Eritrea: immigration

How many Eritrean refugees are there?

There were 554,891 refugees and 118,444 asylum seekers from Eritrea at the end of 2025, according to UNHCR population statistics (read through its population API). A year earlier there were 551,296 refugees and 111,762 asylum seekers.

Refugees are people whose claim has been recognised or who are covered by a group status; asylum seekers are still waiting for a decision. The counts are compiled by UNHCR from host governments and its own registration, so they cover people recorded as refugees, not all Eritreans living abroad.

Official sources: UNHCR: Refugee Data Finder · UNHCR population API: Eritrea as origin, 2025

Where do Eritrean refugees live?

Ethiopia hosted the most refugees from Eritrea at the end of 2025, 162,126, followed by Sudan with 108,235 and Germany with 67,698, according to UNHCR population data by country of asylum. Switzerland hosted 38,539, Uganda 38,347, the United Kingdom 31,172, Egypt 24,782 and France 15,456.

These figures count recognised refugees only; asylum seekers awaiting a decision are listed separately in the same data. UNHCR also records 119 refugees living in Eritrea.

Official sources: UNHCR population API: Eritrean refugees by country of asylum, 2025 · UNHCR: Refugee Data Finder

What is the population of Eritrea?

Eritrea's population was 3,607,003 in 2025, according to World Bank Open Data, based on UN World Population Prospects estimates. The fertility rate was 3.68 births per woman in 2024, according to the World Bank fertility series.

The total is a UN estimate rather than a census count, and it is revised with each edition of World Population Prospects. The estimate counts people living in Eritrea, not the large population of Eritreans abroad.

Official sources: World Bank: Population, total, Eritrea · World Bank: Fertility rate, total (births per woman), Eritrea

How many refugees live in Eritrea?

Eritrea hosted 119 refugees at the end of 2025, according to UNHCR population data: 99 from Sudan, 15 from Ethiopia and 5 from South Sudan. The total number of international migrants living in Eritrea was 12,512 in 2024, according to the UN estimate in World Bank Open Data.

Refugee counts come from UNHCR's annual statistics and can change after revisions. The migrant figure is a UN estimate of people born abroad and is not limited to refugees. No official immigration or residence permit statistics were found on Eritrean government sites checked on 15 October 2026.

Official sources: UNHCR: population data, country of asylum Eritrea, 2025 · World Bank: international migrant stock, Eritrea

How many foreign-born people live in Eritrea?

0.4%: that is the share of people born abroad in Eritrea for 2024, according to the UN Population Division. In 2015 the figure was 0.5%. It is 46th highest of 48 in Sub-Saharan Africa, where the median is 2.2%. Of 193 countries with 2024 data, 176th highest.

What is net migration in Eritrea?

The latest figure from the UN Population Division, for 2025, is -6,698. Since 2005 it has ranged from -75,696 (2014) to 17,855 (2008). It is 27th highest of 48 in Sub-Saharan Africa, where the median is -5,646. Of 193 countries with 2025 data, 120th highest.

How many refugees does Eritrea host?

In 2025, the number of refugees in the country in Eritrea was 119, according to UNHCR. It is the bottom of the series, which starts in 2005. Sub-Saharan Africa median: 35,241; Eritrea is 39th highest of 45. Worldwide: 142nd of 169.

How many refugees come from Eritrea?

In 2025, the number of refugees from the country living abroad in Eritrea was 554,891, according to UNHCR. The peak was 559,853 in 2023 and the low 144,062 in 2005. It is 6th highest of 48 in Sub-Saharan Africa, where the median is 12,726. Of 189 countries with 2025 data, 10th highest.