Massawa Population 2026

Massawa has a population of 23,100, making it the #4 biggest city in 🇪🇷 Eritrea, located in Northern Red Sea. Roughly 0.6% of Eritrea's population lives here. It is about 24× smaller than Asmara, the country's biggest city.

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

Population (city proper)

23,100

Rank in Eritrea

Coordinates

15.61°N, 39.47°E

~9 m elevation · Africa/Asmara

Distance to capital (Asmara)

65 km

40 miles, straight line

Cities near Massawa

Asmara563,930 people · ~65 km away
Mendefera17,781 people · ~107 km away
Keren74,800 people · ~111 km away
Barentu15,891 people · ~210 km away
Himora46,100 people · ~341 km away
Assab21,300 people · ~455 km away

FAQ

What is the population of Massawa?

Massawa has a population of 23,100 (city proper, latest official figure via GeoNames), making it the #4 biggest city in Eritrea.

What region is Massawa in?

Massawa is located in Northern Red Sea, Eritrea.

Is Massawa the capital of Eritrea?

No, the capital of Eritrea is Asmara, about 65 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.

← All biggest cities in Eritrea · Eritrea population by year