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Population in Eritrea compared to South Africa: Trends, Charts, Rankings

Updated on by Georank team

The latest officially reported population of Eritrea was 3,535,603 in 2024 vs 64,007,187 people in South Africa in 2024. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Eritrea's population is 3,700,586 people compared to 65,683,993 in South Africa.

Population statistics:

  • South Africa's population is 17.7 times bigger than Eritrea's.
  • Eritrea is ranked the 130th most populous country in the world, while South Africa is the 24th.
  • The countries together account for 0.84% of the world: 0.04% for Eritrea vs 0.79% for South Africa.
  • For the last 10 years, Eritrea has had an average growth rate of +1.28% per year vs +1.44% in South Africa.
  • Since 2006, the population of Eritrea has increased from 2.7M people to 3.7M (36.9% growth), while South Africa has grown from 50M to 65.7M (31.4% growth).

Eritrea vs South Africa: population by year and forecast

Eritrea
Factual

Projection
South Africa
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
Eritrea South Africa
2100 8,514,681 94,767,727
2099 8,489,924 94,556,931
2098 8,466,983 94,349,546
2097 8,444,468 94,158,472
2096 8,422,323 93,960,605
2095 8,396,086 93,752,736
2094 8,370,114 93,527,902
2093 8,344,405 93,300,398
2092 8,309,034 93,074,837
2091 8,278,860 92,826,204
2090 8,243,905 92,594,033
2089 8,209,883 92,355,184
2088 8,172,664 92,112,914
2087 8,136,016 91,866,024
2086 8,093,065 91,614,165
2085 8,046,814 91,385,350
2084 7,999,706 91,139,318
2083 7,956,385 90,877,425
2082 7,911,764 90,615,359
2081 7,871,753 90,345,492
2080 7,815,766 90,071,835
2079 7,765,677 89,801,998
2078 7,711,886 89,526,224
2077 7,656,307 89,249,206
2076 7,600,951 88,986,114
2075 7,538,912 88,713,215
2074 7,484,322 88,428,616
2073 7,420,571 88,149,885
2072 7,358,500 87,866,246
2071 7,296,109 87,540,177
2070 7,231,198 87,209,425
2069 7,164,883 86,901,512
2068 7,094,530 86,588,742
2067 7,026,000 86,268,392
2066 6,952,514 85,935,310
2065 6,884,323 85,604,376
2064 6,814,893 85,244,950
2063 6,733,263 84,875,503
2062 6,659,531 84,503,237
2061 6,580,923 84,132,885
2060 6,500,944 83,748,999
2059 6,422,305 83,354,923
2058 6,343,070 82,947,675
2057 6,265,450 82,538,045
2056 6,194,123 82,127,477
2055 6,114,099 81,698,196
2054 6,039,801 81,255,867
2053 5,957,339 80,818,632
2052 5,871,954 80,367,409
2051 5,791,096 79,886,672
2050 5,711,061 79,411,977
2049 5,632,165 78,925,493
2048 5,549,890 78,437,677
2047 5,468,518 77,922,211
2046 5,387,267 77,397,298
2045 5,300,511 76,879,838
2044 5,215,831 76,357,155
2043 5,131,686 75,827,709
2042 5,044,262 75,291,615
2041 4,960,422 74,748,408
2040 4,870,981 74,205,530
2039 4,782,316 73,663,047
2038 4,693,015 73,105,930
2037 4,599,752 72,532,742
2036 4,506,879 71,956,247
2035 4,420,367 71,362,555
2034 4,332,828 70,762,815
2033 4,248,272 70,153,205
2032 4,165,241 69,527,410
2031 4,083,762 68,890,002
2030 3,998,903 68,245,372
2029 3,917,775 67,573,179
2028 3,836,693 66,884,377
2027 3,756,696 66,190,258
2026 3,679,782 65,496,277
2025 3,603,902 64,770,314
2024 3,535,603 64,007,187
2023 3,470,390 63,212,384
2022 3,409,447 62,378,410
2021 3,350,183 61,502,603
2020 3,291,271 60,562,381
2019 3,240,194 59,587,885
2018 3,192,760 58,613,001
2017 3,150,347 57,635,162
2016 3,124,698 57,259,551
2015 3,105,546 56,723,537
2014 3,095,173 55,594,838
2013 3,074,360 54,678,791
2012 3,036,988 53,782,567
2011 2,998,485 52,995,205
2010 2,945,186 52,344,051
2009 2,887,885 51,728,516
2008 2,816,327 51,114,599
2007 2,743,222 50,528,584
2006 2,703,502 49,998,277
2005 2,661,215 49,490,033
2004 2,598,284 48,991,421
2003 2,493,903 48,500,348
2002 2,392,978 48,019,415
2001 2,312,079 47,566,800
2000 2,247,031 47,159,719
1999 2,212,780 46,730,335
1998 2,180,419 46,223,880
1997 2,152,135 45,666,838
1996 2,128,464 45,123,018
1995 2,025,267 44,541,554
1994 1,913,915 44,004,139
1993 1,856,006 43,297,156
1992 1,798,748 42,443,509
1991 1,919,571 41,687,898
1990 2,032,737 40,746,268
1989 1,987,017 39,628,575
1988 1,938,255 38,480,649
1987 1,888,669 37,326,190
1986 1,845,164 36,180,515
1985 1,807,816 35,042,093
1984 1,771,730 33,892,788
1983 1,736,160 32,739,304
1982 1,695,461 31,615,339
1981 1,649,939 30,541,044
1980 1,605,797 29,518,857
1979 1,563,332 28,634,162
1978 1,522,378 27,869,507
1977 1,482,565 27,118,952
1976 1,443,807 26,395,450
1975 1,408,210 25,690,940
1974 1,375,688 24,989,108
1973 1,342,669 24,294,263
1972 1,309,235 23,609,456
1971 1,276,154 22,942,143
1970 1,243,453 22,279,984
1969 1,212,005 21,614,676
1968 1,181,737 20,957,287
1967 1,152,339 20,314,066
1966 1,124,957 19,690,087
1965 1,098,335 19,089,380
1964 1,071,287 18,511,361
1963 1,045,092 17,954,564
1962 1,019,788 17,418,522
1961 995,573 16,908,035
1960 972,547 16,440,172

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/south-africa | CC BY

From 2006 to 2016, the population of Eritrea increased by 421,196 people (a 15.6% growth), while South Africa gained 7,261,274 people (a 14.5% growth).

For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, Eritrea gained 575,888 people (a 18.4% growth), while South Africa's population increased by 8,424,442 people (a 14.7% growth).

Eritrea was ranked 135th most populous country in 2006 and is 130th in 2026. South Africa was ranked 24th in 2006 and still ranked 24th 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 South Africa will increase by 20.9% to 79,411,977 people and rank change from 24th to 23rd.

Eritrea is projected to reach its peak in 2100 at 8.51M people compared to the peak of 94.8M people in 2100 for South Africa.

Population growth rate by year

Eritrea
Factual

Projection
South Africa
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Growth rate
Eritrea South Africa
2100 0.29% 0.22%
2099 0.27% 0.22%
2098 0.27% 0.2%
2097 0.26% 0.21%
2096 0.31% 0.22%
2095 0.31% 0.24%
2094 0.31% 0.24%
2093 0.43% 0.24%
2092 0.36% 0.27%
2091 0.42% 0.25%
2090 0.41% 0.26%
2089 0.46% 0.26%
2088 0.45% 0.27%
2087 0.53% 0.27%
2086 0.57% 0.25%
2085 0.59% 0.27%
2084 0.54% 0.29%
2083 0.56% 0.29%
2082 0.51% 0.3%
2081 0.72% 0.3%
2080 0.65% 0.3%
2079 0.7% 0.31%
2078 0.73% 0.31%
2077 0.73% 0.3%
2076 0.82% 0.31%
2075 0.73% 0.32%
2074 0.86% 0.32%
2073 0.84% 0.32%
2072 0.86% 0.37%
2071 0.9% 0.38%
2070 0.93% 0.35%
2069 0.99% 0.36%
2068 0.98% 0.37%
2067 1.06% 0.39%
2066 0.99% 0.39%
2065 1.02% 0.42%
2064 1.21% 0.44%
2063 1.11% 0.44%
2062 1.19% 0.44%
2061 1.23% 0.46%
2060 1.22% 0.47%
2059 1.25% 0.49%
2058 1.24% 0.5%
2057 1.15% 0.5%
2056 1.31% 0.53%
2055 1.23% 0.54%
2054 1.38% 0.54%
2053 1.45% 0.56%
2052 1.4% 0.6%
2051 1.4% 0.6%
2050 1.4% 0.62%
2049 1.48% 0.62%
2048 1.49% 0.66%
2047 1.51% 0.68%
2046 1.64% 0.67%
2045 1.62% 0.68%
2044 1.64% 0.7%
2043 1.73% 0.71%
2042 1.69% 0.73%
2041 1.84% 0.73%
2040 1.85% 0.74%
2039 1.9% 0.76%
2038 2.03% 0.79%
2037 2.06% 0.8%
2036 1.96% 0.83%
2035 2.02% 0.85%
2034 1.99% 0.87%
2033 1.99% 0.9%
2032 2% 0.93%
2031 2.12% 0.94%
2030 2.07% 0.99%
2029 2.11% 1.03%
2028 2.13% 1.05%
2027 2.09% 1.06%
2026 2.11% 1.12%
2025 1.93% 1.19%
2024 1.88% 1.26%
2023 1.79% 1.34%
2022 1.77% 1.42%
2021 1.79% 1.55%
2020 1.58% 1.64%
2019 1.49% 1.66%
2018 1.35% 1.7%
2017 0.82% 0.66%
2016 0.62% 0.94%
2015 0.34% 2.03%
2014 0.68% 1.68%
2013 1.23% 1.67%
2012 1.28% 1.49%
2011 1.81% 1.24%
2010 1.98% 1.19%
2009 2.54% 1.2%
2008 2.66% 1.16%
2007 1.47% 1.06%
2006 1.59% 1.03%
2005 2.42% 1.02%
2004 4.19% 1.01%
2003 4.22% 1%
2002 3.5% 0.95%
2001 2.89% 0.86%
2000 1.55% 0.92%
1999 1.48% 1.1%
1998 1.31% 1.22%
1997 1.11% 1.21%
1996 5.1% 1.31%
1995 5.82% 1.22%
1994 3.12% 1.63%
1993 3.18% 2.01%
1992 -6.29% 1.81%
1991 -5.57% 2.31%
1990 2.3% 2.82%
1989 2.52% 2.98%
1988 2.63% 3.09%
1987 2.36% 3.17%
1986 2.07% 3.25%
1985 2.04% 3.39%
1984 2.05% 3.52%
1983 2.4% 3.56%
1982 2.76% 3.52%
1981 2.75% 3.46%
1980 2.72% 3.09%
1979 2.69% 2.74%
1978 2.69% 2.77%
1977 2.68% 2.74%
1976 2.53% 2.74%
1975 2.36% 2.81%
1974 2.46% 2.86%
1973 2.55% 2.9%
1972 2.59% 2.91%
1971 2.63% 2.97%
1970 2.59% 3.08%
1969 2.56% 3.14%
1968 2.55% 3.17%
1967 2.43% 3.17%
1966 2.42% 3.15%
1965 2.52% 3.12%
1964 2.51% 3.1%
1963 2.48% 3.08%
1962 2.43% 3.02%
1961 2.37% 2.85%

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/south-africa | CC BY

In 2024, the population of Eritrea grew by 1.88%, while South Africa's population grew by 1.26%.

Live population counters

Eritrea South Africa
Current population
3700586
65683993
Population rank 130/197 24/197
Percent of world population 0.04% 0.79%
One net population change
8.06 minutes
39.7 seconds
One birth every
5.31 minutes
26.6 seconds
One death every
25 minutes
54 seconds
Daily growth/decline +179 +2,178
Annual growth/decline +65,213 +794,803
Annual growth/decline rate +1.88% +1.26%
Population growth rate rank 58/197 85/197
One migration net change every
1.31 hours
3.6 minutes
Annual migration change -6,698 +146,370
Net migration rank 122/196 9/196
Foreign-born residents 12,512 2,631,100
Foreign-born residents rank 176/195 28/195
Foreign-born share of population 0.4% 4.1%
Foreign-born share rank 178/195 105/195

Natural population change vs migration

Eritrea
Natural

Migration
South Africa
Natural

Migration
1x
Year Population change
Eritrea South Africa
Natural Migration Natural Migration
2025 - -6,698 - 146,370
2024 - -12,696 - 166,972
2023 78,073 -15,284 602,793 228,222
2022 76,221 -17,134 603,636 233,284
2021 74,394 -14,966 456,411 458,246
2020 73,362 -14,967 595,873 369,901
2019 73,572 -29,818 652,130 331,124
2018 72,511 -21,403 648,319 318,260
2017 72,291 -38,579 645,975 343,146
2016 73,002 -55,431 641,365 -879,235
2015 73,682 -52,965 668,771 641,150
2014 75,729 -75,696 674,754 272,697
2013 75,562 -33,974 652,427 232,230
2012 76,416 -43,269 643,723 264,091
2011 76,806 -32,949 601,708 65,166
2010 76,098 -13,361 566,834 68,563
2009 76,206 -24,348 554,115 41,528
2008 73,391 17,855 595,332 36,869
2007 73,101 -18,131 503,567 36,339
2006 74,470 -49,998 487,584 33,159
2005 72,930 -12,835 464,464 31,286
2004 72,147 -6,374 442,540 58,924
2003 66,291 76,703 415,018 65,604
2002 65,436 -6,574 430,926 50,313
2001 61,180 41,760 484,801 -60,793
2000 60,274 -33,133 526,963 -136,794
1999 45,120 -3,769 594,643 -126,011
1998 55,332 -31,951 627,027 -82,722
1997 63,953 -30,768 667,969 -98,181
1996 66,557 -52,421 710,868 -193,007
1995 56,157 136,105 743,488 -98,403
1994 56,288 -25,841 698,609 -268,849
1993 51,679 33,688 789,220 194,977
1992 51,443 -22,293 794,415 -71,342
1991 57,741 -328,546 827,296 -39,131
1990 56,903 -12,425 835,421 259,718
1989 54,299 -7,330 884,629 255,605
1988 54,163 -3,612 909,221 246,382
1987 52,229 -3,613 922,330 231,009
1986 39,470 -1,073 903,644 234,378
1985 37,362 -1,073 893,889 244,940
1984 35,101 772 869,011 290,789
1983 33,420 1,853 837,013 310,172
1982 44,146 1,985 807,550 293,195
1981 42,924 1,985 767,833 279,985
1980 41,392 1,985 738,415 258,127
1979 39,577 1,985 716,541 56,323
1978 38,353 1,985 694,341 62,121
1977 37,295 1,985 680,929 63,739
1976 36,250 1,985 675,011 27,333
1975 30,971 1,985 667,862 38,809
1974 30,111 1,985 658,438 38,518
1973 31,969 1,985 651,596 41,125
1972 30,951 1,953 638,754 38,163
1971 31,490 1,758 624,761 32,961
1970 30,686 1,480 605,102 61,514
1969 29,535 1,199 590,794 73,225
1968 28,777 1,013 571,841 78,932
1967 27,992 1,004 553,741 81,932
1966 24,713 1,063 534,862 77,417
1965 26,285 1,188 506,632 82,514
1964 25,327 1,300 490,606 76,298
1963 24,393 1,368 473,821 72,844
1962 23,478 1,364 455,634 69,771
1961 22,351 1,235 437,851 57,728
1960 21,424 1,045 421,263 18,891

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

GeoRank.org/population/eritrea/south-africa | 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 South Africa 72.8% is from natural causes (a gain of 6,190,027 people) and 27.2% is from migration (a gain of 2,316,795 people).

As of 2024, 12,512 residents or 0.4% of the population were not native-born in Eritrea, compared to 2,631,100 people or 4.1% in South Africa.

Biggest cities by population

Eritrea
City Population
Asmara 963K
Keren 120K
Massawa 39.8K
Mendefera 28.5K
South Africa
City Population
Johannesburg 4.8M
Cape Town 3.78M
Soweto 1.27M
Pietermaritzburg 839K
Pretoria 742K
Durban 595K
Rustenburg 550K
Randburg 337K
Port Elizabeth 312K
East London 267K

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/south-africa | 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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