MigrantoEritrean Diaspora
912.8K Eritreans live abroad — 26% of the population of Eritrea
Eritrean diaspora by country
The top 3 countries are home to 68% of the diaspora
| Country | Emigrants |
|---|---|
| Sudan | 384053 |
| Ethiopia | 176860 |
| Sweden | 59751 |
| Canada | 42246 |
| Uganda | 41731 |
| Egypt | 32390 |
| Switzerland | 31946 |
| Netherlands | 27133 |
| Norway | 25546 |
| UAE | 18093 |
| Italy | 9107 |
| Israel | 7896 |
| Australia | 6928 |
| Qatar | 6174 |
| Denmark | 5985 |
| Libya | 5815 |
| Kuwait | 5478 |
| Belgium | 5434 |
| South Sudan | 3524 |
| Malta | 3516 |
| South Africa | 3109 |
| Yemen | 1966 |
| Bahrain | 1824 |
| Kenya | 1749 |
| Greece | 1416 |
| Finland | 1019 |
| Iraq | 824 |
| Luxembourg | 810 |
| Indonesia | 171 |
| Slovenia | 73 |
| Somalia | 48 |
| Hungary | 47 |
| Lithuania | 32 |
| Venezuela | 24 |
| Guinea | 19 |
| Bulgaria | 18 |
| Liechtenstein | 17 |
| Iceland | 14 |
| Latvia | 5 |
| Cyprus | 1 |
| Sierra Leone | 0 |
| Bolivia | 0 |
By region
71% of the diaspora lives in Africa
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Key facts
The Eritrean diaspora in numbers
The community in Canada is growing fastest
The number of Eritreans living in Canada has grown 200% since 2015, from 14.1K to 42.2K.
Most Eritreans abroad live in Sudan
42% of the diaspora lives in Sudan, while the next country accounts for just 19%.
The diaspora has grown 38% since 2020
The number of Eritreans living abroad rose from 663.3K to 912.8K in four years.
The map of the diaspora has changed since 1990
6 countries have entered the top 20 since 1990: Uganda, Israel, Denmark. Uganda climbed from outside the top 20 to #5.
1 in 4 people born in Eritrea lives abroad
912.8K people born in Eritrea now live in other countries — 25.8% of a population of 3.5M.
The share of the diaspora living in Africa has declined since 1990
83.4% of the diaspora lived in Africa in 1990, compared with 71.1% today.
Eritrean diaspora population over time
People living abroad, by year
| Year | Emigrants |
|---|---|
| 1990 | 156294 |
| 1995 | 370422 |
| 2000 | 505394 |
| 2005 | 267114 |
| 2010 | 283312 |
| 2015 | 478597 |
| 2020 | 663275 |
| 2024 | 912792 |
Largest communities over time
Eritreans living in the 5 largest countries, by year
| Year | Sudan | Ethiopia | Sweden | Canada | Uganda |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990 | 64790 | 64266 | 637 | 2333 | 0 |
| 1995 | 287519 | 49258 | 1030 | 3228 | 0 |
| 2000 | 435158 | 27869 | 2603 | 4468 | 28 |
| 2005 | 196564 | 19447 | 5093 | 5961 | 148 |
| 2010 | 142187 | 40794 | 9606 | 7795 | 5278 |
| 2015 | 159748 | 139524 | 25145 | 14071 | 9379 |
| 2020 | 220960 | 169990 | 46543 | 28286 | 15472 |
| 2024 | 384053 | 176860 | 59751 | 42246 | 41731 |
Fastest-changing communities
How the number of Eritreans in each country has changed since the selected year
Eritreans among immigrants in other countries
Where Eritreans make up the largest share of a country's immigrants
Data source: International Migrant Stock 2024 (UN DESA, Population Division)
Frequently asked questions
How many Eritreans live outside Eritrea?
Around 912.8K Eritreans live abroad, the world's #71 largest diaspora.
Where do most Eritreans abroad live?
Most Eritreans live in Sudan, Ethiopia and Sweden — these three countries account for about 68% of all Eritreans living abroad.
Which country has the largest Eritrean population outside Eritrea?
Sudan is home to the largest Eritrean community abroad — 384.1K people, about 42% of all Eritreans living abroad.
What share of the population of Eritrea lives abroad?
About 26% of the population of Eritrea lives abroad — that's 912.8K out of a total population of 3.5M.
Is the Eritrean diaspora growing?
Yes — over the past decade, the number of Eritreans living abroad has grown from 478.6K to 912.8K, about 91%.
Where does the data on the Eritrean diaspora come from?
The source is International Migrant Stock 2024 (UN DESA, Population Division). It counts people born in Eritrea who now live in other countries. Descendants of emigrants born abroad are not included.
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Living in Eritrea
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