World Finance Atlas
187 economies · 2025–26
Atlas · Africa · ERI

Eritrea

Capital AsmaraCurrency ERNRegion Africa
Output · rank 176/187
$3B
People · rank 132/187
3.7M
Land · rank 103/187
101K km²
GDP per person
$811
Density
36.6 /km²

Government debt

158.0%gross debt, share of GDP
$5Boutstanding, rank 148 of 178
Perimeter
General government
Basis
Gross, not net
Valuation
Nominal
Debt per person
$1,270
Net of assets
not published
Source
IMF World Economic Outlook / Fiscal Monitor
What this number does not tell youThe most misread figure in public finance. Perimeter varies by country — the IMF notes its Fiscal Monitor tables use a narrower perimeter for China than its Article IV estimates, and published figures for Japan range from roughly 200% to 250% depending on perimeter and valuation, both citing the IMF. Debt in a currency the government issues is a fundamentally different instrument from debt it must earn or borrow to service; this ratio does not distinguish them.

GDP over time

Nominal GDP, Eritrea, 20102011. Up 30% over the period in dollar terms.

$0B$1B$2B20102011

Source: IMF World Economic Outlook · nominal USD, not inflation-adjusted

Private-sector debt

The BIS publishes household and corporate credit for 44 economies. Eritrea is not among them, so no comparable private-debt figure exists.
This is a gap in global data coverage, not a value of zero.

Currency & monetary policy

Currency
ERN
Regime
Conventional peg (USD)
Central bank
Policy rate
A pegged or fixed regime — monetary policy is anchored to the currency it tracks, limiting independent rate-setting.

Against its region and the world

Where Eritrea sits relative to the Africa average and the world average.

GDP per person (USD)
This country811
Region average1,882
World average14,013
Population density (per km²)
This country37
Region average53
World average64
Debt to GDP (%)
This country158
Region average66
World average95

Major banks

Largest institutions headquartered in Eritrea, by total assets. Assets, not market value — the two rank very differently.

All banks →
InstitutionHeadquartersTotal assetsvs. national GDP
1Housing and Commerce Bank EritreaAsmara$1B33%

All figures

Nominal GDP
$3B
Share of world output
0.00%
Population
3.7M
Share of world population
0.05%
Land area
101,000 km²
Share of world land
0.08%
GDP per person
$811
GDP per km²
$29,703
Population density
36.6 /km²
Government debt
158.0%
Debt outstanding
$5B

Closest by output in Africa

Burundi$3B72.5%
Central African Republic$3B52.7%
Gambia$3B70.5%
Cape Verde$3B110.5%
Djibouti$4B32.4%

Nearest neighbours by nominal output within the same region. Third column is debt to GDP.

Where these figures come from

Nominal GDPGross domestic product at current market prices, converted to US dollars at market exchange rates. Not adjusted for purchasing power.
IMF World Economic Outlook
2025 estimate
PopulationTotal resident population, mid-year estimate.
UN World Population Prospects
2025 estimate
Land areaTotal land area, excluding inland water where the source reports it separately.
UN Statistics Division
2024
General government gross debtGross debt of the general government sector as a share of GDP. Gross means government-held financial assets are not netted off.
IMF World Economic Outlook / Fiscal Monitor
2025–26 estimate
Bank total assetsTotal assets for the most recent reporting period: cash, loans, investments, property and equipment.
S&P Global Market Intelligence
2026 ranking
Net government debtGovernment debt net of its financial assets, as a share of GDP.
IMF Fiscal Monitor
2025–26 estimate
Household debtCredit to households and non-profits serving them, as a share of GDP.
BIS credit statistics
2024–25
Corporate debtCredit to non-financial corporations, as a share of GDP.
BIS credit statistics
2024–25
Exchange rate regimeHow the currency is managed: free floating, floating, pegged, currency board, or no separate legal tender.
IMF AREAER
2025
Central bank policy rateThe main policy interest rate set by the central bank.
Central banks / BIS
mid-2026, live
Residential house pricesYear-on-year change in residential property prices, nominal and inflation-adjusted.
BIS / OECD residential property
latest quarter