Economy - overview:
Since formal independence from Ethiopia in 1993, Eritrea has faced many economic problems, including lack of financial resources and chronic drought. Eritrea has a command economy under the control of the sole political party, the People's Front for Democracy and Justice. Like the economies of many African nations, a large share of the population - nearly 80% in Eritrea - is engaged in subsistence agriculture, but the sector only produces a small share of the country's total output. Mining accounts for the lion's share of output.

The government has strictly controlled the use of foreign currency by limiting access and availability; new regulations in 2013 aimed at relaxing currency controls have had little economic effect. Few large private enterprises exist in Eritrea and most operate in conjunction with government partners, including a number of large international mining ventures, which began production in 2013. In late 2015, the Government of Eritrea introduced a new currency, retaining the name nakfa, and restricted the amount of hard currency individuals could withdraw from banks per month. The changeover has resulted in exchange fluctuations and the scarcity of hard currency available in the market.

While reliable statistics on Eritrea are difficult to obtain, erratic rainfall and the large percentage of the labor force tied up in military service continue to interfere with agricultural production and economic development. Eritrea's harvests generally cannot meet the food needs of the country without supplemental grain purchases. Copper, potash, and gold production are likely to continue to drive limited economic growth and government revenue over the next few years, but military spending will continue to compete with development and investment plans.

GDP (purchasing power parity):
$9.402 billion (2017 est.)
$8.953 billion (2016 est.)
$8.791 billion (2015 est.)
note: data are in 2017 dollars
country comparison to the world (CIA rank, may be based on non-current data): 161
[see also: GDP country ranks ]

GDP (official exchange rate):
$5.813 billion (2017 est.)
[see also: GDP (official exchange rate) country ranks ]

GDP - real growth rate:
5% (2017 est.)
1.9% (2016 est.)
2.6% (2015 est.)
country comparison to the world (CIA rank, may be based on non-current data): 49
[see also: GDP - real growth rate country ranks ]

GDP - per capita (PPP):
$1,600 (2017 est.)
$1,500 (2016 est.)
$1,500 (2015 est.)
note: data are in 2017 dollars
country comparison to the world (CIA rank, may be based on non-current data): 217
[see also: GDP - per capita country ranks ]

Gross national saving:
5.5% of GDP (2017 est.)
6% of GDP (2016 est.)
6.8% of GDP (2015 est.)
country comparison to the world (CIA rank, may be based on non-current data): 174
[see also: Gross national saving country ranks ]

GDP - composition, by end use:
household consumption: 80.9% (2017 est.)
[see also: GDP - composition, by end use - household consumption country ranks ]
government consumption: 24.3% (2017 est.)
[see also: GDP - composition, by end use - government consumption country ranks ]
investment in fixed capital: 6.4% (2017 est.)
[see also: GDP - composition, by end use - investment in fixed capital country ranks ]
investment in inventories: 0.1% (2017 est.)
[see also: GDP - composition, by end use - investment in inventories country ranks ]
exports of goods and services: 10.9% (2017 est.)
[see also: GDP - composition, by end use - exports of goods and services country ranks ]
imports of goods and services: -22.5% (2017 est.)
[see also: GDP - composition, by end use - imports of goods and services country ranks ]

GDP - composition, by sector of origin:
agriculture: 11.7% (2017 est.)
[see also: GDP - composition, by sector of origin - agriculture country ranks ]
industry: 29.6% (2017 est.)
[see also: GDP - composition, by sector of origin - industry country ranks ]
services: 58.7% (2017 est.)
[see also: GDP - composition, by sector of origin - services country ranks ]

Agriculture - products:
sorghum, lentils, vegetables, corn, cotton, tobacco, sisal; livestock, goats; fish

Industries:
food processing, beverages, clothing and textiles, light manufacturing, salt, cement

Industrial production growth rate:
5.4% (2017 est.)
country comparison to the world (CIA rank, may be based on non-current data): 52
[see also: Industrial production growth rate country ranks ]

Labor force:
2.71 million (2017 est.)
country comparison to the world (CIA rank, may be based on non-current data): 111
[see also: Labor force country ranks ]

Labor force - by occupation:
agriculture: 80%
[see also: Labor force - by occupation - agriculture country ranks ]
industry: 20% (2004 est.)
[see also: Labor force - by occupation - industry country ranks ]

Unemployment rate:
5.8% (2017 est.)
10% (2016 est.)
country comparison to the world (CIA rank, may be based on non-current data): 87
[see also: Unemployment rate country ranks ]

Population below poverty line:
50% (2004 est.)
[see also: Population below poverty line country ranks ]

Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: NA
[see also: Household income or consumption by percentage share - lowest 10% country ranks ]
highest 10%: NA
[see also: Household income or consumption by percentage share - highest 10% country ranks ]

Budget:
revenues: 2.029 billion (2017 est.)
[see also: Budget - revenues country ranks ]
expenditures: 2.601 billion (2017 est.)
[see also: Budget - expenditures country ranks ]

Taxes and other revenues:
34.9% (of GDP) (2017 est.)
country comparison to the world (CIA rank, may be based on non-current data): 64
[see also: Taxes and other revenues country ranks ]

Budget surplus (+) or deficit (-):
-9.8% (of GDP) (2017 est.)
country comparison to the world (CIA rank, may be based on non-current data): 209
[see also: Budget surplus (+) or deficit (-) country ranks ]

Public debt:
131.2% of GDP (2017 est.)
132.8% of GDP (2016 est.)
country comparison to the world (CIA rank, may be based on non-current data): 6
[see also: Public debt country ranks ]

Fiscal year:
calendar year

Inflation rate (consumer prices):
9% (2017 est.)
9% (2016 est.)
country comparison to the world (CIA rank, may be based on non-current data): 201
[see also: Inflation rate (consumer prices) country ranks ]

Commercial bank prime lending rate:
NA
[see also: Commercial bank prime lending rate country ranks ]

Stock of narrow money:
$3.084 billion (31 December 2017 est.)
$2.734 billion (31 December 2016 est.)
country comparison to the world (CIA rank, may be based on non-current data): 121
[see also: Stock of narrow money country ranks ]

Stock of broad money:
$3.084 billion (31 December 2017 est.)
$2.734 billion (31 December 2016 est.)
country comparison to the world (CIA rank, may be based on non-current data): 127
[see also: Stock of broad money country ranks ]

Stock of domestic credit:
$5.787 billion (31 December 2017 est.)
$5.223 billion (31 December 2016 est.)
country comparison to the world (CIA rank, may be based on non-current data): 127
[see also: Stock of domestic credit country ranks ]

Current account balance:
-$137 million (2017 est.)
-$105 million (2016 est.)
country comparison to the world (CIA rank, may be based on non-current data): 90
[see also: Current account balance country ranks ]

Exports:
$624.3 million (2017 est.)
$485.4 million (2016 est.)
country comparison to the world (CIA rank, may be based on non-current data): 171
[see also: Exports country ranks ]

Exports - partners:
China 62%, South Korea 28.3% (2017)

Exports - commodities:
gold and other minerals, livestock, sorghum, textiles, food, small industry manufactures

Imports:
$1.127 billion (2017 est.)
$1.048 billion (2016 est.)
country comparison to the world (CIA rank, may be based on non-current data): 181
[see also: Imports country ranks ]

Imports - commodities:
machinery, petroleum products, food, manufactured goods

Imports - partners:
UAE 14.5%, China 13.2%, Saudi Arabia 13.2%, Italy 12.9%, Turkey 5.6%, South Africa 4.6% (2017)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:
$236.7 million (31 December 2017 est.)
$218.4 million (31 December 2016 est.)
country comparison to the world (CIA rank, may be based on non-current data): 171
[see also: Reserves of foreign exchange and gold country ranks ]

Debt - external:
$792.7 million (31 December 2017 est.)
$875.6 million (31 December 2016 est.)
country comparison to the world (CIA rank, may be based on non-current data): 170
[see also: Debt - external country ranks ]

Exchange rates:
nakfa (ERN) per US dollar -
15.38 (2017 est.)
15.375 (2016 est.)
15.375 (2015 est.)
15.375 (2014 est.)
15.375 (2013 est.)