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

Updated on by Georank team

The latest officially reported population of Eritrea was 3,535,603 in 2024 vs 26,498,823 people in North Korea in 2024. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Eritrea's population is 3,700,586 people compared to 26,659,144 in North Korea.

Population statistics:

  • North Korea's population is 7.2 times bigger than Eritrea's.
  • Eritrea is ranked the 130th 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 +1.28% per year vs +0.41% in North Korea.
  • Since 2006, the population of Eritrea has increased from 2.7M people to 3.7M (36.9% growth), while North Korea has grown from 24.5M to 26.7M (8.7% growth).

Eritrea vs North Korea: population by year and forecast

Eritrea
Factual

Projection
North Korea
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
Eritrea North Korea
2100 8,514,681 19,604,631
2099 8,489,924 19,733,548
2098 8,466,983 19,862,949
2097 8,444,468 19,993,288
2096 8,422,323 20,124,518
2095 8,396,086 20,256,401
2094 8,370,114 20,388,156
2093 8,344,405 20,520,253
2092 8,309,034 20,652,961
2091 8,278,860 20,785,785
2090 8,243,905 20,918,305
2089 8,209,883 21,050,580
2088 8,172,664 21,182,325
2087 8,136,016 21,314,047
2086 8,093,065 21,445,329
2085 8,046,814 21,575,835
2084 7,999,706 21,705,777
2083 7,956,385 21,835,029
2082 7,911,764 21,964,199
2081 7,871,753 22,092,862
2080 7,815,766 22,220,948
2079 7,765,677 22,348,577
2078 7,711,886 22,475,755
2077 7,656,307 22,602,817
2076 7,600,951 22,729,499
2075 7,538,912 22,856,369
2074 7,484,322 22,983,784
2073 7,420,571 23,111,441
2072 7,358,500 23,239,261
2071 7,296,109 23,367,583
2070 7,231,198 23,496,136
2069 7,164,883 23,625,538
2068 7,094,530 23,755,136
2067 7,026,000 23,884,879
2066 6,952,514 24,015,027
2065 6,884,323 24,144,985
2064 6,814,893 24,274,257
2063 6,733,263 24,402,439
2062 6,659,531 24,529,941
2061 6,580,923 24,656,350
2060 6,500,944 24,780,911
2059 6,422,305 24,903,037
2058 6,343,070 25,023,260
2057 6,265,450 25,140,523
2056 6,194,123 25,255,342
2055 6,114,099 25,366,397
2054 6,039,801 25,474,292
2053 5,957,339 25,578,870
2052 5,871,954 25,679,963
2051 5,791,096 25,777,639
2050 5,711,061 25,871,673
2049 5,632,165 25,962,167
2048 5,549,890 26,048,593
2047 5,468,518 26,131,429
2046 5,387,267 26,210,487
2045 5,300,511 26,286,208
2044 5,215,831 26,358,331
2043 5,131,686 26,427,062
2042 5,044,262 26,491,482
2041 4,960,422 26,552,564
2040 4,870,981 26,609,557
2039 4,782,316 26,661,815
2038 4,693,015 26,708,400
2037 4,599,752 26,749,134
2036 4,506,879 26,783,304
2035 4,420,367 26,810,026
2034 4,332,828 26,828,912
2033 4,248,272 26,839,229
2032 4,165,241 26,840,944
2031 4,083,762 26,832,957
2030 3,998,903 26,814,812
2029 3,917,775 26,787,117
2028 3,836,693 26,749,227
2027 3,756,696 26,701,444
2026 3,679,782 26,643,460
2025 3,603,902 26,575,953
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 (2025–2100, retrieved 2026-03-10); World Bank | Health (1960–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06).

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 575,888 people (a 18.4% growth), while North Korea's population increased by 960,818 people (a 3.74% growth).

Eritrea was ranked 135th most populous country in 2006 and is 130th 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 54.3% to 5,711,061 people with a rank change from 130th to 123rd. The population of North Korea will decrease by 2.95% to 25,871,673 people and rank change from 57th to 66th.

Eritrea is projected to reach its peak in 2100 at 8.51M 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 1.93% 0.29%
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 (2025–2100, retrieved 2026-03-10); World Bank | Health (1961–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06).

GeoRank.org/population/eritrea/north-korea | CC BY

In 2024, the population of Eritrea grew by 1.88%, while North Korea's population grew by 0.31%.

Live population counters

Eritrea North Korea
Current population
3700586
26659144
Population rank 130/197 57/197
Percent of world population 0.04% 0.32%
One net population change
8.06 minutes
6.52 minutes
One birth every
5.31 minutes
1.54 minutes
One death every
25 minutes
2.05 minutes
Daily growth/decline +179 +221
Annual growth/decline +65,213 +80,619
Annual growth/decline rate +1.88% +0.31%
Population growth rate rank 58/197 150/197
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 - -12,696 - -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 2026-04-06).

GeoRank.org/population/eritrea/north-korea | 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 North Korea 97.7% is from natural causes (a gain of 1,097,372 people) and 2.33% is from migration (a loss of 26,227 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 (1960–2024, 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/north-korea | 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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