%
1977 - - 33.4% 43.6%
1978 - - 32.6% 42.5%
1979 - - 32% 41.2%
1980 13.5% 18.5% 33.7% 41.9%
1981 14.2% 30.6% 33.9% 41.1%
1982 16.4% 48.8% 35.8% 45.9%
1983 21.3% 55.2% 35.7% 48.9%
1984 18.8% 65.4% 34.3% 50.6%
1985 19.7% 67.7% 34.5% 55.4%
1986 19.8% 75.7% 34.8% 58.9%
1987 18.4% 82.3% 34.3% 60.6%
1988 21.6% 84.3% 33.7% 61.3%
1989 24% 84.7% 33.7% 61.6%
1990 20.3% 91.6% 34.5% 63.1%
1991 16.8% 89.3% 35.7% 67.9%
1992 13.8% 85.4% 36.7% 70.3%
1993 13.4% 136.9% 36.4% 71.9%
1994 17.1% 150.7% 35.5% 71.1%
1995 16.9% 142.3% 35.5% 70.7%
1996 18.2% 129% 34.7% 69.9%
1997 17.3% 77.4% 33.7% 67.4%
1998 20.4% 86% 32.8% 64.2%
1999 25.8% 94.3% 32.2% 60.5%
2000 25.6% 93.6% 31.7% 54.5%
2001 22.4% 97.3% 32.8% 53.3%
2002 24.9% 107.4% 33.7% 55.7%
2003 27% 103.7% 34% 58.8%
2004 23.1% 103.1% 33.7% 66.3%
2005 22.9% 78.2% 33.9% 65.6%
2006 22.1% 79.6% 33.7% 64.3%
2007 20.5% 55.7% 34.6% 64.7%
2008 18.8% 56.1% 37.1% 73.6%
2009 17.1% 30% 41.4% 86.8%
2010 18.5% 39.4% 39.8% 95.3%
2011 18.2% 44.6% 38.8% 99.7%
2012 16.6% 39.4% 37.2% 103.2%
2013 17.8% 44.1% 35.8% 104.5%
2014 17.5% 44.2% 35.3% 104.4%
2015 17.3% 50.7% 35% 104.9%
2016 17.9% 51.8% 35.3% 106.8%
2017 18% 55.3% 35.2% 105.7%
2018 16.1% 58.4% 35.3% 107%
2019 15.4% 54.7% 35.8% 108.2%
2020 14.5% 53.7% 44.8% 132%
2021 13.8% 53.8% 43.2% 124.7%
2022 12.7% 46.9% 36.8% 118.8%
2023 10.8% 38.7% 37.1% 119%
2024 9.54% 32.3% 37.6% 120.8%
2025 11.6% 41.8% 37.8% 122.5%
2026 12.3% 37% 38% 123.7%

Government deficit by year

In 2024, Ethiopia's government deficit, the difference between spending and revenue, was -$2.98B, equivalent to -1.99% of GDP. This compares to the United States' deficit of -$2.09T, or -7.26% of GDP.

Over the past 45 years, Ethiopia recorded a fiscal deficit in 45 of those years, while the United States ran a deficit in 41 years. On average, Ethiopia posted an annual deficit equal to -3.64% of GDP, compared to deficit of -3.92% of GDP for the United States.

Deficit/surplus
Ethiopia

United States
Year Deficit/surplus, % of GDP
Ethiopia United States
1800 - 0.01%
1801 - 0.67%
1802 - 1.46%
1803 - 0.66%
1804 - 0.58%
1805 - 0.52%
1806 - 0.95%
1807 - 1.43%
1808 - 1.55%
1809 - -0.5%
1810 - 0.21%
1811 - 1.1%
1812 - -1.84%
1813 - -2.78%
1814 - -3.36%
1815 - -2.09%
1816 - 2%
1817 - 1.33%
1818 - 0.22%
1819 - 0.42%
1820 - -0.06%
1821 - -0.2%
1822 - 0.74%
1823 - 0.83%
1824 - -0.13%
1825 - 0.7%
1826 - 0.93%
1827 - 0.79%
1828 - 0.95%
1829 - 1.06%
1830 - 1.04%
1831 - 1.24%
1832 - 1.26%
1833 - 0.84%
1834 - 0.24%
1835 - 1.09%
1836 - 1.05%
1837 - -0.67%
1838 - -0.43%
1839 - 0.24%
1840 - -0.28%
1841 - -0.56%
1842 - -0.31%
1843 - -0.22%
1844 - 0.38%
1845 - 0.36%
1846 - 0.09%
1847 - -1.32%
1848 - -0.41%
1849 - -0.59%
1850 - 0.16%
1851 - 0.18%
1852 - 0.19%
1853 - 0.39%
1854 - 0.41%
1855 - 0.14%
1856 - 0.11%
1857 - 0.03%
1858 - -0.68%
1859 - -0.36%
1860 - -0.16%
1861 - -0.54%
1862 - -7.67%
1863 - -8.2%
1864 - -6.3%
1865 - -10.2%
1866 - 0.41%
1867 - 1.5%
1868 - 0.33%
1869 - 0.56%
1870 - 1.25%
1871 - 1.14%
1872 - 1.03%
1873 - 0.47%
1874 - 0.03%
1875 - 0.16%
1876 - 0.33%
1877 - 0.44%
1878 - 0.23%
1879 - 0.07%
1880 - 0.55%
1881 - 0.85%
1882 - 1.08%
1883 - 1.06%
1884 - 0.85%
1885 - 0.52%
1886 - 0.7%
1887 - 0.75%
1888 - 0.82%
1889 - 0.6%
1890 - 0.59%
1891 - 0.17%
1892 - 0.06%
1893 - 0.02%
1894 - -0.45%
1895 - -0.2%
1896 - -0.09%
1897 - -0.11%
1898 - -0.23%
1899 - -0.48%
1900 - 0.24%
1901 - 0.29%
1902 - 0.35%
1903 - 0.18%
1904 - -0.18%
1905 - -0.09%
1906 - 0.08%
1907 - 0.28%
1908 - -0.22%
1909 - -0.29%
1910 - -0.06%
1911 - 0.03%
1912 - 0.008%
1913 - -0.001%
1914 - -0.001%
1915 - -0.17%
1916 - 0.11%
1917 - -1.64%
1918 - -13.5%
1919 - -17.5%
1920 - 0.33%
1921 - 0.69%
1922 - 1.01%
1923 - 0.84%
1924 - 1.11%
1925 - 0.78%
1926 - 0.89%
1927 - 1.19%
1928 - 0.97%
1929 - -4.58%
1930 - -5.46%
1931 - -9.76%
1932 - -12.7%
1933 - -14.3%
1934 - -14.9%
1935 - -13.3%
1936 - -12.1%
1937 - -9.22%
1938 - -10.4%
1939 - -11.9%
1940 - -9.73%
1941 - -10.2%
1942 - -16.3%
1943 - -19.3%
1944 - -13.4%
1945 - -14.1%
1946 - -6.45%
1947 - -3.99%
1948 - -4.16%
1949 - -7.94%
1950 - -8.22%
1951 - -6.93%
1952 - -5.41%
1953 - -5.76%
1954 - -5.55%
1955 - -7.4%
1956 - -6.02%
1957 - -6.72%
1958 - -8.68%
1959 - -9.06%
1960 - 3.2%
1961 - 2.28%
1962 - 2.32%
1963 - 2.87%
1964 - 2.18%
1965 - 2.38%
1966 - 2.07%
1967 - 0.47%
1968 - 1.23%
1969 - 2.11%
1970 - -1.21%
1971 - -2.63%
1972 - -1.86%
1973 - -0.86%
1974 - -1.27%
1975 - -5.4%
1976 - -3.63%
1977 - -2.57%
1978 - -1.7%
1979 - -0.79%
1980 -2.56% -2.17%
1981 -2.19% -1.58%
1982 -3.6% -3.78%
1983 -7.59% -4.26%
1984 -3.69% -2.97%
1985 -4.71% -2.63%
1986 -3.98% -2.81%
1987 -3.54% -1.53%
1988 -3.48% -1.06%
1989 -4.33% -0.8%
1990 -6.66% -1.64%
1991 -5.83% -2.72%
1992 -4.78% -3.98%
1993 -4% -3.35%
1994 -5.23% -2.05%
1995 -2.68% -1.7%
1996 -3.81% -0.46%
1997 -1.7% 0.88%
1998 -3.51% 2.18%
1999 -8.23% 2.71%
2000 -8.88% 3.62%
2001 -3.76% -0.54%
2002 -5.76% -3.82%
2003 -5.59% -4.77%
2004 -2.65% -4.24%
2005 -4.12% -3.07%
2006 -3.79% -2.04%
2007 -3.57% -2.91%
2008 -2.88% -6.61%
2009 -0.93% -13.2%
2010 -1.32% -11%
2011 -1.61% -9.72%
2012 -1.17% -8.11%
2013 -1.93% -4.56%
2014 -2.58% -4.03%
2015 -1.95% -3.53%
2016 -2.3% -4.36%
2017 -3.24% -4.79%
2018 -3.03% -5.33%
2019 -2.53% -5.81%
2020 -2.76% -14.1%
2021 -2.77% -11.4%
2022 -4.16% -3.7%
2023 -2.6% -7.16%
2024 -1.99% -7.26%
2025 -1.7% -6.46%
2026 -1.95% -5.49%

Inflation comparison by year

Over the past 28 years, Ethiopia has recorded an average annual inflation rate of 13.6%, compared with 2.52% in the United States. In 2024, inflation was 21% in Ethiopia and 2.95% in the United States.

Inflation
Ethiopia

United States
Year Inflation
Ethiopia United States
1997 2.4% 2.34%
1998 0.89% 1.55%
1999 7.94% 2.19%
2000 0.66% 3.38%
2001 -8.24% 2.83%
2002 0.68% 1.59%
2003 13.7% 2.27%
2004 3.33% 2.68%
2005 9.97% 3.39%
2006 12.3% 3.23%
2007 17.2% 2.85%
2008 44.4% 3.84%
2009 8.48% -0.36%
2010 8.15% 1.64%
2011 33.2% 3.16%
2012 23.6% 2.07%
2013 7.46% 1.46%
2014 6.89% 1.62%
2015 9.57% 0.12%
2016 6.63% 1.26%
2017 10.7% 2.13%
2018 13.8% 2.44%
2019 15.8% 1.81%
2020 20.4% 1.23%
2021 26.8% 4.7%
2022 33.9% 8%
2023 30.2% 4.12%
2024 21% 2.95%

Top exports between countries

Ethiopia
Export category Export value
Raw agricultural goods $185M
Textiles & consumer goods $66.2M
Processed food, beverages & tobacco $17.1M
Machinery & equipment $4.82M
Animal & marine products $1.42M
Precious metals & jewellery $808K
Chemicals & pharma $358K
Wood & paper products $279K
Metals $88K
Raw materials & minerals $48K
United States
Export category Export value
Machinery & equipment $832M
Miscellaneous $68.1M
Raw agricultural goods $49.9M
Processed food, beverages & tobacco $20.1M
Chemicals & pharma $16.3M
Textiles & consumer goods $15.4M
Metals $10.3M
Raw materials & minerals $4.14M
Wood & paper products $1.61M
Animal & marine products $813K

Balance of trade

Ethiopia United States
Current account balance
-$3.79B
2024
-$1.19T
2024
Current account balance ranking
160/190
2024
190/190
2024
Current account balance, % of GDP
-2.53%
2024
-4.12%
2024
Goods imports
$19.6B
2024
$3.3T
2024
Goods exports
$5.58B
2024
$2.08T
2024
Service imports
$5.51B
2024
$841B
2024
Service exports
$7.61B
2024
$1.15T
2024
Imports of goods and services, % of GDP
11.9%
2024
14.3%
2024
Exports of goods and services, % of GDP
5.54%
2024
11.1%
2024

Economic freedom indices

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

Ethiopia United States
Economic freedom 48.1 70.2
Economic freedom ranking 172/197 34/197
Property rights 27.9 95.4
Government integrity 32.7 77.3
Judicial effectiveness 19.7 76.6
Tax burden 78.2 75.6
Government spending 95.4 55.8
Fiscal health 80.9 0
Business freedom 45.3 88.5
Labor freedom 39.4 77
Monetary freedom 49.9 70.7
Trade freedom 57.4 75.6
Investment freedom 30 70
Financial freedom 20 80

Economic freedom by year comparison

The Economic Freedom Index for Ethiopia is 48.1, ranking 172/197, compared to 70.2 for the United States, ranking 34/197. The chart below displays a comparison of annual changes in economic freedom indexes.

Ethiopia
United States
Year Economic freedom index
Ethiopia United States
1995 42.6 76.7
1996 45.9 76.7
1997 48.1 75.6
1998 49.2 75.4
1999 46.7 75.5
2000 50.2 76.4
2001 48.9 79.1
2002 49.8 78.4
2003 48.8 78.2
2004 54.5 78.7
2005 51.1 79.9
2006 50.9 81.2
2007 53.6 81.2
2008 52.5 81
2009 53 80.7
2010 51.2 78
2011 50.5 77.8
2012 52 76.3
2013 49.4 76
2014 50 75.5
2015 51.5 76.2
2016 51.5 75.4
2017 52.7 75.1
2018 52.8 75.7
2019 53.6 76.8
2020 53.6 76.6
2021 51.7 74.8
2022 49.6 72.1
2023 48.3 70.6
2024 47.9 70.1
2025 48.1 70.2

More economic indicators

Ethiopia United States
Services, % of GDP
37.5%
2024
79.7%
2024
Industry, % of GDP
25.4%
2024
17.3%
2024
Agriculture, forestry, and fishing, % of GDP
34.8%
2024
0.85%
2024
GNI, Atlas method
$146B
2024
$28.4T
2024
GNI per capita, PPP
$3,280
2024
$85,980
2024
Total reserves including gold
$3.78B
2024
$910B
2024
Total reserves ranking
109/177
2024
3/177
2024
Net foreign direct investment
-$4.02B
2024
$25.1B
2024
Net inflows of foreign direct investment
$4.02B
2024
$297B
2024
Net outflows of foreign direct investment
$0
2024
$322B
2024
Servicing debt to the IMF, % of GNI
0.91%
2024
n/a
Poverty at national poverty lines
33.1%
2021
15.1%
2020
Gross capital formation, % of GDP
20.6%
2024
21.8%
2024

GDP per capita map

GDP per capita

Compare countries by 7 more topics

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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.