MigrantoMigration trends in Eritrea
Africa
Eritrea loses more people than it takes in: 912.8K emigrants against 10.7K immigrants. Net balance −902K — 26% of the country's population
3.5M
Population
10.7K
Immigrants
912.8K
Emigrants
−902K
Outflow
1 in 329 residents of Eritrea was born abroad — and 1 in 5 people born in Eritrea lives abroad
#71 in the world by net migration loss
Top corridors
The largest migration flows in Eritrea
Key moments
How migration has changed since 1990
1990
10.8K immigrants · 156.3K emigrants
1995
- An accelerating exodus — the diaspora grew by 137%
- Surge of departures to Sudan — 222.7K people left
- The outflow deepened — net losses doubled to 359.4K
2000
- The diaspora passed 500K people
2005
- The exodus eased — the diaspora shrank by 47%
- Emigration to Sudan declined sharply — 238.6K fewer migrants there
2015
- An accelerating exodus — the diaspora grew by 69%
- Surge of departures to Ethiopia — 98.7K people left
2020
- The diaspora passed 500K people
Today
- Since 1990: roughly the same number of foreign-born residents and 756.5K more emigrants
Data source: International Migrant Stock 2024 (UN DESA, Population Division)
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