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

Updated on by Georank team

The latest officially reported population of Eritrea was 3,535,603 in 2024 vs 21,314,956 people in Zambia in 2024. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Eritrea's population is 3,700,586 people compared to 22,697,916 in Zambia.

Population statistics:

  • Zambia's population is 6.13 times bigger than Eritrea's.
  • Eritrea is ranked the 130th most populous country in the world, while Zambia is the 62nd.
  • The countries together account for 0.32% of the world: 0.04% for Eritrea vs 0.27% for Zambia.
  • For the last 10 years, Eritrea has had an average growth rate of +1.28% per year vs +3% in Zambia.
  • Since 2006, the population of Eritrea has increased from 2.7M people to 3.7M (36.9% growth), while Zambia has grown from 12.1M to 22.7M (87.1% growth).

Eritrea vs Zambia: population by year and forecast

Eritrea
Factual

Projection
Zambia
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
Eritrea Zambia
2100 8,514,681 65,217,429
2099 8,489,924 64,871,545
2098 8,466,983 64,515,891
2097 8,444,468 64,148,736
2096 8,422,323 63,777,313
2095 8,396,086 63,393,169
2094 8,370,114 62,992,652
2093 8,344,405 62,590,327
2092 8,309,034 62,175,930
2091 8,278,860 61,750,591
2090 8,243,905 61,321,399
2089 8,209,883 60,880,148
2088 8,172,664 60,434,676
2087 8,136,016 59,970,107
2086 8,093,065 59,499,234
2085 8,046,814 59,023,040
2084 7,999,706 58,535,857
2083 7,956,385 58,040,512
2082 7,911,764 57,538,672
2081 7,871,753 57,027,491
2080 7,815,766 56,506,421
2079 7,765,677 55,983,242
2078 7,711,886 55,449,777
2077 7,656,307 54,906,771
2076 7,600,951 54,361,075
2075 7,538,912 53,806,856
2074 7,484,322 53,246,777
2073 7,420,571 52,677,348
2072 7,358,500 52,101,139
2071 7,296,109 51,519,691
2070 7,231,198 50,931,614
2069 7,164,883 50,334,700
2068 7,094,530 49,737,479
2067 7,026,000 49,135,488
2066 6,952,514 48,530,443
2065 6,884,323 47,918,592
2064 6,814,893 47,299,740
2063 6,733,263 46,677,439
2062 6,659,531 46,048,819
2061 6,580,923 45,416,657
2060 6,500,944 44,777,347
2059 6,422,305 44,137,306
2058 6,343,070 43,494,451
2057 6,265,450 42,851,923
2056 6,194,123 42,206,898
2055 6,114,099 41,558,284
2054 6,039,801 40,906,492
2053 5,957,339 40,255,629
2052 5,871,954 39,603,888
2051 5,791,096 38,949,958
2050 5,711,061 38,294,607
2049 5,632,165 37,634,194
2048 5,549,890 36,971,309
2047 5,468,518 36,309,749
2046 5,387,267 35,645,868
2045 5,300,511 34,981,812
2044 5,215,831 34,316,981
2043 5,131,686 33,652,420
2042 5,044,262 32,990,657
2041 4,960,422 32,329,447
2040 4,870,981 31,664,262
2039 4,782,316 31,001,305
2038 4,693,015 30,335,662
2037 4,599,752 29,668,561
2036 4,506,879 29,000,264
2035 4,420,367 28,333,498
2034 4,332,828 27,671,195
2033 4,248,272 27,011,974
2032 4,165,241 26,356,580
2031 4,083,762 25,702,812
2030 3,998,903 25,055,216
2029 3,917,775 24,414,405
2028 3,836,693 23,780,809
2027 3,756,696 23,151,479
2026 3,679,782 22,529,742
2025 3,603,902 21,918,187
2024 3,535,603 21,314,956
2023 3,470,390 20,723,965
2022 3,409,447 20,152,938
2021 3,350,183 19,603,607
2020 3,291,271 19,059,395
2019 3,240,194 18,513,839
2018 3,192,760 17,973,569
2017 3,150,347 17,441,320
2016 3,124,698 16,914,423
2015 3,105,546 16,399,089
2014 3,095,173 15,895,315
2013 3,074,360 15,398,997
2012 3,036,988 14,913,629
2011 2,998,485 14,437,796
2010 2,945,186 13,965,594
2009 2,887,885 13,490,389
2008 2,816,327 13,021,324
2007 2,743,222 12,565,085
2006 2,703,502 12,129,553
2005 2,661,215 11,718,819
2004 2,598,284 11,338,198
2003 2,493,903 10,983,595
2002 2,392,978 10,647,949
2001 2,312,079 10,325,185
2000 2,247,031 10,017,631
1999 2,212,780 9,740,005
1998 2,180,419 9,482,408
1997 2,152,135 9,237,063
1996 2,128,464 9,004,053
1995 2,025,267 8,785,763
1994 1,913,915 8,576,269
1993 1,856,006 8,373,921
1992 1,798,748 8,176,680
1991 1,919,571 7,981,650
1990 2,032,737 7,786,169
1989 1,987,017 7,589,216
1988 1,938,255 7,391,440
1987 1,888,669 7,191,282
1986 1,845,164 6,986,471
1985 1,807,816 6,780,953
1984 1,771,730 6,580,490
1983 1,736,160 6,381,038
1982 1,695,461 6,178,637
1981 1,649,939 5,983,289
1980 1,605,797 5,802,833
1979 1,563,332 5,631,728
1978 1,522,378 5,465,374
1977 1,482,565 5,302,480
1976 1,443,807 5,143,842
1975 1,408,210 4,990,086
1974 1,375,688 4,842,746
1973 1,342,669 4,702,693
1972 1,309,235 4,569,309
1971 1,276,154 4,442,525
1970 1,243,453 4,321,718
1969 1,212,005 4,197,116
1968 1,181,737 4,065,593
1967 1,152,339 3,936,343
1966 1,124,957 3,812,003
1965 1,098,335 3,692,086
1964 1,071,287 3,577,017
1963 1,045,092 3,465,907
1962 1,019,788 3,358,099
1961 995,573 3,254,086
1960 972,547 3,153,729

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/zambia | CC BY

From 2006 to 2016, the population of Eritrea increased by 421,196 people (a 15.6% growth), while Zambia gained 4,784,870 people (a 39.4% growth).

For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, Eritrea gained 575,888 people (a 18.4% growth), while Zambia's population increased by 5,783,493 people (a 34.2% growth).

Eritrea was ranked 135th most populous country in 2006 and is 130th in 2026. Zambia was ranked 71st in 2006 and ranked 62nd 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 Zambia will increase by 68.7% to 38,294,607 people and rank change from 62nd to 54th.

Eritrea is projected to reach its peak in 2100 at 8.51M people compared to the peak of 65.2M people in 2100 for Zambia.

Population growth rate by year

Eritrea
Factual

Projection
Zambia
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Growth rate
Eritrea Zambia
2100 0.29% 0.53%
2099 0.27% 0.55%
2098 0.27% 0.57%
2097 0.26% 0.58%
2096 0.31% 0.61%
2095 0.31% 0.64%
2094 0.31% 0.64%
2093 0.43% 0.67%
2092 0.36% 0.69%
2091 0.42% 0.7%
2090 0.41% 0.72%
2089 0.46% 0.74%
2088 0.45% 0.77%
2087 0.53% 0.79%
2086 0.57% 0.81%
2085 0.59% 0.83%
2084 0.54% 0.85%
2083 0.56% 0.87%
2082 0.51% 0.9%
2081 0.72% 0.92%
2080 0.65% 0.93%
2079 0.7% 0.96%
2078 0.73% 0.99%
2077 0.73% 1%
2076 0.82% 1.03%
2075 0.73% 1.05%
2074 0.86% 1.08%
2073 0.84% 1.11%
2072 0.86% 1.13%
2071 0.9% 1.15%
2070 0.93% 1.19%
2069 0.99% 1.2%
2068 0.98% 1.23%
2067 1.06% 1.25%
2066 0.99% 1.28%
2065 1.02% 1.31%
2064 1.21% 1.33%
2063 1.11% 1.37%
2062 1.19% 1.39%
2061 1.23% 1.43%
2060 1.22% 1.45%
2059 1.25% 1.48%
2058 1.24% 1.5%
2057 1.15% 1.53%
2056 1.31% 1.56%
2055 1.23% 1.59%
2054 1.38% 1.62%
2053 1.45% 1.65%
2052 1.4% 1.68%
2051 1.4% 1.71%
2050 1.4% 1.75%
2049 1.48% 1.79%
2048 1.49% 1.82%
2047 1.51% 1.86%
2046 1.64% 1.9%
2045 1.62% 1.94%
2044 1.64% 1.97%
2043 1.73% 2.01%
2042 1.69% 2.05%
2041 1.84% 2.1%
2040 1.85% 2.14%
2039 1.9% 2.19%
2038 2.03% 2.25%
2037 2.06% 2.3%
2036 1.96% 2.35%
2035 2.02% 2.39%
2034 1.99% 2.44%
2033 1.99% 2.49%
2032 2% 2.54%
2031 2.12% 2.58%
2030 2.07% 2.62%
2029 2.11% 2.66%
2028 2.13% 2.72%
2027 2.09% 2.76%
2026 2.11% 2.79%
2025 1.93% 2.83%
2024 1.88% 2.85%
2023 1.79% 2.83%
2022 1.77% 2.8%
2021 1.79% 2.86%
2020 1.58% 2.95%
2019 1.49% 3.01%
2018 1.35% 3.05%
2017 0.82% 3.12%
2016 0.62% 3.14%
2015 0.34% 3.17%
2014 0.68% 3.22%
2013 1.23% 3.25%
2012 1.28% 3.3%
2011 1.81% 3.38%
2010 1.98% 3.52%
2009 2.54% 3.6%
2008 2.66% 3.63%
2007 1.47% 3.59%
2006 1.59% 3.5%
2005 2.42% 3.36%
2004 4.19% 3.23%
2003 4.22% 3.15%
2002 3.5% 3.13%
2001 2.89% 3.07%
2000 1.55% 2.85%
1999 1.48% 2.72%
1998 1.31% 2.66%
1997 1.11% 2.59%
1996 5.1% 2.48%
1995 5.82% 2.44%
1994 3.12% 2.42%
1993 3.18% 2.41%
1992 -6.29% 2.44%
1991 -5.57% 2.51%
1990 2.3% 2.6%
1989 2.52% 2.68%
1988 2.63% 2.78%
1987 2.36% 2.93%
1986 2.07% 3.03%
1985 2.04% 3.05%
1984 2.05% 3.13%
1983 2.4% 3.28%
1982 2.76% 3.26%
1981 2.75% 3.11%
1980 2.72% 3.04%
1979 2.69% 3.04%
1978 2.69% 3.07%
1977 2.68% 3.08%
1976 2.53% 3.08%
1975 2.36% 3.04%
1974 2.46% 2.98%
1973 2.55% 2.92%
1972 2.59% 2.85%
1971 2.63% 2.8%
1970 2.59% 2.97%
1969 2.56% 3.24%
1968 2.55% 3.28%
1967 2.43% 3.26%
1966 2.42% 3.25%
1965 2.52% 3.22%
1964 2.51% 3.21%
1963 2.48% 3.21%
1962 2.43% 3.2%
1961 2.37% 3.18%

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/zambia | CC BY

In 2024, the population of Eritrea grew by 1.88%, while Zambia's population grew by 2.85%.

Live population counters

Eritrea Zambia
Current population
3700586
22697916
Population rank 130/197 62/197
Percent of world population 0.04% 0.27%
One net population change
8.06 minutes
53.4 seconds
One birth every
5.31 minutes
46 seconds
One death every
25 minutes
4.87 minutes
Daily growth/decline +179 +1,619
Annual growth/decline +65,213 +590,991
Annual growth/decline rate +1.88% +2.85%
Population growth rate rank 58/197 21/197
One migration net change every
1.31 hours
1.34 hours
Annual migration change -6,698 +6,562
Net migration rank 122/196 47/196
Foreign-born residents 12,512 249,205
Foreign-born residents rank 176/195 105/195
Foreign-born share of population 0.4% 1.2%
Foreign-born share rank 178/195 150/195

Natural population change vs migration

Eritrea
Natural

Migration
Zambia
Natural

Migration
1x
Year Population change
Eritrea Zambia
Natural Migration Natural Migration
2025 - -6,698 - 6,562
2024 - -12,696 - 7,381
2023 78,073 -15,284 577,660 9,521
2022 76,221 -17,134 563,456 -8,566
2021 74,394 -14,966 535,629 8,143
2020 73,362 -14,967 536,484 8,156
2019 73,572 -29,818 528,089 18,385
2018 72,511 -21,403 515,644 18,431
2017 72,291 -38,579 504,630 25,789
2016 73,002 -55,431 497,521 25,860
2015 73,682 -52,965 491,021 16,261
2014 75,729 -75,696 483,663 16,574
2013 75,562 -33,974 476,846 15,542
2012 76,416 -43,269 469,406 8,958
2011 76,806 -32,949 459,743 13,569
2010 76,098 -13,361 448,337 22,761
2009 76,206 -24,348 434,458 44,867
2008 73,391 17,855 419,560 39,249
2007 73,101 -18,131 403,729 49,945
2006 74,470 -49,998 387,891 29,517
2005 72,930 -12,835 368,756 35,316
2004 72,147 -6,374 349,352 7,819
2003 66,291 76,703 331,189 20,845
2002 65,436 -6,574 316,041 3,206
2001 61,180 41,760 302,682 23,582
2000 60,274 -33,133 293,186 -4,338
1999 45,120 -3,769 283,297 -16,888
1998 55,332 -31,951 275,568 -26,796
1997 63,953 -30,768 268,198 -26,276
1996 66,557 -52,421 262,468 -38,358
1995 56,157 136,105 257,897 -45,423
1994 56,288 -25,841 252,023 -45,504
1993 51,679 33,688 245,917 -47,739
1992 51,443 -22,293 239,953 -43,656
1991 57,741 -328,546 237,957 -44,203
1990 56,903 -12,425 235,835 -38,619
1989 54,299 -7,330 233,429 -36,736
1988 54,163 -3,612 230,118 -31,270
1987 52,229 -3,613 227,813 -26,338
1986 39,470 -1,073 224,768 -16,610
1985 37,362 -1,073 221,351 -18,474
1984 35,101 772 216,695 -18,652
1983 33,420 1,853 212,712 -11,849
1982 44,146 1,985 207,621 -3,676
1981 42,924 1,985 202,822 -16,072
1980 41,392 1,985 198,817 -24,664
1979 39,577 1,985 197,578 -29,515
1978 38,353 1,985 194,933 -30,284
1977 37,295 1,985 191,557 -30,423
1976 36,250 1,985 186,762 -30,612
1975 30,971 1,985 182,258 -30,886
1974 30,111 1,985 174,484 -31,178
1973 31,969 1,985 168,258 -31,472
1972 30,951 1,953 161,648 -31,672
1971 31,490 1,758 155,249 -31,651
1970 30,686 1,480 149,380 -31,370
1969 29,535 1,199 142,660 -11,469
1968 28,777 1,013 137,315 -5,447
1967 27,992 1,004 131,938 -5,298
1966 24,713 1,063 127,164 -5,129
1965 26,285 1,188 122,814 -5,023
1964 25,327 1,300 117,197 -4,851
1963 24,393 1,368 114,555 -4,676
1962 23,478 1,364 110,173 -4,428
1961 22,351 1,235 106,318 -4,043
1960 21,424 1,045 102,335 -3,898

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

GeoRank.org/population/eritrea/zambia | 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 Zambia 97.4% is from natural causes (a gain of 5,233,797 people) and 2.58% is from migration (a gain of 138,554 people).

As of 2024, 12,512 residents or 0.4% of the population were not native-born in Eritrea, compared to 249,205 people or 1.2% in Zambia.

Biggest cities by population

Eritrea
City Population
Asmara 963K
Keren 120K
Massawa 39.8K
Mendefera 28.5K
Zambia
City Population
Lusaka 2.47M
Kitwe 625K
Ndola 528K
Chingola 255K
Mufulira 182K
Livingstone 177K
Kasama 158K
Kapiri Mposhi 65.2K
Choma 51.8K
Mansa 45.4K

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/zambia | 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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