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Population in Eritrea compared to the Gambia: Trends, Charts, Rankings

Updated on by Georank team

The latest officially reported population of Eritrea was 3,535,603 in 2024 vs 2,759,988 people in the Gambia in 2024. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Eritrea's population is 3,700,586 people compared to 2,902,554 in the Gambia.

Population statistics:

  • Eritrea's population is 1.27 times bigger than the Gambia's.
  • Eritrea is ranked the 130th most populous country in the world, while the Gambia is the 138th.
  • The countries together account for 0.08% of the world: 0.04% for Eritrea vs 0.04% for the Gambia.
  • For the last 10 years, Eritrea has had an average growth rate of +1.28% per year vs +2.5% in the Gambia.
  • Since 2006, the population of Eritrea has increased from 2.7M people to 3.7M (36.9% growth), while the Gambia has grown from 1.72M to 2.9M (69.2% growth).

Eritrea vs Gambia: population by year and forecast

Eritrea
Factual

Projection
Gambia
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
Eritrea Gambia
2100 8,514,681 5,767,668
2099 8,489,924 5,765,660
2098 8,466,983 5,762,971
2097 8,444,468 5,759,632
2096 8,422,323 5,755,430
2095 8,396,086 5,750,385
2094 8,370,114 5,744,540
2093 8,344,405 5,737,026
2092 8,309,034 5,728,594
2091 8,278,860 5,719,408
2090 8,243,905 5,708,875
2089 8,209,883 5,697,140
2088 8,172,664 5,684,094
2087 8,136,016 5,669,958
2086 8,093,065 5,655,091
2085 8,046,814 5,638,646
2084 7,999,706 5,621,067
2083 7,956,385 5,602,456
2082 7,911,764 5,582,581
2081 7,871,753 5,561,294
2080 7,815,766 5,538,819
2079 7,765,677 5,515,086
2078 7,711,886 5,489,750
2077 7,656,307 5,463,305
2076 7,600,951 5,435,859
2075 7,538,912 5,406,946
2074 7,484,322 5,376,718
2073 7,420,571 5,345,328
2072 7,358,500 5,313,201
2071 7,296,109 5,279,975
2070 7,231,198 5,245,200
2069 7,164,883 5,209,379
2068 7,094,530 5,172,146
2067 7,026,000 5,134,037
2066 6,952,514 5,094,458
2065 6,884,323 5,053,246
2064 6,814,893 5,011,122
2063 6,733,263 4,968,038
2062 6,659,531 4,923,683
2061 6,580,923 4,877,966
2060 6,500,944 4,831,631
2059 6,422,305 4,784,535
2058 6,343,070 4,736,846
2057 6,265,450 4,688,039
2056 6,194,123 4,638,482
2055 6,114,099 4,588,184
2054 6,039,801 4,536,562
2053 5,957,339 4,484,692
2052 5,871,954 4,431,827
2051 5,791,096 4,378,133
2050 5,711,061 4,323,657
2049 5,632,165 4,268,536
2048 5,549,890 4,212,677
2047 5,468,518 4,155,975
2046 5,387,267 4,098,930
2045 5,300,511 4,041,218
2044 5,215,831 3,982,976
2043 5,131,686 3,924,126
2042 5,044,262 3,864,662
2041 4,960,422 3,805,317
2040 4,870,981 3,745,312
2039 4,782,316 3,685,048
2038 4,693,015 3,624,271
2037 4,599,752 3,563,745
2036 4,506,879 3,502,991
2035 4,420,367 3,442,074
2034 4,332,828 3,381,008
2033 4,248,272 3,319,646
2032 4,165,241 3,258,080
2031 4,083,762 3,196,605
2030 3,998,903 3,134,968
2029 3,917,775 3,072,981
2028 3,836,693 3,010,624
2027 3,756,696 2,948,246
2026 3,679,782 2,885,613
2025 3,603,902 2,822,861
2024 3,535,603 2,759,988
2023 3,470,390 2,697,845
2022 3,409,447 2,636,470
2021 3,350,183 2,576,010
2020 3,291,271 2,515,733
2019 3,240,194 2,456,844
2018 3,192,760 2,399,632
2017 3,150,347 2,342,189
2016 3,124,698 2,283,769
2015 3,105,546 2,224,529
2014 3,095,173 2,164,528
2013 3,074,360 2,103,820
2012 3,036,988 2,043,094
2011 2,998,485 1,983,784
2010 2,945,186 1,926,630
2009 2,887,885 1,871,422
2008 2,816,327 1,817,852
2007 2,743,222 1,765,774
2006 2,703,502 1,715,275
2005 2,661,215 1,667,037
2004 2,598,284 1,621,312
2003 2,493,903 1,577,611
2002 2,392,978 1,535,691
2001 2,312,079 1,495,011
2000 2,247,031 1,455,084
1999 2,212,780 1,415,779
1998 2,180,419 1,376,987
1997 2,152,135 1,338,889
1996 2,128,464 1,301,410
1995 2,025,267 1,264,313
1994 1,913,915 1,227,226
1993 1,856,006 1,188,365
1992 1,798,748 1,145,582
1991 1,919,571 1,099,959
1990 2,032,737 1,054,696
1989 1,987,017 1,011,357
1988 1,938,255 970,160
1987 1,888,669 931,091
1986 1,845,164 894,019
1985 1,807,816 858,874
1984 1,771,730 825,631
1983 1,736,160 794,525
1982 1,695,461 765,753
1981 1,649,939 739,125
1980 1,605,797 713,913
1979 1,563,332 689,781
1978 1,522,378 667,103
1977 1,482,565 645,770
1976 1,443,807 625,667
1975 1,408,210 606,821
1974 1,375,688 589,085
1973 1,342,669 571,991
1972 1,309,235 555,370
1971 1,276,154 539,388
1970 1,243,453 524,105
1969 1,212,005 509,440
1968 1,181,737 495,269
1967 1,152,339 481,588
1966 1,124,957 468,516
1965 1,098,335 455,952
1964 1,071,287 443,687
1963 1,045,092 431,757
1962 1,019,788 420,163
1961 995,573 408,930
1960 972,547 398,060

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/gambia | CC BY

From 2006 to 2016, the population of Eritrea increased by 421,196 people (a 15.6% growth), while the Gambia gained 568,494 people (a 33.1% growth).

For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, Eritrea gained 575,888 people (a 18.4% growth), while the Gambia's population increased by 618,785 people (a 27.1% growth).

Eritrea was ranked 135th most populous country in 2006 and is 130th in 2026. The Gambia was ranked 146th in 2006 and ranked 138th 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 the Gambia will increase by 49% to 4,323,657 people and rank change from 138th to 132nd.

Eritrea is projected to reach its peak in 2100 at 8.51M people compared to the peak of 5.77M people in 2100 for the Gambia.

Population growth rate by year

Eritrea
Factual

Projection
Gambia
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Growth rate
Eritrea Gambia
2100 0.29% 0.03%
2099 0.27% 0.05%
2098 0.27% 0.06%
2097 0.26% 0.07%
2096 0.31% 0.09%
2095 0.31% 0.1%
2094 0.31% 0.13%
2093 0.43% 0.15%
2092 0.36% 0.16%
2091 0.42% 0.18%
2090 0.41% 0.21%
2089 0.46% 0.23%
2088 0.45% 0.25%
2087 0.53% 0.26%
2086 0.57% 0.29%
2085 0.59% 0.31%
2084 0.54% 0.33%
2083 0.56% 0.36%
2082 0.51% 0.38%
2081 0.72% 0.41%
2080 0.65% 0.43%
2079 0.7% 0.46%
2078 0.73% 0.48%
2077 0.73% 0.5%
2076 0.82% 0.53%
2075 0.73% 0.56%
2074 0.86% 0.59%
2073 0.84% 0.6%
2072 0.86% 0.63%
2071 0.9% 0.66%
2070 0.93% 0.69%
2069 0.99% 0.72%
2068 0.98% 0.74%
2067 1.06% 0.78%
2066 0.99% 0.82%
2065 1.02% 0.84%
2064 1.21% 0.87%
2063 1.11% 0.9%
2062 1.19% 0.94%
2061 1.23% 0.96%
2060 1.22% 0.98%
2059 1.25% 1.01%
2058 1.24% 1.04%
2057 1.15% 1.07%
2056 1.31% 1.1%
2055 1.23% 1.14%
2054 1.38% 1.16%
2053 1.45% 1.19%
2052 1.4% 1.23%
2051 1.4% 1.26%
2050 1.4% 1.29%
2049 1.48% 1.33%
2048 1.49% 1.36%
2047 1.51% 1.39%
2046 1.64% 1.43%
2045 1.62% 1.46%
2044 1.64% 1.5%
2043 1.73% 1.54%
2042 1.69% 1.56%
2041 1.84% 1.6%
2040 1.85% 1.64%
2039 1.9% 1.68%
2038 2.03% 1.7%
2037 2.06% 1.73%
2036 1.96% 1.77%
2035 2.02% 1.81%
2034 1.99% 1.85%
2033 1.99% 1.89%
2032 2% 1.92%
2031 2.12% 1.97%
2030 2.07% 2.02%
2029 2.11% 2.07%
2028 2.13% 2.12%
2027 2.09% 2.17%
2026 2.11% 2.22%
2025 1.93% 2.28%
2024 1.88% 2.3%
2023 1.79% 2.33%
2022 1.77% 2.35%
2021 1.79% 2.4%
2020 1.58% 2.4%
2019 1.49% 2.38%
2018 1.35% 2.45%
2017 0.82% 2.56%
2016 0.62% 2.66%
2015 0.34% 2.77%
2014 0.68% 2.89%
2013 1.23% 2.97%
2012 1.28% 2.99%
2011 1.81% 2.97%
2010 1.98% 2.95%
2009 2.54% 2.95%
2008 2.66% 2.95%
2007 1.47% 2.94%
2006 1.59% 2.89%
2005 2.42% 2.82%
2004 4.19% 2.77%
2003 4.22% 2.73%
2002 3.5% 2.72%
2001 2.89% 2.74%
2000 1.55% 2.78%
1999 1.48% 2.82%
1998 1.31% 2.85%
1997 1.11% 2.88%
1996 5.1% 2.93%
1995 5.82% 3.02%
1994 3.12% 3.27%
1993 3.18% 3.73%
1992 -6.29% 4.15%
1991 -5.57% 4.29%
1990 2.3% 4.29%
1989 2.52% 4.25%
1988 2.63% 4.2%
1987 2.36% 4.15%
1986 2.07% 4.09%
1985 2.04% 4.03%
1984 2.05% 3.92%
1983 2.4% 3.76%
1982 2.76% 3.6%
1981 2.75% 3.53%
1980 2.72% 3.5%
1979 2.69% 3.4%
1978 2.69% 3.3%
1977 2.68% 3.21%
1976 2.53% 3.11%
1975 2.36% 3.01%
1974 2.46% 2.99%
1973 2.55% 2.99%
1972 2.59% 2.96%
1971 2.63% 2.92%
1970 2.59% 2.88%
1969 2.56% 2.86%
1968 2.55% 2.84%
1967 2.43% 2.79%
1966 2.42% 2.76%
1965 2.52% 2.76%
1964 2.51% 2.76%
1963 2.48% 2.76%
1962 2.43% 2.75%
1961 2.37% 2.73%

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/gambia | CC BY

In 2024, the population of Eritrea grew by 1.88%, while the Gambia's population grew by 2.3%.

Live population counters

Eritrea Gambia
Current population
3700586
2902554
Population rank 130/197 138/197
Percent of world population 0.04% 0.04%
One net population change
8.06 minutes
8.46 minutes
One birth every
5.31 minutes
6.4 minutes
One death every
25 minutes
31 minutes
Daily growth/decline +179 +170
Annual growth/decline +65,213 +62,143
Annual growth/decline rate +1.88% +2.3%
Population growth rate rank 58/197 37/197
One migration net change every
1.31 hours
2.94 hours
Annual migration change -6,698 -2,984
Net migration rank 122/196 107/196
Foreign-born residents 12,512 236,137
Foreign-born residents rank 176/195 107/195
Foreign-born share of population 0.4% 8.6%
Foreign-born share rank 178/195 72/195

Natural population change vs migration

Eritrea
Natural

Migration
Gambia
Natural

Migration
1x
Year Population change
Eritrea Gambia
Natural Migration Natural Migration
2025 - -6,698 - -2,984
2024 - -12,696 - -2,989
2023 78,073 -15,284 65,118 -3,000
2022 76,221 -17,134 63,634 -3,000
2021 74,394 -14,966 62,239 -1,949
2020 73,362 -14,967 62,209 -1,949
2019 73,572 -29,818 61,701 -4,186
2018 72,511 -21,403 60,854 -3,944
2017 72,291 -38,579 61,665 -3,696
2016 73,002 -55,431 62,358 -3,486
2015 73,682 -52,965 62,832 -3,224
2014 75,729 -75,696 63,185 -2,793
2013 75,562 -33,974 63,510 -2,476
2012 76,416 -43,269 62,745 -2,332
2011 76,806 -32,949 60,571 -2,360
2010 76,098 -13,361 58,554 -2,456
2009 76,206 -24,348 56,575 -2,259
2008 73,391 17,855 55,032 -2,204
2007 73,101 -18,131 53,653 -2,320
2006 74,470 -49,998 52,335 -2,666
2005 72,930 -12,835 50,010 -3,209
2004 72,147 -6,374 48,276 -3,636
2003 66,291 76,703 46,473 -3,713
2002 65,436 -6,574 45,156 -4,067
2001 61,180 41,760 44,154 -3,882
2000 60,274 -33,133 43,249 -3,670
1999 45,120 -3,769 42,533 -3,493
1998 55,332 -31,951 41,842 -3,291
1997 63,953 -30,768 40,742 -3,098
1996 66,557 -52,421 40,253 -2,948
1995 56,157 136,105 39,681 -2,797
1994 56,288 -25,841 38,880 -1,586
1993 51,679 33,688 37,302 3,131
1992 51,443 -22,293 35,951 9,182
1991 57,741 -328,546 34,584 11,530
1990 56,903 -12,425 33,163 11,242
1989 54,299 -7,330 31,504 10,765
1988 54,163 -3,612 29,938 10,187
1987 52,229 -3,613 28,452 9,563
1986 39,470 -1,073 27,195 8,934
1985 37,362 -1,073 25,795 8,373
1984 35,101 772 24,586 7,733
1983 33,420 1,853 23,175 6,713
1982 44,146 1,985 21,894 5,757
1981 42,924 1,985 20,156 5,438
1980 41,392 1,985 19,566 5,268
1979 39,577 1,985 18,543 4,898
1978 38,353 1,985 17,424 4,493
1977 37,295 1,985 16,773 3,969
1976 36,250 1,985 16,032 3,436
1975 30,971 1,985 15,256 2,979
1974 30,111 1,985 14,628 2,610
1973 31,969 1,985 14,046 2,907
1972 30,951 1,953 13,432 2,861
1971 31,490 1,758 12,842 2,817
1970 30,686 1,480 12,128 2,777
1969 29,535 1,199 11,670 2,757
1968 28,777 1,013 11,215 2,705
1967 27,992 1,004 10,823 2,617
1966 24,713 1,063 10,422 2,272
1965 26,285 1,188 10,162 2,272
1964 25,327 1,300 9,825 2,272
1963 24,393 1,368 9,493 2,272
1962 23,478 1,364 9,150 2,272
1961 22,351 1,235 8,778 2,272
1960 21,424 1,045 8,420 2,272

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

GeoRank.org/population/eritrea/gambia | 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 the Gambia 95.2% is from natural causes (a gain of 625,795 people) and 4.75% is from migration (a loss of 31,227 people).

As of 2024, 12,512 residents or 0.4% of the population were not native-born in Eritrea, compared to 236,137 people or 8.6% in the Gambia.

Biggest cities by population

Eritrea
City Population
Asmara 963K
Keren 120K
Massawa 39.8K
Mendefera 28.5K
Gambia
City Population
Brikama 81K
Banjul 31.4K
Lamin 31.1K

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/gambia | CC BY

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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)

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