Eritrea won independence from Italian colonial control in 1941, but the UN only established it as an autonomous region within the Ethiopian federation in 1952, after a decade of British administrative control. Ethiopia’s full annexation of Eritrea as a province 10 years later sparked a violent 30-year conflict for independence that ended in 1991 with Eritrean fighters defeating government forces. Eritreans overwhelmingly approved independence in a 1993 referendum. ISAIAS Afwerki has been Eritrea’s only president since independence; his rule, particularly since 2001, has been characterized by highly autocratic and repressive actions. His government has created a highly militarized society by instituting an unpopular program of mandatory conscription into national service — divided between military and civilian service — of indefinite length.
A two-and-a-half-year border war with Ethiopia that erupted in 1998 ended under UN auspices in 2000. Ethiopia rejected a subsequent 2007 Eritrea-Ethiopia Boundary Commission (EEBC) demarcation. More than a decade of a tense “no peace, no war” stalemate ended in 2018 when the newly elected Ethiopian prime minister accepted the EEBC’s 2007 ruling, and the two countries signed declarations of peace and friendship. Eritrean leaders then engaged in intensive diplomacy around the Horn of Africa, bolstering regional peace, security, and cooperation, as well as brokering rapprochements between governments and opposition groups. In 2018, the UN Security Council lifted an arms embargo that had been imposed on Eritrea since 2009, after the UN Somalia-Eritrea Monitoring Group reported they had not found evidence of Eritrean support in recent years for al-Shabaab. The country’s rapprochement with Ethiopia led to a resumption of economic ties, but the level of air transport, trade, and tourism have remained roughly the same since late 2020.
The Eritrean economy remains agriculture-dependent, and the country is still one of Africa’s poorest nations. Eritrea faced new international condemnation and US sanctions in mid-2021 for its participation in the war in Ethiopia’s Tigray Regional State, where Eritrean forces were found to have committed war crimes and crimes against humanity. As most Eritrean troops were departing northern Ethiopia in January 2023, ISAIAS began a series of diplomatic engagements aimed at bolstering Eritrea’s foreign partnerships and regional influence. Despite the country’s improved relations with its neighbors, ISAIAS has not let up on repression, and conscription and militarization continue.
Geography
Location
Eastern Africa, bordering the Red Sea, between Djibouti and Sudan
Geographic coordinates
15 00 N, 39 00 E
Map references
Africa
Area
total : 117,600 sq km
land: 101,000 sq km
water: 16,600 sq km
comparison ranking: total 101
Area – comparative
slightly smaller than Pennsylvania
Area comparison map:
Land boundaries
total: 1,840 km
border countries (3): Djibouti 125 km; Ethiopia 1,033 km; Sudan 682 km
Coastline
2,234 km (mainland on Red Sea 1,151 km, islands in Red Sea 1,083 km)
Maritime claims
territorial sea: 12 nm
Climate
hot, dry desert strip along Red Sea coast; cooler and wetter in the central highlands (up to 61 cm of rainfall annually, heaviest June to September); semiarid in western hills and lowlands
Terrain
dominated by extension of Ethiopian north-south trending highlands, descending on the east to a coastal desert plain, on the northwest to hilly terrain and on the southwest to flat-to-rolling plains
Elevation
highest point: Soira 3,018 m
lowest point: near Kulul within the Danakil Depression -75 m
mean elevation: 853 m
Natural resources
gold, potash, zinc, copper, salt, possibly oil and natural gas, fish
Land use
agricultural land: 62.7% (2022 est.)
arable land: 5.7% (2022 est.)
permanent crops: 0% (2022 est.)
permanent pasture: 57% (2022 est.)
forest: 8.7% (2022 est.)
other: 28.6% (2022 est.)
Irrigated land
210 sq km (2012)
Population distribution
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
Natural hazards
frequent droughts, rare earthquakes and volcanoes; locust swarms
volcanism: Dubbi (1,625 m), which last erupted in 1861, was the country’s only historically active volcano until Nabro (2,218 m) came to life on 12 June 2011
Geography – note
strategic geopolitical position along world’s busiest shipping lanes
People and Society
Population
total: 6,343,956 (2024 est.)
male: 3,122,433
female: 3,221,523
comparison rankings: total 111; female 110; male 111
Nationality
noun: Eritrean(s)
adjective: Eritrean
Ethnic groups
Tigrinya 50%, Tigre 30%, Saho 4%, Afar 4%, Kunama 4%, Bilen 3%, Hedareb/Beja 2%, Nara 2%, Rashaida 1% (2021 est.)
note: data represent Eritrea’s nine recognized ethnic groups
Languages
Tigrinya (official), Arabic (official), English (official), Tigre, Kunama, Afar, other Cushitic languages
Religions
Eritrean Orthodox, Roman Catholic, Evangelical Lutheran, Sunni Muslim
Age structure
0-14 years: 35.7% (male 1,138,382/female 1,123,925)
15-64 years: 60.3% (male 1,882,547/female 1,944,266)
65 years and over: 4% (2024 est.) (male 101,504/female 153,332)
2024 population pyramid:
Dependency ratios
total dependency ratio: 65.8 (2024 est.)
youth dependency ratio: 59.1 (2024 est.)
elderly dependency ratio: 6.7 (2024 est.)
potential support ratio: 15 (2024 est.)
Median age
total: 21.3 years (2024 est.)
male: 20.8 years
female: 21.8 years
comparison ranking: total 192
Population growth rate
1.12% (2024 est.)
comparison ranking: 82
Birth rate
26.3 births/1,000 population (2024 est.)
comparison ranking: 41
Death rate
6.5 deaths/1,000 population (2024 est.)
comparison ranking: 139
Net migration rate
-8.7 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2024 est.)
comparison ranking: 220
Population distribution
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
Urbanization
urban population: 43.3% of total population (2023)
rate of urbanization: 3.67% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)
Major urban areas – population
1.073 million ASMARA (capital) (2023)
Sex ratio
at birth: 1.03 male(s)/female
0-14 years: 1.01 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 0.97 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.66 male(s)/female
total population: 0.97 male(s)/female (2024 est.)
Mother’s mean age at first birth
21.3 years (2010 est.)
note: data represents median age at first birth among women 25-29
Maternal mortality ratio
322 deaths/100,000 live births (2020 est.)
comparison ranking: 28
Infant mortality rate
total: 39.8 deaths/1,000 live births (2024 est.)
male: 46.6 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 32.8 deaths/1,000 live births
comparison ranking: total 29
Life expectancy at birth
total population: 67.5 years (2024 est.)
male: 64.9 years
female: 70.2 years
comparison ranking: total population 197
Total fertility rate
3.43 children born/woman (2024 est.)
comparison ranking: 37
Gross reproduction rate
1.69 (2024 est.)
Contraceptive prevalence rate
NA
Drinking water source
improved:
urban: 73.2% of population
rural: 53.3% of population
total: 57.8% of population
unimproved:
urban: 26.8% of population
rural: 46.7% of population
total: 42.2% of population (2015 est.)
Health expenditure
4.2% of GDP (2021)
2.4% of national budget (2022 est.)
Physician density
0.09 physicians/1,000 population (2022)
Hospital bed density
1 beds/1,000 population (2020 est.)
Sanitation facility access
improved:
urban: 44.5% of population
rural: 7.3% of population
total: 15.7% of population
unimproved:
urban: 55.5% of population
rural: 92.7% of population
total: 84.3% of population (2017 est.)
Obesity – adult prevalence rate
5% (2016)
comparison ranking: 183
Alcohol consumption per capita
total: 0.93 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
beer: 0.42 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
wine: 0 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
spirits: 0 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
other alcohols: 0.51 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
comparison ranking: total 153
Tobacco use
total: 7.5% (2020 est.)
male: 14.7% (2020 est.)
female: 0.2% (2020 est.)
comparison ranking: total 148
Currently married women (ages 15-49)
52.3% (2023 est.)
Literacy
total population: 76.6%
male: 84.4%
female: 68.9% (2018)
School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education)
total: 8 years
male: 8 years
female: 7 years (2015)
Environment
Environment – current issues
deforestation; desertification; soil erosion; overgrazing
Environment – international agreements
party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Ozone Layer Protection, Whaling
signed, but not ratified: Climate Change-Paris Agreement
Climate
hot, dry desert strip along Red Sea coast; cooler and wetter in the central highlands (up to 61 cm of rainfall annually, heaviest June to September); semiarid in western hills and lowlands
Land use
agricultural land: 62.7% (2022 est.)
arable land: 5.7% (2022 est.)
permanent crops: 0% (2022 est.)
permanent pasture: 57% (2022 est.)
forest: 8.7% (2022 est.)
other: 28.6% (2022 est.)
Urbanization
urban population: 43.3% of total population (2023)
rate of urbanization: 3.67% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)
Air pollutants
particulate matter emissions: 22.74 micrograms per cubic meter (2019 est.)
carbon dioxide emissions: 0.71 megatons (2016 est.)
methane emissions: 4.48 megatons (2020 est.)
Waste and recycling
municipal solid waste generated annually: 726,957 tons (2011 est.)
Total water withdrawal
municipal: 30 million cubic meters (2020 est.)
industrial: 1 million cubic meters (2017 est.)
agricultural: 550 million cubic meters (2020 est.)
Total renewable water resources
7.32 billion cubic meters (2020 est.)
Government
Country name
conventional long form: State of Eritrea
conventional short form: Eritrea
local long form: Hagere Ertra
local short form: Ertra
former: Eritrea Autonomous Region in Ethiopia
etymology: the country name derives from the ancient Greek name Erythra Thalassa, meaning “Red Sea,” the body of water that borders the country
Government type
presidential republic
Capital
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’s origin is unclear; according to Tigrinya oral tradition, the name is part of a phrase meaning “the women made them unite,” referring to a group of women who made four clans unite to defeat a common enemy; asmara also means “flowery wood” in the Tigrinya language
Administrative divisions
6 regions (zobatat, singular – zoba); ‘Anseba, Debub (South), Debubawi K’eyyih Bahri (Southern Red Sea), Gash-Barka, Ma’ikel (Central), Semienawi K’eyyih Bahri (Northern Red Sea)
Legal system
mixed system of civil, customary, and Islamic religious law
Constitution
history: ratified by the Constituent Assembly 23 May 1997 (never implemented)
amendment process: proposed by the president of Eritrea or by assent of at least one half of the National Assembly membership; passage requires at least an initial three-quarters majority vote by the Assembly and, after one year, final passage by at least four-fifths majority vote by the Assembly
International law organization participation
has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration; non-party state to the ICCt
Citizenship
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
Suffrage
18 years of age; universal
Executive branch
chief of state: President ISAIAS Afwerki (since 24 May 1993)
head of government: President ISAIAS Afwerki (since 8 June 1993)
cabinet: State Council appointed by the president
elections/appointments: president indirectly elected by the National Assembly for a 5-year term (eligible for a second term), according to the constitution; the only election held was on 24 May 1993, following independence from Ethiopia (next postponed indefinitely)
election results:
1993: ISAIAS Afwerki elected president by the transitional National Assembly; percent of National Assembly vote – ISAIAS Afwerki (PFDJ) 95%, other 5%
note: the president is both chief of state and head of government and is head of the State Council and National Assembly
Legislative branch
legislature name: National Assembly (Hagerawi Baito)
legislative structure: unicameral
number of seats: 150 (all indirectly elected)
scope of elections: full renewal
term in office: 4 years
most recent election date: 2/1/1994
note: in 1997, after the new constitution was adopted, the government formed a Transitional National Assembly to serve as the country’s legislative body until countrywide elections to form a National Assembly could be held; the constitution stipulates that once past the transition stage, all National Assembly members will be elected by secret ballot of all eligible voters; National Assembly elections scheduled for December 2001 were postponed indefinitely due to the war with Ethiopia; as of 2025, no sitting legislative body exists
Judicial branch
highest court(s): High Court (consists of 20 judges and organized into civil, commercial, criminal, labor, administrative, and customary sections)
judge selection and term of office: High Court judges appointed by the president
subordinate courts: regional/zonal courts; community courts; special courts; sharia courts (for issues dealing with Muslim marriage, inheritance, and family); military courts
Political parties
People’s Front for Democracy and Justice or PFDJ (the only party recognized by the government)
Diplomatic representation in the US
chief of mission: Ambassador (vacant); Chargé d’Affaires Berhane Gebrehiwet SOLOMON (since 15 March 2011)
chancery: 1708 New Hampshire Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20009
telephone: [1] (202) 319-1991
FAX: [1] (202) 319-1304
email address and website:
[email protected]
https://us.embassyeritrea.org/
Diplomatic representation from the US
chief of mission: Ambassador (vacant); Chargé d’Affaires Leslie FRERIKSEN (since 18 July 2022)
embassy: 179 Alaa Street, Asmara
mailing address: 7170 Asmara Place, Washington DC 20521-7170
telephone: [291] (1) 12-00-04
FAX: [291] (1) 12-75-84
email address and website:
[email protected]
https://er.usembassy.gov/
International organization participation
ACP, AfDB, AU, COMESA, FAO, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC (NGOs), IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS (observer), IGAD, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, ISO (correspondent), ITU, ITUC (NGOs), LAS (observer), MIGA, NAM, OPCW, PCA, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHRC, UNIDO, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WFTU (NGOs), WHO, WIPO, WMO
Independence
24 May 1993 (from Ethiopia)
National holiday
Independence Day, 24 May (1991)
Flag description
a red isosceles triangle (based on the hoist side) divides the flag into two right triangles; the upper triangle is green, the lower is blue; a gold wreath encircling a gold olive branch is centered on the hoist side of the red triangle; green stands for the country’s agriculture economy, red for the blood shed in the fight for freedom, and blue for the sea’s bounty; the shape of the red triangle mimics the shape of the country
note: one of four national flags that reflect the shape of the country in the flag design; the others are Bosnia and Herzegovina, Brazil, and Vanuatu
National symbol(s)
camel
National colors
green, red, blue
National anthem
name: “Ertra, Ertra, Ertra” (Eritrea, Eritrea, Eritrea)
lyrics/music: SOLOMON Tsehaye Beraki/Isaac Abraham MEHAREZGI and ARON Tekle Tesfatsion
note: adopted 1993; upon independence from Ethiopia
National heritage
total World Heritage Sites: 1 (cultural)
selected World Heritage Site locales: Asmara: A Modernist African City
Economy
Economic overview
largely agrarian economy with a significant mining sector; substantial fiscal surplus due to tight controls; high and vulnerable debts; increased Ethiopian trade and shared port usage decreasing prices; financial and economic data integrity challenges
Real GDP (purchasing power parity)
$9.702 billion (2017 est.)
$8.953 billion (2016 est.)
$8.791 billion (2015 est.)
note: data are in 2017 dollars
comparison ranking: 168
Real GDP growth rate
5% (2017 est.)
1.9% (2016 est.)
2.6% (2015 est.)
comparison ranking: 56
Real GDP per capita
$1,600 (2017 est.)
$1,500 (2016 est.)
$1,500 (2015 est.)
note: data are in 2017 dollars
comparison ranking: 216
GDP (official exchange rate)
$5.813 billion (2017 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices)
9% (2017 est.)
9% (2016 est.)
comparison ranking: 181
GDP – composition, by sector of origin
agriculture: 11.7% (2017 est.)
industry: 29.6% (2017 est.)
services: 58.7% (2017 est.)
comparison rankings: services 98; industry 68; agriculture 67
GDP – composition, by end use
household consumption: 80.9% (2017 est.)
government consumption: 24.3% (2017 est.)
investment in fixed capital: 6.4% (2017 est.)
investment in inventories: 0.1% (2017 est.)
exports of goods and services: 10.9% (2017 est.)
imports of goods and services: -22.5% (2017 est.)
Agricultural products
sorghum, milk, barley, vegetables, root vegetables, cereals, pulses, wheat, beef, maize (2023)
note: top ten agricultural products based on tonnage
Industries
food processing, beverages, clothing and textiles, light manufacturing, salt, cement
Industrial production growth rate
4.3% (2014 est.)
note: annual % change in industrial value added based on constant local currency
comparison ranking: 73
Labor force
1.71 million (2024 est.)
note: number of people ages 15 or older who are employed or seeking work
comparison ranking: 132
Unemployment rate
5.6% (2024 est.)
5.6% (2023 est.)
5.7% (2022 est.)
note: % of labor force seeking employment
comparison ranking: 115
Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24)
total: 9.4% (2024 est.)
male: 8.5% (2024 est.)
female: 10.5% (2024 est.)
note: % of labor force ages 15-24 seeking employment
comparison ranking: total 135
Budget
revenues: $633 million (2018 est.)
expenditures: $549 million (2018 est.)
Public debt
131.2% of GDP (2017 est.)
comparison ranking: 8
Taxes and other revenues
34.9% (of GDP) (2017 est.)
comparison ranking: 17
Current account balance
-$137 million (2017 est.)
-$105 million (2016 est.)
comparison ranking: 103
Exports
$624.3 million (2017 est.)
$485.4 million (2016 est.)
comparison ranking: 191
Exports – partners
China 67%, UAE 26%, Philippines 5%, Italy 1%, Croatia 1% (2023)
note: top five export partners based on percentage share of exports
Exports – commodities
copper ore, zinc ore, gold, garments, liquor (2023)
note: top five export commodities based on value in dollars
Imports
$1.127 billion (2017 est.)
$1.048 billion (2016 est.)
$494.229 million (2010 est.)
comparison ranking: 193
Imports – partners
China 32%, UAE 27%, Turkey 9%, USA 7%, Italy 5% (2023)
note: top five import partners based on percentage share of imports
Imports – commodities
trucks, sorghum, construction vehicles, wheat flours, other foods (2023)
note: top five import commodities based on value in dollars
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold
$191.694 million (2019 est.)
$163.034 million (2018 est.)
$143.412 million (2017 est.)
note: holdings of gold (year-end prices)/foreign exchange/special drawing rights in current dollars
comparison ranking: 184
Debt – external
$461.376 million (2023 est.)
note: present value of external debt in current US dollars
comparison ranking: 113
Exchange rates
nakfa (ERN) per US dollar –
Exchange rates:
15.075 (2024 est.)
15.075 (2023 est.)
15.075 (2022 est.)
15.075 (2021 est.)
15.075 (2020 est.)
Energy
Electricity access
electrification – total population: 55.4% (2022 est.)
electrification – urban areas: 75.5%
electrification – rural areas: 36%
Electricity
installed generating capacity: 243,000 kW (2023 est.)
consumption: 388.987 million kWh (2023 est.)
transmission/distribution losses: 51.528 million kWh (2023 est.)
comparison rankings: transmission/distribution losses 39; consumption 182; installed generating capacity 169
Electricity generation sources
fossil fuels: 89.1% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
solar: 10.7% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
wind: 0.2% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Petroleum
refined petroleum consumption: 5,000 bbl/day (2023 est.)
Carbon dioxide emissions
733,000 metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
from petroleum and other liquids: 733,000 metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
comparison ranking: total emissions 179
Energy consumption per capita
2.977 million Btu/person (2023 est.)
comparison ranking: 179
Communications
Telephones – fixed lines
total subscriptions: 66,000 (2021 est.)
subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 2 (2022 est.)
comparison ranking: total subscriptions 149
Telephones – mobile cellular
total subscriptions: 1.8 million (2021 est.)
subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 50 (2021 est.)
comparison ranking: total subscriptions 154
Broadcast media
government controls broadcast media, with private ownership prohibited; 1 state-owned TV station; 2 state-owned radio networks; purchases of satellite dishes and subscriptions to international broadcast media are permitted (2023)
Internet country code
.er
Internet users
percent of population: 20% (2023 est.)
Broadband – fixed subscriptions
total: 6,000 (2022 est.)
subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: (2022 est.) less than 1
comparison ranking: total 194
Transportation
Civil aircraft registration country code prefix
E3
Airports
11 (2025)
comparison ranking: 155
Railways
total: 306 km (2018)
narrow gauge: 306 km (2018) 0.950-m gauge
Merchant marine
total: 9 (2023)
by type: general cargo 4, oil tanker 1, other 4
comparison ranking: total 161
Ports
total ports: 2 (2024)
large: 0
medium: 0
small: 2
very small: 0
ports with oil terminals: 2
key ports: Assab, Mitsiwa Harbor
Military and Security
Military and security forces
Eritrean Defense Forces (EDF): Eritrean Ground Forces, Eritrean Navy, Eritrean Air Force; People’s Militia (aka People’s Army or Hizbawi Serawit) (2024)
note: police are responsible for maintaining internal security, but the government sometimes used the armed forces, reserves, demobilized soldiers, or civilian militia to meet domestic as well as external security requirements; the armed forces have authority to arrest and detain civilians
Military expenditures
10% of GDP (2019 est.)
10.2% of GDP (2018 est.)
10.3% of GDP (2017 est.)
10.4% of GDP (2016 est.)
10.6% of GDP (2015 est.)
Military and security service personnel strengths
available information varies widely; estimated 150,000-200,000 active EDF (2024)
Military equipment inventories and acquisitions
the EDF’s inventory is comprised primarily of Soviet-era weapons and equipment (2024)
Military service age and obligation
Eritrea mandates military service for all citizens age 18-40; 18-month conscript service obligation, which reportedly includes 4-6 months of military training and 12 months of military or other national service (military service is most common); in practice, military and national service is often extended indefinitely; citizens up to the age of 59 eligible for recall during mobilization (2024)
Military – note
the military’s primary responsibilities are external defense, border security, and providing the regime a vehicle for national cohesion; the Army is the dominant service; it is a conscript-based force estimated to have more than 20 infantry divisions, including some that are mechanized, as well as a division of commandos/special forces
since the country’s independence in 1991, the Eritrean military has participated in numerous conflicts, including the Hanish Island Crisis with Yemen (1995), the First Congo War (1996-1997), the Second Sudanese Civil War (1996-1998), the Eritrea-Ethiopia War (1998-2000), the Djiboutian-Eritrean border conflict (2008), and the Tigray conflict in Ethiopia (2020-2022); during the Tigray conflict, the Eritrean Defense Forces were accused of widespread human rights abuses (2023)
Transnational Issues
Trafficking in persons
tier rating: Tier 3 — Eritrea does not fully meet the minimum standards for the elimination of trafficking and is not making significant efforts to do so, therefore Eritrea remained on Tier 3; for more details, go to: https://www.state.gov/reports/2024-trafficking-in-persons-report/eritrea/
