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

Updated on by Georank team

The latest officially reported population of Eritrea was 3,535,603 in 2024 vs 24,478,595 people in Mali in 2024. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Eritrea's population is 3,700,586 people compared to 26,143,152 in Mali.

Population statistics:

  • Mali's population is 7.06 times bigger than Eritrea's.
  • Eritrea is ranked the 130th most populous country in the world, while Mali is the 58th.
  • The countries together account for 0.36% of the world: 0.04% for Eritrea vs 0.32% for Mali.
  • For the last 10 years, Eritrea has had an average growth rate of +1.28% per year vs +3.12% in Mali.
  • Since 2006, the population of Eritrea has increased from 2.7M people to 3.7M (36.9% growth), while Mali has grown from 14M to 26.1M (86.9% growth).

Eritrea vs Mali: population by year and forecast

Eritrea
Factual

Projection
Mali
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
Eritrea Mali
2100 8,514,681 80,371,693
2099 8,489,924 80,051,982
2098 8,466,983 79,712,985
2097 8,444,468 79,363,373
2096 8,422,323 78,996,636
2095 8,396,086 78,611,169
2094 8,370,114 78,201,275
2093 8,344,405 77,780,277
2092 8,309,034 77,346,576
2091 8,278,860 76,892,849
2090 8,243,905 76,418,075
2089 8,209,883 75,924,551
2088 8,172,664 75,413,374
2087 8,136,016 74,882,872
2086 8,093,065 74,339,859
2085 8,046,814 73,778,163
2084 7,999,706 73,197,940
2083 7,956,385 72,596,727
2082 7,911,764 71,983,705
2081 7,871,753 71,348,537
2080 7,815,766 70,707,220
2079 7,765,677 70,044,626
2078 7,711,886 69,367,218
2077 7,656,307 68,675,750
2076 7,600,951 67,972,574
2075 7,538,912 67,256,565
2074 7,484,322 66,523,454
2073 7,420,571 65,776,035
2072 7,358,500 65,016,928
2071 7,296,109 64,239,726
2070 7,231,198 63,457,636
2069 7,164,883 62,664,074
2068 7,094,530 61,857,029
2067 7,026,000 61,042,577
2066 6,952,514 60,222,511
2065 6,884,323 59,400,594
2064 6,814,893 58,567,263
2063 6,733,263 57,727,308
2062 6,659,531 56,880,111
2061 6,580,923 56,026,848
2060 6,500,944 55,166,339
2059 6,422,305 54,304,533
2058 6,343,070 53,437,711
2057 6,265,450 52,565,517
2056 6,194,123 51,691,907
2055 6,114,099 50,813,138
2054 6,039,801 49,936,085
2053 5,957,339 49,053,898
2052 5,871,954 48,167,179
2051 5,791,096 47,280,403
2050 5,711,061 46,390,999
2049 5,632,165 45,505,968
2048 5,549,890 44,617,075
2047 5,468,518 43,730,396
2046 5,387,267 42,840,806
2045 5,300,511 41,951,176
2044 5,215,831 41,061,960
2043 5,131,686 40,172,937
2042 5,044,262 39,286,024
2041 4,960,422 38,406,403
2040 4,870,981 37,525,963
2039 4,782,316 36,652,557
2038 4,693,015 35,772,629
2037 4,599,752 34,902,845
2036 4,506,879 34,036,236
2035 4,420,367 33,178,665
2034 4,332,828 32,328,037
2033 4,248,272 31,486,276
2032 4,165,241 30,655,886
2031 4,083,762 29,833,522
2030 3,998,903 29,028,860
2029 3,917,775 28,235,559
2028 3,836,693 27,456,170
2027 3,756,696 26,690,187
2026 3,679,782 25,940,320
2025 3,603,902 25,201,616
2024 3,535,603 24,478,595
2023 3,470,390 23,769,127
2022 3,409,447 23,072,640
2021 3,350,183 22,388,630
2020 3,291,271 21,713,836
2019 3,240,194 21,068,405
2018 3,192,760 20,442,030
2017 3,150,347 19,813,011
2016 3,124,698 19,191,289
2015 3,105,546 18,593,022
2014 3,095,173 18,020,267
2013 3,074,360 17,459,615
2012 3,036,988 16,957,033
2011 2,998,485 16,469,049
2010 2,945,186 15,945,198
2009 2,887,885 15,435,539
2008 2,816,327 14,940,782
2007 2,743,222 14,457,775
2006 2,703,502 13,990,139
2005 2,661,215 13,538,647
2004 2,598,284 13,102,409
2003 2,493,903 12,684,955
2002 2,392,978 12,288,050
2001 2,312,079 11,912,158
2000 2,247,031 11,559,290
1999 2,212,780 11,227,415
1998 2,180,419 10,919,573
1997 2,152,135 10,646,495
1996 2,128,464 10,407,278
1995 2,025,267 10,185,365
1994 1,913,915 9,967,031
1993 1,856,006 9,754,786
1992 1,798,748 9,553,540
1991 1,919,571 9,362,888
1990 2,032,737 9,178,830
1989 1,987,017 8,999,938
1988 1,938,255 8,833,996
1987 1,888,669 8,681,164
1986 1,845,164 8,531,277
1985 1,807,816 8,374,663
1984 1,771,730 8,208,599
1983 1,736,160 8,034,400
1982 1,695,461 7,860,194
1981 1,649,939 7,692,766
1980 1,605,797 7,530,515
1979 1,563,332 7,375,266
1978 1,522,378 7,229,651
1977 1,482,565 7,090,979
1976 1,443,807 6,960,979
1975 1,408,210 6,837,261
1974 1,375,688 6,715,436
1973 1,342,669 6,597,106
1972 1,309,235 6,483,726
1971 1,276,154 6,377,944
1970 1,243,453 6,276,472
1969 1,212,005 6,177,704
1968 1,181,737 6,082,979
1967 1,152,339 5,990,906
1966 1,124,957 5,902,204
1965 1,098,335 5,815,487
1964 1,071,287 5,730,125
1963 1,045,092 5,646,605
1962 1,019,788 5,563,917
1961 995,573 5,482,283
1960 972,547 5,402,550

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/mali | CC BY

From 2006 to 2016, the population of Eritrea increased by 421,196 people (a 15.6% growth), while Mali gained 5,201,150 people (a 37.2% growth).

For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, Eritrea gained 575,888 people (a 18.4% growth), while Mali's population increased by 6,951,863 people (a 36.2% growth).

Eritrea was ranked 135th most populous country in 2006 and is 130th in 2026. Mali was ranked 66th in 2006 and ranked 58th 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 Mali will increase by 77.4% to 46,390,999 people and rank change from 58th to 46th.

Eritrea is projected to reach its peak in 2100 at 8.51M people compared to the peak of 80.4M people in 2100 for Mali.

Population growth rate by year

Eritrea
Factual

Projection
Mali
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Growth rate
Eritrea Mali
2100 0.29% 0.4%
2099 0.27% 0.43%
2098 0.27% 0.44%
2097 0.26% 0.46%
2096 0.31% 0.49%
2095 0.31% 0.52%
2094 0.31% 0.54%
2093 0.43% 0.56%
2092 0.36% 0.59%
2091 0.42% 0.62%
2090 0.41% 0.65%
2089 0.46% 0.68%
2088 0.45% 0.71%
2087 0.53% 0.73%
2086 0.57% 0.76%
2085 0.59% 0.79%
2084 0.54% 0.83%
2083 0.56% 0.85%
2082 0.51% 0.89%
2081 0.72% 0.91%
2080 0.65% 0.95%
2079 0.7% 0.98%
2078 0.73% 1.01%
2077 0.73% 1.03%
2076 0.82% 1.06%
2075 0.73% 1.1%
2074 0.86% 1.14%
2073 0.84% 1.17%
2072 0.86% 1.21%
2071 0.9% 1.23%
2070 0.93% 1.27%
2069 0.99% 1.3%
2068 0.98% 1.33%
2067 1.06% 1.36%
2066 0.99% 1.38%
2065 1.02% 1.42%
2064 1.21% 1.46%
2063 1.11% 1.49%
2062 1.19% 1.52%
2061 1.23% 1.56%
2060 1.22% 1.59%
2059 1.25% 1.62%
2058 1.24% 1.66%
2057 1.15% 1.69%
2056 1.31% 1.73%
2055 1.23% 1.76%
2054 1.38% 1.8%
2053 1.45% 1.84%
2052 1.4% 1.88%
2051 1.4% 1.92%
2050 1.4% 1.94%
2049 1.48% 1.99%
2048 1.49% 2.03%
2047 1.51% 2.08%
2046 1.64% 2.12%
2045 1.62% 2.17%
2044 1.64% 2.21%
2043 1.73% 2.26%
2042 1.69% 2.29%
2041 1.84% 2.35%
2040 1.85% 2.38%
2039 1.9% 2.46%
2038 2.03% 2.49%
2037 2.06% 2.55%
2036 1.96% 2.58%
2035 2.02% 2.63%
2034 1.99% 2.67%
2033 1.99% 2.71%
2032 2% 2.76%
2031 2.12% 2.77%
2030 2.07% 2.81%
2029 2.11% 2.84%
2028 2.13% 2.87%
2027 2.09% 2.89%
2026 2.11% 2.93%
2025 1.93% 2.95%
2024 1.88% 2.98%
2023 1.79% 3.02%
2022 1.77% 3.06%
2021 1.79% 3.11%
2020 1.58% 3.06%
2019 1.49% 3.06%
2018 1.35% 3.17%
2017 0.82% 3.24%
2016 0.62% 3.22%
2015 0.34% 3.18%
2014 0.68% 3.21%
2013 1.23% 2.96%
2012 1.28% 2.96%
2011 1.81% 3.29%
2010 1.98% 3.3%
2009 2.54% 3.31%
2008 2.66% 3.34%
2007 1.47% 3.34%
2006 1.59% 3.33%
2005 2.42% 3.33%
2004 4.19% 3.29%
2003 4.22% 3.23%
2002 3.5% 3.16%
2001 2.89% 3.05%
2000 1.55% 2.96%
1999 1.48% 2.82%
1998 1.31% 2.56%
1997 1.11% 2.3%
1996 5.1% 2.18%
1995 5.82% 2.19%
1994 3.12% 2.18%
1993 3.18% 2.11%
1992 -6.29% 2.04%
1991 -5.57% 2.01%
1990 2.3% 1.99%
1989 2.52% 1.88%
1988 2.63% 1.76%
1987 2.36% 1.76%
1986 2.07% 1.87%
1985 2.04% 2.02%
1984 2.05% 2.17%
1983 2.4% 2.22%
1982 2.76% 2.18%
1981 2.75% 2.15%
1980 2.72% 2.1%
1979 2.69% 2.01%
1978 2.69% 1.96%
1977 2.68% 1.87%
1976 2.53% 1.81%
1975 2.36% 1.81%
1974 2.46% 1.79%
1973 2.55% 1.75%
1972 2.59% 1.66%
1971 2.63% 1.62%
1970 2.59% 1.6%
1969 2.56% 1.56%
1968 2.55% 1.54%
1967 2.43% 1.5%
1966 2.42% 1.49%
1965 2.52% 1.49%
1964 2.51% 1.48%
1963 2.48% 1.49%
1962 2.43% 1.49%
1961 2.37% 1.48%

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/mali | CC BY

In 2024, the population of Eritrea grew by 1.88%, while Mali's population grew by 2.98%.

Live population counters

Eritrea Mali
Current population
3700586
26143152
Population rank 130/197 58/197
Percent of world population 0.04% 0.32%
One net population change
8.06 minutes
44.5 seconds
One birth every
5.31 minutes
33.1 seconds
One death every
25 minutes
2.56 minutes
Daily growth/decline +179 +1,944
Annual growth/decline +65,213 +709,468
Annual growth/decline rate +1.88% +2.98%
Population growth rate rank 58/197 15/197
One migration net change every
1.31 hours
11 minutes
Annual migration change -6,698 -48,019
Net migration rank 122/196 173/196
Foreign-born residents 12,512 545,323
Foreign-born residents rank 176/195 76/195
Foreign-born share of population 0.4% 2.2%
Foreign-born share rank 178/195 131/195

Natural population change vs migration

Eritrea
Natural

Migration
Mali
Natural

Migration
1x
Year Population change
Eritrea Mali
Natural Migration Natural Migration
2025 - -6,698 - -48,019
2024 - -12,696 - -46,880
2023 78,073 -15,284 746,398 -39,953
2022 76,221 -17,134 726,465 -39,951
2021 74,394 -14,966 703,674 -22,210
2020 73,362 -14,967 683,053 -14,962
2019 73,572 -29,818 667,110 -44,373
2018 72,511 -21,403 670,723 -40,710
2017 72,291 -38,579 661,973 -33,942
2016 73,002 -55,431 645,652 -30,251
2015 73,682 -52,965 630,006 -48,872
2014 75,729 -75,696 614,419 -50,068
2013 75,562 -33,974 597,887 -40,951
2012 76,416 -43,269 588,748 -140,507
2011 76,806 -32,949 570,899 -43,160
2010 76,098 -13,361 554,447 -34,483
2009 76,206 -24,348 533,730 -34,383
2008 73,391 17,855 514,665 -24,509
2007 73,101 -18,131 495,800 -19,945
2006 74,470 -49,998 477,665 -18,247
2005 72,930 -12,835 460,964 -17,413
2004 72,147 -6,374 439,717 -10,796
2003 66,291 76,703 417,766 -11,768
2002 65,436 -6,574 396,732 -8,914
2001 61,180 41,760 376,472 -12,507
2000 60,274 -33,133 359,159 -17,395
1999 45,120 -3,769 343,705 -21,702
1998 55,332 -31,951 323,940 -30,255
1997 63,953 -30,768 308,429 -55,978
1996 66,557 -52,421 293,953 -67,974
1995 56,157 136,105 285,598 -67,763
1994 56,288 -25,841 282,356 -63,533
1993 51,679 33,688 274,480 -68,816
1992 51,443 -22,293 267,605 -70,789
1991 57,741 -328,546 261,656 -77,172
1990 56,903 -12,425 252,308 -68,668
1989 54,299 -7,330 249,929 -75,771
1988 54,163 -3,612 245,682 -87,952
1987 52,229 -3,613 238,871 -90,940
1986 39,470 -1,073 233,799 -81,970
1985 37,362 -1,073 224,734 -63,347
1984 35,101 772 218,078 -47,331
1983 33,420 1,853 211,795 -34,132
1982 44,146 1,985 204,892 -34,140
1981 42,924 1,985 198,227 -34,130
1980 41,392 1,985 190,560 -30,156
1979 39,577 1,985 182,449 -32,353
1978 38,353 1,985 172,652 -31,520
1977 37,295 1,985 165,071 -28,853
1976 36,250 1,985 157,778 -33,999
1975 30,971 1,985 150,222 -26,572
1974 30,111 1,985 142,448 -22,449
1973 31,969 1,985 135,801 -19,137
1972 30,951 1,953 129,687 -19,594
1971 31,490 1,758 123,591 -22,127
1970 30,686 1,480 118,952 -17,479
1969 29,535 1,199 114,361 -18,302
1968 28,777 1,013 111,403 -18,015
1967 27,992 1,004 107,650 -16,900
1966 24,713 1,063 103,684 -17,032
1965 26,285 1,188 100,451 -13,662
1964 25,327 1,300 97,166 -13,226
1963 24,393 1,368 95,055 -11,951
1962 23,478 1,364 93,101 -10,821
1961 22,351 1,235 91,115 -10,139
1960 21,424 1,045 88,802 -10,314

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

GeoRank.org/population/eritrea/mali | 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 Mali 94.9% is from natural causes (a gain of 6,749,473 people) and 5.13% is from migration (a loss of 365,292 people).

As of 2024, 12,512 residents or 0.4% of the population were not native-born in Eritrea, compared to 545,323 people or 2.2% in Mali.

Biggest cities by population

Eritrea
City Population
Asmara 963K
Keren 120K
Massawa 39.8K
Mendefera 28.5K
Mali
City Population
Bamako 4.23M
Sikasso 214K
Segou 134K
Bougouni 59.7K
Markala 46K
Koulikoro 43.2K
Banamba 30.6K

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/mali | 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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