Eritrea is a low-income country with a population of 3.54M people. The capital and largest city is Asmara, with 963K residents. Eritrea shares land borders with Ethiopia, Sudan and Djibouti.
Eritrea ranks 179/197 by GDP ($2.07B) and 188/197 by GDP per capita ($689). The top export category is animal & marine products, while the top import is raw agricultural goods.
Main facts and rankings
Eritrea
|
Rank | |
|---|---|---|
| Population |
3700586
|
130/197 |
| GDP |
$2.07B
2011 |
179/197 |
| GDP per capita |
$689
2011 |
188/197 |
| GDP per capita, PPP |
$1,742
2011 |
191/197 |
| Government debt |
$3.54B
2011 |
151/185 |
| Debt-to-GDP ratio |
260.4%
2019 |
2/185 |
| Government debt per person |
$1,182
2011 |
136/185 |
| Average annual personal income after taxes |
$1,129
2026 |
191/197 |
| Land area | 46,787 sq mi | 96/197 |
| Population density | 78.6 ppl/mi² | 156/197 |
| Fertility rate | 3.71 | 37/196 |
| Median age | 19.9 years | 168/196 |
| Life expectancy | 69.4 years | 142/197 |
Eritrea trends dashboard: time-series charts
| Year | GDP |
|---|---|
| 2011 | $2,065,001,626 |
| 2010 | $1,589,515,447 |
| 2009 | $1,856,695,551 |
| 2008 | $1,380,188,800 |
| 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 (1992–2011, retrieved 2026-04-06).
GeoRank.org/facts/eritrea | CC BY 
| Year | GDP per capita |
|---|---|
| 2011 | $689 |
| 2010 | $540 |
| 2009 | $643 |
| 2008 | $490 |
| 2007 | $480 |
| 2006 | $448 |
| 2005 | $413 |
| 2004 | $427 |
| 2003 | $349 |
| 2002 | $305 |
| 2001 | $325 |
| 2000 | $314 |
| 1999 | $311 |
| 1998 | $342 |
| 1997 | $319 |
| 1996 | $326 |
| 1995 | $285.4 |
| 1994 | $277.8 |
| 1993 | $252.1 |
| 1992 | $265.2 |
Data sources: World Bank | Economy & Growth (1992–2011, retrieved 2026-04-06).
GeoRank.org/facts/eritrea | CC BY
Eritrea's life expectancy calculator
| Year | Life expectancy, years |
|---|---|
| 2026 | 69.4 |
| 2025 | 69.2 |
| 2024 | 68.9 |
| 2023 | 68.6 |
| 2022 | 67.8 |
| 2021 | 66.9 |
| 2020 | 67 |
| 2019 | 67.3 |
| 2018 | 67 |
| 2017 | 66.6 |
| 2016 | 66.2 |
| 2015 | 65.9 |
| 2014 | 65.5 |
| 2013 | 65 |
| 2012 | 64.7 |
| 2011 | 64.2 |
| 2010 | 63.7 |
| 2009 | 63.2 |
| 2008 | 62.4 |
| 2007 | 62 |
| 2006 | 61.5 |
| 2005 | 60.6 |
| 2004 | 60.1 |
| 2003 | 59.5 |
| 2002 | 58.9 |
| 2001 | 58.4 |
| 2000 | 56.3 |
| 1999 | 44.5 |
| 1998 | 50 |
| 1997 | 56.2 |
| 1996 | 55.5 |
| 1995 | 54.8 |
| 1994 | 54 |
| 1993 | 53.2 |
| 1992 | 52.4 |
| 1991 | 50.5 |
| 1990 | 49.7 |
| 1989 | 47.8 |
| 1988 | 48.1 |
| 1987 | 47.4 |
| 1986 | 39.5 |
| 1985 | 38.6 |
| 1984 | 37.7 |
| 1983 | 37.2 |
| 1982 | 44.9 |
| 1981 | 45 |
| 1980 | 44.6 |
| 1979 | 43.8 |
| 1978 | 43.4 |
| 1977 | 43 |
| 1976 | 42.6 |
| 1975 | 39 |
| 1974 | 39 |
| 1973 | 41.1 |
| 1972 | 40.7 |
| 1971 | 41.5 |
| 1970 | 41.2 |
| 1969 | 40.8 |
| 1968 | 40.5 |
| 1967 | 40.2 |
| 1966 | 37.6 |
| 1965 | 39.6 |
| 1964 | 39.2 |
| 1963 | 38.8 |
| 1962 | 38.3 |
| 1961 | 37.9 |
| 1960 | 37.4 |
| 1959 | 37 |
| 1958 | 30.9 |
| 1957 | 30.4 |
| 1956 | 35.6 |
| 1955 | 35.2 |
| 1954 | 34.8 |
| 1953 | 34.4 |
| 1952 | 34 |
| 1951 | 33.6 |
| 1950 | 33.3 |
Data sources: United Nations | World Population Prospects (1950–2026, retrieved 2026-03-10).
GeoRank.org/facts/eritrea | CC BY
Eritrea's population clock and projection
| Year | Population |
|---|---|
| 2024 | 3,535,603 |
| 2023 | 3,470,390 |
| 2022 | 3,409,447 |
| 2021 | 3,350,183 |
| 2020 | 3,291,271 |
| 2019 | 3,240,194 |
| 2018 | 3,192,760 |
| 2017 | 3,150,347 |
| 2016 | 3,124,698 |
| 2015 | 3,105,546 |
| 2014 | 3,095,173 |
| 2013 | 3,074,360 |
| 2012 | 3,036,988 |
| 2011 | 2,998,485 |
| 2010 | 2,945,186 |
| 2009 | 2,887,885 |
| 2008 | 2,816,327 |
| 2007 | 2,743,222 |
| 2006 | 2,703,502 |
| 2005 | 2,661,215 |
| 2004 | 2,598,284 |
| 2003 | 2,493,903 |
| 2002 | 2,392,978 |
| 2001 | 2,312,079 |
| 2000 | 2,247,031 |
| 1999 | 2,212,780 |
| 1998 | 2,180,419 |
| 1997 | 2,152,135 |
| 1996 | 2,128,464 |
| 1995 | 2,025,267 |
| 1994 | 1,913,915 |
| 1993 | 1,856,006 |
| 1992 | 1,798,748 |
| 1991 | 1,919,571 |
| 1990 | 2,032,737 |
| 1989 | 1,987,017 |
| 1988 | 1,938,255 |
| 1987 | 1,888,669 |
| 1986 | 1,845,164 |
| 1985 | 1,807,816 |
| 1984 | 1,771,730 |
| 1983 | 1,736,160 |
| 1982 | 1,695,461 |
| 1981 | 1,649,939 |
| 1980 | 1,605,797 |
| 1979 | 1,563,332 |
| 1978 | 1,522,378 |
| 1977 | 1,482,565 |
| 1976 | 1,443,807 |
| 1975 | 1,408,210 |
| 1974 | 1,375,688 |
| 1973 | 1,342,669 |
| 1972 | 1,309,235 |
| 1971 | 1,276,154 |
| 1970 | 1,243,453 |
| 1969 | 1,212,005 |
| 1968 | 1,181,737 |
| 1967 | 1,152,339 |
| 1966 | 1,124,957 |
| 1965 | 1,098,335 |
| 1964 | 1,071,287 |
| 1963 | 1,045,092 |
| 1962 | 1,019,788 |
| 1961 | 995,573 |
| 1960 | 972,547 |
Data sources: World Bank | Health (1960–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06).
GeoRank.org/facts/eritrea | CC BY
Eritrea's birth and fertility rates
| Year | Fertility rate |
|---|---|
| 2023 | 3.71 |
| 2022 | 3.79 |
| 2021 | 3.87 |
| 2020 | 3.93 |
| 2019 | 4 |
| 2018 | 4.06 |
| 2017 | 4.11 |
| 2016 | 4.16 |
| 2015 | 4.22 |
| 2014 | 4.27 |
| 2013 | 4.34 |
| 2012 | 4.41 |
| 2011 | 4.49 |
| 2010 | 4.57 |
| 2009 | 4.66 |
| 2008 | 4.74 |
| 2007 | 4.81 |
| 2006 | 4.88 |
| 2005 | 4.93 |
| 2004 | 5.04 |
| 2003 | 5.14 |
| 2002 | 5.23 |
| 2001 | 5.31 |
| 2000 | 5.4 |
| 1999 | 5.52 |
| 1998 | 5.63 |
| 1997 | 5.74 |
| 1996 | 5.84 |
| 1995 | 5.94 |
| 1994 | 6.01 |
| 1993 | 6.07 |
| 1992 | 6.16 |
| 1991 | 6.24 |
| 1990 | 6.34 |
| 1989 | 6.41 |
| 1988 | 6.47 |
| 1987 | 6.52 |
| 1986 | 6.56 |
| 1985 | 6.59 |
| 1984 | 6.62 |
| 1983 | 6.65 |
| 1982 | 6.63 |
| 1981 | 6.62 |
| 1980 | 6.61 |
| 1979 | 6.62 |
| 1978 | 6.61 |
| 1977 | 6.61 |
| 1976 | 6.6 |
| 1975 | 6.59 |
| 1974 | 6.57 |
| 1973 | 6.55 |
| 1972 | 6.54 |
| 1971 | 6.54 |
| 1970 | 6.54 |
| 1969 | 6.5 |
| 1968 | 6.5 |
| 1967 | 6.5 |
| 1966 | 6.5 |
| 1965 | 6.49 |
| 1964 | 6.49 |
| 1963 | 6.48 |
| 1962 | 6.5 |
| 1961 | 6.47 |
| 1960 | 6.48 |
Data sources: World Bank | Health (1960–2023, retrieved 2026-04-06).
GeoRank.org/facts/eritrea | CC BY
| Year | Median age, years |
|---|---|
| 2024 | 19.9 |
| 2023 | 19.7 |
| 2022 | 19.5 |
| 2021 | 19.3 |
| 2020 | 19.1 |
| 2019 | 18.9 |
| 2018 | 18.7 |
| 2017 | 18.5 |
| 2016 | 18.4 |
| 2015 | 18.4 |
| 2014 | 18.5 |
| 2013 | 18.5 |
| 2012 | 18.5 |
| 2011 | 18.5 |
| 2010 | 18.4 |
| 2009 | 18.4 |
| 2008 | 18.2 |
| 2007 | 18.1 |
| 2006 | 18.2 |
| 2005 | 18.3 |
| 2004 | 18.3 |
| 2003 | 18 |
| 2002 | 17.7 |
| 2001 | 17.5 |
| 2000 | 17.4 |
| 1999 | 17.5 |
| 1998 | 17.8 |
| 1997 | 18 |
| 1996 | 18.4 |
| 1995 | 18.1 |
| 1994 | 17.6 |
| 1993 | 17.6 |
| 1992 | 17.5 |
| 1991 | 17.6 |
| 1990 | 17.6 |
| 1989 | 17.7 |
| 1988 | 17.8 |
| 1987 | 17.9 |
| 1986 | 17.9 |
| 1985 | 17.8 |
| 1984 | 17.8 |
| 1983 | 17.7 |
| 1982 | 17.7 |
| 1981 | 17.7 |
| 1980 | 17.8 |
| 1979 | 17.8 |
| 1978 | 17.8 |
| 1977 | 17.9 |
| 1976 | 18 |
| 1975 | 18.1 |
| 1974 | 18.2 |
| 1973 | 18.2 |
| 1972 | 18.3 |
| 1971 | 18.5 |
| 1970 | 18.6 |
| 1969 | 18.8 |
| 1968 | 18.9 |
| 1967 | 18.9 |
| 1966 | 19 |
| 1965 | 19 |
| 1964 | 19 |
| 1963 | 19 |
| 1962 | 18.9 |
| 1961 | 18.9 |
| 1960 | 18.8 |
Data sources: World Bank | Health (1960–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06).
GeoRank.org/facts/eritrea | CC BY
Eritrea vs. World: Interactive Maps
Use the buttons below to toggle between world maps that display different statistics comparing Eritrea with other countries.
Eritrea: National Statistics
Finance
|
Eritrea
|
Rank | |
|---|---|---|
| GNI, Atlas method |
$1.94B
2011 |
178/194 |
| Government expenditure, % of GDP |
31.3%
2019 |
88/195 |
| Education expenditure, % of GDP |
2.13%
2006 |
171/193 |
| Military expenditure, % of GDP |
20.9%
2003 |
2/163 |
| Armed forces personnel |
202,000
2020 |
31/174 |
| Deficit/surplus, % of GDP |
+2.72%
2019 |
19/188 |
| Unemployment rate |
5.8%
2017 |
84/196 |
| Industry, % of GDP |
21.8%
2009 |
118/194 |
| Economic freedom index |
39.6
2026 |
188/197 |
| Total reserves including gold |
$192M
2019 |
170/177 |
| Personal remittances received |
$3.28M
2000 |
182/191 |
| International tourist arrivals |
142,000
2016 |
156/188 |
| International tourism as share of exports |
36.8%
2000 |
20/184 |
Energy
|
Eritrea
|
Rank | |
|---|---|---|
| Energy use, kg of oil equivalent per capita |
289.5 kg
2022 |
162/177 |
| GDP PPP per kg equivalent of energy use |
$6.73
2011 |
158/173 |
| Carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions |
0.78 megatons
2024 |
163/187 |
| CO2 emissions per capita |
0.22 tons
2024 |
170/187 |
| Fossil fuel energy use share |
22.4%
2022 |
130/176 |
| Renewable energy use share |
80.7%
2021 |
15/193 |
| Alternative and nuclear energy use share |
0.1%
2022 |
135/147 |
| Net energy imports use share |
34.8%
2004 |
62/144 |
| Electric power consumption per capita |
102.4 kWh
2022 |
138/147 |
| Renewable electricity output share |
5.79%
2021 |
156/192 |
| Hydroelectric share |
0%
2021 |
162/192 |
| Nuclear share |
0%
2021 |
80/192 |
| Electricity access |
54.4%
2023 |
172/195 |
Society
|
Eritrea
|
Rank | |
|---|---|---|
| % of world population |
0.04%
2024 |
131/197 |
| Annual migration change |
-6,698
2025 |
122/196 |
| Urban population |
34.5%
2024 |
165/195 |
| Male:Female ratio |
49.4:50.6
2024 |
N/A |
| Average male height |
5.6 ft
2025 |
124/190 |
| Average female height |
5.17 ft
2025 |
150/190 |
| Quality of life index |
9.53
2026 |
192/197 |
| Corruption Perceptions Index |
13
2025 |
192/197 |
| Higher education index |
5
2026 |
175/183 |
| Homicides per 100K people |
14.6
2012 |
24/197 |
| Road traffic mortality per 100K people |
37.9
2019 |
5/197 |
| Visa free countries |
49
2025 |
186/195 |
| Adult literacy rate |
76.6%
2018 |
160/196 |
| English speaking |
0%
2025 |
195/197 |
| People using the Internet |
20%
2023 |
183/195 |
Health
|
Eritrea
|
Rank | |
|---|---|---|
| Government health expenditure per capita |
$28.3
2023 |
184/192 |
| Out-of-pocket health expenditure per capita |
$13.7
2023 |
171/192 |
| Life expectancy |
69.4 years
2026 |
142/197 |
| Foreign aid share of health expenditure |
28.5%
2023 |
22/181 |
| Physicians per 1,000 people |
0.09
2022 |
184/193 |
| Age at first childbirth |
21.3 years
2025 |
92/137 |
| Maternal mortality per 100K births |
291
2023 |
24/193 |
| Mortality rate before reaching 5 years of age |
35.4
2023 |
54/192 |
| Obesity rate |
4.94%
2022 |
184/189 |
| Diabetes prevalence |
4.4%
2024 |
180/195 |
| Air quality index |
30
2026 |
139/197 |
| Pure alcohol consumption per capita |
1.07 liters
2020 |
150/186 |
Territory
|
Eritrea
|
Rank | |
|---|---|---|
| % of world land |
0.08%
2026 |
96/197 |
| Land area per capita |
13,233 sq mi
2024 |
41/197 |
| Agricultural land area |
29,313 sq mi
2026 |
79/194 |
| Forest area |
4,038 sq mi
2026 |
123/196 |
| Roads length |
9,942 mi
2018 |
106/176 |
Compare Eritrea with other countries
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Data sources:
- World Bank | Health (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-04-06)
- United Nations | World Population Prospects (1950–2026, retrieved 2026-03-10)
- U.S. Census Bureau (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-02-08)
- Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) (2000–2025, retrieved 2026-02-20)
- International Monetary Fund (IMF) | Fiscal Monitor (2011–2019, retrieved 2026-02-20)
- LivingCost (2026, retrieved 2025-10-14)
- Wikidata (2020, retrieved 2026-02-08)
- World Obesity Federation (2022, retrieved 2026-02-08)
- Passport Index (2025, retrieved 2026-02-08)
- Transparency International (2025, retrieved 2026-02-10)
- The Heritage Foundation | Economic Freedom Index (2026, retrieved 2026-03-09)
- EduRank (2026, retrieved 2025-10-13)
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