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

Updated on by Georank team

The latest officially reported population of Eritrea was 3,535,603 in 2024 vs 46,042,015 people in Iraq in 2024. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Eritrea's population is 3,700,586 people compared to 48,289,334 in Iraq.

Population statistics:

  • Iraq's population is 13 times bigger than Eritrea's.
  • Eritrea is ranked the 130th 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 +1.28% per year vs +2.45% in Iraq.
  • Since 2006, the population of Eritrea has increased from 2.7M people to 3.7M (36.9% growth), while Iraq has grown from 28.6M to 48.3M (68.7% growth).

Eritrea vs Iraq: population by year and forecast

Eritrea
Factual

Projection
Iraq
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
Eritrea Iraq
2100 8,514,681 101,632,594
2099 8,489,924 101,421,266
2098 8,466,983 101,212,536
2097 8,444,468 100,980,835
2096 8,422,323 100,724,441
2095 8,396,086 100,464,590
2094 8,370,114 100,194,041
2093 8,344,405 99,876,174
2092 8,309,034 99,532,041
2091 8,278,860 99,203,830
2090 8,243,905 98,886,956
2089 8,209,883 98,513,025
2088 8,172,664 98,144,039
2087 8,136,016 97,767,537
2086 8,093,065 97,325,026
2085 8,046,814 96,873,007
2084 7,999,706 96,448,602
2083 7,956,385 95,991,166
2082 7,911,764 95,509,663
2081 7,871,753 95,009,326
2080 7,815,766 94,507,216
2079 7,765,677 93,960,228
2078 7,711,886 93,417,384
2077 7,656,307 92,903,983
2076 7,600,951 92,359,592
2075 7,538,912 91,825,254
2074 7,484,322 91,229,266
2073 7,420,571 90,571,021
2072 7,358,500 89,918,374
2071 7,296,109 89,265,548
2070 7,231,198 88,596,492
2069 7,164,883 87,909,474
2068 7,094,530 87,220,494
2067 7,026,000 86,513,996
2066 6,952,514 85,734,530
2065 6,884,323 84,971,898
2064 6,814,893 84,191,350
2063 6,733,263 83,387,951
2062 6,659,531 82,604,577
2061 6,580,923 81,800,637
2060 6,500,944 80,951,008
2059 6,422,305 80,141,868
2058 6,343,070 79,319,543
2057 6,265,450 78,477,339
2056 6,194,123 77,609,202
2055 6,114,099 76,739,924
2054 6,039,801 75,857,125
2053 5,957,339 74,952,948
2052 5,871,954 74,072,580
2051 5,791,096 73,150,234
2050 5,711,061 72,235,938
2049 5,632,165 71,272,122
2048 5,549,890 70,316,860
2047 5,468,518 69,347,823
2046 5,387,267 68,400,664
2045 5,300,511 67,435,953
2044 5,215,831 66,447,309
2043 5,131,686 65,453,565
2042 5,044,262 64,433,831
2041 4,960,422 63,408,709
2040 4,870,981 62,360,117
2039 4,782,316 61,289,355
2038 4,693,015 60,253,073
2037 4,599,752 59,221,658
2036 4,506,879 58,155,990
2035 4,420,367 57,127,999
2034 4,332,828 56,087,695
2033 4,248,272 55,051,140
2032 4,165,241 54,002,289
2031 4,083,762 52,991,443
2030 3,998,903 51,986,773
2029 3,917,775 50,982,563
2028 3,836,693 50,001,133
2027 3,756,696 49,014,822
2026 3,679,782 48,020,334
2025 3,603,902 47,020,527
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 (2025–2100, retrieved 2026-03-10); World Bank | Health (1960–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06).

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 575,888 people (a 18.4% growth), while Iraq's population increased by 9,819,707 people (a 25.5% growth).

Eritrea was ranked 135th most populous country in 2006 and is 130th 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 54.3% to 5,711,061 people with a rank change from 130th to 123rd. The population of Iraq will increase by 49.6% to 72,235,938 people and rank change from 33rd to 28th.

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

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

In 2024, the population of Eritrea grew by 1.88%, while Iraq's population grew by 2.15%.

Live population counters

Eritrea Iraq
Current population
3700586
48289334
Population rank 130/197 33/197
Percent of world population 0.04% 0.58%
One net population change
8.06 minutes
32.6 seconds
One birth every
5.31 minutes
27.2 seconds
One death every
25 minutes
2.82 minutes
Daily growth/decline +179 +2,652
Annual growth/decline +65,213 +967,966
Annual growth/decline rate +1.88% +2.15%
Population growth rate rank 58/197 46/197
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 - -12,696 - -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 2026-04-06).

GeoRank.org/population/eritrea/iraq | 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 Iraq 99.2% is from natural causes (a gain of 9,598,842 people) and 0.76% is from migration (a loss of 73,050 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 (1960–2024, 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/iraq | 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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