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

Updated on by Georank

The latest officially reported population of Eritrea was 3,607,003 in 2025 vs 35,977,838 people in Malaysia in 2025. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Eritrea's population is 3,722,489 people compared to 36,600,906 in Malaysia.

Population statistics:

  • Malaysia's population is 9.83 times bigger than Eritrea's.
  • Eritrea is ranked the 131st most populous country in the world, while Malaysia is the 45th.
  • The countries together account for 0.49% of the world: 0.04% for Eritrea vs 0.44% for Malaysia.
  • For the last 10 years, Eritrea has had an average growth rate of +1.4% per year vs +1.45% in Malaysia.
  • Since 2006, the population of Eritrea has increased from 2.7M people to 3.72M (37.7% growth), while Malaysia has grown from 26.4M to 36.6M (38.5% growth).

Eritrea vs Malaysia: population by year and forecast

Eritrea
Factual

Projection
Malaysia
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
Eritrea Malaysia
2100 8,522,007 44,342,183
2099 8,497,228 44,456,013
2098 8,474,268 44,568,480
2097 8,451,733 44,684,459
2096 8,429,569 44,803,334
2095 8,403,309 44,920,823
2094 8,377,316 45,035,868
2093 8,351,585 45,153,485
2092 8,316,183 45,267,003
2091 8,285,983 45,378,303
2090 8,250,998 45,489,767
2089 8,216,946 45,598,290
2088 8,179,696 45,706,098
2087 8,143,016 45,811,274
2086 8,100,028 45,914,874
2085 8,053,737 46,008,880
2084 8,006,588 46,099,604
2083 7,963,231 46,190,377
2082 7,918,571 46,272,999
2081 7,878,525 46,347,751
2080 7,822,491 46,423,514
2079 7,772,358 46,484,118
2078 7,718,520 46,537,169
2077 7,662,894 46,582,178
2076 7,607,491 46,607,029
2075 7,545,398 46,631,092
2074 7,490,761 46,646,324
2073 7,426,955 46,658,819
2072 7,364,831 46,658,396
2071 7,302,386 46,648,409
2070 7,237,419 46,633,600
2069 7,171,047 46,611,221
2068 7,100,633 46,588,049
2067 7,032,045 46,557,261
2066 6,958,496 46,518,384
2065 6,890,246 46,469,909
2064 6,820,756 46,405,405
2063 6,739,056 46,338,727
2062 6,665,261 46,260,178
2061 6,586,585 46,166,190
2060 6,506,537 46,064,001
2059 6,427,830 45,946,872
2058 6,348,527 45,825,593
2057 6,270,841 45,695,432
2056 6,199,452 45,554,612
2055 6,119,360 45,407,246
2054 6,044,997 45,241,331
2053 5,962,464 45,057,472
2052 5,877,006 44,862,361
2051 5,796,079 44,657,253
2050 5,715,974 44,434,221
2049 5,637,011 44,206,196
2048 5,554,665 43,963,591
2047 5,473,222 43,701,058
2046 5,391,902 43,427,087
2045 5,305,072 43,146,785
2044 5,220,319 42,855,667
2043 5,136,101 42,546,972
2042 5,048,602 42,229,093
2041 4,964,690 41,911,573
2040 4,875,172 41,587,509
2039 4,786,431 41,260,315
2038 4,697,052 40,918,517
2037 4,603,709 40,574,312
2036 4,510,757 40,223,758
2035 4,424,170 39,866,097
2034 4,336,556 39,505,672
2033 4,251,927 39,141,994
2032 4,168,824 38,762,420
2031 4,087,276 38,376,399
2030 4,002,343 37,985,824
2029 3,921,145 37,597,060
2028 3,839,994 37,198,261
2027 3,759,928 36,797,098
2026 3,682,948 36,393,693
2025 3,607,003 35,977,838
2024 3,535,603 35,557,673
2023 3,470,390 35,126,298
2022 3,409,447 34,695,493
2021 3,350,183 34,282,399
2020 3,291,271 33,889,558
2019 3,240,194 33,440,596
2018 3,192,760 32,910,967
2017 3,150,347 32,355,644
2016 3,124,698 31,789,685
2015 3,105,546 31,232,798
2014 3,095,173 30,696,137
2013 3,074,360 30,174,265
2012 3,036,988 29,662,831
2011 2,998,485 29,162,039
2010 2,945,186 28,655,776
2009 2,887,885 28,124,778
2008 2,816,327 27,570,059
2007 2,743,222 26,998,389
2006 2,703,502 26,417,909
2005 2,661,215 25,836,071
2004 2,598,284 25,256,772
2003 2,493,903 24,679,602
2002 2,392,978 24,102,477
2001 2,312,079 23,526,538
2000 2,247,031 22,967,816
1999 2,212,780 22,435,531
1998 2,180,419 21,906,713
1997 2,152,135 21,375,218
1996 2,128,464 20,850,087
1995 2,025,267 20,330,599
1994 1,913,915 19,820,446
1993 1,856,006 19,322,664
1992 1,798,748 18,834,572
1991 1,919,571 18,342,464
1990 2,032,737 17,833,171
1989 1,987,017 17,314,997
1988 1,938,255 16,796,605
1987 1,888,669 16,276,737
1986 1,845,164 15,760,419
1985 1,807,816 15,252,258
1984 1,771,730 14,759,009
1983 1,736,160 14,285,907
1982 1,695,461 13,832,798
1981 1,649,939 13,399,203
1980 1,605,797 12,983,363
1979 1,563,332 12,627,862
1978 1,522,378 12,328,157
1977 1,482,565 12,035,713
1976 1,443,807 11,750,097
1975 1,408,210 11,471,914
1974 1,375,688 11,200,906
1973 1,342,669 10,935,621
1972 1,309,235 10,676,835
1971 1,276,154 10,423,453
1970 1,243,453 10,178,802
1969 1,212,005 9,947,597
1968 1,181,737 9,725,281
1967 1,152,339 9,507,099
1966 1,124,957 9,284,688
1965 1,098,335 9,056,408
1964 1,071,287 8,828,406
1963 1,045,092 8,602,160
1962 1,019,788 8,380,172
1961 995,573 8,164,443
1960 972,547 7,956,197

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/malaysia | CC BY

From 2006 to 2016, the population of Eritrea increased by 421,196 people (a 15.6% growth), while Malaysia gained 5,371,776 people (a 20.3% growth).

For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, Eritrea gained 597,791 people (a 19.1% growth), while Malaysia's population increased by 4,811,221 people (a 15.1% growth).

Eritrea was ranked 135th most populous country in 2006 and is 131st in 2026. Malaysia was ranked 44th in 2006 and ranked 45th 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 Malaysia will increase by 21.4% to 44,434,221 people and rank change from 45th to 49th.

Eritrea is projected to reach its peak in 2100 at 8.52M people compared to the peak of 46.7M people in 2073 for Malaysia.

Population growth rate by year

Eritrea
Factual

Projection
Malaysia
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Growth rate
Eritrea Malaysia
2100 0.29% -0.26%
2099 0.27% -0.25%
2098 0.27% -0.26%
2097 0.26% -0.27%
2096 0.31% -0.26%
2095 0.31% -0.26%
2094 0.31% -0.26%
2093 0.43% -0.25%
2092 0.36% -0.25%
2091 0.42% -0.25%
2090 0.41% -0.24%
2089 0.46% -0.24%
2088 0.45% -0.23%
2087 0.53% -0.23%
2086 0.57% -0.2%
2085 0.59% -0.2%
2084 0.54% -0.2%
2083 0.56% -0.18%
2082 0.51% -0.16%
2081 0.72% -0.16%
2080 0.65% -0.13%
2079 0.7% -0.11%
2078 0.73% -0.1%
2077 0.73% -0.05%
2076 0.82% -0.05%
2075 0.73% -0.03%
2074 0.86% -0.03%
2073 0.84% 0.001%
2072 0.86% 0.02%
2071 0.9% 0.03%
2070 0.93% 0.05%
2069 0.99% 0.05%
2068 0.98% 0.07%
2067 1.06% 0.08%
2066 0.99% 0.1%
2065 1.02% 0.14%
2064 1.21% 0.14%
2063 1.11% 0.17%
2062 1.19% 0.2%
2061 1.23% 0.22%
2060 1.22% 0.25%
2059 1.25% 0.26%
2058 1.24% 0.28%
2057 1.15% 0.31%
2056 1.31% 0.32%
2055 1.23% 0.37%
2054 1.38% 0.41%
2053 1.45% 0.43%
2052 1.4% 0.46%
2051 1.4% 0.5%
2050 1.4% 0.52%
2049 1.48% 0.55%
2048 1.49% 0.6%
2047 1.51% 0.63%
2046 1.64% 0.65%
2045 1.62% 0.68%
2044 1.64% 0.73%
2043 1.73% 0.75%
2042 1.69% 0.76%
2041 1.84% 0.78%
2040 1.85% 0.79%
2039 1.9% 0.84%
2038 2.03% 0.85%
2037 2.06% 0.87%
2036 1.96% 0.9%
2035 2.02% 0.91%
2034 1.99% 0.93%
2033 1.99% 0.98%
2032 2% 1.01%
2031 2.12% 1.03%
2030 2.07% 1.03%
2029 2.11% 1.07%
2028 2.13% 1.09%
2027 2.09% 1.11%
2026 2.11% 1.16%
2025 2.02% 1.18%
2024 1.88% 1.23%
2023 1.79% 1.24%
2022 1.77% 1.2%
2021 1.79% 1.16%
2020 1.58% 1.34%
2019 1.49% 1.61%
2018 1.35% 1.72%
2017 0.82% 1.78%
2016 0.62% 1.78%
2015 0.34% 1.75%
2014 0.68% 1.73%
2013 1.23% 1.72%
2012 1.28% 1.72%
2011 1.81% 1.77%
2010 1.98% 1.89%
2009 2.54% 2.01%
2008 2.66% 2.12%
2007 1.47% 2.2%
2006 1.59% 2.25%
2005 2.42% 2.29%
2004 4.19% 2.34%
2003 4.22% 2.39%
2002 3.5% 2.45%
2001 2.89% 2.43%
2000 1.55% 2.37%
1999 1.48% 2.41%
1998 1.31% 2.49%
1997 1.11% 2.52%
1996 5.1% 2.56%
1995 5.82% 2.57%
1994 3.12% 2.58%
1993 3.18% 2.59%
1992 -6.29% 2.68%
1991 -5.57% 2.86%
1990 2.3% 2.99%
1989 2.52% 3.09%
1988 2.63% 3.19%
1987 2.36% 3.28%
1986 2.07% 3.33%
1985 2.04% 3.34%
1984 2.05% 3.31%
1983 2.4% 3.28%
1982 2.76% 3.24%
1981 2.75% 3.2%
1980 2.72% 2.82%
1979 2.69% 2.43%
1978 2.69% 2.43%
1977 2.68% 2.43%
1976 2.53% 2.42%
1975 2.36% 2.42%
1974 2.46% 2.43%
1973 2.55% 2.42%
1972 2.59% 2.43%
1971 2.63% 2.4%
1970 2.59% 2.32%
1969 2.56% 2.29%
1968 2.55% 2.29%
1967 2.43% 2.4%
1966 2.42% 2.52%
1965 2.52% 2.58%
1964 2.51% 2.63%
1963 2.48% 2.65%
1962 2.43% 2.64%
1961 2.37% 2.62%

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/malaysia | CC BY

In 2025, the population of Eritrea grew by 2.02%, while Malaysia's population grew by 1.18%.

Live population counters

Eritrea Malaysia
Current population
3722489
36600906
Population rank 131/197 45/197
Percent of world population 0.04% 0.44%
One net population change
7.38 minutes
1.25 minutes
One birth every
5.18 minutes
1.2 minutes
One death every
24.8 minutes
2.8 minutes
Daily growth/decline +196 +1,151
Annual growth/decline +71,400 +420,165
Annual growth/decline rate +2.02% +1.18%
Population growth rate rank 49/197 89/197
One migration net change every
1.31 hours
3.16 minutes
Annual migration change -6,698 +166,615
Net migration rank 122/196 7/196
Foreign-born residents 12,512 3,806,514
Foreign-born residents rank 176/195 18/195
Foreign-born share of population 0.4% 10.7%
Foreign-born share rank 178/195 62/195

Natural population change vs migration

Eritrea
Natural

Migration
Malaysia
Natural

Migration
1x
Year Population change
Eritrea Malaysia
Natural Migration Natural Migration
2025 - -6,698 - 166,615
2024 80,343 -12,696 252,068 174,770
2023 78,073 -15,284 254,806 181,071
2022 76,221 -17,134 237,560 188,154
2021 74,394 -14,966 212,002 188,506
2020 73,362 -14,967 283,282 101,907
2019 73,572 -29,818 309,426 203,284
2018 72,511 -21,403 324,568 221,965
2017 72,291 -38,579 336,434 227,677
2016 73,002 -55,431 345,681 222,141
2015 73,682 -52,965 358,302 187,663
2014 75,729 -75,696 367,587 159,791
2013 75,562 -33,974 366,738 149,637
2012 76,416 -43,269 371,497 134,975
2011 76,806 -32,949 372,836 122,269
2010 76,098 -13,361 360,260 157,164
2009 76,206 -24,348 366,157 178,410
2008 73,391 17,855 362,380 202,481
2007 73,101 -18,131 348,711 229,784
2006 74,470 -49,998 349,509 232,971
2005 72,930 -12,835 355,324 225,864
2004 72,147 -6,374 365,138 212,278
2003 66,291 76,703 377,425 199,510
2002 65,436 -6,574 381,084 196,227
2001 61,180 41,760 400,939 173,613
2000 60,274 -33,133 417,371 125,499
1999 45,120 -3,769 432,355 89,335
1998 55,332 -31,951 436,316 99,639
1997 63,953 -30,768 447,768 79,266
1996 66,557 -52,421 450,174 73,040
1995 56,157 136,105 443,349 72,393
1994 56,288 -25,841 437,873 66,685
1993 51,679 33,688 429,910 61,079
1992 51,443 -22,293 418,900 66,286
1991 57,741 -328,546 401,938 97,111
1990 56,903 -12,425 384,518 135,020
1989 54,299 -7,330 373,277 143,544
1988 54,163 -3,612 386,507 133,478
1987 52,229 -3,613 381,999 137,759
1986 39,470 -1,073 385,799 127,081
1985 37,362 -1,073 383,243 120,215
1984 35,101 772 376,797 106,248
1983 33,420 1,853 365,290 97,862
1982 44,146 1,985 353,138 89,942
1981 42,924 1,985 339,991 84,142
1980 41,392 1,985 326,947 80,617
1979 39,577 1,985 317,439 -13,980
1978 38,353 1,985 311,027 -15,059
1977 37,295 1,985 305,515 -16,601
1976 36,250 1,985 300,615 -18,316
1975 30,971 1,985 294,541 -20,480
1974 30,111 1,985 289,880 -21,919
1973 31,969 1,985 284,611 -21,995
1972 30,951 1,953 276,263 -21,305
1971 31,490 1,758 272,323 -20,535
1970 30,686 1,480 269,341 -31,839
1969 29,535 1,199 264,327 -39,420
1968 28,777 1,013 260,705 -40,996
1967 27,992 1,004 258,764 -42,108
1966 24,713 1,063 262,162 -33,993
1965 26,285 1,188 264,836 -36,456
1964 25,327 1,300 266,406 -38,785
1963 24,393 1,368 265,815 -40,952
1962 23,478 1,364 262,140 -43,033
1961 22,351 1,235 257,270 -44,916
1960 21,424 1,045 251,090 -46,948

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

GeoRank.org/population/eritrea/malaysia | 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 Malaysia 60.6% is from natural causes (a gain of 2,914,129 people) and 39.4% is from migration (a gain of 1,897,138 people).

As of 2024, 12,512 residents or 0.4% of the population were not native-born in Eritrea, compared to 3,806,514 people or 10.7% in Malaysia.

Biggest cities by population

Eritrea
City Population
Asmara 963K
Keren 120K
Massawa 39.8K
Mendefera 28.5K
Malaysia
City Population
Kuala Lumpur 9M
Klang 878K
Ipoh 867K
Johor Bahru 798K
George Town 794K
Shah Alam 741K
Subang Jaya 708K
Petaling Jaya 639K
Kuantan 608K
Sungai Petani 545K

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/malaysia | 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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