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

Updated on by Georank team

The latest officially reported population of Eritrea was 3,535,603 in 2024 vs 91,567,738 people in Iran in 2024. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Eritrea's population is 3,700,586 people compared to 93,468,444 in Iran.

Population statistics:

  • Iran's population is 25.3 times bigger than Eritrea's.
  • Eritrea is ranked the 130th most populous country in the world, while Iran is the 17th.
  • The countries together account for 1.17% of the world: 0.04% for Eritrea vs 1.13% for Iran.
  • For the last 10 years, Eritrea has had an average growth rate of +1.28% per year vs +1.19% in Iran.
  • Since 2006, the population of Eritrea has increased from 2.7M people to 3.7M (36.9% growth), while Iran has grown from 73.4M to 93.5M (27.4% growth).

Eritrea vs Iran: population by year and forecast

Eritrea
Factual

Projection
Iran
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
Eritrea Iran
2100 8,514,681 80,713,760
2099 8,489,924 81,246,718
2098 8,466,983 81,770,953
2097 8,444,468 82,295,714
2096 8,422,323 82,818,575
2095 8,396,086 83,338,446
2094 8,370,114 83,854,648
2093 8,344,405 84,371,569
2092 8,309,034 84,888,626
2091 8,278,860 85,410,099
2090 8,243,905 85,934,675
2089 8,209,883 86,466,409
2088 8,172,664 87,004,165
2087 8,136,016 87,549,685
2086 8,093,065 88,105,571
2085 8,046,814 88,668,329
2084 7,999,706 89,239,709
2083 7,956,385 89,817,194
2082 7,911,764 90,402,538
2081 7,871,753 90,995,822
2080 7,815,766 91,595,122
2079 7,765,677 92,196,842
2078 7,711,886 92,801,160
2077 7,656,307 93,405,954
2076 7,600,951 94,007,669
2075 7,538,912 94,606,607
2074 7,484,322 95,197,577
2073 7,420,571 95,783,994
2072 7,358,500 96,355,853
2071 7,296,109 96,915,335
2070 7,231,198 97,460,813
2069 7,164,883 97,988,897
2068 7,094,530 98,496,927
2067 7,026,000 98,978,509
2066 6,952,514 99,439,391
2065 6,884,323 99,877,457
2064 6,814,893 100,288,977
2063 6,733,263 100,668,199
2062 6,659,531 101,017,348
2061 6,580,923 101,332,810
2060 6,500,944 101,612,261
2059 6,422,305 101,858,931
2058 6,343,070 102,061,144
2057 6,265,450 102,228,085
2056 6,194,123 102,358,266
2055 6,114,099 102,449,092
2054 6,039,801 102,498,594
2053 5,957,339 102,508,245
2052 5,871,954 102,480,373
2051 5,791,096 102,417,847
2050 5,711,061 102,318,917
2049 5,632,165 102,189,816
2048 5,549,890 102,024,233
2047 5,468,518 101,832,213
2046 5,387,267 101,613,554
2045 5,300,511 101,371,784
2044 5,215,831 101,104,998
2043 5,131,686 100,818,045
2042 5,044,262 100,512,032
2041 4,960,422 100,188,214
2040 4,870,981 99,849,875
2039 4,782,316 99,501,869
2038 4,693,015 99,137,385
2037 4,599,752 98,759,167
2036 4,506,879 98,366,612
2035 4,420,367 97,963,082
2034 4,332,828 97,546,148
2033 4,248,272 97,118,106
2032 4,165,241 96,671,440
2031 4,083,762 96,204,118
2030 3,998,903 95,718,604
2029 3,917,775 95,195,996
2028 3,836,693 94,623,034
2027 3,756,696 93,987,260
2026 3,679,782 93,276,075
2025 3,603,902 92,478,162
2024 3,535,603 91,567,738
2023 3,470,390 90,608,707
2022 3,409,447 89,524,246
2021 3,350,183 88,455,488
2020 3,291,271 87,723,443
2019 3,240,194 87,051,648
2018 3,192,760 86,117,998
2017 3,150,347 85,026,754
2016 3,124,698 83,812,228
2015 3,105,546 82,619,362
2014 3,095,173 81,502,045
2013 3,074,360 80,414,686
2012 3,036,988 79,370,580
2011 2,998,485 78,383,598
2010 2,945,186 77,420,842
2009 2,887,885 76,457,825
2008 2,816,327 75,514,204
2007 2,743,222 74,602,648
2006 2,703,502 73,392,747
2005 2,661,215 71,828,455
2004 2,598,284 70,256,316
2003 2,493,903 68,769,340
2002 2,392,978 68,011,317
2001 2,312,079 67,452,005
2000 2,247,031 66,418,659
1999 2,212,780 65,445,391
1998 2,180,419 64,519,859
1997 2,152,135 63,639,638
1996 2,128,464 62,881,300
1995 2,025,267 62,205,567
1994 1,913,915 61,520,598
1993 1,856,006 61,403,543
1992 1,798,748 61,184,983
1991 1,919,571 59,986,931
1990 2,032,737 58,380,092
1989 1,987,017 56,704,914
1988 1,938,255 55,072,694
1987 1,888,669 53,323,493
1986 1,845,164 51,446,045
1985 1,807,816 49,582,289
1984 1,771,730 47,793,998
1983 1,736,160 46,029,535
1982 1,695,461 44,272,141
1981 1,649,939 41,989,312
1980 1,605,797 39,842,324
1979 1,563,332 38,424,952
1978 1,522,378 37,126,535
1977 1,482,565 35,933,181
1976 1,443,807 34,837,271
1975 1,408,210 33,802,973
1974 1,375,688 32,796,463
1973 1,342,669 31,839,838
1972 1,309,235 30,921,179
1971 1,276,154 30,029,071
1970 1,243,453 29,145,100
1969 1,212,005 28,273,482
1968 1,181,737 27,437,391
1967 1,152,339 26,628,432
1966 1,124,957 25,829,270
1965 1,098,335 25,036,978
1964 1,071,287 24,262,859
1963 1,045,092 23,519,005
1962 1,019,788 22,807,907
1961 995,573 22,125,726
1960 972,547 21,470,434

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/iran | CC BY

From 2006 to 2016, the population of Eritrea increased by 421,196 people (a 15.6% growth), while Iran gained 10,419,481 people (a 14.2% growth).

For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, Eritrea gained 575,888 people (a 18.4% growth), while Iran's population increased by 9,656,216 people (a 11.5% growth).

Eritrea was ranked 135th most populous country in 2006 and is 130th in 2026. Iran was ranked 17th in 2006 and still ranked 17th 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 Iran will increase by 9.47% to 102,318,917 people and rank change from 17th to 18th.

Eritrea is projected to reach its peak in 2100 at 8.51M people compared to the peak of 103M people in 2053 for Iran.

Population growth rate by year

Eritrea
Factual

Projection
Iran
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Growth rate
Eritrea Iran
2100 0.29% -0.66%
2099 0.27% -0.64%
2098 0.27% -0.64%
2097 0.26% -0.63%
2096 0.31% -0.62%
2095 0.31% -0.62%
2094 0.31% -0.61%
2093 0.43% -0.61%
2092 0.36% -0.61%
2091 0.42% -0.61%
2090 0.41% -0.61%
2089 0.46% -0.62%
2088 0.45% -0.62%
2087 0.53% -0.63%
2086 0.57% -0.63%
2085 0.59% -0.64%
2084 0.54% -0.64%
2083 0.56% -0.65%
2082 0.51% -0.65%
2081 0.72% -0.65%
2080 0.65% -0.65%
2079 0.7% -0.65%
2078 0.73% -0.65%
2077 0.73% -0.64%
2076 0.82% -0.63%
2075 0.73% -0.62%
2074 0.86% -0.61%
2073 0.84% -0.59%
2072 0.86% -0.58%
2071 0.9% -0.56%
2070 0.93% -0.54%
2069 0.99% -0.52%
2068 0.98% -0.49%
2067 1.06% -0.46%
2066 0.99% -0.44%
2065 1.02% -0.41%
2064 1.21% -0.38%
2063 1.11% -0.35%
2062 1.19% -0.31%
2061 1.23% -0.28%
2060 1.22% -0.24%
2059 1.25% -0.2%
2058 1.24% -0.16%
2057 1.15% -0.13%
2056 1.31% -0.09%
2055 1.23% -0.05%
2054 1.38% -0.009%
2053 1.45% 0.03%
2052 1.4% 0.06%
2051 1.4% 0.1%
2050 1.4% 0.13%
2049 1.48% 0.16%
2048 1.49% 0.19%
2047 1.51% 0.22%
2046 1.64% 0.24%
2045 1.62% 0.26%
2044 1.64% 0.28%
2043 1.73% 0.3%
2042 1.69% 0.32%
2041 1.84% 0.34%
2040 1.85% 0.35%
2039 1.9% 0.37%
2038 2.03% 0.38%
2037 2.06% 0.4%
2036 1.96% 0.41%
2035 2.02% 0.43%
2034 1.99% 0.44%
2033 1.99% 0.46%
2032 2% 0.49%
2031 2.12% 0.51%
2030 2.07% 0.55%
2029 2.11% 0.61%
2028 2.13% 0.68%
2027 2.09% 0.76%
2026 2.11% 0.86%
2025 1.93% 0.99%
2024 1.88% 1.06%
2023 1.79% 1.21%
2022 1.77% 1.21%
2021 1.79% 0.83%
2020 1.58% 0.77%
2019 1.49% 1.08%
2018 1.35% 1.28%
2017 0.82% 1.45%
2016 0.62% 1.44%
2015 0.34% 1.37%
2014 0.68% 1.35%
2013 1.23% 1.32%
2012 1.28% 1.26%
2011 1.81% 1.24%
2010 1.98% 1.26%
2009 2.54% 1.25%
2008 2.66% 1.22%
2007 1.47% 1.65%
2006 1.59% 2.18%
2005 2.42% 2.24%
2004 4.19% 2.16%
2003 4.22% 1.11%
2002 3.5% 0.83%
2001 2.89% 1.56%
2000 1.55% 1.49%
1999 1.48% 1.43%
1998 1.31% 1.38%
1997 1.11% 1.21%
1996 5.1% 1.09%
1995 5.82% 1.11%
1994 3.12% 0.19%
1993 3.18% 0.36%
1992 -6.29% 2%
1991 -5.57% 2.75%
1990 2.3% 2.95%
1989 2.52% 2.96%
1988 2.63% 3.28%
1987 2.36% 3.65%
1986 2.07% 3.76%
1985 2.04% 3.74%
1984 2.05% 3.83%
1983 2.4% 3.97%
1982 2.76% 5.44%
1981 2.75% 5.39%
1980 2.72% 3.69%
1979 2.69% 3.5%
1978 2.69% 3.32%
1977 2.68% 3.15%
1976 2.53% 3.06%
1975 2.36% 3.07%
1974 2.46% 3%
1973 2.55% 2.97%
1972 2.59% 2.97%
1971 2.63% 3.03%
1970 2.59% 3.08%
1969 2.56% 3.05%
1968 2.55% 3.04%
1967 2.43% 3.09%
1966 2.42% 3.16%
1965 2.52% 3.19%
1964 2.51% 3.16%
1963 2.48% 3.12%
1962 2.43% 3.08%
1961 2.37% 3.05%

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/iran | CC BY

In 2024, the population of Eritrea grew by 1.88%, while Iran's population grew by 1.06%.

Live population counters

Eritrea Iran
Current population
3700586
93468444
Population rank 130/197 17/197
Percent of world population 0.04% 1.13%
One net population change
8.06 minutes
32.9 seconds
One birth every
5.31 minutes
26.9 seconds
One death every
25 minutes
1.24 minutes
Daily growth/decline +179 +2,627
Annual growth/decline +65,213 +959,031
Annual growth/decline rate +1.88% +1.06%
Population growth rate rank 58/197 98/197
One migration net change every
1.31 hours
4.51 minutes
Annual migration change -6,698 +116,786
Net migration rank 122/196 14/196
Foreign-born residents 12,512 3,840,654
Foreign-born residents rank 176/195 17/195
Foreign-born share of population 0.4% 4.2%
Foreign-born share rank 178/195 103/195

Natural population change vs migration

Eritrea
Natural

Migration
Iran
Natural

Migration
1x
Year Population change
Eritrea Iran
Natural Migration Natural Migration
2025 - -6,698 - 116,786
2024 - -12,696 - 190,156
2023 78,073 -15,284 750,150 262,044
2022 76,221 -17,134 753,525 403,190
2021 74,394 -14,966 645,725 334,967
2020 73,362 -14,967 663,978 -180,680
2019 73,572 -29,818 893,063 -32,794
2018 72,511 -21,403 1,035,052 -27,946
2017 72,291 -38,579 1,140,549 34,849
2016 73,002 -55,431 1,186,949 66,630
2015 73,682 -52,965 1,178,317 -46,239
2014 75,729 -75,696 1,158,552 -56,042
2013 75,562 -33,974 1,119,533 -47,322
2012 76,416 -43,269 1,073,804 -57,823
2011 76,806 -32,949 1,023,925 -65,924
2010 76,098 -13,361 980,380 -12,849
2009 76,206 -24,348 958,322 211
2008 73,391 17,855 940,983 -12,184
2007 73,101 -18,131 919,254 -24,950
2006 74,470 -49,998 884,529 640,932
2005 72,930 -12,835 837,305 765,873
2004 72,147 -6,374 801,203 739,996
2003 66,291 76,703 732,600 700,222
2002 65,436 -6,574 752,205 -668,962
2001 61,180 41,760 743,658 291,692
2000 60,274 -33,133 731,203 300,133
1999 45,120 -3,769 723,237 191,988
1998 55,332 -31,951 717,655 218,171
1997 63,953 -30,768 726,574 98,009
1996 66,557 -52,421 784,508 -92,435
1995 56,157 136,105 879,648 -220,258
1994 56,288 -25,841 1,008,076 -297,487
1993 51,679 33,688 1,219,658 -1,696,091
1992 51,443 -22,293 1,365,466 -451,945
1991 57,741 -328,546 1,495,594 -13,059
1990 56,903 -12,425 1,530,434 200,711
1989 54,299 -7,330 1,609,739 9,460
1988 54,163 -3,612 1,614,512 30,688
1987 52,229 -3,613 1,639,644 213,524
1986 39,470 -1,073 1,659,289 242,411
1985 37,362 -1,073 1,661,750 163,999
1984 35,101 772 1,653,051 97,748
1983 33,420 1,853 1,573,612 204,544
1982 44,146 1,985 1,514,240 222,390
1981 42,924 1,985 1,376,830 1,452,169
1980 41,392 1,985 1,361,293 103,674
1979 39,577 1,985 1,294,306 75,451
1978 38,353 1,985 1,156,974 70,088
1977 37,295 1,985 1,091,542 68,093
1976 36,250 1,985 1,013,347 18,825
1975 30,971 1,985 929,481 106,921
1974 30,111 1,985 873,369 103,252
1973 31,969 1,985 831,880 104,779
1972 30,951 1,953 804,043 96,614
1971 31,490 1,758 805,830 77,717
1970 30,686 1,480 794,612 89,757
1969 29,535 1,199 780,660 78,196
1968 28,777 1,013 743,992 69,342
1967 27,992 1,004 727,276 77,313
1966 24,713 1,063 695,040 98,709
1965 26,285 1,188 663,029 127,808
1964 25,327 1,300 635,589 121,817
1963 24,393 1,368 620,126 110,190
1962 23,478 1,364 595,538 96,332
1961 22,351 1,235 594,674 77,811
1960 21,424 1,045 584,060 54,041

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

GeoRank.org/population/eritrea/iran | 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 Iran 92.5% is from natural causes (a gain of 9,405,860 people) and 7.46% is from migration (a gain of 757,979 people).

As of 2024, 12,512 residents or 0.4% of the population were not native-born in Eritrea, compared to 3,840,654 people or 4.2% in Iran.

Biggest cities by population

Eritrea
City Population
Asmara 963K
Keren 120K
Massawa 39.8K
Mendefera 28.5K
Iran
City Population
Tehran 8.69M
Mashhad 3M
Isfahan 1.96M
Karaj 1.59M
Shiraz 1.57M
Tabriz 1.56M
Qom 1.2M
Ahvaz 1.18M
Kermanshah 947K
Urmia 736K

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/iran | 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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