India and Eritrea
India and Eritrea connect training, agriculture and a history of Red Sea trade routes. Diplomatic consultations complement educational projects and food assistance.
Analysis reviewed: 2026-10-08 · Indicators updated: 2026-10-08History and institutional framework
India recognised Eritrea's independence in 1993 and opened a resident mission in August 2019.
Cooperation and bilateral issues
The Keren and Asmara memorials preserve the memory of Indian soldiers who died during the Second World War.
Cooperation and bilateral issues
The Keren and Asmara memorials preserve the memory of Indian soldiers who died during the Second World War.
Bilateral indicators
Blank cells: data unavailable.
| Indicator | Value | Period |
|---|---|---|
| Goods trade | ||
| Goods: India to Eritrea | ||
| Goods: Eritrea to India | ||
| Services trade | ||
| Export share: India to Eritrea | ||
| Export share: Eritrea to India | ||
| Investment stock: India in Eritrea | ||
| Investment stock: Eritrea in India |
Definitions and sources
Trade adds both directions. Shares refer to the country’s total goods exports; investment is an accumulated stock, not an annual flow. Every figure retains the currency and period of its source. BEA positions are historical-cost estimates based on the immediate counterpart, not market values or investment by ultimate owner. ‘More than’ indicates a lower bound, not an exact amount. A recorded stock does not establish new activity or authorisation to operate under sanctions.
Country comparison
Period and source beside each figure · est. = estimate by the stated institution.
| Indicator | India | Eritrea |
|---|---|---|
| Nominal GDP | 3.96 trillion USD2025 · WB | |
| GDP per capita | 2,702.48 USD2025 · WB | |
| GDP growth | 7.57 %2025 · WB | |
| Policy interest rate | 5.25 %2026-10-06 · RBI | |
| Inflation · annual average | 2.4 %Annual average · 2025 · WB | |
| Inflation · latest year-on-year figure | 4.82 %provisionalprovisionalYear-on-year · Aug. 2026 · MoSPI | |
| Unemployment | 4.22 %ILO est.2025 · WB | 5.98 %ILO est.2025 · WB |
| Budget balance (% of GDP) | -7.4 %IMF est.2025 · IMF | |
| Gross public debt (% of GDP) | 84.1 %IMF est.2025 · IMF | |
| Current account balance (% of GDP) | -0.42 %2025 · WB | |
| Population | 1,463,865,5252025 · WB | 3,607,0032025 · WB |
| Area | 3,287,260 km²2023 · BM / FAO | 121,766 km²2023 · WB |
| Military expenditure | ||
| Military expenditure (% of GDP) |
Definitions, dates and sources
Blank cells are not zero. Average annual inflation and the latest year-on-year figure appear in separate rows: they are not the same measure. Every annual indicator retains its reference year; when the years differ, the figures are identified as not directly comparable. When a figure is unavailable from the World Bank, an annual IMF estimate is used and identified as such. The latest year-on-year figure is the latest official release verified as of 7 October 2026. This includes advance releases marked as provisional. Mexico may have a fortnightly figure before the full month is published; it is not automatically compared with a monthly figure. The publication date is retained in each source’s details; it does not replace the observation period or the annual average. Policy rates carry their own dates and represent different instruments. Spain and France share the ECB rate. Balances are positive for surpluses and negative for deficits. The IMF may use fiscal years; unemployment retains each source’s definition (ILO estimates, IMF WEO or PCBS), as stated in the details. For Palestine, debt and the fiscal balance cover central government and retain the PCBS definition; they are not presented as consolidated general government. These are economic magnitudes, not measures of relationship quality.
Area retains each source’s territorial coverage; it does not determine sovereignty or effective control. Canada uses an archived national geographic reference. Military expenditure retains the 2024 SIPRI sample distributed by the World Bank: the amount and percentage of GDP use that same definition, which differs from NATO’s. It is not an approved budget or a 2026 figure. Information from the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI). Military expenditure database · Terms of use0
Indicators reviewed: 2026-10-07. Each source retains its original access date; this review does not turn all the data into 2026 observations. Figures may be revised.
- Nominal GDP
- Current USDIndia: 2025 · World Bank
- GDP per capita
- Current USD per personIndia: 2025 · World Bank
- GDP growth
- Annual real change (%)India: 2025 · World Bank
- Policy interest rate
- Central bank instrument (%)India: 2026-10-06 · RBI policy repo rate · Reserve Bank of India (RBI) · Access date for Current Rates; does not represent a new decision on 6 October. · Alternative official source; verified 2026-10-06
- Inflation · annual average
- Average annual change in headline CPI (%)India: 2025 · Average annual CPI change (%) · World Bank
- Inflation · latest year-on-year figure
- Headline CPI relative to the same period of the previous year (%); monthly or fortnightly frequency statedIndia: 2026-08 · Headline CPI change relative to the same month of the previous year (%) · MoSPI / Press Information Bureau, Government of India · Published: 2026-09-14 · provisional · Provisional · Combined rural and urban headline CPI, 2024 base; provisional MoSPI figure. Not food or wholesale inflation. Provisional figure or official advance release; subject to revision.
- Unemployment
- % of the labour force; definition used by the stated institutionIndia: 2025 · World Bank · ILO est.Eritrea: 2025 · ILO modelled estimate; percentage of the labour force · World Bank · ILO est. · Annual World Bank observation, with its original year; not monthly data.
- Budget balance
- General government (% of GDP)India: 2025 · IMF — World Economic Outlook · IMF est.
- Gross public debt
- General government (% of GDP)India: 2025 · IMF — World Economic Outlook · IMF est.
- Current account balance
- % of GDPIndia: 2025 · World Bank
- Population
- PeopleIndia: 2025 · World BankEritrea: 2025 · World Bank · Annual World Bank observation, with its original year; not monthly data.
- Area
- Total area in km²; territorial coverage of the sourceIndia: 2023 · Total area including inland waters; territorial coverage of the source · World Bank · FAOEritrea: 2023 · World Bank · Annual World Bank observation, with its original year; not monthly data.
- Military expenditure
- Current USD per year; SIPRI series
- Military expenditure (% of GDP)
- Percentage of GDP; SIPRI definition, not NATO’s definition
Other data specific to this relationship
What they buy and sell
Documented selection, not an exhaustive list. Cells without a figure do not mean zero value; some products are identified without a verified amount.
India to Eritrea
| Product or sector | Value / share |
|---|---|
Eritrea to India
| Product or sector | Value / share |
|---|---|
Connections between people
India recognised Eritrea's independence in 1993 and opened a resident mission in August 2019. [1]
Residents, study and travel
Blank cells: data unavailable. Each measure retains its definition and period.
| Indicator | Value | Period / source |
|---|---|---|
| Residents from India living in Eritrea | ||
| Residents from Eritrea living in India | ||
| Study and training: India in Eritrea | ||
| Study and training: Eritrea in India | ||
| Academic stays: India in Eritrea | ||
| Academic stays: Eritrea in India | ||
| Travel: India to Eritrea | ||
| Travel: Eritrea to India |
What each figure measures
Residents are counted by nationality and the coverage of the stated register, not as people born in the other country or as new arrivals in one year. PERE includes dual nationals and people born outside Spain. Study with OPT and stays carrying academic credit are different measures. Travel may include several visits by the same person; FRONTUR arrivals require an overnight stay, whereas the Canadian survey includes day visits. These figures are neither added together nor automatically compared across directions.
Mobility data added or reviewed: 2026-10-07. Reference periods may be earlier.
Underlying ties
History, institutions and long-standing issues.
History and institutional framework
India recognised Eritrea's independence in 1993 and opened a resident mission in August 2019. The third consultation round took place in Asmara in December 2025. [1]
Recent developments
Recent developments and latest available data · Review: 2026-10-08
Cooperation and bilateral issues
The Keren and Asmara memorials preserve the memory of Indian soldiers who died during the Second World War. [1]
Consultations, agriculture and health
The first consultations between the foreign ministries took place in Asmara on 29 October 2018. Further rounds were held in Delhi in May 2024 and Asmara in December 2025, with health, education, agriculture and renewable energy on the agenda. Agricultural agreements include research with ICRISAT since 1995 and research and education cooperation from 2000. Eritrea joined India's eVidyaBharati-eArogyaBharati distance education and health project in November 2019. The profile distinguishes Eritrea's signing of the International Solar Alliance agreement in October 2019 from its ratification, still pending in the document. [1]
Ports and naval training
Massawa connects historical trade episodes with contemporary naval visits. INS Trikand made an operational port call in September 2021, and an Indian training squadron visited the port in April 2022 for contacts and training for Eritrean personnel. The Indian ministerial visit of September 2022 addressed energy, health and agriculture. These are documented contacts; no Indian military base or mutual defence pact is inferred from them. [1]
Sources and data
Periods and scope of the figures
Institutional sources and periods accompany each figure. Annual trade, investment positions, residents and visits are distinct measures. Empty cells do not mean zero. Statements of intent are not presented as project implementation or treaties in force.
- Bilateral relations — IND-ERI
Ministry of External Affairs of India · Institutional source · Accessed: 2026-10-08