What is the population of Eritrea in 2026?
Eritrea has a population of 3,607,003 people (2025 estimate), which is 132nd in the world and about 0.04% of the global total.
Officially State of Eritrea
Population 2025
3,607,003
0.04% of world population
World Bank, 2025Annual Growth
+2.00%
+72,104 people a year
World Bank, 2025Density
29/km²
121,178 km² land area
World Bank, 2023Median Age
19.2 years
Life expectancy 68.9 years
Our World in Data, 2025About Eritrea
With a population of 3,607,003 and an annual growth rate of 2%, Eritrea ranks 130th globally. The nation covers 121,178 km² with a relatively low population density of 29 people per km², and 35% of residents live in urban areas. The median age of 19.2 years reflects a young workforce, supported by a fertility rate of 3.7 births per woman and life expectancy of 68.9 years.
Eritrea, which gained independence in 1993, borders Djibouti, Ethiopia, and Sudan. The capital is Asmara. Arabic, English, and Tigrinya are spoken across the country. The economy is modest, with a GDP per capita of $689, and the currency is the Eritrean nakfa.
This summary is AI-generated from the indicators on this page. The figures themselves come from the sources cited beside each value.
Country Facts
- Capital
- Asmara
- Continent
- Africa
- ISO codes
- ER · ERI
- Demonym
- Eritrean
- Currency
- Eritrean nakfa (ERN Nfk)
- State inception
- 1993
- Time zone
- UTC+03:00
- Driving side
- Right
- Calling code
- +291
- Internet TLD
- .er
- Land neighbours
- 3
Languages
- Arabic
- English
- Tigrinya
Demographics
Economy
Not published for Eritrea: Inflation Rate, Poverty Rate, Gini Index.
Health
Education
Not published for Eritrea: Mean Years of Schooling.
Environment
Infrastructure
Quality of Life
Not published for Eritrea: Happiness Index.
Geography
Military
Age & Gender Distribution
Population by five-year age band, UN World Population Prospects 2024.
Male Female
- Age 0–14
- 38.1%
- Age 15–64
- 57.7%
- Age 65+
- 4.2%
| Age band | Male | Female |
|---|---|---|
| 100+ | 0 | 1 |
| 95-99 | 13 | 76 |
| 90-94 | 410 | 842 |
| 85-89 | 2,249 | 3,590 |
| 80-84 | 6,601 | 9,385 |
| 75-79 | 12,388 | 16,559 |
| 70-74 | 16,906 | 23,232 |
| 65-69 | 24,412 | 31,936 |
| 60-64 | 34,990 | 43,505 |
| 55-59 | 44,726 | 53,696 |
| 50-54 | 53,535 | 62,531 |
| 45-49 | 62,479 | 71,097 |
| 40-44 | 68,788 | 73,743 |
| 35-39 | 85,291 | 87,525 |
| 30-34 | 107,005 | 106,715 |
| 25-29 | 149,563 | 147,950 |
| 20-24 | 180,847 | 178,868 |
| 15-19 | 214,265 | 211,512 |
| 10-14 | 222,999 | 219,386 |
| 5-9 | 221,136 | 216,873 |
| 0-4 | 236,750 | 231,230 |
Population History & Projection (1950–2100)
Observed population to 2024, then the UN medium-variant projection.
| Year | Population |
|---|---|
| 1950 | 814,866 |
| 1960 | 972,547 |
| 1970 | 1,243,453 |
| 1980 | 1,605,797 |
| 1990 | 2,032,737 |
| 2000 | 2,247,031 |
| 2010 | 2,945,186 |
| 2020 | 3,291,271 |
| 2030 | 4,002,672 |
| 2040 | 4,868,676 |
| 2050 | 5,696,062 |
| 2060 | 6,478,361 |
| 2070 | 7,194,167 |
| 2080 | 7,768,724 |
| 2090 | 8,182,351 |
| 2100 | 8,444,381 |
How Eritrea Compares
Population against the ten most populous countries.
| Name | Population |
|---|---|
| India | 1.46B |
| China | 1.41B |
| United States | 341.8M |
| Indonesia | 285.7M |
| Pakistan | 255.2M |
| Nigeria | 237.5M |
| Brazil | 212.8M |
| Bangladesh | 175.7M |
| Russia | 143.5M |
| Ethiopia | 135.5M |
| Eritrea | 3.61M |
Countries Bordering Eritrea
3 land borders.
Eritrea Population FAQ
Is the population of Eritrea growing or shrinking?
Eritrea's population is growing at +2.00% per year, a change of roughly 72,104 people annually.
What is the capital of Eritrea?
The capital of Eritrea is Asmara.
How densely populated is Eritrea?
Eritrea has 29/km² across 121,178 km² of land area.
What is life expectancy in Eritrea?
Life expectancy at birth in Eritrea is 68.9 years (2024).
What is the median age in Eritrea?
The median age in Eritrea is 19.2 years, meaning half the population is younger than that and half older.
Which continent is Eritrea in?
Eritrea is in Africa.