Assab Population 2026

Assab has a population of 21,300, making it the #5 biggest city in 🇪🇷 Eritrea, located in Southern Red Sea. Roughly 0.6% of Eritrea's population lives here. It is about 26× smaller than Asmara, the country's biggest city.

Location of Assab (capital Asmara shown for reference). Boundaries: Natural Earth.

Population (city proper)

21,300

Rank in Eritrea

Coordinates

13.01°N, 42.74°E

~22 m elevation · Africa/Asmara

Distance to capital (Asmara)

485 km

301 miles, straight line

Cities near Assab

Massawa23,100 people · ~455 km away
Mendefera17,781 people · ~472 km away
Asmara563,930 people · ~485 km away
Keren74,800 people · ~555 km away
Barentu15,891 people · ~602 km away
Himora46,100 people · ~678 km away

FAQ

What is the population of Assab?

Assab has a population of 21,300 (city proper, latest official figure via GeoNames), making it the #5 biggest city in Eritrea.

What region is Assab in?

Assab is located in Southern Red Sea, Eritrea.

Is Assab the capital of Eritrea?

No, the capital of Eritrea is Asmara, about 485 km away.

Sources & notes

Population refers to the city proper (municipal boundaries), not the metropolitan area. Source: GeoNames (CC BY 4.0), retrieved 2026-07-07. Country data: UN World Population Prospects 2024.

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