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Population in Eritrea compared to Papua New Guinea: Trends, Charts, Rankings

Updated on by Georank team

The latest officially reported population of Eritrea was 3,535,603 in 2024 vs 10,576,502 people in Papua New Guinea in 2024. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Eritrea's population is 3,700,586 people compared to 11,002,753 in Papua New Guinea.

Population statistics:

  • Papua New Guinea's population is 2.97 times bigger than Eritrea's.
  • Eritrea is ranked the 130th most populous country in the world, while Papua New Guinea is the 89th.
  • The countries together account for 0.18% of the world: 0.04% for Eritrea vs 0.13% for Papua New Guinea.
  • For the last 10 years, Eritrea has had an average growth rate of +1.28% per year vs +2.23% in Papua New Guinea.
  • Since 2006, the population of Eritrea has increased from 2.7M people to 3.7M (36.9% growth), while Papua New Guinea has grown from 6.75M to 11M (63.1% growth).

Eritrea vs Papua New Guinea: population by year and forecast

Eritrea
Factual

Projection
Papua New Guinea
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
Eritrea Papua New Guinea
2100 8,514,681 18,802,138
2099 8,489,924 18,790,040
2098 8,466,983 18,776,265
2097 8,444,468 18,758,897
2096 8,422,323 18,737,707
2095 8,396,086 18,714,219
2094 8,370,114 18,687,257
2093 8,344,405 18,658,233
2092 8,309,034 18,625,772
2091 8,278,860 18,590,001
2090 8,243,905 18,549,501
2089 8,209,883 18,510,463
2088 8,172,664 18,468,827
2087 8,136,016 18,424,378
2086 8,093,065 18,376,043
2085 8,046,814 18,325,641
2084 7,999,706 18,274,394
2083 7,956,385 18,218,709
2082 7,911,764 18,163,177
2081 7,871,753 18,104,285
2080 7,815,766 18,039,008
2079 7,765,677 17,975,778
2078 7,711,886 17,908,670
2077 7,656,307 17,840,781
2076 7,600,951 17,771,791
2075 7,538,912 17,699,428
2074 7,484,322 17,625,044
2073 7,420,571 17,548,128
2072 7,358,500 17,466,649
2071 7,296,109 17,381,598
2070 7,231,198 17,295,105
2069 7,164,883 17,205,503
2068 7,094,530 17,112,154
2067 7,026,000 17,015,090
2066 6,952,514 16,915,436
2065 6,884,323 16,812,946
2064 6,814,893 16,708,669
2063 6,733,263 16,604,296
2062 6,659,531 16,497,292
2061 6,580,923 16,386,905
2060 6,500,944 16,270,535
2059 6,422,305 16,152,614
2058 6,343,070 16,032,684
2057 6,265,450 15,909,649
2056 6,194,123 15,784,519
2055 6,114,099 15,656,542
2054 6,039,801 15,523,143
2053 5,957,339 15,389,244
2052 5,871,954 15,250,715
2051 5,791,096 15,110,389
2050 5,711,061 14,968,530
2049 5,632,165 14,821,865
2048 5,549,890 14,673,459
2047 5,468,518 14,522,926
2046 5,387,267 14,370,120
2045 5,300,511 14,213,585
2044 5,215,831 14,056,036
2043 5,131,686 13,897,765
2042 5,044,262 13,738,690
2041 4,960,422 13,577,382
2040 4,870,981 13,413,396
2039 4,782,316 13,247,486
2038 4,693,015 13,079,352
2037 4,599,752 12,909,735
2036 4,506,879 12,738,223
2035 4,420,367 12,566,543
2034 4,332,828 12,392,476
2033 4,248,272 12,218,246
2032 4,165,241 12,042,345
2031 4,083,762 11,865,316
2030 3,998,903 11,685,599
2029 3,917,775 11,504,890
2028 3,836,693 11,322,573
2027 3,756,696 11,138,409
2026 3,679,782 10,952,454
2025 3,603,902 10,765,048
2024 3,535,603 10,576,502
2023 3,470,390 10,389,635
2022 3,409,447 10,203,169
2021 3,350,183 10,012,896
2020 3,291,271 9,815,746
2019 3,240,194 9,609,010
2018 3,192,760 9,394,513
2017 3,150,347 9,178,714
2016 3,124,698 8,961,718
2015 3,105,546 8,743,246
2014 3,095,173 8,523,441
2013 3,074,360 8,302,698
2012 3,036,988 8,081,390
2011 2,998,485 7,859,346
2010 2,945,186 7,633,523
2009 2,887,885 7,406,438
2008 2,816,327 7,183,002
2007 2,743,222 6,963,345
2006 2,703,502 6,747,720
2005 2,661,215 6,535,905
2004 2,598,284 6,328,041
2003 2,493,903 6,123,997
2002 2,392,978 5,924,003
2001 2,312,079 5,728,435
2000 2,247,031 5,537,064
1999 2,212,780 5,349,333
1998 2,180,419 5,166,390
1997 2,152,135 4,987,883
1996 2,128,464 4,813,361
1995 2,025,267 4,644,278
1994 1,913,915 4,480,208
1993 1,856,006 4,320,872
1992 1,798,748 4,166,699
1991 1,919,571 4,021,837
1990 2,032,737 3,896,481
1989 1,987,017 3,796,078
1988 1,938,255 3,711,880
1987 1,888,669 3,632,543
1986 1,845,164 3,554,793
1985 1,807,816 3,478,936
1984 1,771,730 3,405,198
1983 1,736,160 3,333,633
1982 1,695,461 3,264,291
1981 1,649,939 3,197,019
1980 1,605,797 3,131,512
1979 1,563,332 3,067,341
1978 1,522,378 3,003,714
1977 1,482,565 2,940,327
1976 1,443,807 2,877,327
1975 1,408,210 2,814,820
1974 1,375,688 2,752,671
1973 1,342,669 2,690,629
1972 1,309,235 2,628,432
1971 1,276,154 2,566,421
1970 1,243,453 2,505,628
1969 1,212,005 2,446,927
1968 1,181,737 2,390,803
1967 1,152,339 2,337,532
1966 1,124,957 2,285,774
1965 1,098,335 2,235,820
1964 1,071,287 2,188,325
1963 1,045,092 2,141,376
1962 1,019,788 2,093,919
1961 995,573 2,046,127
1960 972,547 1,995,110

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/papua-new-guinea | CC BY

From 2006 to 2016, the population of Eritrea increased by 421,196 people (a 15.6% growth), while Papua New Guinea gained 2,213,998 people (a 32.8% growth).

For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, Eritrea gained 575,888 people (a 18.4% growth), while Papua New Guinea's population increased by 2,041,035 people (a 22.8% growth).

Eritrea was ranked 135th most populous country in 2006 and is 130th in 2026. Papua New Guinea was ranked 100th in 2006 and ranked 89th 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 Papua New Guinea will increase by 36% to 14,968,530 people and rank change from 89th to 85th.

Eritrea is projected to reach its peak in 2100 at 8.51M people compared to the peak of 18.8M people in 2100 for Papua New Guinea.

Population growth rate by year

Eritrea
Factual

Projection
Papua New Guinea
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Growth rate
Eritrea Papua New Guinea
2100 0.29% 0.06%
2099 0.27% 0.07%
2098 0.27% 0.09%
2097 0.26% 0.11%
2096 0.31% 0.13%
2095 0.31% 0.14%
2094 0.31% 0.16%
2093 0.43% 0.17%
2092 0.36% 0.19%
2091 0.42% 0.22%
2090 0.41% 0.21%
2089 0.46% 0.23%
2088 0.45% 0.24%
2087 0.53% 0.26%
2086 0.57% 0.28%
2085 0.59% 0.28%
2084 0.54% 0.31%
2083 0.56% 0.31%
2082 0.51% 0.33%
2081 0.72% 0.36%
2080 0.65% 0.35%
2079 0.7% 0.37%
2078 0.73% 0.38%
2077 0.73% 0.39%
2076 0.82% 0.41%
2075 0.73% 0.42%
2074 0.86% 0.44%
2073 0.84% 0.47%
2072 0.86% 0.49%
2071 0.9% 0.5%
2070 0.93% 0.52%
2069 0.99% 0.55%
2068 0.98% 0.57%
2067 1.06% 0.59%
2066 0.99% 0.61%
2065 1.02% 0.62%
2064 1.21% 0.63%
2063 1.11% 0.65%
2062 1.19% 0.67%
2061 1.23% 0.72%
2060 1.22% 0.73%
2059 1.25% 0.75%
2058 1.24% 0.77%
2057 1.15% 0.79%
2056 1.31% 0.82%
2055 1.23% 0.86%
2054 1.38% 0.87%
2053 1.45% 0.91%
2052 1.4% 0.93%
2051 1.4% 0.95%
2050 1.4% 0.99%
2049 1.48% 1.01%
2048 1.49% 1.04%
2047 1.51% 1.06%
2046 1.64% 1.1%
2045 1.62% 1.12%
2044 1.64% 1.14%
2043 1.73% 1.16%
2042 1.69% 1.19%
2041 1.84% 1.22%
2040 1.85% 1.25%
2039 1.9% 1.29%
2038 2.03% 1.31%
2037 2.06% 1.35%
2036 1.96% 1.37%
2035 2.02% 1.4%
2034 1.99% 1.43%
2033 1.99% 1.46%
2032 2% 1.49%
2031 2.12% 1.54%
2030 2.07% 1.57%
2029 2.11% 1.61%
2028 2.13% 1.65%
2027 2.09% 1.7%
2026 2.11% 1.74%
2025 1.93% 1.78%
2024 1.88% 1.8%
2023 1.79% 1.83%
2022 1.77% 1.9%
2021 1.79% 2.01%
2020 1.58% 2.15%
2019 1.49% 2.28%
2018 1.35% 2.35%
2017 0.82% 2.42%
2016 0.62% 2.5%
2015 0.34% 2.58%
2014 0.68% 2.66%
2013 1.23% 2.74%
2012 1.28% 2.83%
2011 1.81% 2.96%
2010 1.98% 3.07%
2009 2.54% 3.11%
2008 2.66% 3.15%
2007 1.47% 3.2%
2006 1.59% 3.24%
2005 2.42% 3.28%
2004 4.19% 3.33%
2003 4.22% 3.38%
2002 3.5% 3.41%
2001 2.89% 3.46%
2000 1.55% 3.51%
1999 1.48% 3.54%
1998 1.31% 3.58%
1997 1.11% 3.63%
1996 5.1% 3.64%
1995 5.82% 3.66%
1994 3.12% 3.69%
1993 3.18% 3.7%
1992 -6.29% 3.6%
1991 -5.57% 3.22%
1990 2.3% 2.64%
1989 2.52% 2.27%
1988 2.63% 2.18%
1987 2.36% 2.19%
1986 2.07% 2.18%
1985 2.04% 2.17%
1984 2.05% 2.15%
1983 2.4% 2.12%
1982 2.76% 2.1%
1981 2.75% 2.09%
1980 2.72% 2.09%
1979 2.69% 2.12%
1978 2.69% 2.16%
1977 2.68% 2.19%
1976 2.53% 2.22%
1975 2.36% 2.26%
1974 2.46% 2.31%
1973 2.55% 2.37%
1972 2.59% 2.42%
1971 2.63% 2.43%
1970 2.59% 2.4%
1969 2.56% 2.35%
1968 2.55% 2.28%
1967 2.43% 2.26%
1966 2.42% 2.23%
1965 2.52% 2.17%
1964 2.51% 2.19%
1963 2.48% 2.27%
1962 2.43% 2.34%
1961 2.37% 2.56%

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/papua-new-guinea | CC BY

In 2024, the population of Eritrea grew by 1.88%, while Papua New Guinea's population grew by 1.8%.

Live population counters

Eritrea Papua New Guinea
Current population
3700586
11002753
Population rank 130/197 89/197
Percent of world population 0.04% 0.13%
One net population change
8.06 minutes
2.81 minutes
One birth every
5.31 minutes
2.06 minutes
One death every
25 minutes
7.76 minutes
Daily growth/decline +179 +512
Annual growth/decline +65,213 +186,867
Annual growth/decline rate +1.88% +1.8%
Population growth rate rank 58/197 59/197
One migration net change every
1.31 hours
1.29 days
Annual migration change -6,698 -284
Net migration rank 122/196 87/196
Foreign-born residents 12,512 31,171
Foreign-born residents rank 176/195 163/195
Foreign-born share of population 0.4% 0.3%
Foreign-born share rank 178/195 183/195

Natural population change vs migration

Eritrea
Natural

Migration
Papua New Guinea
Natural

Migration
1x
Year Population change
Eritrea Papua New Guinea
Natural Migration Natural Migration
2025 - -6,698 - -284
2024 - -12,696 - -707
2023 78,073 -15,284 187,637 -787
2022 76,221 -17,134 186,861 -787
2021 74,394 -14,966 183,766 10,703
2020 73,362 -14,967 189,130 10,703
2019 73,572 -29,818 190,662 22,978
2018 72,511 -21,403 190,662 24,684
2017 72,291 -38,579 189,715 26,513
2016 73,002 -55,431 189,281 28,473
2015 73,682 -52,965 188,600 30,580
2014 75,729 -75,696 187,592 32,840
2013 75,562 -33,974 185,790 35,280
2012 76,416 -43,269 183,658 37,893
2011 76,806 -32,949 181,842 40,690
2010 76,098 -13,361 178,998 50,106
2009 76,206 -24,348 175,421 49,647
2008 73,391 17,855 172,823 48,985
2007 73,101 -18,131 169,306 48,203
2006 74,470 -49,998 166,540 47,191
2005 72,930 -12,835 163,888 46,014
2004 72,147 -6,374 161,023 44,811
2003 66,291 76,703 158,611 43,639
2002 65,436 -6,574 155,091 42,657
2001 61,180 41,760 151,431 41,962
2000 60,274 -33,133 147,496 41,855
1999 45,120 -3,769 143,592 42,519
1998 55,332 -31,951 136,677 43,091
1997 63,953 -30,768 134,458 42,787
1996 66,557 -52,421 129,802 41,994
1995 56,157 136,105 125,410 40,962
1994 56,288 -25,841 122,113 39,669
1993 51,679 33,688 118,668 38,220
1992 51,443 -22,293 114,818 36,622
1991 57,741 -328,546 111,453 26,830
1990 56,903 -12,425 110,033 2,398
1989 54,299 -7,330 108,199 -19,824
1988 54,163 -3,612 106,256 -26,232
1987 52,229 -3,613 104,367 -25,720
1986 39,470 -1,073 102,346 -25,495
1985 37,362 -1,073 100,333 -25,470
1984 35,101 772 98,103 -25,487
1983 33,420 1,853 95,982 -25,465
1982 44,146 1,985 93,522 -25,355
1981 42,924 1,985 91,767 -25,383
1980 41,392 1,985 90,266 -25,638
1979 39,577 1,985 89,330 -25,618
1978 38,353 1,985 88,747 -25,208
1977 37,295 1,985 87,954 -24,722
1976 36,250 1,985 86,965 -24,198
1975 30,971 1,985 85,809 -23,562
1974 30,111 1,985 84,829 -22,771
1973 31,969 1,985 83,821 -21,803
1972 30,951 1,953 82,672 -20,303
1971 31,490 1,758 80,599 -18,945
1970 30,686 1,480 78,712 -18,773
1969 29,535 1,199 76,454 -18,994
1968 28,777 1,013 73,983 -19,188
1967 27,992 1,004 71,519 -19,767
1966 24,713 1,063 69,206 -17,454
1965 26,285 1,188 66,693 -18,532
1964 25,327 1,300 64,558 -17,730
1963 24,393 1,368 62,260 -15,189
1962 23,478 1,364 59,974 -12,141
1961 22,351 1,235 58,151 -10,409
1960 21,424 1,045 56,326 -2,034

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

GeoRank.org/population/eritrea/papua-new-guinea | 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 Papua New Guinea 91% is from natural causes (a gain of 1,883,906 people) and 8.98% is from migration (a gain of 185,900 people).

As of 2024, 12,512 residents or 0.4% of the population were not native-born in Eritrea, compared to 31,171 people or 0.3% in Papua New Guinea.

Biggest cities by population

Eritrea
City Population
Asmara 963K
Keren 120K
Massawa 39.8K
Mendefera 28.5K
Papua New Guinea
City Population
Port Moresby 317K
Lae 101K

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/papua-new-guinea | 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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