Population in Eritrea
Eritrea: Population was 3.47 million people in 2023. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2023)
3.47 million people
Change on year
up 1.8%
World rank
133rd
of 239 countries
All-time high
3.47 million people
in 2023
All-time low
58,000 people
in 1000
Years of data
241
1000–2023
Population in Eritrea, 1000–2023
Source: HYDE (2023); Gapminder (2022); UN WPP (2024) – with major processing by Our World in Data. Measured in people.
Analysis
The most recent figure for population in Eritrea is 3.47 million people, measured in 2023. That is the highest value across all 241 years on record.
That represents a change of up 1.8% on the previous year and up 12.9% over ten years.
Over the whole period, population in Eritrea peaked at 3.47 million people in 2023 and was at its lowest, 58,000 people, in 1000.
Eritrea ranks 133rd of 239 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Population in Eritrea, year by year
| Year | people | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1000 | 58,000 people | — |
| 1100 | 66,700 people | +15.0% |
| 1200 | 75,400 people | +13.0% |
| 1300 | 88,933 people | +17.9% |
| 1400 | 102,466 people | +15.2% |
| 1500 | 116,000 people | +13.2% |
| 1600 | 130,500 people | +12.5% |
| 1700 | 145,000 people | +11.1% |
| 1710 | 147,692 people | +1.9% |
| 1720 | 150,682 people | +2.0% |
| 1730 | 153,868 people | +2.1% |
| 1740 | 157,272 people | +2.2% |
| 1750 | 160,921 people | +2.3% |
| 1760 | 164,846 people | +2.4% |
| 1770 | 169,084 people | +2.6% |
| 1780 | 173,678 people | +2.7% |
| 1790 | 178,684 people | +2.9% |
| 1800 | 205,010 people | +14.7% |
| 1801 | 205,010 people | +0.0% |
| 1802 | 205,010 people | +0.0% |
| 1803 | 205,010 people | +0.0% |
| 1804 | 205,010 people | +0.0% |
| 1805 | 205,010 people | +0.0% |
| 1806 | 205,010 people | +0.0% |
| 1807 | 205,010 people | +0.0% |
| 1808 | 205,010 people | +0.0% |
| 1809 | 205,010 people | +0.0% |
| 1810 | 205,010 people | +0.0% |
| 1811 | 205,010 people | +0.0% |
| 1812 | 205,010 people | +0.0% |
| 1813 | 205,010 people | +0.0% |
| 1814 | 205,010 people | +0.0% |
| 1815 | 205,010 people | +0.0% |
| 1816 | 205,010 people | +0.0% |
| 1817 | 205,010 people | +0.0% |
| 1818 | 205,010 people | +0.0% |
| 1819 | 206,725 people | +0.8% |
| 1820 | 210,225 people | +1.7% |
| 1821 | 215,587 people | +2.6% |
| 1822 | 222,888 people | +3.4% |
| 1823 | 232,208 people | +4.2% |
| 1824 | 241,918 people | +4.2% |
| 1825 | 252,034 people | +4.2% |
| 1826 | 262,573 people | +4.2% |
| 1827 | 273,553 people | +4.2% |
| 1828 | 284,992 people | +4.2% |
| 1829 | 296,909 people | +4.2% |
| 1830 | 309,325 people | +4.2% |
| 1831 | 322,260 people | +4.2% |
| 1832 | 335,736 people | +4.2% |
| 1833 | 349,775 people | +4.2% |
| 1834 | 364,401 people | +4.2% |
| 1835 | 379,639 people | +4.2% |
| 1836 | 395,514 people | +4.2% |
| 1837 | 412,053 people | +4.2% |
| 1838 | 429,283 people | +4.2% |
| 1839 | 447,235 people | +4.2% |
| 1840 | 465,936 people | +4.2% |
| 1841 | 485,420 people | +4.2% |
| 1842 | 505,718 people | +4.2% |
| 1843 | 526,866 people | +4.2% |
| 1844 | 548,897 people | +4.2% |
| 1845 | 571,850 people | +4.2% |
| 1846 | 595,763 people | +4.2% |
| 1847 | 620,675 people | +4.2% |
| 1848 | 646,630 people | +4.2% |
| 1849 | 667,809 people | +3.3% |
| 1850 | 684,015 people | +2.4% |
| 1851 | 692,108 people | +1.2% |
| 1852 | 694,755 people | +0.4% |
| 1853 | 691,802 people | -0.4% |
| 1854 | 688,848 people | -0.4% |
| 1855 | 685,894 people | -0.4% |
| 1856 | 682,940 people | -0.4% |
| 1857 | 679,986 people | -0.4% |
| 1858 | 677,032 people | -0.4% |
| 1859 | 674,078 people | -0.4% |
| 1860 | 671,124 people | -0.4% |
| 1861 | 668,171 people | -0.4% |
| 1862 | 665,217 people | -0.4% |
| 1863 | 662,263 people | -0.4% |
| 1864 | 659,309 people | -0.4% |
| 1865 | 656,355 people | -0.4% |
| 1866 | 653,401 people | -0.5% |
| 1867 | 650,447 people | -0.5% |
| 1868 | 647,493 people | -0.5% |
| 1869 | 644,668 people | -0.4% |
| 1870 | 641,971 people | -0.4% |
| 1871 | 639,399 people | -0.4% |
| 1872 | 636,951 people | -0.4% |
| 1873 | 634,625 people | -0.4% |
| 1874 | 632,294 people | -0.4% |
| 1875 | 629,957 people | -0.4% |
| 1876 | 627,616 people | -0.4% |
| 1877 | 625,269 people | -0.4% |
| 1878 | 622,916 people | -0.4% |
| 1879 | 620,559 people | -0.4% |
| 1880 | 618,196 people | -0.4% |
| 1881 | 615,827 people | -0.4% |
| 1882 | 613,454 people | -0.4% |
| 1883 | 611,074 people | -0.4% |
| 1884 | 608,690 people | -0.4% |
| 1885 | 606,300 people | -0.4% |
| 1886 | 603,905 people | -0.4% |
| 1887 | 601,504 people | -0.4% |
| 1888 | 599,098 people | -0.4% |
| 1889 | 596,687 people | -0.4% |
| 1890 | 594,270 people | -0.4% |
| 1891 | 591,848 people | -0.4% |
| 1892 | 589,420 people | -0.4% |
| 1893 | 586,987 people | -0.4% |
| 1894 | 584,548 people | -0.4% |
| 1895 | 582,104 people | -0.4% |
| 1896 | 579,655 people | -0.4% |
| 1897 | 577,200 people | -0.4% |
| 1898 | 574,739 people | -0.4% |
| 1899 | 572,961 people | -0.3% |
| 1900 | 571,858 people | -0.2% |
| 1901 | 571,427 people | -0.1% |
| 1902 | 571,661 people | +0.0% |
| 1903 | 572,554 people | +0.2% |
| 1904 | 573,432 people | +0.2% |
| 1905 | 574,294 people | +0.2% |
| 1906 | 575,140 people | +0.1% |
| 1907 | 575,970 people | +0.1% |
| 1908 | 576,783 people | +0.1% |
| 1909 | 577,463 people | +0.1% |
| 1910 | 578,010 people | +0.1% |
| 1911 | 578,424 people | +0.1% |
| 1912 | 578,706 people | +0.0% |
| 1913 | 578,855 people | +0.0% |
| 1914 | 578,986 people | +0.0% |
| 1915 | 579,097 people | +0.0% |
| 1916 | 579,188 people | +0.0% |
| 1917 | 579,260 people | +0.0% |
| 1918 | 582,735 people | +0.6% |
| 1919 | 586,704 people | +0.7% |
| 1920 | 591,172 people | +0.8% |
| 1921 | 596,149 people | +0.8% |
| 1922 | 601,641 people | +0.9% |
| 1923 | 607,658 people | +1.0% |
| 1924 | 613,734 people | +1.0% |
| 1925 | 619,871 people | +1.0% |
| 1926 | 626,070 people | +1.0% |
| 1927 | 632,331 people | +1.0% |
| 1928 | 638,654 people | +1.0% |
| 1929 | 644,780 people | +1.0% |
| 1930 | 650,705 people | +0.9% |
| 1931 | 656,424 people | +0.9% |
| 1932 | 661,933 people | +0.8% |
| 1933 | 667,229 people | +0.8% |
| 1934 | 672,566 people | +0.8% |
| 1935 | 677,947 people | +0.8% |
| 1936 | 683,371 people | +0.8% |
| 1937 | 688,838 people | +0.8% |
| 1938 | 694,348 people | +0.8% |
| 1939 | 700,891 people | +0.9% |
| 1940 | 708,488 people | +1.1% |
| 1941 | 717,163 people | +1.2% |
| 1942 | 726,941 people | +1.4% |
| 1943 | 737,845 people | +1.5% |
| 1944 | 748,913 people | +1.5% |
| 1945 | 760,147 people | +1.5% |
| 1946 | 771,549 people | +1.5% |
| 1947 | 783,122 people | +1.5% |
| 1948 | 794,869 people | +1.5% |
| 1949 | 808,004 people | +1.7% |
| 1950 | 814,880 people | +0.9% |
| 1951 | 827,035 people | +1.5% |
| 1952 | 840,352 people | +1.6% |
| 1953 | 854,708 people | +1.7% |
| 1954 | 870,030 people | +1.8% |
| 1955 | 886,245 people | +1.9% |
| 1956 | 903,421 people | +1.9% |
| 1957 | 918,807 people | +1.7% |
| 1958 | 932,595 people | +1.5% |
| 1959 | 950,562 people | +1.9% |
| 1960 | 972,558 people | +2.3% |
| 1961 | 995,576 people | +2.4% |
| 1962 | 1.02 million people | +2.4% |
| 1963 | 1.05 million people | +2.5% |
| 1964 | 1.07 million people | +2.5% |
| 1965 | 1.10 million people | +2.5% |
| 1966 | 1.12 million people | +2.4% |
| 1967 | 1.15 million people | +2.4% |
| 1968 | 1.18 million people | +2.6% |
| 1969 | 1.21 million people | +2.6% |
| 1970 | 1.24 million people | +2.6% |
| 1971 | 1.28 million people | +2.6% |
| 1972 | 1.31 million people | +2.6% |
| 1973 | 1.34 million people | +2.6% |
| 1974 | 1.38 million people | +2.5% |
| 1975 | 1.41 million people | +2.4% |
| 1976 | 1.44 million people | +2.5% |
| 1977 | 1.48 million people | +2.7% |
| 1978 | 1.52 million people | +2.7% |
| 1979 | 1.56 million people | +2.7% |
| 1980 | 1.61 million people | +2.7% |
| 1981 | 1.65 million people | +2.7% |
| 1982 | 1.70 million people | +2.8% |
| 1983 | 1.74 million people | +2.4% |
| 1984 | 1.77 million people | +2.0% |
| 1985 | 1.81 million people | +2.0% |
| 1986 | 1.85 million people | +2.1% |
| 1987 | 1.89 million people | +2.4% |
| 1988 | 1.94 million people | +2.6% |
| 1989 | 1.99 million people | +2.5% |
| 1990 | 2.03 million people | +2.3% |
| 1991 | 1.92 million people | -5.6% |
| 1992 | 1.80 million people | -6.3% |
| 1993 | 1.86 million people | +3.2% |
| 1994 | 1.91 million people | +3.1% |
| 1995 | 2.03 million people | +5.8% |
| 1996 | 2.13 million people | +5.1% |
| 1997 | 2.15 million people | +1.1% |
| 1998 | 2.18 million people | +1.3% |
| 1999 | 2.21 million people | +1.5% |
| 2000 | 2.25 million people | +1.5% |
| 2001 | 2.31 million people | +2.9% |
| 2002 | 2.39 million people | +3.5% |
| 2003 | 2.49 million people | +4.2% |
| 2004 | 2.60 million people | +4.2% |
| 2005 | 2.66 million people | +2.4% |
| 2006 | 2.70 million people | +1.6% |
| 2007 | 2.74 million people | +1.5% |
| 2008 | 2.82 million people | +2.7% |
| 2009 | 2.89 million people | +2.5% |
| 2010 | 2.95 million people | +2.0% |
| 2011 | 3.00 million people | +1.8% |
| 2012 | 3.04 million people | +1.3% |
| 2013 | 3.07 million people | +1.2% |
| 2014 | 3.10 million people | +0.7% |
| 2015 | 3.11 million people | +0.3% |
| 2016 | 3.12 million people | +0.6% |
| 2017 | 3.15 million people | +0.8% |
| 2018 | 3.19 million people | +1.3% |
| 2019 | 3.24 million people | +1.5% |
| 2020 | 3.29 million people | +1.6% |
| 2021 | 3.35 million people | +1.8% |
| 2022 | 3.41 million people | +1.8% |
| 2023 | 3.47 million people | +1.8% |
Eritrea compared with similar countries
- Eritrea's 3.47 million people is below the median for low income countries, which is 23.03 million people, 15% of the median. (25 countries reporting)
- Eritrea's 3.47 million people is below the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 14.26 million people, 24% of the median. (48 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1000s | 58,000 people | 58,000 people | 58,000 people | 1 |
| 1100s | 66,700 people | 66,700 people | 66,700 people | 1 |
| 1200s | 75,400 people | 75,400 people | 75,400 people | 1 |
| 1300s | 88,933 people | 88,933 people | 88,933 people | 1 |
| 1400s | 102,466 people | 102,466 people | 102,466 people | 1 |
| 1500s | 116,000 people | 116,000 people | 116,000 people | 1 |
| 1600s | 130,500 people | 130,500 people | 130,500 people | 1 |
| 1700s | 145,000 people | 145,000 people | 145,000 people | 1 |
| 1710s | 147,692 people | 147,692 people | 147,692 people | 1 |
| 1720s | 150,682 people | 150,682 people | 150,682 people | 1 |
| 1730s | 153,868 people | 153,868 people | 153,868 people | 1 |
| 1740s | 157,272 people | 157,272 people | 157,272 people | 1 |
| 1750s | 160,921 people | 160,921 people | 160,921 people | 1 |
| 1760s | 164,846 people | 164,846 people | 164,846 people | 1 |
| 1770s | 169,084 people | 169,084 people | 169,084 people | 1 |
| 1780s | 173,678 people | 173,678 people | 173,678 people | 1 |
| 1790s | 178,684 people | 178,684 people | 178,684 people | 1 |
| 1800s | 205,010 people | 205,010 people | 205,010 people | 10 |
| 1810s | 205,182 people | 205,010 people | 206,725 people | 10 |
| 1820s | 249,289 people | 210,225 people | 296,909 people | 10 |
| 1830s | 374,522 people | 309,325 people | 447,235 people | 10 |
| 1840s | 563,556 people | 465,936 people | 667,809 people | 10 |
| 1850s | 685,146 people | 674,078 people | 694,755 people | 10 |
| 1860s | 657,845 people | 644,668 people | 671,124 people | 10 |
| 1870s | 631,156 people | 620,559 people | 641,971 people | 10 |
| 1880s | 607,474 people | 596,687 people | 618,196 people | 10 |
| 1890s | 583,373 people | 572,961 people | 594,270 people | 10 |
| 1900s | 574,058 people | 571,427 people | 577,463 people | 10 |
| 1910s | 579,996 people | 578,010 people | 586,704 people | 10 |
| 1920s | 617,206 people | 591,172 people | 644,780 people | 10 |
| 1930s | 675,425 people | 650,705 people | 700,891 people | 10 |
| 1940s | 755,704 people | 708,488 people | 808,004 people | 10 |
| 1950s | 879,864 people | 814,880 people | 950,562 people | 10 |
| 1960s | 1.09 million people | 972,558 people | 1.21 million people | 10 |
| 1970s | 1.40 million people | 1.24 million people | 1.56 million people | 10 |
| 1980s | 1.79 million people | 1.61 million people | 1.99 million people | 10 |
| 1990s | 2.02 million people | 1.80 million people | 2.21 million people | 10 |
| 2000s | 2.59 million people | 2.25 million people | 2.89 million people | 10 |
| 2010s | 3.10 million people | 2.95 million people | 3.24 million people | 10 |
| 2020s | 3.38 million people | 3.29 million people | 3.47 million people | 4 |
Countries ranked near Eritrea
More population data for Eritrea
- Population regions with projections, annual growth rate 0.278 % change on previous year (2100)
- Urban and rural population 2050, annual growth rate 0.3999 % change on previous year (2050)
- Population long run with projections, annual growth rate 0.278 % change on previous year (2100)
- Un population 2024 vs 2022, annual growth rate 0.2011 % change on previous year (2100)
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 05 - Demographic estimates 5,964 Persons (2050)
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 03 - Annual population 1.97 Percent per annum (2030)
- Projected population under age 5, annual growth rate -0.4564 % change on previous year (2100)
- World population growth 0.3% (2100)
- Population density 69.76 people per km² (2100)
- Number of children under 5, by world region 525,382 people (2100)
Frequently asked questions
- What is population in Eritrea?
- Population in Eritrea was 3.47 million people in 2023, according to HYDE (2023); Gapminder (2022); UN WPP (2024) – with major processing by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest population recorded in Eritrea?
- The highest recorded value was 3.47 million people in 2023.
- What is the lowest population recorded in Eritrea?
- The lowest recorded value was 58,000 people in 1000.
- How does Eritrea rank for population?
- Eritrea ranks 133rd out of 239 countries with data for 2023.
- Is population rising or falling in Eritrea?
- Over the last ten years it is up 12.9%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Eritrea data come from?
- The figures come from HYDE (2023); Gapminder (2022); UN WPP (2024) – with major processing by Our World in Data, published as part of Population. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 241 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data).
About this data
Population by country, available from 10,000 BCE to 2023, based on data and estimates from different sources.