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

Updated on by Georank

The latest officially reported population of Eritrea was 3,607,003 in 2025 vs 22,216,120 people in Malawi in 2025. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Eritrea's population is 3,722,489 people compared to 23,086,106 in Malawi.

Population statistics:

  • Malawi's population is 6.2 times bigger than Eritrea's.
  • Eritrea is ranked the 131st 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 +1.4% per year vs +2.67% in Malawi.
  • Since 2006, the population of Eritrea has increased from 2.7M people to 3.72M (37.7% growth), while Malawi has grown from 13.2M to 23.1M (74.9% growth).

Eritrea vs Malawi: population by year and forecast

Eritrea
Factual

Projection
Malawi
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
Eritrea Malawi
2100 8,522,007 59,773,923
2099 8,497,228 59,515,624
2098 8,474,268 59,263,165
2097 8,451,733 59,015,654
2096 8,429,569 58,749,288
2095 8,403,309 58,495,699
2094 8,377,316 58,227,933
2093 8,351,585 57,954,358
2092 8,316,183 57,660,371
2091 8,285,983 57,364,786
2090 8,250,998 57,048,240
2089 8,216,946 56,727,243
2088 8,179,696 56,385,237
2087 8,143,016 56,041,651
2086 8,100,028 55,694,983
2085 8,053,737 55,336,839
2084 8,006,588 54,985,304
2083 7,963,231 54,593,349
2082 7,918,571 54,194,853
2081 7,878,525 53,783,781
2080 7,822,491 53,361,334
2079 7,772,358 52,936,889
2078 7,718,520 52,510,645
2077 7,662,894 52,052,767
2076 7,607,491 51,589,339
2075 7,545,398 51,130,762
2074 7,490,761 50,673,499
2073 7,426,955 50,218,991
2072 7,364,831 49,759,232
2071 7,302,386 49,276,570
2070 7,237,419 48,787,471
2069 7,171,047 48,291,287
2068 7,100,633 47,782,059
2067 7,032,045 47,267,335
2066 6,958,496 46,741,998
2065 6,890,246 46,218,226
2064 6,820,756 45,692,044
2063 6,739,056 45,169,634
2062 6,665,261 44,629,192
2061 6,586,585 44,067,259
2060 6,506,537 43,499,372
2059 6,427,830 42,907,491
2058 6,348,527 42,335,782
2057 6,270,841 41,753,105
2056 6,199,452 41,175,330
2055 6,119,360 40,576,247
2054 6,044,997 39,986,120
2053 5,962,464 39,369,178
2052 5,877,006 38,758,577
2051 5,796,079 38,145,141
2050 5,715,974 37,537,814
2049 5,637,011 36,928,354
2048 5,554,665 36,332,040
2047 5,473,222 35,717,466
2046 5,391,902 35,099,651
2045 5,305,072 34,484,520
2044 5,220,319 33,855,018
2043 5,136,101 33,240,675
2042 5,048,602 32,629,513
2041 4,964,690 32,012,581
2040 4,875,172 31,395,572
2039 4,786,431 30,775,878
2038 4,697,052 30,160,239
2037 4,603,709 29,521,489
2036 4,510,757 28,890,318
2035 4,424,170 28,261,909
2034 4,336,556 27,637,439
2033 4,251,927 27,012,311
2032 4,168,824 26,398,409
2031 4,087,276 25,790,366
2030 4,002,343 25,176,420
2029 3,921,145 24,561,210
2028 3,839,994 23,962,931
2027 3,759,928 23,369,575
2026 3,682,948 22,786,713
2025 3,607,003 22,216,120
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 (2026–2100, retrieved 2026-07-08); World Bank | Health (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08).

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 597,791 people (a 19.1% growth), while Malawi's population increased by 5,528,367 people (a 31.5% growth).

Eritrea was ranked 135th most populous country in 2006 and is 131st 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 53.6% to 5,715,974 people with a rank change from 131st to 123rd. The population of Malawi will increase by 62.6% to 37,537,814 people and rank change from 61st to 55th.

Eritrea is projected to reach its peak in 2100 at 8.52M 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 2.02% 2.59%
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 (2026–2100, retrieved 2026-07-08); World Bank | Health (1961–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08).

GeoRank.org/population/eritrea/malawi | CC BY

In 2025, the population of Eritrea grew by 2.02%, while Malawi's population grew by 2.59%.

Live population counters

Eritrea Malawi
Current population
3722489
23086106
Population rank 131/197 61/197
Percent of world population 0.04% 0.28%
One net population change
7.38 minutes
56.4 seconds
One birth every
5.18 minutes
46.8 seconds
One death every
24.8 minutes
4.59 minutes
Daily growth/decline +196 +1,537
Annual growth/decline +71,400 +560,834
Annual growth/decline rate +2.02% +2.59%
Population growth rate rank 49/197 23/197
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 80,343 -12,696 559,811 -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 2026-07-08).

GeoRank.org/population/eritrea/malawi | 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 Malawi 99.5% is from natural causes (a gain of 5,106,786 people) and 0.49% is from migration (a loss of 24,958 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
Mzimba 936K
Blantyre 800K
Mzuzu 150K
Zomba 101K
Mangochi 53.5K
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 (1960–2025, 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/malawi | 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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