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

Updated on by Georank

The latest officially reported population of Eritrea was 3,607,003 in 2025 vs 14,569,341 people in Rwanda in 2025. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Eritrea's population is 3,722,489 people compared to 15,062,056 in Rwanda.

Population statistics:

  • Rwanda's population is 4.05 times bigger than Eritrea's.
  • Eritrea is ranked the 131st 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 +1.4% per year vs +2.28% in Rwanda.
  • Since 2006, the population of Eritrea has increased from 2.7M people to 3.72M (37.7% growth), while Rwanda has grown from 9.3M to 15.1M (62% growth).

Eritrea vs Rwanda: population by year and forecast

Eritrea
Factual

Projection
Rwanda
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
Eritrea Rwanda
2100 8,522,007 33,113,283
2099 8,497,228 33,008,545
2098 8,474,268 32,927,982
2097 8,451,733 32,853,307
2096 8,429,569 32,768,037
2095 8,403,309 32,635,508
2094 8,377,316 32,550,001
2093 8,351,585 32,416,870
2092 8,316,183 32,294,333
2091 8,285,983 32,191,262
2090 8,250,998 32,088,747
2089 8,216,946 31,892,591
2088 8,179,696 31,746,789
2087 8,143,016 31,553,150
2086 8,100,028 31,399,004
2085 8,053,737 31,254,597
2084 8,006,588 31,112,448
2083 7,963,231 30,937,106
2082 7,918,571 30,752,861
2081 7,878,525 30,576,992
2080 7,822,491 30,386,351
2079 7,772,358 30,195,560
2078 7,718,520 30,016,688
2077 7,662,894 29,819,259
2076 7,607,491 29,645,610
2075 7,545,398 29,441,964
2074 7,490,761 29,243,980
2073 7,426,955 29,025,977
2072 7,364,831 28,798,822
2071 7,302,386 28,578,302
2070 7,237,419 28,334,300
2069 7,171,047 28,121,174
2068 7,100,633 27,872,383
2067 7,032,045 27,609,059
2066 6,958,496 27,372,823
2065 6,890,246 27,101,698
2064 6,820,756 26,838,144
2063 6,739,056 26,559,838
2062 6,665,261 26,312,631
2061 6,586,585 26,001,660
2060 6,506,537 25,729,037
2059 6,427,830 25,453,407
2058 6,348,527 25,121,995
2057 6,270,841 24,853,512
2056 6,199,452 24,582,198
2055 6,119,360 24,281,895
2054 6,044,997 23,991,958
2053 5,962,464 23,705,290
2052 5,877,006 23,421,032
2051 5,796,079 23,113,700
2050 5,715,974 22,814,556
2049 5,637,011 22,498,806
2048 5,554,665 22,171,841
2047 5,473,222 21,848,486
2046 5,391,902 21,554,082
2045 5,305,072 21,228,573
2044 5,220,319 20,915,810
2043 5,136,101 20,548,490
2042 5,048,602 20,214,283
2041 4,964,690 19,845,021
2040 4,875,172 19,475,227
2039 4,786,431 19,108,842
2038 4,697,052 18,773,398
2037 4,603,709 18,433,422
2036 4,510,757 18,128,058
2035 4,424,170 17,765,049
2034 4,336,556 17,432,165
2033 4,251,927 17,100,072
2032 4,168,824 16,822,053
2031 4,087,276 16,495,903
2030 4,002,343 16,178,061
2029 3,921,145 15,868,812
2028 3,839,994 15,554,713
2027 3,759,928 15,217,275
2026 3,682,948 14,898,118
2025 3,607,003 14,569,341
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 (2026–2100, retrieved 2026-07-08); World Bank | Health (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08).

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 597,791 people (a 19.1% growth), while Rwanda's population increased by 3,142,873 people (a 26.4% growth).

Eritrea was ranked 135th most populous country in 2006 and is 131st 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 53.6% to 5,715,974 people with a rank change from 131st to 123rd. The population of Rwanda will increase by 51.5% to 22,814,556 people and rank change from 77th to 72nd.

Eritrea is projected to reach its peak in 2100 at 8.52M 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 2.02% 2.19%
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 (2026–2100, retrieved 2026-07-08); World Bank | Health (1961–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08).

GeoRank.org/population/eritrea/rwanda | CC BY

In 2025, the population of Eritrea grew by 2.02%, while Rwanda's population grew by 2.19%.

Live population counters

Eritrea Rwanda
Current population
3722489
15062056
Population rank 131/197 77/197
Percent of world population 0.04% 0.18%
One net population change
7.38 minutes
1.69 minutes
One birth every
5.18 minutes
1.31 minutes
One death every
24.8 minutes
6.25 minutes
Daily growth/decline +196 +857
Annual growth/decline +71,400 +312,774
Annual growth/decline rate +2.02% +2.19%
Population growth rate rank 49/197 40/197
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 80,343 -12,696 316,025 -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 2026-07-08).

GeoRank.org/population/eritrea/rwanda | 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 Rwanda 94% is from natural causes (a gain of 3,104,542 people) and 6.03% is from migration (a loss of 199,112 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 (1960–2025, 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/rwanda | 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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