Ethiopia has revised the size of its economy up by nearly 60% to $201-billion after rebasing its national accounts, according to a government presentation seen by Reuters.

The statistical overhaul could shift key debt metrics as the country tries to conclude a long-running debt restructuring.

Ethiopia's 2024/2025 economy was revised up by 59.2% to $201.42-billion after the base year for calculating GDP was shifted to 2024/2025 from 2015/2016.

The government put the size of the economy at $210.7-billion in 2025/26, according to the presentation.

Rebasing the economy is an internationally accepted practice, recently undertaken by Kenya, Nigeria and South Africa, aimed at capturing emerging industries and other economic shifts.

The presentation did not specify which exchange rate is used, but the figures appeared to reflect the prevailing rate in 2024/2025.

The birr currency weakened steeply in 2024 after the government allowed it to trade freely against the dollar as part of reforms needed to secure an International Monetary Fund programme.

The presentation cited the need to accurately capture the economic input from digital financial services, ride-sharing platforms and "massive solar installations".

"Clearer economic data directly feeds into better credit ratings, lowers the risk premium on future international sovereign borrowing, and strengthens foreign direct investment inflows," the presentation said.

Ethiopia is approaching the end of a years-long external debt overhaul; holders of its $1-billion Eurobond approved a preliminary restructuring agreement in August.

The rebasing will increase Ethiopia's nominal GDP and lower its debt-to-GDP and tax-to-GDP ratios, according to the presentation, while boosting its ranking among Africa's biggest economies.