Eritrea Net Migration

Eritrea’s net migration balance has swung dramatically over the six‑decade span covered by World Bank data, moving from a modest inflow of 1,045.00 in 1960 to an all‑time peak of 136,105.00 in 1995, before plunging to a historic trough of –328,546.00 in 1991, the deepest outflow recorded for the country. By 2025 the balance registered –6,698.00, placing Eritrea 76th globally and aligning closely with peers such as Uzbekistan (–6,987.00) and Bosnia and Herzegovina (–6,994.00). The sharp reversal from the mid‑1990s high to the early‑1990s low reflects the combined impact of protracted conflict, restrictive domestic policies and limited economic opportunities that prompted large‑scale emigration. Recent figures suggest a persistent, though less extreme, net loss of residents, driven by ongoing political uncertainty and constrained labour markets. Should reforms improve governance and expand employment prospects, the outflow could moderate, potentially shifting the migration balance toward a more stable or even positive trajectory.