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Population in Eritrea compared to the Vatican: Trends, Charts, Rankings

Updated on by Georank team

The latest officially reported population of Eritrea was 3,535,603 in 2024 vs 1,000 people in the Vatican in 2019. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Eritrea's population is 3,700,586 people compared to 936 in the Vatican.

Population statistics:

  • Eritrea's population is 3,954 times bigger than the Vatican's.
  • Eritrea is ranked the 130th most populous country in the world, while the Vatican is the 197th.
  • The countries together account for 0.04% of the world: 0.04% for Eritrea vs 0.00001% for the Vatican.
  • For the last 10 years, Eritrea has had an average growth rate of +1.28% per year vs +1.9% in the Vatican.
  • Since 2006, the population of Eritrea has increased from 2.7M people to 3.7M (36.9% growth), while the Vatican has grown from 932 to 936 (0.43% growth).

Eritrea vs Vatican: population by year and forecast

Eritrea
Factual

Projection
Vatican
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
Eritrea Vatican
2100 8,514,681 2,521
2099 8,489,924 2,506
2098 8,466,983 2,497
2097 8,444,468 2,482
2096 8,422,323 2,469
2095 8,396,086 2,452
2094 8,370,114 2,435
2093 8,344,405 2,421
2092 8,309,034 2,400
2091 8,278,860 2,384
2090 8,243,905 2,359
2089 8,209,883 2,337
2088 8,172,664 2,319
2087 8,136,016 2,291
2086 8,093,065 2,269
2085 8,046,814 2,248
2084 7,999,706 2,217
2083 7,956,385 2,183
2082 7,911,764 2,159
2081 7,871,753 2,129
2080 7,815,766 2,105
2079 7,765,677 2,089
2078 7,711,886 2,068
2077 7,656,307 2,050
2076 7,600,951 2,025
2075 7,538,912 2,001
2074 7,484,322 1,970
2073 7,420,571 1,944
2072 7,358,500 1,912
2071 7,296,109 1,866
2070 7,231,198 1,829
2069 7,164,883 1,795
2068 7,094,530 1,777
2067 7,026,000 1,755
2066 6,952,514 1,729
2065 6,884,323 1,701
2064 6,814,893 1,679
2063 6,733,263 1,651
2062 6,659,531 1,623
2061 6,580,923 1,595
2060 6,500,944 1,556
2059 6,422,305 1,530
2058 6,343,070 1,512
2057 6,265,450 1,493
2056 6,194,123 1,469
2055 6,114,099 1,441
2054 6,039,801 1,419
2053 5,957,339 1,382
2052 5,871,954 1,358
2051 5,791,096 1,335
2050 5,711,061 1,311
2049 5,632,165 1,283
2048 5,549,890 1,256
2047 5,468,518 1,237
2046 5,387,267 1,215
2045 5,300,511 1,192
2044 5,215,831 1,174
2043 5,131,686 1,152
2042 5,044,262 1,135
2041 4,960,422 1,105
2040 4,870,981 1,070
2039 4,782,316 1,033
2038 4,693,015 1,001
2037 4,599,752 996
2036 4,506,879 1,001
2035 4,420,367 988
2034 4,332,828 988
2033 4,248,272 974
2032 4,165,241 964
2031 4,083,762 977
2030 3,998,903 979
2029 3,917,775 985
2028 3,836,693 983
2027 3,756,696 946
2026 3,679,782 933
2025 3,603,902 927
2024 3,535,603 910
2023 3,470,390 927
2022 3,409,447 951
2021 3,350,183 972
2020 3,291,271 987
2019 3,240,194 1,000
2018 3,192,760 -
2017 3,150,347 1,000
2016 3,124,698 -
2015 3,105,546 1,000
2014 3,095,173 842
2013 3,074,360 839
2012 3,036,988 836
2011 2,998,485 832
2010 2,945,186 829
2009 2,887,885 826
2008 2,816,327 824
2007 2,743,222 821
2006 2,703,502 932
2005 2,661,215 921
2004 2,598,284 921
2003 2,493,903 911
2002 2,392,978 900
2001 2,312,079 890
2000 2,247,031 880
1999 2,212,780 -
1998 2,180,419 -
1997 2,152,135 -
1996 2,128,464 -
1995 2,025,267 -
1994 1,913,915 -
1993 1,856,006 -
1992 1,798,748 -
1991 1,919,571 -
1990 2,032,737 -
1989 1,987,017 -
1988 1,938,255 -
1987 1,888,669 -
1986 1,845,164 -
1985 1,807,816 -
1984 1,771,730 -
1983 1,736,160 -
1982 1,695,461 -
1981 1,649,939 -
1980 1,605,797 -
1979 1,563,332 -
1978 1,522,378 -
1977 1,482,565 -
1976 1,443,807 -
1975 1,408,210 -
1974 1,375,688 -
1973 1,342,669 -
1972 1,309,235 -
1971 1,276,154 -
1970 1,243,453 -
1969 1,212,005 -
1968 1,181,737 -
1967 1,152,339 -
1966 1,124,957 -
1965 1,098,335 -
1964 1,071,287 -
1963 1,045,092 -
1962 1,019,788 -
1961 995,573 -
1960 972,547 -

Data sources: United Nations | World Population Prospects (2020–2100, retrieved 2026-03-10); World Bank | Health (1960–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06); Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) (2000–2019, retrieved 2026-02-20).

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

From 2006 to 2016, the population of Eritrea increased by 421,196 people (a 15.6% growth), while the Vatican gained 68 people (a 7.3% growth).

For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, Eritrea gained 575,888 people (a 18.4% growth), while the Vatican's population decreased by 64 people (a 6.4% decline).

Eritrea was ranked 135th most populous country in 2006 and is 130th in 2026. The Vatican was ranked 197th in 2006 and still ranked 197th 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 the Vatican will increase by 40.1% to 1,311 people and will still be ranked 197th.

Eritrea is projected to reach its peak in 2100 at 8.51M people compared to the peak of 2.52K people in 2100 for the Vatican.

Population growth rate by year

Eritrea
Factual

Projection
Vatican
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Growth rate
Eritrea Vatican
2100 0.29% 0.59%
2099 0.27% 0.37%
2098 0.27% 0.6%
2097 0.26% 0.53%
2096 0.31% 0.68%
2095 0.31% 0.69%
2094 0.31% 0.61%
2093 0.43% 0.85%
2092 0.36% 0.7%
2091 0.42% 1.02%
2090 0.41% 0.95%
2089 0.46% 0.8%
2088 0.45% 1.21%
2087 0.53% 0.98%
2086 0.57% 0.91%
2085 0.59% 1.42%
2084 0.54% 1.53%
2083 0.56% 1.12%
2082 0.51% 1.39%
2081 0.72% 1.15%
2080 0.65% 0.8%
2079 0.7% 0.99%
2078 0.73% 0.9%
2077 0.73% 1.19%
2076 0.82% 1.2%
2075 0.73% 1.6%
2074 0.86% 1.34%
2073 0.84% 1.65%
2072 0.86% 2.49%
2071 0.9% 2.03%
2070 0.93% 1.86%
2069 0.99% 1.04%
2068 0.98% 1.27%
2067 1.06% 1.5%
2066 0.99% 1.64%
2065 1.02% 1.33%
2064 1.21% 1.69%
2063 1.11% 1.71%
2062 1.19% 1.74%
2061 1.23% 2.5%
2060 1.22% 1.7%
2059 1.25% 1.23%
2058 1.24% 1.24%
2057 1.15% 1.64%
2056 1.31% 1.93%
2055 1.23% 1.57%
2054 1.38% 2.68%
2053 1.45% 1.78%
2052 1.4% 1.67%
2051 1.4% 1.84%
2050 1.4% 2.17%
2049 1.48% 2.22%
2048 1.49% 1.5%
2047 1.51% 1.83%
2046 1.64% 1.87%
2045 1.62% 1.58%
2044 1.64% 1.93%
2043 1.73% 1.47%
2042 1.69% 2.68%
2041 1.84% 3.29%
2040 1.85% 3.59%
2039 1.9% 3.15%
2038 2.03% 0.56%
2037 2.06% -0.56%
2036 1.96% 1.31%
2035 2.02% 0%
2034 1.99% 1.52%
2033 1.99% 0.96%
2032 2% -1.33%
2031 2.12% -0.19%
2030 2.07% -0.56%
2029 2.11% 0.19%
2028 2.13% 3.92%
2027 2.09% 1.39%
2026 2.11% 0.6%
2025 1.93% 1.83%
2024 1.88% -1.8%
2023 1.79% -2.53%
2022 1.77% -2.1%
2021 1.79% -1.5%
2020 1.58% -1.3%
2019 1.49% 0%
2018 1.35% 0%
2017 0.82% 0%
2016 0.62% 0%
2015 0.34% 18.8%
2014 0.68% 0.36%
2013 1.23% 0.36%
2012 1.28% 0.48%
2011 1.81% 0.36%
2010 1.98% 0.36%
2009 2.54% 0.24%
2008 2.66% 0.37%
2007 1.47% -11.9%
2006 1.59% 1.19%
2005 2.42% 0%
2004 4.19% 1.1%
2003 4.22% 1.22%
2002 3.5% 1.12%
2001 2.89% 1.14%
2000 1.55% -
1999 1.48% -
1998 1.31% -
1997 1.11% -
1996 5.1% -
1995 5.82% -
1994 3.12% -
1993 3.18% -
1992 -6.29% -
1991 -5.57% -
1990 2.3% -
1989 2.52% -
1988 2.63% -
1987 2.36% -
1986 2.07% -
1985 2.04% -
1984 2.05% -
1983 2.4% -
1982 2.76% -
1981 2.75% -
1980 2.72% -
1979 2.69% -
1978 2.69% -
1977 2.68% -
1976 2.53% -
1975 2.36% -
1974 2.46% -
1973 2.55% -
1972 2.59% -
1971 2.63% -
1970 2.59% -
1969 2.56% -
1968 2.55% -
1967 2.43% -
1966 2.42% -
1965 2.52% -
1964 2.51% -
1963 2.48% -
1962 2.43% -
1961 2.37% -

Data sources: United Nations | World Population Prospects (2020–2100, retrieved 2026-03-10); World Bank | Health (1961–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06); Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) (2001–2019, retrieved 2026-02-20).

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

In 2024, the population of Eritrea grew by 1.88%, while the Vatican's population declined by 0%.

Live population counters

Eritrea Vatican
Current population
3700586
936
Population rank 130/197 197/197
Percent of world population 0.04% 0.00001%
One net population change
8.06 minutes
1 month
One birth every
5.31 minutes
n/a
One death every
25 minutes
n/a
Daily growth/decline +179 +0
Annual growth/decline +65,213 +0
Annual growth/decline rate +1.88% +0%
Population growth rate rank 58/197 163/197
One migration net change every
1.31 hours
n/a
Annual migration change -6,698 n/a
Net migration rank 122/196
Foreign-born residents 12,512 n/a
Foreign-born residents rank 176/195
Foreign-born share of population 0.4% n/a
Foreign-born share rank 178/195

Natural population change vs migration

Eritrea
Natural

Migration
Vatican
Natural

Migration
1x
Year Population change
Eritrea Vatican
Natural Migration Natural Migration
2025 - -6,698 - -
2024 - -12,696 - -
2023 78,073 -15,284 - -
2022 76,221 -17,134 - -
2021 74,394 -14,966 - -
2020 73,362 -14,967 - -
2019 73,572 -29,818 - -
2018 72,511 -21,403 - -
2017 72,291 -38,579 - -
2016 73,002 -55,431 - -
2015 73,682 -52,965 - -
2014 75,729 -75,696 - -
2013 75,562 -33,974 - -
2012 76,416 -43,269 - -
2011 76,806 -32,949 - -
2010 76,098 -13,361 - -
2009 76,206 -24,348 - -
2008 73,391 17,855 - -
2007 73,101 -18,131 - -
2006 74,470 -49,998 - -
2005 72,930 -12,835 - -
2004 72,147 -6,374 - -
2003 66,291 76,703 - -
2002 65,436 -6,574 - -
2001 61,180 41,760 - -
2000 60,274 -33,133 - -
1999 45,120 -3,769 - -
1998 55,332 -31,951 - -
1997 63,953 -30,768 - -
1996 66,557 -52,421 - -
1995 56,157 136,105 - -
1994 56,288 -25,841 - -
1993 51,679 33,688 - -
1992 51,443 -22,293 - -
1991 57,741 -328,546 - -
1990 56,903 -12,425 - -
1989 54,299 -7,330 - -
1988 54,163 -3,612 - -
1987 52,229 -3,613 - -
1986 39,470 -1,073 - -
1985 37,362 -1,073 - -
1984 35,101 772 - -
1983 33,420 1,853 - -
1982 44,146 1,985 - -
1981 42,924 1,985 - -
1980 41,392 1,985 - -
1979 39,577 1,985 - -
1978 38,353 1,985 - -
1977 37,295 1,985 - -
1976 36,250 1,985 - -
1975 30,971 1,985 - -
1974 30,111 1,985 - -
1973 31,969 1,985 - -
1972 30,951 1,953 - -
1971 31,490 1,758 - -
1970 30,686 1,480 - -
1969 29,535 1,199 - -
1968 28,777 1,013 - -
1967 27,992 1,004 - -
1966 24,713 1,063 - -
1965 26,285 1,188 - -
1964 25,327 1,300 - -
1963 24,393 1,368 - -
1962 23,478 1,364 - -
1961 22,351 1,235 - -
1960 21,424 1,045 - -

Data sources: World Bank | Health (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-04-06).

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

Biggest cities by population

Eritrea
City Population
Asmara 963K
Keren 120K
Massawa 39.8K
Mendefera 28.5K
Vatican
City Population
Vatican City 882

Compare countries by 7 more topics

Population differences between Eritrea and the Vatican

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/vatican | 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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