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
| Year | Population | |
|---|---|---|
|
|
|
|
| 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
| Year | Growth rate | |
|---|---|---|
|
|
|
|
| 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
|
|
|
|
|---|---|---|
| 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
| Year | Population change | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
|
|
|||
| 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
Compare countries by 7 more topics
Population differences between Eritrea and Lesotho
|
|
|
|
|---|---|---|
| Life expectancy | 69.4 years | 58.6 years |
| Average age | 24.8 years | 26 years |
| Median age | 20.2 years | 22.9 years |
| Male:Female ratio | 49.4:50.6 | 48.8:51.2 |
| Fertility rate | 3.68 births per woman | 2.66 births per woman |
| Population density | 78.7 ppl/mi² | 203.8 ppl/mi² |
Population map with other countries
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:
- World Bank | Health (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08)
- United Nations | World Population Prospects (1960–2100, retrieved 2026-07-08)
- U.S. Census Bureau (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08)
- Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) (2000–2019, retrieved 2026-07-08)
- Wikidata (2026, retrieved 2026-07-08)
Creative Commons Attribution (CC BY) — you’re free to copy, share, remix, adapt, and use even commercially as long as you give appropriate credit and clearly indicate if you made changes. Other sources may be subject to different license terms.