Eritrea — Urban population
Urban Population (% of Total) for Eritrea, 1960–2025.
Urban population for Eritrea was 34.54% in 2025, according to the latest World Bank data. The series covers 66 years, from 1960 to 2025. The highest recorded value was 35.68% in 2012. The lowest was 10.40% in 1960 (about 3.3× the low point). Across that span the compound annual growth rate works out to 1.86% per year.
Eritrea ranks 185 of 217 economies on this measure (1 = highest), putting it in the top 85%. The median for Sub-Saharan Africa is 45.11%, so Eritrea sits below it. It peaked in 2012 and has fallen 3% since. Over the last decade (2015–2025) the figure moved down 3%. Within Sub-Saharan Africa it ranks 34 of 48 economies; Comoros (33.94%) is just below it. Its sharpest one-year move was up 9% in 1993.
Data highlights
From its 1960 level: doubled by 1992. Doubling roughly every 38 years at that pace.
World ranking. Slipped: 184th of 217 in 1960 → 190th of 217 in 1970 → 200th of 217 in 1980 → 199th of 217 in 1990 → 166th of 217 in 2000 → 171st of 217 in 2010 → 180th of 217 in 2020 → 185th of 217 in 2025.
Key figures
Full history — 1960 to 2025
| Year | % of total population | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 34.54% | +0.0 pp |
| 2024 | 34.54% | -0.2 pp |
| 2023 | 34.7% | -0.2 pp |
| 2022 | 34.85% | -0.1 pp |
| 2021 | 34.99% | -0.1 pp |
| 2020 | 35.12% | -0.1 pp |
| 2019 | 35.24% | -0.1 pp |
| 2018 | 35.35% | -0.1 pp |
| 2017 | 35.44% | -0.1 pp |
| 2016 | 35.53% | -0.1 pp |
| 2015 | 35.59% | -0.0 pp |
| 2014 | 35.64% | -0.0 pp |
| 2013 | 35.67% | -0.0 pp |
| 2012 | 35.68% | +0.0 pp |
| 2011 | 35.67% | +0.0 pp |
| 2010 | 35.63% | +0.1 pp |
| 2009 | 35.57% | +0.1 pp |
| 2008 | 35.49% | +0.1 pp |
| 2007 | 35.38% | +0.1 pp |
| 2006 | 35.25% | +0.2 pp |
| 2005 | 35.1% | +0.2 pp |
| 2004 | 34.93% | +0.2 pp |
| 2003 | 34.75% | +0.2 pp |
| 2002 | 34.54% | +0.2 pp |
| 2001 | 34.33% | +0.2 pp |
| 2000 | 34.1% | +0.6 pp |
| 1999 | 33.49% | +1.1 pp |
| 1998 | 32.4% | +1.5 pp |
| 1997 | 30.93% | +1.8 pp |
| 1996 | 29.17% | +1.9 pp |
| 1995 | 27.24% | +2.0 pp |
| 1994 | 25.24% | +2.0 pp |
| 1993 | 23.27% | +1.8 pp |
| 1992 | 21.43% | +1.6 pp |
| 1991 | 19.83% | +1.3 pp |
| 1990 | 18.57% | +0.9 pp |
| 1989 | 17.67% | +1.0 pp |
| 1988 | 16.68% | +0.5 pp |
| 1987 | 16.2% | +0.4 pp |
| 1986 | 15.77% | +0.3 pp |
| 1985 | 15.44% | +0.3 pp |
| 1984 | 15.16% | +0.2 pp |
| 1983 | 14.94% | +0.2 pp |
| 1982 | 14.74% | +0.2 pp |
| 1981 | 14.55% | +0.2 pp |
| 1980 | 14.37% | +0.2 pp |
| 1979 | 14.2% | +0.2 pp |
| 1978 | 14.04% | +0.2 pp |
| 1977 | 13.89% | +0.2 pp |
| 1976 | 13.74% | +0.1 pp |
| 1975 | 13.59% | +0.1 pp |
| 1974 | 13.44% | +0.2 pp |
| 1973 | 13.28% | +0.2 pp |
| 1972 | 13.13% | +0.2 pp |
| 1971 | 12.96% | +0.2 pp |
| 1970 | 12.79% | +0.2 pp |
| 1969 | 12.61% | +0.2 pp |
| 1968 | 12.41% | +0.2 pp |
| 1967 | 12.2% | +0.2 pp |
| 1966 | 11.97% | +0.2 pp |
| 1965 | 11.74% | +0.2 pp |
| 1964 | 11.49% | +0.3 pp |
| 1963 | 11.23% | +0.3 pp |
| 1962 | 10.97% | +0.3 pp |
| 1961 | 10.69% | +0.3 pp |
| 1960 | 10.4% | — |
Frequently asked questions
What was Eritrea’s Urban population in 1961?
10.69% (1961). The full year-by-year table above lists every published year, most recent first.
Are changes in this series measured in percentage points?
Yes. The series is a share expressed in % of total population, so year-over-year movements in the Change column are percentage points (pp), not percent.
Is Eritrea’s Urban population growing or shrinking?
Between 1960 and 2025 the series was growing overall: +232.1% in total — about 1.9% a year compounded.
Where does this data come from?
World Bank Open Data (CC BY-4.0), indicator SP.URB.TOTL.IN.ZS. Values are reproduced as published; this page only computes summary statistics such as change, CAGR and extremes.
What are the most recent published figures?
The last five published years: 2025: 34.54%; 2024: 34.54%; 2023: 34.7%; 2022: 34.85%; 2021: 34.99%. Earlier years are in the full-history table below.
Related data
SP.URB.TOTL.IN.ZS — Urban Population (% of Total). Data licensed under CC BY 4.0. Values are reproduced as published; this page computes the summary statistics (change, CAGR, extremes) from the underlying annual series. View the original dataset on data.worldbank.org.