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

Updated on by Georank team

The latest officially reported population of Eritrea was 3,535,603 in 2024 vs 19,009,151 people in Somalia in 2024. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Eritrea's population is 3,700,586 people compared to 20,503,678 in Somalia.

Population statistics:

  • Somalia's population is 5.54 times bigger than Eritrea's.
  • Eritrea is ranked the 130th 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 +1.28% per year vs +3.61% in Somalia.
  • Since 2006, the population of Eritrea has increased from 2.7M people to 3.7M (36.9% growth), while Somalia has grown from 11M to 20.5M (86.8% growth).

Eritrea vs Somalia: population by year and forecast

Eritrea
Factual

Projection
Somalia
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
Eritrea Somalia
2100 8,514,681 68,384,185
2099 8,489,924 68,040,371
2098 8,466,983 67,702,230
2097 8,444,468 67,362,336
2096 8,422,323 66,972,933
2095 8,396,086 66,585,659
2094 8,370,114 66,179,819
2093 8,344,405 65,760,590
2092 8,309,034 65,324,261
2091 8,278,860 64,852,843
2090 8,243,905 64,362,727
2089 8,209,883 63,922,797
2088 8,172,664 63,464,036
2087 8,136,016 62,987,028
2086 8,093,065 62,447,029
2085 8,046,814 61,873,597
2084 7,999,706 61,318,916
2083 7,956,385 60,761,800
2082 7,911,764 60,187,980
2081 7,871,753 59,676,722
2080 7,815,766 59,100,915
2079 7,765,677 58,477,428
2078 7,711,886 57,852,528
2077 7,656,307 57,211,821
2076 7,600,951 56,602,463
2075 7,538,912 56,005,600
2074 7,484,322 55,330,165
2073 7,420,571 54,651,918
2072 7,358,500 53,978,548
2071 7,296,109 53,284,016
2070 7,231,198 52,573,210
2069 7,164,883 51,878,214
2068 7,094,530 51,197,653
2067 7,026,000 50,493,028
2066 6,952,514 49,779,172
2065 6,884,323 49,024,665
2064 6,814,893 48,265,876
2063 6,733,263 47,522,361
2062 6,659,531 46,785,920
2061 6,580,923 46,037,526
2060 6,500,944 45,220,507
2059 6,422,305 44,397,936
2058 6,343,070 43,659,021
2057 6,265,450 42,897,422
2056 6,194,123 42,121,542
2055 6,114,099 41,318,179
2054 6,039,801 40,513,141
2053 5,957,339 39,744,995
2052 5,871,954 38,992,177
2051 5,791,096 38,228,872
2050 5,711,061 37,471,735
2049 5,632,165 36,739,905
2048 5,549,890 35,984,999
2047 5,468,518 35,218,863
2046 5,387,267 34,462,403
2045 5,300,511 33,717,596
2044 5,215,831 32,977,674
2043 5,131,686 32,247,710
2042 5,044,262 31,537,272
2041 4,960,422 30,794,853
2040 4,870,981 30,032,324
2039 4,782,316 29,312,883
2038 4,693,015 28,583,386
2037 4,599,752 27,838,646
2036 4,506,879 27,114,453
2035 4,420,367 26,385,421
2034 4,332,828 25,687,629
2033 4,248,272 25,018,509
2032 4,165,241 24,338,597
2031 4,083,762 23,657,353
2030 3,998,903 22,965,742
2029 3,917,775 22,299,610
2028 3,836,693 21,651,582
2027 3,756,696 20,991,860
2026 3,679,782 20,322,668
2025 3,603,902 19,666,990
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 (2025–2100, retrieved 2026-03-10); World Bank | Health (1960–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06).

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 575,888 people (a 18.4% growth), while Somalia's population increased by 6,154,938 people (a 42.9% growth).

Eritrea was ranked 135th most populous country in 2006 and is 130th 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 54.3% to 5,711,061 people with a rank change from 130th to 123rd. The population of Somalia will increase by 82.8% to 37,471,735 people and rank change from 66th to 57th.

Eritrea is projected to reach its peak in 2100 at 8.51M people compared to the peak of 68.4M 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 1.93% 3.46%
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 (2025–2100, retrieved 2026-03-10); World Bank | Health (1961–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06).

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

In 2024, the population of Eritrea grew by 1.88%, while Somalia's population grew by 3.54%.

Live population counters

Eritrea Somalia
Current population
3700586
20503678
Population rank 130/197 66/197
Percent of world population 0.04% 0.25%
One net population change
8.06 minutes
48.5 seconds
One birth every
5.31 minutes
40 seconds
One death every
25 minutes
2.91 minutes
Daily growth/decline +179 +1,782
Annual growth/decline +65,213 +650,536
Annual growth/decline rate +1.88% +3.54%
Population growth rate rank 58/197 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 - -12,696 - 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 2026-04-06).

GeoRank.org/population/eritrea/somalia | 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 Somalia 94.4% is from natural causes (a gain of 5,270,105 people) and 5.58% is from migration (a gain of 311,487 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 (1960–2024, 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/somalia | 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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