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

Updated on by Georank

The latest officially reported population of Eritrea was 3,607,003 in 2025 vs 51,684,564 people in South Korea in 2025. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Eritrea's population is 3,722,489 people compared to 51,624,449 in South Korea.

Population statistics:

  • South Korea's population is 13.9 times bigger than Eritrea's.
  • Eritrea is ranked the 131st most populous country in the world, while South Korea is the 31st.
  • The countries together account for 0.67% of the world: 0.04% for Eritrea vs 0.62% for South Korea.
  • For the last 10 years, Eritrea has had an average growth rate of +1.4% per year vs +0.17% in South Korea.
  • Since 2006, the population of Eritrea has increased from 2.7M people to 3.72M (37.7% growth), while South Korea has grown from 48.4M to 51.6M (6.58% growth).

Eritrea vs South Korea: population by year and forecast

Eritrea
Factual

Projection
South Korea
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
Eritrea South Korea
2100 8,522,007 22,001,649
2099 8,497,228 22,324,514
2098 8,474,268 22,657,541
2097 8,451,733 22,998,315
2096 8,429,569 23,348,632
2095 8,403,309 23,711,049
2094 8,377,316 24,081,510
2093 8,351,585 24,460,970
2092 8,316,183 24,848,715
2091 8,285,983 25,242,926
2090 8,250,998 25,642,926
2089 8,216,946 26,048,094
2088 8,179,696 26,457,020
2087 8,143,016 26,871,556
2086 8,100,028 27,288,450
2085 8,053,737 27,710,065
2084 8,006,588 28,133,600
2083 7,963,231 28,564,090
2082 7,918,571 28,998,646
2081 7,878,525 29,441,497
2080 7,822,491 29,887,135
2079 7,772,358 30,337,095
2078 7,718,520 30,793,984
2077 7,662,894 31,258,278
2076 7,607,491 31,728,826
2075 7,545,398 32,205,338
2074 7,490,761 32,689,892
2073 7,426,955 33,180,187
2072 7,364,831 33,679,874
2071 7,302,386 34,187,068
2070 7,237,419 34,702,204
2069 7,171,047 35,224,472
2068 7,100,633 35,745,164
2067 7,032,045 36,274,411
2066 6,958,496 36,808,495
2065 6,890,246 37,349,660
2064 6,820,756 37,897,742
2063 6,739,056 38,450,082
2062 6,665,261 39,009,227
2061 6,586,585 39,565,102
2060 6,506,537 40,130,032
2059 6,427,830 40,692,438
2058 6,348,527 41,256,780
2057 6,270,841 41,813,259
2056 6,199,452 42,356,530
2055 6,119,360 42,888,143
2054 6,044,997 43,405,840
2053 5,962,464 43,917,075
2052 5,877,006 44,419,192
2051 5,796,079 44,901,452
2050 5,715,974 45,362,931
2049 5,637,011 45,809,553
2048 5,554,665 46,235,718
2047 5,473,222 46,645,885
2046 5,391,902 47,033,200
2045 5,305,072 47,409,815
2044 5,220,319 47,773,842
2043 5,136,101 48,120,989
2042 5,048,602 48,455,085
2041 4,964,690 48,782,206
2040 4,875,172 49,091,438
2039 4,786,431 49,388,464
2038 4,697,052 49,669,835
2037 4,603,709 49,932,869
2036 4,510,757 50,175,947
2035 4,424,170 50,401,135
2034 4,336,556 50,607,994
2033 4,251,927 50,796,030
2032 4,168,824 50,961,878
2031 4,087,276 51,109,725
2030 4,002,343 51,242,628
2029 3,921,145 51,360,529
2028 3,839,994 51,461,403
2027 3,759,928 51,551,313
2026 3,682,948 51,624,449
2025 3,607,003 51,684,564
2024 3,535,603 51,751,065
2023 3,470,390 51,712,619
2022 3,409,447 51,672,569
2021 3,350,183 51,769,539
2020 3,291,271 51,836,239
2019 3,240,194 51,764,822
2018 3,192,760 51,585,058
2017 3,150,347 51,361,911
2016 3,124,698 51,217,803
2015 3,105,546 51,014,947
2014 3,095,173 50,746,659
2013 3,074,360 50,428,893
2012 3,036,988 50,199,853
2011 2,998,485 49,936,638
2010 2,945,186 49,554,112
2009 2,887,885 49,307,835
2008 2,816,327 49,054,708
2007 2,743,222 48,683,638
2006 2,703,502 48,438,292
2005 2,661,215 48,184,561
2004 2,598,284 48,082,519
2003 2,493,903 47,892,330
2002 2,392,978 47,644,736
2001 2,312,079 47,370,164
2000 2,247,031 47,008,111
1999 2,212,780 46,616,677
1998 2,180,419 46,286,503
1997 2,152,135 45,953,580
1996 2,128,464 45,524,681
1995 2,025,267 45,092,991
1994 1,913,915 44,641,540
1993 1,856,006 44,194,628
1992 1,798,748 43,747,962
1991 1,919,571 43,295,704
1990 2,032,737 42,869,283
1989 1,987,017 42,449,038
1988 1,938,255 42,031,247
1987 1,888,669 41,621,690
1986 1,845,164 41,213,674
1985 1,807,816 40,805,744
1984 1,771,730 40,405,956
1983 1,736,160 39,910,403
1982 1,695,461 39,326,352
1981 1,649,939 38,723,248
1980 1,605,797 38,123,775
1979 1,563,332 37,534,236
1978 1,522,378 36,969,185
1977 1,482,565 36,411,795
1976 1,443,807 35,848,523
1975 1,408,210 35,280,725
1974 1,375,688 34,692,266
1973 1,342,669 34,103,149
1972 1,309,235 33,505,406
1971 1,276,154 32,882,704
1970 1,243,453 32,240,827
1969 1,212,005 31,544,266
1968 1,181,737 30,838,302
1967 1,152,339 30,130,983
1966 1,124,957 29,435,571
1965 1,098,335 28,704,674
1964 1,071,287 27,984,155
1963 1,045,092 27,261,747
1962 1,019,788 26,513,030
1961 995,573 25,765,673
1960 972,547 25,012,374

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/south-korea | CC BY

From 2006 to 2016, the population of Eritrea increased by 421,196 people (a 15.6% growth), while South Korea gained 2,779,511 people (a 5.74% growth).

For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, Eritrea gained 597,791 people (a 19.1% growth), while South Korea's population increased by 406,646 people (a 0.79% growth).

Eritrea was ranked 135th most populous country in 2006 and is 131st in 2026. South Korea was ranked 25th in 2006 and ranked 31st 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 South Korea will decrease by 12.1% to 45,362,931 people and rank change from 31st to 48th.

Eritrea is projected to reach its peak in 2100 at 8.52M people, while South Korea's population already peaked in 2020 at 51.8M people and is projected to decrease to 22M people by 2100.

Population growth rate by year

Eritrea
Factual

Projection
South Korea
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Growth rate
Eritrea South Korea
2100 0.29% -1.45%
2099 0.27% -1.47%
2098 0.27% -1.48%
2097 0.26% -1.5%
2096 0.31% -1.53%
2095 0.31% -1.54%
2094 0.31% -1.55%
2093 0.43% -1.56%
2092 0.36% -1.56%
2091 0.42% -1.56%
2090 0.41% -1.56%
2089 0.46% -1.55%
2088 0.45% -1.54%
2087 0.53% -1.53%
2086 0.57% -1.52%
2085 0.59% -1.51%
2084 0.54% -1.51%
2083 0.56% -1.5%
2082 0.51% -1.5%
2081 0.72% -1.49%
2080 0.65% -1.48%
2079 0.7% -1.48%
2078 0.73% -1.49%
2077 0.73% -1.48%
2076 0.82% -1.48%
2075 0.73% -1.48%
2074 0.86% -1.48%
2073 0.84% -1.48%
2072 0.86% -1.48%
2071 0.9% -1.48%
2070 0.93% -1.48%
2069 0.99% -1.46%
2068 0.98% -1.46%
2067 1.06% -1.45%
2066 0.99% -1.45%
2065 1.02% -1.45%
2064 1.21% -1.44%
2063 1.11% -1.43%
2062 1.19% -1.4%
2061 1.23% -1.41%
2060 1.22% -1.38%
2059 1.25% -1.37%
2058 1.24% -1.33%
2057 1.15% -1.28%
2056 1.31% -1.24%
2055 1.23% -1.19%
2054 1.38% -1.16%
2053 1.45% -1.13%
2052 1.4% -1.07%
2051 1.4% -1.02%
2050 1.4% -0.97%
2049 1.48% -0.92%
2048 1.49% -0.88%
2047 1.51% -0.82%
2046 1.64% -0.79%
2045 1.62% -0.76%
2044 1.64% -0.72%
2043 1.73% -0.69%
2042 1.69% -0.67%
2041 1.84% -0.63%
2040 1.85% -0.6%
2039 1.9% -0.57%
2038 2.03% -0.53%
2037 2.06% -0.48%
2036 1.96% -0.45%
2035 2.02% -0.41%
2034 1.99% -0.37%
2033 1.99% -0.33%
2032 2% -0.29%
2031 2.12% -0.26%
2030 2.07% -0.23%
2029 2.11% -0.2%
2028 2.13% -0.17%
2027 2.09% -0.14%
2026 2.11% -0.12%
2025 2.02% -0.13%
2024 1.88% 0.07%
2023 1.79% 0.08%
2022 1.77% -0.19%
2021 1.79% -0.13%
2020 1.58% 0.14%
2019 1.49% 0.35%
2018 1.35% 0.43%
2017 0.82% 0.28%
2016 0.62% 0.4%
2015 0.34% 0.53%
2014 0.68% 0.63%
2013 1.23% 0.46%
2012 1.28% 0.53%
2011 1.81% 0.77%
2010 1.98% 0.5%
2009 2.54% 0.52%
2008 2.66% 0.76%
2007 1.47% 0.51%
2006 1.59% 0.53%
2005 2.42% 0.21%
2004 4.19% 0.4%
2003 4.22% 0.52%
2002 3.5% 0.58%
2001 2.89% 0.77%
2000 1.55% 0.84%
1999 1.48% 0.71%
1998 1.31% 0.72%
1997 1.11% 0.94%
1996 5.1% 0.96%
1995 5.82% 1.01%
1994 3.12% 1.01%
1993 3.18% 1.02%
1992 -6.29% 1.04%
1991 -5.57% 0.99%
1990 2.3% 0.99%
1989 2.52% 0.99%
1988 2.63% 0.98%
1987 2.36% 0.99%
1986 2.07% 1%
1985 2.04% 0.99%
1984 2.05% 1.24%
1983 2.4% 1.49%
1982 2.76% 1.56%
1981 2.75% 1.57%
1980 2.72% 1.57%
1979 2.69% 1.53%
1978 2.69% 1.53%
1977 2.68% 1.57%
1976 2.53% 1.61%
1975 2.36% 1.7%
1974 2.46% 1.73%
1973 2.55% 1.78%
1972 2.59% 1.89%
1971 2.63% 1.99%
1970 2.59% 2.21%
1969 2.56% 2.29%
1968 2.55% 2.35%
1967 2.43% 2.36%
1966 2.42% 2.55%
1965 2.52% 2.57%
1964 2.51% 2.65%
1963 2.48% 2.82%
1962 2.43% 2.9%
1961 2.37% 3.01%

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/south-korea | CC BY

In 2025, the population of Eritrea grew by 2.02%, while South Korea's population declined by 0.13%.

Live population counters

Eritrea South Korea
Current population
3722489
51624449
Population rank 131/197 31/197
Percent of world population 0.04% 0.62%
One net population change
7.38 minutes
7.93 minutes
One birth every
5.18 minutes
2.16 minutes
One death every
24.8 minutes
1.45 minutes
Daily growth/decline +196 -182
Annual growth/decline +71,400 -66,501
Annual growth/decline rate +2.02% -0.13%
Population growth rate rank 49/197 169/197
One migration net change every
1.31 hours
8.02 minutes
Annual migration change -6,698 +65,731
Net migration rank 122/196 20/196
Foreign-born residents 12,512 1,811,507
Foreign-born residents rank 176/195 40/195
Foreign-born share of population 0.4% 3.5%
Foreign-born share rank 178/195 111/195

Natural population change vs migration

Eritrea
Natural

Migration
South Korea
Natural

Migration
1x
Year Population change
Eritrea South Korea
Natural Migration Natural Migration
2025 - -6,698 - 65,731
2024 80,343 -12,696 -119,027 75,963
2023 78,073 -15,284 -124,111 87,800
2022 76,221 -17,134 -124,014 87,800
2021 74,394 -14,966 -56,947 -16,778
2020 73,362 -14,967 -31,101 112,631
2019 73,572 -29,818 10,353 128,622
2018 72,511 -21,403 30,951 118,220
2017 72,291 -38,579 71,907 104,029
2016 73,002 -55,431 122,923 91,568
2015 73,682 -52,965 163,248 276,427
2014 75,729 -75,696 167,464 308,037
2013 75,562 -33,974 166,415 301,926
2012 76,416 -43,269 215,859 281,866
2011 76,806 -32,949 214,728 269,958
2010 76,098 -13,361 213,083 52,042
2009 76,206 -24,348 197,231 5,308
2008 73,391 17,855 215,841 -19,630
2007 73,101 -18,131 248,286 -42,293
2006 74,470 -49,998 203,441 -28,434
2005 72,930 -12,835 187,920 -47,821
2004 72,147 -6,374 225,988 -42,549
2003 66,291 76,703 244,251 -31,994
2002 65,436 -6,574 247,752 -18,105
2001 61,180 41,760 312,643 -28,006
2000 60,274 -33,133 390,167 -84,960
1999 45,120 -3,769 368,272 -107,448
1998 55,332 -31,951 393,436 -98,044
1997 63,953 -30,768 422,773 -109,130
1996 66,557 -52,421 446,142 -115,705
1995 56,157 136,105 468,967 -208,491
1994 56,288 -25,841 473,200 -208,309
1993 51,679 33,688 477,302 -222,802
1992 51,443 -22,293 494,352 -265,849
1991 57,741 -328,546 467,594 -270,754
1990 56,903 -12,425 411,546 79,294
1989 54,299 -7,330 403,266 186,120
1988 54,163 -3,612 399,297 192,534
1987 52,229 -3,613 378,758 198,057
1986 39,470 -1,073 395,651 189,782
1985 37,362 -1,073 416,219 97,949
1984 35,101 772 436,384 101,394
1983 33,420 1,853 514,844 102,167
1982 44,146 1,985 605,626 48,638
1981 42,924 1,985 631,189 18,442
1980 41,392 1,985 583,294 -148,341
1979 39,577 1,985 623,068 -139,566
1978 38,353 1,985 499,084 -85,721
1977 37,295 1,985 578,947 -90,737
1976 36,250 1,985 530,558 -92,314
1975 30,971 1,985 603,300 -52,332
1974 30,111 1,985 673,030 27,005
1973 31,969 1,985 699,115 35,779
1972 30,951 1,953 740,469 25,382
1971 31,490 1,758 789,185 -6,326
1970 30,686 1,480 747,987 -27,999
1969 29,535 1,199 694,227 -21,175
1968 28,777 1,013 684,487 -16,868
1967 27,992 1,004 692,169 -16,484
1966 24,713 1,063 623,534 -16,688
1965 26,285 1,188 641,090 -146,386
1964 25,327 1,300 655,501 -102,284
1963 24,393 1,368 685,824 -80,226
1962 23,478 1,364 712,590 -94,606
1961 22,351 1,235 730,173 -93,179
1960 21,424 1,045 728,010 47,245

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

GeoRank.org/population/eritrea/south-korea | 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 South Korea 4.97% is from natural causes (a loss of 55,818 people) and 95% is from migration (a gain of 1,066,282 people).

As of 2024, 12,512 residents or 0.4% of the population were not native-born in Eritrea, compared to 1,811,507 people or 3.5% in South Korea.

Biggest cities by population

Eritrea
City Population
Asmara 963K
Keren 120K
Massawa 39.8K
Mendefera 28.5K
South Korea
City Population
Seoul 9.67M
Busan 3.45M
Incheon 3.05M
Daegu 2.38M
Daejeon 1.48M
Gwangju 1.41M
Suwon 1.23M
Ulsan 1.13M
Yongin 1.08M
Goyang 1.06M

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/south-korea | 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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