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

Updated on by Georank

The latest officially reported population of Eritrea was 3,607,003 in 2025 vs 135,472,051 people in Ethiopia in 2025. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Eritrea's population is 3,722,489 people compared to 140,722,974 in Ethiopia.

Population statistics:

  • Ethiopia's population is 37.8 times bigger than Eritrea's.
  • Eritrea is ranked the 131st most populous country in the world, while Ethiopia is the 10th.
  • The countries together account for 1.74% 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 +1.4% per year vs +2.69% in Ethiopia.
  • Since 2006, the population of Eritrea has increased from 2.7M people to 3.72M (37.7% growth), while Ethiopia has grown from 80.7M to 141M (74.4% growth).

Eritrea vs Ethiopia: population by year and forecast

Eritrea
Factual

Projection
Ethiopia
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
Eritrea Ethiopia
2100 8,522,007 371,078,260
2099 8,497,228 369,338,252
2098 8,474,268 367,513,542
2097 8,451,733 365,567,496
2096 8,429,569 363,536,294
2095 8,403,309 361,596,042
2094 8,377,316 359,531,317
2093 8,351,585 357,460,480
2092 8,316,183 355,389,829
2091 8,285,983 353,218,632
2090 8,250,998 350,960,021
2089 8,216,946 348,751,618
2088 8,179,696 346,517,326
2087 8,143,016 344,162,324
2086 8,100,028 341,671,994
2085 8,053,737 339,167,930
2084 8,006,588 336,649,520
2083 7,963,231 334,083,247
2082 7,918,571 331,401,460
2081 7,878,525 328,715,487
2080 7,822,491 326,013,981
2079 7,772,358 323,282,865
2078 7,718,520 320,422,535
2077 7,662,894 317,492,915
2076 7,607,491 314,518,328
2075 7,545,398 311,487,723
2074 7,490,761 308,416,133
2073 7,426,955 305,383,505
2072 7,364,831 302,258,564
2071 7,302,386 299,119,280
2070 7,237,419 295,963,235
2069 7,171,047 292,756,723
2068 7,100,633 289,522,748
2067 7,032,045 286,191,689
2066 6,958,496 282,905,709
2065 6,890,246 279,576,283
2064 6,820,756 276,197,958
2063 6,739,056 272,782,685
2062 6,665,261 269,340,926
2061 6,586,585 265,803,351
2060 6,506,537 262,269,354
2059 6,427,830 258,692,767
2058 6,348,527 255,205,644
2057 6,270,841 251,656,356
2056 6,199,452 248,002,497
2055 6,119,360 244,426,069
2054 6,044,997 240,794,405
2053 5,962,464 237,155,110
2052 5,877,006 233,479,314
2051 5,796,079 229,733,593
2050 5,715,974 226,055,085
2049 5,637,011 222,351,471
2048 5,554,665 218,627,197
2047 5,473,222 214,883,954
2046 5,391,902 211,161,780
2045 5,305,072 207,461,987
2044 5,220,319 203,749,820
2043 5,136,101 200,035,613
2042 5,048,602 196,351,202
2041 4,964,690 192,689,672
2040 4,875,172 189,023,384
2039 4,786,431 185,365,776
2038 4,697,052 181,733,067
2037 4,603,709 178,124,993
2036 4,510,757 174,515,366
2035 4,424,170 170,904,339
2034 4,336,556 167,316,305
2033 4,251,927 163,763,376
2032 4,168,824 160,167,364
2031 4,087,276 156,590,018
2030 4,002,343 153,023,174
2029 3,921,145 149,461,578
2028 3,839,994 145,944,350
2027 3,759,928 142,419,893
2026 3,682,948 138,930,724
2025 3,607,003 135,472,051
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 (2026–2100, retrieved 2026-07-08); World Bank | Health (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08).

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 597,791 people (a 19.1% growth), while Ethiopia's population increased by 34,004,812 people (a 31.9% growth).

Eritrea was ranked 135th most populous country in 2006 and is 131st 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 53.6% to 5,715,974 people with a rank change from 131st to 123rd. The population of Ethiopia will increase by 60.6% to 226,055,085 people and rank change from 10th to 7th.

Eritrea is projected to reach its peak in 2100 at 8.52M 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 2.02% 2.58%
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 (2026–2100, retrieved 2026-07-08); World Bank | Health (1961–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08).

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

In 2025, the population of Eritrea grew by 2.02%, while Ethiopia's population grew by 2.58%.

Live population counters

Eritrea Ethiopia
Current population
3722489
140722974
Population rank 131/197 10/197
Percent of world population 0.04% 1.69%
One net population change
7.38 minutes
9.27 seconds
One birth every
5.18 minutes
7.59 seconds
One death every
24.8 minutes
40.6 seconds
Daily growth/decline +196 +9,349
Annual growth/decline +71,400 +3,412,284
Annual growth/decline rate +2.02% +2.58%
Population growth rate rank 49/197 24/197
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 80,343 -12,696 3,379,409 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 2026-07-08).

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

Over the last 10 years, 73.2% of the population change in Eritrea is from natural causes (a gain of 747,451 people) and 26.8% is from migration (a loss of 273,243 people). In Ethiopia 99.1% is from natural causes (a gain of 30,993,135 people) and 0.93% is from migration (a gain of 292,435 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 (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08); United Nations | World Population Prospects (1960–2026, retrieved 2026-07-08); U.S. Census Bureau (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08); Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) (2000–2019, retrieved 2026-07-08).

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

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Data sources:

  1. World Bank | Health (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08)
  2. United Nations | World Population Prospects (1960–2100, retrieved 2026-07-08)
  3. U.S. Census Bureau (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08)
  4. Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) (2000–2019, retrieved 2026-07-08)
  5. Wikidata (2026, retrieved 2026-07-08)

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