The current population of Eritrea is 3,700,586 people, as of 2026 based on the adjusted UN estimation. The latest officially reported number was 3,535,603 in 2024.
- Eritrea accounts for 0.04% of the world's population.
- For the last 20 years, Eritrea has had an average growth rate of 1.84% per year.
- Since 2006, population has increased from 2.7M people to 3.7M (36.9% growth in 20 years).
- Eritrea is ranked 130/197 by population and was ranked 135th in 2006.
- Eritrea is projected to reach 8.51M people in 2100.
Eritrea population and growth rate by year
| Year | Population | Growth rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2100 | 8,514,681 | 0.29% |
| 2099 | 8,489,924 | 0.27% |
| 2098 | 8,466,983 | 0.27% |
| 2097 | 8,444,468 | 0.26% |
| 2096 | 8,422,323 | 0.31% |
| 2095 | 8,396,086 | 0.31% |
| 2094 | 8,370,114 | 0.31% |
| 2093 | 8,344,405 | 0.43% |
| 2092 | 8,309,034 | 0.36% |
| 2091 | 8,278,860 | 0.42% |
| 2090 | 8,243,905 | 0.41% |
| 2089 | 8,209,883 | 0.46% |
| 2088 | 8,172,664 | 0.45% |
| 2087 | 8,136,016 | 0.53% |
| 2086 | 8,093,065 | 0.57% |
| 2085 | 8,046,814 | 0.59% |
| 2084 | 7,999,706 | 0.54% |
| 2083 | 7,956,385 | 0.56% |
| 2082 | 7,911,764 | 0.51% |
| 2081 | 7,871,753 | 0.72% |
| 2080 | 7,815,766 | 0.65% |
| 2079 | 7,765,677 | 0.7% |
| 2078 | 7,711,886 | 0.73% |
| 2077 | 7,656,307 | 0.73% |
| 2076 | 7,600,951 | 0.82% |
| 2075 | 7,538,912 | 0.73% |
| 2074 | 7,484,322 | 0.86% |
| 2073 | 7,420,571 | 0.84% |
| 2072 | 7,358,500 | 0.86% |
| 2071 | 7,296,109 | 0.9% |
| 2070 | 7,231,198 | 0.93% |
| 2069 | 7,164,883 | 0.99% |
| 2068 | 7,094,530 | 0.98% |
| 2067 | 7,026,000 | 1.06% |
| 2066 | 6,952,514 | 0.99% |
| 2065 | 6,884,323 | 1.02% |
| 2064 | 6,814,893 | 1.21% |
| 2063 | 6,733,263 | 1.11% |
| 2062 | 6,659,531 | 1.19% |
| 2061 | 6,580,923 | 1.23% |
| 2060 | 6,500,944 | 1.22% |
| 2059 | 6,422,305 | 1.25% |
| 2058 | 6,343,070 | 1.24% |
| 2057 | 6,265,450 | 1.15% |
| 2056 | 6,194,123 | 1.31% |
| 2055 | 6,114,099 | 1.23% |
| 2054 | 6,039,801 | 1.38% |
| 2053 | 5,957,339 | 1.45% |
| 2052 | 5,871,954 | 1.4% |
| 2051 | 5,791,096 | 1.4% |
| 2050 | 5,711,061 | 1.4% |
| 2049 | 5,632,165 | 1.48% |
| 2048 | 5,549,890 | 1.49% |
| 2047 | 5,468,518 | 1.51% |
| 2046 | 5,387,267 | 1.64% |
| 2045 | 5,300,511 | 1.62% |
| 2044 | 5,215,831 | 1.64% |
| 2043 | 5,131,686 | 1.73% |
| 2042 | 5,044,262 | 1.69% |
| 2041 | 4,960,422 | 1.84% |
| 2040 | 4,870,981 | 1.85% |
| 2039 | 4,782,316 | 1.9% |
| 2038 | 4,693,015 | 2.03% |
| 2037 | 4,599,752 | 2.06% |
| 2036 | 4,506,879 | 1.96% |
| 2035 | 4,420,367 | 2.02% |
| 2034 | 4,332,828 | 1.99% |
| 2033 | 4,248,272 | 1.99% |
| 2032 | 4,165,241 | 2% |
| 2031 | 4,083,762 | 2.12% |
| 2030 | 3,998,903 | 2.07% |
| 2029 | 3,917,775 | 2.11% |
| 2028 | 3,836,693 | 2.13% |
| 2027 | 3,756,696 | 2.09% |
| 2026 | 3,679,782 | 2.11% |
| 2025 | 3,603,902 | 1.93% |
| 2024 | 3,535,603 | 1.88% |
| 2023 | 3,470,390 | 1.79% |
| 2022 | 3,409,447 | 1.77% |
| 2021 | 3,350,183 | 1.79% |
| 2020 | 3,291,271 | 1.58% |
| 2019 | 3,240,194 | 1.49% |
| 2018 | 3,192,760 | 1.35% |
| 2017 | 3,150,347 | 0.82% |
| 2016 | 3,124,698 | 0.62% |
| 2015 | 3,105,546 | 0.34% |
| 2014 | 3,095,173 | 0.68% |
| 2013 | 3,074,360 | 1.23% |
| 2012 | 3,036,988 | 1.28% |
| 2011 | 2,998,485 | 1.81% |
| 2010 | 2,945,186 | 1.98% |
| 2009 | 2,887,885 | 2.54% |
| 2008 | 2,816,327 | 2.66% |
| 2007 | 2,743,222 | 1.47% |
| 2006 | 2,703,502 | 1.59% |
| 2005 | 2,661,215 | 2.42% |
| 2004 | 2,598,284 | 4.19% |
| 2003 | 2,493,903 | 4.22% |
| 2002 | 2,392,978 | 3.5% |
| 2001 | 2,312,079 | 2.89% |
| 2000 | 2,247,031 | 1.55% |
| 1999 | 2,212,780 | 1.48% |
| 1998 | 2,180,419 | 1.31% |
| 1997 | 2,152,135 | 1.11% |
| 1996 | 2,128,464 | 5.1% |
| 1995 | 2,025,267 | 5.82% |
| 1994 | 1,913,915 | 3.12% |
| 1993 | 1,856,006 | 3.18% |
| 1992 | 1,798,748 | -6.29% |
| 1991 | 1,919,571 | -5.57% |
| 1990 | 2,032,737 | 2.3% |
| 1989 | 1,987,017 | 2.52% |
| 1988 | 1,938,255 | 2.63% |
| 1987 | 1,888,669 | 2.36% |
| 1986 | 1,845,164 | 2.07% |
| 1985 | 1,807,816 | 2.04% |
| 1984 | 1,771,730 | 2.05% |
| 1983 | 1,736,160 | 2.4% |
| 1982 | 1,695,461 | 2.76% |
| 1981 | 1,649,939 | 2.75% |
| 1980 | 1,605,797 | 2.72% |
| 1979 | 1,563,332 | 2.69% |
| 1978 | 1,522,378 | 2.69% |
| 1977 | 1,482,565 | 2.68% |
| 1976 | 1,443,807 | 2.53% |
| 1975 | 1,408,210 | 2.36% |
| 1974 | 1,375,688 | 2.46% |
| 1973 | 1,342,669 | 2.55% |
| 1972 | 1,309,235 | 2.59% |
| 1971 | 1,276,154 | 2.63% |
| 1970 | 1,243,453 | 2.59% |
| 1969 | 1,212,005 | 2.56% |
| 1968 | 1,181,737 | 2.55% |
| 1967 | 1,152,339 | 2.43% |
| 1966 | 1,124,957 | 2.42% |
| 1965 | 1,098,335 | 2.52% |
| 1964 | 1,071,287 | 2.51% |
| 1963 | 1,045,092 | 2.48% |
| 1962 | 1,019,788 | 2.43% |
| 1961 | 995,573 | 2.37% |
| 1960 | 972,547 | - |
Data sources: United Nations | World Population Prospects (2025–2100, retrieved 2026-03-10); World Bank | Health (1960–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06).
GeoRank.org/population/eritrea | CC BY 
Eritrea has a population of 3.7M as of 2026, compared to 3.12M in 2016, 2.7M in 2006, and 2.13M in 1996.
Over the past 10 years, the population has had a trend to increase by an average of 1.84% per year. Eritrea is ranked 85th out of 197 countries by a 10-year average growth rate.
The UN's World Population Prospects forecasts that with changing growth rate trends in 20 years (in 2046) Eritrea will have 5,387,267 people (45.6% growth) with a rank change from 130th to 127th.
By the year 2100, Eritrea's population is projected to grow by 130.1% from its current level to 8.51M people.
Natural change and net migration by year
| Year | Population change | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Total | Natural | Net migration | |
| 2025 | - | - | -6,698 |
| 2024 | - | - | -12,696 |
| 2023 | 62,789 | 78,073 | -15,284 |
| 2022 | 59,087 | 76,221 | -17,134 |
| 2021 | 59,428 | 74,394 | -14,966 |
| 2020 | 58,395 | 73,362 | -14,967 |
| 2019 | 43,754 | 73,572 | -29,818 |
| 2018 | 51,108 | 72,511 | -21,403 |
| 2017 | 33,712 | 72,291 | -38,579 |
| 2016 | 17,571 | 73,002 | -55,431 |
| 2015 | 20,717 | 73,682 | -52,965 |
| 2014 | 33 | 75,729 | -75,696 |
| 2013 | 41,588 | 75,562 | -33,974 |
| 2012 | 33,147 | 76,416 | -43,269 |
| 2011 | 43,857 | 76,806 | -32,949 |
| 2010 | 62,737 | 76,098 | -13,361 |
| 2009 | 51,858 | 76,206 | -24,348 |
| 2008 | 91,246 | 73,391 | 17,855 |
| 2007 | 54,970 | 73,101 | -18,131 |
| 2006 | 24,472 | 74,470 | -49,998 |
| 2005 | 60,095 | 72,930 | -12,835 |
| 2004 | 65,773 | 72,147 | -6,374 |
| 2003 | 142,994 | 66,291 | 76,703 |
| 2002 | 58,862 | 65,436 | -6,574 |
| 2001 | 102,940 | 61,180 | 41,760 |
| 2000 | 27,141 | 60,274 | -33,133 |
| 1999 | 41,351 | 45,120 | -3,769 |
| 1998 | 23,381 | 55,332 | -31,951 |
| 1997 | 33,185 | 63,953 | -30,768 |
| 1996 | 14,136 | 66,557 | -52,421 |
| 1995 | 192,262 | 56,157 | 136,105 |
| 1994 | 30,447 | 56,288 | -25,841 |
| 1993 | 85,367 | 51,679 | 33,688 |
| 1992 | 29,150 | 51,443 | -22,293 |
| 1991 | -270,805 | 57,741 | -328,546 |
| 1990 | 44,478 | 56,903 | -12,425 |
| 1989 | 46,969 | 54,299 | -7,330 |
| 1988 | 50,551 | 54,163 | -3,612 |
| 1987 | 48,616 | 52,229 | -3,613 |
| 1986 | 38,397 | 39,470 | -1,073 |
| 1985 | 36,289 | 37,362 | -1,073 |
| 1984 | 35,873 | 35,101 | 772 |
| 1983 | 35,273 | 33,420 | 1,853 |
| 1982 | 46,131 | 44,146 | 1,985 |
| 1981 | 44,909 | 42,924 | 1,985 |
| 1980 | 43,377 | 41,392 | 1,985 |
| 1979 | 41,562 | 39,577 | 1,985 |
| 1978 | 40,338 | 38,353 | 1,985 |
| 1977 | 39,280 | 37,295 | 1,985 |
| 1976 | 38,235 | 36,250 | 1,985 |
| 1975 | 32,956 | 30,971 | 1,985 |
| 1974 | 32,096 | 30,111 | 1,985 |
| 1973 | 33,954 | 31,969 | 1,985 |
| 1972 | 32,904 | 30,951 | 1,953 |
| 1971 | 33,248 | 31,490 | 1,758 |
| 1970 | 32,166 | 30,686 | 1,480 |
| 1969 | 30,734 | 29,535 | 1,199 |
| 1968 | 29,790 | 28,777 | 1,013 |
| 1967 | 28,996 | 27,992 | 1,004 |
| 1966 | 25,776 | 24,713 | 1,063 |
| 1965 | 27,473 | 26,285 | 1,188 |
| 1964 | 26,627 | 25,327 | 1,300 |
| 1963 | 25,761 | 24,393 | 1,368 |
| 1962 | 24,842 | 23,478 | 1,364 |
| 1961 | 23,586 | 22,351 | 1,235 |
| 1960 | 22,469 | 21,424 | 1,045 |
Data sources: World Bank | Health (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-04-06).
GeoRank.org/population/eritrea | CC BY
Over the last 10 years, 68.8% of the population change in Eritrea is from natural causes (a gain of 742,837 people) and 31.2% is from migration (a loss of 336,243 people).
As of 2024, 12,512 residents or 0.4% of the population were not native-born in Eritrea, compared to 15,813 and 0.5% in 2010.
Eritrea population clock
Eritrea
|
Rank | |
|---|---|---|
| Current population |
3700586
|
130/197 |
| Percent of world population | 0.04% | 130/197 |
| One net population change |
8.06 minutes
|
102/197 |
| One birth every |
5.31 minutes
|
107/196 |
| One death every |
25 minutes
|
137/196 |
| Daily growth/decline | +179 | 102/197 |
| Annual growth/decline | +65,213 | 102/197 |
| Annual growth/decline rate | +1.88% | 58/197 |
| One migration net change every |
1.31 hours
|
122/196 |
| Annual migration change | -6,698 | 122/196 |
| Foreign-born residents | 12,512 | 176/195 |
| Foreign-born share of population | 0.4% | 178/195 |
Compare countries by 7 more topics
Eritrea population statistics
|
Eritrea
|
World
|
|
|---|---|---|
| Life expectancy | 69.4 years | 73.8 years |
| Average age | 24.6 years | 33.8 years |
| Median age | 19.9 years | 31.6 years |
| Male:Female ratio | 49.4:50.6 | 50.3:49.7 |
| Fertility rate | 3.71 births per woman | 2.2 births per woman |
| Population density | 78.6 ppl/mi² | 144 ppl/mi² |
Population map with other countries
Data sources: World Bank | Health (1960–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06); United Nations | World Population Prospects (1960–2026, retrieved 2026-03-10); U.S. Census Bureau (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-02-08); Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) (2000–2019, retrieved 2026-02-20).
GeoRank.org/population/eritrea | CC BY
Help us show the world through your eyes
Share a photo of your city and help others discover what it looks like to live there. Your contribution makes our data come alive.
Data sources:
- World Bank | Health (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-04-06)
- United Nations | World Population Prospects (1960–2100, retrieved 2026-03-10)
- U.S. Census Bureau (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-02-08)
- Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) (2000–2019, retrieved 2026-02-20)
- Wikidata (2026, 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.