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

Updated on by Georank team

The latest officially reported population of Eritrea was 3,535,603 in 2024 vs 16,634,373 people in Zimbabwe in 2024. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Eritrea's population is 3,700,586 people compared to 17,361,868 in Zimbabwe.

Population statistics:

  • Zimbabwe's population is 4.69 times bigger than Eritrea's.
  • Eritrea is ranked the 130th 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 +1.28% per year vs +1.57% in Zimbabwe.
  • Since 2006, the population of Eritrea has increased from 2.7M people to 3.7M (36.9% growth), while Zimbabwe has grown from 12.6M to 17.4M (37.4% growth).

Eritrea vs Zimbabwe: population by year and forecast

Eritrea
Factual

Projection
Zimbabwe
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
Eritrea Zimbabwe
2100 8,514,681 37,483,053
2099 8,489,924 37,412,398
2098 8,466,983 37,328,255
2097 8,444,468 37,235,542
2096 8,422,323 37,142,915
2095 8,396,086 37,032,129
2094 8,370,114 36,912,747
2093 8,344,405 36,810,893
2092 8,309,034 36,688,511
2091 8,278,860 36,567,262
2090 8,243,905 36,425,606
2089 8,209,883 36,280,973
2088 8,172,664 36,141,446
2087 8,136,016 35,977,638
2086 8,093,065 35,808,135
2085 8,046,814 35,637,092
2084 7,999,706 35,456,207
2083 7,956,385 35,268,035
2082 7,911,764 35,078,904
2081 7,871,753 34,873,129
2080 7,815,766 34,658,962
2079 7,765,677 34,439,720
2078 7,711,886 34,217,295
2077 7,656,307 33,982,909
2076 7,600,951 33,739,228
2075 7,538,912 33,495,867
2074 7,484,322 33,244,838
2073 7,420,571 32,978,488
2072 7,358,500 32,706,059
2071 7,296,109 32,445,747
2070 7,231,198 32,181,119
2069 7,164,883 31,906,793
2068 7,094,530 31,631,000
2067 7,026,000 31,345,338
2066 6,952,514 31,062,884
2065 6,884,323 30,766,830
2064 6,814,893 30,479,939
2063 6,733,263 30,176,104
2062 6,659,531 29,867,679
2061 6,580,923 29,557,068
2060 6,500,944 29,252,423
2059 6,422,305 28,945,088
2058 6,343,070 28,631,679
2057 6,265,450 28,307,305
2056 6,194,123 27,990,713
2055 6,114,099 27,658,887
2054 6,039,801 27,331,920
2053 5,957,339 26,986,935
2052 5,871,954 26,643,553
2051 5,791,096 26,287,592
2050 5,711,061 25,934,893
2049 5,632,165 25,585,239
2048 5,549,890 25,228,082
2047 5,468,518 24,874,649
2046 5,387,267 24,513,443
2045 5,300,511 24,147,637
2044 5,215,831 23,783,088
2043 5,131,686 23,401,965
2042 5,044,262 23,035,288
2041 4,960,422 22,647,950
2040 4,870,981 22,273,520
2039 4,782,316 21,902,980
2038 4,693,015 21,530,130
2037 4,599,752 21,159,664
2036 4,506,879 20,791,034
2035 4,420,367 20,413,656
2034 4,332,828 20,048,019
2033 4,248,272 19,676,339
2032 4,165,241 19,311,985
2031 4,083,762 18,959,300
2030 3,998,903 18,613,738
2029 3,917,775 18,270,049
2028 3,836,693 17,933,466
2027 3,756,696 17,600,984
2026 3,679,782 17,273,208
2025 3,603,902 16,949,303
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 (2025–2100, retrieved 2026-03-10); World Bank | Health (1960–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06).

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 575,888 people (a 18.4% growth), while Zimbabwe's population increased by 2,761,574 people (a 18.9% growth).

Eritrea was ranked 135th most populous country in 2006 and is 130th 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 54.3% to 5,711,061 people with a rank change from 130th to 123rd. The population of Zimbabwe will increase by 49.4% to 25,934,893 people and rank change from 74th to 65th.

Eritrea is projected to reach its peak in 2100 at 8.51M 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 1.93% 1.89%
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 (2025–2100, retrieved 2026-03-10); World Bank | Health (1961–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06).

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

In 2024, the population of Eritrea grew by 1.88%, while Zimbabwe's population grew by 1.8%.

Live population counters

Eritrea Zimbabwe
Current population
3700586
17361868
Population rank 130/197 74/197
Percent of world population 0.04% 0.21%
One net population change
8.06 minutes
1.79 minutes
One birth every
5.31 minutes
1.06 minutes
One death every
25 minutes
4.22 minutes
Daily growth/decline +179 +804
Annual growth/decline +65,213 +293,551
Annual growth/decline rate +1.88% +1.8%
Population growth rate rank 58/197 60/197
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 - -12,696 - -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 2026-04-06).

GeoRank.org/population/eritrea/zimbabwe | 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 Zimbabwe 74.9% is from natural causes (a gain of 3,558,487 people) and 25.1% is from migration (a loss of 1,192,807 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 (1960–2024, 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/zimbabwe | 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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