World 8.2bn peopleGDP $118tnLife expectancy 73.5 yrsOnline 73.6%
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Sub-Saharan Africa · Low income

Eritrea: key statistics

Eritrea has 3.6m people (2025) and a GDP per person of $689. Below: 68 indicators with the latest year, world rank and change over ten years.

Capital
Asmara
Region
Sub-Saharan Africa
Income group
Low income
Currency
nakfa ERN
Languages
English, Arabic, Tigrinya
ISO codes
ERERI
Land neighbours
Djibouti, Ethiopia, Sudan
Population3.6m2025 · rank 131 of 217GDP$2.1bn2011GDP per capita$6892011Life expectancy68.9 yrs2024 · rank 162 of 217Internet users14.3%2020 · rank 184 of 188Fertility3.682024 · rank 36 of 217CO₂ per person0.22 t2024 · rank 180 of 203
topic profiles

Eritrea, topic by topic

Each profile brings together the indicators of one topic with world and regional rank, values since 2000, group averages and a comparison with neighbours.

Population12 indicatorsEconomy11 indicatorsPrices & public finance5 indicatorsTrade & investment8 indicatorsLabour12 indicatorsEducation12 indicatorsHealth17 indicatorsDigital & energy access12 indicatorsEnvironment15 indicators
Population
Eritrea
01.0m2.0m3.0m4.0m1994199920042009201420192024Eritrea3.6m
GDP per capita
EritreaSub-Saharan AfricaWorld
$0$5,000$10,000$15,0001994199920042009201420192024Eritrea$689Sub-Saharan AfricaWorld
Life expectancy
EritreaSub-Saharan AfricaWorld
0.0204060801994199920042009201420192024Eritrea68.9 yrsSub-Saharan AfricaWorld
Internet users
EritreaSub-Saharan AfricaWorld
0%20%40%60%80%1994199920042009201420192024Eritrea14.3%Sub-Saharan AfricaWorld
all indicators

Eritrea by topic

World rank counts countries with a value in the recent window; regional rank is within Sub-Saharan Africa.

PopulationFull population profile

IndicatorValueYearWorld rankIn region10-year changeWorldSince 2000
Population3.6m2025131/21735/48+16%8.2bn
Population growth2.00%202550/21736/48+1.7 pp0.91%
Urban share34.5%2025185/21734/48−1.1 pp57.8%
Fertility3.68202436/21733/48−14%2.19
Aged 65+4.3%2025162/2177/48+0.3 pp10.4%
Aged 0–1437.6%202538/21733/48−4.5 pp24.4%
Density29.32024173/21636/48+14%62.1
Birth rate28.7202436/21734/48−8.7%16.3
Area121,630 km²202499/21631/48±0.0%140,539,257 km²

EconomyFull economy profile

IndicatorValueYearWorld rankIn region10-year changeWorldSince 2000
GDP$2.1bn2011——+174%$118tn
GDP per capita$6892011——+112%$14,406
GDP per capita, PPP$1,7422011——+3.5%$25,704
GNI per capita$6502011——+103%$14,244
GDP growth8.7%2011——−0.1 pp2.9%
GDP per capita growth6.7%2011——+1.1 pp2.0%
Agriculture share14.1%2009——−8.6 pp4.0%
Industry share21.8%2009——+0.9 pp25.0%
Investment12.6%2011——−22.6 pp26.3%
Savings15.8%2000———26.0%

Prices & public financeFull prices & public finance profile

IndicatorValueYearWorld rankIn region10-year changeWorldSince 2000
Exchange rate15.072025101/21044/47−2.0%—
External debt51.5%2011——−6.2 pp—
Military spending20.87%2003———2.48%

Trade & investmentFull trade & investment profile

IndicatorValueYearWorld rankIn region10-year changeWorldSince 2000
Exports18.2%2011——+7.3 pp29.5%
Imports29.2%2011——−32.0 pp28.5%
Trade openness47.4%2011——−24.7 pp68.5%
Current account-14.8%2000————
FDI inflows0.3%2011——+2.1 pp1.4%
Remittances0.5%2000———0.8%
Tourist arrivals142,0002016160/19631/42+82%2.4bn

LabourFull labour profile

IndicatorValueYearWorld rankIn region10-year changeWorldSince 2000
Unemployment6.0%202578/18721/47+0.2 pp4.8%
Youth unemployment10.2%2025113/18722/47+0.2 pp13.4%
Participation rate78.3%202513/1877/47−0.9 pp61.0%
Women's participation72.8%202512/1878/47−0.5 pp48.9%

Aid, poverty & equality

IndicatorValueYearWorld rankIn region10-year changeWorldSince 2000
Net ODA received$129m2023108/14541/48+59%$259bn
ODA, % of GNI6.5%2011——−31.4 pp0.2%
ODA per person$37.2202399/14540/48+41%$32.2
Women in parliament22.0%2019——±0.0 pp27.2%

EducationFull education profile

IndicatorValueYearWorld rankIn region10-year changeWorldSince 2000
Adult literacy64.7%2008———87.7%
Female literacy54.8%2008———84.6%
Primary enrolment89.7%2022166/19129/41+7.1 pp102.2%
Secondary enrolment44.0%2022163/17622/34−8.7 pp77.3%
Tertiary enrolment3.2%2016170/17233/34+1.2 pp43.6%
Primary completion61.3%2022156/16826/36+3.1 pp88.0%
Pupils per teacher38.7201823/17319/40−9.8%23.4
Education spending2.1%2006——+0.5 pp3.6%

HealthFull health profile

IndicatorValueYearWorld rankIn region10-year changeWorldSince 2000
Life expectancy68.9 yrs2024162/2177/48+5.2%73.5 yrs
Infant mortality24.7202456/19643/48−26%27.7
Under-5 mortality34.3202454/19642/48−29%37.4
Maternal mortality291202324/19422/48−34%197
Health spending3.7%2023164/19335/48−1.3 pp10.1%
Health spending per person$28.32023185/19341/48−11%$1,317
Physicians0.092022172/18039/46+76%1.86
Measles vaccination93%202478/1936/48+3.0 pp84%
HIV prevalence0.4%202474/15338/44−0.4 pp0.7%
Child stunting52.5%20102/1542/46+8.4 pp—
Basic water51.8%2016——+3.0 pp91.5%
Basic sanitation11.9%2016——+1.7 pp82.2%

Digital & energy accessFull digital & energy access profile

IndicatorValueYearWorld rankIn region10-year changeWorldSince 2000
Internet users14.3%2020184/18842/46+13.7 pp73.6%
Mobile subscriptions59.12022195/21041/48+488%111.5
Fixed broadband0.22022190/20834/48+2,615%20.1
Electricity access55.3%2024192/21527/48+10.7 pp91.9%
Clean cooking21.0%2024160/19222/48+9.0 pp75.4%

EnvironmentFull environment profile

IndicatorValueYearWorld rankIn region10-year changeWorldSince 2000
CO₂ per person0.22 t2024180/20333/47+14%4.69 t
Renewable energy80.7%202115/21213/48+3.6 pp19.7%
Renewable power5.0%2021163/20642/48+4.4 pp27.8%
Forest cover12.0%2024157/21436/48−0.5 pp31.1%
Arable land5.7%2024130/20631/48±0.0 pp10.7%
Water withdrawals20.8%202258/17710/47±0.0 pp9.0%
Source: World Bank, World Development Indicators (CC BY 4.0)
head to head

Compare Eritrea with its neighbours

EritreavsDjiboutiEthiopiavsEritreaSudanvsEritrea