The latest officially reported population of Eritrea was 3,535,603 in 2024 vs 235,536 people in Sao Tome and Principe in 2024. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Eritrea's population is 3,700,586 people compared to 246,362 in Sao Tome and Principe.
Population statistics:
- Eritrea's population is 15 times bigger than Sao Tome and Principe's.
- Eritrea is ranked the 130th most populous country in the world, while Sao Tome and Principe is the 176th.
- The countries together account for 0.05% of the world: 0.04% for Eritrea vs 0.003% for Sao Tome and Principe.
- For the last 10 years, Eritrea has had an average growth rate of +1.28% per year vs +1.82% in Sao Tome and Principe.
- Since 2006, the population of Eritrea has increased from 2.7M people to 3.7M (36.9% growth), while Sao Tome and Principe has grown from 166K to 246K (48.7% growth).
Eritrea vs Sao Tome and Principe: population by year and forecast
| Year | Population | |
|---|---|---|
Eritrea
|
Sao Tome
|
|
| 2100 | 8,514,681 | 538,729 |
| 2099 | 8,489,924 | 537,330 |
| 2098 | 8,466,983 | 535,787 |
| 2097 | 8,444,468 | 534,124 |
| 2096 | 8,422,323 | 532,353 |
| 2095 | 8,396,086 | 530,576 |
| 2094 | 8,370,114 | 528,656 |
| 2093 | 8,344,405 | 526,643 |
| 2092 | 8,309,034 | 524,507 |
| 2091 | 8,278,860 | 522,325 |
| 2090 | 8,243,905 | 519,999 |
| 2089 | 8,209,883 | 517,612 |
| 2088 | 8,172,664 | 515,098 |
| 2087 | 8,136,016 | 512,568 |
| 2086 | 8,093,065 | 510,018 |
| 2085 | 8,046,814 | 507,340 |
| 2084 | 7,999,706 | 504,584 |
| 2083 | 7,956,385 | 501,679 |
| 2082 | 7,911,764 | 498,722 |
| 2081 | 7,871,753 | 495,689 |
| 2080 | 7,815,766 | 492,482 |
| 2079 | 7,765,677 | 489,244 |
| 2078 | 7,711,886 | 485,930 |
| 2077 | 7,656,307 | 482,450 |
| 2076 | 7,600,951 | 478,942 |
| 2075 | 7,538,912 | 475,380 |
| 2074 | 7,484,322 | 471,763 |
| 2073 | 7,420,571 | 468,114 |
| 2072 | 7,358,500 | 464,348 |
| 2071 | 7,296,109 | 460,509 |
| 2070 | 7,231,198 | 456,552 |
| 2069 | 7,164,883 | 452,449 |
| 2068 | 7,094,530 | 448,367 |
| 2067 | 7,026,000 | 444,152 |
| 2066 | 6,952,514 | 439,833 |
| 2065 | 6,884,323 | 435,561 |
| 2064 | 6,814,893 | 431,126 |
| 2063 | 6,733,263 | 426,703 |
| 2062 | 6,659,531 | 422,184 |
| 2061 | 6,580,923 | 417,686 |
| 2060 | 6,500,944 | 413,117 |
| 2059 | 6,422,305 | 408,577 |
| 2058 | 6,343,070 | 404,024 |
| 2057 | 6,265,450 | 399,413 |
| 2056 | 6,194,123 | 394,844 |
| 2055 | 6,114,099 | 390,153 |
| 2054 | 6,039,801 | 385,468 |
| 2053 | 5,957,339 | 380,737 |
| 2052 | 5,871,954 | 376,015 |
| 2051 | 5,791,096 | 371,194 |
| 2050 | 5,711,061 | 366,397 |
| 2049 | 5,632,165 | 361,591 |
| 2048 | 5,549,890 | 356,742 |
| 2047 | 5,468,518 | 351,861 |
| 2046 | 5,387,267 | 346,888 |
| 2045 | 5,300,511 | 341,838 |
| 2044 | 5,215,831 | 336,792 |
| 2043 | 5,131,686 | 331,713 |
| 2042 | 5,044,262 | 326,652 |
| 2041 | 4,960,422 | 321,594 |
| 2040 | 4,870,981 | 316,457 |
| 2039 | 4,782,316 | 311,279 |
| 2038 | 4,693,015 | 306,071 |
| 2037 | 4,599,752 | 300,875 |
| 2036 | 4,506,879 | 295,624 |
| 2035 | 4,420,367 | 290,400 |
| 2034 | 4,332,828 | 285,183 |
| 2033 | 4,248,272 | 279,990 |
| 2032 | 4,165,241 | 274,835 |
| 2031 | 4,083,762 | 269,740 |
| 2030 | 3,998,903 | 264,723 |
| 2029 | 3,917,775 | 259,705 |
| 2028 | 3,836,693 | 254,751 |
| 2027 | 3,756,696 | 249,860 |
| 2026 | 3,679,782 | 245,066 |
| 2025 | 3,603,902 | 240,286 |
| 2024 | 3,535,603 | 235,536 |
| 2023 | 3,470,390 | 230,871 |
| 2022 | 3,409,447 | 226,305 |
| 2021 | 3,350,183 | 221,961 |
| 2020 | 3,291,271 | 217,435 |
| 2019 | 3,240,194 | 213,392 |
| 2018 | 3,192,760 | 210,187 |
| 2017 | 3,150,347 | 206,970 |
| 2016 | 3,124,698 | 203,689 |
| 2015 | 3,105,546 | 200,291 |
| 2014 | 3,095,173 | 196,767 |
| 2013 | 3,074,360 | 193,148 |
| 2012 | 3,036,988 | 189,439 |
| 2011 | 2,998,485 | 185,649 |
| 2010 | 2,945,186 | 181,802 |
| 2009 | 2,887,885 | 177,853 |
| 2008 | 2,816,327 | 173,793 |
| 2007 | 2,743,222 | 169,700 |
| 2006 | 2,703,502 | 165,638 |
| 2005 | 2,661,215 | 161,639 |
| 2004 | 2,598,284 | 157,705 |
| 2003 | 2,493,903 | 153,814 |
| 2002 | 2,392,978 | 149,922 |
| 2001 | 2,312,079 | 146,375 |
| 2000 | 2,247,031 | 144,018 |
| 1999 | 2,212,780 | 142,442 |
| 1998 | 2,180,419 | 140,751 |
| 1997 | 2,152,135 | 138,922 |
| 1996 | 2,128,464 | 136,962 |
| 1995 | 2,025,267 | 134,895 |
| 1994 | 1,913,915 | 132,732 |
| 1993 | 1,856,006 | 130,467 |
| 1992 | 1,798,748 | 128,110 |
| 1991 | 1,919,571 | 125,697 |
| 1990 | 2,032,737 | 122,980 |
| 1989 | 1,987,017 | 119,979 |
| 1988 | 1,938,255 | 116,939 |
| 1987 | 1,888,669 | 113,919 |
| 1986 | 1,845,164 | 111,150 |
| 1985 | 1,807,816 | 108,658 |
| 1984 | 1,771,730 | 106,394 |
| 1983 | 1,736,160 | 104,380 |
| 1982 | 1,695,461 | 102,508 |
| 1981 | 1,649,939 | 100,615 |
| 1980 | 1,605,797 | 98,544 |
| 1979 | 1,563,332 | 96,252 |
| 1978 | 1,522,378 | 93,794 |
| 1977 | 1,482,565 | 91,301 |
| 1976 | 1,443,807 | 88,922 |
| 1975 | 1,408,210 | 86,708 |
| 1974 | 1,375,688 | 84,672 |
| 1973 | 1,342,669 | 82,798 |
| 1972 | 1,309,235 | 81,041 |
| 1971 | 1,276,154 | 79,330 |
| 1970 | 1,243,453 | 77,626 |
| 1969 | 1,212,005 | 76,083 |
| 1968 | 1,181,737 | 74,765 |
| 1967 | 1,152,339 | 73,596 |
| 1966 | 1,124,957 | 72,576 |
| 1965 | 1,098,335 | 71,680 |
| 1964 | 1,071,287 | 70,865 |
| 1963 | 1,045,092 | 70,112 |
| 1962 | 1,019,788 | 69,403 |
| 1961 | 995,573 | 68,707 |
| 1960 | 972,547 | 68,012 |
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/sao-tome-and-principe | CC BY 
From 2006 to 2016, the population of Eritrea increased by 421,196 people (a 15.6% growth), while Sao Tome and Principe gained 38,051 people (a 23% growth).
For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, Eritrea gained 575,888 people (a 18.4% growth), while Sao Tome and Principe's population increased by 42,673 people (a 21% growth).
Eritrea was ranked 135th most populous country in 2006 and is 130th in 2026. Sao Tome and Principe was ranked 178th in 2006 and ranked 176th 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 Sao Tome and Principe will increase by 48.7% to 366,397 people and rank change from 176th to 175th.
Eritrea is projected to reach its peak in 2100 at 8.51M people compared to the peak of 539K people in 2100 for Sao Tome and Principe.
Population growth rate by year
| Year | Growth rate | |
|---|---|---|
|
Eritrea
|
Sao Tome
|
|
| 2100 | 0.29% | 0.26% |
| 2099 | 0.27% | 0.29% |
| 2098 | 0.27% | 0.31% |
| 2097 | 0.26% | 0.33% |
| 2096 | 0.31% | 0.33% |
| 2095 | 0.31% | 0.36% |
| 2094 | 0.31% | 0.38% |
| 2093 | 0.43% | 0.41% |
| 2092 | 0.36% | 0.42% |
| 2091 | 0.42% | 0.45% |
| 2090 | 0.41% | 0.46% |
| 2089 | 0.46% | 0.49% |
| 2088 | 0.45% | 0.49% |
| 2087 | 0.53% | 0.5% |
| 2086 | 0.57% | 0.53% |
| 2085 | 0.59% | 0.55% |
| 2084 | 0.54% | 0.58% |
| 2083 | 0.56% | 0.59% |
| 2082 | 0.51% | 0.61% |
| 2081 | 0.72% | 0.65% |
| 2080 | 0.65% | 0.66% |
| 2079 | 0.7% | 0.68% |
| 2078 | 0.73% | 0.72% |
| 2077 | 0.73% | 0.73% |
| 2076 | 0.82% | 0.75% |
| 2075 | 0.73% | 0.77% |
| 2074 | 0.86% | 0.78% |
| 2073 | 0.84% | 0.81% |
| 2072 | 0.86% | 0.83% |
| 2071 | 0.9% | 0.87% |
| 2070 | 0.93% | 0.91% |
| 2069 | 0.99% | 0.91% |
| 2068 | 0.98% | 0.95% |
| 2067 | 1.06% | 0.98% |
| 2066 | 0.99% | 0.98% |
| 2065 | 1.02% | 1.03% |
| 2064 | 1.21% | 1.04% |
| 2063 | 1.11% | 1.07% |
| 2062 | 1.19% | 1.08% |
| 2061 | 1.23% | 1.11% |
| 2060 | 1.22% | 1.11% |
| 2059 | 1.25% | 1.13% |
| 2058 | 1.24% | 1.15% |
| 2057 | 1.15% | 1.16% |
| 2056 | 1.31% | 1.2% |
| 2055 | 1.23% | 1.22% |
| 2054 | 1.38% | 1.24% |
| 2053 | 1.45% | 1.26% |
| 2052 | 1.4% | 1.3% |
| 2051 | 1.4% | 1.31% |
| 2050 | 1.4% | 1.33% |
| 2049 | 1.48% | 1.36% |
| 2048 | 1.49% | 1.39% |
| 2047 | 1.51% | 1.43% |
| 2046 | 1.64% | 1.48% |
| 2045 | 1.62% | 1.5% |
| 2044 | 1.64% | 1.53% |
| 2043 | 1.73% | 1.55% |
| 2042 | 1.69% | 1.57% |
| 2041 | 1.84% | 1.62% |
| 2040 | 1.85% | 1.66% |
| 2039 | 1.9% | 1.7% |
| 2038 | 2.03% | 1.73% |
| 2037 | 2.06% | 1.78% |
| 2036 | 1.96% | 1.8% |
| 2035 | 2.02% | 1.83% |
| 2034 | 1.99% | 1.85% |
| 2033 | 1.99% | 1.88% |
| 2032 | 2% | 1.89% |
| 2031 | 2.12% | 1.9% |
| 2030 | 2.07% | 1.93% |
| 2029 | 2.11% | 1.94% |
| 2028 | 2.13% | 1.96% |
| 2027 | 2.09% | 1.96% |
| 2026 | 2.11% | 1.99% |
| 2025 | 1.93% | 2.02% |
| 2024 | 1.88% | 2.02% |
| 2023 | 1.79% | 2.02% |
| 2022 | 1.77% | 1.96% |
| 2021 | 1.79% | 2.08% |
| 2020 | 1.58% | 1.89% |
| 2019 | 1.49% | 1.52% |
| 2018 | 1.35% | 1.55% |
| 2017 | 0.82% | 1.61% |
| 2016 | 0.62% | 1.7% |
| 2015 | 0.34% | 1.79% |
| 2014 | 0.68% | 1.87% |
| 2013 | 1.23% | 1.96% |
| 2012 | 1.28% | 2.04% |
| 2011 | 1.81% | 2.12% |
| 2010 | 1.98% | 2.22% |
| 2009 | 2.54% | 2.34% |
| 2008 | 2.66% | 2.41% |
| 2007 | 1.47% | 2.45% |
| 2006 | 1.59% | 2.47% |
| 2005 | 2.42% | 2.49% |
| 2004 | 4.19% | 2.53% |
| 2003 | 4.22% | 2.6% |
| 2002 | 3.5% | 2.42% |
| 2001 | 2.89% | 1.64% |
| 2000 | 1.55% | 1.11% |
| 1999 | 1.48% | 1.2% |
| 1998 | 1.31% | 1.32% |
| 1997 | 1.11% | 1.43% |
| 1996 | 5.1% | 1.53% |
| 1995 | 5.82% | 1.63% |
| 1994 | 3.12% | 1.74% |
| 1993 | 3.18% | 1.84% |
| 1992 | -6.29% | 1.92% |
| 1991 | -5.57% | 2.21% |
| 1990 | 2.3% | 2.5% |
| 1989 | 2.52% | 2.6% |
| 1988 | 2.63% | 2.65% |
| 1987 | 2.36% | 2.49% |
| 1986 | 2.07% | 2.29% |
| 1985 | 2.04% | 2.13% |
| 1984 | 2.05% | 1.93% |
| 1983 | 2.4% | 1.83% |
| 1982 | 2.76% | 1.88% |
| 1981 | 2.75% | 2.1% |
| 1980 | 2.72% | 2.38% |
| 1979 | 2.69% | 2.62% |
| 1978 | 2.69% | 2.73% |
| 1977 | 2.68% | 2.68% |
| 1976 | 2.53% | 2.55% |
| 1975 | 2.36% | 2.4% |
| 1974 | 2.46% | 2.26% |
| 1973 | 2.55% | 2.17% |
| 1972 | 2.59% | 2.16% |
| 1971 | 2.63% | 2.2% |
| 1970 | 2.59% | 2.03% |
| 1969 | 2.56% | 1.76% |
| 1968 | 2.55% | 1.59% |
| 1967 | 2.43% | 1.41% |
| 1966 | 2.42% | 1.25% |
| 1965 | 2.52% | 1.15% |
| 1964 | 2.51% | 1.07% |
| 1963 | 2.48% | 1.02% |
| 1962 | 2.43% | 1.01% |
| 1961 | 2.37% | 1.02% |
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/sao-tome-and-principe | CC BY
In 2024, the population of Eritrea grew by 1.88%, while Sao Tome and Principe's population grew by 2.02%.
Live population counters
|
Eritrea
|
Sao Tome
|
|
|---|---|---|
| Current population |
3700586
|
246362
|
| Population rank | 130/197 | 176/197 |
| Percent of world population | 0.04% | 0.003% |
| One net population change |
8.06 minutes
|
1.88 hours
|
| One birth every |
5.31 minutes
|
1.35 hours
|
| One death every |
25 minutes
|
6.81 hours
|
| Daily growth/decline | +179 | +13 |
| Annual growth/decline | +65,213 | +4,665 |
| Annual growth/decline rate | +1.88% | +2.02% |
| Population growth rate rank | 58/197 | 49/197 |
| One migration net change every |
1.31 hours
|
13.5 hours
|
| Annual migration change | -6,698 | -650 |
| Net migration rank | 122/196 | 90/196 |
| Foreign-born residents | 12,512 | 1,955 |
| Foreign-born residents rank | 176/195 | 194/195 |
| Foreign-born share of population | 0.4% | 0.8% |
| Foreign-born share rank | 178/195 | 162/195 |
Natural population change vs migration
| Year | Population change | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Eritrea
|
Sao Tome
|
|||
| Natural | Migration | Natural | Migration | |
| 2025 | - | -6,698 | - | -650 |
| 2024 | - | -12,696 | - | -604 |
| 2023 | 78,073 | -15,284 | 5,221 | -592 |
| 2022 | 76,221 | -17,134 | 5,102 | -592 |
| 2021 | 74,394 | -14,966 | 4,954 | -782 |
| 2020 | 73,362 | -14,967 | 4,874 | 0 |
| 2019 | 73,572 | -29,818 | 4,932 | -1,716 |
| 2018 | 72,511 | -21,403 | 4,957 | -1,757 |
| 2017 | 72,291 | -38,579 | 5,007 | -1,779 |
| 2016 | 73,002 | -55,431 | 5,125 | -1,793 |
| 2015 | 73,682 | -52,965 | 5,269 | -1,809 |
| 2014 | 75,729 | -75,696 | 5,381 | -1,801 |
| 2013 | 75,562 | -33,974 | 5,449 | -1,787 |
| 2012 | 76,416 | -43,269 | 5,501 | -1,739 |
| 2011 | 76,806 | -32,949 | 5,445 | -1,616 |
| 2010 | 76,098 | -13,361 | 5,391 | -1,529 |
| 2009 | 76,206 | -24,348 | 5,349 | -1,328 |
| 2008 | 73,391 | 17,855 | 5,297 | -1,203 |
| 2007 | 73,101 | -18,131 | 5,226 | -1,127 |
| 2006 | 74,470 | -49,998 | 5,057 | -1,031 |
| 2005 | 72,930 | -12,835 | 4,897 | -941 |
| 2004 | 72,147 | -6,374 | 4,810 | -894 |
| 2003 | 66,291 | 76,703 | 4,702 | -816 |
| 2002 | 65,436 | -6,574 | 4,591 | -690 |
| 2001 | 61,180 | 41,760 | 4,471 | -1,289 |
| 2000 | 60,274 | -33,133 | 4,334 | -2,798 |
| 1999 | 45,120 | -3,769 | 4,221 | -2,594 |
| 1998 | 55,332 | -31,951 | 4,120 | -2,364 |
| 1997 | 63,953 | -30,768 | 4,041 | -2,153 |
| 1996 | 66,557 | -52,421 | 3,993 | -1,974 |
| 1995 | 56,157 | 136,105 | 3,948 | -1,829 |
| 1994 | 56,288 | -25,841 | 3,860 | -1,644 |
| 1993 | 51,679 | 33,688 | 3,841 | -1,527 |
| 1992 | 51,443 | -22,293 | 3,822 | -1,432 |
| 1991 | 57,741 | -328,546 | 3,801 | -1,362 |
| 1990 | 56,903 | -12,425 | 3,719 | -727 |
| 1989 | 54,299 | -7,330 | 3,576 | -571 |
| 1988 | 54,163 | -3,612 | 3,544 | -465 |
| 1987 | 52,229 | -3,613 | 3,440 | -470 |
| 1986 | 39,470 | -1,073 | 3,180 | -614 |
| 1985 | 37,362 | -1,073 | 3,242 | -828 |
| 1984 | 35,101 | 772 | 3,163 | -1,041 |
| 1983 | 33,420 | 1,853 | 3,100 | -1,203 |
| 1982 | 44,146 | 1,985 | 3,047 | -1,203 |
| 1981 | 42,924 | 1,985 | 3,015 | -1,067 |
| 1980 | 41,392 | 1,985 | 2,965 | -770 |
| 1979 | 39,577 | 1,985 | 2,893 | -491 |
| 1978 | 38,353 | 1,985 | 2,800 | -279 |
| 1977 | 37,295 | 1,985 | 2,705 | -255 |
| 1976 | 36,250 | 1,985 | 2,608 | -302 |
| 1975 | 30,971 | 1,985 | 2,515 | -392 |
| 1974 | 30,111 | 1,985 | 2,422 | -474 |
| 1973 | 31,969 | 1,985 | 2,329 | -525 |
| 1972 | 30,951 | 1,953 | 2,232 | -517 |
| 1971 | 31,490 | 1,758 | 2,127 | -430 |
| 1970 | 30,686 | 1,480 | 1,980 | -279 |
| 1969 | 29,535 | 1,199 | 1,862 | -469 |
| 1968 | 28,777 | 1,013 | 1,767 | -520 |
| 1967 | 27,992 | 1,004 | 1,693 | -606 |
| 1966 | 24,713 | 1,063 | 1,642 | -688 |
| 1965 | 26,285 | 1,188 | 1,611 | -765 |
| 1964 | 25,327 | 1,300 | 1,600 | -819 |
| 1963 | 24,393 | 1,368 | 1,609 | -886 |
| 1962 | 23,478 | 1,364 | 1,625 | -927 |
| 1961 | 22,351 | 1,235 | 1,657 | -960 |
| 1960 | 21,424 | 1,045 | 1,547 | -860 |
Data sources: World Bank | Health (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-04-06).
GeoRank.org/population/eritrea/sao-tome-and-principe | 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 Sao Tome and Principe 80.1% is from natural causes (a gain of 50,822 people) and 19.9% is from migration (a loss of 12,621 people).
As of 2024, 12,512 residents or 0.4% of the population were not native-born in Eritrea, compared to 1,955 people or 0.8% in Sao Tome and Principe.
Biggest cities by population
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Population differences between Eritrea and Sao Tome and Principe
|
Eritrea
|
Sao Tome
|
|
|---|---|---|
| Life expectancy | 69.4 years | 70.3 years |
| Average age | 24.6 years | 25.1 years |
| Median age | 19.9 years | 20.3 years |
| Male:Female ratio | 49.4:50.6 | 49.7:50.3 |
| Fertility rate | 3.71 births per woman | 3.64 births per woman |
| Population density | 78.6 ppl/mi² | 661 ppl/mi² |
Population map with other countries
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/sao-tome-and-principe | CC BY
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Data sources:
- World Bank | Health (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-04-06)
- United Nations | World Population Prospects (1960–2100, retrieved 2026-03-10)
- U.S. Census Bureau (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-02-08)
- Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) (2000–2019, retrieved 2026-02-20)
- Wikidata (2026, retrieved 2026-02-08)
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