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

Updated on by Georank

The latest officially reported population of Eritrea was 3,607,003 in 2025 vs 123,366,734 people in Japan in 2025. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Eritrea's population is 3,722,489 people compared to 122,704,252 in Japan.

Population statistics:

  • Japan's population is 33 times bigger than Eritrea's.
  • Eritrea is ranked the 131st most populous country in the world, while Japan is the 12th.
  • The countries together account for 1.52% of the world: 0.04% for Eritrea vs 1.48% for Japan.
  • For the last 10 years, Eritrea has had an average growth rate of +1.4% per year vs -0.28% in Japan.
  • Since 2006, the population of Eritrea has increased from 2.7M people to 3.72M (37.7% growth), while Japan has declined from 128M to 123M (4.03% decline).

Eritrea vs Japan: population by year and forecast

Eritrea
Factual

Projection
Japan
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
Eritrea Japan
2100 8,522,007 76,995,942
2099 8,497,228 77,380,486
2098 8,474,268 77,759,557
2097 8,451,733 78,135,569
2096 8,429,569 78,515,892
2095 8,403,309 78,892,606
2094 8,377,316 79,267,768
2093 8,351,585 79,645,584
2092 8,316,183 80,025,578
2091 8,285,983 80,401,222
2090 8,250,998 80,778,500
2089 8,216,946 81,158,413
2088 8,179,696 81,539,639
2087 8,143,016 81,926,401
2086 8,100,028 82,322,612
2085 8,053,737 82,727,738
2084 8,006,588 83,141,354
2083 7,963,231 83,562,394
2082 7,918,571 83,998,809
2081 7,878,525 84,447,888
2080 7,822,491 84,918,455
2079 7,772,358 85,406,042
2078 7,718,520 85,916,840
2077 7,662,894 86,453,316
2076 7,607,491 87,012,155
2075 7,545,398 87,597,053
2074 7,490,761 88,209,803
2073 7,426,955 88,854,316
2072 7,364,831 89,519,055
2071 7,302,386 90,204,314
2070 7,237,419 90,919,143
2069 7,171,047 91,645,589
2068 7,100,633 92,388,299
2067 7,032,045 93,133,993
2066 6,958,496 93,889,902
2065 6,890,246 94,654,259
2064 6,820,756 95,412,429
2063 6,739,056 96,169,244
2062 6,665,261 96,924,236
2061 6,586,585 97,675,525
2060 6,506,537 98,422,553
2059 6,427,830 99,166,038
2058 6,348,527 99,890,950
2057 6,270,841 100,607,740
2056 6,199,452 101,318,164
2055 6,119,360 102,012,184
2054 6,044,997 102,706,063
2053 5,962,464 103,381,833
2052 5,877,006 104,059,800
2051 5,796,079 104,729,745
2050 5,715,974 105,400,477
2049 5,637,011 106,076,354
2048 5,554,665 106,754,699
2047 5,473,222 107,442,881
2046 5,391,902 108,139,155
2045 5,305,072 108,844,934
2044 5,220,319 109,553,441
2043 5,136,101 110,269,851
2042 5,048,602 110,992,599
2041 4,964,690 111,729,216
2040 4,875,172 112,463,507
2039 4,786,431 113,200,859
2038 4,697,052 113,940,856
2037 4,603,709 114,687,611
2036 4,510,757 115,436,359
2035 4,424,170 116,187,949
2034 4,336,556 116,936,734
2033 4,251,927 117,678,572
2032 4,168,824 118,419,247
2031 4,087,276 119,153,646
2030 4,002,343 119,882,512
2029 3,921,145 120,600,781
2028 3,839,994 121,314,239
2027 3,759,928 122,015,984
2026 3,682,948 122,704,252
2025 3,607,003 123,366,734
2024 3,535,603 123,975,371
2023 3,470,390 124,516,650
2022 3,409,447 125,124,989
2021 3,350,183 125,681,593
2020 3,291,271 126,261,000
2019 3,240,194 126,633,000
2018 3,192,760 126,811,000
2017 3,150,347 126,972,000
2016 3,124,698 127,076,000
2015 3,105,546 127,141,000
2014 3,095,173 127,276,000
2013 3,074,360 127,445,000
2012 3,036,988 127,629,000
2011 2,998,485 127,833,000
2010 2,945,186 128,070,000
2009 2,887,885 128,047,000
2008 2,816,327 128,063,000
2007 2,743,222 128,001,000
2006 2,703,502 127,854,000
2005 2,661,215 127,773,000
2004 2,598,284 127,761,000
2003 2,493,903 127,718,000
2002 2,392,978 127,445,000
2001 2,312,079 127,149,000
2000 2,247,031 126,843,000
1999 2,212,780 126,631,000
1998 2,180,419 126,400,000
1997 2,152,135 126,057,000
1996 2,128,464 125,757,000
1995 2,025,267 125,472,000
1994 1,913,915 125,178,000
1993 1,856,006 124,829,000
1992 1,798,748 124,425,000
1991 1,919,571 123,964,000
1990 2,032,737 123,478,000
1989 1,987,017 123,069,000
1988 1,938,255 122,578,000
1987 1,888,669 122,069,000
1986 1,845,164 121,482,000
1985 1,807,816 120,837,000
1984 1,771,730 120,083,000
1983 1,736,160 119,307,000
1982 1,695,461 118,480,000
1981 1,649,939 117,661,000
1980 1,605,797 116,807,000
1979 1,563,332 115,890,000
1978 1,522,378 114,913,000
1977 1,482,565 113,872,000
1976 1,443,807 112,775,000
1975 1,408,210 111,573,000
1974 1,375,688 110,162,000
1973 1,342,669 108,707,000
1972 1,309,235 107,188,000
1971 1,276,154 105,697,000
1970 1,243,453 103,403,000
1969 1,212,005 102,219,000
1968 1,181,737 101,011,000
1967 1,152,339 99,879,000
1966 1,124,957 98,851,000
1965 1,098,335 97,952,000
1964 1,071,287 96,903,000
1963 1,045,092 95,900,000
1962 1,019,788 94,933,000
1961 995,573 94,055,000
1960 972,547 93,216,000

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/japan | CC BY

From 2006 to 2016, the population of Eritrea increased by 421,196 people (a 15.6% growth), while Japan lost 778,000 people (a 0.61% decline).

For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, Eritrea gained 597,791 people (a 19.1% growth), while Japan's population decreased by 4,371,748 people (a 3.44% decline).

Eritrea was ranked 135th most populous country in 2006 and is 131st in 2026. Japan was ranked 10th in 2006 and ranked 12th 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 Japan will decrease by 14.1% to 105,400,477 people and rank change from 12th to 17th.

Eritrea is projected to reach its peak in 2100 at 8.52M people, while Japan's population already peaked in 2010 at 128M people and is projected to decrease to 77M people by 2100.

Population growth rate by year

Eritrea
Factual

Projection
Japan
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Growth rate
Eritrea Japan
2100 0.29% -0.5%
2099 0.27% -0.49%
2098 0.27% -0.48%
2097 0.26% -0.48%
2096 0.31% -0.48%
2095 0.31% -0.47%
2094 0.31% -0.47%
2093 0.43% -0.47%
2092 0.36% -0.47%
2091 0.42% -0.47%
2090 0.41% -0.47%
2089 0.46% -0.47%
2088 0.45% -0.47%
2087 0.53% -0.48%
2086 0.57% -0.49%
2085 0.59% -0.5%
2084 0.54% -0.5%
2083 0.56% -0.52%
2082 0.51% -0.53%
2081 0.72% -0.55%
2080 0.65% -0.57%
2079 0.7% -0.59%
2078 0.73% -0.62%
2077 0.73% -0.64%
2076 0.82% -0.67%
2075 0.73% -0.69%
2074 0.86% -0.73%
2073 0.84% -0.74%
2072 0.86% -0.76%
2071 0.9% -0.79%
2070 0.93% -0.79%
2069 0.99% -0.8%
2068 0.98% -0.8%
2067 1.06% -0.81%
2066 0.99% -0.81%
2065 1.02% -0.79%
2064 1.21% -0.79%
2063 1.11% -0.78%
2062 1.19% -0.77%
2061 1.23% -0.76%
2060 1.22% -0.75%
2059 1.25% -0.73%
2058 1.24% -0.71%
2057 1.15% -0.7%
2056 1.31% -0.68%
2055 1.23% -0.68%
2054 1.38% -0.65%
2053 1.45% -0.65%
2052 1.4% -0.64%
2051 1.4% -0.64%
2050 1.4% -0.64%
2049 1.48% -0.64%
2048 1.49% -0.64%
2047 1.51% -0.64%
2046 1.64% -0.65%
2045 1.62% -0.65%
2044 1.64% -0.65%
2043 1.73% -0.65%
2042 1.69% -0.66%
2041 1.84% -0.65%
2040 1.85% -0.65%
2039 1.9% -0.65%
2038 2.03% -0.65%
2037 2.06% -0.65%
2036 1.96% -0.65%
2035 2.02% -0.64%
2034 1.99% -0.63%
2033 1.99% -0.63%
2032 2% -0.62%
2031 2.12% -0.61%
2030 2.07% -0.6%
2029 2.11% -0.59%
2028 2.13% -0.58%
2027 2.09% -0.56%
2026 2.11% -0.54%
2025 2.02% -0.49%
2024 1.88% -0.43%
2023 1.79% -0.49%
2022 1.77% -0.44%
2021 1.79% -0.46%
2020 1.58% -0.29%
2019 1.49% -0.14%
2018 1.35% -0.13%
2017 0.82% -0.08%
2016 0.62% -0.05%
2015 0.34% -0.11%
2014 0.68% -0.13%
2013 1.23% -0.14%
2012 1.28% -0.16%
2011 1.81% -0.19%
2010 1.98% 0.02%
2009 2.54% -0.01%
2008 2.66% 0.05%
2007 1.47% 0.11%
2006 1.59% 0.06%
2005 2.42% 0.009%
2004 4.19% 0.03%
2003 4.22% 0.21%
2002 3.5% 0.23%
2001 2.89% 0.24%
2000 1.55% 0.17%
1999 1.48% 0.18%
1998 1.31% 0.27%
1997 1.11% 0.24%
1996 5.1% 0.23%
1995 5.82% 0.23%
1994 3.12% 0.28%
1993 3.18% 0.32%
1992 -6.29% 0.37%
1991 -5.57% 0.39%
1990 2.3% 0.33%
1989 2.52% 0.4%
1988 2.63% 0.42%
1987 2.36% 0.48%
1986 2.07% 0.53%
1985 2.04% 0.63%
1984 2.05% 0.65%
1983 2.4% 0.7%
1982 2.76% 0.7%
1981 2.75% 0.73%
1980 2.72% 0.79%
1979 2.69% 0.85%
1978 2.69% 0.91%
1977 2.68% 0.97%
1976 2.53% 1.08%
1975 2.36% 1.28%
1974 2.46% 1.34%
1973 2.55% 1.42%
1972 2.59% 1.41%
1971 2.63% 2.22%
1970 2.59% 1.16%
1969 2.56% 1.2%
1968 2.55% 1.13%
1967 2.43% 1.04%
1966 2.42% 0.92%
1965 2.52% 1.08%
1964 2.51% 1.05%
1963 2.48% 1.02%
1962 2.43% 0.93%
1961 2.37% 0.9%

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/japan | CC BY

In 2025, the population of Eritrea grew by 2.02%, while Japan's population declined by 0.49%.

Live population counters

Eritrea Japan
Current population
3722489
122704252
Population rank 131/197 12/197
Percent of world population 0.04% 1.48%
One net population change
7.38 minutes
52 seconds
One birth every
5.18 minutes
44.6 seconds
One death every
24.8 minutes
19.1 seconds
Daily growth/decline +196 -1,667
Annual growth/decline +71,400 -608,637
Annual growth/decline rate +2.02% -0.49%
Population growth rate rank 49/197 183/197
One migration net change every
1.31 hours
3.75 minutes
Annual migration change -6,698 +140,579
Net migration rank 122/196 10/196
Foreign-born residents 12,512 3,409,529
Foreign-born residents rank 176/195 19/195
Foreign-born share of population 0.4% 2.8%
Foreign-born share rank 178/195 120/195

Natural population change vs migration

Eritrea
Natural

Migration
Japan
Natural

Migration
1x
Year Population change
Eritrea Japan
Natural Migration Natural Migration
2025 - -6,698 - 140,579
2024 80,343 -12,696 -942,213 153,357
2023 78,073 -15,284 -871,617 175,003
2022 76,221 -17,134 -825,825 175,003
2021 74,394 -14,966 -640,976 -34,996
2020 73,362 -14,967 -542,923 42,001
2019 73,572 -29,818 -531,858 318,190
2018 72,511 -21,403 -456,520 320,601
2017 72,291 -38,579 -406,310 322,564
2016 73,002 -55,431 -343,106 314,732
2015 73,682 -52,965 -292,424 168,896
2014 75,729 -75,696 -267,279 58,109
2013 75,562 -33,974 -242,146 66,449
2012 76,416 -43,269 -229,733 67,904
2011 76,806 -32,949 -204,533 97,720
2010 76,098 -13,361 -128,070 131,860
2009 76,206 -24,348 -76,828 125,450
2008 73,391 17,855 -51,225 142,605
2007 73,101 -18,131 -25,600 138,024
2006 74,470 -49,998 12,785 130,065
2005 72,930 -12,835 -25,554 113,017
2004 72,147 -6,374 76,656 69,014
2003 66,291 76,703 114,946 74,875
2002 65,436 -6,574 178,423 60,864
2001 61,180 41,760 203,438 59,563
2000 60,274 -33,133 228,317 23,468
1999 45,120 -3,769 202,610 56,901
1998 55,332 -31,951 265,440 45,912
1997 63,953 -30,768 277,325 43,366
1996 66,557 -52,421 314,392 25,030
1995 56,157 136,105 276,039 87,714
1994 56,288 -25,841 363,017 154,214
1993 51,679 33,688 312,073 168,836
1992 51,443 -22,293 360,833 170,878
1991 57,741 -328,546 396,685 161,331
1990 56,903 -12,425 407,478 124,582
1989 54,299 -7,330 467,662 31,202
1988 54,163 -3,612 527,085 51,154
1987 52,229 -3,613 598,138 28,001
1986 39,470 -1,073 631,706 27,987
1985 37,362 -1,073 676,687 -141,323
1984 35,101 772 756,523 -273,686
1983 33,420 1,853 775,495 -269,755
1982 44,146 1,985 805,664 -288,550
1981 42,924 1,985 811,861 -278,525
1980 41,392 1,985 864,372 -92,314
1979 39,577 1,985 950,298 -57,692
1978 38,353 1,985 1,011,234 -47,996
1977 37,295 1,985 1,070,397 -49,082
1976 36,250 1,985 1,127,750 -34,976
1975 30,971 1,985 1,204,989 107
1974 30,111 1,985 1,332,960 -10,145
1973 31,969 1,985 1,391,449 -34,674
1972 30,951 1,953 1,372,006 -73,980
1971 31,490 1,758 1,331,782 -107,778
1970 30,686 1,480 1,230,496 33,731
1969 29,535 1,199 1,195,962 49,447
1968 28,777 1,013 1,191,930 43,593
1967 27,992 1,004 1,258,475 29,632
1966 24,713 1,063 682,072 68,934
1965 26,285 1,188 1,126,448 -50,667
1964 25,327 1,300 1,046,553 -100,696
1963 24,393 1,368 987,770 -100,742
1962 23,478 1,364 901,864 -57,075
1961 22,351 1,235 893,522 -58,882
1960 21,424 1,045 894,874 -150,371

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

GeoRank.org/population/eritrea/japan | 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 Japan 75% is from natural causes (a loss of 5,853,772 people) and 25% is from migration (a gain of 1,955,351 people).

As of 2024, 12,512 residents or 0.4% of the population were not native-born in Eritrea, compared to 3,409,529 people or 2.8% in Japan.

Biggest cities by population

Eritrea
City Population
Asmara 963K
Keren 120K
Massawa 39.8K
Mendefera 28.5K
Japan
City Population
Tokyo 14.3M
Yokohama 3.76M
Osaka 2.75M
Nagoya 2.33M
Sapporo 1.96M
Fukuoka 1.6M
Kawasaki 1.54M
Kobe 1.52M
Kyoto 1.46M
Saitama 1.33M

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/japan | 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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