Identity
- Official name
- State of Eritrea
- Status
- Sovereign country profile
- Demonym
- Eritrean
- Codes
- ER / ERI
Daily discoveryDid you know?
It shares land borders with Djibouti, Ethiopia, Sudan.
ERState of EritreaSovereign country profile
Eritrea
Eritrea is in Eastern Africa. This profile brings its status, flag, geography, people, languages, and latest available indicators into one clear visual story.
FlagERI · 057 / 207
🇪🇷 The flag shown for Eritrea. Profile code: ER / ERI.
01Population3.7M
UN DESA · 2026 medium projection
02CapitalAsmara
State of Eritrea
03CurrencyERN
Eritrean nakfa (ERN)
04Life expectancy69.4 years
UN DESA · 2026 medium projection
National anthemErtra, Ertra, ErtraInstrumental audio · Wikidata / Wikimedia Commons · 1:59
Basic info
Expanded country facts
Core identity, people, geography, government, and practical reference data in one scan-friendly board.
People
- Population
- 3.7M · UN DESA · 2026 medium projection
- Median age
- 19.5 years · UN DESA 2026 medium projection
- Languages
- Arabic, English, Tigrinya
- Largest cities
- Asmara
Place
- Region
- Africa
- Subregion
- Eastern Africa
- Area
- 117,600 km²
- Coordinates
- 15.0° N, 39.0° E
Practical
- Currency
- Eritrean nakfa (ERN)
- Calling code
- +291
- Time zones
- Profile-specific value pending
- Emergency
- Emergency numbers vary; check official guidance
Government
- Type
- Not published
- Head of state
- Isaias Afwerki
- Head of government
- Isaias Afwerki
- Constitution
- Comparable date pending
Geography
- Connections
- This profile has coastal access and listed land connections.
- Climate
- Tropical to subtropical zones
- Highest point
- Emba Soira
- Driving side
- Right
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See Eritrea
in context.
Start with a neighbor or a similar regional profile, then adjust the matchup across the complete atlas.
At a glance
Meet
Eritrea.
Eritrea is a world profile in Eastern Africa. Its status is sovereign country profile.
RegionEastern Africa
DemonymEritrean
Area117,600 km²
Calling code+291
Economy
The latest available indicators.
Economic values use the latest non-empty World Bank year from 2019–2026, shown below each figure.
GDPNot publishedNo recent value
GDP per personNot publishedNo recent value
GDP growthNot publishedNo recent value
A deeper profile
People, systems
& everyday life.
Comparable facts are shown with clear dates and neutral framing. Gaps stay visible instead of being filled with guesses.
How people live
Urban 34.5%Rural 65.5%
World Bank · 2025- Median age
- 19.5 years
- Languages
- Arabic, English, Tigrinya
- Capital / principal city
- Asmara
Ethnic and religious categories vary by national census and are not presented without a directly comparable, dated source.
Placed in context
Population0.1× atlas average
GDPNot ranked
Population compares the 207 atlas profiles. GDP ranking includes profiles with a published World Bank value.
A concise timeline
Wikidata records the current state as dating from 1993. Earlier state forms, independence milestones, and later constitutional changes may use different dates, so this is a starting point rather than a complete national timeline.
- Government
- Not published
- Head of state
- Isaias Afwerki
- Head of government
- Isaias Afwerki
- Current constitution
- Comparable date pending
Land and climate
- Climate
- Tropical to subtropical zones
- Geography
- Eritrea is in Eastern Africa and has coastal access. Its listed area is 117,600 km².
- Highest point
- Emba Soira
- Major rivers
- Profile-specific value pending
- Natural resources
- Profile-specific value pending
Practical essentials
- Driving side
- Right
- Calling code
- +291
- Time zones
- Profile-specific value pending
- Plug types
- Profile-specific value pending
- Tipping
- Local customs vary by setting
- Emergency numbers
- Emergency numbers vary; check official guidance
Remember Eritrea
- Asmara is the capital city.
- Eritrea covers 117,600 km².
- Eritrea has coastal access.
- It shares land borders with Djibouti, Ethiopia, Sudan.
- Listed official languages include Arabic, English, Tigrinya.
- Its international calling code is +291.
- The latest published population in this atlas is 3.6M (2025).
- The listed currency code is ERN.
Connected places
Neighboring profiles
Continue exploring across each listed land border or connected geography.
This profile has coastal access and listed land connections.
Visual atlas
Eritrea in view
People & place
Country
essentials.
Arabic, English, Tigrinya
Languages listed in the open country catalog for Eritrea.
3 listed connections
This profile has coastal access and listed land connections.
Eritrean nakfa (ERN)
The primary currency code and name used in the country catalog.
Identity card
Four essentials
ERTwo-letter country code
ERIThree-letter country code
AsmaraCapital city
AfricaWorld region
Sources & notes
Numbers you can trace.
Statistics show their reference year because country data changes. Unavailable values are clearly marked instead of estimated.
- UN DESA World Population Prospects — population, age, sex balance, and longevity ↗
- World Bank — latest available economic indicators ↗
- World Bank — urban population share ↗
- Wikidata — government and current officeholders ↗
- National anthem audio source — Ertra, Ertra, Ertra ↗
- Open country catalog — names, codes and geography ↗
- OpenStreetMap — map data ↗
Verified data & AI projection
Eritrea
Special Report.
Eritrea is profiled through long-run World Bank indicators covering the economy, population, health, work, technology, and environment. Eastern Africa context, regional connectivity, demographic direction, and long-run development indicators.
Current demographic baselineUN DESA · 2026
Medium projection from World Population Prospects, 2024 Revision
Executive read
What the numbers suggest
- Population has moved up since 2000, giving the report a clear demographic baseline.
- Life expectancy is higher than in 2000, showing the direction of health and longevity conditions.
- Recent GDP growth averages 1.3% across the latest 5 available observations.
Human development pressure
4.2MPopulation base
72.2 yrsLife expectancy
3.00Fertility rate
34.6%Internet access
2035 scenarios are simple educational trend projections from recent historical observations. They are not official forecasts.
economy · NY.GDP.MKTP.KD.ZG
LowGDP growth
2000-3.14%
20118.68%
2035 base0.98%
Low3.68%Base0.98%High-1.71%
recent average · % annual
people · SP.POP.GROW
HighPopulation growth
20001.54%
20252.00%
2035 base3.39%
Low2.90%Base3.39%High3.88%
linear trend · % annual
people · SP.POP.TOTL
HighPopulation
20002.2M
20253.6M
2035 base4.2M
Low4MBase4.2MHigh4.4M
compound trend · people
health · SP.DYN.LE00.IN
HighLife expectancy
200056.3 yrs
202468.9 yrs
2035 base72.2 yrs
Low71.0 yrsBase72.2 yrsHigh73.3 yrs
linear trend · years
people · SP.DYN.TFRT.IN
HighFertility rate
20005.40
20243.68
2035 base3.00
Low3.24Base3.00High2.76
linear trend · births per woman
people · SP.URB.TOTL.IN.ZS
HighUrban population
200034.1%
202534.5%
2035 base33.3%
Low33.8%Base33.3%High32.9%
linear trend · % of total
work · SL.UEM.TOTL.ZS
HighUnemployment
20005.66%
20255.98%
2035 base5.99%
Low5.98%Base5.99%High5.99%
recent average · % labor force
economy · NY.GDP.PCAP.CD
LowGDP per capita
2000$314.4
2011$688.7
2035 base$4.2K
Low$2.3KBase$4.2KHigh$7.6K
compound trend · current US$
environment · EN.GHG.CO2.PC.CE.AR5
HighCO2 per person
20000.30
20240.22
2035 base0.27
Low0.25Base0.27High0.28
linear trend · t CO2e/capita
technology · IT.NET.USER.ZS
LowInternet access
20000.14%
202014.3%
2035 base34.6%
Low27.5%Base34.6%High41.6%
linear trend · % of people
economy · NY.GDP.MKTP.CD
LowGDP
2000$706.4M
2011$2.1B
2035 base$23.3B
Low$10.3BBase$23.3BHigh$51.5B
compound trend · current US$
Educational projection, not an official forecast.Historical values are World Bank observations retrieved 2026-08-13. The 2026 demographic baseline is the official UN DESA medium projection from World Population Prospects 2024. The atlas's 2035 scenarios use simple trend math.