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

Updated on by Georank team

The latest officially reported population of Eritrea was 3,535,603 in 2024 vs 58,952,704 people in Italy in 2024. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Eritrea's population is 3,700,586 people compared to 58,562,681 in Italy.

Population statistics:

  • Italy's population is 15.8 times bigger than Eritrea's.
  • Eritrea is ranked the 130th most populous country in the world, while Italy is the 26th.
  • The countries together account for 0.75% of the world: 0.04% for Eritrea vs 0.71% for Italy.
  • For the last 10 years, Eritrea has had an average growth rate of +1.28% per year vs -0.21% in Italy.
  • Since 2006, the population of Eritrea has increased from 2.7M people to 3.7M (36.9% growth), while Italy has grown from 58.4M to 58.6M (0.28% growth).

Eritrea vs Italy: population by year and forecast

Eritrea
Factual

Projection
Italy
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
Eritrea Italy
2100 8,514,681 35,208,261
2099 8,489,924 35,444,989
2098 8,466,983 35,676,340
2097 8,444,468 35,914,345
2096 8,422,323 36,150,501
2095 8,396,086 36,386,787
2094 8,370,114 36,619,396
2093 8,344,405 36,850,181
2092 8,309,034 37,089,746
2091 8,278,860 37,323,400
2090 8,243,905 37,560,976
2089 8,209,883 37,802,157
2088 8,172,664 38,040,056
2087 8,136,016 38,280,439
2086 8,093,065 38,517,279
2085 8,046,814 38,761,126
2084 7,999,706 39,008,873
2083 7,956,385 39,255,273
2082 7,911,764 39,509,964
2081 7,871,753 39,767,732
2080 7,815,766 40,030,977
2079 7,765,677 40,302,924
2078 7,711,886 40,579,648
2077 7,656,307 40,860,952
2076 7,600,951 41,151,772
2075 7,538,912 41,455,646
2074 7,484,322 41,779,503
2073 7,420,571 42,111,664
2072 7,358,500 42,459,257
2071 7,296,109 42,814,908
2070 7,231,198 43,187,953
2069 7,164,883 43,571,469
2068 7,094,530 43,964,515
2067 7,026,000 44,361,273
2066 6,952,514 44,771,926
2065 6,884,323 45,197,177
2064 6,814,893 45,628,630
2063 6,733,263 46,066,216
2062 6,659,531 46,517,561
2061 6,580,923 46,971,598
2060 6,500,944 47,424,830
2059 6,422,305 47,879,711
2058 6,343,070 48,332,818
2057 6,265,450 48,778,066
2056 6,194,123 49,222,515
2055 6,114,099 49,653,326
2054 6,039,801 50,073,600
2053 5,957,339 50,488,203
2052 5,871,954 50,886,354
2051 5,791,096 51,276,616
2050 5,711,061 51,663,176
2049 5,632,165 52,034,983
2048 5,549,890 52,392,012
2047 5,468,518 52,745,310
2046 5,387,267 53,080,828
2045 5,300,511 53,408,660
2044 5,215,831 53,723,325
2043 5,131,686 54,042,322
2042 5,044,262 54,342,628
2041 4,960,422 54,629,496
2040 4,870,981 54,916,374
2039 4,782,316 55,205,078
2038 4,693,015 55,481,637
2037 4,599,752 55,757,394
2036 4,506,879 56,025,224
2035 4,420,367 56,295,613
2034 4,332,828 56,562,648
2033 4,248,272 56,822,364
2032 4,165,241 57,078,534
2031 4,083,762 57,345,322
2030 3,998,903 57,606,120
2029 3,917,775 57,851,091
2028 3,836,693 58,091,760
2027 3,756,696 58,333,039
2026 3,679,782 58,562,681
2025 3,603,902 58,769,653
2024 3,535,603 58,952,704
2023 3,470,390 58,984,216
2022 3,409,447 59,013,667
2021 3,350,183 59,133,173
2020 3,291,271 59,438,851
2019 3,240,194 59,729,081
2018 3,192,760 60,148,658
2017 3,150,347 60,002,252
2016 3,124,698 60,115,223
2015 3,105,546 60,229,605
2014 3,095,173 60,320,707
2013 3,074,360 60,311,613
2012 3,036,988 60,191,247
2011 2,998,485 60,026,841
2010 2,945,186 59,819,407
2009 2,887,885 59,555,454
2008 2,816,327 59,211,181
2007 2,743,222 58,756,247
2006 2,703,502 58,399,861
2005 2,661,215 58,166,682
2004 2,598,284 57,828,179
2003 2,493,903 57,399,184
2002 2,392,978 57,089,824
2001 2,312,079 56,976,981
2000 2,247,031 56,942,108
1999 2,212,780 56,916,317
1998 2,180,419 56,906,744
1997 2,152,135 56,890,372
1996 2,128,464 56,860,281
1995 2,025,267 56,844,303
1994 1,913,915 56,843,400
1993 1,856,006 56,831,821
1992 1,798,748 56,797,087
1991 1,919,571 56,758,521
1990 2,032,737 56,719,240
1989 1,987,017 56,671,781
1988 1,938,255 56,629,288
1987 1,888,669 56,601,931
1986 1,845,164 56,596,155
1985 1,807,816 56,593,071
1984 1,771,730 56,576,718
1983 1,736,160 56,564,074
1982 1,695,461 56,543,548
1981 1,649,939 56,501,675
1980 1,605,797 56,433,883
1979 1,563,332 56,317,749
1978 1,522,378 56,155,143
1977 1,482,565 55,955,411
1976 1,443,807 55,718,260
1975 1,408,210 55,441,001
1974 1,375,688 55,110,868
1973 1,342,669 54,751,406
1972 1,309,235 54,381,345
1971 1,276,154 54,073,490
1970 1,243,453 53,821,850
1969 1,212,005 53,537,950
1968 1,181,737 53,235,750
1967 1,152,339 52,900,500
1966 1,124,957 52,519,000
1965 1,098,335 52,112,350
1964 1,071,287 51,675,350
1963 1,045,092 51,252,000
1962 1,019,788 50,879,450
1961 995,573 50,536,350
1960 972,547 50,199,700

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/italy | CC BY

From 2006 to 2016, the population of Eritrea increased by 421,196 people (a 15.6% growth), while Italy gained 1,715,362 people (a 2.94% growth).

For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, Eritrea gained 575,888 people (a 18.4% growth), while Italy's population decreased by 1,552,542 people (a 2.58% decline).

Eritrea was ranked 135th most populous country in 2006 and is 130th in 2026. Italy was ranked 23rd in 2006 and ranked 26th 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 Italy will decrease by 11.8% to 51,663,176 people and rank change from 26th to 40th.

Eritrea is projected to reach its peak in 2100 at 8.51M people, while Italy's population already peaked in 2014 at 60.3M people and is projected to decrease to 35.2M people by 2100.

Population growth rate by year

Eritrea
Factual

Projection
Italy
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Growth rate
Eritrea Italy
2100 0.29% -0.67%
2099 0.27% -0.65%
2098 0.27% -0.66%
2097 0.26% -0.65%
2096 0.31% -0.65%
2095 0.31% -0.64%
2094 0.31% -0.63%
2093 0.43% -0.65%
2092 0.36% -0.63%
2091 0.42% -0.63%
2090 0.41% -0.64%
2089 0.46% -0.63%
2088 0.45% -0.63%
2087 0.53% -0.61%
2086 0.57% -0.63%
2085 0.59% -0.64%
2084 0.54% -0.63%
2083 0.56% -0.64%
2082 0.51% -0.65%
2081 0.72% -0.66%
2080 0.65% -0.67%
2079 0.7% -0.68%
2078 0.73% -0.69%
2077 0.73% -0.71%
2076 0.82% -0.73%
2075 0.73% -0.78%
2074 0.86% -0.79%
2073 0.84% -0.82%
2072 0.86% -0.83%
2071 0.9% -0.86%
2070 0.93% -0.88%
2069 0.99% -0.89%
2068 0.98% -0.89%
2067 1.06% -0.92%
2066 0.99% -0.94%
2065 1.02% -0.95%
2064 1.21% -0.95%
2063 1.11% -0.97%
2062 1.19% -0.97%
2061 1.23% -0.96%
2060 1.22% -0.95%
2059 1.25% -0.94%
2058 1.24% -0.91%
2057 1.15% -0.9%
2056 1.31% -0.87%
2055 1.23% -0.84%
2054 1.38% -0.82%
2053 1.45% -0.78%
2052 1.4% -0.76%
2051 1.4% -0.75%
2050 1.4% -0.71%
2049 1.48% -0.68%
2048 1.49% -0.67%
2047 1.51% -0.63%
2046 1.64% -0.61%
2045 1.62% -0.59%
2044 1.64% -0.59%
2043 1.73% -0.55%
2042 1.69% -0.53%
2041 1.84% -0.52%
2040 1.85% -0.52%
2039 1.9% -0.5%
2038 2.03% -0.49%
2037 2.06% -0.48%
2036 1.96% -0.48%
2035 2.02% -0.47%
2034 1.99% -0.46%
2033 1.99% -0.45%
2032 2% -0.47%
2031 2.12% -0.45%
2030 2.07% -0.42%
2029 2.11% -0.41%
2028 2.13% -0.41%
2027 2.09% -0.39%
2026 2.11% -0.35%
2025 1.93% -0.31%
2024 1.88% -0.05%
2023 1.79% -0.05%
2022 1.77% -0.2%
2021 1.79% -0.51%
2020 1.58% -0.49%
2019 1.49% -0.7%
2018 1.35% 0.24%
2017 0.82% -0.19%
2016 0.62% -0.19%
2015 0.34% -0.15%
2014 0.68% 0.02%
2013 1.23% 0.2%
2012 1.28% 0.27%
2011 1.81% 0.35%
2010 1.98% 0.44%
2009 2.54% 0.58%
2008 2.66% 0.77%
2007 1.47% 0.61%
2006 1.59% 0.4%
2005 2.42% 0.59%
2004 4.19% 0.75%
2003 4.22% 0.54%
2002 3.5% 0.2%
2001 2.89% 0.06%
2000 1.55% 0.05%
1999 1.48% 0.02%
1998 1.31% 0.03%
1997 1.11% 0.05%
1996 5.1% 0.03%
1995 5.82% 0.002%
1994 3.12% 0.02%
1993 3.18% 0.06%
1992 -6.29% 0.07%
1991 -5.57% 0.07%
1990 2.3% 0.08%
1989 2.52% 0.08%
1988 2.63% 0.05%
1987 2.36% 0.01%
1986 2.07% 0.005%
1985 2.04% 0.03%
1984 2.05% 0.02%
1983 2.4% 0.04%
1982 2.76% 0.07%
1981 2.75% 0.12%
1980 2.72% 0.21%
1979 2.69% 0.29%
1978 2.69% 0.36%
1977 2.68% 0.43%
1976 2.53% 0.5%
1975 2.36% 0.6%
1974 2.46% 0.66%
1973 2.55% 0.68%
1972 2.59% 0.57%
1971 2.63% 0.47%
1970 2.59% 0.53%
1969 2.56% 0.57%
1968 2.55% 0.63%
1967 2.43% 0.73%
1966 2.42% 0.78%
1965 2.52% 0.85%
1964 2.51% 0.83%
1963 2.48% 0.73%
1962 2.43% 0.68%
1961 2.37% 0.67%

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/italy | CC BY

In 2024, the population of Eritrea grew by 1.88%, while Italy's population declined by 0.05%.

Live population counters

Eritrea Italy
Current population
3700586
58562681
Population rank 130/197 26/197
Percent of world population 0.04% 0.71%
One net population change
8.06 minutes
16.7 minutes
One birth every
5.31 minutes
1.39 minutes
One death every
25 minutes
47.7 seconds
Daily growth/decline +179 -86
Annual growth/decline +65,213 -31,512
Annual growth/decline rate +1.88% -0.05%
Population growth rate rank 58/197 170/197
One migration net change every
1.31 hours
6.99 minutes
Annual migration change -6,698 +75,448
Net migration rank 122/196 19/196
Foreign-born residents 12,512 6,553,671
Foreign-born residents rank 176/195 12/195
Foreign-born share of population 0.4% 11%
Foreign-born share rank 178/195 59/195

Natural population change vs migration

Eritrea
Natural

Migration
Italy
Natural

Migration
1x
Year Population change
Eritrea Italy
Natural Migration Natural Migration
2025 - -6,698 - 75,448
2024 - -12,696 - 95,246
2023 78,073 -15,284 -283,125 150,189
2022 76,221 -17,134 -318,674 231,228
2021 74,394 -14,966 -301,579 157,327
2020 73,362 -14,967 -338,801 85,281
2019 73,572 -29,818 -215,025 46,634
2018 72,511 -21,403 -192,475 83,686
2017 72,291 -38,579 -192,007 95,147
2016 73,002 -55,431 -138,265 84,568
2015 73,682 -52,965 -162,620 39,389
2014 75,729 -75,696 -96,513 52,679
2013 75,562 -33,974 -90,468 158,090
2012 76,416 -43,269 -78,248 252,524
2011 76,806 -32,949 -48,021 198,544
2010 76,098 -13,361 -23,928 274,387
2009 76,206 -24,348 -17,866 283,676
2008 73,391 17,855 -11,842 422,534
2007 73,101 -18,131 -5,876 495,092
2006 74,470 -49,998 0 215,995
2005 72,930 -12,835 -17,450 258,702
2004 72,147 -6,374 11,566 417,970
2003 66,291 76,703 -40,179 478,578
2002 65,436 -6,574 -22,836 223,861
2001 61,180 41,760 -11,396 48,903
2000 60,274 -33,133 -17,082 56,065
1999 45,120 -3,769 -22,766 54,405
1998 55,332 -31,951 -39,835 67,985
1997 63,953 -30,768 -22,756 50,539
1996 66,557 -52,421 -22,744 53,450
1995 56,157 136,105 -34,107 -460,287
1994 56,288 -25,841 -17,053 502,750
1993 51,679 33,688 0 24,321
1992 51,443 -22,293 22,718 51,747
1991 57,741 -328,546 11,352 19,721
1990 56,903 -12,425 22,688 35,317
1989 54,299 -7,330 28,336 19,540
1988 54,163 -3,612 33,977 18,553
1987 52,229 -3,613 16,980 7,825
1986 39,470 -1,073 11,319 -6,206
1985 37,362 -1,073 28,297 6,911
1984 35,101 772 50,919 203
1983 33,420 1,853 33,939 -3,733
1982 44,146 1,985 79,161 -24,223
1981 42,924 1,985 73,452 7,182
1980 41,392 1,985 84,650 295,642
1979 39,577 1,985 129,531 42,637
1978 38,353 1,985 168,465 43,932
1977 37,295 1,985 190,248 42,246
1976 36,250 1,985 228,445 40,885
1975 30,971 1,985 271,660 43,051
1974 30,111 1,985 336,176 42,487
1973 31,969 1,985 328,508 41,631
1972 30,951 1,953 364,355 43,182
1971 31,490 1,758 383,922 -58,627
1970 30,686 1,480 376,753 -62,216
1969 29,535 1,199 390,827 -45,346
1968 28,777 1,013 399,268 -50,149
1967 27,992 1,004 439,074 -37,992
1966 24,713 1,063 488,427 -35,352
1965 26,285 1,188 474,222 -36,267
1964 25,327 1,300 527,089 -27,368
1963 24,393 1,368 440,767 -28,198
1962 23,478 1,364 427,387 -25,840
1961 22,351 1,235 459,880 -129,761
1960 21,424 1,045 426,697 -140,765

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

GeoRank.org/population/eritrea/italy | 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 Italy 68.6% is from natural causes (a loss of 2,239,084 people) and 31.4% is from migration (a gain of 1,026,128 people).

As of 2024, 12,512 residents or 0.4% of the population were not native-born in Eritrea, compared to 6,553,671 people or 11% in Italy.

Biggest cities by population

Eritrea
City Population
Asmara 963K
Keren 120K
Massawa 39.8K
Mendefera 28.5K
Italy
City Population
Rome 2.75M
Milan 1.35M
Naples 913K
Turin 842K
Palermo 630K
Genoa 559K
Bologna 388K
Florence 361K
Bari 315K
Catania 312K

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/italy | 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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