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Eritrea vs Somalia statistics compared

Updated on by Georank team

Eritrea has a population of 3.54M (ranked 131/197), compared with 19M in Somalia (ranked 68/197). Eritrea's land area is 46,787 sq mi versus 242,217 sq mi for Somalia (ranked 96th vs. 42nd).

By GDP, Eritrea ranks 179/197 ($2.07B) and Somalia ranks 150/197 ($12B). By GDP per capita, Eritrea ranks 188/197 ($689), while Somalia ranks 192/197 ($630).

Main facts and rankings

Eritrea Somalia
Population
3700586
20503678
Population rank 130/197 66/197
GDP
$2.07B
2011
$12B
2024
GDP rank 179/197 150/197
GDP per capita
$689
2011
$630
2024
GDP per capita rank 188/197 192/197
GDP per capita, PPP
$1,742
2011
$1,602
2024
Government debt
$3.54B
2011
n/a
Debt-to-GDP ratio
260.4%
2019
n/a
Government debt per person
$1,182
2011
n/a
Government debt per person rank 136/185 n/a
Average annual personal income after taxes
$1,129
2026
$1,885
2026
Land area 46,787 sq mi 242,217 sq mi
Population density
78.6 ppl/mi²
2026
83.9 ppl/mi²
2026
Fertility rate
3.71
2023
6.13
2023
Median age
19.9 years
2024
16.6 years
2024
Life expectancy
69.4 years
2026
59.3 years
2026

Eritrea and Somalia: Comparison Charts

Eritrea and Somalia economies compared

GDP
Eritrea

Somalia
1x
Year GDP
Eritrea Somalia
2024 - $11,967,000,000
2023 - $10,958,000,000
2022 - $10,203,000,000
2021 - $9,483,000,000
2020 - $8,628,000,000
2019 - $8,656,000,000
2018 - $7,873,000,000
2017 - $7,621,501,710
2016 - $6,613,743,070
2015 - $6,152,149,100
2014 - $5,728,399,720
2013 - $5,062,881,600
2012 - $4,364,670,160
2011 $2,065,001,626 $2,906,000,097
2010 $1,589,515,447 $2,687,807,004
2009 $1,856,695,551 $2,948,594,552
2008 $1,380,188,800 $5,913,620,293
2007 $1,317,974,491 $5,430,713,729
2006 $1,211,161,880 $5,026,743,282
2005 $1,098,424,686 $4,683,246,454
2004 $1,109,054,005 $3,859,592,813
2003 $870,248,268 $2,836,724,352
2002 $729,321,680 $2,192,684,135
2001 $752,371,689 $2,252,847,465
2000 $706,370,816 $3,412,797,450
1999 $688,918,537 $3,045,751,528
1998 $745,523,117 $2,962,047,564
1997 $686,490,090 $2,191,749,014
1996 $693,535,954 $1,792,234,297
1995 $578,015,625 $1,534,756,135
1994 $531,688,312 $1,481,205,098
1993 $467,872,715 $1,260,132,956
1992 $477,101,652 $709,297,579
1991 - $717,974,930
1990 - $1,031,282,081
1989 - $1,181,360,844
1988 - $1,051,596,967
1987 - $1,018,972,664
1986 - $916,590,786
1985 - $875,702,247
1984 - $787,434,542
1983 - $735,408,642
1982 - $774,578,932
1981 - $699,302,473
1980 - $602,515,548
1979 - $589,566,929
1978 - $564,571,823
1977 - $498,550,725
1976 - $871,344,245
1975 - $757,015,879
1974 - $572,504,036
1973 - $483,699,611
1972 - $447,883,941
1971 - $347,039,446
1970 - $347,985,394
1969 - $306,357,285
1968 - $286,719,885
1967 - $271,781,887
1966 - $257,375,897
1965 - $243,725,898
1964 - $229,529,913
1963 - $216,145,936
1962 - $203,531,928
1961 - $191,659,914
1960 - $180,459,937

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

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

Eritrea and Somalia economies compared

GDP per capita
Eritrea

Somalia
1x
Year GDP per capita
Eritrea Somalia
2024 - $630
2023 - $597
2022 - $573
2021 - $549
2020 - $518
2019 - $540
2018 - $509
2017 - $511
2016 - $461
2015 - $446
2014 - $429
2013 - $393
2012 - $350
2011 $689 $235.3
2010 $540 $219.2
2009 $643 $246.5
2008 $490 $507
2007 $480 $480
2006 $448 $458
2005 $413 $440
2004 $427 $375
2003 $349 $286.3
2002 $305 $229.6
2001 $325 $244.9
2000 $314 $386
1999 $311 $359
1998 $342 $363
1997 $319 $280.1
1996 $326 $237.2
1995 $285.4 $210.7
1994 $277.8 $210.8
1993 $252.1 $188.6
1992 $265.2 $109.2
1991 - $105.4
1990 - $145.6
1989 - $166
1988 - $145.3
1987 - $141
1986 - $131.4
1985 - $130.8
1984 - $122.5
1983 - $118.6
1982 - $129
1981 - $116.9
1980 - $101.5
1979 - $108.2
1978 - $117.3
1977 - $111.2
1976 - $199.6
1975 - $177.8
1974 - $137.9
1973 - $119.6
1972 - $113.7
1971 - $90.4
1970 - $93.1
1969 - $84.1
1968 - $80.8
1967 - $78.7
1966 - $76.5
1965 - $74.4
1964 - $71.9
1963 - $69.5
1962 - $67.2
1961 - $64.9
1960 - $62.7

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

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

Eritrea vs. Somalia life expectancy calculator

Life expectancy
Eritrea

Somalia
1x
Year Life expectancy, years
Eritrea Somalia
2026 69.4 59.3
2025 69.2 59.1
2024 68.9 59
2023 68.6 58.8
2022 67.8 53.9
2021 66.9 55.7
2020 67 57.1
2019 67.3 57.2
2018 67 54.8
2017 66.6 52.2
2016 66.2 55.3
2015 65.9 55.1
2014 65.5 54.4
2013 65 54
2012 64.7 49.1
2011 64.2 32.5
2010 63.7 48.9
2009 63.2 52.1
2008 62.4 51.5
2007 62 50.9
2006 61.5 50.9
2005 60.6 50.9
2004 60.1 50.7
2003 59.5 50.7
2002 58.9 50.8
2001 58.4 50.8
2000 56.3 50.7
1999 44.5 50.6
1998 50 50.8
1997 56.2 50.3
1996 55.5 50.5
1995 54.8 50.6
1994 54 50.3
1993 53.2 50.6
1992 52.4 25
1991 50.5 25.4
1990 49.7 46.9
1989 47.8 46.6
1988 48.1 43.9
1987 47.4 49
1986 39.5 48.4
1985 38.6 48.3
1984 37.7 48.4
1983 37.2 48.2
1982 44.9 48
1981 45 47.8
1980 44.6 47.6
1979 43.8 47.4
1978 43.4 47
1977 43 47
1976 42.6 44.7
1975 39 44.5
1974 39 44.3
1973 41.1 46.2
1972 40.7 46
1971 41.5 45.8
1970 41.2 45.6
1969 40.8 45.5
1968 40.5 45.3
1967 40.2 45.1
1966 37.6 44.8
1965 39.6 44.6
1964 39.2 44.4
1963 38.8 44.2
1962 38.3 44
1961 37.9 43.7
1960 37.4 43.5
1959 37 43.3
1958 30.9 43.1
1957 30.4 42.9
1956 35.6 42.7
1955 35.2 42.5
1954 34.8 42.3
1953 34.4 42.1
1952 34 41.9
1951 33.6 41.7
1950 33.3 41.5

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

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

Eritrea and Somalia population clocks and comparison

Population
Eritrea

Somalia
1x
Year Population
Eritrea Somalia
2024 3,535,603 19,009,151
2023 3,470,390 18,358,615
2022 3,409,447 17,801,897
2021 3,350,183 17,271,431
2020 3,291,271 16,651,191
2019 3,240,194 16,030,971
2018 3,192,760 15,452,487
2017 3,150,347 14,916,629
2016 3,124,698 14,348,740
2015 3,105,546 13,806,963
2014 3,095,173 13,339,491
2013 3,074,360 12,869,594
2012 3,036,988 12,461,160
2011 2,998,485 12,348,830
2010 2,945,186 12,261,756
2009 2,887,885 11,961,201
2008 2,816,327 11,663,084
2007 2,743,222 11,322,582
2006 2,703,502 10,975,502
2005 2,661,215 10,644,228
2004 2,598,284 10,280,998
2003 2,493,903 9,909,157
2002 2,392,978 9,550,063
2001 2,312,079 9,198,493
2000 2,247,031 8,838,713
1999 2,212,780 8,492,059
1998 2,180,419 8,155,417
1997 2,152,135 7,824,525
1996 2,128,464 7,554,474
1995 2,025,267 7,285,007
1994 1,913,915 7,026,797
1993 1,856,006 6,681,399
1992 1,798,748 6,495,107
1991 1,919,571 6,813,760
1990 2,032,737 7,082,811
1989 1,987,017 7,114,817
1988 1,938,255 7,235,360
1987 1,888,669 7,228,302
1986 1,845,164 6,974,788
1985 1,807,816 6,693,289
1984 1,771,730 6,428,389
1983 1,736,160 6,198,430
1982 1,695,461 6,003,840
1981 1,649,939 5,982,849
1980 1,605,797 5,936,154
1979 1,563,332 5,449,117
1978 1,522,378 4,814,892
1977 1,482,565 4,484,050
1976 1,443,807 4,365,812
1975 1,408,210 4,257,535
1974 1,375,688 4,151,842
1973 1,342,669 4,045,592
1972 1,309,235 3,939,436
1971 1,276,154 3,837,691
1970 1,243,453 3,738,448
1969 1,212,005 3,641,015
1968 1,181,737 3,546,590
1967 1,152,339 3,454,537
1966 1,124,957 3,365,106
1965 1,098,335 3,277,874
1964 1,071,287 3,192,796
1963 1,045,092 3,110,361
1962 1,019,788 3,030,091
1961 995,573 2,952,054
1960 972,547 2,876,331

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

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

Fertility rates in Eritrea and Somalia

Fertility rate
Eritrea

Somalia
1x
Year Fertility rate
Eritrea Somalia
2023 3.71 6.13
2022 3.79 6.26
2021 3.87 6.35
2020 3.93 6.45
2019 4 6.56
2018 4.06 6.66
2017 4.11 6.77
2016 4.16 6.88
2015 4.22 6.98
2014 4.27 7.06
2013 4.34 7.14
2012 4.41 7.21
2011 4.49 7.27
2010 4.57 7.32
2009 4.66 7.38
2008 4.74 7.42
2007 4.81 7.46
2006 4.88 7.49
2005 4.93 7.53
2004 5.04 7.57
2003 5.14 7.6
2002 5.23 7.63
2001 5.31 7.64
2000 5.4 7.65
1999 5.52 7.66
1998 5.63 7.66
1997 5.74 7.66
1996 5.84 7.62
1995 5.94 7.58
1994 6.01 7.54
1993 6.07 7.53
1992 6.16 7.5
1991 6.24 7.47
1990 6.34 7.44
1989 6.41 7.42
1988 6.47 7.4
1987 6.52 7.37
1986 6.56 7.35
1985 6.59 7.33
1984 6.62 7.3
1983 6.65 7.28
1982 6.63 7.25
1981 6.62 7.23
1980 6.61 7.18
1979 6.62 7.16
1978 6.61 7.13
1977 6.61 7
1976 6.6 7.02
1975 6.59 7.03
1974 6.57 7.06
1973 6.55 7.09
1972 6.54 7.12
1971 6.54 7.15
1970 6.54 7.18
1969 6.5 7.21
1968 6.5 7.23
1967 6.5 7.25
1966 6.5 7.26
1965 6.49 7.26
1964 6.49 7.26
1963 6.48 7.26
1962 6.5 7.26
1961 6.47 7.25
1960 6.48 7.25

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

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

Eritrea and Somalia demographics compared

Median age
Eritrea

Somalia
1x
Year Median age, years
Eritrea Somalia
2024 19.9 16.6
2023 19.7 16.5
2022 19.5 16.5
2021 19.3 16.4
2020 19.1 16.3
2019 18.9 16.3
2018 18.7 16.2
2017 18.5 16.2
2016 18.4 16.1
2015 18.4 16.1
2014 18.5 16
2013 18.5 16
2012 18.5 16
2011 18.5 15.8
2010 18.4 15.7
2009 18.4 15.6
2008 18.2 15.6
2007 18.1 15.6
2006 18.2 15.7
2005 18.3 15.9
2004 18.3 16
2003 18 16.1
2002 17.7 16.2
2001 17.5 16.2
2000 17.4 16.3
1999 17.5 16.3
1998 17.8 16.4
1997 18 16.4
1996 18.4 16.5
1995 18.1 16.6
1994 17.6 16.7
1993 17.6 16.8
1992 17.5 16.7
1991 17.6 16.5
1990 17.6 16.5
1989 17.7 16.7
1988 17.8 16.8
1987 17.9 17
1986 17.9 17.1
1985 17.8 17.2
1984 17.8 17.3
1983 17.7 17.4
1982 17.7 17.4
1981 17.7 17.5
1980 17.8 17.6
1979 17.8 17.6
1978 17.8 17.7
1977 17.9 17.7
1976 18 17.7
1975 18.1 17.7
1974 18.2 17.7
1973 18.2 17.6
1972 18.3 17.6
1971 18.5 17.6
1970 18.6 17.5
1969 18.8 17.5
1968 18.9 17.5
1967 18.9 17.5
1966 19 17.5
1965 19 17.5
1964 19 17.6
1963 19 17.7
1962 18.9 17.8
1961 18.9 17.9
1960 18.8 18.1

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

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

Interactive Maps

Use the buttons below to switch between world maps comparing statistics for Eritrea and Somalia.

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National statistics comparison

Finance

Eritrea Somalia
GNI, Atlas method
$1.94B
2011
$11.7B
2024
Government expenditure, % of GDP
31.3%
2019
13%
2025
Education expenditure, % of GDP
2.13%
2006
0.000008%
2023
Military expenditure, % of GDP
20.9%
2003
1.59%
2024
Armed forces personnel
202,000
2020
14,000
2020
Deficit/surplus, % of GDP
+2.72%
2019
-5.47%
2025
Unemployment rate
5.8%
2017
11.1%
2022
Industry, % of GDP
21.8%
2009
9.66%
1986
Economic freedom index
39.6
2026
29
2025
Total reserves including gold
$192M
2019
$23.1M
1989
Personal remittances received
$3.28M
2000
$2.12B
2024
International tourist arrivals
142,000
2016
n/a
International tourism as share of exports
36.8%
2000
n/a
Banked people share n/a
38.7%
2014

Energy

Eritrea Somalia
Energy use, kg of oil equivalent per capita
289.5 kg
2022
n/a
GDP PPP per kg equivalent of energy use
$6.73
2011
n/a
Carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions
0.78 megatons
2024
0.87 megatons
2024
CO2 emissions per capita
0.22 tons
2024
0.05 tons
2024
Fossil fuel energy use share
22.4%
2022
n/a
Renewable energy use share
80.7%
2021
95.4%
2022
Alternative and nuclear energy use share
0.1%
2022
n/a
Net energy imports use share
34.8%
2004
n/a
Electric power consumption per capita
102.4 kWh
2022
n/a
Renewable electricity output share
5.79%
2021
11.2%
2021
Hydroelectric share
0%
2021
0%
2021
Nuclear share
0%
2021
0%
2021
Electricity access
54.4%
2023
50.3%
2023

Society

Eritrea Somalia
% of world population
0.04%
2024
0.23%
2024
Annual migration change
-6,698
2025
+12,077
2025
Urban population
34.5%
2024
54.6%
2024
Male:Female ratio
49.4:50.6
2024
50.1:49.9
2024
Average male height
5.6 ft
2025
5.62 ft
2025
Average female height
5.17 ft
2025
5.25 ft
2025
Quality of life index
9.53
2026
8.53
2026
Corruption Perceptions Index
13
2025
9
2025
Higher education index
5
2026
11
2026
Homicides per 100K people
14.6
2012
4.31
2015
Road traffic mortality per 100K people
37.9
2019
27.4
2019
Visa free countries
49
2025
43
2025
Adult literacy rate
76.6%
2018
54.1%
2022
English speaking
0%
2025
2%
2025
People using the Internet
20%
2023
27.6%
2022

Health

Eritrea Somalia
Government health expenditure per capita
$28.3
2023
$22.4
2023
Out-of-pocket health expenditure per capita
$13.7
2023
$6.89
2023
Life expectancy
69.4 years
2026
59.3 years
2026
Foreign aid share of health expenditure
28.5%
2023
54.4%
2023
Physicians per 1,000 people
0.09
2022
0.05
2014
Age at first childbirth
21.3 years
2025
n/a
Maternal mortality per 100K births
291
2023
563
2023
Mortality rate before reaching 5 years of age
35.4
2023
104
2023
Obesity rate
4.94%
2022
14.9%
2022
Diabetes prevalence
4.4%
2024
5.8%
2024
Air quality index
30
2026
35
2026
Pure alcohol consumption per capita
1.07 liters
2020
0 liters
2020

Territory

Eritrea Somalia
% of world land
0.08%
2026
0.42%
2026
Land area per capita
13,233 sq mi
2024
12,742 sq mi
2024
Agricultural land area
29,313 sq mi
2026
170,384 sq mi
2026
Forest area
4,038 sq mi
2026
22,200 sq mi
2026
Roads length
9,942 mi
2018
9,321 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 (2011–2025, 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. EduRank (2026, retrieved 2025-10-13)
  11. The Heritage Foundation | Economic Freedom Index (2026, retrieved 2026-03-09)

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