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Eritrea

Population

3,706,286

Estimated as of Oct 22, 2026View source
Population rank
132nd
Share of world
0.04%
Annual change
+75,6661.91%

Population of Eritrea

05M10M15M20M25M20263.7M2050 projection5.7M↑ 54% from 202619601980200020202040206020802100

Source: United Nations — World Population Prospects (2024 Revision)

95% prediction interval

Current population estimate: 3,706,286. 2050 projection: 5,696,062.Use the arrow keys on the chart to inspect individual years.

Historical population estimates for Eritrea. Annual change is shown as a percentage.
20263,682,6691.91%132
20253,607,0031.85%132
20203,291,2711.58%134
20193,240,1941.49%135
20183,192,7601.35%135
20173,150,3470.82%136
20153,105,5461.07%136
20102,945,1862.05%135
20052,661,2153.44%138
20002,247,0312.10%141

Showing 10 of 19 years.

Population by City

Asmara is home to 783,135 people, 21.27% of Eritrea's population.

City population700K300K100K
Asmara 783.1KKeren 237.0KAssab 97.4KMassawa 95.9KAgordat 95.1KDekemhare 92.4KGhinda 66.2KTessenei 65.3KMendefera 64.3KAdi Qayeh 57.9K
Largest cities by 2026 population and share of the national population.
1Asmara783.1K21.27%
2Keren237.0K6.43%
3Assab97.4K2.64%
4Massawa95.9K2.61%
5Agordat95.1K2.58%
6Dekemhare92.4K2.51%
7Ghinda66.2K1.80%
8Tessenei65.3K1.77%
9Mendefera64.3K1.75%
10Adi Qayeh57.9K1.57%

Eritrea by the Numbers

Estimated as of Oct 22, 2026

Population
Eritrea is home to an estimated 3,706,286 people, the 132nd largest population in the world.
Daily change
Eritrea has a net population change of approximately 209 people per day, driven by 289 births, 59 deaths, and net emigration of 21 people.
Share of world
Eritrea makes up 0.04% of the world's population and 0.23% of Africa's.
Density
30.4 people per km² of land (78.8 per mi²), ranking 186th among countries and territories.
Urban living
34.54% of people live in urban areas.

Eritrea Demographics

Age & longevity

MaleFemale100+ years, male: 0100+ years, female: 295–99 years, male: 3595–99 years, female: 11790–94 years, male: 52190–94 years, female: 1,00485–89 years, male: 2,55885–89 years, female: 4,02980–84 years, male: 7,11780–84 years, female: 10,07675–79 years, male: 12,19175–79 years, female: 16,90370–74 years, male: 17,91470–74 years, female: 24,60065–69 years, male: 26,88065–69 years, female: 34,89760–64 years, male: 37,36960–64 years, female: 46,17755–59 years, male: 47,38255–59 years, female: 56,63050–54 years, male: 55,77050–54 years, female: 64,90745–49 years, male: 64,62045–49 years, female: 72,23240–44 years, male: 71,69440–44 years, female: 75,48335–39 years, male: 92,52335–39 years, female: 93,97730–34 years, male: 120,19430–34 years, female: 119,46525–29 years, male: 159,92225–29 years, female: 158,52120–24 years, male: 195,19220–24 years, female: 193,46515–19 years, male: 217,60615–19 years, female: 214,84110–14 years, male: 221,10510–14 years, female: 217,3945–9 years, male: 223,3265–9 years, female: 218,9090–4 years, male: 245,4340–4 years, female: 239,691100+95–9990–9485–8980–8475–7970–7465–6960–6455–5950–5445–4940–4435–3930–3425–2920–2415–1910–145–90–4100K100K200K200K

Hover or tap an age group to see exact counts. Use the up and down arrow keys to inspect age groups.

Median age

20.5 yrs

World: 31

Life expectancy

69.4 yrs

World: 73.8

Male

49.40%

Female

50.60%

Life expectancy 67.2Life expectancy 71.5

Ethnicity

55%

Tigrinya

  • Tigrinya55%
  • Tigre30%
  • Other5%
  • Saho4%
  • Kunama2%
  • Rashaida2%
  • Bilen2%
Data notes

Source estimate: 2010 est.

Other: includes Afar, Beni Amir, Nara

Religion

50%

Eritrean Orthodox, the largest religion

  • Eritrean Orthodox50%
  • Muslim48%
  • Roman Catholic5%
  • Evangelical (Lutheran, Pentecostal)2%

Reported percentages total 105% and are shown individually.

Data notes

Source estimate: est.

Related Pages

Sources

  1. World Population Prospects (2024 Revision) - United Nations population estimates and projections.
  2. World Population Prospects (2024 Revision) - Eritrea United Nations Graphs/Profiles
  3. World Bank / UN World Urbanization Prospects - 2025: Urban population (% of total population), using national definitions.
  4. Eritrea Data Portal