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

Updated on by Georank

The latest officially reported population of Eritrea was 3,607,003 in 2025 vs 392,404 people in Iceland in 2025. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Eritrea's population is 3,722,489 people compared to 398,674 in Iceland.

Population statistics:

  • Eritrea's population is 9.34 times bigger than Iceland's.
  • Eritrea is ranked the 131st most populous country in the world, while Iceland is the 173rd.
  • The countries together account for 0.05% of the world: 0.04% for Eritrea vs 0.005% for Iceland.
  • For the last 10 years, Eritrea has had an average growth rate of +1.4% per year vs +1.66% in Iceland.
  • Since 2006, the population of Eritrea has increased from 2.7M people to 3.72M (37.7% growth), while Iceland has grown from 304K to 399K (31.2% growth).

Eritrea vs Iceland: population by year and forecast

Eritrea
Factual

Projection
Iceland
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
Eritrea Iceland
2100 8,522,007 360,144
2099 8,497,228 361,926
2098 8,474,268 363,730
2097 8,451,733 365,557
2096 8,429,569 367,453
2095 8,403,309 369,353
2094 8,377,316 371,260
2093 8,351,585 373,227
2092 8,316,183 375,333
2091 8,285,983 377,423
2090 8,250,998 379,430
2089 8,216,946 381,438
2088 8,179,696 383,627
2087 8,143,016 385,798
2086 8,100,028 387,894
2085 8,053,737 390,003
2084 8,006,588 392,060
2083 7,963,231 394,128
2082 7,918,571 396,088
2081 7,878,525 398,124
2080 7,822,491 400,156
2079 7,772,358 402,122
2078 7,718,520 403,988
2077 7,662,894 405,922
2076 7,607,491 407,624
2075 7,545,398 409,218
2074 7,490,761 410,690
2073 7,426,955 412,079
2072 7,364,831 413,583
2071 7,302,386 414,926
2070 7,237,419 416,204
2069 7,171,047 417,368
2068 7,100,633 418,437
2067 7,032,045 419,588
2066 6,958,496 420,609
2065 6,890,246 421,634
2064 6,820,756 422,508
2063 6,739,056 423,391
2062 6,665,261 424,311
2061 6,586,585 425,017
2060 6,506,537 425,795
2059 6,427,830 426,421
2058 6,348,527 426,989
2057 6,270,841 427,546
2056 6,199,452 428,007
2055 6,119,360 428,399
2054 6,044,997 428,619
2053 5,962,464 428,812
2052 5,877,006 429,004
2051 5,796,079 428,983
2050 5,715,974 429,028
2049 5,637,011 428,993
2048 5,554,665 428,917
2047 5,473,222 428,806
2046 5,391,902 428,615
2045 5,305,072 428,387
2044 5,220,319 427,939
2043 5,136,101 427,281
2042 5,048,602 426,616
2041 4,964,690 425,912
2040 4,875,172 425,083
2039 4,786,431 424,104
2038 4,697,052 422,997
2037 4,603,709 421,786
2036 4,510,757 420,429
2035 4,424,170 418,926
2034 4,336,556 417,406
2033 4,251,927 415,689
2032 4,168,824 413,829
2031 4,087,276 411,715
2030 4,002,343 409,349
2029 3,921,145 406,777
2028 3,839,994 403,748
2027 3,759,928 400,455
2026 3,682,948 396,793
2025 3,607,003 392,404
2024 3,535,603 386,506
2023 3,470,390 385,663
2022 3,409,447 382,003
2021 3,350,183 372,520
2020 3,291,271 366,463
2019 3,240,194 360,563
2018 3,192,760 352,721
2017 3,150,347 343,400
2016 3,124,698 335,439
2015 3,105,546 330,815
2014 3,095,173 327,386
2013 3,074,360 323,764
2012 3,036,988 320,716
2011 2,998,485 319,014
2010 2,945,186 318,041
2009 2,887,885 318,499
2008 2,816,327 317,414
2007 2,743,222 311,566
2006 2,703,502 303,782
2005 2,661,215 296,734
2004 2,598,284 292,074
2003 2,493,903 289,521
2002 2,392,978 287,523
2001 2,312,079 284,968
2000 2,247,031 281,205
1999 2,212,780 277,381
1998 2,180,419 274,047
1997 2,152,135 271,128
1996 2,128,464 268,916
1995 2,025,267 267,468
1994 1,913,915 266,021
1993 1,856,006 263,725
1992 1,798,748 261,057
1991 1,919,571 257,797
1990 2,032,737 254,826
1989 1,987,017 252,852
1988 1,938,255 249,740
1987 1,888,669 245,859
1986 1,845,164 243,180
1985 1,807,816 241,405
1984 1,771,730 239,511
1983 1,736,160 236,977
1982 1,695,461 233,860
1981 1,649,939 230,755
1980 1,605,797 228,138
1979 1,563,332 225,735
1978 1,522,378 223,537
1977 1,482,565 221,799
1976 1,443,807 220,154
1975 1,408,210 217,979
1974 1,375,688 215,209
1973 1,342,669 212,317
1972 1,309,235 209,137
1971 1,276,154 206,098
1970 1,243,453 204,438
1969 1,212,005 203,369
1968 1,181,737 201,488
1967 1,152,339 198,751
1966 1,124,957 195,570
1965 1,098,335 192,286
1964 1,071,287 188,983
1963 1,045,092 185,653
1962 1,019,788 182,378
1961 995,573 179,029
1960 972,547 175,574

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/iceland | CC BY

From 2006 to 2016, the population of Eritrea increased by 421,196 people (a 15.6% growth), while Iceland gained 31,657 people (a 10.4% growth).

For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, Eritrea gained 597,791 people (a 19.1% growth), while Iceland's population increased by 63,235 people (a 18.9% growth).

Eritrea was ranked 135th most populous country in 2006 and is 131st in 2026. Iceland was ranked 172nd in 2006 and ranked 173rd 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 Iceland will increase by 7.61% to 429,028 people and will still be ranked 173rd.

Eritrea is projected to reach its peak in 2100 at 8.52M people compared to the peak of 429K people in 2050 for Iceland.

Population growth rate by year

Eritrea
Factual

Projection
Iceland
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Growth rate
Eritrea Iceland
2100 0.29% -0.49%
2099 0.27% -0.5%
2098 0.27% -0.5%
2097 0.26% -0.52%
2096 0.31% -0.51%
2095 0.31% -0.51%
2094 0.31% -0.53%
2093 0.43% -0.56%
2092 0.36% -0.55%
2091 0.42% -0.53%
2090 0.41% -0.53%
2089 0.46% -0.57%
2088 0.45% -0.56%
2087 0.53% -0.54%
2086 0.57% -0.54%
2085 0.59% -0.52%
2084 0.54% -0.52%
2083 0.56% -0.49%
2082 0.51% -0.51%
2081 0.72% -0.51%
2080 0.65% -0.49%
2079 0.7% -0.46%
2078 0.73% -0.48%
2077 0.73% -0.42%
2076 0.82% -0.39%
2075 0.73% -0.36%
2074 0.86% -0.34%
2073 0.84% -0.36%
2072 0.86% -0.32%
2071 0.9% -0.31%
2070 0.93% -0.28%
2069 0.99% -0.26%
2068 0.98% -0.27%
2067 1.06% -0.24%
2066 0.99% -0.24%
2065 1.02% -0.21%
2064 1.21% -0.21%
2063 1.11% -0.22%
2062 1.19% -0.17%
2061 1.23% -0.18%
2060 1.22% -0.15%
2059 1.25% -0.13%
2058 1.24% -0.13%
2057 1.15% -0.11%
2056 1.31% -0.09%
2055 1.23% -0.05%
2054 1.38% -0.05%
2053 1.45% -0.04%
2052 1.4% 0.005%
2051 1.4% -0.01%
2050 1.4% 0.008%
2049 1.48% 0.02%
2048 1.49% 0.03%
2047 1.51% 0.04%
2046 1.64% 0.05%
2045 1.62% 0.1%
2044 1.64% 0.15%
2043 1.73% 0.16%
2042 1.69% 0.17%
2041 1.84% 0.2%
2040 1.85% 0.23%
2039 1.9% 0.26%
2038 2.03% 0.29%
2037 2.06% 0.32%
2036 1.96% 0.36%
2035 2.02% 0.36%
2034 1.99% 0.41%
2033 1.99% 0.45%
2032 2% 0.51%
2031 2.12% 0.58%
2030 2.07% 0.63%
2029 2.11% 0.75%
2028 2.13% 0.82%
2027 2.09% 0.92%
2026 2.11% 1.12%
2025 2.02% 1.53%
2024 1.88% 0.22%
2023 1.79% 0.96%
2022 1.77% 2.55%
2021 1.79% 1.65%
2020 1.58% 1.64%
2019 1.49% 2.22%
2018 1.35% 2.71%
2017 0.82% 2.37%
2016 0.62% 1.4%
2015 0.34% 1.05%
2014 0.68% 1.12%
2013 1.23% 0.95%
2012 1.28% 0.53%
2011 1.81% 0.31%
2010 1.98% -0.14%
2009 2.54% 0.34%
2008 2.66% 1.88%
2007 1.47% 2.56%
2006 1.59% 2.38%
2005 2.42% 1.6%
2004 4.19% 0.88%
2003 4.22% 0.69%
2002 3.5% 0.9%
2001 2.89% 1.34%
2000 1.55% 1.38%
1999 1.48% 1.22%
1998 1.31% 1.08%
1997 1.11% 0.82%
1996 5.1% 0.54%
1995 5.82% 0.54%
1994 3.12% 0.87%
1993 3.18% 1.02%
1992 -6.29% 1.26%
1991 -5.57% 1.17%
1990 2.3% 0.78%
1989 2.52% 1.25%
1988 2.63% 1.58%
1987 2.36% 1.1%
1986 2.07% 0.74%
1985 2.04% 0.79%
1984 2.05% 1.07%
1983 2.4% 1.33%
1982 2.76% 1.35%
1981 2.75% 1.15%
1980 2.72% 1.06%
1979 2.69% 0.98%
1978 2.69% 0.78%
1977 2.68% 0.75%
1976 2.53% 1%
1975 2.36% 1.29%
1974 2.46% 1.36%
1973 2.55% 1.52%
1972 2.59% 1.47%
1971 2.63% 0.81%
1970 2.59% 0.53%
1969 2.56% 0.93%
1968 2.55% 1.38%
1967 2.43% 1.63%
1966 2.42% 1.71%
1965 2.52% 1.75%
1964 2.51% 1.79%
1963 2.48% 1.8%
1962 2.43% 1.87%
1961 2.37% 1.97%

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/iceland | CC BY

In 2025, the population of Eritrea grew by 2.02%, while Iceland's population grew by 1.53%.

Live population counters

Eritrea Iceland
Current population
3722489
398674
Population rank 131/197 173/197
Percent of world population 0.04% 0.005%
One net population change
7.38 minutes
1.49 hours
One birth every
5.18 minutes
2.02 hours
One death every
24.8 minutes
3.33 hours
Daily growth/decline +196 +16
Annual growth/decline +71,400 +5,898
Annual growth/decline rate +2.02% +1.53%
Population growth rate rank 49/197 70/197
One migration net change every
1.31 hours
3.24 hours
Annual migration change -6,698 +2,709
Net migration rank 122/196 56/196
Foreign-born residents 12,512 98,818
Foreign-born residents rank 176/195 130/195
Foreign-born share of population 0.4% 25.1%
Foreign-born share rank 178/195 23/195

Natural population change vs migration

Eritrea
Natural

Migration
Iceland
Natural

Migration
1x
Year Population change
Eritrea Iceland
Natural Migration Natural Migration
2025 - -6,698 - 2,709
2024 80,343 -12,696 1,700 3,543
2023 78,073 -15,284 1,736 4,630
2022 76,221 -17,134 1,719 6,535
2021 74,394 -14,966 2,534 4,911
2020 73,362 -14,967 2,199 2,498
2019 73,572 -29,818 2,163 5,030
2018 72,511 -21,403 1,975 6,638
2017 72,291 -38,579 1,854 8,348
2016 73,002 -55,431 1,711 4,128
2015 73,682 -52,965 1,952 1,499
2014 75,729 -75,696 2,324 1,139
2013 75,562 -33,974 2,169 1,666
2012 76,416 -43,269 2,566 -277
2011 76,806 -32,949 2,521 -1,393
2010 76,098 -13,361 2,862 -2,055
2009 76,206 -24,348 3,026 -4,785
2008 73,391 17,855 2,825 1,138
2007 73,101 -18,131 2,617 5,254
2006 74,470 -49,998 2,491 5,300
2005 72,930 -12,835 2,433 3,925
2004 72,147 -6,374 2,425 610
2003 66,291 76,703 2,317 -204
2002 65,436 -6,574 2,243 -333
2001 61,180 41,760 2,365 867
2000 60,274 -33,133 2,475 1,877
1999 45,120 -3,769 2,192 1,165
1998 55,332 -31,951 2,357 1,014
1997 63,953 -30,768 2,305 225
1996 66,557 -52,421 2,447 -511
1995 56,157 136,105 2,354 -1,354
1994 56,288 -25,841 2,713 -804
1993 51,679 33,688 2,875 -194
1992 51,443 -22,293 2,898 -225
1991 57,741 -328,546 2,733 1,145
1990 56,903 -12,425 3,058 -971
1989 54,299 -7,330 2,832 -994
1988 54,163 -3,612 2,847 1,572
1987 52,229 -3,613 2,360 944
1986 39,470 -1,073 2,384 -335
1985 37,362 -1,073 2,221 -628
1984 35,101 772 2,539 -328
1983 33,420 1,853 2,702 170
1982 44,146 1,985 2,736 616
1981 42,924 1,985 2,677 157
1980 41,392 1,985 2,966 -629
1979 39,577 1,985 2,980 -572
1978 38,353 1,985 2,727 -781
1977 37,295 1,985 2,551 -1,079
1976 36,250 1,985 2,951 -1,181
1975 30,971 1,985 2,965 -388
1974 30,111 1,985 2,776 209
1973 31,969 1,985 3,121 -310
1972 30,951 1,953 3,241 362
1971 31,490 1,758 2,782 -231
1970 30,686 1,480 2,576 -1,754
1969 29,535 1,199 2,766 -1,414
1968 28,777 1,013 2,841 -448
1967 27,992 1,004 3,021 47
1966 24,713 1,063 3,305 39
1965 26,285 1,188 3,442 -194
1964 25,327 1,300 3,459 -67
1963 24,393 1,368 3,490 -113
1962 23,478 1,364 3,465 -228
1961 22,351 1,235 3,312 164
1960 21,424 1,045 3,758 -269

Data sources: World Bank | Health (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08).

GeoRank.org/population/eritrea/iceland | 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 Iceland 29% is from natural causes (a gain of 19,543 people) and 71% is from migration (a gain of 47,760 people).

As of 2024, 12,512 residents or 0.4% of the population were not native-born in Eritrea, compared to 98,818 people or 25.1% in Iceland.

Biggest cities by population

Eritrea
City Population
Asmara 963K
Keren 120K
Massawa 39.8K
Mendefera 28.5K
Iceland
City Population
Reykjavik 139K
Kopavogur 40K
Hafnarfjorur 31.5K
Keflavik 23.3K
Akureyri 20K

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/iceland | 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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