Share of population living in cities, towns and rural areas in Eritrea
Eritrea: Share of population living in cities, towns and rural areas was 39.2% in 2020. ▲ Rising
Share of population living in cities, towns and rural areas in Eritrea, 1950–2020
Source: European Commission, Joint Research Centre (JRC) (2025) – with major processing by Our World in Data. Measured in %.
Analysis
The most recent figure for share of population living in cities, towns and rural areas in Eritrea is 39.2%, measured in 2020.
The figure is up 0.6% over ten years.
Over the whole period, share of population living in cities, towns and rural areas in Eritrea peaked at 40.7% in 1985 and was at its lowest, 24.9%, in 1950.
That places Eritrea 105th out of 236 countries with data for 2020, putting it in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 15 years of available data.
Share of population living in cities, towns and rural areas in Eritrea, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1950 | 24.9% | — |
| 1955 | 27.0% | +8.3% |
| 1960 | 29.3% | +8.6% |
| 1965 | 36.5% | +24.8% |
| 1970 | 38.7% | +5.9% |
| 1975 | 40.0% | +3.5% |
| 1980 | 39.8% | -0.6% |
| 1985 | 40.7% | +2.1% |
| 1990 | 39.9% | -2.0% |
| 1995 | 38.1% | -4.4% |
| 2000 | 37.2% | -2.5% |
| 2005 | 37.7% | +1.4% |
| 2010 | 38.9% | +3.3% |
| 2015 | 38.6% | -0.7% |
| 2020 | 39.2% | +1.4% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1950s | 25.9% | 24.9% | 27.0% | 2 |
| 1960s | 32.9% | 29.3% | 36.5% | 2 |
| 1970s | 39.4% | 38.7% | 40.0% | 2 |
| 1980s | 40.2% | 39.8% | 40.7% | 2 |
| 1990s | 39.0% | 38.1% | 39.9% | 2 |
| 2000s | 37.4% | 37.2% | 37.7% | 2 |
| 2010s | 38.8% | 38.6% | 38.9% | 2 |
| 2020s | 39.2% | 39.2% | 39.2% | 1 |
Countries ranked near Eritrea
More population data for Eritrea
- Un population 2024 vs 2022, annual growth rate 0.2011 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population long run 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 regions with projections, annual growth rate 0.278 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population growth rate, by level of development 0.3% (2100)
- Number of children under 5, by world region 525,382 people (2100)
- Population density 69.76 people per km² (2100)
- World population growth 0.3% (2100)
- Projected population under age 5, annual growth rate -0.4564 % change on previous year (2100)
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 03 - Annual population 1.97 Percent per annum (2030)
Frequently asked questions
- What is share of population living in cities, towns and rural areas in Eritrea?
- Share of population living in cities, towns and rural areas in Eritrea was 39.2% in 2020, according to European Commission, Joint Research Centre (JRC) (2025) – with major processing by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest share of population living in cities, towns and rural areas recorded in Eritrea?
- The highest recorded value was 40.7% in 1985.
- What is the lowest share of population living in cities, towns and rural areas recorded in Eritrea?
- The lowest recorded value was 24.9% in 1950.
- How does Eritrea rank for share of population living in cities, towns and rural areas?
- Eritrea ranks 105th out of 236 countries with data for 2020.
- Is share of population living in cities, towns and rural areas rising or falling in Eritrea?
- Over the last ten years it is up 0.6%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Eritrea data come from?
- The figures come from European Commission, Joint Research Centre (JRC) (2025) – with major processing by Our World in Data, published as part of Share of population living in cities, towns and rural areas. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Estimated share of the population living in cities. Cities are identified using satellite imagery and population data, applying the same definitions across countries.