Eritrea: public finances
5 answers, 1 from Eritrea's own official bodies, with a link to each figure.
What is Eritrea's government budget?
No official budget, deficit or debt figures were found on the sites of the Ministry of Finance (mof.gov.er) and the Bank of Eritrea (boe.gov.er), checked on 15 October 2026. The Ministry of Finance site returned a server error (502) and the Bank of Eritrea site did not respond.
No budget documents were found online, and the IMF DataMapper holds no fiscal figures for Eritrea. Questions about the budget, military spending or public debt therefore cannot be answered from an official source that can be read today. The Ministry of Information site carries government statements but no budget tables.
International comparisons
The figures below use one definition for every country, so they can differ from national figures.
What is Eritrea's national debt?
The IMF puts general government gross debt in Eritrea at 260.4% of GDP in 2019. The peak was 290.4% of GDP in 2017 and the low 171.6% of GDP in 2011. It is 1st highest of 47 in Sub-Saharan Africa, where the median is 52.8% of GDP. Worldwide: 1st of 186.
Does Eritrea's government borrow more than it raises?
The IMF puts general government net lending or borrowing in Eritrea at 2.7% of GDP in 2019. Its high point since 2005 was 2018, at 5.2% of GDP; its low point was 2008, at -38.0% of GDP. Across Sub-Saharan Africa the middle value was -2.6% of GDP, and Eritrea placed 2nd highest of 48. Of 189 countries with 2019 data, 15th highest.
How much revenue does Eritrea's government raise?
In 2019, general government revenue in Eritrea was 34.0% of GDP, according to the IMF. Its high point since 2005 was 2005, at 45.6% of GDP; its low point was 2014, at 21.5% of GDP. Across Sub-Saharan Africa the middle value was 18.4% of GDP, and Eritrea placed 3rd highest of 48. Worldwide: 60th of 188.
What is Eritrea's government spending?
In 2019, general government spending in Eritrea was 31.3% of GDP, according to the IMF. Its high point since 2005 was 2005, at 76.6% of GDP; its low point was 2014, at 21.6% of GDP. Sub-Saharan Africa median: 20.4% of GDP; Eritrea is 10th highest of 47. Worldwide: 88th of 187.
Official bodies in Eritrea
More about Eritrea
Read on 14 October 2026. Definitions · Report an error