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

Updated on by Georank

The latest officially reported population of Eritrea was 3,607,003 in 2025 vs 36,973,555 people in Saudi Arabia in 2025. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Eritrea's population is 3,722,489 people compared to 37,955,120 in Saudi Arabia.

Population statistics:

  • Saudi Arabia's population is 10.2 times bigger than Eritrea's.
  • Eritrea is ranked the 131st most populous country in the world, while Saudi Arabia is the 43rd.
  • The countries together account for 0.5% of the world: 0.04% for Eritrea vs 0.46% for Saudi Arabia.
  • For the last 10 years, Eritrea has had an average growth rate of +1.4% per year vs +2.5% in Saudi Arabia.
  • Since 2006, the population of Eritrea has increased from 2.7M people to 3.72M (37.7% growth), while Saudi Arabia has grown from 21.5M to 38M (76.9% growth).

Eritrea vs Saudi Arabia: population by year and forecast

Eritrea
Factual

Projection
Saudi Arabia
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
Eritrea Saudi Arabia
2100 8,522,007 76,380,382
2099 8,497,228 75,896,692
2098 8,474,268 75,410,485
2097 8,451,733 74,922,342
2096 8,429,569 74,431,436
2095 8,403,309 73,939,761
2094 8,377,316 73,447,628
2093 8,351,585 72,954,272
2092 8,316,183 72,460,372
2091 8,285,983 71,966,760
2090 8,250,998 71,474,363
2089 8,216,946 70,984,330
2088 8,179,696 70,494,851
2087 8,143,016 70,006,368
2086 8,100,028 69,519,641
2085 8,053,737 69,035,093
2084 8,006,588 68,551,533
2083 7,963,231 68,068,933
2082 7,918,571 67,587,034
2081 7,878,525 67,105,252
2080 7,822,491 66,624,751
2079 7,772,358 66,144,495
2078 7,718,520 65,664,508
2077 7,662,894 65,183,768
2076 7,607,491 64,701,603
2075 7,545,398 64,217,651
2074 7,490,761 63,731,809
2073 7,426,955 63,243,084
2072 7,364,831 62,750,764
2071 7,302,386 62,255,408
2070 7,237,419 61,756,796
2069 7,171,047 61,253,878
2068 7,100,633 60,746,216
2067 7,032,045 60,235,232
2066 6,958,496 59,720,954
2065 6,890,246 59,203,814
2064 6,820,756 58,684,254
2063 6,739,056 58,161,702
2062 6,665,261 57,637,152
2061 6,586,585 57,109,207
2060 6,506,537 56,579,736
2059 6,427,830 56,047,666
2058 6,348,527 55,513,281
2057 6,270,841 54,978,393
2056 6,199,452 54,441,706
2055 6,119,360 53,904,081
2054 6,044,997 53,364,635
2053 5,962,464 52,823,422
2052 5,877,006 52,280,914
2051 5,796,079 51,737,228
2050 5,715,974 51,192,924
2049 5,637,011 50,647,663
2048 5,554,665 50,100,576
2047 5,473,222 49,552,613
2046 5,391,902 49,002,774
2045 5,305,072 48,451,215
2044 5,220,319 47,898,754
2043 5,136,101 47,346,122
2042 5,048,602 46,792,504
2041 4,964,690 46,237,820
2040 4,875,172 45,682,139
2039 4,786,431 45,126,407
2038 4,697,052 44,569,427
2037 4,603,709 44,012,415
2036 4,510,757 43,454,985
2035 4,424,170 42,897,909
2034 4,336,556 42,342,044
2033 4,251,927 41,787,423
2032 4,168,824 41,233,964
2031 4,087,276 40,680,599
2030 4,002,343 40,128,273
2029 3,921,145 39,530,306
2028 3,839,994 38,906,191
2027 3,759,928 38,267,271
2026 3,682,948 37,625,434
2025 3,607,003 36,973,555
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 (2026–2100, retrieved 2026-07-08); World Bank | Health (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08).

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 597,791 people (a 19.1% growth), while Saudi Arabia's population increased by 7,000,922 people (a 22.6% growth).

Eritrea was ranked 135th most populous country in 2006 and is 131st in 2026. Saudi Arabia was ranked 50th in 2006 and ranked 43rd 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 Saudi Arabia will increase by 34.9% to 51,192,924 people and rank change from 43rd to 42nd.

Eritrea is projected to reach its peak in 2100 at 8.52M people compared to the peak of 76.4M 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 2.02% 4.74%
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 (2026–2100, retrieved 2026-07-08); World Bank | Health (1961–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08).

GeoRank.org/population/eritrea/saudi-arabia | CC BY

In 2025, the population of Eritrea grew by 2.02%, while Saudi Arabia's population grew by 4.74%.

Live population counters

Eritrea Saudi Arabia
Current population
3722489
37955120
Population rank 131/197 43/197
Percent of world population 0.04% 0.46%
One net population change
7.38 minutes
18.9 seconds
One birth every
5.18 minutes
54.2 seconds
One death every
24.8 minutes
6.37 minutes
Daily growth/decline +196 +4,584
Annual growth/decline +71,400 +1,673,275
Annual growth/decline rate +2.02% +4.74%
Population growth rate rank 49/197 2/197
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 80,343 -12,696 499,782 122,170
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 2026-07-08).

GeoRank.org/population/eritrea/saudi-arabia | 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 Saudi Arabia 99.3% is from natural causes (a gain of 4,835,913 people) and 0.73% is from migration (a loss of 35,765 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 (1960–2025, 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/saudi-arabia | 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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