Eritrea Demographics: Median age, Gender, Religion

Median age in Eritrea, 1960–2100

In 1960, the median age in Eritrea was 18.8 years compared to the world's average of 22.5 years. As of 2024, the median age had increased to 19.9 years, compared with the average of 31.6 years in other countries. Ranked 121st for median age 64 years ago (old to young), Eritrea ranks 168th currently.

According to the United Nations projections, the median age in Eritrea is expected to increase to 39 years by 2100. The aging demographics forecast is based on previous years' birth rates and increasing life expectancy.

Demographic pyramid: age and gender distribution

Chart Table

Eritrea

Male

Female

Age range	Share of population
	Eritrea
	Male	Female
80+	0.26%	0.39%
75-79	0.35%	0.47%
70-74	0.48%	0.66%
65-69	0.69%	0.9%
60-64	0.99%	1.23%
55-59	1.27%	1.52%
50-54	1.51%	1.77%
45-49	1.77%	2.01%
40-44	1.95%	2.09%
35-39	2.41%	2.48%
30-34	3.03%	3.02%
25-29	4.23%	4.18%
20-24	5.12%	5.06%
15-19	6.06%	5.98%
10-14	6.31%	6.21%
5-9	6.25%	6.13%
0-4	6.7%	6.54%

The chart above is a variation of the population pyramid and represents the age and gender structure. Eritrea has high demographic potential with 74.8% of people in the 0-34 age group (ranked 25/196).

Working-age demographic by year

Chart Table

Eritrea

Factual

UN forecast

World

Factual

UN forecast

1x

Year	Working age share
	Eritrea	World
2100	62.2%	59.6%
2099	62.4%	59.6%
2098	62.6%	59.7%
2097	62.7%	59.7%
2096	62.9%	59.7%
2095	63%	59.7%
2094	63.2%	59.7%
2093	63.3%	59.8%
2092	63.4%	59.8%
2091	63.5%	59.8%
2090	63.6%	59.8%
2089	63.7%	59.8%
2088	63.7%	59.8%
2087	63.8%	59.8%
2086	63.8%	59.8%
2085	63.8%	59.9%
2084	63.9%	59.9%
2083	63.9%	60%
2082	63.9%	60.1%
2081	63.9%	60.3%
2080	63.9%	60.4%
2079	64%	60.6%
2078	64.1%	60.7%
2077	64.2%	60.9%
2076	64.3%	61%
2075	64.4%	61.1%
2074	64.6%	61.3%
2073	64.7%	61.4%
2072	64.8%	61.5%
2071	65%	61.6%
2070	65.2%	61.7%
2069	65.4%	61.8%
2068	65.5%	61.9%
2067	65.6%	62%
2066	65.7%	62%
2065	65.8%	62.1%
2064	65.9%	62.1%
2063	66%	62.1%
2062	66.1%	62.2%
2061	66.2%	62.2%
2060	66.1%	62.3%
2059	66.1%	62.3%
2058	66%	62.4%
2057	65.8%	62.4%
2056	65.6%	62.5%
2055	65.4%	62.7%
2054	65.2%	62.8%
2053	65%	62.9%
2052	64.7%	63.1%
2051	64.4%	63.2%
2050	64.1%	63.4%
2049	63.7%	63.5%
2048	63.3%	63.6%
2047	63%	63.8%
2046	62.6%	63.9%
2045	62.3%	64%
2044	62%	64.1%
2043	61.7%	64.2%
2042	61.4%	64.3%
2041	61.2%	64.4%
2040	60.9%	64.5%
2039	60.7%	64.7%
2038	60.6%	64.8%
2037	60.4%	64.9%
2036	60.3%	65.1%
2035	60.2%	65.2%
2034	60.1%	65.3%
2033	60%	65.4%
2032	60%	65.4%
2031	59.9%	65.4%
2030	59.7%	65.4%
2029	59.4%	65.4%
2028	59.2%	65.4%
2027	58.8%	65.4%
2026	58.4%	65.2%
2025	57.9%	65.1%
2024	57.7%	65.1%
2023	57.2%	65%
2022	56.7%	64.9%
2021	56.1%	64.9%
2020	55.5%	64.8%
2019	54.9%	64.9%
2018	54.5%	64.9%
2017	54.1%	65%
2016	54%	65.1%
2015	54%	65.1%
2014	54.1%	65.2%
2013	54.2%	65.2%
2012	54.1%	65.2%
2011	54%	65.2%
2010	53.8%	65.1%
2009	53.7%	65%
2008	53.4%	64.9%
2007	53.2%	64.7%
2006	53.4%	64.5%
2005	53.7%	64.3%
2004	53.7%	64%
2003	53%	63.7%
2002	52.3%	63.4%
2001	51.8%	63.1%
2000	51.6%	62.8%
1999	51.9%	62.5%
1998	52.5%	62.2%
1997	53.2%	61.9%
1996	54.1%	61.7%
1995	53.6%	61.5%
1994	52.7%	61.3%
1993	52.6%	61.2%
1992	52.4%	61.1%
1991	52.6%	61%
1990	52.7%	60.9%
1989	53%	60.8%
1988	53.2%	60.7%
1987	53.4%	60.5%
1986	53.4%	60.4%
1985	53.3%	60.1%
1984	53.2%	59.9%
1983	53.1%	59.6%
1982	53%	59.3%
1981	53%	59%
1980	53.1%	58.7%
1979	53.1%	58.4%
1978	53.2%	58%
1977	53.2%	57.7%
1976	53.3%	57.5%
1975	53.4%	57.4%
1974	53.4%	57.3%
1973	53.5%	57.3%
1972	53.6%	57.2%
1971	53.9%	57.1%
1970	54.1%	57%
1969	54.4%	56.9%
1968	54.7%	56.9%
1967	54.9%	56.9%
1966	55.2%	56.8%
1965	55.5%	56.9%
1964	55.7%	57%
1963	55.8%	57.2%
1962	55.9%	57.4%
1961	55.8%	57.5%
1960	55.7%	57.6%

The share of working-age demographics aged 15-64 in Eritrea changed from 53.7% to 57.7% between 2004 and 2024.

Age dependency by year

Age dependency is the ratio of people not in the labor force (children under 15 and adults 64+) to people aged 15 to 64. Age dependency in Eritrea decreased from 86.3% to 73.4% between 2004 and 2024 with a decreased share of children and an increased proportion of people aged 65+

Share of young demographic (0-14 years) by year

Chart Table

Eritrea

Factual

UN forecast

World

Factual

UN forecast

1x

Year	Share of 0-14
	Eritrea	World
2100	19%	16.5%
2099	19.1%	16.6%
2098	19.2%	16.6%
2097	19.4%	16.7%
2096	19.5%	16.8%
2095	19.6%	16.8%
2094	19.8%	16.9%
2093	19.9%	17%
2092	20%	17%
2091	20.2%	17.1%
2090	20.3%	17.2%
2089	20.5%	17.2%
2088	20.6%	17.3%
2087	20.8%	17.4%
2086	21%	17.4%
2085	21.1%	17.5%
2084	21.3%	17.5%
2083	21.5%	17.6%
2082	21.7%	17.7%
2081	22%	17.7%
2080	22.2%	17.8%
2079	22.4%	17.8%
2078	22.6%	17.9%
2077	22.9%	17.9%
2076	23.1%	18%
2075	23.3%	18%
2074	23.6%	18.1%
2073	23.8%	18.2%
2072	24%	18.2%
2071	24.3%	18.3%
2070	24.5%	18.3%
2069	24.7%	18.4%
2068	25%	18.5%
2067	25.2%	18.6%
2066	25.4%	18.6%
2065	25.6%	18.7%
2064	25.9%	18.8%
2063	26.1%	18.9%
2062	26.3%	19.1%
2061	26.6%	19.2%
2060	26.8%	19.3%
2059	27.1%	19.4%
2058	27.4%	19.5%
2057	27.6%	19.6%
2056	27.9%	19.8%
2055	28.3%	19.9%
2054	28.6%	20%
2053	29%	20.1%
2052	29.3%	20.2%
2051	29.7%	20.3%
2050	30.1%	20.4%
2049	30.5%	20.5%
2048	30.9%	20.6%
2047	31.3%	20.7%
2046	31.7%	20.8%
2045	32.1%	20.9%
2044	32.5%	20.9%
2043	32.9%	21%
2042	33.2%	21.1%
2041	33.6%	21.2%
2040	33.8%	21.2%
2039	34.1%	21.3%
2038	34.3%	21.4%
2037	34.6%	21.5%
2036	34.8%	21.6%
2035	34.9%	21.8%
2034	35.1%	22%
2033	35.2%	22.2%
2032	35.4%	22.4%
2031	35.6%	22.7%
2030	35.8%	23%
2029	36.1%	23.3%
2028	36.4%	23.6%
2027	36.9%	23.9%
2026	37.3%	24.2%
2025	37.9%	24.6%
2024	38.1%	24.7%
2023	38.7%	25%
2022	39.2%	25.3%
2021	39.8%	25.6%
2020	40.4%	25.8%
2019	41%	26%
2018	41.5%	26.2%
2017	41.9%	26.4%
2016	42.1%	26.5%
2015	42.1%	26.6%
2014	42%	26.8%
2013	42%	26.9%
2012	42.1%	27%
2011	42.3%	27.1%
2010	42.6%	27.3%
2009	42.7%	27.5%
2008	43%	27.6%
2007	43.3%	27.9%
2006	43.1%	28.1%
2005	42.9%	28.5%
2004	43%	28.8%
2003	43.7%	29.2%
2002	44.4%	29.6%
2001	45%	30%
2000	45.2%	30.4%
1999	44.9%	30.8%
1998	44.4%	31.1%
1997	43.7%	31.5%
1996	42.9%	31.8%
1995	43.5%	32.1%
1994	44.4%	32.3%
1993	44.5%	32.5%
1992	44.7%	32.7%
1991	44.6%	32.9%
1990	44.5%	33%
1989	44.3%	33.2%
1988	44.2%	33.4%
1987	44%	33.6%
1986	44%	33.8%
1985	44.1%	34%
1984	44.2%	34.3%
1983	44.4%	34.6%
1982	44.4%	34.9%
1981	44.4%	35.2%
1980	44.4%	35.5%
1979	44.4%	35.9%
1978	44.3%	36.3%
1977	44.3%	36.7%
1976	44.2%	36.9%
1975	44.1%	37.1%
1974	44.1%	37.2%
1973	44%	37.3%
1972	43.8%	37.5%
1971	43.6%	37.6%
1970	43.3%	37.7%
1969	43%	37.8%
1968	42.8%	37.9%
1967	42.4%	38%
1966	42.1%	38%
1965	41.8%	38%
1964	41.6%	38%
1963	41.5%	37.8%
1962	41.4%	37.6%
1961	41.4%	37.5%
1960	41.5%	37.4%

The share of children aged 0-14 in Eritrea decreased from 43% to 38.1% between 2004 and 2024 due to changes in birth rates.

Share of old population (65+) by year

Chart Table

Eritrea

Factual

UN forecast

World

Factual

UN forecast

1x

Year	Share of 65+ years old
	Eritrea	World
2100	18.8%	23.9%
2099	18.5%	23.8%
2098	18.2%	23.7%
2097	17.9%	23.6%
2096	17.6%	23.5%
2095	17.3%	23.4%
2094	17.1%	23.4%
2093	16.8%	23.3%
2092	16.5%	23.2%
2091	16.3%	23.1%
2090	16.1%	23.1%
2089	15.8%	23%
2088	15.6%	22.9%
2087	15.4%	22.8%
2086	15.2%	22.7%
2085	15%	22.6%
2084	14.8%	22.5%
2083	14.6%	22.4%
2082	14.4%	22.2%
2081	14.1%	22%
2080	13.9%	21.8%
2079	13.6%	21.6%
2078	13.3%	21.4%
2077	13%	21.2%
2076	12.6%	21%
2075	12.3%	20.8%
2074	11.9%	20.6%
2073	11.5%	20.4%
2072	11.1%	20.3%
2071	10.7%	20.1%
2070	10.3%	19.9%
2069	9.88%	19.8%
2068	9.52%	19.6%
2067	9.16%	19.5%
2066	8.85%	19.3%
2065	8.53%	19.2%
2064	8.22%	19.1%
2063	7.92%	18.9%
2062	7.61%	18.8%
2061	7.28%	18.6%
2060	7.06%	18.5%
2059	6.85%	18.3%
2058	6.69%	18.1%
2057	6.54%	17.9%
2056	6.41%	17.7%
2055	6.28%	17.5%
2054	6.16%	17.2%
2053	6.05%	17%
2052	5.95%	16.7%
2051	5.86%	16.4%
2050	5.8%	16.2%
2049	5.75%	16%
2048	5.72%	15.8%
2047	5.67%	15.5%
2046	5.62%	15.3%
2045	5.56%	15.1%
2044	5.49%	14.9%
2043	5.42%	14.8%
2042	5.35%	14.6%
2041	5.28%	14.4%
2040	5.21%	14.2%
2039	5.14%	14%
2038	5.08%	13.8%
2037	5.02%	13.5%
2036	4.95%	13.3%
2035	4.87%	13%
2034	4.8%	12.7%
2033	4.73%	12.4%
2032	4.65%	12.2%
2031	4.59%	11.9%
2030	4.52%	11.6%
2029	4.46%	11.3%
2028	4.4%	11%
2027	4.34%	10.7%
2026	4.28%	10.5%
2025	4.23%	10.3%
2024	4.2%	10.2%
2023	4.15%	9.98%
2022	4.12%	9.74%
2021	4.1%	9.53%
2020	4.09%	9.33%
2019	4.07%	9.1%
2018	4.03%	8.88%
2017	4%	8.65%
2016	3.96%	8.45%
2015	3.93%	8.26%
2014	3.88%	8.08%
2013	3.83%	7.92%
2012	3.77%	7.78%
2011	3.71%	7.66%
2010	3.66%	7.58%
2009	3.6%	7.52%
2008	3.55%	7.47%
2007	3.49%	7.41%
2006	3.43%	7.34%
2005	3.37%	7.26%
2004	3.33%	7.18%
2003	3.3%	7.1%
2002	3.26%	7.01%
2001	3.22%	6.92%
2000	3.17%	6.84%
1999	3.12%	6.76%
1998	3.08%	6.68%
1997	3.03%	6.61%
1996	2.98%	6.53%
1995	2.96%	6.45%
1994	2.93%	6.37%
1993	2.88%	6.29%
1992	2.83%	6.21%
1991	2.78%	6.14%
1990	2.73%	6.07%
1989	2.69%	6.01%
1988	2.65%	5.95%
1987	2.61%	5.91%
1986	2.59%	5.86%
1985	2.58%	5.82%
1984	2.58%	5.8%
1983	2.58%	5.79%
1982	2.58%	5.8%
1981	2.56%	5.81%
1980	2.54%	5.81%
1979	2.53%	5.77%
1978	2.52%	5.71%
1977	2.51%	5.65%
1976	2.5%	5.59%
1975	2.5%	5.53%
1974	2.51%	5.47%
1973	2.52%	5.42%
1972	2.53%	5.37%
1971	2.54%	5.32%
1970	2.55%	5.28%
1969	2.57%	5.24%
1968	2.59%	5.2%
1967	2.61%	5.16%
1966	2.63%	5.12%
1965	2.66%	5.08%
1964	2.69%	5.04%
1963	2.71%	5.02%
1962	2.74%	5.01%
1961	2.77%	4.99%
1960	2.81%	4.97%

The share of older people aged 65 and over in Eritrea increased from 3.33% to 4.2% between 2004 and 2024.

Median age map

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