Capital

Eritrea

name: Asmara

geographic coordinates: 15 20 N, 38 56 E

time difference: UTC+3 (8 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)

etymology: the name means "they [women] made them unite," which according to Tigrinya oral tradition refers to the women of the four clans in the Asmara area who persuaded their menfolk to unite and defeat their common enemy; the name has also been translated as "live in peace"

Citizenship

Eritrea

citizenship by birth: no

citizenship by descent only: at least one parent must be a citizen of Eritrea

dual citizenship recognized: no

residency requirement for naturalization: 20 years

Legal system

Eritrea

mixed legal system of civil, customary, and Islamic religious law

Suffrage

Eritrea

18 years of age; universal

Area

Eritrea

total: 117,600 sq km

land: 101,000 sq km

water: 16,600 sq km

Land use

Eritrea

agricultural land: 75.1% (2018 est.)

arable land: 6.8% (2018 est.)

permanent crops: 0% (2018 est.)

permanent pasture: 68.3% (2018 est.)

forest: 15.1% (2018 est.)

other: 9.8% (2018 est.)

Location

Eritrea

Eastern Africa, bordering the Red Sea, between Djibouti and Sudan

Age structure

Eritrea

0-14 years: 36.27% (male 1,145,134/female 1,130,829)

15-64 years: 59.73% (male 1,842,953/female 1,904,677)

65 years and over: 4% (2023 est.) (male 100,158/female 151,045)

Birth rate

Eritrea

26.7 births/1,000 population (2023 est.)

Death rate

Eritrea

6.6 deaths/1,000 population (2023 est.)

Languages

Eritrea

Tigrinya (official), Arabic (official), English (official), Tigre, Kunama, Afar, other Cushitic languages

Life expectancy at birth

Eritrea

total population: 67.2 years (2023 est.)

male: 64.6 years

female: 69.9 years

Major urban areas - population

Eritrea

1.073 million ASMARA (capital) (2023)

Median age

Eritrea

total: 21 years (2023 est.)

male: 20.5 years

female: 21.5 years

Mother's mean age at first birth

Eritrea

21.3 years (2010 est.)

note: data represents median age at first birth among women 25-29

Net migration rate

Eritrea

-9.4 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2023 est.)

Population distribution

Eritrea

density is highest in the center of the country in and around the cities of Asmara (capital) and Keren; smaller settlements exist in the north and south as shown in this population distribution map

Population growth rate

Eritrea

1.08% (2023 est.)

Total fertility rate

Eritrea

3.5 children born/woman (2023 est.)

Urbanization

Eritrea

urban population: 43.3% of total population (2023)

rate of urbanization: 3.67% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)

Education expenditures

Eritrea

NA

School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education)

Eritrea

total: 8 years

male: 8 years

female: 7 years (2015)

Budget surplus (+) or deficit (-)

Eritrea

-9.8% (of GDP) (2017 est.)

Industrial production growth rate

Eritrea

5.4% (2017 est.)

Labor force

Eritrea

1.675 million (2021 est.)

Population below poverty line

Eritrea

50% (2004 est.)

Unemployment rate

Eritrea

8.05% (2021 est.)

7.86% (2020 est.)

5.99% (2019 est.)

Public debt

Eritrea

131.2% of GDP (2017 est.)

132.8% of GDP (2016 est.)

Inflation rate (consumer prices)

Eritrea

9% (2017 est.)

9% (2016 est.)

Exports

Eritrea

$624.3 million (2017 est.)

$485.4 million (2016 est.)

Exports - partners

Eritrea

China 62%, South Korea 28.3% (2017)

Imports

Eritrea

$1.127 billion (2017 est.)

$1.048 billion (2016 est.)

Imports - partners

Eritrea

UAE 14.5%, China 13.2%, Saudi Arabia 13.2%, Italy 12.9%, Turkey 5.6%, South Africa 4.6% (2017)

Airports

Eritrea

13 (2021)

Broadband - fixed subscriptions

Eritrea

total: 5,000 (2020 est.)

subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 0.1 (2020 est.)

Internet users

Eritrea

total: 792,000 (2021 est.)

percent of population: 22% (2021 est.)

Railways

Eritrea

total: 306 km (2018)

narrow gauge: 306 km (2018) 0.950-m gauge

Roadways

Eritrea

total: 16,000 km (2018)

paved: 1,600 km (2000)

unpaved: 14,400 km (2000)

Telephones - fixed lines

Eritrea

total subscriptions: 66,000 (2021 est.)

subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 2 (2021 est.)

Telephones - mobile cellular

Eritrea

total subscriptions: 1.8 million (2021 est.)

subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 50 (2021 est.)

Disputes - international

Eritrea

Eritrea-Ethiopia: both agreed to abide by 2002 Ethiopia-Eritrea Boundary Commission's (EEBC) delimitation decision, but neither party responded to the revised line detailed in the November 2006 EEBC Demarcation Statement

Eritrea-Sudan: Sudan accuses Eritrea of supporting eastern Sudanese rebel groups

Eritrea-Djibouti: in 2008, Eritrean troops moved across the border on Ras Doumera peninsula and occupied Doumera Island with undefined sovereignty in the Red Sea