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

Updated on by Georank

The latest officially reported population of Eritrea was 3,607,003 in 2025 vs 16,950,795 people in Zimbabwe in 2025. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Eritrea's population is 3,722,489 people compared to 17,443,108 in Zimbabwe.

Population statistics:

  • Zimbabwe's population is 4.69 times bigger than Eritrea's.
  • Eritrea is ranked the 131st most populous country in the world, while Zimbabwe is the 74th.
  • The countries together account for 0.25% of the world: 0.04% for Eritrea vs 0.21% for Zimbabwe.
  • For the last 10 years, Eritrea has had an average growth rate of +1.4% per year vs +1.62% in Zimbabwe.
  • Since 2006, the population of Eritrea has increased from 2.7M people to 3.72M (37.7% growth), while Zimbabwe has grown from 12.6M to 17.4M (38% growth).

Eritrea vs Zimbabwe: population by year and forecast

Eritrea
Factual

Projection
Zimbabwe
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
Eritrea Zimbabwe
2100 8,522,007 37,486,352
2099 8,497,228 37,415,690
2098 8,474,268 37,331,540
2097 8,451,733 37,238,819
2096 8,429,569 37,146,184
2095 8,403,309 37,035,388
2094 8,377,316 36,915,996
2093 8,351,585 36,814,133
2092 8,316,183 36,691,740
2091 8,285,983 36,570,481
2090 8,250,998 36,428,812
2089 8,216,946 36,284,166
2088 8,179,696 36,144,627
2087 8,143,016 35,980,805
2086 8,100,028 35,811,286
2085 8,053,737 35,640,228
2084 8,006,588 35,459,328
2083 7,963,231 35,271,139
2082 7,918,571 35,081,992
2081 7,878,525 34,876,198
2080 7,822,491 34,662,013
2079 7,772,358 34,442,751
2078 7,718,520 34,220,306
2077 7,662,894 33,985,899
2076 7,607,491 33,742,198
2075 7,545,398 33,498,815
2074 7,490,761 33,247,764
2073 7,426,955 32,981,390
2072 7,364,831 32,708,937
2071 7,302,386 32,448,602
2070 7,237,419 32,183,952
2069 7,171,047 31,909,601
2068 7,100,633 31,633,783
2067 7,032,045 31,348,096
2066 6,958,496 31,065,618
2065 6,890,246 30,769,538
2064 6,820,756 30,482,622
2063 6,739,056 30,178,760
2062 6,665,261 29,870,308
2061 6,586,585 29,559,670
2060 6,506,537 29,254,998
2059 6,427,830 28,947,636
2058 6,348,527 28,634,199
2057 6,270,841 28,309,796
2056 6,199,452 27,993,176
2055 6,119,360 27,661,321
2054 6,044,997 27,334,325
2053 5,962,464 26,989,310
2052 5,877,006 26,645,898
2051 5,796,079 26,289,905
2050 5,715,974 25,937,176
2049 5,637,011 25,587,491
2048 5,554,665 25,230,302
2047 5,473,222 24,876,838
2046 5,391,902 24,515,600
2045 5,305,072 24,149,762
2044 5,220,319 23,785,181
2043 5,136,101 23,404,024
2042 5,048,602 23,037,316
2041 4,964,690 22,649,943
2040 4,875,172 22,275,480
2039 4,786,431 21,904,908
2038 4,697,052 21,532,024
2037 4,603,709 21,161,527
2036 4,510,757 20,792,863
2035 4,424,170 20,415,452
2034 4,336,556 20,049,783
2033 4,251,927 19,678,070
2032 4,168,824 19,313,685
2031 4,087,276 18,960,968
2030 4,002,343 18,615,376
2029 3,921,145 18,271,657
2028 3,839,994 17,935,044
2027 3,759,928 17,602,533
2026 3,682,948 17,274,728
2025 3,607,003 16,950,795
2024 3,535,603 16,634,373
2023 3,470,390 16,340,822
2022 3,409,447 16,069,056
2021 3,350,183 15,797,210
2020 3,291,271 15,526,888
2019 3,240,194 15,271,368
2018 3,192,760 15,034,452
2017 3,150,347 14,812,482
2016 3,124,698 14,600,294
2015 3,105,546 14,399,013
2014 3,095,173 14,207,359
2013 3,074,360 14,013,808
2012 3,036,988 13,817,887
2011 2,998,485 13,595,424
2010 2,945,186 13,356,548
2009 2,887,885 13,142,790
2008 2,816,327 12,959,149
2007 2,743,222 12,804,058
2006 2,703,502 12,636,445
2005 2,661,215 12,483,432
2004 2,598,284 12,365,896
2003 2,493,903 12,232,323
2002 2,392,978 12,087,653
2001 2,312,079 11,971,901
2000 2,247,031 11,892,055
1999 2,212,780 11,783,458
1998 2,180,419 11,594,297
1997 2,152,135 11,369,827
1996 2,128,464 11,158,360
1995 2,025,267 10,974,599
1994 1,913,915 10,873,148
1993 1,856,006 10,860,288
1992 1,798,748 10,702,700
1991 1,919,571 10,404,816
1990 2,032,737 10,137,281
1989 1,987,017 9,864,798
1988 1,938,255 9,583,094
1987 1,888,669 9,284,644
1986 1,845,164 8,982,578
1985 1,807,816 8,686,813
1984 1,771,730 8,391,488
1983 1,736,160 8,098,404
1982 1,695,461 7,796,496
1981 1,649,939 7,498,635
1980 1,605,797 7,041,303
1979 1,563,332 6,647,556
1978 1,522,378 6,543,575
1977 1,482,565 6,449,512
1976 1,443,807 6,287,105
1975 1,408,210 6,098,658
1974 1,375,688 5,908,328
1973 1,342,669 5,720,404
1972 1,309,235 5,542,445
1971 1,276,154 5,374,712
1970 1,243,453 5,215,918
1969 1,212,005 5,058,181
1968 1,181,737 4,900,440
1967 1,152,339 4,748,307
1966 1,124,957 4,601,217
1965 1,098,335 4,458,462
1964 1,071,287 4,320,006
1963 1,045,092 4,185,877
1962 1,019,788 4,055,959
1961 995,573 3,930,401
1960 972,547 3,809,389

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/zimbabwe | CC BY

From 2006 to 2016, the population of Eritrea increased by 421,196 people (a 15.6% growth), while Zimbabwe gained 1,963,849 people (a 15.5% growth).

For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, Eritrea gained 597,791 people (a 19.1% growth), while Zimbabwe's population increased by 2,842,814 people (a 19.5% growth).

Eritrea was ranked 135th most populous country in 2006 and is 131st in 2026. Zimbabwe was ranked 70th in 2006 and ranked 74th 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 Zimbabwe will increase by 48.7% to 25,937,176 people and rank change from 74th to 65th.

Eritrea is projected to reach its peak in 2100 at 8.52M people compared to the peak of 37.5M people in 2100 for Zimbabwe.

Population growth rate by year

Eritrea
Factual

Projection
Zimbabwe
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Growth rate
Eritrea Zimbabwe
2100 0.29% 0.19%
2099 0.27% 0.23%
2098 0.27% 0.25%
2097 0.26% 0.25%
2096 0.31% 0.3%
2095 0.31% 0.32%
2094 0.31% 0.28%
2093 0.43% 0.33%
2092 0.36% 0.33%
2091 0.42% 0.39%
2090 0.41% 0.4%
2089 0.46% 0.39%
2088 0.45% 0.46%
2087 0.53% 0.47%
2086 0.57% 0.48%
2085 0.59% 0.51%
2084 0.54% 0.53%
2083 0.56% 0.54%
2082 0.51% 0.59%
2081 0.72% 0.62%
2080 0.65% 0.64%
2079 0.7% 0.65%
2078 0.73% 0.69%
2077 0.73% 0.72%
2076 0.82% 0.73%
2075 0.73% 0.76%
2074 0.86% 0.81%
2073 0.84% 0.83%
2072 0.86% 0.8%
2071 0.9% 0.82%
2070 0.93% 0.86%
2069 0.99% 0.87%
2068 0.98% 0.91%
2067 1.06% 0.91%
2066 0.99% 0.96%
2065 1.02% 0.94%
2064 1.21% 1.01%
2063 1.11% 1.03%
2062 1.19% 1.05%
2061 1.23% 1.04%
2060 1.22% 1.06%
2059 1.25% 1.09%
2058 1.24% 1.15%
2057 1.15% 1.13%
2056 1.31% 1.2%
2055 1.23% 1.2%
2054 1.38% 1.28%
2053 1.45% 1.29%
2052 1.4% 1.35%
2051 1.4% 1.36%
2050 1.4% 1.37%
2049 1.48% 1.42%
2048 1.49% 1.42%
2047 1.51% 1.47%
2046 1.64% 1.51%
2045 1.62% 1.53%
2044 1.64% 1.63%
2043 1.73% 1.59%
2042 1.69% 1.71%
2041 1.84% 1.68%
2040 1.85% 1.69%
2039 1.9% 1.73%
2038 2.03% 1.75%
2037 2.06% 1.77%
2036 1.96% 1.85%
2035 2.02% 1.82%
2034 1.99% 1.89%
2033 1.99% 1.89%
2032 2% 1.86%
2031 2.12% 1.86%
2030 2.07% 1.88%
2029 2.11% 1.88%
2028 2.13% 1.89%
2027 2.09% 1.9%
2026 2.11% 1.91%
2025 2.02% 1.9%
2024 1.88% 1.8%
2023 1.79% 1.69%
2022 1.77% 1.72%
2021 1.79% 1.74%
2020 1.58% 1.67%
2019 1.49% 1.58%
2018 1.35% 1.5%
2017 0.82% 1.45%
2016 0.62% 1.4%
2015 0.34% 1.35%
2014 0.68% 1.38%
2013 1.23% 1.42%
2012 1.28% 1.64%
2011 1.81% 1.79%
2010 1.98% 1.63%
2009 2.54% 1.42%
2008 2.66% 1.21%
2007 1.47% 1.33%
2006 1.59% 1.23%
2005 2.42% 0.95%
2004 4.19% 1.09%
2003 4.22% 1.2%
2002 3.5% 0.97%
2001 2.89% 0.67%
2000 1.55% 0.92%
1999 1.48% 1.63%
1998 1.31% 1.97%
1997 1.11% 1.9%
1996 5.1% 1.67%
1995 5.82% 0.93%
1994 3.12% 0.12%
1993 3.18% 1.47%
1992 -6.29% 2.86%
1991 -5.57% 2.64%
1990 2.3% 2.76%
1989 2.52% 2.94%
1988 2.63% 3.21%
1987 2.36% 3.36%
1986 2.07% 3.4%
1985 2.04% 3.52%
1984 2.05% 3.62%
1983 2.4% 3.87%
1982 2.76% 3.97%
1981 2.75% 6.49%
1980 2.72% 5.92%
1979 2.69% 1.59%
1978 2.69% 1.46%
1977 2.68% 2.58%
1976 2.53% 3.09%
1975 2.36% 3.22%
1974 2.46% 3.29%
1973 2.55% 3.21%
1972 2.59% 3.12%
1971 2.63% 3.04%
1970 2.59% 3.12%
1969 2.56% 3.22%
1968 2.55% 3.2%
1967 2.43% 3.2%
1966 2.42% 3.2%
1965 2.52% 3.2%
1964 2.51% 3.2%
1963 2.48% 3.2%
1962 2.43% 3.19%
1961 2.37% 3.18%

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/zimbabwe | CC BY

In 2025, the population of Eritrea grew by 2.02%, while Zimbabwe's population grew by 1.9%.

Live population counters

Eritrea Zimbabwe
Current population
3722489
17443108
Population rank 131/197 74/197
Percent of world population 0.04% 0.21%
One net population change
7.38 minutes
1.67 minutes
One birth every
5.18 minutes
1.06 minutes
One death every
24.8 minutes
4.21 minutes
Daily growth/decline +196 +867
Annual growth/decline +71,400 +316,422
Annual growth/decline rate +2.02% +1.9%
Population growth rate rank 49/197 53/197
One migration net change every
1.31 hours
9.66 minutes
Annual migration change -6,698 -54,555
Net migration rank 122/196 175/196
Foreign-born residents 12,512 429,108
Foreign-born residents rank 176/195 87/195
Foreign-born share of population 0.4% 2.6%
Foreign-born share rank 178/195 127/195

Natural population change vs migration

Eritrea
Natural

Migration
Zimbabwe
Natural

Migration
1x
Year Population change
Eritrea Zimbabwe
Natural Migration Natural Migration
2025 - -6,698 - -54,555
2024 80,343 -12,696 372,494 -60,528
2023 78,073 -15,284 372,505 -97,380
2022 76,221 -17,134 371,243 -102,828
2021 74,394 -14,966 349,908 -74,623
2020 73,362 -14,967 354,790 -89,440
2019 73,572 -29,818 348,798 -103,107
2018 72,511 -21,403 345,883 -117,758
2017 72,291 -38,579 344,035 -128,241
2016 73,002 -55,431 348,772 -140,181
2015 73,682 -52,965 356,203 -162,220
2014 75,729 -75,696 366,350 -177,029
2013 75,562 -33,974 374,757 -176,972
2012 76,416 -43,269 371,135 -177,061
2011 76,806 -32,949 359,572 -108,714
2010 76,098 -13,361 335,570 -108,671
2009 76,206 -24,348 309,316 -108,689
2008 73,391 17,855 280,527 -113,858
2007 73,101 -18,131 261,805 -118,299
2006 74,470 -49,998 248,963 -57,257
2005 72,930 -12,835 248,545 -134,212
2004 72,147 -6,374 248,307 -127,550
2003 66,291 76,703 243,057 -96,667
2002 65,436 -6,574 244,170 -101,212
2001 61,180 41,760 227,909 -139,361
2000 60,274 -33,133 236,343 -165,181
1999 45,120 -3,769 232,393 -86,343
1998 55,332 -31,951 225,614 6,645
1997 63,953 -30,768 216,288 395
1996 66,557 -52,421 205,269 978
1995 56,157 136,105 206,695 -45,428
1994 56,288 -25,841 216,343 -174,723
1993 51,679 33,688 228,045 -243,947
1992 51,443 -22,293 255,291 75,788
1991 57,741 -328,546 260,943 3,749
1990 56,903 -12,425 265,444 4,948
1989 54,299 -7,330 270,838 3,736
1988 54,163 -3,612 277,498 11,327
1987 52,229 -3,613 286,766 21,308
1986 39,470 -1,073 289,894 6,154
1985 37,362 -1,073 290,756 4,718
1984 35,101 772 290,052 5,124
1983 33,420 1,853 286,545 4,456
1982 44,146 1,985 279,934 32,899
1981 42,924 1,985 271,361 11,523
1980 41,392 1,985 241,179 390,593
1979 39,577 1,985 223,657 -67,937
1978 38,353 1,985 222,979 -170,727
1977 37,295 1,985 225,139 -89,270
1976 36,250 1,985 221,419 -32,495
1975 30,971 1,985 216,947 -28,988
1974 30,111 1,985 208,806 -16,105
1973 31,969 1,985 201,885 -18,733
1972 30,951 1,953 193,725 -20,959
1971 31,490 1,758 185,427 -22,719
1970 30,686 1,480 178,979 -24,102
1969 29,535 1,199 172,626 -12,028
1968 28,777 1,013 166,865 -11,997
1967 27,992 1,004 161,205 -11,814
1966 24,713 1,063 156,014 -11,211
1965 26,285 1,188 151,164 -10,465
1964 25,327 1,300 145,848 -9,631
1963 24,393 1,368 140,984 -8,936
1962 23,478 1,364 136,317 -8,529
1961 22,351 1,235 131,531 -8,204
1960 21,424 1,045 126,959 -8,260

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

GeoRank.org/population/eritrea/zimbabwe | 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 Zimbabwe 76.8% is from natural causes (a gain of 3,564,631 people) and 23.2% is from migration (a loss of 1,076,306 people).

As of 2024, 12,512 residents or 0.4% of the population were not native-born in Eritrea, compared to 429,108 people or 2.6% in Zimbabwe.

Biggest cities by population

Eritrea
City Population
Asmara 963K
Keren 120K
Massawa 39.8K
Mendefera 28.5K
Zimbabwe
City Population
Harare 2.15M
Masvingo 1.64M
Bulawayo 666K
Chitungwiza 371K
Mutare 225K
Gweru 141K
Kadoma 116K
Kwekwe 93.1K
Chinhoyi 56.8K
Marondera 52.3K

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/zimbabwe | 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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