Number of people living in urban and rural areas in Eritrea
Eritrea: Number of people living in urban and rural areas was 1.25 million people in 2025. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2025)
1.25 million people
Change on year
up 2.0%
World rank
149th
of 236 countries
All-time high
1.25 million people
in 2025
All-time low
57,856 people
in 1950
Years of data
76
1950–2025
Number of people living in urban and rural areas in Eritrea, 1950–2025
Source: United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs, Population Division (2025) – with minor processing by Our World in Data. Measured in people.
Analysis
The most recent figure for number of people living in urban and rural areas in Eritrea is 1.25 million people, measured in 2025. That is the highest value across all 76 years on record.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 2.0% on the previous year and up 12.7% over ten years.
Over the whole period, number of people living in urban and rural areas in Eritrea peaked at 1.25 million people in 2025 and was at its lowest, 57,856 people, in 1950.
Eritrea ranks 149th of 236 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.
Number of people living in urban and rural areas in Eritrea, year by year
| Year | people | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1950 | 57,856 people | — |
| 1951 | 61,701 people | +6.6% |
| 1952 | 65,676 people | +6.4% |
| 1953 | 69,777 people | +6.2% |
| 1954 | 74,004 people | +6.1% |
| 1955 | 78,353 people | +5.9% |
| 1956 | 82,834 people | +5.7% |
| 1957 | 87,188 people | +5.3% |
| 1958 | 91,410 people | +4.8% |
| 1959 | 96,063 people | +5.1% |
| 1960 | 101,159 people | +5.3% |
| 1961 | 106,407 people | +5.2% |
| 1962 | 111,823 people | +5.1% |
| 1963 | 117,394 people | +5.0% |
| 1964 | 123,097 people | +4.9% |
| 1965 | 128,921 people | +4.7% |
| 1966 | 134,707 people | +4.5% |
| 1967 | 140,585 people | +4.4% |
| 1968 | 146,673 people | +4.3% |
| 1969 | 152,812 people | +4.2% |
| 1970 | 159,058 people | +4.1% |
| 1971 | 165,442 people | +4.0% |
| 1972 | 171,872 people | +3.9% |
| 1973 | 178,367 people | +3.8% |
| 1974 | 184,846 people | +3.6% |
| 1975 | 191,322 people | +3.5% |
| 1976 | 198,310 people | +3.7% |
| 1977 | 205,866 people | +3.8% |
| 1978 | 213,744 people | +3.8% |
| 1979 | 221,996 people | +3.9% |
| 1980 | 230,723 people | +3.9% |
| 1981 | 240,001 people | +4.0% |
| 1982 | 249,844 people | +4.1% |
| 1983 | 259,385 people | +3.8% |
| 1984 | 268,649 people | +3.6% |
| 1985 | 279,107 people | +3.9% |
| 1986 | 290,917 people | +4.2% |
| 1987 | 305,936 people | +5.2% |
| 1988 | 323,345 people | +5.7% |
| 1989 | 351,192 people | +8.6% |
| 1990 | 377,449 people | +7.5% |
| 1991 | 380,652 people | +0.8% |
| 1992 | 385,499 people | +1.3% |
| 1993 | 431,887 people | +12.0% |
| 1994 | 483,100 people | +11.9% |
| 1995 | 551,754 people | +14.2% |
| 1996 | 620,933 people | +12.5% |
| 1997 | 665,571 people | +7.2% |
| 1998 | 706,461 people | +6.1% |
| 1999 | 741,106 people | +4.9% |
| 2000 | 766,201 people | +3.4% |
| 2001 | 793,628 people | +3.6% |
| 2002 | 826,584 people | +4.2% |
| 2003 | 866,510 people | +4.8% |
| 2004 | 907,645 people | +4.7% |
| 2005 | 934,145 people | +2.9% |
| 2006 | 953,053 people | +2.0% |
| 2007 | 970,609 people | +1.8% |
| 2008 | 999,506 people | +3.0% |
| 2009 | 1.03 million people | +2.8% |
| 2010 | 1.05 million people | +2.2% |
| 2011 | 1.07 million people | +1.9% |
| 2012 | 1.08 million people | +1.3% |
| 2013 | 1.10 million people | +1.2% |
| 2014 | 1.10 million people | +0.6% |
| 2015 | 1.11 million people | +0.2% |
| 2016 | 1.11 million people | +0.4% |
| 2017 | 1.12 million people | +0.6% |
| 2018 | 1.13 million people | +1.1% |
| 2019 | 1.14 million people | +1.2% |
| 2020 | 1.16 million people | +1.2% |
| 2021 | 1.17 million people | +1.4% |
| 2022 | 1.19 million people | +1.4% |
| 2023 | 1.20 million people | +1.3% |
| 2024 | 1.22 million people | +1.4% |
| 2025 | 1.25 million people | +2.0% |
Eritrea compared with similar countries
- Eritrea's 1.25 million people is below the median for low income countries, which is 6.96 million people, 18% of the median. (25 countries reporting)
- Eritrea's 1.25 million people is below the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 4.82 million people, 26% of the median. (48 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1950s | 76,486 people | 57,856 people | 96,063 people | 10 |
| 1960s | 126,358 people | 101,159 people | 152,812 people | 10 |
| 1970s | 189,082 people | 159,058 people | 221,996 people | 10 |
| 1980s | 279,910 people | 230,723 people | 351,192 people | 10 |
| 1990s | 534,441 people | 377,449 people | 741,106 people | 10 |
| 2000s | 904,522 people | 766,201 people | 1.03 million people | 10 |
| 2010s | 1.10 million people | 1.05 million people | 1.14 million people | 10 |
| 2020s | 1.20 million people | 1.16 million people | 1.25 million people | 6 |
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 number of people living in urban and rural areas in Eritrea?
- Number of people living in urban and rural areas in Eritrea was 1.25 million people in 2025, according to United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs, Population Division (2025) – with minor processing by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest number of people living in urban and rural areas recorded in Eritrea?
- The highest recorded value was 1.25 million people in 2025.
- What is the lowest number of people living in urban and rural areas recorded in Eritrea?
- The lowest recorded value was 57,856 people in 1950.
- How does Eritrea rank for number of people living in urban and rural areas?
- Eritrea ranks 149th out of 236 countries with data for 2025.
- Is number of people living in urban and rural areas rising or falling in Eritrea?
- Over the last ten years it is up 12.7%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Eritrea data come from?
- The figures come from United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs, Population Division (2025) – with minor processing by Our World in Data, published as part of Number of people living in urban and rural areas. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 76 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data).
About this data
Number of people living in urban areas, based on each country's national definition.