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Population in Eritrea compared to Sudan: Trends, Charts, Rankings

Updated on by Georank

The latest officially reported population of Eritrea was 3,607,003 in 2025 vs 51,662,147 people in Sudan in 2025. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Eritrea's population is 3,722,489 people compared to 54,156,832 in Sudan.

Population statistics:

  • Sudan's population is 14.5 times bigger than Eritrea's.
  • Eritrea is ranked the 131st most populous country in the world, while Sudan is the 29th.
  • The countries together account for 0.7% of the world: 0.04% for Eritrea vs 0.65% for Sudan.
  • For the last 10 years, Eritrea has had an average growth rate of +1.4% per year vs +2.63% in Sudan.
  • Since 2006, the population of Eritrea has increased from 2.7M people to 3.72M (37.7% growth), while Sudan has grown from 32M to 54.2M (69.3% growth).

Eritrea vs Sudan: population by year and forecast

Eritrea
Factual

Projection
Sudan
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
Eritrea Sudan
2100 8,522,007 138,786,562
2099 8,497,228 138,200,726
2098 8,474,268 137,581,716
2097 8,451,733 136,936,850
2096 8,429,569 136,293,310
2095 8,403,309 135,619,411
2094 8,377,316 134,962,748
2093 8,351,585 134,241,761
2092 8,316,183 133,476,598
2091 8,285,983 132,717,036
2090 8,250,998 131,929,843
2089 8,216,946 131,106,299
2088 8,179,696 130,258,636
2087 8,143,016 129,375,710
2086 8,100,028 128,473,461
2085 8,053,737 127,558,118
2084 8,006,588 126,607,392
2083 7,963,231 125,651,327
2082 7,918,571 124,696,076
2081 7,878,525 123,744,490
2080 7,822,491 122,770,063
2079 7,772,358 121,779,815
2078 7,718,520 120,751,900
2077 7,662,894 119,717,424
2076 7,607,491 118,681,140
2075 7,545,398 117,612,837
2074 7,490,761 116,516,833
2073 7,426,955 115,406,797
2072 7,364,831 114,272,123
2071 7,302,386 113,124,997
2070 7,237,419 111,982,729
2069 7,171,047 110,816,409
2068 7,100,633 109,652,769
2067 7,032,045 108,433,341
2066 6,958,496 107,199,808
2065 6,890,246 105,978,161
2064 6,820,756 104,726,820
2063 6,739,056 103,455,672
2062 6,665,261 102,156,918
2061 6,586,585 100,859,967
2060 6,506,537 99,547,905
2059 6,427,830 98,233,054
2058 6,348,527 96,897,205
2057 6,270,841 95,551,255
2056 6,199,452 94,198,924
2055 6,119,360 92,819,157
2054 6,044,997 91,429,774
2053 5,962,464 90,049,799
2052 5,877,006 88,658,871
2051 5,796,079 87,267,085
2050 5,715,974 85,869,620
2049 5,637,011 84,466,974
2048 5,554,665 83,095,662
2047 5,473,222 81,727,967
2046 5,391,902 80,356,627
2045 5,305,072 78,980,614
2044 5,220,319 77,616,012
2043 5,136,101 76,252,103
2042 5,048,602 74,901,092
2041 4,964,690 73,546,861
2040 4,875,172 72,207,474
2039 4,786,431 70,876,908
2038 4,697,052 69,547,797
2037 4,603,709 68,201,884
2036 4,510,757 66,863,109
2035 4,424,170 65,516,233
2034 4,336,556 64,168,801
2033 4,251,927 62,823,562
2032 4,168,824 61,491,227
2031 4,087,276 60,168,709
2030 4,002,343 58,846,984
2029 3,921,145 57,534,918
2028 3,839,994 56,242,802
2027 3,759,928 54,955,096
2026 3,682,948 53,313,722
2025 3,607,003 51,662,147
2024 3,535,603 50,448,963
2023 3,470,390 50,042,791
2022 3,409,447 49,383,346
2021 3,350,183 48,066,924
2020 3,291,271 46,789,231
2019 3,240,194 45,548,175
2018 3,192,760 44,230,596
2017 3,150,347 42,714,306
2016 3,124,698 41,259,892
2015 3,105,546 40,024,431
2014 3,095,173 38,823,318
2013 3,074,360 37,785,849
2012 3,036,988 36,923,178
2011 2,998,485 36,140,806
2010 2,945,186 35,414,399
2009 2,887,885 34,569,113
2008 2,816,327 33,623,980
2007 2,743,222 32,764,135
2006 2,703,502 31,992,435
2005 2,661,215 31,262,444
2004 2,598,284 30,556,637
2003 2,493,903 29,896,035
2002 2,392,978 29,228,727
2001 2,312,079 28,516,770
2000 2,247,031 27,816,745
1999 2,212,780 27,130,613
1998 2,180,419 26,458,999
1997 2,152,135 25,799,821
1996 2,128,464 25,231,528
1995 2,025,267 24,672,143
1994 1,913,915 24,043,948
1993 1,856,006 23,445,592
1992 1,798,748 22,927,355
1991 1,919,571 22,470,676
1990 2,032,737 22,021,481
1989 1,987,017 21,578,022
1988 1,938,255 21,138,431
1987 1,888,669 20,704,904
1986 1,845,164 20,288,238
1985 1,807,816 19,905,872
1984 1,771,730 19,546,528
1983 1,736,160 19,109,770
1982 1,695,461 18,486,645
1981 1,649,939 17,780,572
1980 1,605,797 17,058,905
1979 1,563,332 16,355,352
1978 1,522,378 15,695,003
1977 1,482,565 15,086,614
1976 1,443,807 14,569,716
1975 1,408,210 14,064,798
1974 1,375,688 13,580,723
1973 1,342,669 13,049,315
1972 1,309,235 12,527,856
1971 1,276,154 12,105,539
1970 1,243,453 11,695,771
1969 1,212,005 11,298,936
1968 1,181,737 10,917,999
1967 1,152,339 10,550,597
1966 1,124,957 10,197,578
1965 1,098,335 9,858,030
1964 1,071,287 9,531,109
1963 1,045,092 9,218,077
1962 1,019,788 8,919,028
1961 995,573 8,634,941
1960 972,547 8,364,489

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/sudan | CC BY

From 2006 to 2016, the population of Eritrea increased by 421,196 people (a 15.6% growth), while Sudan gained 9,267,457 people (a 29% growth).

For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, Eritrea gained 597,791 people (a 19.1% growth), while Sudan's population increased by 12,896,940 people (a 31.3% growth).

Eritrea was ranked 135th most populous country in 2006 and is 131st in 2026. Sudan was ranked 36th in 2006 and ranked 29th 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 Sudan will increase by 58.6% to 85,869,620 people and rank change from 29th to 21st.

Eritrea is projected to reach its peak in 2100 at 8.52M people compared to the peak of 139M people in 2100 for Sudan.

Population growth rate by year

Eritrea
Factual

Projection
Sudan
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Growth rate
Eritrea Sudan
2100 0.29% 0.42%
2099 0.27% 0.45%
2098 0.27% 0.47%
2097 0.26% 0.47%
2096 0.31% 0.5%
2095 0.31% 0.49%
2094 0.31% 0.54%
2093 0.43% 0.57%
2092 0.36% 0.57%
2091 0.42% 0.6%
2090 0.41% 0.63%
2089 0.46% 0.65%
2088 0.45% 0.68%
2087 0.53% 0.7%
2086 0.57% 0.72%
2085 0.59% 0.75%
2084 0.54% 0.76%
2083 0.56% 0.77%
2082 0.51% 0.77%
2081 0.72% 0.79%
2080 0.65% 0.81%
2079 0.7% 0.85%
2078 0.73% 0.86%
2077 0.73% 0.87%
2076 0.82% 0.91%
2075 0.73% 0.94%
2074 0.86% 0.96%
2073 0.84% 0.99%
2072 0.86% 1.01%
2071 0.9% 1.02%
2070 0.93% 1.05%
2069 0.99% 1.06%
2068 0.98% 1.12%
2067 1.06% 1.15%
2066 0.99% 1.15%
2065 1.02% 1.19%
2064 1.21% 1.23%
2063 1.11% 1.27%
2062 1.19% 1.29%
2061 1.23% 1.32%
2060 1.22% 1.34%
2059 1.25% 1.38%
2058 1.24% 1.41%
2057 1.15% 1.44%
2056 1.31% 1.49%
2055 1.23% 1.52%
2054 1.38% 1.53%
2053 1.45% 1.57%
2052 1.4% 1.59%
2051 1.4% 1.63%
2050 1.4% 1.66%
2049 1.48% 1.65%
2048 1.49% 1.67%
2047 1.51% 1.71%
2046 1.64% 1.74%
2045 1.62% 1.76%
2044 1.64% 1.79%
2043 1.73% 1.8%
2042 1.69% 1.84%
2041 1.84% 1.85%
2040 1.85% 1.88%
2039 1.9% 1.91%
2038 2.03% 1.97%
2037 2.06% 2%
2036 1.96% 2.06%
2035 2.02% 2.1%
2034 1.99% 2.14%
2033 1.99% 2.17%
2032 2% 2.2%
2031 2.12% 2.25%
2030 2.07% 2.28%
2029 2.11% 2.3%
2028 2.13% 2.34%
2027 2.09% 3.08%
2026 2.11% 3.2%
2025 2.02% 2.4%
2024 1.88% 0.81%
2023 1.79% 1.34%
2022 1.77% 2.74%
2021 1.79% 2.73%
2020 1.58% 2.72%
2019 1.49% 2.98%
2018 1.35% 3.55%
2017 0.82% 3.53%
2016 0.62% 3.09%
2015 0.34% 3.09%
2014 0.68% 2.75%
2013 1.23% 2.34%
2012 1.28% 2.16%
2011 1.81% 2.05%
2010 1.98% 2.45%
2009 2.54% 2.81%
2008 2.66% 2.62%
2007 1.47% 2.41%
2006 1.59% 2.34%
2005 2.42% 2.31%
2004 4.19% 2.21%
2003 4.22% 2.28%
2002 3.5% 2.5%
2001 2.89% 2.52%
2000 1.55% 2.53%
1999 1.48% 2.54%
1998 1.31% 2.55%
1997 1.11% 2.25%
1996 5.1% 2.27%
1995 5.82% 2.61%
1994 3.12% 2.55%
1993 3.18% 2.26%
1992 -6.29% 2.03%
1991 -5.57% 2.04%
1990 2.3% 2.06%
1989 2.52% 2.08%
1988 2.63% 2.09%
1987 2.36% 2.05%
1986 2.07% 1.92%
1985 2.04% 1.84%
1984 2.05% 2.29%
1983 2.4% 3.37%
1982 2.76% 3.97%
1981 2.75% 4.23%
1980 2.72% 4.3%
1979 2.69% 4.21%
1978 2.69% 4.03%
1977 2.68% 3.55%
1976 2.53% 3.59%
1975 2.36% 3.56%
1974 2.46% 4.07%
1973 2.55% 4.16%
1972 2.59% 3.49%
1971 2.63% 3.5%
1970 2.59% 3.51%
1969 2.56% 3.49%
1968 2.55% 3.48%
1967 2.43% 3.46%
1966 2.42% 3.44%
1965 2.52% 3.43%
1964 2.51% 3.4%
1963 2.48% 3.35%
1962 2.43% 3.29%
1961 2.37% 3.23%

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/sudan | CC BY

In 2025, the population of Eritrea grew by 2.02%, while Sudan's population grew by 2.4%.

Live population counters

Eritrea Sudan
Current population
3722489
54156832
Population rank 131/197 29/197
Percent of world population 0.04% 0.65%
One net population change
7.38 minutes
26.1 seconds
One birth every
5.18 minutes
18.9 seconds
One death every
24.8 minutes
1.64 minutes
Daily growth/decline +196 +3,324
Annual growth/decline +71,400 +1,213,184
Annual growth/decline rate +2.02% +2.4%
Population growth rate rank 49/197 30/197
One migration net change every
1.31 hours
1.81 minutes
Annual migration change -6,698 +291,469
Net migration rank 122/196 6/196
Foreign-born residents 12,512 2,397,113
Foreign-born residents rank 176/195 29/195
Foreign-born share of population 0.4% 4.8%
Foreign-born share rank 178/195 94/195

Natural population change vs migration

Eritrea
Natural

Migration
Sudan
Natural

Migration
1x
Year Population change
Eritrea Sudan
Natural Migration Natural Migration
2025 - -6,698 - 291,469
2024 80,343 -12,696 1,345,019 -544,257
2023 78,073 -15,284 1,361,564 -1,349,998
2022 76,221 -17,134 1,333,992 -26,668
2021 74,394 -14,966 1,293,817 31,664
2020 73,362 -14,967 1,295,781 -65,933
2019 73,572 -29,818 1,291,747 -39,491
2018 72,511 -21,403 1,257,387 125,499
2017 72,291 -38,579 1,208,046 441,623
2016 73,002 -55,431 1,174,422 84,728
2015 73,682 -52,965 1,145,259 66,476
2014 75,729 -75,696 1,097,962 92,504
2013 75,562 -33,974 1,078,446 -194,001
2012 76,416 -43,269 1,073,062 -232,196
2011 76,806 -32,949 1,070,888 -347,024
2010 76,098 -13,361 1,068,381 -339,466
2009 76,206 -24,348 1,041,810 -80,159
2008 73,391 17,855 1,001,826 -73,188
2007 73,101 -18,131 992,819 -201,769
2006 74,470 -49,998 963,740 -211,387
2005 72,930 -12,835 907,017 -199,378
2004 72,147 -6,374 889,382 -185,392
2003 66,291 76,703 898,226 -281,001
2002 65,436 -6,574 897,965 -180,603
2001 61,180 41,760 880,284 -173,745
2000 60,274 -33,133 858,536 -165,030
1999 45,120 -3,769 835,840 -157,090
1998 55,332 -31,951 814,752 -150,271
1997 63,953 -30,768 802,245 -148,368
1996 66,557 -52,421 792,926 -310,221
1995 56,157 136,105 780,700 -144,670
1994 56,288 -25,841 764,645 -144,324
1993 51,679 33,688 743,249 -166,861
1992 51,443 -22,293 731,177 -271,093
1991 57,741 -328,546 714,612 -261,341
1990 56,903 -12,425 699,953 -254,825
1989 54,299 -7,330 683,743 -241,979
1988 54,163 -3,612 672,604 -235,213
1987 52,229 -3,613 658,416 -228,756
1986 39,470 -1,073 649,649 -245,968
1985 37,362 -1,073 583,382 -222,315
1984 35,101 772 577,405 -219,755
1983 33,420 1,853 570,198 -54,325
1982 44,146 1,985 606,362 124,007
1981 42,924 1,985 585,087 96,697
1980 41,392 1,985 552,930 208,602
1979 39,577 1,985 524,942 120,613
1978 38,353 1,985 497,987 177,153
1977 37,295 1,985 483,089 58,540
1976 36,250 1,985 470,019 22,147
1975 30,971 1,985 454,813 62,843
1974 30,111 1,985 444,456 6,023
1973 31,969 1,985 439,201 173,143
1972 30,951 1,953 428,340 2,238
1971 31,490 1,758 417,641 -3,577
1970 30,686 1,480 401,013 4,479
1969 29,535 1,199 385,712 2,476
1968 28,777 1,013 370,917 2,776
1967 27,992 1,004 356,599 4,508
1966 24,713 1,063 342,118 2,813
1965 26,285 1,188 327,799 6,367
1964 25,327 1,300 315,166 4,505
1963 24,393 1,368 302,132 4,263
1962 23,478 1,364 287,317 4,387
1961 22,351 1,235 272,562 3,904
1960 21,424 1,045 262,235 2,194

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

GeoRank.org/population/eritrea/sudan | 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 Sudan 90.9% is from natural causes (a gain of 12,707,034 people) and 9.13% is from migration (a loss of 1,276,357 people).

As of 2024, 12,512 residents or 0.4% of the population were not native-born in Eritrea, compared to 2,397,113 people or 4.8% in Sudan.

Biggest cities by population

Eritrea
City Population
Asmara 963K
Keren 120K
Massawa 39.8K
Mendefera 28.5K
Sudan
City Population
Khartoum 5.34M
Omdurman 2.81M
Port Sudan 580K
El-Obeid 560K
Kassala 536K
Kosti 528K
Nyala 493K
El-Gadarif 355K
Al-Fashir 286K
Ad-Damazin 186K

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/sudan | 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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