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

Updated on by Georank team

The latest officially reported population of Eritrea was 3,535,603 in 2024 vs 24,672,760 people in Syria in 2024. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Eritrea's population is 3,700,586 people compared to 26,829,400 in Syria.

Population statistics:

  • Syria's population is 7.25 times bigger than Eritrea's.
  • Eritrea is ranked the 130th 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 +1.28% per year vs +1.25% in Syria.
  • Since 2006, the population of Eritrea has increased from 2.7M people to 3.7M (36.9% growth), while Syria has grown from 19.6M to 26.8M (36.6% growth).

Eritrea vs Syria: population by year and forecast

Eritrea
Factual

Projection
Syria
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
Eritrea Syria
2100 8,514,681 44,620,090
2099 8,489,924 44,690,260
2098 8,466,983 44,750,249
2097 8,444,468 44,813,148
2096 8,422,323 44,867,740
2095 8,396,086 44,895,489
2094 8,370,114 44,945,231
2093 8,344,405 44,974,311
2092 8,309,034 45,003,795
2091 8,278,860 45,016,478
2090 8,243,905 45,048,083
2089 8,209,883 45,047,102
2088 8,172,664 45,041,864
2087 8,136,016 45,049,516
2086 8,093,065 45,068,928
2085 8,046,814 45,034,847
2084 7,999,706 44,999,929
2083 7,956,385 44,971,600
2082 7,911,764 44,910,859
2081 7,871,753 44,843,908
2080 7,815,766 44,744,718
2079 7,765,677 44,687,371
2078 7,711,886 44,649,760
2077 7,656,307 44,604,175
2076 7,600,951 44,520,132
2075 7,538,912 44,426,423
2074 7,484,322 44,328,795
2073 7,420,571 44,221,016
2072 7,358,500 44,084,262
2071 7,296,109 43,939,848
2070 7,231,198 43,795,999
2069 7,164,883 43,648,130
2068 7,094,530 43,465,442
2067 7,026,000 43,271,173
2066 6,952,514 43,060,752
2065 6,884,323 42,810,442
2064 6,814,893 42,559,554
2063 6,733,263 42,311,907
2062 6,659,531 42,062,193
2061 6,580,923 41,808,082
2060 6,500,944 41,522,274
2059 6,422,305 41,208,825
2058 6,343,070 40,925,728
2057 6,265,450 40,643,453
2056 6,194,123 40,332,578
2055 6,114,099 40,026,632
2054 6,039,801 39,691,425
2053 5,957,339 39,348,020
2052 5,871,954 39,045,268
2051 5,791,096 38,733,827
2050 5,711,061 38,410,423
2049 5,632,165 38,089,455
2048 5,549,890 37,784,449
2047 5,468,518 37,492,636
2046 5,387,267 37,181,526
2045 5,300,511 36,843,579
2044 5,215,831 36,526,509
2043 5,131,686 36,188,225
2042 5,044,262 35,825,419
2041 4,960,422 35,447,414
2040 4,870,981 35,042,107
2039 4,782,316 34,626,945
2038 4,693,015 34,183,740
2037 4,599,752 33,703,682
2036 4,506,879 33,223,843
2035 4,420,367 32,696,648
2034 4,332,828 32,148,814
2033 4,248,272 31,562,427
2032 4,165,241 30,967,322
2031 4,083,762 30,329,874
2030 3,998,903 29,672,629
2029 3,917,775 28,949,535
2028 3,836,693 28,217,748
2027 3,756,696 27,428,807
2026 3,679,782 26,607,148
2025 3,603,902 25,689,551
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 (2025–2100, retrieved 2026-03-10); World Bank | Health (1960–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06).

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 575,888 people (a 18.4% growth), while Syria's population increased by 7,635,566 people (a 39.8% growth).

Eritrea was ranked 135th most populous country in 2006 and is 130th 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 54.3% to 5,711,061 people with a rank change from 130th to 123rd. The population of Syria will increase by 43.2% to 38,410,423 people and rank change from 56th to 53rd.

Eritrea is projected to reach its peak in 2100 at 8.51M people compared to the peak of 45.1M 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 1.93% 4.12%
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 (2025–2100, retrieved 2026-03-10); World Bank | Health (1961–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06).

GeoRank.org/population/eritrea/syria | CC BY

In 2024, the population of Eritrea grew by 1.88%, while Syria's population grew by 4.57%.

Live population counters

Eritrea Syria
Current population
3700586
26829400
Population rank 130/197 56/197
Percent of world population 0.04% 0.32%
One net population change
8.06 minutes
29.3 seconds
One birth every
5.31 minutes
1.01 minutes
One death every
25 minutes
4.42 minutes
Daily growth/decline +179 +2,954
Annual growth/decline +65,213 +1,078,137
Annual growth/decline rate +1.88% +4.57%
Population growth rate rank 58/197 6/197
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 - -12,696 - 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 2026-04-06).

GeoRank.org/population/eritrea/syria | 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 Syria 91.3% is from natural causes (a gain of 3,047,621 people) and 8.72% is from migration (a gain of 291,069 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 (1960–2024, 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/syria | 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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