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Population in Eritrea compared to the Netherlands: Trends, Charts, Rankings

Updated on by Georank team

The latest officially reported population of Eritrea was 3,535,603 in 2024 vs 17,993,485 people in the Netherlands in 2024. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Eritrea's population is 3,700,586 people compared to 18,252,623 in the Netherlands.

Population statistics:

  • The Netherlands' population is 4.93 times bigger than Eritrea's.
  • Eritrea is ranked the 130th most populous country in the world, while the Netherlands is the 72nd.
  • The countries together account for 0.26% of the world: 0.04% for Eritrea vs 0.22% for the Netherlands.
  • For the last 10 years, Eritrea has had an average growth rate of +1.28% per year vs +0.62% in the Netherlands.
  • Since 2006, the population of Eritrea has increased from 2.7M people to 3.7M (36.9% growth), while the Netherlands has grown from 16.3M to 18.3M (11.7% growth).

Eritrea vs Netherlands: population by year and forecast

Eritrea
Factual

Projection
Netherlands
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
Eritrea Netherlands
2100 8,514,681 17,359,081
2099 8,489,924 17,392,412
2098 8,466,983 17,425,508
2097 8,444,468 17,459,827
2096 8,422,323 17,495,124
2095 8,396,086 17,532,593
2094 8,370,114 17,571,051
2093 8,344,405 17,610,792
2092 8,309,034 17,649,611
2091 8,278,860 17,688,532
2090 8,243,905 17,730,570
2089 8,209,883 17,770,380
2088 8,172,664 17,809,825
2087 8,136,016 17,845,820
2086 8,093,065 17,885,001
2085 8,046,814 17,921,302
2084 7,999,706 17,957,639
2083 7,956,385 17,994,232
2082 7,911,764 18,029,404
2081 7,871,753 18,063,233
2080 7,815,766 18,093,703
2079 7,765,677 18,124,294
2078 7,711,886 18,152,738
2077 7,656,307 18,181,372
2076 7,600,951 18,206,864
2075 7,538,912 18,227,791
2074 7,484,322 18,245,652
2073 7,420,571 18,263,765
2072 7,358,500 18,280,443
2071 7,296,109 18,295,700
2070 7,231,198 18,311,141
2069 7,164,883 18,326,509
2068 7,094,530 18,341,711
2067 7,026,000 18,356,770
2066 6,952,514 18,374,904
2065 6,884,323 18,396,018
2064 6,814,893 18,417,894
2063 6,733,263 18,441,434
2062 6,659,531 18,464,922
2061 6,580,923 18,492,436
2060 6,500,944 18,520,315
2059 6,422,305 18,548,786
2058 6,343,070 18,577,700
2057 6,265,450 18,608,370
2056 6,194,123 18,638,918
2055 6,114,099 18,666,514
2054 6,039,801 18,692,598
2053 5,957,339 18,718,268
2052 5,871,954 18,741,740
2051 5,791,096 18,768,309
2050 5,711,061 18,789,481
2049 5,632,165 18,809,886
2048 5,549,890 18,827,655
2047 5,468,518 18,844,635
2046 5,387,267 18,855,920
2045 5,300,511 18,867,286
2044 5,215,831 18,877,101
2043 5,131,686 18,882,735
2042 5,044,262 18,885,839
2041 4,960,422 18,885,255
2040 4,870,981 18,879,571
2039 4,782,316 18,870,248
2038 4,693,015 18,855,512
2037 4,599,752 18,837,172
2036 4,506,879 18,811,873
2035 4,420,367 18,783,312
2034 4,332,828 18,750,125
2033 4,248,272 18,708,101
2032 4,165,241 18,662,054
2031 4,083,762 18,609,452
2030 3,998,903 18,549,634
2029 3,917,775 18,481,269
2028 3,836,693 18,404,195
2027 3,756,696 18,320,644
2026 3,679,782 18,227,403
2025 3,603,902 18,118,662
2024 3,535,603 17,993,485
2023 3,470,390 17,877,117
2022 3,409,447 17,700,982
2021 3,350,183 17,533,044
2020 3,291,271 17,441,500
2019 3,240,194 17,344,874
2018 3,192,760 17,231,624
2017 3,150,347 17,131,296
2016 3,124,698 17,030,314
2015 3,105,546 16,939,923
2014 3,095,173 16,865,008
2013 3,074,360 16,804,432
2012 3,036,988 16,754,962
2011 2,998,485 16,693,074
2010 2,945,186 16,615,394
2009 2,887,885 16,530,388
2008 2,816,327 16,445,593
2007 2,743,222 16,381,696
2006 2,703,502 16,346,101
2005 2,661,215 16,319,868
2004 2,598,284 16,281,779
2003 2,493,903 16,225,302
2002 2,392,978 16,148,929
2001 2,312,079 16,046,180
2000 2,247,031 15,925,513
1999 2,212,780 15,812,088
1998 2,180,419 15,707,209
1997 2,152,135 15,610,650
1996 2,128,464 15,530,498
1995 2,025,267 15,459,006
1994 1,913,915 15,382,838
1993 1,856,006 15,290,368
1992 1,798,748 15,184,166
1991 1,919,571 15,069,798
1990 2,032,737 14,951,510
1989 1,987,017 14,848,907
1988 1,938,255 14,760,094
1987 1,888,669 14,665,037
1986 1,845,164 14,572,278
1985 1,807,816 14,491,632
1984 1,771,730 14,424,211
1983 1,736,160 14,367,070
1982 1,695,461 14,312,690
1981 1,649,939 14,247,208
1980 1,605,797 14,149,800
1979 1,563,332 14,038,270
1978 1,522,378 13,941,700
1977 1,482,565 13,856,185
1976 1,443,807 13,774,037
1975 1,408,210 13,666,335
1974 1,375,688 13,545,056
1973 1,342,669 13,439,322
1972 1,309,235 13,328,593
1971 1,276,154 13,194,497
1970 1,243,453 13,038,526
1969 1,212,005 12,877,984
1968 1,181,737 12,729,721
1967 1,152,339 12,598,201
1966 1,124,957 12,456,251
1965 1,098,335 12,294,732
1964 1,071,287 12,127,120
1963 1,045,092 11,965,966
1962 1,019,788 11,805,689
1961 995,573 11,638,712
1960 972,547 11,486,631

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/netherlands | CC BY

From 2006 to 2016, the population of Eritrea increased by 421,196 people (a 15.6% growth), while the Netherlands gained 684,213 people (a 4.19% growth).

For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, Eritrea gained 575,888 people (a 18.4% growth), while the Netherlands' population increased by 1,222,309 people (a 7.18% growth).

Eritrea was ranked 135th most populous country in 2006 and is 130th in 2026. The Netherlands was ranked 61st in 2006 and ranked 72nd 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 the Netherlands will increase by 2.94% to 18,789,481 people and rank change from 72nd to 77th.

Eritrea is projected to reach its peak in 2100 at 8.51M people compared to the peak of 18.9M people in 2042 for the Netherlands.

Population growth rate by year

Eritrea
Factual

Projection
Netherlands
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Growth rate
Eritrea Netherlands
2100 0.29% -0.19%
2099 0.27% -0.19%
2098 0.27% -0.2%
2097 0.26% -0.2%
2096 0.31% -0.21%
2095 0.31% -0.22%
2094 0.31% -0.23%
2093 0.43% -0.22%
2092 0.36% -0.22%
2091 0.42% -0.24%
2090 0.41% -0.22%
2089 0.46% -0.22%
2088 0.45% -0.2%
2087 0.53% -0.22%
2086 0.57% -0.2%
2085 0.59% -0.2%
2084 0.54% -0.2%
2083 0.56% -0.2%
2082 0.51% -0.19%
2081 0.72% -0.17%
2080 0.65% -0.17%
2079 0.7% -0.16%
2078 0.73% -0.16%
2077 0.73% -0.14%
2076 0.82% -0.11%
2075 0.73% -0.1%
2074 0.86% -0.1%
2073 0.84% -0.09%
2072 0.86% -0.08%
2071 0.9% -0.08%
2070 0.93% -0.08%
2069 0.99% -0.08%
2068 0.98% -0.08%
2067 1.06% -0.1%
2066 0.99% -0.11%
2065 1.02% -0.12%
2064 1.21% -0.13%
2063 1.11% -0.13%
2062 1.19% -0.15%
2061 1.23% -0.15%
2060 1.22% -0.15%
2059 1.25% -0.16%
2058 1.24% -0.16%
2057 1.15% -0.16%
2056 1.31% -0.15%
2055 1.23% -0.14%
2054 1.38% -0.14%
2053 1.45% -0.13%
2052 1.4% -0.14%
2051 1.4% -0.11%
2050 1.4% -0.11%
2049 1.48% -0.09%
2048 1.49% -0.09%
2047 1.51% -0.06%
2046 1.64% -0.06%
2045 1.62% -0.05%
2044 1.64% -0.03%
2043 1.73% -0.02%
2042 1.69% 0.003%
2041 1.84% 0.03%
2040 1.85% 0.05%
2039 1.9% 0.08%
2038 2.03% 0.1%
2037 2.06% 0.13%
2036 1.96% 0.15%
2035 2.02% 0.18%
2034 1.99% 0.22%
2033 1.99% 0.25%
2032 2% 0.28%
2031 2.12% 0.32%
2030 2.07% 0.37%
2029 2.11% 0.42%
2028 2.13% 0.46%
2027 2.09% 0.51%
2026 2.11% 0.6%
2025 1.93% 0.7%
2024 1.88% 0.65%
2023 1.79% 1%
2022 1.77% 0.96%
2021 1.79% 0.52%
2020 1.58% 0.56%
2019 1.49% 0.66%
2018 1.35% 0.59%
2017 0.82% 0.59%
2016 0.62% 0.53%
2015 0.34% 0.44%
2014 0.68% 0.36%
2013 1.23% 0.3%
2012 1.28% 0.37%
2011 1.81% 0.47%
2010 1.98% 0.51%
2009 2.54% 0.52%
2008 2.66% 0.39%
2007 1.47% 0.22%
2006 1.59% 0.16%
2005 2.42% 0.23%
2004 4.19% 0.35%
2003 4.22% 0.47%
2002 3.5% 0.64%
2001 2.89% 0.76%
2000 1.55% 0.72%
1999 1.48% 0.67%
1998 1.31% 0.62%
1997 1.11% 0.52%
1996 5.1% 0.46%
1995 5.82% 0.5%
1994 3.12% 0.6%
1993 3.18% 0.7%
1992 -6.29% 0.76%
1991 -5.57% 0.79%
1990 2.3% 0.69%
1989 2.52% 0.6%
1988 2.63% 0.65%
1987 2.36% 0.64%
1986 2.07% 0.56%
1985 2.04% 0.47%
1984 2.05% 0.4%
1983 2.4% 0.38%
1982 2.76% 0.46%
1981 2.75% 0.69%
1980 2.72% 0.79%
1979 2.69% 0.69%
1978 2.69% 0.62%
1977 2.68% 0.6%
1976 2.53% 0.79%
1975 2.36% 0.9%
1974 2.46% 0.79%
1973 2.55% 0.83%
1972 2.59% 1.02%
1971 2.63% 1.2%
1970 2.59% 1.25%
1969 2.56% 1.16%
1968 2.55% 1.04%
1967 2.43% 1.14%
1966 2.42% 1.31%
1965 2.52% 1.38%
1964 2.51% 1.35%
1963 2.48% 1.36%
1962 2.43% 1.43%
1961 2.37% 1.32%

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/netherlands | CC BY

In 2024, the population of Eritrea grew by 1.88%, while the Netherlands' population grew by 0.65%.

Live population counters

Eritrea Netherlands
Current population
3700586
18252623
Population rank 130/197 72/197
Percent of world population 0.04% 0.22%
One net population change
8.06 minutes
4.52 minutes
One birth every
5.31 minutes
3.2 minutes
One death every
25 minutes
3.09 minutes
Daily growth/decline +179 +319
Annual growth/decline +65,213 +116,368
Annual growth/decline rate +1.88% +0.65%
Population growth rate rank 58/197 121/197
One migration net change every
1.31 hours
5.03 minutes
Annual migration change -6,698 +104,681
Net migration rank 122/196 16/196
Foreign-born residents 12,512 2,956,518
Foreign-born residents rank 176/195 23/195
Foreign-born share of population 0.4% 16.2%
Foreign-born share rank 178/195 40/195

Natural population change vs migration

Eritrea
Natural

Migration
Netherlands
Natural

Migration
1x
Year Population change
Eritrea Netherlands
Natural Migration Natural Migration
2025 - -6,698 - 104,681
2024 - -12,696 - 121,628
2023 78,073 -15,284 -5,363 144,558
2022 76,221 -17,134 -1,770 224,472
2021 74,394 -14,966 7,014 106,416
2020 73,362 -14,967 0 67,598
2019 73,572 -29,818 17,345 109,003
2018 72,511 -21,403 15,508 87,197
2017 72,291 -38,579 18,844 86,332
2016 73,002 -55,431 23,843 88,743
2015 73,682 -52,965 23,716 55,585
2014 75,729 -75,696 35,417 36,591
2013 75,562 -33,974 30,248 19,973
2012 76,416 -43,269 35,186 14,861
2011 76,806 -32,949 45,072 31,224
2010 76,098 -13,361 48,184 33,703
2009 76,206 -24,348 51,244 39,832
2008 73,391 17,855 49,337 32,406
2007 73,101 -18,131 49,145 -304
2006 74,470 -49,998 49,038 -25,401
2005 72,930 -12,835 50,592 -22,496
2004 72,147 -6,374 56,987 -9,230
2003 66,291 76,703 58,411 7,937
2002 65,436 -6,574 59,751 28,824
2001 61,180 41,760 62,580 56,096
2000 60,274 -33,133 66,887 59,308
1999 45,120 -3,769 60,086 47,179
1998 55,332 -31,951 61,258 52,058
1997 63,953 -30,768 56,198 31,302
1996 66,557 -52,421 51,251 21,792
1995 56,157 136,105 54,106 15,056
1994 56,288 -25,841 61,532 20,193
1993 51,679 33,688 58,103 44,514
1992 51,443 -22,293 66,811 50,148
1991 57,741 -328,546 69,321 51,670
1990 56,903 -12,425 68,777 53,564
1989 54,299 -7,330 59,396 31,165
1988 54,163 -3,612 61,993 31,026
1987 52,229 -3,613 64,526 39,559
1986 39,470 -1,073 59,746 30,380
1985 37,362 -1,073 55,069 27,356
1984 35,101 772 54,812 12,902
1983 33,420 1,853 51,722 11,007
1982 44,146 1,985 54,388 7,644
1981 42,924 1,985 62,688 17,643
1980 41,392 1,985 66,504 54,010
1979 39,577 1,985 63,172 42,772
1978 38,353 1,985 61,344 26,639
1977 37,295 1,985 63,739 19,809
1976 36,250 1,985 63,361 18,774
1975 30,971 1,985 64,232 68,569
1974 30,111 1,985 75,853 31,645
1973 31,969 1,985 84,668 18,705
1972 30,951 1,953 101,297 17,470
1971 31,490 1,758 116,112 32,756
1970 30,686 1,480 129,082 32,438
1969 29,535 1,199 139,082 21,850
1968 28,777 1,013 132,389 7,243
1967 27,992 1,004 138,580 -10,673
1966 24,713 1,063 138,265 20,740
1965 26,285 1,188 146,308 19,444
1964 25,327 1,300 157,653 15,014
1963 24,393 1,368 154,361 -21
1962 23,478 1,364 153,474 18,024
1961 22,351 1,235 159,450 8,258
1960 21,424 1,045 151,623 -13,235

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

GeoRank.org/population/eritrea/netherlands | 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 the Netherlands 11.8% is from natural causes (a gain of 134,554 people) and 88.2% is from migration (a gain of 1,006,495 people).

As of 2024, 12,512 residents or 0.4% of the population were not native-born in Eritrea, compared to 2,956,518 people or 16.2% in the Netherlands.

Biggest cities by population

Eritrea
City Population
Asmara 963K
Keren 120K
Massawa 39.8K
Mendefera 28.5K
Netherlands
City Population
Amsterdam 921K
Rotterdam 664K
The Hague 548K
Utrecht 359K
Eindhoven 244K
Groningen 238K
Tilburg 228K
Almere 215K
Breda 188K
Nijmegen 177K

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/netherlands | 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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