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

Updated on by Georank team

The latest officially reported population of Eritrea was 3,535,603 in 2024 vs 7,381,023 people in Libya in 2024. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Eritrea's population is 3,700,586 people compared to 7,559,873 in Libya.

Population statistics:

  • Libya's population is 2.04 times bigger than Eritrea's.
  • Eritrea is ranked the 130th most populous country in the world, while Libya is the 105th.
  • The countries together account for 0.14% of the world: 0.04% for Eritrea vs 0.09% for Libya.
  • For the last 10 years, Eritrea has had an average growth rate of +1.28% per year vs +1.44% in Libya.
  • Since 2006, the population of Eritrea has increased from 2.7M people to 3.7M (36.9% growth), while Libya has grown from 5.98M to 7.56M (26.4% growth).

Eritrea vs Libya: population by year and forecast

Eritrea
Factual

Projection
Libya
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
Eritrea Libya
2100 8,514,681 9,844,478
2099 8,489,924 9,862,293
2098 8,466,983 9,883,409
2097 8,444,468 9,903,494
2096 8,422,323 9,920,212
2095 8,396,086 9,931,781
2094 8,370,114 9,943,275
2093 8,344,405 9,958,570
2092 8,309,034 9,973,255
2091 8,278,860 9,982,193
2090 8,243,905 9,998,398
2089 8,209,883 10,008,842
2088 8,172,664 10,019,533
2087 8,136,016 10,023,170
2086 8,093,065 10,022,785
2085 8,046,814 10,016,359
2084 7,999,706 10,009,703
2083 7,956,385 10,006,073
2082 7,911,764 9,997,594
2081 7,871,753 9,985,386
2080 7,815,766 9,975,419
2079 7,765,677 9,962,691
2078 7,711,886 9,958,515
2077 7,656,307 9,952,827
2076 7,600,951 9,940,029
2075 7,538,912 9,927,944
2074 7,484,322 9,916,834
2073 7,420,571 9,901,120
2072 7,358,500 9,879,602
2071 7,296,109 9,867,880
2070 7,231,198 9,850,724
2069 7,164,883 9,832,072
2068 7,094,530 9,812,363
2067 7,026,000 9,799,957
2066 6,952,514 9,782,414
2065 6,884,323 9,762,806
2064 6,814,893 9,740,665
2063 6,733,263 9,729,567
2062 6,659,531 9,707,539
2061 6,580,923 9,686,619
2060 6,500,944 9,667,297
2059 6,422,305 9,638,062
2058 6,343,070 9,610,703
2057 6,265,450 9,579,595
2056 6,194,123 9,554,689
2055 6,114,099 9,522,205
2054 6,039,801 9,478,010
2053 5,957,339 9,432,683
2052 5,871,954 9,383,411
2051 5,791,096 9,335,341
2050 5,711,061 9,282,941
2049 5,632,165 9,230,811
2048 5,549,890 9,173,272
2047 5,468,518 9,118,915
2046 5,387,267 9,063,226
2045 5,300,511 8,998,841
2044 5,215,831 8,934,714
2043 5,131,686 8,866,878
2042 5,044,262 8,798,463
2041 4,960,422 8,732,168
2040 4,870,981 8,661,351
2039 4,782,316 8,588,292
2038 4,693,015 8,514,071
2037 4,599,752 8,437,766
2036 4,506,879 8,364,809
2035 4,420,367 8,289,931
2034 4,332,828 8,209,318
2033 4,248,272 8,129,142
2032 4,165,241 8,052,203
2031 4,083,762 7,969,547
2030 3,998,903 7,884,726
2029 3,917,775 7,801,482
2028 3,836,693 7,713,090
2027 3,756,696 7,621,838
2026 3,679,782 7,536,898
2025 3,603,902 7,458,392
2024 3,535,603 7,381,023
2023 3,470,390 7,305,659
2022 3,409,447 7,223,805
2021 3,350,183 7,135,175
2020 3,291,271 7,045,399
2019 3,240,194 6,951,033
2018 3,192,760 6,849,055
2017 3,150,347 6,738,770
2016 3,124,698 6,632,126
2015 3,105,546 6,531,819
2014 3,095,173 6,427,252
2013 3,074,360 6,304,628
2012 3,036,988 6,179,328
2011 2,998,485 6,343,203
2010 2,945,186 6,497,839
2009 2,887,885 6,366,686
2008 2,816,327 6,235,430
2007 2,743,222 6,104,380
2006 2,703,502 5,980,211
2005 2,661,215 5,858,798
2004 2,598,284 5,736,693
2003 2,493,903 5,619,398
2002 2,392,978 5,508,410
2001 2,312,079 5,403,639
2000 2,247,031 5,305,021
1999 2,212,780 5,218,038
1998 2,180,419 5,140,704
1997 2,152,135 5,064,639
1996 2,128,464 4,987,393
1995 2,025,267 4,906,843
1994 1,913,915 4,822,037
1993 1,856,006 4,733,045
1992 1,798,748 4,640,352
1991 1,919,571 4,544,400
1990 2,032,737 4,445,239
1989 1,987,017 4,342,920
1988 1,938,255 4,237,755
1987 1,888,669 4,129,739
1986 1,845,164 4,017,403
1985 1,807,816 3,898,745
1984 1,771,730 3,773,633
1983 1,736,160 3,718,961
1982 1,695,461 3,724,765
1981 1,649,939 3,621,486
1980 1,605,797 3,424,378
1979 1,563,332 3,233,846
1978 1,522,378 3,052,526
1977 1,482,565 2,881,533
1976 1,443,807 2,721,237
1975 1,408,210 2,571,556
1974 1,375,688 2,432,211
1973 1,342,669 2,314,193
1972 1,309,235 2,226,091
1971 1,276,154 2,153,534
1970 1,243,453 2,082,589
1969 1,212,005 2,014,293
1968 1,181,737 1,952,781
1967 1,152,339 1,898,199
1966 1,124,957 1,849,063
1965 1,098,335 1,804,015
1964 1,071,287 1,753,691
1963 1,045,092 1,690,457
1962 1,019,788 1,621,960
1961 995,573 1,555,699
1960 972,547 1,492,890

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/libya | CC BY

From 2006 to 2016, the population of Eritrea increased by 421,196 people (a 15.6% growth), while Libya gained 651,915 people (a 10.9% growth).

For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, Eritrea gained 575,888 people (a 18.4% growth), while Libya's population increased by 927,747 people (a 14% growth).

Eritrea was ranked 135th most populous country in 2006 and is 130th in 2026. Libya was ranked 104th in 2006 and ranked 105th 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 Libya will increase by 22.8% to 9,282,941 people and will still be ranked 105th.

Eritrea is projected to reach its peak in 2100 at 8.51M people compared to the peak of 10M people in 2087 for Libya.

Population growth rate by year

Eritrea
Factual

Projection
Libya
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Growth rate
Eritrea Libya
2100 0.29% -0.18%
2099 0.27% -0.21%
2098 0.27% -0.2%
2097 0.26% -0.17%
2096 0.31% -0.12%
2095 0.31% -0.12%
2094 0.31% -0.15%
2093 0.43% -0.15%
2092 0.36% -0.09%
2091 0.42% -0.16%
2090 0.41% -0.1%
2089 0.46% -0.11%
2088 0.45% -0.04%
2087 0.53% 0.004%
2086 0.57% 0.06%
2085 0.59% 0.07%
2084 0.54% 0.04%
2083 0.56% 0.08%
2082 0.51% 0.12%
2081 0.72% 0.1%
2080 0.65% 0.13%
2079 0.7% 0.04%
2078 0.73% 0.06%
2077 0.73% 0.13%
2076 0.82% 0.12%
2075 0.73% 0.11%
2074 0.86% 0.16%
2073 0.84% 0.22%
2072 0.86% 0.12%
2071 0.9% 0.17%
2070 0.93% 0.19%
2069 0.99% 0.2%
2068 0.98% 0.13%
2067 1.06% 0.18%
2066 0.99% 0.2%
2065 1.02% 0.23%
2064 1.21% 0.11%
2063 1.11% 0.23%
2062 1.19% 0.22%
2061 1.23% 0.2%
2060 1.22% 0.3%
2059 1.25% 0.28%
2058 1.24% 0.32%
2057 1.15% 0.26%
2056 1.31% 0.34%
2055 1.23% 0.47%
2054 1.38% 0.48%
2053 1.45% 0.53%
2052 1.4% 0.51%
2051 1.4% 0.56%
2050 1.4% 0.56%
2049 1.48% 0.63%
2048 1.49% 0.6%
2047 1.51% 0.61%
2046 1.64% 0.72%
2045 1.62% 0.72%
2044 1.64% 0.77%
2043 1.73% 0.78%
2042 1.69% 0.76%
2041 1.84% 0.82%
2040 1.85% 0.85%
2039 1.9% 0.87%
2038 2.03% 0.9%
2037 2.06% 0.87%
2036 1.96% 0.9%
2035 2.02% 0.98%
2034 1.99% 0.99%
2033 1.99% 0.96%
2032 2% 1.04%
2031 2.12% 1.08%
2030 2.07% 1.07%
2029 2.11% 1.15%
2028 2.13% 1.2%
2027 2.09% 1.13%
2026 2.11% 1.05%
2025 1.93% 1.05%
2024 1.88% 1.03%
2023 1.79% 1.13%
2022 1.77% 1.24%
2021 1.79% 1.27%
2020 1.58% 1.36%
2019 1.49% 1.49%
2018 1.35% 1.64%
2017 0.82% 1.61%
2016 0.62% 1.54%
2015 0.34% 1.63%
2014 0.68% 1.94%
2013 1.23% 2.03%
2012 1.28% -2.58%
2011 1.81% -2.38%
2010 1.98% 2.06%
2009 2.54% 2.11%
2008 2.66% 2.15%
2007 1.47% 2.08%
2006 1.59% 2.07%
2005 2.42% 2.13%
2004 4.19% 2.09%
2003 4.22% 2.01%
2002 3.5% 1.94%
2001 2.89% 1.86%
2000 1.55% 1.67%
1999 1.48% 1.5%
1998 1.31% 1.5%
1997 1.11% 1.55%
1996 5.1% 1.64%
1995 5.82% 1.76%
1994 3.12% 1.88%
1993 3.18% 2%
1992 -6.29% 2.11%
1991 -5.57% 2.23%
1990 2.3% 2.36%
1989 2.52% 2.48%
1988 2.63% 2.62%
1987 2.36% 2.8%
1986 2.07% 3.04%
1985 2.04% 3.32%
1984 2.05% 1.47%
1983 2.4% -0.16%
1982 2.76% 2.85%
1981 2.75% 5.76%
1980 2.72% 5.89%
1979 2.69% 5.94%
1978 2.69% 5.93%
1977 2.68% 5.89%
1976 2.53% 5.82%
1975 2.36% 5.73%
1974 2.46% 5.1%
1973 2.55% 3.96%
1972 2.59% 3.37%
1971 2.63% 3.41%
1970 2.59% 3.39%
1969 2.56% 3.15%
1968 2.55% 2.88%
1967 2.43% 2.66%
1966 2.42% 2.5%
1965 2.52% 2.87%
1964 2.51% 3.74%
1963 2.48% 4.22%
1962 2.43% 4.26%
1961 2.37% 4.21%

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/libya | CC BY

In 2024, the population of Eritrea grew by 1.88%, while Libya's population grew by 1.03%.

Live population counters

Eritrea Libya
Current population
3700586
7559873
Population rank 130/197 105/197
Percent of world population 0.04% 0.09%
One net population change
8.06 minutes
6.97 minutes
One birth every
5.31 minutes
4.23 minutes
One death every
25 minutes
10.8 minutes
Daily growth/decline +179 +206
Annual growth/decline +65,213 +75,364
Annual growth/decline rate +1.88% +1.03%
Population growth rate rank 58/197 99/197
One migration net change every
1.31 hours
2.13 days
Annual migration change -6,698 -172
Net migration rank 122/196 83/196
Foreign-born residents 12,512 897,751
Foreign-born residents rank 176/195 63/195
Foreign-born share of population 0.4% 12.2%
Foreign-born share rank 178/195 56/195

Natural population change vs migration

Eritrea
Natural

Migration
Libya
Natural

Migration
1x
Year Population change
Eritrea Libya
Natural Migration Natural Migration
2025 - -6,698 - -172
2024 - -12,696 - 3,448
2023 78,073 -15,284 75,760 -2,001
2022 76,221 -17,134 91,951 -2,001
2021 74,394 -14,966 88,005 -694
2020 73,362 -14,967 92,950 -694
2019 73,572 -29,818 97,842 -1,352
2018 72,511 -21,403 101,619 5,841
2017 72,291 -38,579 103,891 9,208
2016 73,002 -55,431 105,265 -5,081
2015 73,682 -52,965 108,096 -7,660
2014 75,729 -75,696 110,420 -1,716
2013 75,562 -33,974 110,772 25,755
2012 76,416 -43,269 108,855 5,211
2011 76,806 -32,949 121,016 -562,827
2010 76,098 -13,361 122,926 9,611
2009 76,206 -24,348 118,102 11,670
2008 73,391 17,855 117,481 15,260
2007 73,101 -18,131 116,704 12,640
2006 74,470 -49,998 115,645 3,351
2005 72,930 -12,835 112,823 11,024
2004 72,147 -6,374 107,144 13,222
2003 66,291 76,703 102,144 12,073
2002 65,436 -6,574 97,598 10,152
2001 61,180 41,760 93,370 8,420
2000 60,274 -33,133 89,814 5,634
1999 45,120 -3,769 88,743 -10,206
1998 55,332 -31,951 87,613 -11,479
1997 63,953 -30,768 86,899 -10,907
1996 66,557 -52,421 86,945 -8,446
1995 56,157 136,105 87,661 -5,068
1994 56,288 -25,841 88,765 -1,755
1993 51,679 33,688 90,553 426
1992 51,443 -22,293 93,568 843
1991 57,741 -328,546 96,582 902
1990 56,903 -12,425 99,898 946
1989 54,299 -7,330 102,823 981
1988 54,163 -3,612 105,469 1,053
1987 52,229 -3,613 107,761 1,740
1986 39,470 -1,073 109,325 5,844
1985 37,362 -1,073 110,194 11,962
1984 35,101 772 110,028 18,039
1983 33,420 1,853 122,183 -140,904
1982 44,146 1,985 133,511 -126,400
1981 42,924 1,985 130,233 69,211
1980 41,392 1,985 128,034 66,739
1979 39,577 1,985 121,469 64,821
1978 38,353 1,985 114,669 61,684
1977 37,295 1,985 107,769 57,867
1976 36,250 1,985 101,146 53,813
1975 30,971 1,985 94,862 49,544
1974 30,111 1,985 89,337 44,946
1973 31,969 1,985 81,256 20,498
1972 30,951 1,953 77,864 -3,418
1971 31,490 1,758 74,934 -4,265
1970 30,686 1,480 70,488 745
1969 29,535 1,199 66,782 -1,418
1968 28,777 1,013 63,971 -6,323
1967 27,992 1,004 61,889 -10,384
1966 24,713 1,063 60,394 -13,619
1965 26,285 1,188 59,134 -15,810
1964 25,327 1,300 55,227 2,084
1963 24,393 1,368 50,421 18,740
1962 23,478 1,364 46,252 21,589
1961 22,351 1,235 42,167 22,504
1960 21,424 1,045 38,391 22,559

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

GeoRank.org/population/eritrea/libya | 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 Libya 99.4% is from natural causes (a gain of 975,799 people) and 0.63% is from migration (a loss of 6,150 people).

As of 2024, 12,512 residents or 0.4% of the population were not native-born in Eritrea, compared to 897,751 people or 12.2% in Libya.

Biggest cities by population

Eritrea
City Population
Asmara 963K
Keren 120K
Massawa 39.8K
Mendefera 28.5K
Libya
City Population
Tripoli 1.29M
Misrata 881K
Benghazi 632K
Ajdabiya 416K
Al-Khums 202K
Zawiya 199K
Tobruk 136K
Gharyan 123K
Sabratha 102K
Sabha 99K

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/libya | 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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