Skip to content

Population in Eritrea compared to Ethiopia: Trends, Charts, Rankings

Updated on by Georank team

The latest officially reported population of Eritrea was 3,535,603 in 2024 vs 132,059,767 people in Ethiopia in 2024. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Eritrea's population is 3,700,586 people compared to 139,917,664 in Ethiopia.

Population statistics:

  • Ethiopia's population is 37.8 times bigger than Eritrea's.
  • Eritrea is ranked the 130th most populous country in the world, while Ethiopia is the 10th.
  • The countries together account for 1.73% of the world: 0.04% for Eritrea vs 1.69% for Ethiopia.
  • For the last 10 years, Eritrea has had an average growth rate of +1.28% per year vs +2.71% in Ethiopia.
  • Since 2006, the population of Eritrea has increased from 2.7M people to 3.7M (36.9% growth), while Ethiopia has grown from 80.7M to 140M (73.4% growth).

Eritrea vs Ethiopia: population by year and forecast

Eritrea
Factual

Projection
Ethiopia
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
Eritrea Ethiopia
2100 8,514,681 371,192,732
2099 8,489,924 369,452,188
2098 8,466,983 367,626,914
2097 8,444,468 365,680,268
2096 8,422,323 363,648,440
2095 8,396,086 361,707,589
2094 8,370,114 359,642,227
2093 8,344,405 357,570,752
2092 8,309,034 355,499,462
2091 8,278,860 353,327,595
2090 8,243,905 351,068,287
2089 8,209,883 348,859,203
2088 8,172,664 346,624,222
2087 8,136,016 344,268,493
2086 8,093,065 341,777,395
2085 8,046,814 339,272,558
2084 7,999,706 336,753,372
2083 7,956,385 334,186,307
2082 7,911,764 331,503,693
2081 7,871,753 328,816,892
2080 7,815,766 326,114,551
2079 7,765,677 323,382,593
2078 7,711,886 320,521,381
2077 7,656,307 317,590,857
2076 7,600,951 314,615,353
2075 7,538,912 311,583,813
2074 7,484,322 308,511,275
2073 7,420,571 305,477,711
2072 7,358,500 302,351,806
2071 7,296,109 299,211,554
2070 7,231,198 296,054,535
2069 7,164,883 292,847,034
2068 7,094,530 289,612,061
2067 7,026,000 286,279,975
2066 6,952,514 282,992,981
2065 6,884,323 279,662,528
2064 6,814,893 276,283,161
2063 6,733,263 272,866,834
2062 6,659,531 269,424,014
2061 6,580,923 265,885,347
2060 6,500,944 262,350,260
2059 6,422,305 258,772,570
2058 6,343,070 255,284,371
2057 6,265,450 251,733,988
2056 6,194,123 248,079,002
2055 6,114,099 244,501,471
2054 6,039,801 240,868,686
2053 5,957,339 237,228,269
2052 5,871,954 233,551,340
2051 5,791,096 229,804,463
2050 5,711,061 226,124,819
2049 5,632,165 222,420,063
2048 5,549,890 218,694,640
2047 5,468,518 214,950,242
2046 5,387,267 211,226,920
2045 5,300,511 207,525,986
2044 5,215,831 203,812,674
2043 5,131,686 200,097,321
2042 5,044,262 196,411,774
2041 4,960,422 192,749,114
2040 4,870,981 189,081,695
2039 4,782,316 185,422,958
2038 4,693,015 181,789,129
2037 4,599,752 178,179,942
2036 4,506,879 174,569,201
2035 4,420,367 170,957,061
2034 4,332,828 167,367,920
2033 4,248,272 163,813,895
2032 4,165,241 160,216,774
2031 4,083,762 156,638,324
2030 3,998,903 153,070,380
2029 3,917,775 149,507,684
2028 3,836,693 145,989,372
2027 3,756,696 142,463,827
2026 3,679,782 138,973,582
2025 3,603,902 135,513,842
2024 3,535,603 132,059,767
2023 3,470,390 128,691,692
2022 3,409,447 125,384,287
2021 3,350,183 122,138,588
2020 3,291,271 118,917,671
2019 3,240,194 115,737,383
2018 3,192,760 112,664,152
2017 3,150,347 109,666,481
2016 3,124,698 106,718,162
2015 3,105,546 103,867,135
2014 3,095,173 101,115,610
2013 3,074,360 98,438,751
2012 3,036,988 95,798,767
2011 2,998,485 93,149,970
2010 2,945,186 90,538,514
2009 2,887,885 88,007,636
2008 2,816,327 85,543,668
2007 2,743,222 83,103,217
2006 2,703,502 80,703,490
2005 2,661,215 78,367,470
2004 2,598,284 76,077,206
2003 2,493,903 73,832,663
2002 2,392,978 71,635,517
2001 2,312,079 69,487,762
2000 2,247,031 67,411,494
1999 2,212,780 65,374,561
1998 2,180,419 63,363,524
1997 2,152,135 61,404,539
1996 2,128,464 59,467,635
1995 2,025,267 57,537,335
1994 1,913,915 55,611,508
1993 1,856,006 53,708,891
1992 1,798,748 51,853,747
1991 1,919,571 49,717,198
1990 2,032,737 47,609,755
1989 1,987,017 45,879,690
1988 1,938,255 44,150,825
1987 1,888,669 42,460,039
1986 1,845,164 41,037,656
1985 1,807,816 39,842,136
1984 1,771,730 38,735,722
1983 1,736,160 37,740,817
1982 1,695,461 36,701,290
1981 1,649,939 35,304,012
1980 1,605,797 34,428,514
1979 1,563,332 34,238,652
1978 1,522,378 33,734,592
1977 1,482,565 33,167,272
1976 1,443,807 32,534,418
1975 1,408,210 31,723,252
1974 1,375,688 30,957,273
1973 1,342,669 30,166,785
1972 1,309,235 29,374,608
1971 1,276,154 28,600,106
1970 1,243,453 27,829,128
1969 1,212,005 27,072,571
1968 1,181,737 26,337,930
1967 1,152,339 25,620,276
1966 1,124,957 24,952,689
1965 1,098,335 24,310,612
1964 1,071,287 23,666,548
1963 1,045,092 23,051,637
1962 1,019,788 22,465,126
1961 995,573 21,906,102
1960 972,547 21,376,693

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/ethiopia | CC BY

From 2006 to 2016, the population of Eritrea increased by 421,196 people (a 15.6% growth), while Ethiopia gained 26,014,672 people (a 32.2% growth).

For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, Eritrea gained 575,888 people (a 18.4% growth), while Ethiopia's population increased by 33,199,502 people (a 31.1% growth).

Eritrea was ranked 135th most populous country in 2006 and is 130th in 2026. Ethiopia was ranked 16th in 2006 and ranked 10th now.

The UN's World Population Prospects forecasts that in 24 years (in 2050) Eritrea's population will grow by 54.3% to 5,711,061 people with a rank change from 130th to 123rd. The population of Ethiopia will increase by 61.6% to 226,124,819 people and rank change from 10th to 7th.

Eritrea is projected to reach its peak in 2100 at 8.51M people compared to the peak of 371M people in 2100 for Ethiopia.

Population growth rate by year

Eritrea
Factual

Projection
Ethiopia
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Growth rate
Eritrea Ethiopia
2100 0.29% 0.47%
2099 0.27% 0.5%
2098 0.27% 0.53%
2097 0.26% 0.56%
2096 0.31% 0.54%
2095 0.31% 0.57%
2094 0.31% 0.58%
2093 0.43% 0.58%
2092 0.36% 0.61%
2091 0.42% 0.64%
2090 0.41% 0.63%
2089 0.46% 0.64%
2088 0.45% 0.68%
2087 0.53% 0.73%
2086 0.57% 0.74%
2085 0.59% 0.75%
2084 0.54% 0.77%
2083 0.56% 0.81%
2082 0.51% 0.82%
2081 0.72% 0.83%
2080 0.65% 0.84%
2079 0.7% 0.89%
2078 0.73% 0.92%
2077 0.73% 0.95%
2076 0.82% 0.97%
2075 0.73% 1%
2074 0.86% 0.99%
2073 0.84% 1.03%
2072 0.86% 1.05%
2071 0.9% 1.07%
2070 0.93% 1.1%
2069 0.99% 1.12%
2068 0.98% 1.16%
2067 1.06% 1.16%
2066 0.99% 1.19%
2065 1.02% 1.22%
2064 1.21% 1.25%
2063 1.11% 1.28%
2062 1.19% 1.33%
2061 1.23% 1.35%
2060 1.22% 1.38%
2059 1.25% 1.37%
2058 1.24% 1.41%
2057 1.15% 1.47%
2056 1.31% 1.46%
2055 1.23% 1.51%
2054 1.38% 1.53%
2053 1.45% 1.57%
2052 1.4% 1.63%
2051 1.4% 1.63%
2050 1.4% 1.67%
2049 1.48% 1.7%
2048 1.49% 1.74%
2047 1.51% 1.76%
2046 1.64% 1.78%
2045 1.62% 1.82%
2044 1.64% 1.86%
2043 1.73% 1.88%
2042 1.69% 1.9%
2041 1.84% 1.94%
2040 1.85% 1.97%
2039 1.9% 2%
2038 2.03% 2.03%
2037 2.06% 2.07%
2036 1.96% 2.11%
2035 2.02% 2.14%
2034 1.99% 2.17%
2033 1.99% 2.25%
2032 2% 2.28%
2031 2.12% 2.33%
2030 2.07% 2.38%
2029 2.11% 2.41%
2028 2.13% 2.47%
2027 2.09% 2.51%
2026 2.11% 2.55%
2025 1.93% 2.62%
2024 1.88% 2.62%
2023 1.79% 2.64%
2022 1.77% 2.66%
2021 1.79% 2.71%
2020 1.58% 2.75%
2019 1.49% 2.73%
2018 1.35% 2.73%
2017 0.82% 2.76%
2016 0.62% 2.74%
2015 0.34% 2.72%
2014 0.68% 2.72%
2013 1.23% 2.76%
2012 1.28% 2.84%
2011 1.81% 2.88%
2010 1.98% 2.88%
2009 2.54% 2.88%
2008 2.66% 2.94%
2007 1.47% 2.97%
2006 1.59% 2.98%
2005 2.42% 3.01%
2004 4.19% 3.04%
2003 4.22% 3.07%
2002 3.5% 3.09%
2001 2.89% 3.08%
2000 1.55% 3.12%
1999 1.48% 3.17%
1998 1.31% 3.19%
1997 1.11% 3.26%
1996 5.1% 3.35%
1995 5.82% 3.46%
1994 3.12% 3.54%
1993 3.18% 3.58%
1992 -6.29% 4.3%
1991 -5.57% 4.43%
1990 2.3% 3.77%
1989 2.52% 3.92%
1988 2.63% 3.98%
1987 2.36% 3.47%
1986 2.07% 3%
1985 2.04% 2.86%
1984 2.05% 2.64%
1983 2.4% 2.83%
1982 2.76% 3.96%
1981 2.75% 2.54%
1980 2.72% 0.55%
1979 2.69% 1.49%
1978 2.69% 1.71%
1977 2.68% 1.95%
1976 2.53% 2.56%
1975 2.36% 2.47%
1974 2.46% 2.62%
1973 2.55% 2.7%
1972 2.59% 2.71%
1971 2.63% 2.77%
1970 2.59% 2.79%
1969 2.56% 2.79%
1968 2.55% 2.8%
1967 2.43% 2.68%
1966 2.42% 2.64%
1965 2.52% 2.72%
1964 2.51% 2.67%
1963 2.48% 2.61%
1962 2.43% 2.55%
1961 2.37% 2.48%

Data sources: United Nations | World Population Prospects (2025–2100, retrieved 2026-03-10); World Bank | Health (1961–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06).

GeoRank.org/population/eritrea/ethiopia | CC BY

In 2024, the population of Eritrea grew by 1.88%, while Ethiopia's population grew by 2.62%.

Live population counters

Eritrea Ethiopia
Current population
3700586
139917664
Population rank 130/197 10/197
Percent of world population 0.04% 1.69%
One net population change
8.06 minutes
9.36 seconds
One birth every
5.31 minutes
7.68 seconds
One death every
25 minutes
41.1 seconds
Daily growth/decline +179 +9,228
Annual growth/decline +65,213 +3,368,075
Annual growth/decline rate +1.88% +2.62%
Population growth rate rank 58/197 25/197
One migration net change every
1.31 hours
21.9 minutes
Annual migration change -6,698 +24,054
Net migration rank 122/196 31/196
Foreign-born residents 12,512 1,168,455
Foreign-born residents rank 176/195 53/195
Foreign-born share of population 0.4% 0.9%
Foreign-born share rank 178/195 157/195

Natural population change vs migration

Eritrea
Natural

Migration
Ethiopia
Natural

Migration
1x
Year Population change
Eritrea Ethiopia
Natural Migration Natural Migration
2025 - -6,698 - 24,054
2024 - -12,696 - 30,069
2023 78,073 -15,284 3,338,649 -11,996
2022 76,221 -17,134 3,300,114 -11,996
2021 74,394 -14,966 3,204,673 -1,377
2020 73,362 -14,967 3,199,718 38,866
2019 73,572 -29,818 3,132,780 -10,807
2018 72,511 -21,403 3,015,231 9,302
2017 72,291 -38,579 2,899,143 71,766
2016 73,002 -55,431 2,809,889 115,823
2015 73,682 -52,965 2,713,529 62,785
2014 75,729 -75,696 2,623,647 103,122
2013 75,562 -33,974 2,546,020 80,955
2012 76,416 -43,269 2,533,398 119,517
2011 76,806 -32,949 2,527,811 116,793
2010 76,098 -13,361 2,498,048 80,213
2009 76,206 -24,348 2,467,118 16,315
2008 73,391 17,855 2,465,283 -20,780
2007 73,101 -18,131 2,436,753 -381
2006 74,470 -49,998 2,393,585 -30,512
2005 72,930 -12,835 2,353,375 -44,421
2004 72,147 -6,374 2,296,999 -25,430
2003 66,291 76,703 2,231,223 -13,744
2002 65,436 -6,574 2,189,683 -12,925
2001 61,180 41,760 2,137,791 -19,063
2000 60,274 -33,133 2,083,622 -49,891
1999 45,120 -3,769 2,010,987 29,142
1998 55,332 -31,951 1,984,989 -3,011
1997 63,953 -30,768 1,945,112 -9,119
1996 66,557 -52,421 1,896,364 41,456
1995 56,157 136,105 1,831,068 91,727
1994 56,288 -25,841 1,788,133 140,715
1993 51,679 33,688 1,734,851 141,545
1992 51,443 -22,293 1,673,839 160,106
1991 57,741 -328,546 1,579,416 859,737
1990 56,903 -12,425 1,479,663 296,014
1989 54,299 -7,330 1,441,769 242,614
1988 54,163 -3,612 1,393,356 379,966
1987 52,229 -3,613 1,356,853 251,387
1986 39,470 -1,073 1,050,277 186,227
1985 37,362 -1,073 997,050 157,476
1984 35,101 772 920,670 137,632
1983 33,420 1,853 863,472 68,022
1982 44,146 1,985 1,080,853 66,702
1981 42,924 1,985 1,018,838 628,135
1980 41,392 1,985 1,007,516 -903,529
1979 39,577 1,985 987,203 -711,455
1978 38,353 1,985 943,388 -210,991
1977 37,295 1,985 929,381 -527,133
1976 36,250 1,985 899,577 -36,125
1975 30,971 1,985 801,425 -42,540
1974 30,111 1,985 777,306 -4,232
1973 31,969 1,985 807,535 347
1972 30,951 1,953 779,808 -3,375
1971 31,490 1,758 787,047 -14,510
1970 30,686 1,480 760,821 8,589
1969 29,535 1,199 736,428 7,258
1968 28,777 1,013 715,602 9,992
1967 27,992 1,004 695,283 14,437
1966 24,713 1,063 616,281 9,160
1965 26,285 1,188 642,359 16,348
1964 25,327 1,300 618,667 10,749
1963 24,393 1,368 590,998 9,418
1962 23,478 1,364 563,650 8,960
1961 22,351 1,235 538,518 6,938
1960 21,424 1,045 511,694 1,696

Data sources: World Bank | Health (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-04-06).

GeoRank.org/population/eritrea/ethiopia | 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). In Ethiopia 98.8% is from natural causes (a gain of 30,237,373 people) and 1.19% is from migration (a gain of 365,488 people).

As of 2024, 12,512 residents or 0.4% of the population were not native-born in Eritrea, compared to 1,168,455 people or 0.9% in Ethiopia.

Biggest cities by population

Eritrea
City Population
Asmara 963K
Keren 120K
Massawa 39.8K
Mendefera 28.5K
Ethiopia
City Population
Addis Ababa 5.7M
Gondar 324K
Mekelle 324K
Awasa 300K
Dire Dawa 277K
Bahir Dar 243K
Dessie 188K
Jimma 178K
Harar 157K
Jijiga 126K

Compare countries by 7 more topics

Population map with other countries

1x

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/ethiopia | 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:

  1. World Bank | Health (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-04-06)
  2. United Nations | World Population Prospects (1960–2100, retrieved 2026-03-10)
  3. U.S. Census Bureau (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-02-08)
  4. Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) (2000–2019, retrieved 2026-02-20)
  5. 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.