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FDIstats

Country profile

Eritrea

Sub-Saharan Africa · Low income · Capital: Asmara

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Key figures, 2024

FDI inflows 2024

−$28 m

Inflows % of GDP

1.9%

141st of 195 economies (2011)

FDI outflows

−$28 m

in 2000

Net FDI

—

Needs both flows

FDI % of investment

—

No GFCF data

In 2024, Eritrea recorded FDI net inflows of −$28 m, compared with $2 m in 2023. Its 2019–2023 average was −$30 m. By value, that ranks 181st of 195 economies with data for 2024. Inflows peaked at $91 m in 2009 (data begin in 1992). A negative figure means that disinvestment and repayments of intra-company loans by foreign investors exceeded new investment during the year. Inflows were equivalent to 1.9% of GDP in 2011 — below the Sub-Saharan Africa aggregate (2.6%) and below the world as a whole (3.1%).

About this summary

Generated automatically from World Bank data. Figures are balance-of-payments net flows in current US$; 2024 is the latest year with broad coverage across economies.

Trends

FDI flows over time

FDI inflows and outflows, Eritrea

Net flows, current US$ (balance-of-payments basis)

  • Inflows
  • Outflows

Source: World Bank, World Development Indicators (CC BY 4.0). Indicators BX.KLT.DINV.CD.WD and BM.KLT.DINV.CD.WD.

Inflows as a share of GDP

Eritrea compared with its region and the world

  • Eritrea
  • Sub-Saharan Africa (aggregate)
  • World

Source: World Bank, World Development Indicators (CC BY 4.0). Indicator BX.KLT.DINV.WD.GD.ZS.

External financing mix

FDI vs remittances, aid and portfolio equity, current US$

  • FDI inflows
  • Aid (ODA)

FDI is only one of the ways foreign money reaches an economy. For many developing economies, remittances from workers abroad or official aid are larger and more stable; portfolio equity is typically the most volatile.

Source: World Bank, World Development Indicators (CC BY 4.0). Indicators BX.KLT.DINV.CD.WD, BX.TRF.PWKR.CD.DT, DT.ODA.ODAT.CD, BX.PEF.TOTL.CD.WD.

Economy at a glance

The economy behind the investment

The macroeconomic, trade and workforce indicators investors and trade officials look at alongside FDI — latest year, 15-year trend and regional and world benchmarks.

Size & growth

GDP

$2.1 bn2011

182nd of 214

GDP per capita

$6892011

202nd of 214Region $1,796World $10,497

GNI per capita (PPP)

$1,7202011

181st of 196Region $3,628World $13,559

Population

3.6 m2025

131st of 217

Population growth

2.0%2025

50th of 217Region 2.4%World 0.9%

Trade & structure

Exports of goods & services

$375 m2011

162nd of 179

Imports of goods & services

$604 m2011

163rd of 179

Trade openness (% of GDP)

47.4%2011

156th of 179Region 65.2%World 59.3%

Manufacturing, % of GDP

5.5%2009

150th of 189Region 10.6%World 15.5%

Workforce & innovation

Labour force

1.8 m2025

126th of 182

Internet users, % of population

14.3%2020

176th of 184Region 26.7%World 60.1%

Source: World Bank, World Development Indicators. Latest available year shown for each indicator; ranks are among economies reporting that year (highest = 1st). Region = World Bank regional aggregate. Growth, inflation, unemployment, the current account and government debt are shown in the IMF table above where the IMF covers the economy.

Who invests

Source and destination economies

Direct investment positions (stocks) by immediate counterpart economy, as reported to the OECD.

Explore bilateral data

No bilateral positions for this economy

Bilateral FDI positions are available for OECD-reporting economies. See who invests where to explore partners of reporting economies, which include many investors in Eritrea.
Investment relationship with AustraliaTwo-way direct investment between Australia and Eritrea, from ABS and OECD data.

Structure & policy

Sectors and FDI openness

Inward FDI positions by sector

No sector breakdown

Positions by industry are published for OECD-reporting economies only, and not every reporter releases a full breakdown.

FDI Regulatory Restrictiveness

Index

Not covered by the index

The OECD FDI Regulatory Restrictiveness Index covers OECD members and around 30 other economies. See covered economies.

Peers

Similar-sized economies in Sub-Saharan Africa

The six economies in the same World Bank region with the closest GDP, ranked by FDI inflows as a share of GDP (2024).

Compare over time
  1. 🇸🇨Seychelles10.2%
  2. 🇬🇲The Gambia9.7%
  3. 🇨🇻Cabo Verde4.0%
  4. 🇪🇷Eritrea(2011)1.9%
  5. 🇬🇼Guinea-Bissau1.2%
  6. 🇰🇲Comoros0.4%
  7. 🇱🇸Lesotho−0.5%

Sources & notes

World Bank, World Development Indicators

  • FDI net inflows — BX.KLT.DINV.CD.WD
  • FDI net outflows — BM.KLT.DINV.CD.WD
  • FDI net inflows, % of GDP — BX.KLT.DINV.WD.GD.ZS
  • Gross fixed capital formation — NE.GDI.FTOT.CD
  • Personal remittances received — BX.TRF.PWKR.CD.DT
  • Net official development assistance received — DT.ODA.ODAT.CD
  • Portfolio equity net inflows — BX.PEF.TOTL.CD.WD
  • Real GDP growth — NY.GDP.MKTP.KD.ZG
  • Inflation (annual average) — FP.CPI.TOTL.ZG
  • Unemployment rate — SL.UEM.TOTL.ZS
  • Current account balance, % of GDP — BN.CAB.XOKA.GD.ZS
  • Exports of goods & services — NE.EXP.GNFS.CD
  • Central government debt, % of GDP — GC.DOD.TOTL.GD.ZS

OECD: FDI statistics by partner economy and by industry (Benchmark Definition, 4th edition) and the FDI Regulatory Restrictiveness Index.

Flows vs positions. Charts on this page show annual balance-of-payments flows. Bilateral and sector figures are positions (accumulated stocks) and are not directly comparable.

Negative values. Net flows can be negative when foreign investors withdraw capital or intra-company loans are repaid faster than new investment arrives.

Timing. Headline figures use 2024, the latest year with broad coverage across economies; charts also show any newer early estimates. Rankings cover economies only, not aggregates.

Counterparts. Bilateral data record the immediate counterpart, so financial centres and conduit economies can appear larger than the ultimate investors behind them.

WDI data updated 2026-07-13Sources & methods