Updated
Overview
Ethiopia has 38 times the population of Eritrea: 135.47 million people against 3.61 million (2025).
Ethiopia's economy is 61 times the size of Eritrea's, at $126.36B versus $2.07B.
Per person, Ethiopia is the wealthier of the two: $933 against $689 in GDP per capita.
Population
GDP (nominal)
GDP per capita
The full table
| Indicator | Ethiopia | Eritrea | Years | Factbook, Jan 2026 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Economy | ||||
| GDP (nominal) | Higher: $126.36B | $2.07B | 2025 / 2011 | $126.77B / — |
| GDP per capita | Higher: $933 | $689 | 2025 / 2011 | — / — |
| GDP growth | Higher: 9.8% | 8.7% | 2025 / 2011 | — / — |
| Inflation | 13.2% | — | 2025 | 21.0% / — |
| Unemployment | Lower: 3.3% | 6.0% | 2025 | — / — |
| Price level (US=100) | 37 | — | 2024 | — / — |
| Avg monthly earnings | $96 | — | 2021 | — / — |
| People | ||||
| Population | 135.47 million | 3.61 million | 2025 | 121.37 million / 6.42 million |
| Population growth | 2.6% | 2.0% | 2025 | — / — |
| Median age | 19.1 yrs | 19.2 yrs | 2025 | — / — |
| Fertility rate | 3.81 | 3.61 | 2025 | — / — |
| Life expectancy | 67.6 yrs | Higher: 68.9 yrs | 2024 | — / — |
| Urban population | 24% | 35% | 2025 | — / — |
| Internet users | Higher: 22% | 14% | 2024 / 2020 | — / — |
| Geography | ||||
| Area | 1,104,300 km² | 117,600 km² | — | — / — |
| Population density | 122.7/km² | 30.7/km² | 2025 | — / — |
| Environment | ||||
| CO2 emissions | 18 Mt | Lower: 0.74 Mt | 2024 | — / — |
| CO2 per capita | Lower: 0.1 t | 0.2 t | 2024 | — / — |
| Military | ||||
| Military spending | $921.67M | $181.58M | 2024 / 2003 | — / — |
| Military spending (% GDP) | 0.7% | 20.9% | 2024 / 2003 | — / — |
| Armed forces personnel | 138,000 | 202,000 | 2020 | — / — |
Sources by row: World Bank WDI, IMF WEO, UN WPP 2024, ILOSTAT, The Economist. Emphasis marks the stronger figure where one direction is meaningfully better.
Reading the numbers
Economy
Ethiopia is growing faster: 9.8% annual GDP growth versus 8.7%.
People and society
Demographically the two are similar, with median ages of 19.1 (Ethiopia) and 19.2 (Eritrea).
Life expectancy is 1.3 years longer in Eritrea (68.9 vs 67.6).
Eritrea is considerably more urbanized: 35% of people live in cities, against 24%.
Geography
By land area, Ethiopia is 9.4 times the size of Eritrea: 1,104,300 km² versus 117,600 km².
The two share a land border, which shapes their trade, migration, and security relationship.
Ethiopia is far more densely settled: 123 people per km² against 31.
Military
Ethiopia spends 5.1 times as much on defence as Eritrea: $921.67M versus $181.58M (World Bank/SIPRI data).
Relative to its economy, Eritrea carries the heavier military burden: 20.9% of GDP versus 0.7%.
Eritrea fields the larger armed forces: 202,000 personnel against 138,000 (note: personnel data lags; observation years shown in the table).
Frequently asked
- Is Ethiopia bigger than Eritrea?
- Ethiopia is larger by land area. Ethiopia covers 1,104,300 km² while Eritrea covers 117,600 km², so Ethiopia is 9.4 times the size of the other.
- Which has more people, Ethiopia or Eritrea?
- Ethiopia has the larger population: 135.47 million versus 3.61 million (World Bank, 2025).
- Is Ethiopia richer than Eritrea?
- Measured by GDP per capita, Ethiopia is richer: $933 against $689. Total GDP tells the same story: $126.36B for Ethiopia versus $2.07B for Eritrea.
- Who spends more on their military, Ethiopia or Eritrea?
- Ethiopia spends more: $921.67M versus $181.58M per year (World Bank, SIPRI-derived data; observation years vary).