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

Updated on by Georank

The latest officially reported population of Eritrea was 3,607,003 in 2025 vs 47,020,774 people in Iraq in 2025. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Eritrea's population is 3,722,489 people compared to 48,531,417 in Iraq.

Population statistics:

  • Iraq's population is 13 times bigger than Eritrea's.
  • Eritrea is ranked the 131st most populous country in the world, while Iraq is the 33rd.
  • The countries together account for 0.63% of the world: 0.04% for Eritrea vs 0.58% for Iraq.
  • For the last 10 years, Eritrea has had an average growth rate of +1.4% per year vs +2.32% in Iraq.
  • Since 2006, the population of Eritrea has increased from 2.7M people to 3.72M (37.7% growth), while Iraq has grown from 28.6M to 48.5M (69.6% growth).

Eritrea vs Iraq: population by year and forecast

Eritrea
Factual

Projection
Iraq
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
Eritrea Iraq
2100 8,522,007 101,633,126
2099 8,497,228 101,421,797
2098 8,474,268 101,213,066
2097 8,451,733 100,981,364
2096 8,429,569 100,724,968
2095 8,403,309 100,465,117
2094 8,377,316 100,194,566
2093 8,351,585 99,876,697
2092 8,316,183 99,532,563
2091 8,285,983 99,204,350
2090 8,250,998 98,887,474
2089 8,216,946 98,513,541
2088 8,179,696 98,144,553
2087 8,143,016 97,768,049
2086 8,100,028 97,325,536
2085 8,053,737 96,873,514
2084 8,006,588 96,449,107
2083 7,963,231 95,991,669
2082 7,918,571 95,510,163
2081 7,878,525 95,009,824
2080 7,822,491 94,507,711
2079 7,772,358 93,960,720
2078 7,718,520 93,417,874
2077 7,662,894 92,904,470
2076 7,607,491 92,360,076
2075 7,545,398 91,825,735
2074 7,490,761 91,229,744
2073 7,426,955 90,571,495
2072 7,364,831 89,918,845
2071 7,302,386 89,266,016
2070 7,237,419 88,596,956
2069 7,171,047 87,909,934
2068 7,100,633 87,220,950
2067 7,032,045 86,514,449
2066 6,958,496 85,734,979
2065 6,890,246 84,972,344
2064 6,820,756 84,191,791
2063 6,739,056 83,388,388
2062 6,665,261 82,605,010
2061 6,586,585 81,801,066
2060 6,506,537 80,951,432
2059 6,427,830 80,142,288
2058 6,348,527 79,319,959
2057 6,270,841 78,477,750
2056 6,199,452 77,609,609
2055 6,119,360 76,740,326
2054 6,044,997 75,857,522
2053 5,962,464 74,953,340
2052 5,877,006 74,072,968
2051 5,796,079 73,150,617
2050 5,715,974 72,236,317
2049 5,637,011 71,272,496
2048 5,554,665 70,317,228
2047 5,473,222 69,348,186
2046 5,391,902 68,401,022
2045 5,305,072 67,436,306
2044 5,220,319 66,447,658
2043 5,136,101 65,453,908
2042 5,048,602 64,434,168
2041 4,964,690 63,409,041
2040 4,875,172 62,360,444
2039 4,786,431 61,289,676
2038 4,697,052 60,253,388
2037 4,603,709 59,221,968
2036 4,510,757 58,156,294
2035 4,424,170 57,128,298
2034 4,336,556 56,087,988
2033 4,251,927 55,051,428
2032 4,168,824 54,002,572
2031 4,087,276 52,991,720
2030 4,002,343 51,987,045
2029 3,921,145 50,982,830
2028 3,839,994 50,001,395
2027 3,759,928 49,015,079
2026 3,682,948 48,020,585
2025 3,607,003 47,020,774
2024 3,535,603 46,042,015
2023 3,470,390 45,074,049
2022 3,409,447 44,070,551
2021 3,350,183 43,071,211
2020 3,291,271 42,116,605
2019 3,240,194 41,192,171
2018 3,192,760 40,265,624
2017 3,150,347 39,337,353
2016 3,124,698 38,469,627
2015 3,105,546 37,560,535
2014 3,095,173 36,550,059
2013 3,074,360 35,281,989
2012 3,036,988 33,654,842
2011 2,998,485 32,161,424
2010 2,945,186 31,045,366
2009 2,887,885 30,058,206
2008 2,816,327 28,971,036
2007 2,743,222 28,391,607
2006 2,703,502 28,616,515
2005 2,661,215 28,407,448
2004 2,598,284 27,577,878
2003 2,493,903 26,802,659
2002 2,392,978 26,006,559
2001 2,312,079 25,197,840
2000 2,247,031 24,424,056
1999 2,212,780 23,636,527
1998 2,180,419 22,884,399
1997 2,152,135 22,176,593
1996 2,128,464 21,501,321
1995 2,025,267 20,825,860
1994 1,913,915 20,139,807
1993 1,856,006 19,201,195
1992 1,798,748 18,300,845
1991 1,919,571 17,767,253
1990 2,032,737 17,581,206
1989 1,987,017 17,364,542
1988 1,938,255 16,908,819
1987 1,888,669 16,521,049
1986 1,845,164 16,074,145
1985 1,807,816 15,683,430
1984 1,771,730 15,310,733
1983 1,736,160 14,840,555
1982 1,695,461 14,406,083
1981 1,649,939 14,006,381
1980 1,605,797 13,591,992
1979 1,563,332 13,170,365
1978 1,522,378 12,753,355
1977 1,482,565 12,331,046
1976 1,443,807 11,927,651
1975 1,408,210 11,543,639
1974 1,375,688 11,167,761
1973 1,342,669 10,795,869
1972 1,309,235 10,430,164
1971 1,276,154 10,077,809
1970 1,243,453 9,735,611
1969 1,212,005 9,403,356
1968 1,181,737 9,085,016
1967 1,152,339 8,778,869
1966 1,124,957 8,485,104
1965 1,098,335 8,202,140
1964 1,071,287 7,929,566
1963 1,045,092 7,667,928
1962 1,019,788 7,413,875
1961 995,573 7,194,553
1960 972,547 7,022,052

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/iraq | CC BY

From 2006 to 2016, the population of Eritrea increased by 421,196 people (a 15.6% growth), while Iraq gained 9,853,112 people (a 34.4% growth).

For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, Eritrea gained 597,791 people (a 19.1% growth), while Iraq's population increased by 10,061,790 people (a 26.2% growth).

Eritrea was ranked 135th most populous country in 2006 and is 131st in 2026. Iraq was ranked 39th in 2006 and ranked 33rd 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 Iraq will increase by 48.8% to 72,236,317 people and rank change from 33rd to 28th.

Eritrea is projected to reach its peak in 2100 at 8.52M people compared to the peak of 102M people in 2100 for Iraq.

Population growth rate by year

Eritrea
Factual

Projection
Iraq
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Growth rate
Eritrea Iraq
2100 0.29% 0.21%
2099 0.27% 0.21%
2098 0.27% 0.23%
2097 0.26% 0.25%
2096 0.31% 0.26%
2095 0.31% 0.27%
2094 0.31% 0.32%
2093 0.43% 0.35%
2092 0.36% 0.33%
2091 0.42% 0.32%
2090 0.41% 0.38%
2089 0.46% 0.38%
2088 0.45% 0.39%
2087 0.53% 0.45%
2086 0.57% 0.47%
2085 0.59% 0.44%
2084 0.54% 0.48%
2083 0.56% 0.5%
2082 0.51% 0.53%
2081 0.72% 0.53%
2080 0.65% 0.58%
2079 0.7% 0.58%
2078 0.73% 0.55%
2077 0.73% 0.59%
2076 0.82% 0.58%
2075 0.73% 0.65%
2074 0.86% 0.73%
2073 0.84% 0.73%
2072 0.86% 0.73%
2071 0.9% 0.76%
2070 0.93% 0.78%
2069 0.99% 0.79%
2068 0.98% 0.82%
2067 1.06% 0.91%
2066 0.99% 0.9%
2065 1.02% 0.93%
2064 1.21% 0.96%
2063 1.11% 0.95%
2062 1.19% 0.98%
2061 1.23% 1.05%
2060 1.22% 1.01%
2059 1.25% 1.04%
2058 1.24% 1.07%
2057 1.15% 1.12%
2056 1.31% 1.13%
2055 1.23% 1.16%
2054 1.38% 1.21%
2053 1.45% 1.19%
2052 1.4% 1.26%
2051 1.4% 1.27%
2050 1.4% 1.35%
2049 1.48% 1.36%
2048 1.49% 1.4%
2047 1.51% 1.38%
2046 1.64% 1.43%
2045 1.62% 1.49%
2044 1.64% 1.52%
2043 1.73% 1.58%
2042 1.69% 1.62%
2041 1.84% 1.68%
2040 1.85% 1.75%
2039 1.9% 1.72%
2038 2.03% 1.74%
2037 2.06% 1.83%
2036 1.96% 1.8%
2035 2.02% 1.85%
2034 1.99% 1.88%
2033 1.99% 1.94%
2032 2% 1.91%
2031 2.12% 1.93%
2030 2.07% 1.97%
2029 2.11% 1.96%
2028 2.13% 2.01%
2027 2.09% 2.07%
2026 2.11% 2.13%
2025 2.02% 2.13%
2024 1.88% 2.15%
2023 1.79% 2.28%
2022 1.77% 2.32%
2021 1.79% 2.27%
2020 1.58% 2.24%
2019 1.49% 2.3%
2018 1.35% 2.36%
2017 0.82% 2.26%
2016 0.62% 2.42%
2015 0.34% 2.76%
2014 0.68% 3.59%
2013 1.23% 4.83%
2012 1.28% 4.64%
2011 1.81% 3.59%
2010 1.98% 3.28%
2009 2.54% 3.75%
2008 2.66% 2.04%
2007 1.47% -0.79%
2006 1.59% 0.74%
2005 2.42% 3.01%
2004 4.19% 2.89%
2003 4.22% 3.06%
2002 3.5% 3.21%
2001 2.89% 3.17%
2000 1.55% 3.33%
1999 1.48% 3.29%
1998 1.31% 3.19%
1997 1.11% 3.14%
1996 5.1% 3.24%
1995 5.82% 3.41%
1994 3.12% 4.89%
1993 3.18% 4.92%
1992 -6.29% 3%
1991 -5.57% 1.06%
1990 2.3% 1.25%
1989 2.52% 2.7%
1988 2.63% 2.35%
1987 2.36% 2.78%
1986 2.07% 2.49%
1985 2.04% 2.43%
1984 2.05% 3.17%
1983 2.4% 3.02%
1982 2.76% 2.85%
1981 2.75% 3.05%
1980 2.72% 3.2%
1979 2.69% 3.27%
1978 2.69% 3.42%
1977 2.68% 3.38%
1976 2.53% 3.33%
1975 2.36% 3.37%
1974 2.46% 3.44%
1973 2.55% 3.51%
1972 2.59% 3.5%
1971 2.63% 3.51%
1970 2.59% 3.53%
1969 2.56% 3.5%
1968 2.55% 3.49%
1967 2.43% 3.46%
1966 2.42% 3.45%
1965 2.52% 3.44%
1964 2.51% 3.41%
1963 2.48% 3.43%
1962 2.43% 3.05%
1961 2.37% 2.46%

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/iraq | CC BY

In 2025, the population of Eritrea grew by 2.02%, while Iraq's population grew by 2.13%.

Live population counters

Eritrea Iraq
Current population
3722489
48531417
Population rank 131/197 33/197
Percent of world population 0.04% 0.58%
One net population change
7.38 minutes
32.3 seconds
One birth every
5.18 minutes
26.8 seconds
One death every
24.8 minutes
2.74 minutes
Daily growth/decline +196 +2,682
Annual growth/decline +71,400 +978,759
Annual growth/decline rate +2.02% +2.13%
Population growth rate rank 49/197 43/197
One migration net change every
1.31 hours
8.26 hours
Annual migration change -6,698 -1,064
Net migration rank 122/196 93/196
Foreign-born residents 12,512 370,980
Foreign-born residents rank 176/195 92/195
Foreign-born share of population 0.4% 0.8%
Foreign-born share rank 178/195 160/195

Natural population change vs migration

Eritrea
Natural

Migration
Iraq
Natural

Migration
1x
Year Population change
Eritrea Iraq
Natural Migration Natural Migration
2025 - -6,698 - -1,064
2024 80,343 -12,696 985,943 -17,735
2023 78,073 -15,284 973,420 -5,710
2022 76,221 -17,134 962,501 76,821
2021 74,394 -14,966 941,924 17,474
2020 73,362 -14,967 919,953 29,858
2019 73,572 -29,818 942,972 -43,919
2018 72,511 -21,403 938,310 15,775
2017 72,291 -38,579 924,507 -21,998
2016 73,002 -55,431 946,968 -113,980
2015 73,682 -52,965 1,007,561 -22,338
2014 75,729 -75,696 1,040,726 -5,033
2013 75,562 -33,974 1,026,036 474,379
2012 76,416 -43,269 999,987 753,907
2011 76,806 -32,949 971,082 261,880
2010 76,098 -13,361 906,369 92,779
2009 76,206 -24,348 855,096 120,092
2008 73,391 17,855 802,382 396,792
2007 73,101 -18,131 784,119 -824,428
2006 74,470 -49,998 797,342 -1,206,850
2005 72,930 -12,835 776,603 51,019
2004 72,147 -6,374 761,563 69,948
2003 66,291 76,703 746,159 -27,236
2002 65,436 -6,574 739,419 133,839
2001 61,180 41,760 729,704 14,451
2000 60,274 -33,133 715,771 87,624
1999 45,120 -3,769 702,170 69,491
1998 55,332 -31,951 684,152 48,446
1997 63,953 -30,768 667,582 15,429
1996 66,557 -52,421 652,866 14,652
1995 56,157 136,105 642,977 40,424
1994 56,288 -25,841 634,344 54,355
1993 51,679 33,688 606,700 581,818
1992 51,443 -22,293 591,886 20,292
1991 57,741 -328,546 550,146 -95,155
1990 56,903 -12,425 518,575 -601,469
1989 54,299 -7,330 496,852 19,392
1988 54,163 -3,612 476,778 -81,562
1987 52,229 -3,613 488,742 -108,426
1986 39,470 -1,073 474,348 39,136
1985 37,362 -1,073 467,445 -199,505
1984 35,101 772 455,740 21,709
1983 33,420 1,853 439,800 23,115
1982 44,146 1,985 428,336 -22,302
1981 42,924 1,985 416,998 -23,640
1980 41,392 1,985 419,653 15,757
1979 39,577 1,985 428,458 -20,617
1978 38,353 1,985 418,756 7,434
1977 37,295 1,985 410,229 8,204
1976 36,250 1,985 402,260 -13,915
1975 30,971 1,985 385,916 -6,237
1974 30,111 1,985 376,197 -4,090
1973 31,969 1,985 373,191 -1,507
1972 30,951 1,953 362,334 -2,600
1971 31,490 1,758 351,464 -6,479
1970 30,686 1,480 338,030 1,377
1969 29,535 1,199 324,792 312
1968 28,777 1,013 310,644 928
1967 27,992 1,004 298,192 2,531
1966 24,713 1,063 285,507 1,298
1965 26,285 1,188 274,551 4,555
1964 25,327 1,300 262,825 3,224
1963 24,393 1,368 254,046 3,197
1962 23,478 1,364 247,520 3,343
1961 22,351 1,235 184,792 2,981
1960 21,424 1,045 155,651 1,573

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

GeoRank.org/population/eritrea/iraq | 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 Iraq 99.1% is from natural causes (a gain of 9,544,059 people) and 0.89% is from migration (a loss of 85,752 people).

As of 2024, 12,512 residents or 0.4% of the population were not native-born in Eritrea, compared to 370,980 people or 0.8% in Iraq.

Biggest cities by population

Eritrea
City Population
Asmara 963K
Keren 120K
Massawa 39.8K
Mendefera 28.5K
Iraq
City Population
Baghdad 8.13M
Mosul 1.79M
Basra 1.33M
Kirkuk 975K
Sulaymaniyah 878K
Ramadi 875K
Erbil 846K
Najaf 725K
Karbala 690K
Nasiriyah 542K

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/iraq | 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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