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Eritrea vs Ethiopia statistics compared

Updated on by Georank team

Eritrea has a population of 3.54M (ranked 131/197), compared with 132M in Ethiopia (ranked 10/197). Eritrea's land area is 46,787 sq mi versus 435,716 sq mi for Ethiopia (ranked 96th vs. 25th).

By GDP, Eritrea ranks 179/197 ($2.07B) and Ethiopia ranks 60/197 ($150B). By GDP per capita, Eritrea ranks 188/197 ($689), while Ethiopia ranks 171/197 ($1,134).

Main facts and rankings

Eritrea Ethiopia
Population
3700586
139917664
Population rank 130/197 10/197
GDP
$2.07B
2011
$150B
2024
GDP rank 179/197 60/197
GDP per capita
$689
2011
$1,134
2024
GDP per capita rank 188/197 171/197
GDP per capita, PPP
$1,742
2011
$3,288
2024
Government debt
$3.54B
2011
$48.9B
2024
Debt-to-GDP ratio
260.4%
2019
32.7%
2024
Government debt per person
$1,182
2011
$370
2024
Government debt per person rank 136/185 172/185
Average annual personal income after taxes
$1,129
2026
$1,946
2026
Land area 46,787 sq mi 435,716 sq mi
Population density
78.6 ppl/mi²
2026
319 ppl/mi²
2026
Fertility rate
3.71
2023
3.99
2023
Median age
19.9 years
2024
19.9 years
2024
Life expectancy
69.4 years
2026
68.1 years
2026

Eritrea and Ethiopia: Comparison Charts

Eritrea and Ethiopia economies compared

GDP
Eritrea

Ethiopia
1x
Year GDP
Eritrea Ethiopia
2024 - $149,740,297,953
2023 - $135,874,093,202
2022 - $123,140,304,666
2021 - $109,070,960,372
2020 - $98,676,811,061
2019 - $91,834,517,113
2018 - $83,337,901,072
2017 - $76,366,081,767
2016 - $68,475,871,210
2015 - $62,103,418,182
2014 - $55,612,228,234
2013 - $47,648,276,605
2012 - $43,310,721,414
2011 $2,065,001,626 $31,952,763,089
2010 $1,589,515,447 $29,933,790,334
2009 $1,856,695,551 $32,437,389,116
2008 $1,380,188,800 $27,066,912,635
2007 $1,317,974,491 $19,707,616,773
2006 $1,211,161,880 $15,280,861,835
2005 $1,098,424,686 $12,401,139,454
2004 $1,109,054,005 $10,131,187,261
2003 $870,248,268 $8,623,691,300
2002 $729,321,680 $7,850,809,498
2001 $752,371,689 $8,231,326,016
2000 $706,370,816 $8,242,349,618
1999 $688,918,537 $7,892,973,532
1998 $745,523,117 $8,013,274,132
1997 $686,490,090 $8,803,539,988
1996 $693,535,954 $8,761,215,548
1995 $578,015,625 $7,855,205,207
1994 $531,688,312 $7,100,806,754
1993 $467,872,715 $9,051,043,870
1992 $477,101,652 $10,754,799,037
1991 - $13,799,799,324
1990 - $12,478,943,895
1989 - $11,762,932,007
1988 - $11,181,119,718
1987 - $10,790,001,558
1986 - $10,094,328,898
1985 - $9,717,392,687
1984 - $8,298,309,581
1983 - $8,781,664,427
1982 - $7,899,988,841
1981 - $7,507,663,567
1980 - $7,012,585,454
1979 - $6,586,048,398
1978 - $6,014,961,435
1977 - $5,651,840,585
1976 - $4,943,806,093
1975 - $4,577,047,854
1974 - $4,577,209,966
1973 - $4,070,570,550
1972 - $3,520,252,938
1971 - $3,224,280,835
1970 - $3,045,354,455
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 (1960–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06).

GeoRank.org/facts/eritrea/ethiopia | CC BY

Eritrea and Ethiopia economies compared

GDP per capita
Eritrea

Ethiopia
1x
Year GDP per capita
Eritrea Ethiopia
2024 - $1,134
2023 - $1,056
2022 - $982
2021 - $893
2020 - $830
2019 - $793
2018 - $740
2017 - $696
2016 - $642
2015 - $598
2014 - $550
2013 - $484
2012 - $452
2011 $689 $343
2010 $540 $331
2009 $643 $369
2008 $490 $316
2007 $480 $237.1
2006 $448 $189.3
2005 $413 $158.2
2004 $427 $133.2
2003 $349 $116.8
2002 $305 $109.6
2001 $325 $118.5
2000 $314 $122.3
1999 $311 $120.7
1998 $342 $126.5
1997 $319 $143.4
1996 $326 $147.3
1995 $285.4 $136.5
1994 $277.8 $127.7
1993 $252.1 $168.5
1992 $265.2 $207.4
1991 - $277.6
1990 - $262.1
1989 - $256.4
1988 - $253.2
1987 - $254.1
1986 - $246
1985 - $243.9
1984 - $214.2
1983 - $232.7
1982 - $215.3
1981 - $212.7
1980 - $203.7
1979 - $192.4
1978 - $178.3
1977 - $170.4
1976 - $152
1975 - $144.3
1974 - $147.9
1973 - $134.9
1972 - $119.8
1971 - $112.7
1970 - $109.4
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 (1960–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06).

GeoRank.org/facts/eritrea/ethiopia | CC BY

Eritrea vs. Ethiopia life expectancy calculator

Life expectancy
Eritrea

Ethiopia
1x
Year Life expectancy, years
Eritrea Ethiopia
2026 69.4 68.1
2025 69.2 67.9
2024 68.9 67.6
2023 68.6 67.3
2022 67.8 66.9
2021 66.9 65.3
2020 67 66
2019 67.3 65.7
2018 67 65.3
2017 66.6 64.8
2016 66.2 64.2
2015 65.9 63.6
2014 65.5 62.9
2013 65 62.2
2012 64.7 61.4
2011 64.2 60.6
2010 63.7 59.7
2009 63.2 58.7
2008 62.4 57.7
2007 62 56.6
2006 61.5 55.4
2005 60.6 54.4
2004 60.1 53.7
2003 59.5 52.9
2002 58.9 52.1
2001 58.4 51.4
2000 56.3 50.9
1999 44.5 49.5
1998 50 49.8
1997 56.2 49.2
1996 55.5 48.7
1995 54.8 48.2
1994 54 47.9
1993 53.2 47.7
1992 52.4 47.3
1991 50.5 46.7
1990 49.7 45.1
1989 47.8 45.6
1988 48.1 45.7
1987 47.4 45.9
1986 39.5 38.4
1985 38.6 37.7
1984 37.7 36.7
1983 37.2 36.3
1982 44.9 43.4
1981 45 43.1
1980 44.6 42.8
1979 43.8 42.4
1978 43.4 41.5
1977 43 41.4
1976 42.6 41.3
1975 39 38.9
1974 39 39.1
1973 41.1 41.1
1972 40.7 41
1971 41.5 42.2
1970 41.2 42.1
1969 40.8 42.1
1968 40.5 42.1
1967 40.2 41.9
1966 37.6 39.3
1965 39.6 41.4
1964 39.2 41.3
1963 38.8 41
1962 38.3 40.5
1961 37.9 40.2
1960 37.4 39.6
1959 37 39.2
1958 30.9 32.6
1957 30.4 32.2
1956 35.6 37.8
1955 35.2 37.3
1954 34.8 37
1953 34.4 36.6
1952 34 36.2
1951 33.6 35.9
1950 33.3 35.5

Data sources: United Nations | World Population Prospects (1950–2026, retrieved 2026-03-10).

GeoRank.org/facts/eritrea/ethiopia | CC BY

Eritrea and Ethiopia population clocks and comparison

Population
Eritrea

Ethiopia
1x
Year Population
Eritrea Ethiopia
2024 3,535,603 132,059,767
2023 3,470,390 128,691,692
2022 3,409,447 125,384,287
2021 3,350,183 122,138,588
2020 3,291,271 118,917,671
2019 3,240,194 115,737,383
2018 3,192,760 112,664,152
2017 3,150,347 109,666,481
2016 3,124,698 106,718,162
2015 3,105,546 103,867,135
2014 3,095,173 101,115,610
2013 3,074,360 98,438,751
2012 3,036,988 95,798,767
2011 2,998,485 93,149,970
2010 2,945,186 90,538,514
2009 2,887,885 88,007,636
2008 2,816,327 85,543,668
2007 2,743,222 83,103,217
2006 2,703,502 80,703,490
2005 2,661,215 78,367,470
2004 2,598,284 76,077,206
2003 2,493,903 73,832,663
2002 2,392,978 71,635,517
2001 2,312,079 69,487,762
2000 2,247,031 67,411,494
1999 2,212,780 65,374,561
1998 2,180,419 63,363,524
1997 2,152,135 61,404,539
1996 2,128,464 59,467,635
1995 2,025,267 57,537,335
1994 1,913,915 55,611,508
1993 1,856,006 53,708,891
1992 1,798,748 51,853,747
1991 1,919,571 49,717,198
1990 2,032,737 47,609,755
1989 1,987,017 45,879,690
1988 1,938,255 44,150,825
1987 1,888,669 42,460,039
1986 1,845,164 41,037,656
1985 1,807,816 39,842,136
1984 1,771,730 38,735,722
1983 1,736,160 37,740,817
1982 1,695,461 36,701,290
1981 1,649,939 35,304,012
1980 1,605,797 34,428,514
1979 1,563,332 34,238,652
1978 1,522,378 33,734,592
1977 1,482,565 33,167,272
1976 1,443,807 32,534,418
1975 1,408,210 31,723,252
1974 1,375,688 30,957,273
1973 1,342,669 30,166,785
1972 1,309,235 29,374,608
1971 1,276,154 28,600,106
1970 1,243,453 27,829,128
1969 1,212,005 27,072,571
1968 1,181,737 26,337,930
1967 1,152,339 25,620,276
1966 1,124,957 24,952,689
1965 1,098,335 24,310,612
1964 1,071,287 23,666,548
1963 1,045,092 23,051,637
1962 1,019,788 22,465,126
1961 995,573 21,906,102
1960 972,547 21,376,693

Data sources: World Bank | Health (1960–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06).

GeoRank.org/facts/eritrea/ethiopia | CC BY

Fertility rates in Eritrea and Ethiopia

Fertility rate
Eritrea

Ethiopia
1x
Year Fertility rate
Eritrea Ethiopia
2023 3.71 3.99
2022 3.79 4.08
2021 3.87 4.18
2020 3.93 4.27
2019 4 4.35
2018 4.06 4.37
2017 4.11 4.4
2016 4.16 4.47
2015 4.22 4.53
2014 4.27 4.61
2013 4.34 4.71
2012 4.41 4.89
2011 4.49 5.08
2010 4.57 5.28
2009 4.66 5.49
2008 4.74 5.7
2007 4.81 5.89
2006 4.88 6.05
2005 4.93 6.19
2004 5.04 6.3
2003 5.14 6.4
2002 5.23 6.5
2001 5.31 6.58
2000 5.4 6.65
1999 5.52 6.72
1998 5.63 6.79
1997 5.74 6.87
1996 5.84 6.93
1995 5.94 7
1994 6.01 7.05
1993 6.07 7.09
1992 6.16 7.13
1991 6.24 7.16
1990 6.34 7.2
1989 6.41 7.23
1988 6.47 7.26
1987 6.52 7.29
1986 6.56 7.32
1985 6.59 7.34
1984 6.62 7.36
1983 6.65 7.35
1982 6.63 7.34
1981 6.62 7.31
1980 6.61 7.29
1979 6.62 7.25
1978 6.61 7.23
1977 6.61 7.19
1976 6.6 7.13
1975 6.59 7.08
1974 6.57 7.02
1973 6.55 6.96
1972 6.54 6.9
1971 6.54 6.84
1970 6.54 6.78
1969 6.5 6.72
1968 6.5 6.7
1967 6.5 6.68
1966 6.5 6.66
1965 6.49 6.63
1964 6.49 6.61
1963 6.48 6.59
1962 6.5 6.56
1961 6.47 6.53
1960 6.48 6.51

Data sources: World Bank | Health (1960–2023, retrieved 2026-04-06).

GeoRank.org/facts/eritrea/ethiopia | CC BY

Eritrea and Ethiopia demographics compared

Median age
Eritrea

Ethiopia
1x
Year Median age, years
Eritrea Ethiopia
2024 19.9 19.9
2023 19.7 19.7
2022 19.5 19.6
2021 19.3 19.4
2020 19.1 19.2
2019 18.9 19
2018 18.7 18.8
2017 18.5 18.6
2016 18.4 18.3
2015 18.4 18.1
2014 18.5 17.9
2013 18.5 17.6
2012 18.5 17.4
2011 18.5 17.1
2010 18.4 16.9
2009 18.4 16.7
2008 18.2 16.5
2007 18.1 16.4
2006 18.2 16.3
2005 18.3 16.2
2004 18.3 16.2
2003 18 16.1
2002 17.7 16.1
2001 17.5 16.1
2000 17.4 16.2
1999 17.5 16.2
1998 17.8 16.3
1997 18 16.4
1996 18.4 16.5
1995 18.1 16.6
1994 17.6 16.7
1993 17.6 16.8
1992 17.5 16.9
1991 17.6 16.9
1990 17.6 16.9
1989 17.7 16.9
1988 17.8 16.9
1987 17.9 16.9
1986 17.9 16.9
1985 17.8 16.9
1984 17.8 16.8
1983 17.7 16.7
1982 17.7 16.7
1981 17.7 16.8
1980 17.8 16.8
1979 17.8 16.9
1978 17.8 17
1977 17.9 17.1
1976 18 17.2
1975 18.1 17.3
1974 18.2 17.5
1973 18.2 17.6
1972 18.3 17.7
1971 18.5 17.9
1970 18.6 18.1
1969 18.8 18.3
1968 18.9 18.4
1967 18.9 18.5
1966 19 18.5
1965 19 18.6
1964 19 18.6
1963 19 18.6
1962 18.9 18.6
1961 18.9 18.6
1960 18.8 18.6

Data sources: World Bank | Health (1960–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06).

GeoRank.org/facts/eritrea/ethiopia | CC BY

Interactive Maps

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National statistics comparison

Finance

Eritrea Ethiopia
GNI, Atlas method
$1.94B
2011
$146B
2024
Government expenditure, % of GDP
31.3%
2019
9.54%
2024
Education expenditure, % of GDP
2.13%
2006
2.3%
2024
Military expenditure, % of GDP
20.9%
2003
0.65%
2024
Armed forces personnel
202,000
2020
138,000
2020
Deficit/surplus, % of GDP
+2.72%
2019
-1.99%
2024
Unemployment rate
5.8%
2017
3.94%
2021
Services, % of GDP n/a
37.5%
2024
Industry, % of GDP
21.8%
2009
25.4%
2024
Economic freedom index
39.6
2026
48.1
2026
Income share by richest 10% n/a
24.8%
2021
Income share by poorest 10% n/a
3.5%
2021
Total reserves including gold
$192M
2019
$3.78B
2024
Personal remittances received
$3.28M
2000
$7.14B
2024
International tourist arrivals
142,000
2016
518,000
2020
International tourism as share of exports
36.8%
2000
29.6%
2020
Banked people share n/a
48.8%
2024

Energy

Eritrea Ethiopia
Energy use, kg of oil equivalent per capita
289.5 kg
2022
378 kg
2022
GDP PPP per kg equivalent of energy use
$6.73
2011
$7.53
2022
Carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions
0.78 megatons
2024
19.4 megatons
2024
CO2 emissions per capita
0.22 tons
2024
0.15 tons
2024
Fossil fuel energy use share
22.4%
2022
9.69%
2022
Renewable energy use share
80.7%
2021
90.6%
2021
Alternative and nuclear energy use share
0.1%
2022
3.15%
2022
Net energy imports use share
34.8%
2004
10.8%
2022
Electric power consumption per capita
102.4 kWh
2022
92.4 kWh
2022
Renewable electricity output share
5.79%
2021
95.4%
2020
Hydroelectric share
0%
2021
96.7%
2022
Nuclear share
0%
2021
0%
2021
Electricity access
54.4%
2023
55.4%
2023

Society

Eritrea Ethiopia
% of world population
0.04%
2024
1.62%
2024
Annual migration change
-6,698
2025
+24,054
2025
Urban population
34.5%
2024
23.6%
2024
Male:Female ratio
49.4:50.6
2024
50.1:49.9
2024
Average male height
5.6 ft
2025
5.54 ft
2025
Average female height
5.17 ft
2025
5.16 ft
2025
Quality of life index
9.53
2026
21.7
2026
Corruption Perceptions Index
13
2025
38
2025
Higher education index
5
2026
56
2026
Homicides per 100K people
14.6
2012
8.63
2012
Road traffic mortality per 100K people
37.9
2019
28.2
2019
Visa free countries
49
2025
53
2025
Adult literacy rate
76.6%
2018
60.5%
2022
English speaking
0%
2025
0.22%
2025
People using the Internet
20%
2023
16.7%
2021

Health

Eritrea Ethiopia
Government health expenditure per capita
$28.3
2023
$34.8
2023
Out-of-pocket health expenditure per capita
$13.7
2023
$16.1
2023
Life expectancy
69.4 years
2026
68.1 years
2026
Foreign aid share of health expenditure
28.5%
2023
26.9%
2023
Physicians per 1,000 people
0.09
2022
0.14
2023
Age at first childbirth
21.3 years
2025
19.3 years
2025
Maternal mortality per 100K births
291
2023
195
2023
Mortality rate before reaching 5 years of age
35.4
2023
46.5
2023
Obesity rate
4.94%
2022
2.9%
2022
Diabetes prevalence
4.4%
2024
4.4%
2024
Air quality index
30
2026
31
2026
Tobacco use prevalence n/a
5.2%
2022
Pure alcohol consumption per capita
1.07 liters
2020
3.06 liters
2020

Territory

Eritrea Ethiopia
% of world land
0.08%
2026
0.76%
2026
Land area per capita
13,233 sq mi
2024
3,299 sq mi
2024
Agricultural land area
29,313 sq mi
2026
148,483 sq mi
2026
Forest area
4,038 sq mi
2026
65,056 sq mi
2026
Roads length
9,942 mi
2018
74,671 mi
2018

In-depth comparisons

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Data sources:

  1. World Bank | Health (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-04-06)
  2. United Nations | World Population Prospects (1950–2026, retrieved 2026-03-10)
  3. U.S. Census Bureau (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-02-08)
  4. Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) (2000–2025, retrieved 2026-02-20)
  5. International Monetary Fund (IMF) | Fiscal Monitor (2011–2024, retrieved 2026-02-20)
  6. LivingCost (2026, retrieved 2025-10-14)
  7. World Obesity Federation (2022, retrieved 2026-02-08)
  8. Passport Index (2025, retrieved 2026-02-08)
  9. Transparency International (2025, retrieved 2026-02-10)
  10. The Heritage Foundation | Economic Freedom Index (2026, retrieved 2026-03-09)
  11. EduRank (2026, retrieved 2025-10-13)

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