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Eritrea vs Syria statistics compared

Updated on by Georank team

Eritrea has a population of 3.54M (ranked 131/197), compared with 24.7M in Syria (ranked 57/197). Eritrea's land area is 46,787 sq mi versus 70,900 sq mi for Syria (ranked 96th vs. 87th).

By GDP, Eritrea ranks 179/197 ($2.07B) and Syria ranks 129/197 ($20B). By GDP per capita, Eritrea ranks 188/197 ($689), while Syria ranks 185/197 ($847).

Main facts and rankings

Eritrea Syria
Population
3700586
26829400
Population rank 130/197 56/197
GDP
$2.07B
2011
$20B
2023
GDP rank 179/197 129/197
GDP per capita
$689
2011
$847
2023
GDP per capita rank 188/197 185/197
GDP per capita, PPP
$1,742
2011
$4,650
2023
Government debt
$3.54B
2011
$18.4B
2010
Debt-to-GDP ratio
260.4%
2019
30%
2010
Government debt per person
$1,182
2011
$820
2010
Government debt per person rank 136/185 148/185
Average annual personal income after taxes
$1,129
2026
$730
2026
Land area 46,787 sq mi 70,900 sq mi
Population density
78.6 ppl/mi²
2026
375 ppl/mi²
2026
Fertility rate
3.71
2023
2.71
2023
Median age
19.9 years
2024
23.9 years
2024
Life expectancy
69.4 years
2026
73.4 years
2026

Eritrea and Syria: Comparison Charts

Eritrea and Syria economies compared

GDP
Eritrea

Syria
1x
Year GDP
Eritrea Syria
2023 - $19,993,439,950
2022 - $23,622,827,080
2021 - $14,353,205,678
2020 - $12,047,752,036
2019 - $22,583,045,060
2018 - $21,497,782,868
2017 - $16,369,843,352
2016 - $12,597,854,877
2015 - $16,466,863,117
2014 - $21,502,061,466
2013 - $21,361,254,635
2012 - $43,190,318,033
2011 $2,065,001,626 $67,539,428,159
2010 $1,589,515,447 $61,390,830,875
2009 $1,856,695,551 $54,111,735,629
2008 $1,380,188,800 $52,557,913,569
2007 $1,317,974,491 $40,465,318,382
2006 $1,211,161,880 $33,751,788,856
2005 $1,098,424,686 $28,858,965,517
2004 $1,109,054,005 $25,086,950,495
2003 $870,248,268 $21,828,144,686
2002 $729,321,680 $20,669,357,462
2001 $752,371,689 $20,237,024,725
2000 $706,370,816 $18,937,052,543
1999 $688,918,537 $15,873,875,969
1998 $745,523,117 $15,200,846,154
1997 $686,490,090 $14,505,233,463
1996 $693,535,954 $13,789,560,878
1995 $578,015,625 $11,396,706,587
1994 $531,688,312 $10,122,020,000
1993 $467,872,715 $13,695,962,055
1992 $477,101,652 $13,253,565,861
1991 - $12,981,833,333
1990 - $12,308,624,418
1989 - $9,853,395,762
1988 - $10,577,041,645
1987 - $11,356,215,543
1986 - $13,293,205,278
1985 - $16,403,539,893
1984 - $17,503,078,174
1983 - $17,589,277,143
1982 - $16,298,929,011
1981 - $15,518,201,335
1980 - $13,062,420,382
1979 - $9,929,681,529
1978 - $9,275,200,458
1977 - $7,696,011,396
1976 - $7,633,528,867
1975 - $6,826,980,444
1974 - $5,159,557,148
1973 - $3,239,487,516
1972 - $3,059,681,698
1971 - $2,589,851,325
1970 - $2,140,384,010
1969 - $2,245,011,515
1968 - $1,753,746,430
1967 - $1,580,229,799
1966 - $1,342,287,553
1965 - $1,472,036,540
1964 - $1,339,494,267
1963 - $1,200,447,408
1962 - $1,110,565,881
1961 - $945,244,972
1960 - $857,704,413

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

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

Eritrea and Syria economies compared

GDP per capita
Eritrea

Syria
1x
Year GDP per capita
Eritrea Syria
2023 - $847
2022 - $1,052
2021 - $664
2020 - $572
2019 - $1,110
2018 - $1,098
2017 - $852
2016 - $656
2015 - $848
2014 - $1,061
2013 - $986
2012 - $1,898
2011 $689 $2,952
2010 $540 $2,731
2009 $643 $2,462
2008 $490 $2,429
2007 $480 $1,938
2006 $448 $1,719
2005 $413 $1,534
2004 $427 $1,368
2003 $349 $1,220
2002 $305 $1,183
2001 $325 $1,187
2000 $314 $1,138
1999 $311 $978
1998 $342 $961
1997 $319 $941
1996 $326 $918
1995 $285.4 $780
1994 $277.8 $712
1993 $252.1 $993
1992 $265.2 $990
1991 - $1,000
1990 - $978
1989 - $809
1988 - $898
1987 - $997
1986 - $1,208
1985 - $1,544
1984 - $1,706
1983 - $1,776
1982 - $1,703
1981 - $1,676
1980 - $1,458
1979 - $1,146
1978 - $1,108
1977 - $951
1976 - $976
1975 - $904
1974 - $707
1973 - $459
1972 - $448
1971 - $393
1970 - $335
1969 - $364
1968 - $293.3
1967 - $272.9
1966 - $239.3
1965 - $270.8
1964 - $254.2
1963 - $234.9
1962 - $223.9
1961 - $196.3
1960 - $183.5

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

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

Eritrea vs. Syria life expectancy calculator

Life expectancy
Eritrea

Syria
1x
Year Life expectancy, years
Eritrea Syria
2026 69.4 73.4
2025 69.2 73
2024 68.9 72.6
2023 68.6 72.1
2022 67.8 72.8
2021 66.9 72.4
2020 67 71.9
2019 67.3 71
2018 67 67.4
2017 66.6 65.7
2016 66.2 65.2
2015 65.9 63.3
2014 65.5 65.5
2013 65 65.1
2012 64.7 66.2
2011 64.2 72.3
2010 63.7 73.5
2009 63.2 73.5
2008 62.4 73.4
2007 62 73.3
2006 61.5 73
2005 60.6 72.8
2004 60.1 72.5
2003 59.5 72.2
2002 58.9 71.7
2001 58.4 71.3
2000 56.3 70.9
1999 44.5 70.5
1998 50 70.2
1997 56.2 70.2
1996 55.5 70.2
1995 54.8 70.2
1994 54 70.3
1993 53.2 70.3
1992 52.4 70.2
1991 50.5 70.1
1990 49.7 69.8
1989 47.8 69.5
1988 48.1 69.2
1987 47.4 68.8
1986 39.5 68.4
1985 38.6 68
1984 37.7 67.7
1983 37.2 67.4
1982 44.9 60.8
1981 45 64.6
1980 44.6 66.5
1979 43.8 66.2
1978 43.4 65.9
1977 43 65.4
1976 42.6 64.8
1975 39 64.2
1974 39 63.4
1973 41.1 60.8
1972 40.7 62
1971 41.5 61.3
1970 41.2 60.6
1969 40.8 59.8
1968 40.5 59.1
1967 40.2 58
1966 37.6 57.6
1965 39.6 56.9
1964 39.2 56.2
1963 38.8 55.4
1962 38.3 54.6
1961 37.9 53.7
1960 37.4 52.7
1959 37 51.7
1958 30.9 50.7
1957 30.4 49.6
1956 35.6 48.5
1955 35.2 47.4
1954 34.8 46.4
1953 34.4 45.3
1952 34 44.3
1951 33.6 43.4
1950 33.3 42.5

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

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

Eritrea and Syria population clocks and comparison

Population
Eritrea

Syria
1x
Year Population
Eritrea Syria
2024 3,535,603 24,672,760
2023 3,470,390 23,594,623
2022 3,409,447 22,462,173
2021 3,350,183 21,628,839
2020 3,291,271 21,049,429
2019 3,240,194 20,353,534
2018 3,192,760 19,577,845
2017 3,150,347 19,224,668
2016 3,124,698 19,193,834
2015 3,105,546 19,424,618
2014 3,095,173 20,273,659
2013 3,074,360 21,666,917
2012 3,036,988 22,759,763
2011 2,998,485 22,878,098
2010 2,945,186 22,482,421
2009 2,887,885 21,976,969
2008 2,816,327 21,636,564
2007 2,743,222 20,884,125
2006 2,703,502 19,637,022
2005 2,661,215 18,814,091
2004 2,598,284 18,336,875
2003 2,493,903 17,889,296
2002 2,392,978 17,468,332
2001 2,312,079 17,051,338
2000 2,247,031 16,637,888
1999 2,212,780 16,228,061
1998 2,180,419 15,820,413
1997 2,152,135 15,417,542
1996 2,128,464 15,018,104
1995 2,025,267 14,616,801
1994 1,913,915 14,208,583
1993 1,856,006 13,795,686
1992 1,798,748 13,385,571
1991 1,919,571 12,980,821
1990 2,032,737 12,579,208
1989 1,987,017 12,179,060
1988 1,938,255 11,782,264
1987 1,888,669 11,388,923
1986 1,845,164 11,002,844
1985 1,807,816 10,625,672
1984 1,771,730 10,258,398
1983 1,736,160 9,904,809
1982 1,695,461 9,572,511
1981 1,649,939 9,260,189
1980 1,605,797 8,957,663
1979 1,563,332 8,661,909
1978 1,522,378 8,372,759
1977 1,482,565 8,090,501
1976 1,443,807 7,817,320
1975 1,408,210 7,554,364
1974 1,375,688 7,302,160
1973 1,342,669 7,060,321
1972 1,309,235 6,826,024
1971 1,276,154 6,598,094
1970 1,243,453 6,380,609
1969 1,212,005 6,175,166
1968 1,181,737 5,978,742
1967 1,152,339 5,790,198
1966 1,124,957 5,609,047
1965 1,098,335 5,435,267
1964 1,071,287 5,269,087
1963 1,045,092 5,110,467
1962 1,019,788 4,959,340
1961 995,573 4,815,466
1960 972,547 4,673,500

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

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

Fertility rates in Eritrea and Syria

Fertility rate
Eritrea

Syria
1x
Year Fertility rate
Eritrea Syria
2023 3.71 2.71
2022 3.79 2.75
2021 3.87 2.8
2020 3.93 2.84
2019 4 2.88
2018 4.06 2.93
2017 4.11 2.97
2016 4.16 3.01
2015 4.22 3.07
2014 4.27 3.12
2013 4.34 3.17
2012 4.41 3.22
2011 4.49 3.29
2010 4.57 3.36
2009 4.66 3.42
2008 4.74 3.48
2007 4.81 3.54
2006 4.88 3.56
2005 4.93 3.61
2004 5.04 3.68
2003 5.14 3.76
2002 5.23 3.87
2001 5.31 3.98
2000 5.4 4.07
1999 5.52 4.14
1998 5.63 4.25
1997 5.74 4.37
1996 5.84 4.54
1995 5.94 4.7
1994 6.01 4.86
1993 6.07 4.99
1992 6.16 5.14
1991 6.24 5.34
1990 6.34 5.56
1989 6.41 5.78
1988 6.47 6
1987 6.52 6.2
1986 6.56 6.37
1985 6.59 6.48
1984 6.62 6.59
1983 6.65 6.69
1982 6.63 6.81
1981 6.62 6.97
1980 6.61 7.12
1979 6.62 7.25
1978 6.61 7.35
1977 6.61 7.42
1976 6.6 7.45
1975 6.59 7.49
1974 6.57 7.52
1973 6.55 7.55
1972 6.54 7.57
1971 6.54 7.6
1970 6.54 7.62
1969 6.5 7.59
1968 6.5 7.57
1967 6.5 7.56
1966 6.5 7.55
1965 6.49 7.53
1964 6.49 7.53
1963 6.48 7.51
1962 6.5 7.51
1961 6.47 7.5
1960 6.48 7.51

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

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

Eritrea and Syria demographics compared

Median age
Eritrea

Syria
1x
Year Median age, years
Eritrea Syria
2024 19.9 23.9
2023 19.7 23.3
2022 19.5 22.7
2021 19.3 22.2
2020 19.1 21.6
2019 18.9 20.9
2018 18.7 20.1
2017 18.5 19.6
2016 18.4 19.5
2015 18.4 19.5
2014 18.5 20.1
2013 18.5 21.2
2012 18.5 21.8
2011 18.5 21.9
2010 18.4 21.7
2009 18.4 21.5
2008 18.2 21.3
2007 18.1 21
2006 18.2 20.3
2005 18.3 19.7
2004 18.3 19.5
2003 18 19.2
2002 17.7 19
2001 17.5 18.8
2000 17.4 18.5
1999 17.5 18.3
1998 17.8 18.1
1997 18 17.9
1996 18.4 17.7
1995 18.1 17.5
1994 17.6 17.3
1993 17.6 17.1
1992 17.5 16.9
1991 17.6 16.7
1990 17.6 16.5
1989 17.7 16.4
1988 17.8 16.2
1987 17.9 16.1
1986 17.9 16
1985 17.8 15.9
1984 17.8 15.8
1983 17.7 15.8
1982 17.7 15.7
1981 17.7 15.6
1980 17.8 15.6
1979 17.8 15.6
1978 17.8 15.6
1977 17.9 15.6
1976 18 15.6
1975 18.1 15.7
1974 18.2 15.7
1973 18.2 15.7
1972 18.3 15.8
1971 18.5 15.8
1970 18.6 15.9
1969 18.8 16
1968 18.9 16.1
1967 18.9 16.2
1966 19 16.4
1965 19 16.5
1964 19 16.7
1963 19 16.9
1962 18.9 17.1
1961 18.9 17.3
1960 18.8 17.6

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

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

Interactive Maps

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National statistics comparison

Finance

Eritrea Syria
GNI, Atlas method
$1.94B
2011
$18.2B
2023
Government expenditure, % of GDP
31.3%
2019
28.6%
2010
Education expenditure, % of GDP
2.13%
2006
5.13%
2009
Military expenditure, % of GDP
20.9%
2003
4.06%
2010
Armed forces personnel
202,000
2020
269,000
2020
Deficit/surplus, % of GDP
+2.72%
2019
-7.79%
2010
Unemployment rate
5.8%
2017
8.61%
2010
Services, % of GDP n/a
44.9%
2022
Industry, % of GDP
21.8%
2009
12%
2022
Economic freedom index
39.6
2026
51.2
2012
Income share by richest 10% n/a
21.1%
2022
Income share by poorest 10% n/a
3.8%
2022
Total reserves including gold
$192M
2019
$20.6B
2010
Personal remittances received
$3.28M
2000
$1.62B
2010
International tourist arrivals
142,000
2016
2,424,000
2019
International tourism as share of exports
36.8%
2000
32.2%
2010
Banked people share n/a
23.3%
2011

Energy

Eritrea Syria
Energy use, kg of oil equivalent per capita
289.5 kg
2022
455 kg
2022
GDP PPP per kg equivalent of energy use
$6.73
2011
$10.5
2022
Carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions
0.78 megatons
2024
31.4 megatons
2024
CO2 emissions per capita
0.22 tons
2024
1.27 tons
2024
Fossil fuel energy use share
22.4%
2022
99.5%
2022
Renewable energy use share
80.7%
2021
1.1%
2021
Alternative and nuclear energy use share
0.1%
2022
0.72%
2022
Net energy imports use share
34.8%
2004
61.3%
2022
Electric power consumption per capita
102.4 kWh
2022
690 kWh
2022
Renewable electricity output share
5.79%
2021
3.91%
2021
Hydroelectric share
0%
2021
3.76%
2022
Nuclear share
0%
2021
0%
2021
Electricity access
54.4%
2023
88.4%
2023

Society

Eritrea Syria
% of world population
0.04%
2024
0.3%
2024
Annual migration change
-6,698
2025
+421,693
2025
Urban population
34.5%
2024
72.1%
2024
Male:Female ratio
49.4:50.6
2024
50:50
2024
Average male height
5.6 ft
2025
5.63 ft
2025
Average female height
5.17 ft
2025
5.23 ft
2025
Quality of life index
9.53
2026
18.4
2026
Corruption Perceptions Index
13
2025
15
2025
Higher education index
5
2026
33
2026
Homicides per 100K people
14.6
2012
2.07
2010
Road traffic mortality per 100K people
37.9
2019
14.9
2019
Visa free countries
49
2025
37
2025
Adult literacy rate
76.6%
2018
94.4%
2021
English speaking
0%
2025
4%
2025
People using the Internet
20%
2023
34.7%
2019

Health

Eritrea Syria
Government health expenditure per capita
$28.3
2023
$33.3
2023
Out-of-pocket health expenditure per capita
$13.7
2023
$24.1
2023
Life expectancy
69.4 years
2026
73.4 years
2026
Foreign aid share of health expenditure
28.5%
2023
11.8%
2023
Physicians per 1,000 people
0.09
2022
1.52
2021
Age at first childbirth
21.3 years
2025
n/a
Maternal mortality per 100K births
291
2023
20
2023
Mortality rate before reaching 5 years of age
35.4
2023
20.6
2023
Obesity rate
4.94%
2022
n/a
Diabetes prevalence
4.4%
2024
19%
2024
Air quality index
30
2026
42
2026
Pure alcohol consumption per capita
1.07 liters
2020
0.09 liters
2020

Territory

Eritrea Syria
% of world land
0.08%
2026
0.12%
2026
Land area per capita
13,233 sq mi
2024
2,874 sq mi
2024
Agricultural land area
29,313 sq mi
2026
52,533 sq mi
2026
Forest area
4,038 sq mi
2026
2,016 sq mi
2026
Roads length
9,942 mi
2018
n/a

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 (2010–2019, retrieved 2026-02-20)
  6. LivingCost (2026, retrieved 2025-10-14)
  7. The Heritage Foundation | Economic Freedom Index (2012–2026, retrieved 2026-03-09)
  8. Passport Index (2025, retrieved 2026-02-08)
  9. Transparency International (2025, retrieved 2026-02-10)
  10. EduRank (2026, retrieved 2025-10-13)
  11. World Obesity Federation (2022, retrieved 2026-02-08)

Creative Commons Attribution (CC BY) — you’re free to copy, share, remix, adapt, and use even commercially as long as you give appropriate credit and clearly indicate if you made changes. Other sources may be subject to different license terms.