Eritrea has a population of 3.54M (ranked 131/197), compared with 11.9M in South Sudan (ranked 81/197). Eritrea's land area is 46,787 sq mi versus 243,990 sq mi for South Sudan (ranked 96th vs. 41st).
By GDP, Eritrea ranks 179/197 ($2.07B) and South Sudan ranks 150/197 ($12B). By GDP per capita, Eritrea ranks 188/197 ($689), while South Sudan ranks 172/197 ($1,080).
Main facts and rankings
Eritrea
|
South Sudan
|
|
|---|---|---|
| Population |
3667774
|
12387398
|
| Population rank | 131/197 | 81/197 |
| GDP |
$2.07B
2011 |
$12B
2015 |
| GDP rank | 179/197 | 150/197 |
| GDP per capita |
$689
2011 |
$1,080
2015 |
| GDP per capita rank | 188/197 | 172/197 |
| GDP per capita, PPP |
$1,742
2011 |
$1,155
2015 |
| Government debt |
$3.54B
2011 |
$6.87B
2015 |
| Debt-to-GDP ratio |
260.4%
2019 |
63.2%
2025 |
| Government debt per person |
$1,182
2011 |
$618
2015 |
| Government debt per person rank | 137/185 | 159/185 |
| Average annual personal income after taxes |
$1,342
2025 |
$1,540
2025 |
| Land area |
46,787 sq mi
2025 |
243,990 sq mi
2025 |
| Population density |
75.6 ppl/mi²
2024 |
49 ppl/mi²
2024 |
| Fertility rate |
3.71
2023 |
3.86
2023 |
| Median age |
19.9 years
2024 |
19.4 years
2024 |
| Life expectancy |
69.2 years
2025 |
57.9 years
2025 |
Eritrea and South Sudan: Comparison Charts
Eritrea and South Sudan economies compared
GDP
Eritrea
South Sudan
| Year | GDP | |
|---|---|---|
|
Eritrea
|
South Sudan
|
|
| 1992 | $477,101,652 | - |
| 1993 | $467,872,715 | - |
| 1994 | $531,688,312 | - |
| 1995 | $578,015,625 | - |
| 1996 | $693,535,954 | - |
| 1997 | $686,490,090 | - |
| 1998 | $745,523,117 | - |
| 1999 | $688,918,537 | - |
| 2000 | $706,370,816 | - |
| 2001 | $752,371,689 | - |
| 2002 | $729,321,680 | - |
| 2003 | $870,248,268 | - |
| 2004 | $1,109,054,005 | - |
| 2005 | $1,098,424,686 | - |
| 2006 | $1,211,161,880 | - |
| 2007 | $1,317,974,491 | - |
| 2008 | $1,380,188,800 | $14,586,253,383 |
| 2009 | $1,856,695,551 | $12,231,264,525 |
| 2010 | $1,589,515,447 | $14,602,072,411 |
| 2011 | $2,065,001,626 | $14,907,308,933 |
| 2012 | - | $11,931,472,169 |
| 2013 | - | $18,426,469,017 |
| 2014 | - | $13,962,212,847 |
| 2015 | - | $11,997,800,760 |
Eritrea and South Sudan economies compared
GDP per capita
Eritrea
South Sudan
| Year | GDP per capita | |
|---|---|---|
|
Eritrea
|
South Sudan
|
|
| 1992 | $265.2 | - |
| 1993 | $252.1 | - |
| 1994 | $277.8 | - |
| 1995 | $285.4 | - |
| 1996 | $326 | - |
| 1997 | $319 | - |
| 1998 | $342 | - |
| 1999 | $311 | - |
| 2000 | $314 | - |
| 2001 | $325 | - |
| 2002 | $305 | - |
| 2003 | $349 | - |
| 2004 | $427 | - |
| 2005 | $413 | - |
| 2006 | $448 | - |
| 2007 | $480 | - |
| 2008 | $490 | $1,654 |
| 2009 | $643 | $1,323 |
| 2010 | $540 | $1,498 |
| 2011 | $689 | $1,449 |
| 2012 | - | $1,109 |
| 2013 | - | $1,650 |
| 2014 | - | $1,243 |
| 2015 | - | $1,080 |
Eritrea vs. South Sudan life expectancy calculator
Life expectancy
Eritrea
South Sudan
| Year | Life expectancy, years | |
|---|---|---|
|
Eritrea
|
South Sudan
|
|
| 1950 | 33.3 | 30.2 |
| 1951 | 33.6 | 30.6 |
| 1952 | 34 | 31 |
| 1953 | 34.4 | 31.4 |
| 1954 | 34.8 | 31.7 |
| 1955 | 35.2 | 32 |
| 1956 | 35.6 | 31.6 |
| 1957 | 30.4 | 30.9 |
| 1958 | 30.9 | 27.6 |
| 1959 | 37 | 27.8 |
| 1960 | 37.4 | 28.1 |
| 1961 | 37.9 | 28.3 |
| 1962 | 38.3 | 28.5 |
| 1963 | 38.8 | 28.2 |
| 1964 | 39.2 | 32.5 |
| 1965 | 39.6 | 28.8 |
| 1966 | 37.6 | 25.6 |
| 1967 | 40.2 | 25.9 |
| 1968 | 40.5 | 26.1 |
| 1969 | 40.8 | 25.4 |
| 1970 | 41.2 | 25.6 |
| 1971 | 41.5 | 31 |
| 1972 | 40.7 | 31.3 |
| 1973 | 41.1 | 36.3 |
| 1974 | 39 | 36.6 |
| 1975 | 39 | 36.9 |
| 1976 | 42.6 | 37.1 |
| 1977 | 43 | 37.4 |
| 1978 | 43.4 | 37.6 |
| 1979 | 43.8 | 37.8 |
| 1980 | 44.6 | 38 |
| 1981 | 45 | 38.3 |
| 1982 | 44.9 | 38.7 |
| 1983 | 37.2 | 34.7 |
| 1984 | 37.7 | 31.8 |
| 1985 | 38.6 | 32.4 |
| 1986 | 39.5 | 32.8 |
| 1987 | 47.4 | 20.7 |
| 1988 | 48.1 | 11 |
| 1989 | 47.8 | 28.2 |
| 1990 | 49.7 | 28.6 |
| 1991 | 50.5 | 29.2 |
| 1992 | 52.4 | 21.9 |
| 1993 | 53.2 | 22.3 |
| 1994 | 54 | 44.9 |
| 1995 | 54.8 | 31.5 |
| 1996 | 55.5 | 32.1 |
| 1997 | 56.2 | 33.1 |
| 1998 | 50 | 19 |
| 1999 | 44.5 | 44.5 |
| 2000 | 56.3 | 47.6 |
| 2001 | 58.4 | 48.6 |
| 2002 | 58.9 | 49.4 |
| 2003 | 59.5 | 52.3 |
| 2004 | 60.1 | 53.1 |
| 2005 | 60.6 | 54 |
| 2006 | 61.5 | 54.7 |
| 2007 | 62 | 55.4 |
| 2008 | 62.4 | 56.3 |
| 2009 | 63.2 | 56.8 |
| 2010 | 63.7 | 57.5 |
| 2011 | 64.2 | 57.7 |
| 2012 | 64.7 | 58.2 |
| 2013 | 65 | 58.3 |
| 2014 | 65.5 | 45.6 |
| 2015 | 65.9 | 39.8 |
| 2016 | 66.2 | 36.7 |
| 2017 | 66.6 | 35.4 |
| 2018 | 67 | 51.9 |
| 2019 | 67.3 | 58.1 |
| 2020 | 67 | 57.6 |
| 2021 | 66.9 | 57 |
| 2022 | 67.8 | 57.2 |
| 2023 | 68.6 | 57.6 |
| 2024 | 68.9 | 57.7 |
| 2025 | 69.2 | 57.9 |
Eritrea and South Sudan population clocks and comparison
Population
Eritrea
South Sudan
| Year | Population | |
|---|---|---|
|
Eritrea
|
South Sudan
|
|
| 1960 | 972,547 | 2,931,559 |
| 1961 | 995,573 | 2,976,724 |
| 1962 | 1,019,788 | 3,024,308 |
| 1963 | 1,045,092 | 3,072,669 |
| 1964 | 1,071,287 | 3,129,918 |
| 1965 | 1,098,335 | 3,189,835 |
| 1966 | 1,124,957 | 3,236,423 |
| 1967 | 1,152,339 | 3,277,648 |
| 1968 | 1,181,737 | 3,321,528 |
| 1969 | 1,212,005 | 3,365,533 |
| 1970 | 1,243,453 | 3,409,614 |
| 1971 | 1,276,154 | 3,468,646 |
| 1972 | 1,309,235 | 3,542,497 |
| 1973 | 1,342,669 | 3,627,383 |
| 1974 | 1,375,688 | 3,723,259 |
| 1975 | 1,408,210 | 3,821,494 |
| 1976 | 1,443,807 | 3,921,910 |
| 1977 | 1,482,565 | 4,024,032 |
| 1978 | 1,522,378 | 4,127,657 |
| 1979 | 1,563,332 | 4,232,605 |
| 1980 | 1,605,797 | 4,339,030 |
| 1981 | 1,649,939 | 4,447,272 |
| 1982 | 1,695,461 | 4,557,686 |
| 1983 | 1,736,160 | 4,661,574 |
| 1984 | 1,771,730 | 4,750,627 |
| 1985 | 1,807,816 | 4,834,296 |
| 1986 | 1,845,164 | 4,921,240 |
| 1987 | 1,888,669 | 4,962,395 |
| 1988 | 1,938,255 | 4,848,029 |
| 1989 | 1,987,017 | 4,713,229 |
| 1990 | 2,032,737 | 4,737,633 |
| 1991 | 1,919,571 | 4,836,677 |
| 1992 | 1,798,748 | 4,909,749 |
| 1993 | 1,856,006 | 4,956,002 |
| 1994 | 1,913,915 | 5,071,184 |
| 1995 | 2,025,267 | 5,225,836 |
| 1996 | 2,128,464 | 5,356,925 |
| 1997 | 2,152,135 | 5,509,136 |
| 1998 | 2,180,419 | 5,620,068 |
| 1999 | 2,212,780 | 5,771,628 |
| 2000 | 2,247,031 | 6,032,267 |
| 2001 | 2,312,079 | 6,308,391 |
| 2002 | 2,392,978 | 6,596,806 |
| 2003 | 2,493,903 | 6,903,127 |
| 2004 | 2,598,284 | 7,233,041 |
| 2005 | 2,661,215 | 7,590,143 |
| 2006 | 2,703,502 | 7,976,526 |
| 2007 | 2,743,222 | 8,388,788 |
| 2008 | 2,816,327 | 8,817,647 |
| 2009 | 2,887,885 | 9,243,556 |
| 2010 | 2,945,186 | 9,745,953 |
| 2011 | 2,998,485 | 10,288,109 |
| 2012 | 3,036,988 | 10,756,240 |
| 2013 | 3,074,360 | 11,166,275 |
| 2014 | 3,095,173 | 11,235,073 |
| 2015 | 3,105,546 | 11,107,561 |
| 2016 | 3,124,698 | 10,830,102 |
| 2017 | 3,150,347 | 10,259,154 |
| 2018 | 3,192,760 | 10,122,977 |
| 2019 | 3,240,194 | 10,423,384 |
| 2020 | 3,291,271 | 10,698,467 |
| 2021 | 3,350,183 | 10,865,780 |
| 2022 | 3,409,447 | 11,021,177 |
| 2023 | 3,470,390 | 11,483,374 |
| 2024 | 3,535,603 | 11,943,408 |
Fertility rates in Eritrea and South Sudan
Fertility rate
Eritrea
South Sudan
| Year | Fertility rate | |
|---|---|---|
|
Eritrea
|
South Sudan
|
|
| 1960 | 6.48 | 7.16 |
| 1961 | 6.47 | 7.18 |
| 1962 | 6.5 | 7.2 |
| 1963 | 6.48 | 7.2 |
| 1964 | 6.49 | 7.22 |
| 1965 | 6.49 | 7.22 |
| 1966 | 6.5 | 7.25 |
| 1967 | 6.5 | 7.26 |
| 1968 | 6.5 | 7.26 |
| 1969 | 6.5 | 7.28 |
| 1970 | 6.54 | 7.29 |
| 1971 | 6.54 | 7.3 |
| 1972 | 6.54 | 7.31 |
| 1973 | 6.55 | 7.31 |
| 1974 | 6.57 | 7.31 |
| 1975 | 6.59 | 7.33 |
| 1976 | 6.6 | 7.33 |
| 1977 | 6.61 | 7.33 |
| 1978 | 6.61 | 7.33 |
| 1979 | 6.62 | 7.32 |
| 1980 | 6.61 | 7.33 |
| 1981 | 6.62 | 7.33 |
| 1982 | 6.63 | 7.34 |
| 1983 | 6.65 | 7.34 |
| 1984 | 6.62 | 7.35 |
| 1985 | 6.59 | 7.36 |
| 1986 | 6.56 | 7.38 |
| 1987 | 6.52 | 7.39 |
| 1988 | 6.47 | 7.38 |
| 1989 | 6.41 | 7.37 |
| 1990 | 6.34 | 7.38 |
| 1991 | 6.24 | 7.38 |
| 1992 | 6.16 | 7.37 |
| 1993 | 6.07 | 7.36 |
| 1994 | 6.01 | 7.35 |
| 1995 | 5.94 | 7.34 |
| 1996 | 5.84 | 7.32 |
| 1997 | 5.74 | 7.2 |
| 1998 | 5.63 | 7.08 |
| 1999 | 5.52 | 6.94 |
| 2000 | 5.4 | 6.8 |
| 2001 | 5.31 | 6.65 |
| 2002 | 5.23 | 6.52 |
| 2003 | 5.14 | 6.35 |
| 2004 | 5.04 | 6.19 |
| 2005 | 4.93 | 6.02 |
| 2006 | 4.88 | 5.85 |
| 2007 | 4.81 | 5.7 |
| 2008 | 4.74 | 5.57 |
| 2009 | 4.66 | 5.45 |
| 2010 | 4.57 | 5.32 |
| 2011 | 4.49 | 5.19 |
| 2012 | 4.41 | 5.06 |
| 2013 | 4.34 | 4.94 |
| 2014 | 4.27 | 4.82 |
| 2015 | 4.22 | 4.7 |
| 2016 | 4.16 | 4.58 |
| 2017 | 4.11 | 4.48 |
| 2018 | 4.06 | 4.37 |
| 2019 | 4 | 4.26 |
| 2020 | 3.93 | 4.16 |
| 2021 | 3.87 | 4.05 |
| 2022 | 3.79 | 3.96 |
| 2023 | 3.71 | 3.86 |
Eritrea and South Sudan demographics compared
Median age
Eritrea
South Sudan
| Year | Median age, years | |
|---|---|---|
|
Eritrea
|
South Sudan
|
|
| 1960 | 18.8 | 18.6 |
| 1961 | 18.9 | 18.5 |
| 1962 | 18.9 | 18.5 |
| 1963 | 19 | 18.4 |
| 1964 | 19 | 18.4 |
| 1965 | 19 | 18.3 |
| 1966 | 19 | 18.3 |
| 1967 | 18.9 | 18.2 |
| 1968 | 18.9 | 18 |
| 1969 | 18.8 | 17.9 |
| 1970 | 18.6 | 17.7 |
| 1971 | 18.5 | 17.6 |
| 1972 | 18.3 | 17.5 |
| 1973 | 18.2 | 17.5 |
| 1974 | 18.2 | 17.4 |
| 1975 | 18.1 | 17.4 |
| 1976 | 18 | 17.3 |
| 1977 | 17.9 | 17.2 |
| 1978 | 17.8 | 17.2 |
| 1979 | 17.8 | 17.1 |
| 1980 | 17.8 | 17.1 |
| 1981 | 17.7 | 17 |
| 1982 | 17.7 | 16.9 |
| 1983 | 17.7 | 16.8 |
| 1984 | 17.8 | 16.8 |
| 1985 | 17.8 | 16.7 |
| 1986 | 17.9 | 16.6 |
| 1987 | 17.9 | 16.5 |
| 1988 | 17.8 | 16.8 |
| 1989 | 17.7 | 17.1 |
| 1990 | 17.6 | 17 |
| 1991 | 17.6 | 17 |
| 1992 | 17.5 | 17 |
| 1993 | 17.6 | 16.9 |
| 1994 | 17.6 | 16.9 |
| 1995 | 18.1 | 16.9 |
| 1996 | 18.4 | 16.9 |
| 1997 | 18 | 16.9 |
| 1998 | 17.8 | 17 |
| 1999 | 17.5 | 17.1 |
| 2000 | 17.4 | 17.2 |
| 2001 | 17.5 | 17.3 |
| 2002 | 17.7 | 17.3 |
| 2003 | 18 | 17.3 |
| 2004 | 18.3 | 17.4 |
| 2005 | 18.3 | 17.6 |
| 2006 | 18.2 | 17.8 |
| 2007 | 18.1 | 18 |
| 2008 | 18.2 | 18.2 |
| 2009 | 18.4 | 18.4 |
| 2010 | 18.4 | 18.7 |
| 2011 | 18.5 | 19 |
| 2012 | 18.5 | 19.2 |
| 2013 | 18.5 | 19.3 |
| 2014 | 18.5 | 19 |
| 2015 | 18.4 | 18.6 |
| 2016 | 18.4 | 18.2 |
| 2017 | 18.5 | 17.4 |
| 2018 | 18.7 | 17.3 |
| 2019 | 18.9 | 17.8 |
| 2020 | 19.1 | 18.2 |
| 2021 | 19.3 | 18.4 |
| 2022 | 19.5 | 18.7 |
| 2023 | 19.7 | 19 |
| 2024 | 19.9 | 19.4 |
Interactive Maps
Use the buttons below to switch between world maps comparing statistics for Eritrea and South Sudan.
GDP per capita
GDP
Life expectancy
Population
Population density
Fertility rate
Median age
Land area
National statistics comparison
Finance
|
Eritrea
|
South Sudan
|
|
|---|---|---|
| GNI, Atlas method |
$1.94B
2011 |
$11.7B
2015 |
| Government expenditure, % of GDP |
31.3%
2019 |
26.7%
2025 |
| Education expenditure, % of GDP |
2.13%
2006 |
1.57%
2016 |
| Military expenditure, % of GDP |
20.9%
2003 |
6.26%
2023 |
| Armed forces personnel |
202,000
2020 |
53,000
2020 |
| Deficit/surplus, % of GDP |
+2.72%
2019 |
+2%
2025 |
| Unemployment rate |
5.8%
2017 |
12.3%
2008 |
| Services, % of GDP | n/a |
56.6%
2015 |
| Industry, % of GDP |
21.8%
2009 |
33.1%
2015 |
| Economic freedom index |
38.6
2025 |
41
2025 |
| Income share by richest 10% | n/a |
33%
2016 |
| Income share by poorest 10% | n/a |
1.8%
2016 |
| Total reserves including gold |
$192M
2019 |
$72.9M
2023 |
| Personal remittances received |
$0
2023 |
$1.14B
2024 |
| International tourist arrivals |
142,000
2016 |
n/a |
| International tourism as share of exports |
36.8%
2000 |
0.39%
2018 |
| Banked people share | n/a |
5.83%
2021 |
Energy
|
Eritrea
|
South Sudan
|
|
|---|---|---|
| Energy use, kg of oil equivalent per capita |
289.5 kg
2022 |
69 kg
2022 |
| GDP PPP per kg equivalent of energy use |
$6.73
2011 |
$15.1
2015 |
| Carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions |
0.67 megatons
2023 |
n/a |
| CO2 emissions per capita |
0.19 tons
2023 |
n/a |
| Fossil fuel energy use share |
22.4%
2022 |
73.4%
2022 |
| Renewable energy use share |
80.7%
2021 |
32.4%
2021 |
| Alternative and nuclear energy use share |
0.1%
2022 |
0.4%
2022 |
| Net energy imports use share |
34.8%
2004 |
-860%
2022 |
| Electric power consumption per capita |
102.4 kWh
2022 |
46.9 kWh
2022 |
| Renewable electricity output share |
5.79%
2021 |
0.34%
2021 |
| Hydroelectric share |
0%
2021 |
0%
2021 |
| Nuclear share |
0%
2021 |
0%
2021 |
| Electricity access |
54.4%
2023 |
5.4%
2023 |
Society
|
Eritrea
|
South Sudan
|
|
|---|---|---|
| % of world population |
0.04%
2024 |
0.15%
2024 |
| Annual migration change |
-12,696
2024 |
+15,374
2024 |
| Urban population |
43.9%
2024 |
21.6%
2024 |
| Male:Female ratio |
50:50
2024 |
50:50
2024 |
| Average male height |
5.6 ft
2025 |
n/a |
| Average female height |
5.17 ft
2025 |
n/a |
| Quality of life index |
8.3
2025 |
5.62
2025 |
| Corruption Perceptions Index |
13
2024 |
8
2024 |
| Higher education index |
5
2025 |
10
2025 |
| Homicides per 100K people |
14.6
2012 |
14.1
2012 |
| Road traffic mortality per 100K people |
37.9
2019 |
36.7
2019 |
| Visa free countries |
51
2025 |
54
2025 |
| Adult literacy rate |
76.6%
2018 |
34.5%
2018 |
| English speaking |
0%
2025 |
94%
2023 |
| People using the Internet |
20%
2023 |
9.27%
2020 |
Health
|
Eritrea
|
South Sudan
|
|
|---|---|---|
| Government health expenditure per capita |
$27.1
2022 |
$49.4
2022 |
| Out-of-pocket health expenditure per capita |
$14.7
2022 |
$17
2022 |
| Life expectancy |
69.2 years
2025 |
57.9 years
2025 |
| Foreign aid share of health expenditure |
22.5%
2022 |
49.1%
2022 |
| Physicians per 1,000 people |
0.07
2022 |
0.04
2020 |
| Age at first childbirth |
21.3 years
2025 |
n/a |
| Maternal mortality per 100K births |
291
2023 |
692
2023 |
| Mortality rate before reaching 5 years of age, per 1,000 live births |
35.4
2023 |
98.7
2023 |
| Obesity rate |
4.94%
2022 |
8.79%
2022 |
| Diabetes prevalence |
4.4%
2024 |
4.6%
2024 |
| Air quality index |
30
2025 |
21
2025 |
| Pure alcohol consumption per capita |
1.07 liters
2020 |
n/a |
Territory
|
Eritrea
|
South Sudan
|
|
|---|---|---|
| % of world land |
0.08%
2025 |
0.42%
2025 |
| Land area per capita |
13,233 sq mi
2024 |
20,429 sq mi
2024 |
| Agricultural land area |
29,313 sq mi
2025 |
109,449 sq mi
2025 |
| Forest area |
4,038 sq mi
2025 |
27,633 sq mi
2025 |
| Roads length |
9,942 mi
2018 |
n/a |
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