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

Updated on by Georank team

The latest officially reported population of Eritrea was 3,535,603 in 2024 vs 232,679,478 people in Nigeria in 2024. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Eritrea's population is 3,700,586 people compared to 243,824,469 in Nigeria.

Population statistics:

  • Nigeria's population is 65.9 times bigger than Eritrea's.
  • Eritrea is ranked the 130th most populous country in the world, while Nigeria is the 6th.
  • The countries together account for 2.99% of the world: 0.04% for Eritrea vs 2.94% for Nigeria.
  • For the last 10 years, Eritrea has had an average growth rate of +1.28% per year vs +2.31% in Nigeria.
  • Since 2006, the population of Eritrea has increased from 2.7M people to 3.7M (36.9% growth), while Nigeria has grown from 149M to 244M (63.6% growth).

Eritrea vs Nigeria: population by year and forecast

Eritrea
Factual

Projection
Nigeria
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
Eritrea Nigeria
2100 8,514,681 481,678,166
2099 8,489,924 481,494,914
2098 8,466,983 481,219,866
2097 8,444,468 480,876,108
2096 8,422,323 480,460,381
2095 8,396,086 479,976,454
2094 8,370,114 479,432,855
2093 8,344,405 478,807,152
2092 8,309,034 478,097,591
2091 8,278,860 477,274,569
2090 8,243,905 476,367,086
2089 8,209,883 475,363,859
2088 8,172,664 474,268,867
2087 8,136,016 473,072,894
2086 8,093,065 471,769,229
2085 8,046,814 470,365,292
2084 7,999,706 468,843,169
2083 7,956,385 467,224,322
2082 7,911,764 465,509,151
2081 7,871,753 463,679,779
2080 7,815,766 461,741,930
2079 7,765,677 459,680,797
2078 7,711,886 457,513,367
2077 7,656,307 455,254,796
2076 7,600,951 452,885,729
2075 7,538,912 450,402,898
2074 7,484,322 447,825,224
2073 7,420,571 445,152,156
2072 7,358,500 442,375,349
2071 7,296,109 439,499,004
2070 7,231,198 436,539,777
2069 7,164,883 433,472,204
2068 7,094,530 430,320,190
2067 7,026,000 427,066,199
2066 6,952,514 423,736,078
2065 6,884,323 420,318,527
2064 6,814,893 416,811,285
2063 6,733,263 413,231,409
2062 6,659,531 409,583,480
2061 6,580,923 405,859,509
2060 6,500,944 402,073,494
2059 6,422,305 398,228,736
2058 6,343,070 394,315,883
2057 6,265,450 390,341,867
2056 6,194,123 386,298,064
2055 6,114,099 382,193,151
2054 6,039,801 378,030,342
2053 5,957,339 373,799,276
2052 5,871,954 369,501,634
2051 5,791,096 365,149,555
2050 5,711,061 360,734,783
2049 5,632,165 356,271,401
2048 5,549,890 351,752,501
2047 5,468,518 347,169,674
2046 5,387,267 342,532,578
2045 5,300,511 337,834,528
2044 5,215,831 333,076,416
2043 5,131,686 328,256,555
2042 5,044,262 323,388,886
2041 4,960,422 318,469,120
2040 4,870,981 313,492,800
2039 4,782,316 308,474,350
2038 4,693,015 303,423,786
2037 4,599,752 298,351,344
2036 4,506,879 293,250,795
2035 4,420,367 288,138,368
2034 4,332,828 283,018,151
2033 4,248,272 277,897,810
2032 4,165,241 272,769,123
2031 4,083,762 267,666,779
2030 3,998,903 262,583,487
2029 3,917,775 257,504,936
2028 3,836,693 252,465,743
2027 3,756,696 247,457,208
2026 3,679,782 242,477,499
2025 3,603,902 237,546,527
2024 3,535,603 232,679,478
2023 3,470,390 227,882,945
2022 3,409,447 223,150,896
2021 3,350,183 218,529,286
2020 3,291,271 213,996,181
2019 3,240,194 209,485,641
2018 3,192,760 204,938,755
2017 3,150,347 200,254,579
2016 3,124,698 195,443,700
2015 3,105,546 190,671,878
2014 3,095,173 185,896,915
2013 3,074,360 181,049,443
2012 3,036,988 176,200,625
2011 2,998,485 171,379,598
2010 2,945,186 166,642,886
2009 2,887,885 162,049,464
2008 2,816,327 157,595,014
2007 2,743,222 153,267,261
2006 2,703,502 149,077,334
2005 2,661,215 145,017,253
2004 2,598,284 141,057,045
2003 2,493,903 137,202,644
2002 2,392,978 133,471,989
2001 2,312,079 129,862,595
2000 2,247,031 126,382,494
1999 2,212,780 123,047,320
1998 2,180,419 119,846,254
1997 2,152,135 116,754,792
1996 2,128,464 113,754,779
1995 2,025,267 110,819,428
1994 1,913,915 107,935,714
1993 1,856,006 105,122,069
1992 1,798,748 102,372,770
1991 1,919,571 99,720,162
1990 2,032,737 97,120,925
1989 1,987,017 94,531,014
1988 1,938,255 92,020,090
1987 1,888,669 89,591,716
1986 1,845,164 87,235,953
1985 1,807,816 84,897,973
1984 1,771,730 82,526,443
1983 1,736,160 80,438,260
1982 1,695,461 78,378,701
1981 1,649,939 76,068,103
1980 1,605,797 73,764,641
1979 1,563,332 71,498,242
1978 1,522,378 69,326,532
1977 1,482,565 67,234,590
1976 1,443,807 65,258,009
1975 1,408,210 63,410,815
1974 1,375,688 61,679,144
1973 1,342,669 60,082,139
1972 1,309,235 58,601,748
1971 1,276,154 57,214,684
1970 1,243,453 55,893,838
1969 1,212,005 54,631,914
1968 1,181,737 53,432,783
1967 1,152,339 52,293,065
1966 1,124,957 51,188,234
1965 1,098,335 50,086,764
1964 1,071,287 49,012,016
1963 1,045,092 47,973,575
1962 1,019,788 46,965,292
1961 995,573 45,989,310
1960 972,547 45,053,782

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/nigeria | CC BY

From 2006 to 2016, the population of Eritrea increased by 421,196 people (a 15.6% growth), while Nigeria gained 46,366,366 people (a 31.1% growth).

For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, Eritrea gained 575,888 people (a 18.4% growth), while Nigeria's population increased by 48,380,769 people (a 24.8% growth).

Eritrea was ranked 135th most populous country in 2006 and is 130th in 2026. Nigeria was ranked 7th in 2006 and ranked 6th 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 Nigeria will increase by 47.9% to 360,734,783 people and rank change from 6th to 5th.

Eritrea is projected to reach its peak in 2100 at 8.51M people compared to the peak of 482M people in 2100 for Nigeria.

Population growth rate by year

Eritrea
Factual

Projection
Nigeria
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Growth rate
Eritrea Nigeria
2100 0.29% 0.04%
2099 0.27% 0.06%
2098 0.27% 0.07%
2097 0.26% 0.09%
2096 0.31% 0.1%
2095 0.31% 0.11%
2094 0.31% 0.13%
2093 0.43% 0.15%
2092 0.36% 0.17%
2091 0.42% 0.19%
2090 0.41% 0.21%
2089 0.46% 0.23%
2088 0.45% 0.25%
2087 0.53% 0.28%
2086 0.57% 0.3%
2085 0.59% 0.32%
2084 0.54% 0.35%
2083 0.56% 0.37%
2082 0.51% 0.39%
2081 0.72% 0.42%
2080 0.65% 0.45%
2079 0.7% 0.47%
2078 0.73% 0.5%
2077 0.73% 0.52%
2076 0.82% 0.55%
2075 0.73% 0.58%
2074 0.86% 0.6%
2073 0.84% 0.63%
2072 0.86% 0.65%
2071 0.9% 0.68%
2070 0.93% 0.71%
2069 0.99% 0.73%
2068 0.98% 0.76%
2067 1.06% 0.79%
2066 0.99% 0.81%
2065 1.02% 0.84%
2064 1.21% 0.87%
2063 1.11% 0.89%
2062 1.19% 0.92%
2061 1.23% 0.94%
2060 1.22% 0.97%
2059 1.25% 0.99%
2058 1.24% 1.02%
2057 1.15% 1.05%
2056 1.31% 1.07%
2055 1.23% 1.1%
2054 1.38% 1.13%
2053 1.45% 1.16%
2052 1.4% 1.19%
2051 1.4% 1.22%
2050 1.4% 1.25%
2049 1.48% 1.28%
2048 1.49% 1.32%
2047 1.51% 1.35%
2046 1.64% 1.39%
2045 1.62% 1.43%
2044 1.64% 1.47%
2043 1.73% 1.51%
2042 1.69% 1.54%
2041 1.84% 1.59%
2040 1.85% 1.63%
2039 1.9% 1.66%
2038 2.03% 1.7%
2037 2.06% 1.74%
2036 1.96% 1.77%
2035 2.02% 1.81%
2034 1.99% 1.84%
2033 1.99% 1.88%
2032 2% 1.91%
2031 2.12% 1.94%
2030 2.07% 1.97%
2029 2.11% 2%
2028 2.13% 2.02%
2027 2.09% 2.05%
2026 2.11% 2.08%
2025 1.93% 2.09%
2024 1.88% 2.1%
2023 1.79% 2.12%
2022 1.77% 2.11%
2021 1.79% 2.12%
2020 1.58% 2.15%
2019 1.49% 2.22%
2018 1.35% 2.34%
2017 0.82% 2.46%
2016 0.62% 2.5%
2015 0.34% 2.57%
2014 0.68% 2.68%
2013 1.23% 2.75%
2012 1.28% 2.81%
2011 1.81% 2.84%
2010 1.98% 2.83%
2009 2.54% 2.83%
2008 2.66% 2.82%
2007 1.47% 2.81%
2006 1.59% 2.8%
2005 2.42% 2.81%
2004 4.19% 2.81%
2003 4.22% 2.8%
2002 3.5% 2.78%
2001 2.89% 2.75%
2000 1.55% 2.71%
1999 1.48% 2.67%
1998 1.31% 2.65%
1997 1.11% 2.64%
1996 5.1% 2.65%
1995 5.82% 2.67%
1994 3.12% 2.68%
1993 3.18% 2.69%
1992 -6.29% 2.66%
1991 -5.57% 2.68%
1990 2.3% 2.74%
1989 2.52% 2.73%
1988 2.63% 2.71%
1987 2.36% 2.7%
1986 2.07% 2.75%
1985 2.04% 2.87%
1984 2.05% 2.6%
1983 2.4% 2.63%
1982 2.76% 3.04%
1981 2.75% 3.12%
1980 2.72% 3.17%
1979 2.69% 3.13%
1978 2.69% 3.11%
1977 2.68% 3.03%
1976 2.53% 2.91%
1975 2.36% 2.81%
1974 2.46% 2.66%
1973 2.55% 2.53%
1972 2.59% 2.42%
1971 2.63% 2.36%
1970 2.59% 2.31%
1969 2.56% 2.24%
1968 2.55% 2.18%
1967 2.43% 2.16%
1966 2.42% 2.2%
1965 2.52% 2.19%
1964 2.51% 2.16%
1963 2.48% 2.15%
1962 2.43% 2.12%
1961 2.37% 2.08%

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/nigeria | CC BY

In 2024, the population of Eritrea grew by 1.88%, while Nigeria's population grew by 2.1%.

Live population counters

Eritrea Nigeria
Current population
3700586
243824469
Population rank 130/197 6/197
Percent of world population 0.04% 2.94%
One net population change
8.06 minutes
6.58 seconds
One birth every
5.31 minutes
4.2 seconds
One death every
25 minutes
11.8 seconds
Daily growth/decline +179 +13,141
Annual growth/decline +65,213 +4,796,533
Annual growth/decline rate +1.88% +2.1%
Population growth rate rank 58/197 48/197
One migration net change every
1.31 hours
34.5 minutes
Annual migration change -6,698 -15,258
Net migration rank 122/196 145/196
Foreign-born residents 12,512 1,403,281
Foreign-born residents rank 176/195 49/195
Foreign-born share of population 0.4% 0.6%
Foreign-born share rank 178/195 173/195

Natural population change vs migration

Eritrea
Natural

Migration
Nigeria
Natural

Migration
1x
Year Population change
Eritrea Nigeria
Natural Migration Natural Migration
2025 - -6,698 - -15,258
2024 - -12,696 - -35,202
2023 78,073 -15,284 4,834,309 -57,936
2022 76,221 -17,134 4,739,502 -51,680
2021 74,394 -14,966 4,641,562 -86,115
2020 73,362 -14,967 4,525,164 -14,497
2019 73,572 -29,818 4,609,941 -99,722
2018 72,511 -21,403 4,659,898 -76,565
2017 72,291 -38,579 4,706,183 78,685
2016 73,002 -55,431 4,761,594 75,265
2015 73,682 -52,965 4,823,045 -116,162
2014 75,729 -75,696 4,862,319 -19,376
2013 75,562 -33,974 4,811,751 40,201
2012 76,416 -43,269 4,774,508 71,138
2011 76,806 -32,949 4,728,363 67,808
2010 76,098 -13,361 4,629,173 47,966
2009 76,206 -24,348 4,528,149 -18,422
2008 73,391 17,855 4,412,976 -13,646
2007 73,101 -18,131 4,265,428 -9,162
2006 74,470 -49,998 4,135,703 -12,093
2005 72,930 -12,835 4,013,788 -17,146
2004 72,147 -6,374 3,877,376 46,370
2003 66,291 76,703 3,751,120 33,857
2002 65,436 -6,574 3,606,814 69,594
2001 61,180 41,760 3,478,370 64,163
2000 60,274 -33,133 3,343,196 74,535
1999 45,120 -3,769 3,155,425 97,195
1998 55,332 -31,951 3,003,946 145,575
1997 63,953 -30,768 2,936,500 96,885
1996 66,557 -52,421 2,882,205 84,448
1995 56,157 136,105 2,830,771 73,243
1994 56,288 -25,841 2,735,198 128,134
1993 51,679 33,688 2,673,675 90,200
1992 51,443 -22,293 2,596,173 138,412
1991 57,741 -328,546 2,527,807 42,760
1990 56,903 -12,425 2,491,928 135,959
1989 54,299 -7,330 2,452,324 99,588
1988 54,163 -3,612 2,376,419 93,510
1987 52,229 -3,613 2,322,397 64,418
1986 39,470 -1,073 2,295,003 29,682
1985 37,362 -1,073 2,289,784 61,514
1984 35,101 772 2,278,060 113,758
1983 33,420 1,853 2,292,089 -507,539
1982 44,146 1,985 2,233,401 101,116
1981 42,924 1,985 2,179,884 106,723
1980 41,392 1,985 2,121,618 198,672
1979 39,577 1,985 2,074,807 137,721
1978 38,353 1,985 2,019,621 111,258
1977 37,295 1,985 1,923,917 129,075
1976 36,250 1,985 1,827,289 72,889
1975 30,971 1,985 1,718,623 75,603
1974 30,111 1,985 1,624,813 44,281
1973 31,969 1,985 1,525,485 -618
1972 30,951 1,953 1,448,928 -12,962
1971 31,490 1,758 1,373,896 -35,639
1970 30,686 1,480 1,295,507 7,953
1969 29,535 1,199 1,213,484 6,912
1968 28,777 1,013 1,168,254 9,615
1967 27,992 1,004 1,082,884 18,683
1966 24,713 1,063 1,095,582 12,513
1965 26,285 1,188 1,061,840 32,988
1964 25,327 1,300 1,028,272 26,411
1963 24,393 1,368 995,116 27,115
1962 23,478 1,364 966,452 27,906
1961 22,351 1,235 932,111 25,515
1960 21,424 1,045 901,301 12,131

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

GeoRank.org/population/eritrea/nigeria | 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 Nigeria 99.2% is from natural causes (a gain of 47,163,517 people) and 0.77% is from migration (a loss of 368,103 people).

As of 2024, 12,512 residents or 0.4% of the population were not native-born in Eritrea, compared to 1,403,281 people or 0.6% in Nigeria.

Biggest cities by population

Eritrea
City Population
Asmara 963K
Keren 120K
Massawa 39.8K
Mendefera 28.5K
Nigeria
City Population
Lagos 15.1M
Kano 4.35M
Port Harcourt 3.32M
Ibadan 2.55M
Benin 1.78M
Abuja 1.69M
Onitsha 1.48M
Maiduguri 1.2M
Aba 1.16M
Enugu 1.03M

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/nigeria | 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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