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

Updated on by Georank

The latest officially reported population of Eritrea was 3,607,003 in 2025 vs 19,654,739 people in Somalia in 2025. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Eritrea's population is 3,722,489 people compared to 20,653,532 in Somalia.

Population statistics:

  • Somalia's population is 5.55 times bigger than Eritrea's.
  • Eritrea is ranked the 131st most populous country in the world, while Somalia is the 66th.
  • The countries together account for 0.29% of the world: 0.04% for Eritrea vs 0.25% for Somalia.
  • For the last 10 years, Eritrea has had an average growth rate of +1.4% per year vs +3.59% in Somalia.
  • Since 2006, the population of Eritrea has increased from 2.7M people to 3.72M (37.7% growth), while Somalia has grown from 11M to 20.7M (88.2% growth).

Eritrea vs Somalia: population by year and forecast

Eritrea
Factual

Projection
Somalia
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
Eritrea Somalia
2100 8,522,007 68,341,587
2099 8,497,228 67,997,987
2098 8,474,268 67,660,056
2097 8,451,733 67,320,374
2096 8,429,569 66,931,214
2095 8,403,309 66,544,181
2094 8,377,316 66,138,594
2093 8,351,585 65,719,626
2092 8,316,183 65,283,569
2091 8,285,983 64,812,444
2090 8,250,998 64,322,633
2089 8,216,946 63,882,977
2088 8,179,696 63,424,502
2087 8,143,016 62,947,792
2086 8,100,028 62,408,129
2085 8,053,737 61,835,054
2084 8,006,588 61,280,718
2083 7,963,231 60,723,949
2082 7,918,571 60,150,487
2081 7,878,525 59,639,547
2080 7,822,491 59,064,099
2079 7,772,358 58,441,001
2078 7,718,520 57,816,490
2077 7,662,894 57,176,183
2076 7,607,491 56,567,204
2075 7,545,398 55,970,712
2074 7,490,761 55,295,699
2073 7,426,955 54,617,874
2072 7,364,831 53,944,923
2071 7,302,386 53,250,824
2070 7,237,419 52,540,460
2069 7,171,047 51,845,897
2068 7,100,633 51,165,760
2067 7,032,045 50,461,574
2066 6,958,496 49,748,163
2065 6,890,246 48,994,126
2064 6,820,756 48,235,809
2063 6,739,056 47,492,758
2062 6,665,261 46,756,776
2061 6,586,585 46,008,848
2060 6,506,537 45,192,338
2059 6,427,830 44,370,279
2058 6,348,527 43,631,825
2057 6,270,841 42,870,700
2056 6,199,452 42,095,303
2055 6,119,360 41,292,441
2054 6,044,997 40,487,904
2053 5,962,464 39,720,236
2052 5,877,006 38,967,888
2051 5,796,079 38,205,058
2050 5,715,974 37,448,393
2049 5,637,011 36,717,019
2048 5,554,665 35,962,583
2047 5,473,222 35,196,924
2046 5,391,902 34,440,935
2045 5,305,072 33,696,593
2044 5,220,319 32,957,131
2043 5,136,101 32,227,622
2042 5,048,602 31,517,627
2041 4,964,690 30,775,671
2040 4,875,172 30,013,616
2039 4,786,431 29,294,623
2038 4,697,052 28,565,580
2037 4,603,709 27,821,304
2036 4,510,757 27,097,563
2035 4,424,170 26,368,985
2034 4,336,556 25,671,628
2033 4,251,927 25,002,924
2032 4,168,824 24,323,435
2031 4,087,276 23,642,617
2030 4,002,343 22,951,436
2029 3,921,145 22,285,719
2028 3,839,994 21,638,095
2027 3,759,928 20,978,784
2026 3,682,948 20,310,008
2025 3,607,003 19,654,739
2024 3,535,603 19,009,151
2023 3,470,390 18,358,615
2022 3,409,447 17,801,897
2021 3,350,183 17,271,431
2020 3,291,271 16,651,191
2019 3,240,194 16,030,971
2018 3,192,760 15,452,487
2017 3,150,347 14,916,629
2016 3,124,698 14,348,740
2015 3,105,546 13,806,963
2014 3,095,173 13,339,491
2013 3,074,360 12,869,594
2012 3,036,988 12,461,160
2011 2,998,485 12,348,830
2010 2,945,186 12,261,756
2009 2,887,885 11,961,201
2008 2,816,327 11,663,084
2007 2,743,222 11,322,582
2006 2,703,502 10,975,502
2005 2,661,215 10,644,228
2004 2,598,284 10,280,998
2003 2,493,903 9,909,157
2002 2,392,978 9,550,063
2001 2,312,079 9,198,493
2000 2,247,031 8,838,713
1999 2,212,780 8,492,059
1998 2,180,419 8,155,417
1997 2,152,135 7,824,525
1996 2,128,464 7,554,474
1995 2,025,267 7,285,007
1994 1,913,915 7,026,797
1993 1,856,006 6,681,399
1992 1,798,748 6,495,107
1991 1,919,571 6,813,760
1990 2,032,737 7,082,811
1989 1,987,017 7,114,817
1988 1,938,255 7,235,360
1987 1,888,669 7,228,302
1986 1,845,164 6,974,788
1985 1,807,816 6,693,289
1984 1,771,730 6,428,389
1983 1,736,160 6,198,430
1982 1,695,461 6,003,840
1981 1,649,939 5,982,849
1980 1,605,797 5,936,154
1979 1,563,332 5,449,117
1978 1,522,378 4,814,892
1977 1,482,565 4,484,050
1976 1,443,807 4,365,812
1975 1,408,210 4,257,535
1974 1,375,688 4,151,842
1973 1,342,669 4,045,592
1972 1,309,235 3,939,436
1971 1,276,154 3,837,691
1970 1,243,453 3,738,448
1969 1,212,005 3,641,015
1968 1,181,737 3,546,590
1967 1,152,339 3,454,537
1966 1,124,957 3,365,106
1965 1,098,335 3,277,874
1964 1,071,287 3,192,796
1963 1,045,092 3,110,361
1962 1,019,788 3,030,091
1961 995,573 2,952,054
1960 972,547 2,876,331

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/somalia | CC BY

From 2006 to 2016, the population of Eritrea increased by 421,196 people (a 15.6% growth), while Somalia gained 3,373,238 people (a 30.7% growth).

For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, Eritrea gained 597,791 people (a 19.1% growth), while Somalia's population increased by 6,304,792 people (a 43.9% growth).

Eritrea was ranked 135th most populous country in 2006 and is 131st in 2026. Somalia was ranked 75th in 2006 and ranked 66th 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 Somalia will increase by 81.3% to 37,448,393 people and rank change from 66th to 57th.

Eritrea is projected to reach its peak in 2100 at 8.52M people compared to the peak of 68.3M people in 2100 for Somalia.

Population growth rate by year

Eritrea
Factual

Projection
Somalia
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Growth rate
Eritrea Somalia
2100 0.29% 0.51%
2099 0.27% 0.5%
2098 0.27% 0.5%
2097 0.26% 0.58%
2096 0.31% 0.58%
2095 0.31% 0.61%
2094 0.31% 0.64%
2093 0.43% 0.67%
2092 0.36% 0.73%
2091 0.42% 0.76%
2090 0.41% 0.69%
2089 0.46% 0.72%
2088 0.45% 0.76%
2087 0.53% 0.86%
2086 0.57% 0.93%
2085 0.59% 0.9%
2084 0.54% 0.92%
2083 0.56% 0.95%
2082 0.51% 0.86%
2081 0.72% 0.97%
2080 0.65% 1.07%
2079 0.7% 1.08%
2078 0.73% 1.12%
2077 0.73% 1.08%
2076 0.82% 1.07%
2075 0.73% 1.22%
2074 0.86% 1.24%
2073 0.84% 1.25%
2072 0.86% 1.3%
2071 0.9% 1.35%
2070 0.93% 1.34%
2069 0.99% 1.33%
2068 0.98% 1.4%
2067 1.06% 1.43%
2066 0.99% 1.54%
2065 1.02% 1.57%
2064 1.21% 1.56%
2063 1.11% 1.57%
2062 1.19% 1.63%
2061 1.23% 1.81%
2060 1.22% 1.85%
2059 1.25% 1.69%
2058 1.24% 1.78%
2057 1.15% 1.84%
2056 1.31% 1.94%
2055 1.23% 1.99%
2054 1.38% 1.93%
2053 1.45% 1.93%
2052 1.4% 2%
2051 1.4% 2.02%
2050 1.4% 1.99%
2049 1.48% 2.1%
2048 1.49% 2.18%
2047 1.51% 2.2%
2046 1.64% 2.21%
2045 1.62% 2.24%
2044 1.64% 2.26%
2043 1.73% 2.25%
2042 1.69% 2.41%
2041 1.84% 2.54%
2040 1.85% 2.45%
2039 1.9% 2.55%
2038 2.03% 2.68%
2037 2.06% 2.67%
2036 1.96% 2.76%
2035 2.02% 2.72%
2034 1.99% 2.67%
2033 1.99% 2.79%
2032 2% 2.88%
2031 2.12% 3.01%
2030 2.07% 2.99%
2029 2.11% 2.99%
2028 2.13% 3.14%
2027 2.09% 3.29%
2026 2.11% 3.33%
2025 2.02% 3.4%
2024 1.88% 3.54%
2023 1.79% 3.13%
2022 1.77% 3.07%
2021 1.79% 3.72%
2020 1.58% 3.87%
2019 1.49% 3.74%
2018 1.35% 3.59%
2017 0.82% 3.96%
2016 0.62% 3.92%
2015 0.34% 3.5%
2014 0.68% 3.65%
2013 1.23% 3.28%
2012 1.28% 0.91%
2011 1.81% 0.71%
2010 1.98% 2.51%
2009 2.54% 2.56%
2008 2.66% 3.01%
2007 1.47% 3.16%
2006 1.59% 3.11%
2005 2.42% 3.53%
2004 4.19% 3.75%
2003 4.22% 3.76%
2002 3.5% 3.82%
2001 2.89% 4.07%
2000 1.55% 4.08%
1999 1.48% 4.13%
1998 1.31% 4.23%
1997 1.11% 3.57%
1996 5.1% 3.7%
1995 5.82% 3.67%
1994 3.12% 5.17%
1993 3.18% 2.87%
1992 -6.29% -4.68%
1991 -5.57% -3.8%
1990 2.3% -0.45%
1989 2.52% -1.67%
1988 2.63% 0.1%
1987 2.36% 3.63%
1986 2.07% 4.21%
1985 2.04% 4.12%
1984 2.05% 3.71%
1983 2.4% 3.24%
1982 2.76% 0.35%
1981 2.75% 0.79%
1980 2.72% 8.94%
1979 2.69% 13.2%
1978 2.69% 7.38%
1977 2.68% 2.71%
1976 2.53% 2.54%
1975 2.36% 2.55%
1974 2.46% 2.63%
1973 2.55% 2.69%
1972 2.59% 2.65%
1971 2.63% 2.65%
1970 2.59% 2.68%
1969 2.56% 2.66%
1968 2.55% 2.66%
1967 2.43% 2.66%
1966 2.42% 2.66%
1965 2.52% 2.66%
1964 2.51% 2.65%
1963 2.48% 2.65%
1962 2.43% 2.64%
1961 2.37% 2.63%

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/somalia | CC BY

In 2025, the population of Eritrea grew by 2.02%, while Somalia's population grew by 3.4%.

Live population counters

Eritrea Somalia
Current population
3722489
20653532
Population rank 131/197 66/197
Percent of world population 0.04% 0.25%
One net population change
7.38 minutes
49 seconds
One birth every
5.18 minutes
39.2 seconds
One death every
24.8 minutes
2.84 minutes
Daily growth/decline +196 +1,769
Annual growth/decline +71,400 +645,588
Annual growth/decline rate +2.02% +3.4%
Population growth rate rank 49/197 8/197
One migration net change every
1.31 hours
43.6 minutes
Annual migration change -6,698 +12,077
Net migration rank 122/196 40/196
Foreign-born residents 12,512 77,972
Foreign-born residents rank 176/195 140/195
Foreign-born share of population 0.4% 0.4%
Foreign-born share rank 178/195 180/195

Natural population change vs migration

Eritrea
Natural

Migration
Somalia
Natural

Migration
1x
Year Population change
Eritrea Somalia
Natural Migration Natural Migration
2025 - -6,698 - 12,077
2024 80,343 -12,696 619,793 26,859
2023 78,073 -15,284 608,203 46,217
2022 76,221 -17,134 551,450 -92,434
2021 74,394 -14,966 566,399 35,506
2020 73,362 -14,967 561,311 77,259
2019 73,572 -29,818 548,756 53,124
2018 72,511 -21,403 514,244 40,844
2017 72,291 -38,579 478,556 38,067
2016 73,002 -55,431 495,132 124,017
2015 73,682 -52,965 481,573 -17,178
2014 75,729 -75,696 464,481 6,065
2013 75,562 -33,974 448,518 20,723
2012 76,416 -43,269 399,468 -51,833
2011 76,806 -32,949 203,213 -326,192
2010 76,098 -13,361 385,571 -88,448
2009 76,206 -24,348 405,784 -101,795
2008 73,391 17,855 394,258 -102,035
2007 73,101 -18,131 380,303 8,476
2006 74,470 -49,998 372,597 -67,200
2005 72,930 -12,835 363,117 -5,955
2004 72,147 -6,374 351,959 17,353
2003 66,291 76,703 341,192 33,174
2002 65,436 -6,574 331,215 12,603
2001 61,180 41,760 319,059 40,274
2000 60,274 -33,133 306,651 53,580
1999 45,120 -3,769 295,523 37,548
1998 55,332 -31,951 284,779 55,426
1997 63,953 -30,768 271,894 49,692
1996 66,557 -52,421 264,807 -46,291
1995 56,157 136,105 254,509 65,888
1994 56,288 -25,841 246,950 -50,921
1993 51,679 33,688 232,960 261,815
1992 51,443 -22,293 57,495 -179,675
1991 57,741 -328,546 53,052 -568,166
1990 56,903 -12,425 225,162 -248,155
1989 54,299 -7,330 225,255 -266,281
1988 54,163 -3,612 215,599 -415,660
1987 52,229 -3,613 231,580 -17,391
1986 39,470 -1,073 218,416 74,424
1985 37,362 -1,073 207,960 62,183
1984 35,101 772 199,017 60,630
1983 33,420 1,853 190,775 9,505
1982 44,146 1,985 182,793 6,115
1981 42,924 1,985 185,211 -332,129
1980 41,392 1,985 174,790 65,519
1979 39,577 1,985 151,016 582,746
1978 38,353 1,985 132,689 402,005
1977 37,295 1,985 124,818 2,170
1976 36,250 1,985 113,319 -3,831
1975 30,971 1,985 108,998 -1,934
1974 30,111 1,985 104,813 -495
1973 31,969 1,985 108,038 143
1972 30,951 1,953 104,493 -351
1971 31,490 1,758 101,196 -1,850
1970 30,686 1,480 98,025 1,104
1969 29,535 1,199 95,045 690
1968 28,777 1,013 92,208 906
1967 27,992 1,004 89,497 1,498
1966 24,713 1,063 86,930 941
1965 26,285 1,188 84,448 2,142
1964 25,327 1,300 82,042 1,518
1963 24,393 1,368 79,859 1,449
1962 23,478 1,364 77,737 1,496
1961 22,351 1,235 75,513 1,336
1960 21,424 1,045 73,850 750

Data sources: World Bank | Health (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08).

GeoRank.org/population/eritrea/somalia | 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 Somalia 94.2% is from natural causes (a gain of 5,425,417 people) and 5.77% is from migration (a gain of 332,281 people).

As of 2024, 12,512 residents or 0.4% of the population were not native-born in Eritrea, compared to 77,972 people or 0.4% in Somalia.

Biggest cities by population

Eritrea
City Population
Asmara 963K
Keren 120K
Massawa 39.8K
Mendefera 28.5K
Somalia
City Population
Mogadishu 2.12M
Hargeisa 1.23M
Baidoa 1.2M
Borama 68.1K

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/somalia | 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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