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

Updated on by Georank team

The latest officially reported population of Eritrea was 3,535,603 in 2024 vs 386,506 people in Iceland in 2024. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Eritrea's population is 3,700,586 people compared to 397,129 in Iceland.

Population statistics:

  • Eritrea's population is 9.32 times bigger than Iceland's.
  • Eritrea is ranked the 130th 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 +1.28% per year vs +1.63% in Iceland.
  • Since 2006, the population of Eritrea has increased from 2.7M people to 3.7M (36.9% growth), while Iceland has grown from 304K to 397K (30.7% growth).

Eritrea vs Iceland: population by year and forecast

Eritrea
Factual

Projection
Iceland
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
Eritrea Iceland
2100 8,514,681 359,553
2099 8,489,924 361,331
2098 8,466,983 363,133
2097 8,444,468 364,957
2096 8,422,323 366,850
2095 8,396,086 368,746
2094 8,370,114 370,650
2093 8,344,405 372,614
2092 8,309,034 374,717
2091 8,278,860 376,803
2090 8,243,905 378,807
2089 8,209,883 380,812
2088 8,172,664 382,997
2087 8,136,016 385,164
2086 8,093,065 387,257
2085 8,046,814 389,362
2084 7,999,706 391,416
2083 7,956,385 393,481
2082 7,911,764 395,438
2081 7,871,753 397,470
2080 7,815,766 399,499
2079 7,765,677 401,462
2078 7,711,886 403,324
2077 7,656,307 405,255
2076 7,600,951 406,954
2075 7,538,912 408,546
2074 7,484,322 410,015
2073 7,420,571 411,402
2072 7,358,500 412,903
2071 7,296,109 414,245
2070 7,231,198 415,521
2069 7,164,883 416,683
2068 7,094,530 417,749
2067 7,026,000 418,899
2066 6,952,514 419,918
2065 6,884,323 420,941
2064 6,814,893 421,814
2063 6,733,263 422,695
2062 6,659,531 423,614
2061 6,580,923 424,319
2060 6,500,944 425,096
2059 6,422,305 425,721
2058 6,343,070 426,288
2057 6,265,450 426,844
2056 6,194,123 427,304
2055 6,114,099 427,695
2054 6,039,801 427,915
2053 5,957,339 428,108
2052 5,871,954 428,300
2051 5,791,096 428,278
2050 5,711,061 428,323
2049 5,632,165 428,289
2048 5,549,890 428,213
2047 5,468,518 428,102
2046 5,387,267 427,911
2045 5,300,511 427,683
2044 5,215,831 427,236
2043 5,131,686 426,580
2042 5,044,262 425,915
2041 4,960,422 425,212
2040 4,870,981 424,385
2039 4,782,316 423,407
2038 4,693,015 422,302
2037 4,599,752 421,094
2036 4,506,879 419,738
2035 4,420,367 418,238
2034 4,332,828 416,721
2033 4,248,272 415,006
2032 4,165,241 413,150
2031 4,083,762 411,039
2030 3,998,903 408,677
2029 3,917,775 406,109
2028 3,836,693 403,085
2027 3,756,696 399,797
2026 3,679,782 396,141
2025 3,603,902 391,759
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 (2025–2100, retrieved 2026-03-10); World Bank | Health (1960–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06).

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 575,888 people (a 18.4% growth), while Iceland's population increased by 61,690 people (a 18.4% growth).

Eritrea was ranked 135th most populous country in 2006 and is 130th 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 54.3% to 5,711,061 people with a rank change from 130th to 123rd. The population of Iceland will increase by 7.85% to 428,323 people and will still be ranked 173rd.

Eritrea is projected to reach its peak in 2100 at 8.51M people compared to the peak of 428K 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 1.93% 1.36%
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 (2025–2100, retrieved 2026-03-10); World Bank | Health (1961–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06).

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

In 2024, the population of Eritrea grew by 1.88%, while Iceland's population grew by 0.22%.

Live population counters

Eritrea Iceland
Current population
3700586
397129
Population rank 130/197 173/197
Percent of world population 0.04% 0.005%
One net population change
8.06 minutes
10.4 hours
One birth every
5.31 minutes
2.07 hours
One death every
25 minutes
3.44 hours
Daily growth/decline +179 +2
Annual growth/decline +65,213 +843
Annual growth/decline rate +1.88% +0.22%
Population growth rate rank 58/197 155/197
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 - -12,696 - 3,543
2023 78,073 -15,284 1,697 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 2026-04-06).

GeoRank.org/population/eritrea/iceland | 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 Iceland 30.7% is from natural causes (a gain of 20,128 people) and 69.3% is from migration (a gain of 45,356 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 (1960–2024, 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/iceland | 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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