Partner risk indices

Country Risk Index

58.7

Political Risk Index

58.9

Short-Term Economic Risk Index

52.1

Long-Term Economic Risk Index

48.3

Operational Risk Index

67

Source: Partner Research Partner, as of 8 Nov 2026. 0-100, higher means higher risk.

Key indicators

Market overview

• Ethiopia is in East Africa and is classified by the World Bank as Low income. (World Bank)
• Population: 135.5 million (2025). (World Bank WDI)
• GDP: US$126.4bn in 2025 (estimate). (IMF WEO)

Economic conditions

• Real GDP growth: 9.2% in 2025 (estimate); the IMF projects 9.2% for 2026. (IMF WEO)
• Average consumer price inflation: 16% in 2025 (estimate); projected 11.7% for 2026. (IMF WEO)
• General government gross debt: 43.3% of GDP in 2025 (estimate). (IMF WEO)
• Current account balance: -0.8% of GDP in 2025 (estimate). (IMF WEO)
• Government net lending/borrowing: -1.2% of GDP in 2025 (estimate). (IMF WEO)
• Official exchange rate averaged 82.6 local currency units per US dollar in 2024, against 51.76 in 2022: 59.6% more units per dollar (the currency weakened against the dollar). (World Bank WDI)

Key risks

• Partner risk indices (0-100, higher = higher risk), as of 8 Nov 2026: Country Risk Index 58.7 (rank 31 of 53 in Africa, 1 = lowest risk); Political Risk Index 58.9 (rank 45 of 53 in Africa, 1 = lowest risk); Short-Term Economic Risk Index 52.1 (rank 19 of 53 in Africa, 1 = lowest risk); Long-Term Economic Risk Index 48.3 (rank 8 of 53 in Africa, 1 = lowest risk); Operational Risk Index 67 (rank 32 of 53 in Africa, 1 = lowest risk). (Partner Research Partner)
• Highest-scoring Partner risk component: crime and security risk (75.8, operational). (Partner Research Partner)
• World Bank governance scores (2025, 0-100, higher is better): control of corruption 4; government effectiveness 4; political stability and absence of violence 33; rule of law 43; regulatory quality 43. (World Bank WGI)
• External debt stocks: 31.7% of GNI (2025). (World Bank WDI)
• Unemployment (modelled ILO estimate): 3.3% of labour force (2025). (World Bank WDI)

Investment considerations

• Foreign direct investment, net inflows: 3% of GDP (2025). (World Bank WDI)
• Domestic credit to the private sector: 17.7% of GDP (2008). (World Bank WDI)
• Bank lending interest rate: 8% (2008). (World Bank WDI)
• Trade (exports plus imports): 33.5% of GDP (2025). (World Bank WDI)
• The Meridian holds 313 published records tagged to Ethiopia. (The Meridian)

Sector snapshot

• Energy and power: access to electricity 56.6% of population (2024); renewable share of final energy consumption 90.6% (2021). (World Bank WDI)
• Mining and minerals: mineral rents 0.3% of GDP (2021); ores and metals exports 0.7% of merchandise exports (2023). (World Bank WDI)
• Financial services: foreign direct investment, net inflows 3% of GDP (2025); bank lending interest rate 8% (2008). (World Bank WDI)
• Technology, media and telecoms: internet users 21.9% of population (2024); mobile subscriptions 65.1 per 100 people (2024). (World Bank WDI)
• Agriculture: agriculture, forestry and fishing, value added 32.8% of GDP (2025); employment in agriculture 60.1% of employment (2025). (World Bank WDI)
• Manufacturing and industry: manufacturing, value added 4.2% of GDP (2025); industry (including construction), value added 27.8% of GDP (2025). (World Bank WDI)
• Infrastructure and real estate: urban population 24.1% of population (2025); access to electricity 56.6% of population (2024). (World Bank WDI)

Data limitations and sources

• Older data, shown with its period and not described as current: Bank lending interest rate (Latest published value is for 2008); Domestic credit to the private sector (Latest published value is for 2008); Renewable share of final energy consumption (Latest published value is for 2021); Oil rents (Latest published value is for 2021); Fuel exports (Latest published value is for 2023); Mineral rents (Latest published value is for 2021); Ores and metals exports (Latest published value is for 2023).
• IMF figures for the most recent year are IMF estimates and later years are projections. World Bank series typically lag by one to two years. Headlines come from automated news monitoring and are not verified by The Meridian.
• Sources last checked 15 Nov 2026.

Meridian transactions

• International Finance Corporation (IFC) invests in Kifiya’s operations in Ethiopia
• Epic Edges Capital invests USD 1 million in Rise of Fearless game
• Ethiopia directs its IP Authority to fully digitise filings and frame rules on AI-generated inventions
• Circle Ventures invests in CrissCross’ operations in Africa
• Digital Africa invests in ChipChip’s operations in Ethiopia
• Fonterra Europe Ethiopia wind-down (restructuring of Fonterra’s Ethiopian operations)