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

Updated on by Georank

The latest officially reported population of Eritrea was 3,607,003 in 2025 vs 10,762,817 people in Papua New Guinea in 2025. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Eritrea's population is 3,722,489 people compared to 11,045,681 in Papua New Guinea.

Population statistics:

  • Papua New Guinea's population is 2.97 times bigger than Eritrea's.
  • Eritrea is ranked the 131st 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 +1.4% per year vs +2.14% in Papua New Guinea.
  • Since 2006, the population of Eritrea has increased from 2.7M people to 3.72M (37.7% growth), while Papua New Guinea has grown from 6.75M to 11M (63.7% 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 8,522,007 18,798,240
2099 8,497,228 18,786,145
2098 8,474,268 18,772,372
2097 8,451,733 18,755,008
2096 8,429,569 18,733,822
2095 8,403,309 18,710,340
2094 8,377,316 18,683,383
2093 8,351,585 18,654,365
2092 8,316,183 18,621,911
2091 8,285,983 18,586,147
2090 8,250,998 18,545,656
2089 8,216,946 18,506,626
2088 8,179,696 18,464,999
2087 8,143,016 18,420,558
2086 8,100,028 18,372,233
2085 8,053,737 18,321,842
2084 8,006,588 18,270,605
2083 7,963,231 18,214,932
2082 7,918,571 18,159,412
2081 7,878,525 18,100,531
2080 7,822,491 18,035,268
2079 7,772,358 17,972,052
2078 7,718,520 17,904,957
2077 7,662,894 17,837,082
2076 7,607,491 17,768,107
2075 7,545,398 17,695,759
2074 7,490,761 17,621,390
2073 7,426,955 17,544,490
2072 7,364,831 17,463,028
2071 7,302,386 17,377,995
2070 7,237,419 17,291,519
2069 7,171,047 17,201,936
2068 7,100,633 17,108,606
2067 7,032,045 17,011,562
2066 6,958,496 16,911,929
2065 6,890,246 16,809,460
2064 6,820,756 16,705,205
2063 6,739,056 16,600,853
2062 6,665,261 16,493,872
2061 6,586,585 16,383,508
2060 6,506,537 16,267,162
2059 6,427,830 16,149,265
2058 6,348,527 16,029,360
2057 6,270,841 15,906,350
2056 6,199,452 15,781,247
2055 6,119,360 15,653,296
2054 6,044,997 15,519,925
2053 5,962,464 15,386,054
2052 5,877,006 15,247,553
2051 5,796,079 15,107,257
2050 5,715,974 14,965,427
2049 5,637,011 14,818,793
2048 5,554,665 14,670,417
2047 5,473,222 14,519,915
2046 5,391,902 14,367,141
2045 5,305,072 14,210,639
2044 5,220,319 14,053,122
2043 5,136,101 13,894,884
2042 5,048,602 13,735,841
2041 4,964,690 13,574,567
2040 4,875,172 13,410,615
2039 4,786,431 13,244,740
2038 4,697,052 13,076,640
2037 4,603,709 12,907,059
2036 4,510,757 12,735,582
2035 4,424,170 12,563,938
2034 4,336,556 12,389,907
2033 4,251,927 12,215,713
2032 4,168,824 12,039,848
2031 4,087,276 11,862,856
2030 4,002,343 11,683,177
2029 3,921,145 11,502,504
2028 3,839,994 11,320,226
2027 3,759,928 11,136,100
2026 3,682,948 10,950,183
2025 3,607,003 10,762,817
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 (2026–2100, retrieved 2026-07-08); World Bank | Health (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08).

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 597,791 people (a 19.1% growth), while Papua New Guinea's population increased by 2,083,963 people (a 23.3% growth).

Eritrea was ranked 135th most populous country in 2006 and is 131st 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 53.6% to 5,715,974 people with a rank change from 131st to 123rd. The population of Papua New Guinea will increase by 35.5% to 14,965,427 people and rank change from 89th to 84th.

Eritrea is projected to reach its peak in 2100 at 8.52M 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 2.02% 1.76%
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 (2026–2100, retrieved 2026-07-08); World Bank | Health (1961–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08).

GeoRank.org/population/eritrea/papua-new-guinea | CC BY

In 2025, the population of Eritrea grew by 2.02%, while Papua New Guinea's population grew by 1.76%.

Live population counters

Eritrea Papua New Guinea
Current population
3722489
11045681
Population rank 131/197 89/197
Percent of world population 0.04% 0.13%
One net population change
7.38 minutes
2.83 minutes
One birth every
5.18 minutes
2.05 minutes
One death every
24.8 minutes
7.58 minutes
Daily growth/decline +196 +510
Annual growth/decline +71,400 +186,315
Annual growth/decline rate +2.02% +1.76%
Population growth rate rank 49/197 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 80,343 -12,696 187,595 -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 2026-07-08).

GeoRank.org/population/eritrea/papua-new-guinea | 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 Papua New Guinea 92.5% is from natural causes (a gain of 1,883,909 people) and 7.48% is from migration (a gain of 152,353 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 (1960–2025, 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/papua-new-guinea | 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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