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Population in Eritrea compared to Saudi Arabia: Trends, Charts, Rankings

Updated on by Georank team

The latest officially reported population of Eritrea was 3,535,603 in 2024 vs 35,300,280 people in Saudi Arabia in 2024. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Eritrea's population is 3,700,586 people compared to 36,734,925 in Saudi Arabia.

Population statistics:

  • Saudi Arabia's population is 9.93 times bigger than Eritrea's.
  • Eritrea is ranked the 130th most populous country in the world, while Saudi Arabia is the 44th.
  • The countries together account for 0.49% of the world: 0.04% for Eritrea vs 0.44% for Saudi Arabia.
  • For the last 10 years, Eritrea has had an average growth rate of +1.28% per year vs +2.3% in Saudi Arabia.
  • Since 2006, the population of Eritrea has increased from 2.7M people to 3.7M (36.9% growth), while Saudi Arabia has grown from 21.5M to 36.7M (71.2% growth).

Eritrea vs Saudi Arabia: population by year and forecast

Eritrea
Factual

Projection
Saudi Arabia
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
Eritrea Saudi Arabia
2100 8,514,681 74,230,118
2099 8,489,924 73,760,045
2098 8,466,983 73,287,526
2097 8,444,468 72,813,125
2096 8,422,323 72,336,039
2095 8,396,086 71,858,206
2094 8,370,114 71,379,928
2093 8,344,405 70,900,460
2092 8,309,034 70,420,464
2091 8,278,860 69,940,749
2090 8,243,905 69,462,214
2089 8,209,883 68,985,976
2088 8,172,664 68,510,277
2087 8,136,016 68,035,545
2086 8,093,065 67,562,521
2085 8,046,814 67,091,615
2084 7,999,706 66,621,667
2083 7,956,385 66,152,653
2082 7,911,764 65,684,321
2081 7,871,753 65,216,102
2080 7,815,766 64,749,128
2079 7,765,677 64,282,393
2078 7,711,886 63,815,918
2077 7,656,307 63,348,712
2076 7,600,951 62,880,120
2075 7,538,912 62,409,793
2074 7,484,322 61,937,628
2073 7,420,571 61,462,662
2072 7,358,500 60,984,202
2071 7,296,109 60,502,791
2070 7,231,198 60,018,216
2069 7,164,883 59,529,456
2068 7,094,530 59,036,086
2067 7,026,000 58,539,487
2066 6,952,514 58,039,687
2065 6,884,323 57,537,106
2064 6,814,893 57,032,172
2063 6,733,263 56,524,331
2062 6,659,531 56,014,549
2061 6,580,923 55,501,467
2060 6,500,944 54,986,901
2059 6,422,305 54,469,809
2058 6,343,070 53,950,469
2057 6,265,450 53,430,639
2056 6,194,123 52,909,061
2055 6,114,099 52,386,571
2054 6,039,801 51,862,312
2053 5,957,339 51,336,335
2052 5,871,954 50,809,100
2051 5,791,096 50,280,719
2050 5,711,061 49,751,739
2049 5,632,165 49,221,828
2048 5,549,890 48,690,143
2047 5,468,518 48,157,605
2046 5,387,267 47,623,246
2045 5,300,511 47,087,215
2044 5,215,831 46,550,306
2043 5,131,686 46,013,232
2042 5,044,262 45,475,200
2041 4,960,422 44,936,131
2040 4,870,981 44,396,093
2039 4,782,316 43,856,006
2038 4,693,015 43,314,707
2037 4,599,752 42,773,375
2036 4,506,879 42,231,639
2035 4,420,367 41,690,245
2034 4,332,828 41,150,029
2033 4,248,272 40,611,021
2032 4,165,241 40,073,144
2031 4,083,762 39,535,357
2030 3,998,903 38,998,581
2029 3,917,775 38,417,447
2028 3,836,693 37,810,902
2027 3,756,696 37,189,969
2026 3,679,782 36,566,201
2025 3,603,902 35,932,673
2024 3,535,603 35,300,280
2023 3,470,390 33,702,731
2022 3,409,447 32,175,224
2021 3,350,183 30,784,383
2020 3,291,271 31,552,510
2019 3,240,194 30,063,799
2018 3,192,760 30,196,281
2017 3,150,347 30,977,355
2016 3,124,698 30,954,198
2015 3,105,546 29,816,382
2014 3,095,173 28,309,273
2013 3,074,360 27,624,004
2012 3,036,988 26,168,861
2011 2,998,485 25,091,867
2010 2,945,186 23,978,487
2009 2,887,885 24,217,654
2008 2,816,327 23,287,877
2007 2,743,222 22,368,313
2006 2,703,502 21,459,144
2005 2,661,215 20,559,890
2004 2,598,284 19,669,480
2003 2,493,903 18,786,767
2002 2,392,978 17,910,910
2001 2,312,079 17,041,397
2000 2,247,031 16,177,722
1999 2,212,780 15,472,075
1998 2,180,419 14,922,185
1997 2,152,135 14,374,943
1996 2,128,464 13,831,009
1995 2,025,267 13,289,245
1994 1,913,915 12,750,040
1993 1,856,006 12,215,862
1992 1,798,748 11,686,676
1991 1,919,571 11,160,744
1990 2,032,737 10,640,691
1989 1,987,017 10,128,394
1988 1,938,255 9,629,165
1987 1,888,669 9,130,194
1986 1,845,164 8,628,639
1985 1,807,816 8,151,779
1984 1,771,730 7,697,307
1983 1,736,160 7,252,941
1982 1,695,461 6,824,486
1981 1,649,939 6,420,551
1980 1,605,797 6,047,997
1979 1,563,332 5,703,698
1978 1,522,378 5,381,902
1977 1,482,565 5,083,048
1976 1,443,807 4,807,933
1975 1,408,210 4,556,287
1974 1,375,688 4,323,632
1973 1,342,669 4,106,344
1972 1,309,235 3,905,722
1971 1,276,154 3,724,031
1970 1,243,453 3,562,470
1969 1,212,005 3,417,114
1968 1,181,737 3,282,711
1967 1,152,339 3,157,242
1966 1,124,957 3,039,887
1965 1,098,335 2,928,771
1964 1,071,287 2,821,968
1963 1,045,092 2,719,341
1962 1,019,788 2,620,910
1961 995,573 2,526,347
1960 972,547 2,435,403

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/saudi-arabia | CC BY

From 2006 to 2016, the population of Eritrea increased by 421,196 people (a 15.6% growth), while Saudi Arabia gained 9,495,054 people (a 44.2% growth).

For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, Eritrea gained 575,888 people (a 18.4% growth), while Saudi Arabia's population increased by 5,780,727 people (a 18.7% growth).

Eritrea was ranked 135th most populous country in 2006 and is 130th in 2026. Saudi Arabia was ranked 50th in 2006 and ranked 44th 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 Saudi Arabia will increase by 35.4% to 49,751,739 people and rank change from 44th to 43rd.

Eritrea is projected to reach its peak in 2100 at 8.51M people compared to the peak of 74.2M people in 2100 for Saudi Arabia.

Population growth rate by year

Eritrea
Factual

Projection
Saudi Arabia
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Growth rate
Eritrea Saudi Arabia
2100 0.29% 0.64%
2099 0.27% 0.64%
2098 0.27% 0.65%
2097 0.26% 0.66%
2096 0.31% 0.66%
2095 0.31% 0.67%
2094 0.31% 0.68%
2093 0.43% 0.68%
2092 0.36% 0.69%
2091 0.42% 0.69%
2090 0.41% 0.69%
2089 0.46% 0.69%
2088 0.45% 0.7%
2087 0.53% 0.7%
2086 0.57% 0.7%
2085 0.59% 0.71%
2084 0.54% 0.71%
2083 0.56% 0.71%
2082 0.51% 0.72%
2081 0.72% 0.72%
2080 0.65% 0.73%
2079 0.7% 0.73%
2078 0.73% 0.74%
2077 0.73% 0.75%
2076 0.82% 0.75%
2075 0.73% 0.76%
2074 0.86% 0.77%
2073 0.84% 0.78%
2072 0.86% 0.8%
2071 0.9% 0.81%
2070 0.93% 0.82%
2069 0.99% 0.84%
2068 0.98% 0.85%
2067 1.06% 0.86%
2066 0.99% 0.87%
2065 1.02% 0.89%
2064 1.21% 0.9%
2063 1.11% 0.91%
2062 1.19% 0.92%
2061 1.23% 0.94%
2060 1.22% 0.95%
2059 1.25% 0.96%
2058 1.24% 0.97%
2057 1.15% 0.99%
2056 1.31% 1%
2055 1.23% 1.01%
2054 1.38% 1.02%
2053 1.45% 1.04%
2052 1.4% 1.05%
2051 1.4% 1.06%
2050 1.4% 1.08%
2049 1.48% 1.09%
2048 1.49% 1.11%
2047 1.51% 1.12%
2046 1.64% 1.14%
2045 1.62% 1.15%
2044 1.64% 1.17%
2043 1.73% 1.18%
2042 1.69% 1.2%
2041 1.84% 1.22%
2040 1.85% 1.23%
2039 1.9% 1.25%
2038 2.03% 1.27%
2037 2.06% 1.28%
2036 1.96% 1.3%
2035 2.02% 1.31%
2034 1.99% 1.33%
2033 1.99% 1.34%
2032 2% 1.36%
2031 2.12% 1.38%
2030 2.07% 1.51%
2029 2.11% 1.6%
2028 2.13% 1.67%
2027 2.09% 1.71%
2026 2.11% 1.76%
2025 1.93% 1.79%
2024 1.88% 4.74%
2023 1.79% 4.75%
2022 1.77% 4.52%
2021 1.79% -2.43%
2020 1.58% 4.95%
2019 1.49% -0.44%
2018 1.35% -2.52%
2017 0.82% 0.07%
2016 0.62% 3.82%
2015 0.34% 5.32%
2014 0.68% 2.48%
2013 1.23% 5.56%
2012 1.28% 4.29%
2011 1.81% 4.64%
2010 1.98% -0.99%
2009 2.54% 3.99%
2008 2.66% 4.11%
2007 1.47% 4.24%
2006 1.59% 4.37%
2005 2.42% 4.53%
2004 4.19% 4.7%
2003 4.22% 4.89%
2002 3.5% 5.1%
2001 2.89% 5.34%
2000 1.55% 4.56%
1999 1.48% 3.69%
1998 1.31% 3.81%
1997 1.11% 3.93%
1996 5.1% 4.08%
1995 5.82% 4.23%
1994 3.12% 4.37%
1993 3.18% 4.53%
1992 -6.29% 4.71%
1991 -5.57% 4.89%
1990 2.3% 5.06%
1989 2.52% 5.18%
1988 2.63% 5.47%
1987 2.36% 5.81%
1986 2.07% 5.85%
1985 2.04% 5.9%
1984 2.05% 6.13%
1983 2.4% 6.28%
1982 2.76% 6.29%
1981 2.75% 6.16%
1980 2.72% 6.04%
1979 2.69% 5.98%
1978 2.69% 5.88%
1977 2.68% 5.72%
1976 2.53% 5.52%
1975 2.36% 5.38%
1974 2.46% 5.29%
1973 2.55% 5.14%
1972 2.59% 4.88%
1971 2.63% 4.54%
1970 2.59% 4.25%
1969 2.56% 4.09%
1968 2.55% 3.97%
1967 2.43% 3.86%
1966 2.42% 3.79%
1965 2.52% 3.78%
1964 2.51% 3.77%
1963 2.48% 3.76%
1962 2.43% 3.74%
1961 2.37% 3.73%

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/saudi-arabia | CC BY

In 2024, the population of Eritrea grew by 1.88%, while Saudi Arabia's population grew by 4.74%.

Live population counters

Eritrea Saudi Arabia
Current population
3700586
36734925
Population rank 130/197 44/197
Percent of world population 0.04% 0.44%
One net population change
8.06 minutes
19.7 seconds
One birth every
5.31 minutes
57 seconds
One death every
25 minutes
6.66 minutes
Daily growth/decline +179 +4,377
Annual growth/decline +65,213 +1,597,549
Annual growth/decline rate +1.88% +4.74%
Population growth rate rank 58/197 4/197
One migration net change every
1.31 hours
4.4 minutes
Annual migration change -6,698 +119,738
Net migration rank 122/196 13/196
Foreign-born residents 12,512 13,683,841
Foreign-born residents rank 176/195 3/195
Foreign-born share of population 0.4% 40.3%
Foreign-born share rank 178/195 14/195

Natural population change vs migration

Eritrea
Natural

Migration
Saudi Arabia
Natural

Migration
1x
Year Population change
Eritrea Saudi Arabia
Natural Migration Natural Migration
2025 - -6,698 - 119,738
2024 - -12,696 - 122,170
2023 78,073 -15,284 474,366 325,691
2022 76,221 -17,134 406,920 977,072
2021 74,394 -14,966 409,032 -106,287
2020 73,362 -14,967 447,036 -74,725
2019 73,572 -29,818 474,407 191,582
2018 72,511 -21,403 528,767 -988,751
2017 72,291 -38,579 546,751 -920,812
2016 73,002 -55,431 537,829 -26,997
2015 73,682 -52,965 511,023 465,292
2014 75,729 -75,696 493,431 469,144
2013 75,562 -33,974 475,299 485,794
2012 76,416 -43,269 465,649 479,206
2011 76,806 -32,949 443,675 491,253
2010 76,098 -13,361 418,641 504,955
2009 76,206 -24,348 438,557 496,229
2008 73,391 17,855 433,457 491,337
2007 73,101 -18,131 425,199 489,136
2006 74,470 -49,998 399,333 504,661
2005 72,930 -12,835 375,938 518,565
2004 72,147 -6,374 362,843 523,472
2003 66,291 76,703 364,520 514,606
2002 65,436 -6,574 372,099 500,508
2001 61,180 41,760 382,153 484,252
2000 60,274 -33,133 392,407 468,515
1999 45,120 -3,769 390,112 160,263
1998 55,332 -31,951 389,499 159,898
1997 63,953 -30,768 385,033 160,066
1996 66,557 -52,421 382,248 160,532
1995 56,157 136,105 380,231 160,512
1994 56,288 -25,841 377,351 160,306
1993 51,679 33,688 372,621 158,074
1992 51,443 -22,293 366,763 160,908
1991 57,741 -328,546 361,329 162,857
1990 56,903 -12,425 355,495 160,416
1989 54,299 -7,330 349,399 159,273
1988 54,163 -3,612 342,865 146,918
1987 52,229 -3,613 333,088 175,075
1986 39,470 -1,073 322,340 172,606
1985 37,362 -1,073 310,558 148,208
1984 35,101 772 296,615 153,562
1983 33,420 1,853 280,616 157,930
1982 44,146 1,985 264,831 153,528
1981 42,924 1,985 249,156 140,355
1980 41,392 1,985 234,372 121,220
1979 39,577 1,985 220,186 112,826
1978 38,353 1,985 205,331 105,263
1977 37,295 1,985 191,103 96,015
1976 36,250 1,985 178,024 85,083
1975 30,971 1,985 166,223 73,960
1974 30,111 1,985 155,478 69,653
1973 31,969 1,985 145,450 63,995
1972 30,951 1,953 136,360 55,439
1971 31,490 1,758 127,600 43,989
1970 30,686 1,480 120,440 31,097
1969 29,535 1,199 113,859 25,312
1968 28,777 1,013 108,281 21,366
1967 27,992 1,004 103,343 17,947
1966 24,713 1,063 98,361 15,054
1965 26,285 1,188 93,820 15,000
1964 25,327 1,300 89,776 15,000
1963 24,393 1,368 85,480 15,000
1962 23,478 1,364 81,393 15,000
1961 22,351 1,235 77,743 15,000
1960 21,424 1,045 74,143 15,000

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

GeoRank.org/population/eritrea/saudi-arabia | 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 Saudi Arabia 93.9% is from natural causes (a gain of 4,829,562 people) and 6.05% is from migration (a gain of 311,209 people).

As of 2024, 12,512 residents or 0.4% of the population were not native-born in Eritrea, compared to 13,683,841 people or 40.3% in Saudi Arabia.

Biggest cities by population

Eritrea
City Population
Asmara 963K
Keren 120K
Massawa 39.8K
Mendefera 28.5K
Saudi Arabia
City Population
Riyadh 7.01M
Jeddah 4.7M
Mecca 2.43M
Medina 1.41M
Dammam 903K
Tabuk 886K
Qatif 625K
Jubail 379K
Ha'il 311K
Yanbu 299K

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/saudi-arabia | 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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