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

Updated on by Georank team

The latest officially reported population of Eritrea was 3,535,603 in 2024 vs 21,916,000 people in Sri Lanka in 2024. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Eritrea's population is 3,700,586 people compared to 22,185,425 in Sri Lanka.

Population statistics:

  • Sri Lanka's population is 6 times bigger than Eritrea's.
  • Eritrea is ranked the 130th 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 0.27% for Sri Lanka.
  • For the last 10 years, Eritrea has had an average growth rate of +1.28% per year vs +0.57% in Sri Lanka.
  • Since 2006, the population of Eritrea has increased from 2.7M people to 3.7M (36.9% growth), while Sri Lanka has grown from 20.4M to 22.2M (9.01% growth).

Eritrea vs Sri Lanka: population by year and forecast

Eritrea
Factual

Projection
Sri Lanka
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
Eritrea Sri Lanka
2100 8,514,681 20,270,496
2099 8,489,924 20,383,669
2098 8,466,983 20,498,567
2097 8,444,468 20,611,123
2096 8,422,323 20,723,560
2095 8,396,086 20,834,629
2094 8,370,114 20,943,809
2093 8,344,405 21,052,131
2092 8,309,034 21,158,833
2091 8,278,860 21,263,961
2090 8,243,905 21,371,263
2089 8,209,883 21,475,426
2088 8,172,664 21,577,177
2087 8,136,016 21,677,510
2086 8,093,065 21,777,420
2085 8,046,814 21,876,464
2084 7,999,706 21,970,336
2083 7,956,385 22,062,801
2082 7,911,764 22,151,745
2081 7,871,753 22,240,834
2080 7,815,766 22,326,555
2079 7,765,677 22,411,438
2078 7,711,886 22,489,772
2077 7,656,307 22,565,028
2076 7,600,951 22,637,463
2075 7,538,912 22,707,112
2074 7,484,322 22,778,489
2073 7,420,571 22,844,703
2072 7,358,500 22,905,707
2071 7,296,109 22,964,866
2070 7,231,198 23,022,515
2069 7,164,883 23,076,310
2068 7,094,530 23,129,541
2067 7,026,000 23,184,596
2066 6,952,514 23,234,419
2065 6,884,323 23,285,901
2064 6,814,893 23,331,390
2063 6,733,263 23,372,184
2062 6,659,531 23,409,522
2061 6,580,923 23,441,893
2060 6,500,944 23,474,032
2059 6,422,305 23,502,132
2058 6,343,070 23,528,076
2057 6,265,450 23,550,580
2056 6,194,123 23,570,923
2055 6,114,099 23,582,432
2054 6,039,801 23,591,414
2053 5,957,339 23,601,371
2052 5,871,954 23,605,361
2051 5,791,096 23,606,194
2050 5,711,061 23,603,330
2049 5,632,165 23,597,604
2048 5,549,890 23,587,307
2047 5,468,518 23,570,881
2046 5,387,267 23,547,409
2045 5,300,511 23,515,133
2044 5,215,831 23,483,546
2043 5,131,686 23,446,242
2042 5,044,262 23,404,983
2041 4,960,422 23,357,358
2040 4,870,981 23,306,148
2039 4,782,316 23,248,341
2038 4,693,015 23,187,512
2037 4,599,752 23,120,775
2036 4,506,879 23,053,427
2035 4,420,367 22,981,808
2034 4,332,828 22,906,587
2033 4,248,272 22,826,414
2032 4,165,241 22,742,267
2031 4,083,762 22,655,907
2030 3,998,903 22,564,038
2029 3,917,775 22,470,759
2028 3,836,693 22,370,999
2027 3,756,696 22,266,017
2026 3,679,782 22,155,543
2025 3,603,902 22,039,908
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 (2025–2100, retrieved 2026-03-10); World Bank | Health (1960–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06).

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 575,888 people (a 18.4% growth), while Sri Lanka's population increased by 976,425 people (a 4.6% growth).

Eritrea was ranked 135th most populous country in 2006 and is 130th 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 54.3% to 5,711,061 people with a rank change from 130th to 123rd. The population of Sri Lanka will increase by 6.39% to 23,603,330 people and rank change from 63rd to 70th.

Eritrea is projected to reach its peak in 2100 at 8.51M people compared to the peak of 23.6M 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 1.93% 0.57%
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 (2025–2100, retrieved 2026-03-10); World Bank | Health (1961–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06).

GeoRank.org/population/eritrea/sri-lanka | CC BY

In 2024, the population of Eritrea grew by 1.88%, while Sri Lanka's population declined by 0.55%.

Live population counters

Eritrea Sri Lanka
Current population
3700586
22185425
Population rank 130/197 63/197
Percent of world population 0.04% 0.27%
One net population change
8.06 minutes
4.34 minutes
One birth every
5.31 minutes
2.13 minutes
One death every
25 minutes
2.91 minutes
Daily growth/decline +179 -332
Annual growth/decline +65,213 -121,000
Annual growth/decline rate +1.88% -0.55%
Population growth rate rank 58/197 188/197
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 - -12,696 - -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 2026-04-06).

GeoRank.org/population/eritrea/sri-lanka | 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 Sri Lanka 85.3% is from natural causes (a gain of 1,605,749 people) and 14.7% is from migration (a loss of 276,121 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 (1960–2024, 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/sri-lanka | 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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