Ethiopia
Everything Palanor holds about Ethiopia, in one place: 158 public signals, what its economy runs on, how often America’s largest companies name it, the news that names it, and Country Posture. Every figure is computed from stored readings and carries its source and date.
AfricaSub-Saharan AfricaBRICSMiddle East & Africa
The latest read
- GDP in current U.S. dollars: $126.4 billion (2025); 96th percentile since 1960; lowest since 2022; 1y −15.6%.
- Real GDP growth: 9.77% (2025); 79th percentile since 1962; highest since 2015; 1y +2.16 pts.
- Consumer price inflation: 13.2% (2025); 69th percentile since 1966; lowest since 2017; 1y −7.81 pts.
- Unemployment: 3.32% (2025); 73rd percentile since 1991; lowest since 2019; 1y −0.04 pts.
- Household consumption, share of GDP: 80.9% of GDP (2025); record high since 2011; 1y +0.7 pts.
- Net exports, share of GDP: -6.89% of GDP (2025); 90th percentile since 2011; 1y −0.57 pts.
Country Posture
What Ethiopia’s economy is doing
Momentum
2025Inputs only. Did not pass the pre-registered back-test: 1996–2009: AUC 0.590 below 0.60; AUC 0.590 below the single-input baseline (0.624); 2010–2022: AUC 0.595 below 0.60; AUC 0.595 below the single-input baseline (0.641).
Inputs
| Real GDP growth | 9.8 |
| Growth against its three-year average | 3.3 |
| Change in unemployment | -0.0 |
| Change in the employment rate | 0.0 |
| Export volume growth | — |
| OECD leading indicator | — |
Resilience
202536Moderate buffers
0 = thin buffers · 100 = deep buffers
Moved most by governance (wgi mean) (up) since the year before.
Inputs
| Interest as a share of revenue (2024) | 12.6 | 19 |
| Budget balance (2024) | -1.9 | 66 |
| Reserves, months of imports (2024) | 1.8 | 16 |
| Current account (2024) | -2.5 | 61 |
| Governance (WGI mean) | -0.96 | 26 |
| External debt | — | — |
Pressure
2024Inputs only. Did not pass the pre-registered back-test: 1996–2009: AUC 0.657 below the single-input baseline (0.672).
Inputs
| Inflation | 21.0 |
| Change in inflation | -9.2 |
| Currency move against the dollar | 41.4% |
| Conflict deaths per million | 31.5 |
| Political stability | -1.84 |
| Private credit, three-year change | — |
| Bond spread over U.S. Treasuries | — |
Posture describes what an economy is doing; it is not a rating and never ranks countries. Each input is read against the country’s own history and against every other economy that year. An axis shows a score only after passing a back-test fixed before any result was computed. Method and back-test.
Country Schemas
Where Ethiopia is in its cycles
Where Ethiopia sits in eight long cycles, each read from published statistics against a method fixed before any reading was computed. A stage describes; it is not a rating, and no stage is better or worse than another.
- Development stage
Pre-take-off93% · 2025
Pre-take-offTake-offDrive to maturityHigh mass consumption20002025
- Demographic stage
Early expanding67% · 2025
High stationaryEarly expandingLate expandingLow stationaryDeclining20002025
- Debt cycle stage
Withheld.
Early cycleLeveragingLate cycleDeleveraging20002025
Withheld: too little of its evidence is published and fresh.
- External balance stage
Immature debtor97% · 2025
Immature debtorMature debtorDebt repayerImmature creditorMature creditorCredit disinvestor20002025
- Export structure stage
Commodity-reliant99% · 2025
Commodity-reliantDiversifyingManufacturing exporterComplex exporter20002025
- Structural pressure
Acute96% · 2025
LowBuildingHighAcute20002025
- Middle-class stage
Pre-middle-class99% · 2025
Pre-middle-classEmerging middle classMiddle-class majorityAffluent20002025
- Electoral cycle
Post-election99% · 2026-10
Post-electionMid-termPre-election2021-072026-10
Passport reach
Where a Ethiopia passport opens doors
The share of world GDP, outside Ethiopia itself, in the economies whose published rules let a holder of this passport in, as of October 2026. Palanor records the rules of destinations holding 88% of world GDP, from each government’s own list, and weights them by World Bank GDP for 2025. Rank is among 199 passports.
Work
13.0%rank 67 of 199
the right to work (free movement in full; treaty and working-holiday routes at half); 0 destinations in full, 1 at half.
Reach is shown here and not weighted into Country Strength: it rewards membership of a free-movement area or a treaty more than the strength of an economy. Entry is always at the border officer’s discretion, and conditions (length of stay, fees, age limits) vary. Method, sources and the full ranking: Passports and citizenship.
Palanor calculation from each destination government's published rules; GDP weights from the World Bank (CC BY 4.0), one year for the whole line, so it moves only when a list changes.
GDP by expenditure
What Ethiopia’s economy runs on
In 2025, household spending was 80.9% of GDP, government consumption 5.8%, investment 20.1% and net exports -6.9% (exports 13.3%, imports 20.2%).
World Bank national accounts. The parts can miss 100 by a few points (the statistical discrepancy).
Same World Bank definition for every country, so the shares compare directly: What each economy runs on.
IMF World Economic Outlook
The IMF’s outlook for Ethiopia
The latest year before the October 2026 edition (often still an IMF estimate) and the IMF’s own projections. These are the IMF’s published forecasts, shown as published; Palanor does not project them further. Since the previous edition the IMF raised its growth forecast for this year by 0.0 percentage points (Palanor calculation).
| Measure | 2025 | 2026 IMF f’cast | 2027 IMF f’cast | 2031 IMF f’cast |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Real GDP growth% | 9.2 | 9.2 | 7.8 | 7.7 |
| Inflation, average consumer prices% | 16.0 | 11.7 | 12.3 | 6.7 |
| GDP, current US dollarsUS$ bn | 126.4 | 127.1 | 145.7 | 245.9 |
| GDP at purchasing-power parityintl $ bn | 497.3 | 561.3 | 624.0 | 916.1 |
| GDP per person, US dollarsUS$ | 1,142 | 1,131 | 1,277 | 2,022 |
| Current account balance% of GDP | -0.8 | -2.5 | -1.3 | -2.7 |
| Government gross debt% of GDP | 43.3 | 40.7 | 37.0 | 27.5 |
| Government net debt% of GDP | 40.9 | 38.8 | 35.5 | 26.8 |
| Government overall balance% of GDP | -1.2 | -2.0 | -1.2 | -1.6 |
| Government primary balance% of GDP | -0.4 | -0.7 | 0.1 | -0.1 |
| Government net interest paid% of GDP · Palanor calc. | 0.8 | 1.3 | 1.3 | 1.5 |
Source: IMF World Economic Outlook Database (edition on the projection). Dashed: the IMF's published projection.
Source: IMF World Economic Outlook Database (edition on the projection). Dashed: the IMF's published projection.
Source: IMF World Economic Outlook Database, October 2026. Provided by the IMF “as is” and free of charge from the IMF; the IMF does not endorse Palanor. Net interest paid is a Palanor calculation: the IMF's primary balance minus its overall balance.
Charts
The headline series
Conflict
Organized violence
News
In the news
- Ethiopia's Abiy names new Tigray government, wants polls in six months reut.rs/4BevgkQ
Reuters · Bluesky2026-10-16neutral
- During the previous war, Eritrea and the Fano fought alongside Abiy Ahmed’s government against Tigray rebels. Since then Ethiopia’s leader has fallen out with his past allies
The Economist · Bluesky2026-10-14negative · -war
- Ethiopia and Eritrea now look to be closer to a direct conflict than at any time since 1998-2000, when they fought a war which killed tens of thousands. We explain why
The Economist · Bluesky2026-10-13negative · -conflict -war -killed
- Ethiopia launches its first gold refinery, Prime Minister says
MINING.COM · Gold2026-10-12neutral
- Ethiopia says it must defend itself against Eritrea's 'all-out invasion' reut.rs/4jH1K0A
Reuters · Bluesky2026-10-09neutral
- Drones target Eritrean troops inside Ethiopia, conflict monitor says reut.rs/4yzZQU9
Reuters · Bluesky2026-10-08negative · -conflict
- As Eritrean forces advance in Tigray, all-out war with Ethiopia seems almost inevitable
The Economist · Bluesky2026-10-08negative · -war
- Ethiopia names Fitsum as new finance minister reut.rs/4ATWddl
Reuters · Bluesky2026-10-08neutral
- Ethiopia said it had recaptured the capital of Tigray, dealing a major blow to the military alliance that launched an offensive against government forces last month.
www.semafor.com/article/10/0...
Semafor · Bluesky2026-10-06neutral
- Washington has picked a side in Ethiopia’s new war, argues Cameron Hudson.
Read his full view:
www.semafor.com/article/10/0...
Semafor · Bluesky2026-10-05negative · -war
- Airstrikes and artillery hit north Ethiopia after Tigray capital's fall, aid sources say reut.rs/3TDsFQq
Reuters · Bluesky2026-10-05negative · -fall
- Government forces seize capital of Ethiopia's Tigray region from rebels reut.rs/4AKUOWe
Reuters · Bluesky2026-10-04neutral
- The African Union urged Ethiopia and its neighbors to exercise restraint as growing tensions threaten to destabilize the region.
www.semafor.com/article/10/0...
Semafor · Bluesky2026-10-03neutral
- Pro-government forces say they retake airport in Ethiopia's Tigray region reut.rs/4i1mu1G
Reuters · Bluesky2026-10-03neutral
Headlines that name Ethiopia, matched by name with fixed rules (a wrong match is worse than a missing one). Tone is read from each headline’s own words; no model reads or summarizes an article, and other publishers’ stories link out.
Signals
Every series about Ethiopia
Grouped by theme, the most-read first. All 158 in the Library.
Growth and output10 of 36
- Population, Historical (Maddison): Ethiopiarecord high since 1; 1y +2.6%117,924,420 people2022
- GDP per Person, Historical (Maddison): Ethiopiarecord high since 1950; 1y +4.5%2,289.42022
- GDP, Historical (Maddison): Ethiopiarecord high since 1950; 1y +7.2%2702022
- Ethiopia · GDP · USD bn (current)96th percentile since 1960; lowest since 2022; 1y −15.6%$126.4bn2025
- Ethiopia · Real GDP Growth · % y/y79th percentile since 1962; highest since 2015; 1y +2.16 pts9.77%2025
- Ethiopia · Agriculture, Forestry and Fishing Value Added · % of GDP3rd percentile since 1981; lowest since 2018; 1y −1.96 pts32.8% of GDP2025
- Ethiopia · Industry (incl. Construction) Value Added · % of GDPrecord high since 1981; 1y +2.41 pts27.8% of GDP2025
- Ethiopia · Manufacturing Value Added · % of GDP32nd percentile since 1981; lowest since 2014; 1y −0.191 pts4.2% of GDP2025
- Ethiopia · Services Value Added · % of GDP50th percentile since 1981; lowest since 2022; 1y −0.897 pts36.6% of GDP2025
- Ethiopia · Country Strength51st percentile since 1990; highest since 2020; 1y +15.0%33 index2025
Prices1 of 3
- Ethiopia · Inflation · CPI % y/y69th percentile since 1966; lowest since 2017; 1y −7.81 pts13.2%2025
Jobs and people at work3 of 4
- Ethiopia · Female Labor Force Participation · %13th percentile since 1990; highest since 2020; 1y +0.07 pts58.5%2025
- Ethiopia · Male Labor Force Participation · %record low since 1990; 1y −0.08 pts78.6%2025
- Ethiopia · Unemployment Rate · %73rd percentile since 1991; lowest since 2019; 1y −0.04 pts3.32%2025
Government and debt8
- Ethiopia · Budget Balance · % GDP95th percentile since 1980; highest since 2012; 1y +0.801-1.19 pct_gdp2025
- Ethiopia · Government Spending · % GDP5th percentile since 1980; highest since 2022; 1y +26.3%12 pct_gdp2025
- Ethiopia · Net Interest · % GDP47th percentile since 1980; highest since 2005; 1y +36.5%0.8 pct_gdp2025
- Ethiopia · Primary Balance · % GDP97th percentile since 1980; highest since 1997; 1y +1.01-0.39 pct_gdp2025
- Ethiopia · Budget Balance · % GDP (central govt)81st percentile since 1990; highest since 2020; 1y +0.4-1.91 pct_gdp2024
- Ethiopia · Government Debt · % GDP16th percentile since 1992; highest since 2022; 1y +29.2%43.3 pct_gdp2025
- Ethiopia · Interest · % of Revenue (central govt)78th percentile since 1990; 1y +2.60 pts12.6%2024
- Ethiopia · Interest · % of Expense (central govt)62nd percentile since 1990; 1y −1.29 pts9.03%2023
Trade and capital flows1 of 2
- Ethiopia · Current Account · % GDP53rd percentile since 1977; highest since 2010; 1y +0.99-2.53 pct_gdp2024
Conflict and geopolitics6 of 12
- Ethiopia · Organized-Violence Deaths (UCDP, annual)77th percentile since 1989; highest since 2022; 1y +31.2%5,458 deaths2025
- Ethiopia · State-Based Conflict Deaths (UCDP, annual)77th percentile since 1989; highest since 2022; 1y +50.1%4,331 deaths2025
- Ethiopia · Governance · WGI six-dimension mean35th percentile since 1996; highest since 2022; 1y +0.046-0.97 index2025
- Ethiopia · Political Stability · WGI13th percentile since 1996; 1y −0.016-1.85 index2025
- Ethiopia · Regulatory Quality · WGI91st percentile since 1996; highest since 2010; 1y +0.117-0.73 index2025
- Ethiopia · Rule of Law · WGI24th percentile since 1996; highest since 2022; 1y +0.068-0.94 index2025
Migration3 of 5
- International Migrant Stock: Ethiopia (UN)record high since 19901,168,455 people2024
- International Migrants as a Share of Population: Ethiopia (UN)81st percentile since 1990; highest since 19900.88% of population2024
- Change in Migrant Share of Population Since 2000: Ethiopia (UN)0.422024
AI stance and technology1 of 2
- AI User Share: Ethiopia (Microsoft AI Diffusion)1y +1.60 pts8% of people aged 15-642026-06-30
Climate and the physical world5 of 7
- Ethiopia · Arable Land · % of land92nd percentile since 1993; 1y unchanged14.6% of land area2024
- Ethiopia · Forest Area · % of landrecord low since 1993; 1y unchanged23.8%2024
- Ethiopia · Renewable Freshwater · m³ per personrecord low since 1993; 1y −2.6%9732022
- Ethiopia Burned Area (GWIS)10th percentile since 2002; 1y +8.5%4.362025
- Ethiopia · PM2.5 Exposure · µg/m³11th percentile since 1990; lowest since 1995; 1y −4.9%26.2 µg/m³2020
Health and living standards10 of 26
- Births: Ethiopiarecord high since 1950; 1y +1.0%4,105,6852023
- Deaths: Ethiopia49th percentile since 1950; 1y +0.4%767,0182023
- Fertility Rate: Ethiopiarecord low since 1950; 1y −2.3%3.992023
- Median Age: Ethiopiarecord high since 1950; 1y +1.1%18.7 years2023
- Population Aged 65 and Over: Ethiopiarecord high since 1950; 1y +0.047 pts3.17% of population2023
- Population: Ethiopiarecord high since 1950; 1y +2.6%128,691,692 people2023
- Ethiopia · Life Expectancy at Birth · yearsrecord high since 1960; 1y +0.4%67.6 years2024
- Under-Five Mortality: Ethiopiarecord low since 1966; 1y −13.6%44.52024
- Ethiopia · Neonatal Mortality Rate · deaths per 1,000 live birthsrecord low since 1977; 1y −2.7%25.22024
- Ethiopia · Measles Immunization Coverage · % of children 12–23 monthsrecord high since 1980; 1y +4.00 pts72%2024
Sentiment and attention1
- Ethiopia · Search Attention84th percentile since Oct 202562 index2026-09-27
More about this country2 of 16
- Ethiopia · IMF Credit Outstanding · USD bn (IMF)record high since Aug 1948; 1y +30.7%$2.86bn2026-09-01
- Ethiopia · IMF Credit Outstanding, % of GDP88th percentile since 1980; highest since 2004; 1y +0.893 pts1.7% of GDP2025
Peers
Elsewhere in Africa
Alphabetical. Palanor does not rank countries.
AlgeriaAngolaBeninBotswanaBritish Indian Ocean TerritoryBurkina FasoBurundiCabo VerdeCameroonCentral African RepublicChadComorosCongoCôte d'IvoireDjiboutiDR CongoEgyptEquatorial GuineaEritreaEswatiniGabonGambiaGhanaGuineaGuinea-BissauKenyaLesothoLiberiaLibyaMadagascarMalawiMaliMauritaniaMauritiusMoroccoMozambiqueNamibiaNigerNigeriaRéunionRwandaSao Tome and PrincipeSenegalSeychellesSierra LeoneSomaliaSouth AfricaSouth SudanSudanTanzaniaTogoTunisiaUgandaZambiaZimbabwe