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Population in Eritrea compared to Sri Lanka: Trends, Charts, Rankings

Updated on by Georank

The latest officially reported population of Eritrea was 3,607,003 in 2025 vs 21,756,000 people in Sri Lanka in 2025. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Eritrea's population is 3,722,489 people compared to 21,926,160 in Sri Lanka.

Population statistics:

  • Sri Lanka's population is 5.89 times bigger than Eritrea's.
  • Eritrea is ranked the 131st most populous country in the world, while Sri Lanka is the 63rd.
  • The countries together account for 0.31% of the world: 0.04% for Eritrea vs 0.26% for Sri Lanka.
  • For the last 10 years, Eritrea has had an average growth rate of +1.4% per year vs +0.42% in Sri Lanka.
  • Since 2006, the population of Eritrea has increased from 2.7M people to 3.72M (37.7% growth), while Sri Lanka has grown from 20.4M to 21.9M (7.73% growth).

Eritrea vs Sri Lanka: population by year and forecast

Eritrea
Factual

Projection
Sri Lanka
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
Eritrea Sri Lanka
2100 8,522,007 20,009,380
2099 8,497,228 20,121,095
2098 8,474,268 20,234,513
2097 8,451,733 20,345,619
2096 8,429,569 20,456,607
2095 8,403,309 20,566,246
2094 8,377,316 20,674,019
2093 8,351,585 20,780,946
2092 8,316,183 20,886,274
2091 8,285,983 20,990,047
2090 8,250,998 21,095,968
2089 8,216,946 21,198,788
2088 8,179,696 21,299,229
2087 8,143,016 21,398,269
2086 8,100,028 21,496,892
2085 8,053,737 21,594,661
2084 8,006,588 21,687,323
2083 7,963,231 21,778,597
2082 7,918,571 21,866,395
2081 7,878,525 21,954,337
2080 7,822,491 22,038,953
2079 7,772,358 22,122,744
2078 7,718,520 22,200,069
2077 7,662,894 22,274,355
2076 7,607,491 22,345,857
2075 7,545,398 22,414,609
2074 7,490,761 22,485,066
2073 7,426,955 22,550,427
2072 7,364,831 22,610,645
2071 7,302,386 22,669,042
2070 7,237,419 22,725,948
2069 7,171,047 22,779,050
2068 7,100,633 22,831,596
2067 7,032,045 22,885,941
2066 6,958,496 22,935,123
2065 6,890,246 22,985,942
2064 6,820,756 23,030,844
2063 6,739,056 23,071,114
2062 6,665,261 23,107,970
2061 6,586,585 23,139,924
2060 6,506,537 23,171,649
2059 6,427,830 23,199,387
2058 6,348,527 23,224,997
2057 6,270,841 23,247,211
2056 6,199,452 23,267,292
2055 6,119,360 23,278,653
2054 6,044,997 23,287,520
2053 5,962,464 23,297,347
2052 5,877,006 23,301,287
2051 5,796,079 23,302,108
2050 5,715,974 23,299,282
2049 5,637,011 23,293,630
2048 5,554,665 23,283,465
2047 5,473,222 23,267,251
2046 5,391,902 23,244,081
2045 5,305,072 23,212,221
2044 5,220,319 23,181,041
2043 5,136,101 23,144,217
2042 5,048,602 23,103,489
2041 4,964,690 23,056,478
2040 4,875,172 23,005,928
2039 4,786,431 22,948,866
2038 4,697,052 22,888,821
2037 4,603,709 22,822,943
2036 4,510,757 22,756,462
2035 4,424,170 22,685,766
2034 4,336,556 22,611,514
2033 4,251,927 22,532,374
2032 4,168,824 22,449,310
2031 4,087,276 22,364,063
2030 4,002,343 22,273,377
2029 3,921,145 22,181,300
2028 3,839,994 22,082,826
2027 3,759,928 21,979,196
2026 3,682,948 21,870,145
2025 3,607,003 21,756,000
2024 3,535,603 21,916,000
2023 3,470,390 22,037,000
2022 3,409,447 22,181,000
2021 3,350,183 22,156,000
2020 3,291,271 21,919,000
2019 3,240,194 21,803,000
2018 3,192,760 21,670,000
2017 3,150,347 21,453,000
2016 3,124,698 21,209,000
2015 3,105,546 20,970,000
2014 3,095,173 20,778,000
2013 3,074,360 20,585,000
2012 3,036,988 21,169,458
2011 2,998,485 21,009,048
2010 2,945,186 20,879,089
2009 2,887,885 20,756,435
2008 2,816,327 20,629,378
2007 2,743,222 20,492,545
2006 2,703,502 20,352,411
2005 2,661,215 20,216,524
2004 2,598,284 20,087,605
2003 2,493,903 19,951,521
2002 2,392,978 19,805,752
2001 2,312,079 19,600,362
2000 2,247,031 19,293,054
1999 2,212,780 18,944,731
1998 2,180,419 18,596,003
1997 2,152,135 18,248,200
1996 2,128,464 17,905,018
1995 2,025,267 17,564,068
1994 1,913,915 17,275,773
1993 1,856,006 17,025,918
1992 1,798,748 16,739,284
1991 1,919,571 16,475,354
1990 2,032,737 16,352,458
1989 1,987,017 16,248,557
1988 1,938,255 16,078,621
1987 1,888,669 15,916,576
1986 1,845,164 15,731,256
1985 1,807,816 15,544,154
1984 1,771,730 15,441,860
1983 1,736,160 15,388,794
1982 1,695,461 15,286,567
1981 1,649,939 15,099,414
1980 1,605,797 14,847,974
1979 1,563,332 14,579,614
1978 1,522,378 14,310,128
1977 1,482,565 14,049,371
1976 1,443,807 13,796,770
1975 1,408,210 13,548,984
1974 1,375,688 13,305,693
1973 1,342,669 13,060,916
1972 1,309,235 12,809,205
1971 1,276,154 12,551,910
1970 1,243,453 12,287,110
1969 1,212,005 12,013,858
1968 1,181,737 11,736,088
1967 1,152,339 11,457,328
1966 1,124,957 11,183,928
1965 1,098,335 10,916,965
1964 1,071,287 10,653,397
1963 1,045,092 10,395,040
1962 1,019,788 10,143,754
1961 995,573 9,899,372
1960 972,547 9,661,389

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/sri-lanka | CC BY

From 2006 to 2016, the population of Eritrea increased by 421,196 people (a 15.6% growth), while Sri Lanka gained 856,589 people (a 4.21% growth).

For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, Eritrea gained 597,791 people (a 19.1% growth), while Sri Lanka's population increased by 717,160 people (a 3.38% growth).

Eritrea was ranked 135th most populous country in 2006 and is 131st in 2026. Sri Lanka was ranked 55th in 2006 and ranked 63rd 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 Sri Lanka will increase by 6.26% to 23,299,282 people and rank change from 63rd to 71st.

Eritrea is projected to reach its peak in 2100 at 8.52M people compared to the peak of 23.3M people in 2051 for Sri Lanka.

Population growth rate by year

Eritrea
Factual

Projection
Sri Lanka
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Growth rate
Eritrea Sri Lanka
2100 0.29% -0.56%
2099 0.27% -0.56%
2098 0.27% -0.55%
2097 0.26% -0.54%
2096 0.31% -0.53%
2095 0.31% -0.52%
2094 0.31% -0.51%
2093 0.43% -0.5%
2092 0.36% -0.49%
2091 0.42% -0.5%
2090 0.41% -0.49%
2089 0.46% -0.47%
2088 0.45% -0.46%
2087 0.53% -0.46%
2086 0.57% -0.45%
2085 0.59% -0.43%
2084 0.54% -0.42%
2083 0.56% -0.4%
2082 0.51% -0.4%
2081 0.72% -0.38%
2080 0.65% -0.38%
2079 0.7% -0.35%
2078 0.73% -0.33%
2077 0.73% -0.32%
2076 0.82% -0.31%
2075 0.73% -0.31%
2074 0.86% -0.29%
2073 0.84% -0.27%
2072 0.86% -0.26%
2071 0.9% -0.25%
2070 0.93% -0.23%
2069 0.99% -0.23%
2068 0.98% -0.24%
2067 1.06% -0.21%
2066 0.99% -0.22%
2065 1.02% -0.19%
2064 1.21% -0.17%
2063 1.11% -0.16%
2062 1.19% -0.14%
2061 1.23% -0.14%
2060 1.22% -0.12%
2059 1.25% -0.11%
2058 1.24% -0.1%
2057 1.15% -0.09%
2056 1.31% -0.05%
2055 1.23% -0.04%
2054 1.38% -0.04%
2053 1.45% -0.02%
2052 1.4% -0.004%
2051 1.4% 0.01%
2050 1.4% 0.02%
2049 1.48% 0.04%
2048 1.49% 0.07%
2047 1.51% 0.1%
2046 1.64% 0.14%
2045 1.62% 0.13%
2044 1.64% 0.16%
2043 1.73% 0.18%
2042 1.69% 0.2%
2041 1.84% 0.22%
2040 1.85% 0.25%
2039 1.9% 0.26%
2038 2.03% 0.29%
2037 2.06% 0.29%
2036 1.96% 0.31%
2035 2.02% 0.33%
2034 1.99% 0.35%
2033 1.99% 0.37%
2032 2% 0.38%
2031 2.12% 0.41%
2030 2.07% 0.42%
2029 2.11% 0.45%
2028 2.13% 0.47%
2027 2.09% 0.5%
2026 2.11% 0.52%
2025 2.02% -0.73%
2024 1.88% -0.55%
2023 1.79% -0.65%
2022 1.77% 0.11%
2021 1.79% 1.08%
2020 1.58% 0.53%
2019 1.49% 0.61%
2018 1.35% 1.01%
2017 0.82% 1.15%
2016 0.62% 1.14%
2015 0.34% 0.92%
2014 0.68% 0.94%
2013 1.23% -2.76%
2012 1.28% 0.76%
2011 1.81% 0.62%
2010 1.98% 0.59%
2009 2.54% 0.62%
2008 2.66% 0.67%
2007 1.47% 0.69%
2006 1.59% 0.67%
2005 2.42% 0.64%
2004 4.19% 0.68%
2003 4.22% 0.74%
2002 3.5% 1.05%
2001 2.89% 1.59%
2000 1.55% 1.84%
1999 1.48% 1.88%
1998 1.31% 1.91%
1997 1.11% 1.92%
1996 5.1% 1.94%
1995 5.82% 1.67%
1994 3.12% 1.47%
1993 3.18% 1.71%
1992 -6.29% 1.6%
1991 -5.57% 0.75%
1990 2.3% 0.64%
1989 2.52% 1.06%
1988 2.63% 1.02%
1987 2.36% 1.18%
1986 2.07% 1.2%
1985 2.04% 0.66%
1984 2.05% 0.34%
1983 2.4% 0.67%
1982 2.76% 1.24%
1981 2.75% 1.69%
1980 2.72% 1.84%
1979 2.69% 1.88%
1978 2.69% 1.86%
1977 2.68% 1.83%
1976 2.53% 1.83%
1975 2.36% 1.83%
1974 2.46% 1.87%
1973 2.55% 1.97%
1972 2.59% 2.05%
1971 2.63% 2.16%
1970 2.59% 2.27%
1969 2.56% 2.37%
1968 2.55% 2.43%
1967 2.43% 2.44%
1966 2.42% 2.45%
1965 2.52% 2.47%
1964 2.51% 2.49%
1963 2.48% 2.48%
1962 2.43% 2.47%
1961 2.37% 2.46%

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/sri-lanka | CC BY

In 2025, the population of Eritrea grew by 2.02%, while Sri Lanka's population declined by 0.73%.

Live population counters

Eritrea Sri Lanka
Current population
3722489
21926160
Population rank 131/197 63/197
Percent of world population 0.04% 0.26%
One net population change
7.38 minutes
3.29 minutes
One birth every
5.18 minutes
2.37 minutes
One death every
24.8 minutes
3.07 minutes
Daily growth/decline +196 -438
Annual growth/decline +71,400 -160,000
Annual growth/decline rate +2.02% -0.73%
Population growth rate rank 49/197 190/197
One migration net change every
1.31 hours
17.2 minutes
Annual migration change -6,698 -30,724
Net migration rank 122/196 165/196
Foreign-born residents 12,512 40,698
Foreign-born residents rank 176/195 156/195
Foreign-born share of population 0.4% 0.2%
Foreign-born share rank 178/195 190/195

Natural population change vs migration

Eritrea
Natural

Migration
Sri Lanka
Natural

Migration
1x
Year Population change
Eritrea Sri Lanka
Natural Migration Natural Migration
2025 - -6,698 - -30,724
2024 80,343 -12,696 50,407 -27,245
2023 78,073 -15,284 66,111 -28,011
2022 76,221 -17,134 95,378 -27,435
2021 74,394 -14,966 121,858 -29,586
2020 73,362 -14,967 170,968 -29,875
2019 73,572 -29,818 172,243 -28,426
2018 72,511 -21,403 183,610 -28,607
2017 72,291 -38,579 187,993 -22,324
2016 73,002 -55,431 194,232 -18,388
2015 73,682 -52,965 201,815 -29,797
2014 75,729 -75,696 211,541 -33,672
2013 75,562 -33,974 221,021 -37,754
2012 76,416 -43,269 229,138 -41,955
2011 76,806 -32,949 224,461 -90,839
2010 76,098 -13,361 224,325 -98,060
2009 76,206 -24,348 200,175 -81,130
2008 73,391 17,855 232,225 -97,144
2007 73,101 -18,131 248,287 -109,695
2006 74,470 -49,998 248,706 -107,045
2005 72,930 -12,835 248,683 -118,594
2004 72,147 -6,374 212,527 -84,795
2003 66,291 76,703 252,008 -107,573
2002 65,436 -6,574 252,840 -105,718
2001 61,180 41,760 244,377 19,273
2000 60,274 -33,133 227,060 123,894
1999 45,120 -3,769 206,876 138,799
1998 55,332 -31,951 201,059 150,724
1997 63,953 -30,768 208,193 135,636
1996 66,557 -52,421 215,290 127,236
1995 56,157 136,105 221,957 117,416
1994 56,288 -25,841 228,904 8,323
1993 51,679 33,688 226,257 36,232
1992 51,443 -22,293 222,230 88,542
1991 57,741 -328,546 218,117 -1,047
1990 56,903 -12,425 224,454 -195,736
1989 54,299 -7,330 212,401 -33,305
1988 54,163 -3,612 219,184 -58,415
1987 52,229 -3,613 226,414 -63,105
1986 39,470 -1,073 233,782 -26,460
1985 37,362 -1,073 247,836 -80,950
1984 35,101 772 263,175 -225,450
1983 33,420 1,853 277,768 -209,362
1982 44,146 1,985 300,030 -163,987
1981 42,924 1,985 328,096 -89,824
1980 41,392 1,985 328,155 -63,541
1979 39,577 1,985 329,791 -57,683
1978 38,353 1,985 317,055 -50,189
1977 37,295 1,985 300,038 -45,383
1976 36,250 1,985 291,816 -41,258
1975 30,971 1,985 282,496 -37,475
1974 30,111 1,985 275,521 -33,979
1973 31,969 1,985 278,577 -30,582
1972 30,951 1,953 282,494 -27,071
1971 31,490 1,758 281,200 -22,021
1970 30,686 1,480 286,719 -16,299
1969 29,535 1,199 286,218 -10,152
1968 28,777 1,013 286,642 -7,163
1967 27,992 1,004 284,738 -6,696
1966 24,713 1,063 275,549 -6,794
1965 26,285 1,188 272,422 -7,249
1964 25,327 1,300 269,584 -7,614
1963 24,393 1,368 262,880 -8,118
1962 23,478 1,364 256,719 -8,909
1961 22,351 1,235 251,087 -10,144
1960 21,424 1,045 247,631 -12,610

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

GeoRank.org/population/eritrea/sri-lanka | 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 Sri Lanka 84.3% is from natural causes (a gain of 1,444,615 people) and 15.7% is from migration (a loss of 269,694 people).

As of 2024, 12,512 residents or 0.4% of the population were not native-born in Eritrea, compared to 40,698 people or 0.2% in Sri Lanka.

Biggest cities by population

Eritrea
City Population
Asmara 963K
Keren 120K
Massawa 39.8K
Mendefera 28.5K
Sri Lanka
City Population
Colombo 648K
Gampaha 191K
Beruwala 165K
Negombo 142K
Kandy 120K
Sri Jayawardenepura Kotte 116K
Trincomalee 99.1K
Galle 93.1K
Matara 68.2K
Anuradhapura 63.2K

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/sri-lanka | 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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