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Population in Eritrea compared to North Korea: Trends, Charts, Rankings

Updated on by Georank

The latest officially reported population of Eritrea was 3,607,003 in 2025 vs 26,571,036 people in North Korea in 2025. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Eritrea's population is 3,722,489 people compared to 26,668,308 in North Korea.

Population statistics:

  • North Korea's population is 7.16 times bigger than Eritrea's.
  • Eritrea is ranked the 131st most populous country in the world, while North Korea is the 57th.
  • The countries together account for 0.37% of the world: 0.04% for Eritrea vs 0.32% for North Korea.
  • For the last 10 years, Eritrea has had an average growth rate of +1.4% per year vs +0.39% in North Korea.
  • Since 2006, the population of Eritrea has increased from 2.7M people to 3.72M (37.7% growth), while North Korea has grown from 24.5M to 26.7M (8.74% growth).

Eritrea vs North Korea: population by year and forecast

Eritrea
Factual

Projection
North Korea
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
Eritrea North Korea
2100 8,522,007 19,601,003
2099 8,497,228 19,729,897
2098 8,474,268 19,859,274
2097 8,451,733 19,989,589
2096 8,429,569 20,120,795
2095 8,403,309 20,252,653
2094 8,377,316 20,384,384
2093 8,351,585 20,516,457
2092 8,316,183 20,649,140
2091 8,285,983 20,781,939
2090 8,250,998 20,914,434
2089 8,216,946 21,046,685
2088 8,179,696 21,178,406
2087 8,143,016 21,310,103
2086 8,100,028 21,441,361
2085 8,053,737 21,571,843
2084 8,006,588 21,701,761
2083 7,963,231 21,830,989
2082 7,918,571 21,960,135
2081 7,878,525 22,088,774
2080 7,822,491 22,216,836
2079 7,772,358 22,344,442
2078 7,718,520 22,471,597
2077 7,662,894 22,598,635
2076 7,607,491 22,725,293
2075 7,545,398 22,852,140
2074 7,490,761 22,979,532
2073 7,426,955 23,107,165
2072 7,364,831 23,234,961
2071 7,302,386 23,363,260
2070 7,237,419 23,491,789
2069 7,171,047 23,621,167
2068 7,100,633 23,750,741
2067 7,032,045 23,880,460
2066 6,958,496 24,010,584
2065 6,890,246 24,140,518
2064 6,820,756 24,269,765
2063 6,739,056 24,397,924
2062 6,665,261 24,525,403
2061 6,586,585 24,651,788
2060 6,506,537 24,776,326
2059 6,427,830 24,898,430
2058 6,348,527 25,018,630
2057 6,270,841 25,135,871
2056 6,199,452 25,250,670
2055 6,119,360 25,361,704
2054 6,044,997 25,469,578
2053 5,962,464 25,574,137
2052 5,877,006 25,675,211
2051 5,796,079 25,772,870
2050 5,715,974 25,866,886
2049 5,637,011 25,957,363
2048 5,554,665 26,043,774
2047 5,473,222 26,126,594
2046 5,391,902 26,205,638
2045 5,305,072 26,281,344
2044 5,220,319 26,353,455
2043 5,136,101 26,422,173
2042 5,048,602 26,486,580
2041 4,964,690 26,547,651
2040 4,875,172 26,604,634
2039 4,786,431 26,656,882
2038 4,697,052 26,703,458
2037 4,603,709 26,744,185
2036 4,510,757 26,778,348
2035 4,424,170 26,805,065
2034 4,336,556 26,823,948
2033 4,251,927 26,834,263
2032 4,168,824 26,835,978
2031 4,087,276 26,827,992
2030 4,002,343 26,809,850
2029 3,921,145 26,782,161
2028 3,839,994 26,744,278
2027 3,759,928 26,696,504
2026 3,682,948 26,638,530
2025 3,607,003 26,571,036
2024 3,535,603 26,498,823
2023 3,470,390 26,418,204
2022 3,409,447 26,328,845
2021 3,350,183 26,232,534
2020 3,291,271 26,136,312
2019 3,240,194 26,037,632
2018 3,192,760 25,931,147
2017 3,150,347 25,817,709
2016 3,124,698 25,698,326
2015 3,105,546 25,575,350
2014 3,095,173 25,451,262
2013 3,074,360 25,329,451
2012 3,036,988 25,211,728
2011 2,998,485 25,097,874
2010 2,945,186 24,987,258
2009 2,887,885 24,878,332
2008 2,816,327 24,764,618
2007 2,743,222 24,646,383
2006 2,703,502 24,524,507
2005 2,661,215 24,396,433
2004 2,598,284 24,254,943
2003 2,493,903 24,090,380
2002 2,392,978 23,943,973
2001 2,312,079 23,815,358
2000 2,247,031 23,665,910
1999 2,212,780 23,497,599
1998 2,180,419 23,311,564
1997 2,152,135 23,110,830
1996 2,128,464 22,895,746
1995 2,025,267 22,669,304
1994 1,913,915 22,393,975
1993 1,856,006 22,073,352
1992 1,798,748 21,750,911
1991 1,919,571 21,428,638
1990 2,032,737 21,112,137
1989 1,987,017 20,804,367
1988 1,938,255 20,503,161
1987 1,888,669 20,205,483
1986 1,845,164 19,910,855
1985 1,807,816 19,620,388
1984 1,771,730 19,335,043
1983 1,736,160 19,054,034
1982 1,695,461 18,776,357
1981 1,649,939 18,501,295
1980 1,605,797 18,236,786
1979 1,563,332 17,983,470
1978 1,522,378 17,735,995
1977 1,482,565 17,492,798
1976 1,443,807 17,243,450
1975 1,408,210 16,971,055
1974 1,375,688 16,673,121
1973 1,342,669 16,350,367
1972 1,309,235 15,975,069
1971 1,276,154 15,572,457
1970 1,243,453 15,172,775
1969 1,212,005 14,767,615
1968 1,181,737 14,365,596
1967 1,152,339 13,958,350
1966 1,124,957 13,569,094
1965 1,098,335 13,219,369
1964 1,071,287 12,889,770
1963 1,045,092 12,567,057
1962 1,019,788 12,262,882
1961 995,573 11,990,713
1960 972,547 11,722,953

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/north-korea | CC BY

From 2006 to 2016, the population of Eritrea increased by 421,196 people (a 15.6% growth), while North Korea gained 1,173,819 people (a 4.79% growth).

For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, Eritrea gained 597,791 people (a 19.1% growth), while North Korea's population increased by 969,982 people (a 3.77% growth).

Eritrea was ranked 135th most populous country in 2006 and is 131st in 2026. North Korea was ranked 46th in 2006 and ranked 57th 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 North Korea will decrease by 3.01% to 25,866,886 people and rank change from 57th to 66th.

Eritrea is projected to reach its peak in 2100 at 8.52M people compared to the peak of 26.8M people in 2032 for North Korea.

Population growth rate by year

Eritrea
Factual

Projection
North Korea
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Growth rate
Eritrea North Korea
2100 0.29% -0.65%
2099 0.27% -0.65%
2098 0.27% -0.65%
2097 0.26% -0.65%
2096 0.31% -0.65%
2095 0.31% -0.65%
2094 0.31% -0.64%
2093 0.43% -0.64%
2092 0.36% -0.64%
2091 0.42% -0.63%
2090 0.41% -0.63%
2089 0.46% -0.62%
2088 0.45% -0.62%
2087 0.53% -0.61%
2086 0.57% -0.6%
2085 0.59% -0.6%
2084 0.54% -0.59%
2083 0.56% -0.59%
2082 0.51% -0.58%
2081 0.72% -0.58%
2080 0.65% -0.57%
2079 0.7% -0.57%
2078 0.73% -0.56%
2077 0.73% -0.56%
2076 0.82% -0.56%
2075 0.73% -0.55%
2074 0.86% -0.55%
2073 0.84% -0.55%
2072 0.86% -0.55%
2071 0.9% -0.55%
2070 0.93% -0.55%
2069 0.99% -0.55%
2068 0.98% -0.54%
2067 1.06% -0.54%
2066 0.99% -0.54%
2065 1.02% -0.53%
2064 1.21% -0.53%
2063 1.11% -0.52%
2062 1.19% -0.51%
2061 1.23% -0.5%
2060 1.22% -0.49%
2059 1.25% -0.48%
2058 1.24% -0.47%
2057 1.15% -0.45%
2056 1.31% -0.44%
2055 1.23% -0.42%
2054 1.38% -0.41%
2053 1.45% -0.39%
2052 1.4% -0.38%
2051 1.4% -0.36%
2050 1.4% -0.35%
2049 1.48% -0.33%
2048 1.49% -0.32%
2047 1.51% -0.3%
2046 1.64% -0.29%
2045 1.62% -0.27%
2044 1.64% -0.26%
2043 1.73% -0.24%
2042 1.69% -0.23%
2041 1.84% -0.21%
2040 1.85% -0.2%
2039 1.9% -0.17%
2038 2.03% -0.15%
2037 2.06% -0.13%
2036 1.96% -0.1%
2035 2.02% -0.07%
2034 1.99% -0.04%
2033 1.99% -0.006%
2032 2% 0.03%
2031 2.12% 0.07%
2030 2.07% 0.1%
2029 2.11% 0.14%
2028 2.13% 0.18%
2027 2.09% 0.22%
2026 2.11% 0.25%
2025 2.02% 0.27%
2024 1.88% 0.31%
2023 1.79% 0.34%
2022 1.77% 0.37%
2021 1.79% 0.37%
2020 1.58% 0.38%
2019 1.49% 0.41%
2018 1.35% 0.44%
2017 0.82% 0.46%
2016 0.62% 0.48%
2015 0.34% 0.49%
2014 0.68% 0.48%
2013 1.23% 0.47%
2012 1.28% 0.45%
2011 1.81% 0.44%
2010 1.98% 0.44%
2009 2.54% 0.46%
2008 2.66% 0.48%
2007 1.47% 0.5%
2006 1.59% 0.52%
2005 2.42% 0.58%
2004 4.19% 0.68%
2003 4.22% 0.61%
2002 3.5% 0.54%
2001 2.89% 0.63%
2000 1.55% 0.72%
1999 1.48% 0.8%
1998 1.31% 0.87%
1997 1.11% 0.94%
1996 5.1% 1%
1995 5.82% 1.23%
1994 3.12% 1.45%
1993 3.18% 1.48%
1992 -6.29% 1.5%
1991 -5.57% 1.5%
1990 2.3% 1.48%
1989 2.52% 1.47%
1988 2.63% 1.47%
1987 2.36% 1.48%
1986 2.07% 1.48%
1985 2.04% 1.48%
1984 2.05% 1.47%
1983 2.4% 1.48%
1982 2.76% 1.49%
1981 2.75% 1.45%
1980 2.72% 1.41%
1979 2.69% 1.4%
1978 2.69% 1.39%
1977 2.68% 1.45%
1976 2.53% 1.61%
1975 2.36% 1.79%
1974 2.46% 1.97%
1973 2.55% 2.35%
1972 2.59% 2.59%
1971 2.63% 2.63%
1970 2.59% 2.74%
1969 2.56% 2.8%
1968 2.55% 2.92%
1967 2.43% 2.87%
1966 2.42% 2.65%
1965 2.52% 2.56%
1964 2.51% 2.57%
1963 2.48% 2.48%
1962 2.43% 2.27%
1961 2.37% 2.28%

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/north-korea | CC BY

In 2025, the population of Eritrea grew by 2.02%, while North Korea's population grew by 0.27%.

Live population counters

Eritrea North Korea
Current population
3722489
26668308
Population rank 131/197 57/197
Percent of world population 0.04% 0.32%
One net population change
7.38 minutes
7.3 minutes
One birth every
5.18 minutes
1.54 minutes
One death every
24.8 minutes
2.01 minutes
Daily growth/decline +196 +198
Annual growth/decline +71,400 +72,213
Annual growth/decline rate +2.02% +0.27%
Population growth rate rank 49/197 146/197
One migration net change every
1.31 hours
3.15 hours
Annual migration change -6,698 -2,787
Net migration rank 122/196 104/196
Foreign-born residents 12,512 50,439
Foreign-born residents rank 176/195 150/195
Foreign-born share of population 0.4% 0.2%
Foreign-born share rank 178/195 189/195

Natural population change vs migration

Eritrea
Natural

Migration
North Korea
Natural

Migration
1x
Year Population change
Eritrea North Korea
Natural Migration Natural Migration
2025 - -6,698 - -2,787
2024 80,343 -12,696 79,496 -2,473
2023 78,073 -15,284 86,203 -1,997
2022 76,221 -17,134 96,495 -1,997
2021 74,394 -14,966 99,710 -1,585
2020 73,362 -14,967 95,920 -1,585
2019 73,572 -29,818 106,208 -3,142
2018 72,511 -21,403 113,164 -3,225
2017 72,291 -38,579 120,181 -3,224
2016 73,002 -55,431 125,048 -3,222
2015 73,682 -52,965 127,365 -3,208
2014 75,729 -75,696 127,078 -3,042
2013 75,562 -33,974 122,519 -2,933
2012 76,416 -43,269 118,773 -2,919
2011 76,806 -32,949 114,798 -2,957
2010 76,098 -13,361 112,443 -3,053
2009 76,206 -24,348 111,530 -3,058
2008 73,391 17,855 122,015 -3,051
2007 73,101 -18,131 120,521 -3,021
2006 74,470 -49,998 129,171 -2,948
2005 72,930 -12,835 132,765 -2,861
2004 72,147 -6,374 155,838 -2,758
2003 66,291 76,703 178,775 -2,717
2002 65,436 -6,574 119,504 -2,763
2001 61,180 41,760 143,321 -2,884
2000 60,274 -33,133 161,591 -3,142
1999 45,120 -3,769 181,613 -3,443
1998 55,332 -31,951 197,589 -3,706
1997 63,953 -30,768 211,325 -3,745
1996 66,557 -52,421 226,095 -3,512
1995 56,157 136,105 233,381 -3,094
1994 56,288 -25,841 320,861 -517
1993 51,679 33,688 320,880 0
1992 51,443 -22,293 324,002 0
1991 57,741 -328,546 320,551 0
1990 56,903 -12,425 312,460 0
1989 54,299 -7,330 303,078 0
1988 54,163 -3,612 299,305 0
1987 52,229 -3,613 296,030 0
1986 39,470 -1,073 293,227 0
1985 37,362 -1,073 287,714 0
1984 35,101 772 282,987 0
1983 33,420 1,853 279,046 0
1982 44,146 1,985 276,332 0
1981 42,924 1,985 273,800 0
1980 41,392 1,985 255,206 0
1979 39,577 1,985 251,409 0
1978 38,353 1,985 243,533 0
1977 37,295 1,985 242,870 0
1976 36,250 1,985 255,841 0
1975 30,971 1,985 288,966 0
1974 30,111 1,985 306,902 0
1973 31,969 1,985 338,600 0
1972 30,951 1,953 411,997 0
1971 31,490 1,758 393,220 0
1970 30,686 1,480 406,129 0
1969 29,535 1,199 404,189 0
1968 28,777 1,013 399,837 0
1967 27,992 1,004 414,632 0
1966 24,713 1,063 363,882 0
1965 26,285 1,188 335,587 0
1964 25,327 1,300 323,623 0
1963 24,393 1,368 321,805 0
1962 23,478 1,364 286,534 0
1961 22,351 1,235 257,788 0
1960 21,424 1,045 277,717 0

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

GeoRank.org/population/eritrea/north-korea | 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 North Korea 97.6% is from natural causes (a gain of 1,049,790 people) and 2.39% is from migration (a loss of 25,658 people).

As of 2024, 12,512 residents or 0.4% of the population were not native-born in Eritrea, compared to 50,439 people or 0.2% in North Korea.

Biggest cities by population

Eritrea
City Population
Asmara 963K
Keren 120K
Massawa 39.8K
Mendefera 28.5K
North Korea
City Population
Pyongyang 2.86M
Hamhung 769K
Chongjin 668K
Sunchon 437K
Nampo 367K
Wonsan 363K
Sinuiju 359K
Tanchon 346K
Kaechon 320K
Kaesong 308K

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/north-korea | 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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