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

Updated on by Georank team

The latest officially reported population of Eritrea was 3,535,603 in 2024 vs 21,655,286 people in Malawi in 2024. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Eritrea's population is 3,700,586 people compared to 22,949,294 in Malawi.

Population statistics:

  • Malawi's population is 6.2 times bigger than Eritrea's.
  • Eritrea is ranked the 130th most populous country in the world, while Malawi is the 61st.
  • The countries together account for 0.32% of the world: 0.04% for Eritrea vs 0.28% for Malawi.
  • For the last 10 years, Eritrea has had an average growth rate of +1.28% per year vs +2.7% in Malawi.
  • Since 2006, the population of Eritrea has increased from 2.7M people to 3.7M (36.9% growth), while Malawi has grown from 13.2M to 22.9M (73.9% growth).

Eritrea vs Malawi: population by year and forecast

Eritrea
Factual

Projection
Malawi
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
Eritrea Malawi
2100 8,514,681 59,786,744
2099 8,489,924 59,528,389
2098 8,466,983 59,275,876
2097 8,444,468 59,028,312
2096 8,422,323 58,761,888
2095 8,396,086 58,508,246
2094 8,370,114 58,240,422
2093 8,344,405 57,966,788
2092 8,309,034 57,672,738
2091 8,278,860 57,377,090
2090 8,243,905 57,060,476
2089 8,209,883 56,739,410
2088 8,172,664 56,397,330
2087 8,136,016 56,053,671
2086 8,093,065 55,706,928
2085 8,046,814 55,348,708
2084 7,999,706 54,997,097
2083 7,956,385 54,605,058
2082 7,911,764 54,206,477
2081 7,871,753 53,795,317
2080 7,815,766 53,372,779
2079 7,765,677 52,948,243
2078 7,711,886 52,521,908
2077 7,656,307 52,063,931
2076 7,600,951 51,600,404
2075 7,538,912 51,141,728
2074 7,484,322 50,684,368
2073 7,420,571 50,229,762
2072 7,358,500 49,769,904
2071 7,296,109 49,287,139
2070 7,231,198 48,797,935
2069 7,164,883 48,301,644
2068 7,094,530 47,792,308
2067 7,026,000 47,277,473
2066 6,952,514 46,752,024
2065 6,884,323 46,228,139
2064 6,814,893 45,701,844
2063 6,733,263 45,179,322
2062 6,659,531 44,638,764
2061 6,580,923 44,076,711
2060 6,500,944 43,508,702
2059 6,422,305 42,916,694
2058 6,343,070 42,344,863
2057 6,265,450 41,762,060
2056 6,194,123 41,184,161
2055 6,114,099 40,584,950
2054 6,039,801 39,994,696
2053 5,957,339 39,377,622
2052 5,871,954 38,766,890
2051 5,791,096 38,153,322
2050 5,711,061 37,545,865
2049 5,632,165 36,936,275
2048 5,549,890 36,339,833
2047 5,468,518 35,725,127
2046 5,387,267 35,107,179
2045 5,300,511 34,491,916
2044 5,215,831 33,862,279
2043 5,131,686 33,247,804
2042 5,044,262 32,636,511
2041 4,960,422 32,019,447
2040 4,870,981 31,402,305
2039 4,782,316 30,782,479
2038 4,693,015 30,166,708
2037 4,599,752 29,527,821
2036 4,506,879 28,896,515
2035 4,420,367 28,267,970
2034 4,332,828 27,643,367
2033 4,248,272 27,018,105
2032 4,165,241 26,404,071
2031 4,083,762 25,795,897
2030 3,998,903 25,181,820
2029 3,917,775 24,566,478
2028 3,836,693 23,968,071
2027 3,756,696 23,374,588
2026 3,679,782 22,791,601
2025 3,603,902 22,220,885
2024 3,535,603 21,655,286
2023 3,470,390 21,104,482
2022 3,409,447 20,568,728
2021 3,350,183 20,047,258
2020 3,291,271 19,533,888
2019 3,240,194 19,025,752
2018 3,192,760 18,528,081
2017 3,150,347 18,039,715
2016 3,124,698 17,557,739
2015 3,105,546 17,085,587
2014 3,095,173 16,621,538
2013 3,074,360 16,161,816
2012 3,036,988 15,709,577
2011 2,998,485 15,265,022
2010 2,945,186 14,826,463
2009 2,887,885 14,395,788
2008 2,816,327 13,976,417
2007 2,743,222 13,576,343
2006 2,703,502 13,198,701
2005 2,661,215 12,840,031
2004 2,598,284 12,500,737
2003 2,493,903 12,181,574
2002 2,392,978 11,880,440
2001 2,312,079 11,593,058
2000 2,247,031 11,315,942
1999 2,212,780 11,047,804
1998 2,180,419 10,792,876
1997 2,152,135 10,562,035
1996 2,128,464 10,352,228
1995 2,025,267 10,150,117
1994 1,913,915 10,164,894
1993 1,856,006 10,284,024
1992 1,798,748 10,135,079
1991 1,919,571 9,844,227
1990 2,032,737 9,545,852
1989 1,987,017 9,176,220
1988 1,938,255 8,753,262
1987 1,888,669 8,293,174
1986 1,845,164 7,906,480
1985 1,807,816 7,620,508
1984 1,771,730 7,332,810
1983 1,736,160 7,051,709
1982 1,695,461 6,778,879
1981 1,649,939 6,516,454
1980 1,605,797 6,265,529
1979 1,563,332 6,028,749
1978 1,522,378 5,810,132
1977 1,482,565 5,614,983
1976 1,443,807 5,443,384
1975 1,408,210 5,287,367
1974 1,375,688 5,141,337
1973 1,342,669 5,003,938
1972 1,309,235 4,874,475
1971 1,276,154 4,751,434
1970 1,243,453 4,633,944
1969 1,212,005 4,521,184
1968 1,181,737 4,411,054
1967 1,152,339 4,303,012
1966 1,124,957 4,197,926
1965 1,098,335 4,096,157
1964 1,071,287 3,997,305
1963 1,045,092 3,900,506
1962 1,019,788 3,806,307
1961 995,573 3,715,534
1960 972,547 3,628,134

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/malawi | CC BY

From 2006 to 2016, the population of Eritrea increased by 421,196 people (a 15.6% growth), while Malawi gained 4,359,038 people (a 33% growth).

For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, Eritrea gained 575,888 people (a 18.4% growth), while Malawi's population increased by 5,391,555 people (a 30.7% growth).

Eritrea was ranked 135th most populous country in 2006 and is 130th in 2026. Malawi was ranked 69th in 2006 and ranked 61st 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 Malawi will increase by 63.6% to 37,545,865 people and rank change from 61st to 55th.

Eritrea is projected to reach its peak in 2100 at 8.51M people compared to the peak of 59.8M people in 2100 for Malawi.

Population growth rate by year

Eritrea
Factual

Projection
Malawi
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Growth rate
Eritrea Malawi
2100 0.29% 0.43%
2099 0.27% 0.43%
2098 0.27% 0.42%
2097 0.26% 0.45%
2096 0.31% 0.43%
2095 0.31% 0.46%
2094 0.31% 0.47%
2093 0.43% 0.51%
2092 0.36% 0.52%
2091 0.42% 0.55%
2090 0.41% 0.57%
2089 0.46% 0.61%
2088 0.45% 0.61%
2087 0.53% 0.62%
2086 0.57% 0.65%
2085 0.59% 0.64%
2084 0.54% 0.72%
2083 0.56% 0.74%
2082 0.51% 0.76%
2081 0.72% 0.79%
2080 0.65% 0.8%
2079 0.7% 0.81%
2078 0.73% 0.88%
2077 0.73% 0.9%
2076 0.82% 0.9%
2075 0.73% 0.9%
2074 0.86% 0.91%
2073 0.84% 0.92%
2072 0.86% 0.98%
2071 0.9% 1%
2070 0.93% 1.03%
2069 0.99% 1.07%
2068 0.98% 1.09%
2067 1.06% 1.12%
2066 0.99% 1.13%
2065 1.02% 1.15%
2064 1.21% 1.16%
2063 1.11% 1.21%
2062 1.19% 1.28%
2061 1.23% 1.31%
2060 1.22% 1.38%
2059 1.25% 1.35%
2058 1.24% 1.4%
2057 1.15% 1.4%
2056 1.31% 1.48%
2055 1.23% 1.48%
2054 1.38% 1.57%
2053 1.45% 1.58%
2052 1.4% 1.61%
2051 1.4% 1.62%
2050 1.4% 1.65%
2049 1.48% 1.64%
2048 1.49% 1.72%
2047 1.51% 1.76%
2046 1.64% 1.78%
2045 1.62% 1.86%
2044 1.64% 1.85%
2043 1.73% 1.87%
2042 1.69% 1.93%
2041 1.84% 1.97%
2040 1.85% 2.01%
2039 1.9% 2.04%
2038 2.03% 2.16%
2037 2.06% 2.18%
2036 1.96% 2.22%
2035 2.02% 2.26%
2034 1.99% 2.31%
2033 1.99% 2.33%
2032 2% 2.36%
2031 2.12% 2.44%
2030 2.07% 2.5%
2029 2.11% 2.5%
2028 2.13% 2.54%
2027 2.09% 2.56%
2026 2.11% 2.57%
2025 1.93% 2.61%
2024 1.88% 2.61%
2023 1.79% 2.6%
2022 1.77% 2.6%
2021 1.79% 2.63%
2020 1.58% 2.67%
2019 1.49% 2.69%
2018 1.35% 2.71%
2017 0.82% 2.75%
2016 0.62% 2.76%
2015 0.34% 2.79%
2014 0.68% 2.84%
2013 1.23% 2.88%
2012 1.28% 2.91%
2011 1.81% 2.96%
2010 1.98% 2.99%
2009 2.54% 3%
2008 2.66% 2.95%
2007 1.47% 2.86%
2006 1.59% 2.79%
2005 2.42% 2.71%
2004 4.19% 2.62%
2003 4.22% 2.53%
2002 3.5% 2.48%
2001 2.89% 2.45%
2000 1.55% 2.43%
1999 1.48% 2.36%
1998 1.31% 2.19%
1997 1.11% 2.03%
1996 5.1% 1.99%
1995 5.82% -0.15%
1994 3.12% -1.16%
1993 3.18% 1.47%
1992 -6.29% 2.95%
1991 -5.57% 3.13%
1990 2.3% 4.03%
1989 2.52% 4.83%
1988 2.63% 5.55%
1987 2.36% 4.89%
1986 2.07% 3.75%
1985 2.04% 3.92%
1984 2.05% 3.99%
1983 2.4% 4.02%
1982 2.76% 4.03%
1981 2.75% 4%
1980 2.72% 3.93%
1979 2.69% 3.76%
1978 2.69% 3.48%
1977 2.68% 3.15%
1976 2.53% 2.95%
1975 2.36% 2.84%
1974 2.46% 2.75%
1973 2.55% 2.66%
1972 2.59% 2.59%
1971 2.63% 2.54%
1970 2.59% 2.49%
1969 2.56% 2.5%
1968 2.55% 2.51%
1967 2.43% 2.5%
1966 2.42% 2.48%
1965 2.52% 2.47%
1964 2.51% 2.48%
1963 2.48% 2.47%
1962 2.43% 2.44%
1961 2.37% 2.41%

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/malawi | CC BY

In 2024, the population of Eritrea grew by 1.88%, while Malawi's population grew by 2.61%.

Live population counters

Eritrea Malawi
Current population
3700586
22949294
Population rank 130/197 61/197
Percent of world population 0.04% 0.28%
One net population change
8.06 minutes
57.3 seconds
One birth every
5.31 minutes
47.6 seconds
One death every
25 minutes
4.64 minutes
Daily growth/decline +179 +1,509
Annual growth/decline +65,213 +550,804
Annual growth/decline rate +1.88% +2.61%
Population growth rate rank 58/197 26/197
One migration net change every
1.31 hours
1.56 hours
Annual migration change -6,698 -5,628
Net migration rank 122/196 118/196
Foreign-born residents 12,512 186,719
Foreign-born residents rank 176/195 117/195
Foreign-born share of population 0.4% 0.9%
Foreign-born share rank 178/195 158/195

Natural population change vs migration

Eritrea
Natural

Migration
Malawi
Natural

Migration
1x
Year Population change
Eritrea Malawi
Natural Migration Natural Migration
2025 - -6,698 - -5,628
2024 - -12,696 - -1,507
2023 78,073 -15,284 549,096 -5,811
2022 76,221 -17,134 533,450 -5,231
2021 74,394 -14,966 517,400 -2,666
2020 73,362 -14,967 514,659 -2,655
2019 73,572 -29,818 506,104 -1,837
2018 72,511 -21,403 494,348 -3,267
2017 72,291 -38,579 484,655 982
2016 73,002 -55,431 474,779 3,505
2015 73,682 -52,965 472,484 -6,471
2014 75,729 -75,696 472,418 -10,317
2013 75,562 -33,974 470,293 -12,934
2012 76,416 -43,269 460,684 -13,561
2011 76,806 -32,949 454,149 -12,170
2010 76,098 -13,361 444,468 -9,327
2009 76,206 -24,348 434,811 -8,590
2008 73,391 17,855 421,781 -9,264
2007 73,101 -18,131 410,290 -22,680
2006 74,470 -49,998 397,123 -29,450
2005 72,930 -12,835 381,130 -31,462
2004 72,147 -6,374 361,133 -32,221
2003 66,291 76,703 341,133 -31,729
2002 65,436 -6,574 322,863 -30,013
2001 61,180 41,760 310,833 -28,933
2000 60,274 -33,133 300,439 -28,098
1999 45,120 -3,769 295,629 -31,686
1998 55,332 -31,951 285,407 -39,491
1997 63,953 -30,768 277,433 -61,646
1996 66,557 -52,421 270,048 -66,212
1995 56,157 136,105 266,745 -66,366
1994 56,288 -25,841 275,439 -505,365
1993 51,679 33,688 276,538 -284,867
1992 51,443 -22,293 269,066 37,142
1991 57,741 -328,546 260,193 15,291
1990 56,903 -12,425 250,159 71,111
1989 54,299 -7,330 237,967 180,031
1988 54,163 -3,612 226,911 201,011
1987 52,229 -3,613 220,566 271,693
1986 39,470 -1,073 218,519 62,615
1985 37,362 -1,073 216,179 74,625
1984 35,101 772 212,146 72,435
1983 33,420 1,853 209,422 68,197
1982 44,146 1,985 205,386 62,661
1981 42,924 1,985 199,436 57,376
1980 41,392 1,985 192,746 52,294
1979 39,577 1,985 182,123 46,388
1978 38,353 1,985 172,503 36,225
1977 37,295 1,985 161,930 19,638
1976 36,250 1,985 153,422 8,206
1975 30,971 1,985 145,254 5,162
1974 30,111 1,985 137,819 3,833
1973 31,969 1,985 131,529 1,623
1972 30,951 1,953 125,728 48
1971 31,490 1,758 121,015 -710
1970 30,686 1,480 116,822 -2,147
1969 29,535 1,199 113,120 -2,266
1968 28,777 1,013 110,329 -924
1967 27,992 1,004 106,668 0
1966 24,713 1,063 103,512 0
1965 26,285 1,188 100,040 0
1964 25,327 1,300 97,658 0
1963 24,393 1,368 95,933 0
1962 23,478 1,364 92,463 0
1961 22,351 1,235 89,091 0
1960 21,424 1,045 85,718 0

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

GeoRank.org/population/eritrea/malawi | 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 Malawi 99.3% is from natural causes (a gain of 5,019,393 people) and 0.67% is from migration (a loss of 33,768 people).

As of 2024, 12,512 residents or 0.4% of the population were not native-born in Eritrea, compared to 186,719 people or 0.9% in Malawi.

Biggest cities by population

Eritrea
City Population
Asmara 963K
Keren 120K
Massawa 39.8K
Mendefera 28.5K
Malawi
City Population
Lilongwe 989K
Blantyre 800K
Mzuzu 150K
Zomba 101K
Mangochi 53.5K
Mzimba 26.1K
Mulanje 14.8K
Ntcheu 14.6K
Monkey Bay 14.6K

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/malawi | 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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