National Debt (% of GDP): Eritrea

Analysis# Eritrea National Debt (% of GDP) Eritrea's national debt reached 260.4% of GDP in 2019, reflecting a country burdened by substantial fiscal obligations relative to its economic output. This figure sits 30 percentage points below the all-time peak of 290.4% in 2017, yet remains significantly elevated compared to the low of 171.6% recorded in 2011. Since 2000, national debt has climbed 18.8 percentage points, indicating persistent structural challenges in debt management over two decades. The period from 2015 to 2017 marked Eritrea's most critical debt accumulation phase, with debt spiking from 271.4% to 290.4% in just two years. The subsequent decline through 2019 suggests some stabilization, though the downward trajectory remains modest. At current levels, Eritrea's debt burden continues to constrain fiscal flexibility and economic development prospects, positioning debt reduction as a critical medium-term priority.