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

Updated on by Georank team

The latest officially reported population of Eritrea was 3,535,603 in 2024 vs 14,256,567 people in Rwanda in 2024. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Eritrea's population is 3,700,586 people compared to 14,975,051 in Rwanda.

Population statistics:

  • Rwanda's population is 4.05 times bigger than Eritrea's.
  • Eritrea is ranked the 130th most populous country in the world, while Rwanda is the 77th.
  • The countries together account for 0.23% of the world: 0.04% for Eritrea vs 0.18% for Rwanda.
  • For the last 10 years, Eritrea has had an average growth rate of +1.28% per year vs +2.31% in Rwanda.
  • Since 2006, the population of Eritrea has increased from 2.7M people to 3.7M (36.9% growth), while Rwanda has grown from 9.3M to 15M (61% growth).

Eritrea vs Rwanda: population by year and forecast

Eritrea
Factual

Projection
Rwanda
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
Eritrea Rwanda
2100 8,514,681 33,092,520
2099 8,489,924 32,987,847
2098 8,466,983 32,907,335
2097 8,444,468 32,832,706
2096 8,422,323 32,747,490
2095 8,396,086 32,615,044
2094 8,370,114 32,529,590
2093 8,344,405 32,396,544
2092 8,309,034 32,274,083
2091 8,278,860 32,171,077
2090 8,243,905 32,068,626
2089 8,209,883 31,872,593
2088 8,172,664 31,726,882
2087 8,136,016 31,533,364
2086 8,093,065 31,379,315
2085 8,046,814 31,235,000
2084 7,999,706 31,092,940
2083 7,956,385 30,917,707
2082 7,911,764 30,733,578
2081 7,871,753 30,557,819
2080 7,815,766 30,367,298
2079 7,765,677 30,176,627
2078 7,711,886 29,997,866
2077 7,656,307 29,800,561
2076 7,600,951 29,627,021
2075 7,538,912 29,423,503
2074 7,484,322 29,225,643
2073 7,420,571 29,007,777
2072 7,358,500 28,780,763
2071 7,296,109 28,560,382
2070 7,231,198 28,316,533
2069 7,164,883 28,103,541
2068 7,094,530 27,854,906
2067 7,026,000 27,591,747
2066 6,952,514 27,355,659
2065 6,884,323 27,084,704
2064 6,814,893 26,821,315
2063 6,733,263 26,543,184
2062 6,659,531 26,296,132
2061 6,580,923 25,985,356
2060 6,500,944 25,712,904
2059 6,422,305 25,437,446
2058 6,343,070 25,106,242
2057 6,265,450 24,837,928
2056 6,194,123 24,566,784
2055 6,114,099 24,266,669
2054 6,039,801 23,976,914
2053 5,957,339 23,690,426
2052 5,871,954 23,406,346
2051 5,791,096 23,099,207
2050 5,711,061 22,800,250
2049 5,632,165 22,484,698
2048 5,549,890 22,157,938
2047 5,468,518 21,834,786
2046 5,387,267 21,540,566
2045 5,300,511 21,215,262
2044 5,215,831 20,902,695
2043 5,131,686 20,535,605
2042 5,044,262 20,201,608
2041 4,960,422 19,832,577
2040 4,870,981 19,463,015
2039 4,782,316 19,096,860
2038 4,693,015 18,761,626
2037 4,599,752 18,421,864
2036 4,506,879 18,116,691
2035 4,420,367 17,753,910
2034 4,332,828 17,421,234
2033 4,248,272 17,089,349
2032 4,165,241 16,811,505
2031 4,083,762 16,485,559
2030 3,998,903 16,167,916
2029 3,917,775 15,858,862
2028 3,836,693 15,544,959
2027 3,756,696 15,207,733
2026 3,679,782 14,888,776
2025 3,603,902 14,560,205
2024 3,535,603 14,256,567
2023 3,470,390 13,954,471
2022 3,409,447 13,651,030
2021 3,350,183 13,355,260
2020 3,291,271 13,065,837
2019 3,240,194 12,776,103
2018 3,192,760 12,487,996
2017 3,150,347 12,202,060
2016 3,124,698 11,919,183
2015 3,105,546 11,640,022
2014 3,095,173 11,364,757
2013 3,074,360 11,093,340
2012 3,036,988 10,829,901
2011 2,998,485 10,573,733
2010 2,945,186 10,317,553
2009 2,887,885 10,060,432
2008 2,816,327 9,804,269
2007 2,743,222 9,549,933
2006 2,703,502 9,299,246
2005 2,661,215 9,054,528
2004 2,598,284 8,816,844
2003 2,493,903 8,586,875
2002 2,392,978 8,400,180
2001 2,312,079 8,287,094
2000 2,247,031 8,213,931
1999 2,212,780 8,147,912
1998 2,180,419 8,081,681
1997 2,152,135 7,755,238
1996 2,128,464 6,708,764
1995 2,025,267 5,674,118
1994 1,913,915 6,792,352
1993 1,856,006 7,981,132
1992 1,798,748 7,683,266
1991 1,919,571 7,526,966
1990 2,032,737 7,375,307
1989 1,987,017 7,184,706
1988 1,938,255 6,968,071
1987 1,888,669 6,749,493
1986 1,845,164 6,531,881
1985 1,807,816 6,317,228
1984 1,771,730 6,107,627
1983 1,736,160 5,905,311
1982 1,695,461 5,711,549
1981 1,649,939 5,527,230
1980 1,605,797 5,353,259
1979 1,563,332 5,189,541
1978 1,522,378 5,035,171
1977 1,482,565 4,888,240
1976 1,443,807 4,745,954
1975 1,408,210 4,607,728
1974 1,375,688 4,474,228
1973 1,342,669 4,345,047
1972 1,309,235 4,220,335
1971 1,276,154 4,100,044
1970 1,243,453 3,980,669
1969 1,212,005 3,861,271
1968 1,181,737 3,744,010
1967 1,152,339 3,629,577
1966 1,124,957 3,521,626
1965 1,098,335 3,423,210
1964 1,071,287 3,334,834
1963 1,045,092 3,258,890
1962 1,019,788 3,186,025
1961 995,573 3,106,779
1960 972,547 3,022,294

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/rwanda | CC BY

From 2006 to 2016, the population of Eritrea increased by 421,196 people (a 15.6% growth), while Rwanda gained 2,619,937 people (a 28.2% growth).

For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, Eritrea gained 575,888 people (a 18.4% growth), while Rwanda's population increased by 3,055,868 people (a 25.6% growth).

Eritrea was ranked 135th most populous country in 2006 and is 130th in 2026. Rwanda was ranked 86th in 2006 and ranked 77th 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 Rwanda will increase by 52.3% to 22,800,250 people and rank change from 77th to 72nd.

Eritrea is projected to reach its peak in 2100 at 8.51M people compared to the peak of 33.1M people in 2100 for Rwanda.

Population growth rate by year

Eritrea
Factual

Projection
Rwanda
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Growth rate
Eritrea Rwanda
2100 0.29% 0.32%
2099 0.27% 0.24%
2098 0.27% 0.23%
2097 0.26% 0.26%
2096 0.31% 0.41%
2095 0.31% 0.26%
2094 0.31% 0.41%
2093 0.43% 0.38%
2092 0.36% 0.32%
2091 0.42% 0.32%
2090 0.41% 0.62%
2089 0.46% 0.46%
2088 0.45% 0.61%
2087 0.53% 0.49%
2086 0.57% 0.46%
2085 0.59% 0.46%
2084 0.54% 0.57%
2083 0.56% 0.6%
2082 0.51% 0.58%
2081 0.72% 0.63%
2080 0.65% 0.63%
2079 0.7% 0.6%
2078 0.73% 0.66%
2077 0.73% 0.59%
2076 0.82% 0.69%
2075 0.73% 0.68%
2074 0.86% 0.75%
2073 0.84% 0.79%
2072 0.86% 0.77%
2071 0.9% 0.86%
2070 0.93% 0.76%
2069 0.99% 0.89%
2068 0.98% 0.95%
2067 1.06% 0.86%
2066 0.99% 1%
2065 1.02% 0.98%
2064 1.21% 1.05%
2063 1.11% 0.94%
2062 1.19% 1.2%
2061 1.23% 1.06%
2060 1.22% 1.08%
2059 1.25% 1.32%
2058 1.24% 1.08%
2057 1.15% 1.1%
2056 1.31% 1.24%
2055 1.23% 1.21%
2054 1.38% 1.21%
2053 1.45% 1.21%
2052 1.4% 1.33%
2051 1.4% 1.31%
2050 1.4% 1.4%
2049 1.48% 1.47%
2048 1.49% 1.48%
2047 1.51% 1.37%
2046 1.64% 1.53%
2045 1.62% 1.5%
2044 1.64% 1.79%
2043 1.73% 1.65%
2042 1.69% 1.86%
2041 1.84% 1.9%
2040 1.85% 1.92%
2039 1.9% 1.79%
2038 2.03% 1.84%
2037 2.06% 1.68%
2036 1.96% 2.04%
2035 2.02% 1.91%
2034 1.99% 1.94%
2033 1.99% 1.65%
2032 2% 1.98%
2031 2.12% 1.96%
2030 2.07% 1.95%
2029 2.11% 2.02%
2028 2.13% 2.22%
2027 2.09% 2.14%
2026 2.11% 2.26%
2025 1.93% 2.13%
2024 1.88% 2.16%
2023 1.79% 2.22%
2022 1.77% 2.21%
2021 1.79% 2.22%
2020 1.58% 2.27%
2019 1.49% 2.31%
2018 1.35% 2.34%
2017 0.82% 2.37%
2016 0.62% 2.4%
2015 0.34% 2.42%
2014 0.68% 2.45%
2013 1.23% 2.43%
2012 1.28% 2.42%
2011 1.81% 2.48%
2010 1.98% 2.56%
2009 2.54% 2.61%
2008 2.66% 2.66%
2007 1.47% 2.7%
2006 1.59% 2.7%
2005 2.42% 2.7%
2004 4.19% 2.68%
2003 4.22% 2.22%
2002 3.5% 1.36%
2001 2.89% 0.89%
2000 1.55% 0.81%
1999 1.48% 0.82%
1998 1.31% 4.21%
1997 1.11% 15.6%
1996 5.1% 18.2%
1995 5.82% -16.5%
1994 3.12% -14.9%
1993 3.18% 3.88%
1992 -6.29% 2.08%
1991 -5.57% 2.06%
1990 2.3% 2.65%
1989 2.52% 3.11%
1988 2.63% 3.24%
1987 2.36% 3.33%
1986 2.07% 3.4%
1985 2.04% 3.43%
1984 2.05% 3.43%
1983 2.4% 3.39%
1982 2.76% 3.33%
1981 2.75% 3.25%
1980 2.72% 3.15%
1979 2.69% 3.07%
1978 2.69% 3.01%
1977 2.68% 3%
1976 2.53% 3%
1975 2.36% 2.98%
1974 2.46% 2.97%
1973 2.55% 2.96%
1972 2.59% 2.93%
1971 2.63% 3%
1970 2.59% 3.09%
1969 2.56% 3.13%
1968 2.55% 3.15%
1967 2.43% 3.07%
1966 2.42% 2.87%
1965 2.52% 2.65%
1964 2.51% 2.33%
1963 2.48% 2.29%
1962 2.43% 2.55%
1961 2.37% 2.8%

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/rwanda | CC BY

In 2024, the population of Eritrea grew by 1.88%, while Rwanda's population grew by 2.16%.

Live population counters

Eritrea Rwanda
Current population
3700586
14975051
Population rank 130/197 77/197
Percent of world population 0.04% 0.18%
One net population change
8.06 minutes
1.74 minutes
One birth every
5.31 minutes
1.33 minutes
One death every
25 minutes
6.35 minutes
Daily growth/decline +179 +828
Annual growth/decline +65,213 +302,096
Annual growth/decline rate +1.88% +2.16%
Population growth rate rank 58/197 45/197
One migration net change every
1.31 hours
1.4 hours
Annual migration change -6,698 +6,282
Net migration rank 122/196 48/196
Foreign-born residents 12,512 513,316
Foreign-born residents rank 176/195 80/195
Foreign-born share of population 0.4% 3.6%
Foreign-born share rank 178/195 109/195

Natural population change vs migration

Eritrea
Natural

Migration
Rwanda
Natural

Migration
1x
Year Population change
Eritrea Rwanda
Natural Migration Natural Migration
2025 - -6,698 - 6,282
2024 - -12,696 - -15,582
2023 78,073 -15,284 312,762 -9,001
2022 76,221 -17,134 312,145 -9,001
2021 74,394 -14,966 309,895 -21,492
2020 73,362 -14,967 312,692 -22,251
2019 73,572 -29,818 313,525 -24,492
2018 72,511 -21,403 312,512 -25,323
2017 72,291 -38,579 310,323 -25,634
2016 73,002 -55,431 305,549 -24,474
2015 73,682 -52,965 299,114 -21,862
2014 75,729 -75,696 292,779 -19,505
2013 75,562 -33,974 286,331 -16,779
2012 76,416 -43,269 282,584 -25,260
2011 76,806 -32,949 282,922 -27,915
2010 76,098 -13,361 286,848 -29,501
2009 76,206 -24,348 287,034 -30,128
2008 73,391 17,855 287,334 -31,913
2007 73,101 -18,131 285,791 -32,537
2006 74,470 -49,998 282,149 -34,008
2005 72,930 -12,835 275,121 -33,830
2004 72,147 -6,374 265,273 -31,214
2003 66,291 76,703 251,243 -25,355
2002 65,436 -6,574 239,036 -91,518
2001 61,180 41,760 230,845 -152,197
2000 60,274 -33,133 221,276 -153,588
1999 45,120 -3,769 210,518 -146,162
1998 55,332 -31,951 197,185 -129,089
1997 63,953 -30,768 174,687 410,106
1996 66,557 -52,421 140,455 1,367,700
1995 56,157 136,105 121,137 439,995
1994 56,288 -25,841 -719,479 -2,078,111
1993 51,679 33,688 183,926 236,110
1992 51,443 -22,293 188,025 -12,334
1991 57,741 -328,546 196,431 -59,519
1990 56,903 -12,425 207,895 -41,483
1989 54,299 -7,330 217,632 -2,826
1988 54,163 -3,612 223,759 -5,285
1987 52,229 -3,613 225,744 -7,062
1986 39,470 -1,073 225,526 -8,982
1985 37,362 -1,073 223,794 -11,031
1984 35,101 772 219,337 -12,899
1983 33,420 1,853 212,750 -14,560
1982 44,146 1,985 205,147 -15,818
1981 42,924 1,985 195,769 -16,453
1980 41,392 1,985 184,988 -16,359
1979 39,577 1,985 174,477 -15,669
1978 38,353 1,985 163,779 -13,838
1977 37,295 1,985 155,011 -11,084
1976 36,250 1,985 147,665 -7,027
1975 30,971 1,985 140,596 -4,791
1974 30,111 1,985 135,743 -4,535
1973 31,969 1,985 131,021 -3,862
1972 30,951 1,953 126,403 -4,156
1971 31,490 1,758 122,567 -4,230
1970 30,686 1,480 119,273 1,149
1969 29,535 1,199 115,394 2,983
1968 28,777 1,013 111,422 4,728
1967 27,992 1,004 108,053 4,655
1966 24,713 1,063 105,128 -1,930
1965 26,285 1,188 103,422 -9,774
1964 25,327 1,300 102,562 -19,458
1963 24,393 1,368 94,296 -25,524
1962 23,478 1,364 102,548 -25,594
1961 22,351 1,235 102,051 -20,508
1960 21,424 1,045 100,627 -13,198

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

GeoRank.org/population/eritrea/rwanda | 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 Rwanda 93.8% is from natural causes (a gain of 3,081,296 people) and 6.18% is from migration (a loss of 203,035 people).

As of 2024, 12,512 residents or 0.4% of the population were not native-born in Eritrea, compared to 513,316 people or 3.6% in Rwanda.

Biggest cities by population

Eritrea
City Population
Asmara 963K
Keren 120K
Massawa 39.8K
Mendefera 28.5K
Rwanda
City Population
Kigali 1.75M
Ruhengeri 153K
Gisenyi 53.6K
Byumba 36.4K
Cyangugu 27.4K
Nyanza 25.4K
Butare 19.9K
Kibuye 12.3K

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/rwanda | 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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