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

Updated on by Georank

The latest officially reported population of Eritrea was 3,607,003 in 2025 vs 2,363,325 people in Lesotho in 2025. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Eritrea's population is 3,722,489 people compared to 2,402,837 in Lesotho.

Population statistics:

  • Eritrea's population is 1.55 times bigger than Lesotho's.
  • Eritrea is ranked the 131st most populous country in the world, while Lesotho is the 143rd.
  • The countries together account for 0.07% of the world: 0.04% for Eritrea vs 0.03% for Lesotho.
  • For the last 10 years, Eritrea has had an average growth rate of +1.4% per year vs +1.17% in Lesotho.
  • Since 2006, the population of Eritrea has increased from 2.7M people to 3.72M (37.7% growth), while Lesotho has grown from 1.95M to 2.4M (23.5% growth).

Eritrea vs Lesotho: population by year and forecast

Eritrea
Factual

Projection
Lesotho
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
Eritrea Lesotho
2100 8,522,007 3,280,518
2099 8,497,228 3,286,430
2098 8,474,268 3,292,231
2097 8,451,733 3,297,835
2096 8,429,569 3,302,758
2095 8,403,309 3,307,678
2094 8,377,316 3,311,734
2093 8,351,585 3,315,488
2092 8,316,183 3,319,391
2091 8,285,983 3,322,303
2090 8,250,998 3,324,499
2089 8,216,946 3,326,577
2088 8,179,696 3,328,210
2087 8,143,016 3,329,694
2086 8,100,028 3,330,185
2085 8,053,737 3,330,989
2084 8,006,588 3,331,214
2083 7,963,231 3,331,221
2082 7,918,571 3,330,964
2081 7,878,525 3,330,141
2080 7,822,491 3,328,997
2079 7,772,358 3,326,895
2078 7,718,520 3,324,376
2077 7,662,894 3,321,152
2076 7,607,491 3,317,581
2075 7,545,398 3,313,968
2074 7,490,761 3,308,905
2073 7,426,955 3,303,592
2072 7,364,831 3,297,913
2071 7,302,386 3,291,224
2070 7,237,419 3,283,387
2069 7,171,047 3,274,978
2068 7,100,633 3,265,887
2067 7,032,045 3,256,362
2066 6,958,496 3,246,639
2065 6,890,246 3,236,890
2064 6,820,756 3,226,227
2063 6,739,056 3,214,843
2062 6,665,261 3,202,027
2061 6,586,585 3,188,674
2060 6,506,537 3,174,740
2059 6,427,830 3,159,947
2058 6,348,527 3,144,797
2057 6,270,841 3,129,007
2056 6,199,452 3,112,877
2055 6,119,360 3,095,653
2054 6,044,997 3,078,317
2053 5,962,464 3,059,904
2052 5,877,006 3,040,402
2051 5,796,079 3,019,864
2050 5,715,974 2,999,214
2049 5,637,011 2,977,795
2048 5,554,665 2,955,487
2047 5,473,222 2,932,450
2046 5,391,902 2,909,071
2045 5,305,072 2,885,303
2044 5,220,319 2,861,140
2043 5,136,101 2,836,547
2042 5,048,602 2,811,435
2041 4,964,690 2,785,921
2040 4,875,172 2,760,167
2039 4,786,431 2,734,178
2038 4,697,052 2,707,996
2037 4,603,709 2,681,646
2036 4,510,757 2,654,540
2035 4,424,170 2,627,488
2034 4,336,556 2,600,669
2033 4,251,927 2,573,856
2032 4,168,824 2,547,137
2031 4,087,276 2,520,626
2030 4,002,343 2,494,444
2029 3,921,145 2,468,067
2028 3,839,994 2,441,673
2027 3,759,928 2,415,634
2026 3,682,948 2,389,322
2025 3,607,003 2,363,325
2024 3,535,603 2,337,423
2023 3,470,390 2,311,472
2022 3,409,447 2,286,110
2021 3,350,183 2,261,542
2020 3,291,271 2,235,727
2019 3,240,194 2,209,405
2018 3,192,760 2,183,603
2017 3,150,347 2,157,110
2016 3,124,698 2,130,422
2015 3,105,546 2,104,611
2014 3,095,173 2,080,089
2013 3,074,360 2,056,504
2012 3,036,988 2,034,354
2011 2,998,485 2,014,009
2010 2,945,186 1,996,251
2009 2,887,885 1,980,883
2008 2,816,327 1,966,541
2007 2,743,222 1,953,268
2006 2,703,502 1,945,063
2005 2,661,215 1,953,076
2004 2,598,284 1,971,129
2003 2,493,903 1,985,059
2002 2,392,978 1,994,679
2001 2,312,079 2,000,853
2000 2,247,031 2,003,913
1999 2,212,780 2,003,234
1998 2,180,419 1,998,049
1997 2,152,135 1,988,130
1996 2,128,464 1,972,418
1995 2,025,267 1,951,437
1994 1,913,915 1,927,707
1993 1,856,006 1,901,793
1992 1,798,748 1,873,274
1991 1,919,571 1,842,379
1990 2,032,737 1,809,696
1989 1,987,017 1,775,436
1988 1,938,255 1,739,841
1987 1,888,669 1,703,390
1986 1,845,164 1,666,138
1985 1,807,816 1,624,379
1984 1,771,730 1,578,986
1983 1,736,160 1,534,413
1982 1,695,461 1,490,732
1981 1,649,939 1,448,069
1980 1,605,797 1,406,521
1979 1,563,332 1,366,169
1978 1,522,378 1,327,240
1977 1,482,565 1,289,967
1976 1,443,807 1,253,214
1975 1,408,210 1,213,643
1974 1,375,688 1,172,420
1973 1,342,669 1,132,697
1972 1,309,235 1,094,063
1971 1,276,154 1,056,246
1970 1,243,453 1,019,273
1969 1,212,005 983,202
1968 1,181,737 948,105
1967 1,152,339 913,982
1966 1,124,957 881,870
1965 1,098,335 854,090
1964 1,071,287 829,437
1963 1,045,092 805,373
1962 1,019,788 781,814
1961 995,573 758,824
1960 972,547 736,500

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/lesotho | CC BY

From 2006 to 2016, the population of Eritrea increased by 421,196 people (a 15.6% growth), while Lesotho gained 185,359 people (a 9.53% growth).

For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, Eritrea gained 597,791 people (a 19.1% growth), while Lesotho's population increased by 272,415 people (a 12.8% growth).

Eritrea was ranked 135th most populous country in 2006 and is 131st in 2026. Lesotho was ranked 144th in 2006 and ranked 143rd 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 Lesotho will increase by 24.8% to 2,999,214 people and rank change from 143rd to 141st.

Eritrea is projected to reach its peak in 2100 at 8.52M people compared to the peak of 3.33M people in 2083 for Lesotho.

Population growth rate by year

Eritrea
Factual

Projection
Lesotho
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Growth rate
Eritrea Lesotho
2100 0.29% -0.18%
2099 0.27% -0.18%
2098 0.27% -0.17%
2097 0.26% -0.15%
2096 0.31% -0.15%
2095 0.31% -0.12%
2094 0.31% -0.11%
2093 0.43% -0.12%
2092 0.36% -0.09%
2091 0.42% -0.07%
2090 0.41% -0.06%
2089 0.46% -0.05%
2088 0.45% -0.04%
2087 0.53% -0.01%
2086 0.57% -0.02%
2085 0.59% -0.007%
2084 0.54% -0%
2083 0.56% 0.008%
2082 0.51% 0.02%
2081 0.72% 0.03%
2080 0.65% 0.06%
2079 0.7% 0.08%
2078 0.73% 0.1%
2077 0.73% 0.11%
2076 0.82% 0.11%
2075 0.73% 0.15%
2074 0.86% 0.16%
2073 0.84% 0.17%
2072 0.86% 0.2%
2071 0.9% 0.24%
2070 0.93% 0.26%
2069 0.99% 0.28%
2068 0.98% 0.29%
2067 1.06% 0.3%
2066 0.99% 0.3%
2065 1.02% 0.33%
2064 1.21% 0.35%
2063 1.11% 0.4%
2062 1.19% 0.42%
2061 1.23% 0.44%
2060 1.22% 0.47%
2059 1.25% 0.48%
2058 1.24% 0.5%
2057 1.15% 0.52%
2056 1.31% 0.56%
2055 1.23% 0.56%
2054 1.38% 0.6%
2053 1.45% 0.64%
2052 1.4% 0.68%
2051 1.4% 0.69%
2050 1.4% 0.72%
2049 1.48% 0.75%
2048 1.49% 0.79%
2047 1.51% 0.8%
2046 1.64% 0.82%
2045 1.62% 0.84%
2044 1.64% 0.87%
2043 1.73% 0.89%
2042 1.69% 0.92%
2041 1.84% 0.93%
2040 1.85% 0.95%
2039 1.9% 0.97%
2038 2.03% 0.98%
2037 2.06% 1.02%
2036 1.96% 1.03%
2035 2.02% 1.03%
2034 1.99% 1.04%
2033 1.99% 1.05%
2032 2% 1.05%
2031 2.12% 1.05%
2030 2.07% 1.07%
2029 2.11% 1.08%
2028 2.13% 1.08%
2027 2.09% 1.1%
2026 2.11% 1.1%
2025 2.02% 1.11%
2024 1.88% 1.12%
2023 1.79% 1.11%
2022 1.77% 1.09%
2021 1.79% 1.15%
2020 1.58% 1.19%
2019 1.49% 1.18%
2018 1.35% 1.23%
2017 0.82% 1.25%
2016 0.62% 1.23%
2015 0.34% 1.18%
2014 0.68% 1.15%
2013 1.23% 1.09%
2012 1.28% 1.01%
2011 1.81% 0.89%
2010 1.98% 0.78%
2009 2.54% 0.73%
2008 2.66% 0.68%
2007 1.47% 0.42%
2006 1.59% -0.41%
2005 2.42% -0.92%
2004 4.19% -0.7%
2003 4.22% -0.48%
2002 3.5% -0.31%
2001 2.89% -0.15%
2000 1.55% 0.03%
1999 1.48% 0.26%
1998 1.31% 0.5%
1997 1.11% 0.8%
1996 5.1% 1.08%
1995 5.82% 1.23%
1994 3.12% 1.36%
1993 3.18% 1.52%
1992 -6.29% 1.68%
1991 -5.57% 1.81%
1990 2.3% 1.93%
1989 2.52% 2.05%
1988 2.63% 2.14%
1987 2.36% 2.24%
1986 2.07% 2.57%
1985 2.04% 2.87%
1984 2.05% 2.9%
1983 2.4% 2.93%
1982 2.76% 2.95%
1981 2.75% 2.95%
1980 2.72% 2.95%
1979 2.69% 2.93%
1978 2.69% 2.89%
1977 2.68% 2.93%
1976 2.53% 3.26%
1975 2.36% 3.52%
1974 2.46% 3.51%
1973 2.55% 3.53%
1972 2.59% 3.58%
1971 2.63% 3.63%
1970 2.59% 3.67%
1969 2.56% 3.7%
1968 2.55% 3.73%
1967 2.43% 3.64%
1966 2.42% 3.25%
1965 2.52% 2.97%
1964 2.51% 2.99%
1963 2.48% 3.01%
1962 2.43% 3.03%
1961 2.37% 3.03%

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/lesotho | CC BY

In 2025, the population of Eritrea grew by 2.02%, while Lesotho's population grew by 1.11%.

Live population counters

Eritrea Lesotho
Current population
3722489
2402837
Population rank 131/197 143/197
Percent of world population 0.04% 0.03%
One net population change
7.38 minutes
20.3 minutes
One birth every
5.18 minutes
9.46 minutes
One death every
24.8 minutes
21.5 minutes
Daily growth/decline +196 +71
Annual growth/decline +71,400 +25,902
Annual growth/decline rate +2.02% +1.11%
Population growth rate rank 49/197 94/197
One migration net change every
1.31 hours
1.69 hours
Annual migration change -6,698 -5,192
Net migration rank 122/196 117/196
Foreign-born residents 12,512 15,039
Foreign-born residents rank 176/195 173/195
Foreign-born share of population 0.4% 0.6%
Foreign-born share rank 178/195 170/195

Natural population change vs migration

Eritrea
Natural

Migration
Lesotho
Natural

Migration
1x
Year Population change
Eritrea Lesotho
Natural Migration Natural Migration
2025 - -6,698 - -5,192
2024 80,343 -12,696 31,050 -5,107
2023 78,073 -15,284 31,115 -5,168
2022 76,221 -17,134 30,803 -6,023
2021 74,394 -14,966 27,806 -3,449
2020 73,362 -14,967 30,721 -3,449
2019 73,572 -29,818 32,279 -6,896
2018 72,511 -21,403 33,112 -6,892
2017 72,291 -38,579 33,601 -6,850
2016 73,002 -55,431 33,390 -6,766
2015 73,682 -52,965 32,087 -7,087
2014 75,729 -75,696 30,922 -6,877
2013 75,562 -33,974 29,789 -6,659
2012 76,416 -43,269 27,592 -6,425
2011 76,806 -32,949 25,647 -6,118
2010 76,098 -13,361 21,877 -5,886
2009 76,206 -24,348 20,335 -5,599
2008 73,391 17,855 19,349 -5,392
2007 73,101 -18,131 17,763 -5,179
2006 74,470 -49,998 15,234 -11,416
2005 72,930 -12,835 15,831 -35,679
2004 72,147 -6,374 17,271 -33,530
2003 66,291 76,703 20,133 -31,723
2002 65,436 -6,574 22,274 -29,924
2001 61,180 41,760 23,190 -27,874
2000 60,274 -33,133 24,786 -26,220
1999 45,120 -3,769 27,393 -24,610
1998 55,332 -31,951 30,889 -23,299
1997 63,953 -30,768 34,637 -22,396
1996 66,557 -52,421 36,228 -17,042
1995 56,157 136,105 37,370 -14,588
1994 56,288 -25,841 38,629 -13,953
1993 51,679 33,688 40,505 -13,347
1992 51,443 -22,293 42,579 -12,707
1991 57,741 -328,546 44,026 -12,114
1990 56,903 -12,425 45,060 -11,598
1989 54,299 -7,330 46,264 -11,207
1988 54,163 -3,612 47,158 -11,028
1987 52,229 -3,613 47,718 -10,946
1986 39,470 -1,073 45,232 -7,501
1985 37,362 -1,073 44,575 1,222
1984 35,101 772 43,785 1,199
1983 33,420 1,853 42,899 1,253
1982 44,146 1,985 41,941 1,281
1981 42,924 1,985 40,808 1,307
1980 41,392 1,985 39,617 1,361
1979 39,577 1,985 38,440 1,285
1978 38,353 1,985 37,084 1,047
1977 37,295 1,985 35,654 746
1976 36,250 1,985 34,117 2,986
1975 30,971 1,985 32,311 9,723
1974 30,111 1,985 30,444 9,972
1973 31,969 1,985 28,859 10,183
1972 30,951 1,953 27,841 10,386
1971 31,490 1,758 26,838 10,563
1970 30,686 1,480 25,935 10,605
1969 29,535 1,199 25,137 10,465
1968 28,777 1,013 24,490 10,108
1967 27,992 1,004 23,911 9,734
1966 24,713 1,063 23,326 7,248
1965 26,285 1,188 22,755 2,239
1964 25,327 1,300 22,116 2,198
1963 24,393 1,368 21,585 2,220
1962 23,478 1,364 21,132 2,172
1961 22,351 1,235 20,581 2,100
1960 21,424 1,045 19,981 1,989

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

GeoRank.org/population/eritrea/lesotho | 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 Lesotho 84.6% is from natural causes (a gain of 315,964 people) and 15.4% is from migration (a loss of 57,687 people).

As of 2024, 12,512 residents or 0.4% of the population were not native-born in Eritrea, compared to 15,039 people or 0.6% in Lesotho.

Biggest cities by population

Eritrea
City Population
Asmara 963K
Keren 120K
Massawa 39.8K
Mendefera 28.5K
Lesotho
City Population
Maseru 344K
Teyateyaneng 75.1K
Mafeteng 57.1K
Butha-Buthe 10K

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/lesotho | 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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