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Eritrea vs Iran statistics compared

Updated on by Georank team

Eritrea has a population of 3.54M (ranked 131/197), compared with 91.6M in Iran (ranked 17/197). Eritrea's land area is 46,787 sq mi versus 626,451 sq mi for Iran (ranked 96th vs. 17th).

By GDP, Eritrea ranks 179/197 ($2.07B) and Iran ranks 34/197 ($475B). By GDP per capita, Eritrea ranks 188/197 ($689), while Iran ranks 119/197 ($5,190).

Main facts and rankings

Eritrea Iran
Population
3700586
93468444
Population rank 130/197 17/197
GDP
$2.07B
2011
$475B
2024
GDP rank 179/197 34/197
GDP per capita
$689
2011
$5,190
2024
GDP per capita rank 188/197 119/197
GDP per capita, PPP
$1,742
2011
$19,874
2024
Government debt
$3.54B
2011
$162B
2024
Debt-to-GDP ratio
260.4%
2019
34%
2024
Government debt per person
$1,182
2011
$1,764
2024
Government debt per person rank 136/185 122/185
Average annual personal income after taxes
$1,129
2026
$2,964
2026
Land area 46,787 sq mi 626,451 sq mi
Population density
78.6 ppl/mi²
2026
148.9 ppl/mi²
2026
Fertility rate
3.71
2023
1.7
2023
Median age
19.9 years
2024
34.3 years
2024
Life expectancy
69.4 years
2026
78.2 years
2026

Eritrea and Iran: Comparison Charts

Eritrea and Iran economies compared

GDP
Eritrea

Iran
1x
Year GDP
Eritrea Iran
2024 - $475,252,089,215
2023 - $457,510,482,317
2022 - $422,662,261,526
2021 - $407,350,685,583
2020 - $280,934,329,280
2019 - $347,988,400,958
2018 - $411,903,303,606
2017 - $510,239,893,418
2016 - $478,618,064,871
2015 - $409,191,686,497
2014 - $462,284,793,281
2013 - $500,399,839,840
2012 - $644,019,315,004
2011 $2,065,001,626 $629,082,257,472
2010 $1,589,515,447 $487,069,570,464
2009 $1,856,695,551 $414,059,094,949
2008 $1,380,188,800 $406,070,949,554
2007 $1,317,974,491 $349,736,591,832
2006 $1,211,161,880 $265,602,187,404
2005 $1,098,424,686 $224,970,371,325
2004 $1,109,054,005 $187,754,571,248
2003 $870,248,268 $151,911,222,119
2002 $729,321,680 $128,626,917,504
2001 $752,371,689 $126,878,750,296
2000 $706,370,816 $109,591,707,802
1999 $688,918,537 $113,848,450,088
1998 $745,523,117 $110,276,913,363
1997 $686,490,090 $113,919,163,421
1996 $693,535,954 $120,403,931,885
1995 $578,015,625 $96,419,225,744
1994 $531,688,312 $71,841,461,173
1993 $467,872,715 $63,743,623,232
1992 $477,101,652 $119,768,691,217
1991 - $131,637,664,958
1990 - $124,813,263,926
1989 - $120,496,362,916
1988 - $123,057,861,334
1987 - $134,009,995,923
1986 - $209,094,561,833
1985 - $180,183,629,600
1984 - $162,276,728,620
1983 - $156,365,156,618
1982 - $125,948,756,439
1981 - $100,499,312,750
1980 - $94,362,275,580
1979 - $90,391,877,326
1978 - $77,994,316,621
1977 - $80,600,122,702
1976 - $68,055,295,081
1975 - $51,776,222,350
1974 - $46,209,092,072
1973 - $27,081,698,250
1972 - $17,153,463,263
1971 - $13,731,802,833
1970 - $10,976,245,154
1969 - $9,743,089,607
1968 - $8,623,172,960
1967 - $7,555,383,690
1966 - $6,789,938,672
1965 - $6,197,319,929
1964 - $5,379,845,648
1963 - $4,928,628,018
1962 - $4,693,566,416
1961 - $4,426,949,095
1960 - $4,199,134,390

Data sources: World Bank | Economy & Growth (1960–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06).

GeoRank.org/facts/eritrea/iran | CC BY

Eritrea and Iran economies compared

GDP per capita
Eritrea

Iran
1x
Year GDP per capita
Eritrea Iran
2024 - $5,190
2023 - $5,049
2022 - $4,721
2021 - $4,605
2020 - $3,203
2019 - $3,997
2018 - $4,783
2017 - $6,001
2016 - $5,711
2015 - $4,953
2014 - $5,672
2013 - $6,223
2012 - $8,114
2011 $689 $8,026
2010 $540 $6,291
2009 $643 $5,416
2008 $490 $5,377
2007 $480 $4,688
2006 $448 $3,619
2005 $413 $3,132
2004 $427 $2,672
2003 $349 $2,209
2002 $305 $1,891
2001 $325 $1,881
2000 $314 $1,650
1999 $311 $1,740
1998 $342 $1,709
1997 $319 $1,790
1996 $326 $1,915
1995 $285.4 $1,550
1994 $277.8 $1,168
1993 $252.1 $1,038
1992 $265.2 $1,957
1991 - $2,194
1990 - $2,138
1989 - $2,125
1988 - $2,234
1987 - $2,513
1986 - $4,064
1985 - $3,634
1984 - $3,395
1983 - $3,397
1982 - $2,845
1981 - $2,393
1980 - $2,368
1979 - $2,352
1978 - $2,101
1977 - $2,243
1976 - $1,954
1975 - $1,532
1974 - $1,409
1973 - $851
1972 - $555
1971 - $457
1970 - $377
1969 - $345
1968 - $314
1967 - $283.7
1966 - $262.9
1965 - $247.5
1964 - $221.7
1963 - $209.6
1962 - $205.8
1961 - $200.1
1960 - $195.6

Data sources: World Bank | Economy & Growth (1960–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06).

GeoRank.org/facts/eritrea/iran | CC BY

Eritrea vs. Iran life expectancy calculator

Life expectancy
Eritrea

Iran
1x
Year Life expectancy, years
Eritrea Iran
2026 69.4 78.2
2025 69.2 78.1
2024 68.9 77.9
2023 68.6 77.7
2022 67.8 76.8
2021 66.9 73.8
2020 67 74.1
2019 67.3 76.9
2018 67 76.6
2017 66.6 76.4
2016 66.2 76.2
2015 65.9 75.9
2014 65.5 75.6
2013 65 75.3
2012 64.7 75
2011 64.2 74.7
2010 63.7 74.4
2009 63.2 74
2008 62.4 73.7
2007 62 73.3
2006 61.5 72.9
2005 60.6 72.4
2004 60.1 72
2003 59.5 70.5
2002 58.9 71.1
2001 58.4 70.6
2000 56.3 70.2
1999 44.5 69.7
1998 50 69.2
1997 56.2 68.6
1996 55.5 68.3
1995 54.8 67.9
1994 54 67.5
1993 53.2 67
1992 52.4 66.7
1991 50.5 66.2
1990 49.7 64.1
1989 47.8 65.3
1988 48.1 63.3
1987 47.4 62.7
1986 39.5 62.1
1985 38.6 61.5
1984 37.7 60.9
1983 37.2 58.5
1982 44.9 57.6
1981 45 56.6
1980 44.6 58.4
1979 43.8 58.5
1978 43.4 56
1977 43 56.7
1976 42.6 55.8
1975 39 54.8
1974 39 53.9
1973 41.1 52.9
1972 40.7 51.7
1971 41.5 51.1
1970 41.2 50.2
1969 40.8 49.4
1968 40.5 47.9
1967 40.2 47.8
1966 37.6 47.1
1965 39.6 46.4
1964 39.2 45.7
1963 38.8 45.1
1962 38.3 43.8
1961 37.9 43.9
1960 37.4 43.3
1959 37 42.8
1958 30.9 42.2
1957 30.4 41.3
1956 35.6 41.1
1955 35.2 40.6
1954 34.8 40
1953 34.4 39.5
1952 34 39.2
1951 33.6 38.7
1950 33.3 38.2

Data sources: United Nations | World Population Prospects (1950–2026, retrieved 2026-03-10).

GeoRank.org/facts/eritrea/iran | CC BY

Eritrea and Iran population clocks and comparison

Population
Eritrea

Iran
1x
Year Population
Eritrea Iran
2024 3,535,603 91,567,738
2023 3,470,390 90,608,707
2022 3,409,447 89,524,246
2021 3,350,183 88,455,488
2020 3,291,271 87,723,443
2019 3,240,194 87,051,648
2018 3,192,760 86,117,998
2017 3,150,347 85,026,754
2016 3,124,698 83,812,228
2015 3,105,546 82,619,362
2014 3,095,173 81,502,045
2013 3,074,360 80,414,686
2012 3,036,988 79,370,580
2011 2,998,485 78,383,598
2010 2,945,186 77,420,842
2009 2,887,885 76,457,825
2008 2,816,327 75,514,204
2007 2,743,222 74,602,648
2006 2,703,502 73,392,747
2005 2,661,215 71,828,455
2004 2,598,284 70,256,316
2003 2,493,903 68,769,340
2002 2,392,978 68,011,317
2001 2,312,079 67,452,005
2000 2,247,031 66,418,659
1999 2,212,780 65,445,391
1998 2,180,419 64,519,859
1997 2,152,135 63,639,638
1996 2,128,464 62,881,300
1995 2,025,267 62,205,567
1994 1,913,915 61,520,598
1993 1,856,006 61,403,543
1992 1,798,748 61,184,983
1991 1,919,571 59,986,931
1990 2,032,737 58,380,092
1989 1,987,017 56,704,914
1988 1,938,255 55,072,694
1987 1,888,669 53,323,493
1986 1,845,164 51,446,045
1985 1,807,816 49,582,289
1984 1,771,730 47,793,998
1983 1,736,160 46,029,535
1982 1,695,461 44,272,141
1981 1,649,939 41,989,312
1980 1,605,797 39,842,324
1979 1,563,332 38,424,952
1978 1,522,378 37,126,535
1977 1,482,565 35,933,181
1976 1,443,807 34,837,271
1975 1,408,210 33,802,973
1974 1,375,688 32,796,463
1973 1,342,669 31,839,838
1972 1,309,235 30,921,179
1971 1,276,154 30,029,071
1970 1,243,453 29,145,100
1969 1,212,005 28,273,482
1968 1,181,737 27,437,391
1967 1,152,339 26,628,432
1966 1,124,957 25,829,270
1965 1,098,335 25,036,978
1964 1,071,287 24,262,859
1963 1,045,092 23,519,005
1962 1,019,788 22,807,907
1961 995,573 22,125,726
1960 972,547 21,470,434

Data sources: World Bank | Health (1960–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06).

GeoRank.org/facts/eritrea/iran | CC BY

Fertility rates in Eritrea and Iran

Fertility rate
Eritrea

Iran
1x
Year Fertility rate
Eritrea Iran
2023 3.71 1.7
2022 3.79 1.7
2021 3.87 1.71
2020 3.93 1.7
2019 4 1.77
2018 4.06 1.92
2017 4.11 2.02
2016 4.16 2.05
2015 4.22 2.02
2014 4.27 1.98
2013 4.34 1.91
2012 4.41 1.85
2011 4.49 1.79
2010 4.57 1.75
2009 4.66 1.74
2008 4.74 1.74
2007 4.81 1.75
2006 4.88 1.76
2005 4.93 1.76
2004 5.04 1.78
2003 5.14 1.8
2002 5.23 1.84
2001 5.31 1.92
2000 5.4 2
1999 5.52 2.09
1998 5.63 2.19
1997 5.74 2.32
1996 5.84 2.54
1995 5.94 2.85
1994 6.01 3.24
1993 6.07 3.67
1992 6.16 4.1
1991 6.24 4.57
1990 6.34 4.93
1989 6.41 5.17
1988 6.47 5.43
1987 6.52 5.72
1986 6.56 6.01
1985 6.59 6.24
1984 6.62 6.43
1983 6.65 6.53
1982 6.63 6.59
1981 6.62 6.62
1980 6.61 6.63
1979 6.62 6.55
1978 6.61 6.34
1977 6.61 6.18
1976 6.6 6.07
1975 6.59 5.95
1974 6.57 5.97
1973 6.55 6.06
1972 6.54 6.26
1971 6.54 6.55
1970 6.54 6.8
1969 6.5 7.01
1968 6.5 7.12
1967 6.5 7.19
1966 6.5 7.21
1965 6.49 7.22
1964 6.49 7.24
1963 6.48 7.32
1962 6.5 7.4
1961 6.47 7.46
1960 6.48 7.52

Data sources: World Bank | Health (1960–2023, retrieved 2026-04-06).

GeoRank.org/facts/eritrea/iran | CC BY

Eritrea and Iran demographics compared

Median age
Eritrea

Iran
1x
Year Median age, years
Eritrea Iran
2024 19.9 34.3
2023 19.7 33.8
2022 19.5 33.3
2021 19.3 32.8
2020 19.1 32.3
2019 18.9 31.7
2018 18.7 31.2
2017 18.5 30.7
2016 18.4 30.2
2015 18.4 29.7
2014 18.5 29.2
2013 18.5 28.7
2012 18.5 28.2
2011 18.5 27.7
2010 18.4 27.2
2009 18.4 26.6
2008 18.2 26.1
2007 18.1 25.5
2006 18.2 24.8
2005 18.3 24.3
2004 18.3 23.7
2003 18 23.1
2002 17.7 22.6
2001 17.5 22
2000 17.4 21.4
1999 17.5 20.7
1998 17.8 20
1997 18 19.5
1996 18.4 19.1
1995 18.1 18.7
1994 17.6 18.4
1993 17.6 18.3
1992 17.5 18.4
1991 17.6 18.3
1990 17.6 18.2
1989 17.7 18.1
1988 17.8 18.2
1987 17.9 18.2
1986 17.9 18.2
1985 17.8 18.3
1984 17.8 18.4
1983 17.7 18.5
1982 17.7 18.6
1981 17.7 18.4
1980 17.8 18.2
1979 17.8 18.3
1978 17.8 18.3
1977 17.9 18.3
1976 18 18.2
1975 18.1 18.1
1974 18.2 18
1973 18.2 17.9
1972 18.3 17.8
1971 18.5 17.7
1970 18.6 17.6
1969 18.8 17.6
1968 18.9 17.6
1967 18.9 17.7
1966 19 17.7
1965 19 17.8
1964 19 17.9
1963 19 18.1
1962 18.9 18.4
1961 18.9 18.7
1960 18.8 19.1

Data sources: World Bank | Health (1960–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06).

GeoRank.org/facts/eritrea/iran | CC BY

Interactive Maps

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National statistics comparison

Finance

Eritrea Iran
GNI, Atlas method
$1.94B
2011
$469B
2024
Government expenditure, % of GDP
31.3%
2019
14.2%
2024
Education expenditure, % of GDP
2.13%
2006
2.82%
2023
Military expenditure, % of GDP
20.9%
2003
2.01%
2024
Armed forces personnel
202,000
2020
650,000
2020
Deficit/surplus, % of GDP
+2.72%
2019
-3.83%
2024
Unemployment rate
5.8%
2017
7.63%
2024
Services, % of GDP n/a
49.8%
2024
Industry, % of GDP
21.8%
2009
36.1%
2024
Economic freedom index
39.6
2026
41.8
2026
Income share by richest 10% n/a
28.2%
2023
Income share by poorest 10% n/a
2.8%
2023
Listed domestic companies n/a
594
2024
Market capitalization of domestic companies n/a
$172B
2024
Total reserves including gold
$192M
2019
$7.69B
1982
Personal remittances received
$3.28M
2000
$1.03B
2004
International tourist arrivals
142,000
2016
1,550,000
2020
International tourism as share of exports
36.8%
2000
2.28%
2000
Banked people share n/a
91.1%
2024

Energy

Eritrea Iran
Energy use, kg of oil equivalent per capita
289.5 kg
2022
3,266 kg
2022
GDP PPP per kg equivalent of energy use
$6.73
2011
$5.37
2022
Carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions
0.78 megatons
2024
829 megatons
2024
CO2 emissions per capita
0.22 tons
2024
9.05 tons
2024
Fossil fuel energy use share
22.4%
2022
98.8%
2022
Renewable energy use share
80.7%
2021
0.9%
2021
Alternative and nuclear energy use share
0.1%
2022
1.14%
2022
Net energy imports use share
34.8%
2004
-32.5%
2022
Electric power consumption per capita
102.4 kWh
2022
3,664 kWh
2022
Renewable electricity output share
5.79%
2021
4.24%
2021
Hydroelectric share
0%
2021
3.43%
2022
Nuclear share
0%
2021
2.2%
2022
Electricity access
54.4%
2023
100%
2023

Society

Eritrea Iran
% of world population
0.04%
2024
1.13%
2024
Annual migration change
-6,698
2025
+116,786
2025
Urban population
34.5%
2024
77%
2024
Male:Female ratio
49.4:50.6
2024
50.8:49.2
2024
Average male height
5.6 ft
2025
5.76 ft
2025
Average female height
5.17 ft
2025
5.29 ft
2025
Quality of life index
9.53
2026
40.7
2026
Corruption Perceptions Index
13
2025
23
2025
Higher education index
5
2026
78
2026
Homicides per 100K people
14.6
2012
2.42
2014
Road traffic mortality per 100K people
37.9
2019
21.5
2019
Visa free countries
49
2025
52
2025
Adult literacy rate
76.6%
2018
88.9%
2023
English speaking
0%
2025
12%
2025
People using the Internet
20%
2023
79.6%
2023

Health

Eritrea Iran
Government health expenditure per capita
$28.3
2023
$267.1
2023
Out-of-pocket health expenditure per capita
$13.7
2023
$115.2
2023
Life expectancy
69.4 years
2026
78.2 years
2026
Foreign aid share of health expenditure
28.5%
2023
0.71%
2023
Physicians per 1,000 people
0.09
2022
1.81
2023
Age at first childbirth
21.3 years
2025
n/a
Maternal mortality per 100K births
291
2023
16
2023
Mortality rate before reaching 5 years of age
35.4
2023
11.8
2023
Obesity rate
4.94%
2022
25.1%
2022
Diabetes prevalence
4.4%
2024
9%
2024
Air quality index
30
2026
27
2026
Tobacco use prevalence n/a
13.3%
2022
Pure alcohol consumption per capita
1.07 liters
2020
0.51 liters
2020

Territory

Eritrea Iran
% of world land
0.08%
2026
1.09%
2026
Land area per capita
13,233 sq mi
2024
6,841 sq mi
2024
Agricultural land area
29,313 sq mi
2026
181,727 sq mi
2026
Forest area
4,038 sq mi
2026
41,654 sq mi
2026
Roads length
9,942 mi
2018
138,867 mi
2018

In-depth comparisons

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Data sources:

  1. World Bank | Health (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-04-06)
  2. United Nations | World Population Prospects (1950–2026, retrieved 2026-03-10)
  3. U.S. Census Bureau (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-02-08)
  4. Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) (2000–2025, retrieved 2026-02-20)
  5. International Monetary Fund (IMF) | Fiscal Monitor (2011–2024, retrieved 2026-02-20)
  6. LivingCost (2026, retrieved 2025-10-14)
  7. World Obesity Federation (2022, retrieved 2026-02-08)
  8. Passport Index (2025, retrieved 2026-02-08)
  9. Transparency International (2025, retrieved 2026-02-10)
  10. The Heritage Foundation | Economic Freedom Index (2026, retrieved 2026-03-09)
  11. EduRank (2026, retrieved 2025-10-13)

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