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

Updated on by Georank

The latest officially reported population of Eritrea was 3,607,003 in 2025 vs 25,620,427 people in Syria in 2025. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Eritrea's population is 3,722,489 people compared to 26,956,472 in Syria.

Population statistics:

  • Syria's population is 7.24 times bigger than Eritrea's.
  • Eritrea is ranked the 131st most populous country in the world, while Syria is the 56th.
  • The countries together account for 0.37% of the world: 0.04% for Eritrea vs 0.32% for Syria.
  • For the last 10 years, Eritrea has had an average growth rate of +1.4% per year vs +2.19% in Syria.
  • Since 2006, the population of Eritrea has increased from 2.7M people to 3.72M (37.7% growth), while Syria has grown from 19.6M to 27M (37.3% growth).

Eritrea vs Syria: population by year and forecast

Eritrea
Factual

Projection
Syria
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
Eritrea Syria
2100 8,522,007 44,500,028
2099 8,497,228 44,570,009
2098 8,474,268 44,629,837
2097 8,451,733 44,692,566
2096 8,429,569 44,747,012
2095 8,403,309 44,774,686
2094 8,377,316 44,824,294
2093 8,351,585 44,853,295
2092 8,316,183 44,882,700
2091 8,285,983 44,895,349
2090 8,250,998 44,926,869
2089 8,216,946 44,925,891
2088 8,179,696 44,920,667
2087 8,143,016 44,928,298
2086 8,100,028 44,947,658
2085 8,053,737 44,913,669
2084 8,006,588 44,878,845
2083 7,963,231 44,850,592
2082 7,918,571 44,790,014
2081 7,878,525 44,723,244
2080 7,822,491 44,624,321
2079 7,772,358 44,567,127
2078 7,718,520 44,529,618
2077 7,662,894 44,484,155
2076 7,607,491 44,400,339
2075 7,545,398 44,306,882
2074 7,490,761 44,209,517
2073 7,426,955 44,102,028
2072 7,364,831 43,965,642
2071 7,302,386 43,821,617
2070 7,237,419 43,678,154
2069 7,171,047 43,530,683
2068 7,100,633 43,348,487
2067 7,032,045 43,154,741
2066 6,958,496 42,944,885
2065 6,890,246 42,695,249
2064 6,820,756 42,445,036
2063 6,739,056 42,198,056
2062 6,665,261 41,949,014
2061 6,586,585 41,695,586
2060 6,506,537 41,410,547
2059 6,427,830 41,097,942
2058 6,348,527 40,815,606
2057 6,270,841 40,534,091
2056 6,199,452 40,224,053
2055 6,119,360 39,918,930
2054 6,044,997 39,584,624
2053 5,962,464 39,242,144
2052 5,877,006 38,940,206
2051 5,796,079 38,629,604
2050 5,715,974 38,307,069
2049 5,637,011 37,986,965
2048 5,554,665 37,682,780
2047 5,473,222 37,391,752
2046 5,391,902 37,081,479
2045 5,305,072 36,744,441
2044 5,220,319 36,428,225
2043 5,136,101 36,090,851
2042 5,048,602 35,729,021
2041 4,964,690 35,352,033
2040 4,875,172 34,947,817
2039 4,786,431 34,533,772
2038 4,697,052 34,091,760
2037 4,603,709 33,612,993
2036 4,510,757 33,134,445
2035 4,424,170 32,608,669
2034 4,336,556 32,062,309
2033 4,251,927 31,477,500
2032 4,168,824 30,883,996
2031 4,087,276 30,248,264
2030 4,002,343 29,592,787
2029 3,921,145 28,871,638
2028 3,839,994 28,141,821
2027 3,759,928 27,355,002
2026 3,682,948 26,535,554
2025 3,607,003 25,620,427
2024 3,535,603 24,672,760
2023 3,470,390 23,594,623
2022 3,409,447 22,462,173
2021 3,350,183 21,628,839
2020 3,291,271 21,049,429
2019 3,240,194 20,353,534
2018 3,192,760 19,577,845
2017 3,150,347 19,224,668
2016 3,124,698 19,193,834
2015 3,105,546 19,424,618
2014 3,095,173 20,273,659
2013 3,074,360 21,666,917
2012 3,036,988 22,759,763
2011 2,998,485 22,878,098
2010 2,945,186 22,482,421
2009 2,887,885 21,976,969
2008 2,816,327 21,636,564
2007 2,743,222 20,884,125
2006 2,703,502 19,637,022
2005 2,661,215 18,814,091
2004 2,598,284 18,336,875
2003 2,493,903 17,889,296
2002 2,392,978 17,468,332
2001 2,312,079 17,051,338
2000 2,247,031 16,637,888
1999 2,212,780 16,228,061
1998 2,180,419 15,820,413
1997 2,152,135 15,417,542
1996 2,128,464 15,018,104
1995 2,025,267 14,616,801
1994 1,913,915 14,208,583
1993 1,856,006 13,795,686
1992 1,798,748 13,385,571
1991 1,919,571 12,980,821
1990 2,032,737 12,579,208
1989 1,987,017 12,179,060
1988 1,938,255 11,782,264
1987 1,888,669 11,388,923
1986 1,845,164 11,002,844
1985 1,807,816 10,625,672
1984 1,771,730 10,258,398
1983 1,736,160 9,904,809
1982 1,695,461 9,572,511
1981 1,649,939 9,260,189
1980 1,605,797 8,957,663
1979 1,563,332 8,661,909
1978 1,522,378 8,372,759
1977 1,482,565 8,090,501
1976 1,443,807 7,817,320
1975 1,408,210 7,554,364
1974 1,375,688 7,302,160
1973 1,342,669 7,060,321
1972 1,309,235 6,826,024
1971 1,276,154 6,598,094
1970 1,243,453 6,380,609
1969 1,212,005 6,175,166
1968 1,181,737 5,978,742
1967 1,152,339 5,790,198
1966 1,124,957 5,609,047
1965 1,098,335 5,435,267
1964 1,071,287 5,269,087
1963 1,045,092 5,110,467
1962 1,019,788 4,959,340
1961 995,573 4,815,466
1960 972,547 4,673,500

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/syria | CC BY

From 2006 to 2016, the population of Eritrea increased by 421,196 people (a 15.6% growth), while Syria lost 443,188 people (a 2.26% decline).

For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, Eritrea gained 597,791 people (a 19.1% growth), while Syria's population increased by 7,762,638 people (a 40.4% growth).

Eritrea was ranked 135th most populous country in 2006 and is 131st in 2026. Syria was ranked 58th in 2006 and ranked 56th 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 Syria will increase by 42.1% to 38,307,069 people and rank change from 56th to 53rd.

Eritrea is projected to reach its peak in 2100 at 8.52M people compared to the peak of 44.9M people in 2086 for Syria.

Population growth rate by year

Eritrea
Factual

Projection
Syria
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Growth rate
Eritrea Syria
2100 0.29% -0.16%
2099 0.27% -0.13%
2098 0.27% -0.14%
2097 0.26% -0.12%
2096 0.31% -0.06%
2095 0.31% -0.11%
2094 0.31% -0.06%
2093 0.43% -0.07%
2092 0.36% -0.03%
2091 0.42% -0.07%
2090 0.41% 0.002%
2089 0.46% 0.01%
2088 0.45% -0.02%
2087 0.53% -0.04%
2086 0.57% 0.08%
2085 0.59% 0.08%
2084 0.54% 0.06%
2083 0.56% 0.14%
2082 0.51% 0.15%
2081 0.72% 0.22%
2080 0.65% 0.13%
2079 0.7% 0.08%
2078 0.73% 0.1%
2077 0.73% 0.19%
2076 0.82% 0.21%
2075 0.73% 0.22%
2074 0.86% 0.24%
2073 0.84% 0.31%
2072 0.86% 0.33%
2071 0.9% 0.33%
2070 0.93% 0.34%
2069 0.99% 0.42%
2068 0.98% 0.45%
2067 1.06% 0.49%
2066 0.99% 0.58%
2065 1.02% 0.59%
2064 1.21% 0.59%
2063 1.11% 0.59%
2062 1.19% 0.61%
2061 1.23% 0.69%
2060 1.22% 0.76%
2059 1.25% 0.69%
2058 1.24% 0.69%
2057 1.15% 0.77%
2056 1.31% 0.76%
2055 1.23% 0.84%
2054 1.38% 0.87%
2053 1.45% 0.78%
2052 1.4% 0.8%
2051 1.4% 0.84%
2050 1.4% 0.84%
2049 1.48% 0.81%
2048 1.49% 0.78%
2047 1.51% 0.84%
2046 1.64% 0.92%
2045 1.62% 0.87%
2044 1.64% 0.93%
2043 1.73% 1.01%
2042 1.69% 1.07%
2041 1.84% 1.16%
2040 1.85% 1.2%
2039 1.9% 1.3%
2038 2.03% 1.42%
2037 2.06% 1.44%
2036 1.96% 1.61%
2035 2.02% 1.7%
2034 1.99% 1.86%
2033 1.99% 1.92%
2032 2% 2.1%
2031 2.12% 2.21%
2030 2.07% 2.5%
2029 2.11% 2.59%
2028 2.13% 2.88%
2027 2.09% 3.09%
2026 2.11% 3.57%
2025 2.02% 3.84%
2024 1.88% 4.57%
2023 1.79% 5.04%
2022 1.77% 3.85%
2021 1.79% 2.75%
2020 1.58% 3.42%
2019 1.49% 3.96%
2018 1.35% 1.84%
2017 0.82% 0.16%
2016 0.62% -1.19%
2015 0.34% -4.19%
2014 0.68% -6.43%
2013 1.23% -4.8%
2012 1.28% -0.52%
2011 1.81% 1.76%
2010 1.98% 2.3%
2009 2.54% 1.57%
2008 2.66% 3.6%
2007 1.47% 6.35%
2006 1.59% 4.37%
2005 2.42% 2.6%
2004 4.19% 2.5%
2003 4.22% 2.41%
2002 3.5% 2.45%
2001 2.89% 2.48%
2000 1.55% 2.53%
1999 1.48% 2.58%
1998 1.31% 2.61%
1997 1.11% 2.66%
1996 5.1% 2.75%
1995 5.82% 2.87%
1994 3.12% 2.99%
1993 3.18% 3.06%
1992 -6.29% 3.12%
1991 -5.57% 3.19%
1990 2.3% 3.29%
1989 2.52% 3.37%
1988 2.63% 3.45%
1987 2.36% 3.51%
1986 2.07% 3.55%
1985 2.04% 3.58%
1984 2.05% 3.57%
1983 2.4% 3.47%
1982 2.76% 3.37%
1981 2.75% 3.38%
1980 2.72% 3.41%
1979 2.69% 3.45%
1978 2.69% 3.49%
1977 2.68% 3.49%
1976 2.53% 3.48%
1975 2.36% 3.45%
1974 2.46% 3.43%
1973 2.55% 3.43%
1972 2.59% 3.45%
1971 2.63% 3.41%
1970 2.59% 3.33%
1969 2.56% 3.29%
1968 2.55% 3.26%
1967 2.43% 3.23%
1966 2.42% 3.2%
1965 2.52% 3.15%
1964 2.51% 3.1%
1963 2.48% 3.05%
1962 2.43% 2.99%
1961 2.37% 3.04%

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/syria | CC BY

In 2025, the population of Eritrea grew by 2.02%, while Syria's population grew by 3.84%.

Live population counters

Eritrea Syria
Current population
3722489
26956472
Population rank 131/197 56/197
Percent of world population 0.04% 0.32%
One net population change
7.38 minutes
33.4 seconds
One birth every
5.18 minutes
55.2 seconds
One death every
24.8 minutes
4.32 minutes
Daily growth/decline +196 +2,596
Annual growth/decline +71,400 +947,667
Annual growth/decline rate +2.02% +3.84%
Population growth rate rank 49/197 5/197
One migration net change every
1.31 hours
1.25 minutes
Annual migration change -6,698 +421,693
Net migration rank 122/196 3/196
Foreign-born residents 12,512 896,042
Foreign-born residents rank 176/195 64/195
Foreign-born share of population 0.4% 3.6%
Foreign-born share rank 178/195 110/195

Natural population change vs migration

Eritrea
Natural

Migration
Syria
Natural

Migration
1x
Year Population change
Eritrea Syria
Natural Migration Natural Migration
2025 - -6,698 - 421,693
2024 80,343 -12,696 449,784 546,494
2023 78,073 -15,284 402,713 757,309
2022 76,221 -17,134 369,750 735,142
2021 74,394 -14,966 350,560 211,220
2020 73,362 -14,967 327,992 269,050
2019 73,572 -29,818 293,762 500,985
2018 72,511 -21,403 242,530 514,102
2017 72,291 -38,579 237,214 -287,501
2016 73,002 -55,431 236,007 -124,063
2015 73,682 -52,965 253,977 -827,496
2014 75,729 -75,696 333,116 -1,457,679
2013 75,562 -33,974 419,341 -2,081,303
2012 76,416 -43,269 475,520 -999,267
2011 76,806 -32,949 543,950 -256,888
2010 76,098 -13,361 558,666 -54,359
2009 76,206 -24,348 559,314 -52,703
2008 73,391 17,855 576,593 -402,393
2007 73,101 -18,131 529,162 801,514
2006 74,470 -49,998 480,616 682,911
2005 72,930 -12,835 468,960 13,382
2004 72,147 -6,374 461,209 10,881
2003 66,291 76,703 457,000 -33,920
2002 65,436 -6,574 453,967 -35,096
2001 61,180 41,760 451,503 -36,383
2000 60,274 -33,133 446,211 -34,425
1999 45,120 -3,769 439,261 -31,394
1998 55,332 -31,951 433,447 -26,025
1997 63,953 -30,768 429,887 -31,571
1996 66,557 -52,421 430,765 -30,197
1995 56,157 136,105 430,172 -28,122
1994 56,288 -25,841 426,996 -12,630
1993 51,679 33,688 420,244 -8,828
1992 51,443 -22,293 412,878 -4,063
1991 57,741 -328,546 410,830 -10,154
1990 56,903 -12,425 409,177 -6,620
1989 54,299 -7,330 406,111 -8,379
1988 54,163 -3,612 404,285 -8,426
1987 52,229 -3,613 399,159 -8,335
1986 39,470 -1,073 390,821 -9,485
1985 37,362 -1,073 379,231 -6,221
1984 35,101 772 366,768 -5,245
1983 33,420 1,853 355,375 -9,729
1982 44,146 1,985 319,664 -721
1981 42,924 1,985 330,237 -24,536
1980 41,392 1,985 332,464 -33,114
1979 39,577 1,985 324,943 -32,793
1978 38,353 1,985 316,724 -30,567
1977 37,295 1,985 306,630 -28,275
1976 36,250 1,985 294,267 -26,268
1975 30,971 1,985 282,299 -24,389
1974 30,111 1,985 270,735 -24,242
1973 31,969 1,985 254,687 -17,502
1972 30,951 1,953 249,027 -17,610
1971 31,490 1,758 239,610 -15,167
1970 30,686 1,480 230,117 -19,594
1969 29,535 1,199 219,114 -18,749
1968 28,777 1,013 209,454 -16,968
1967 27,992 1,004 199,223 -14,618
1966 24,713 1,063 191,122 -13,434
1965 26,285 1,188 182,560 -12,704
1964 25,327 1,300 174,549 -12,044
1963 24,393 1,368 166,555 -11,817
1962 23,478 1,364 159,155 -11,641
1961 22,351 1,235 151,485 -11,237
1960 21,424 1,045 143,687 0

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

GeoRank.org/population/eritrea/syria | 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 Syria 58% is from natural causes (a gain of 3,164,289 people) and 42% is from migration (a gain of 2,295,242 people).

As of 2024, 12,512 residents or 0.4% of the population were not native-born in Eritrea, compared to 896,042 people or 3.6% in Syria.

Biggest cities by population

Eritrea
City Population
Asmara 963K
Keren 120K
Massawa 39.8K
Mendefera 28.5K
Syria
City Population
Damascus 2.69M
Aleppo 2M
Homs 775K
Latakia 709K
Hama 697K
Raqqa 300K
Deir ez-Zor 272K
Al-Hasakah 188K
Qamishli 184K
Idlib 165K

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/syria | 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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