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

Updated on by Georank

The latest officially reported population of Eritrea was 3,607,003 in 2025 vs 25,198,821 people in Mali in 2025. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Eritrea's population is 3,722,489 people compared to 26,322,576 in Mali.

Population statistics:

  • Mali's population is 7.07 times bigger than Eritrea's.
  • Eritrea is ranked the 131st 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 +1.4% per year vs +3.1% in Mali.
  • Since 2006, the population of Eritrea has increased from 2.7M people to 3.72M (37.7% growth), while Mali has grown from 14M to 26.3M (88.2% growth).

Eritrea vs Mali: population by year and forecast

Eritrea
Factual

Projection
Mali
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
Eritrea Mali
2100 8,522,007 80,362,778
2099 8,497,228 80,043,103
2098 8,474,268 79,704,143
2097 8,451,733 79,354,569
2096 8,429,569 78,987,874
2095 8,403,309 78,602,449
2094 8,377,316 78,192,601
2093 8,351,585 77,771,649
2092 8,316,183 77,337,997
2091 8,285,983 76,884,320
2090 8,250,998 76,409,599
2089 8,216,946 75,916,129
2088 8,179,696 75,405,009
2087 8,143,016 74,874,565
2086 8,100,028 74,331,613
2085 8,053,737 73,769,979
2084 8,006,588 73,189,821
2083 7,963,231 72,588,675
2082 7,918,571 71,975,720
2081 7,878,525 71,340,622
2080 7,822,491 70,699,377
2079 7,772,358 70,036,857
2078 7,718,520 69,359,523
2077 7,662,894 68,668,133
2076 7,607,491 67,965,034
2075 7,545,398 67,249,105
2074 7,490,761 66,516,075
2073 7,426,955 65,768,739
2072 7,364,831 65,009,716
2071 7,302,386 64,232,600
2070 7,237,419 63,450,597
2069 7,171,047 62,657,123
2068 7,100,633 61,850,168
2067 7,032,045 61,035,806
2066 6,958,496 60,215,831
2065 6,890,246 59,394,005
2064 6,820,756 58,560,766
2063 6,739,056 57,720,905
2062 6,665,261 56,873,801
2061 6,586,585 56,020,633
2060 6,506,537 55,160,220
2059 6,427,830 54,298,509
2058 6,348,527 53,431,783
2057 6,270,841 52,559,686
2056 6,199,452 51,686,173
2055 6,119,360 50,807,502
2054 6,044,997 49,930,546
2053 5,962,464 49,048,457
2052 5,877,006 48,161,836
2051 5,796,079 47,275,159
2050 5,715,974 46,385,854
2049 5,637,011 45,500,920
2048 5,554,665 44,612,126
2047 5,473,222 43,725,546
2046 5,391,902 42,836,054
2045 5,305,072 41,946,522
2044 5,220,319 41,057,406
2043 5,136,101 40,168,481
2042 5,048,602 39,281,666
2041 4,964,690 38,402,142
2040 4,875,172 37,521,801
2039 4,786,431 36,648,491
2038 4,697,052 35,768,661
2037 4,603,709 34,898,973
2036 4,510,757 34,032,460
2035 4,424,170 33,174,985
2034 4,336,556 32,324,451
2033 4,251,927 31,482,783
2032 4,168,824 30,652,485
2031 4,087,276 29,830,213
2030 4,002,343 29,025,640
2029 3,921,145 28,232,427
2028 3,839,994 27,453,124
2027 3,759,928 26,687,226
2026 3,682,948 25,937,442
2025 3,607,003 25,198,821
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 (2026–2100, retrieved 2026-07-08); World Bank | Health (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08).

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 597,791 people (a 19.1% growth), while Mali's population increased by 7,131,287 people (a 37.2% growth).

Eritrea was ranked 135th most populous country in 2006 and is 131st 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 53.6% to 5,715,974 people with a rank change from 131st to 123rd. The population of Mali will increase by 76.2% to 46,385,854 people and rank change from 58th to 47th.

Eritrea is projected to reach its peak in 2100 at 8.52M 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 2.02% 2.94%
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 (2026–2100, retrieved 2026-07-08); World Bank | Health (1961–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08).

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

In 2025, the population of Eritrea grew by 2.02%, while Mali's population grew by 2.94%.

Live population counters

Eritrea Mali
Current population
3722489
26322576
Population rank 131/197 58/197
Percent of world population 0.04% 0.32%
One net population change
7.38 minutes
43.9 seconds
One birth every
5.18 minutes
32.6 seconds
One death every
24.8 minutes
2.52 minutes
Daily growth/decline +196 +1,973
Annual growth/decline +71,400 +720,226
Annual growth/decline rate +2.02% +2.94%
Population growth rate rank 49/197 14/197
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 80,343 -12,696 759,375 -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 2026-07-08).

GeoRank.org/population/eritrea/mali | 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 Mali 95% is from natural causes (a gain of 6,894,429 people) and 4.99% is from migration (a loss of 362,104 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 226K
Segou 131K
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 (1960–2025, 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/mali | 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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