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

Updated on by Georank team

The latest officially reported population of Eritrea was 3,535,603 in 2024 vs 51,751,065 people in South Korea in 2024. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Eritrea's population is 3,700,586 people compared to 51,649,918 in South Korea.

Population statistics:

  • South Korea's population is 14 times bigger than Eritrea's.
  • Eritrea is ranked the 130th 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 +1.28% per year vs +0.24% in South Korea.
  • Since 2006, the population of Eritrea has increased from 2.7M people to 3.7M (36.9% growth), while South Korea has grown from 48.4M to 51.6M (6.63% growth).

Eritrea vs South Korea: population by year and forecast

Eritrea
Factual

Projection
South Korea
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
Eritrea South Korea
2100 8,514,681 22,012,503
2099 8,489,924 22,335,528
2098 8,466,983 22,668,719
2097 8,444,468 23,009,661
2096 8,422,323 23,360,151
2095 8,396,086 23,722,747
2094 8,370,114 24,093,391
2093 8,344,405 24,473,038
2092 8,309,034 24,860,975
2091 8,278,860 25,255,379
2090 8,243,905 25,655,577
2089 8,209,883 26,060,945
2088 8,172,664 26,470,073
2087 8,136,016 26,884,813
2086 8,093,065 27,301,913
2085 8,046,814 27,723,736
2084 7,999,706 28,147,480
2083 7,956,385 28,578,182
2082 7,911,764 29,012,953
2081 7,871,753 29,456,022
2080 7,815,766 29,901,880
2079 7,765,677 30,352,062
2078 7,711,886 30,809,176
2077 7,656,307 31,273,700
2076 7,600,951 31,744,480
2075 7,538,912 32,221,226
2074 7,484,322 32,706,020
2073 7,420,571 33,196,556
2072 7,358,500 33,696,490
2071 7,296,109 34,203,935
2070 7,231,198 34,719,324
2069 7,164,883 35,241,850
2068 7,094,530 35,762,799
2067 7,026,000 36,292,307
2066 6,952,514 36,826,655
2065 6,884,323 37,368,086
2064 6,814,893 37,916,439
2063 6,733,263 38,469,051
2062 6,659,531 39,028,473
2061 6,580,923 39,584,621
2060 6,500,944 40,149,830
2059 6,422,305 40,712,514
2058 6,343,070 41,277,134
2057 6,265,450 41,833,887
2056 6,194,123 42,377,427
2055 6,114,099 42,909,302
2054 6,039,801 43,427,254
2053 5,957,339 43,938,741
2052 5,871,954 44,441,106
2051 5,791,096 44,923,604
2050 5,711,061 45,385,311
2049 5,632,165 45,832,153
2048 5,549,890 46,258,529
2047 5,468,518 46,668,898
2046 5,387,267 47,056,404
2045 5,300,511 47,433,205
2044 5,215,831 47,797,411
2043 5,131,686 48,144,730
2042 5,044,262 48,478,991
2041 4,960,422 48,806,273
2040 4,870,981 49,115,658
2039 4,782,316 49,412,830
2038 4,693,015 49,694,340
2037 4,599,752 49,957,504
2036 4,506,879 50,200,702
2035 4,420,367 50,426,000
2034 4,332,828 50,632,962
2033 4,248,272 50,821,090
2032 4,165,241 50,987,020
2031 4,083,762 51,134,940
2030 3,998,903 51,267,908
2029 3,917,775 51,385,868
2028 3,836,693 51,486,791
2027 3,756,696 51,576,746
2026 3,679,782 51,649,918
2025 3,603,902 51,710,062
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 (2025–2100, retrieved 2026-03-10); World Bank | Health (1960–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06).

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 575,888 people (a 18.4% growth), while South Korea's population increased by 432,115 people (a 0.84% growth).

Eritrea was ranked 135th most populous country in 2006 and is 130th 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 54.3% to 5,711,061 people with a rank change from 130th to 123rd. The population of South Korea will decrease by 12.1% to 45,385,311 people and rank change from 31st to 48th.

Eritrea is projected to reach its peak in 2100 at 8.51M 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 1.93% -0.08%
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 (2025–2100, retrieved 2026-03-10); World Bank | Health (1961–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06).

GeoRank.org/population/eritrea/south-korea | CC BY

In 2024, the population of Eritrea grew by 1.88%, while South Korea's population grew by 0.07%.

Live population counters

Eritrea South Korea
Current population
3700586
51649918
Population rank 130/197 31/197
Percent of world population 0.04% 0.62%
One net population change
8.06 minutes
13.7 minutes
One birth every
5.31 minutes
2.26 minutes
One death every
25 minutes
1.69 minutes
Daily growth/decline +179 +105
Annual growth/decline +65,213 +38,446
Annual growth/decline rate +1.88% +0.07%
Population growth rate rank 58/197 160/197
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 - -12,696 - 75,963
2023 78,073 -15,284 -77,569 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 2026-04-06).

GeoRank.org/population/eritrea/south-korea | 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 Korea 17.6% is from natural causes (a gain of 277,215 people) and 82.4% is from migration (a gain of 1,298,356 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 (1960–2024, 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-korea | 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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