Eritrea
Africa Β· Capital: Asmara
How it is run: Eritrea is a member of the United Nations, so it gets one vote in the General Assembly. Use the research links below to find out exactly who makes the laws there.
Eritrea is home to 3.6 million people in Eastern Africa, where people speak Arabic, English, Tigrinya.
Numbers that tell a story π’
π₯ People
3.6 million people
That is about 445 people out of every million on Earth (counted in 2025).
πΊοΈ Land
117,600 kmΒ²
Roughly the size of Italy or the state of Arizona.
ποΈ How crowded
About 31 people per square kilometre β a comfortable mix of cities and open land.
π Size in its region
40th most people in Africa
38th largest by land in Africa.
π£οΈ Official languages
Arabic, English, Tigrinya
More than one language is used for official business.
π° Money
Eritrean nakfa (Nfk)
Life here today π©Ί
These come from World Bank open data β the same numbers governments use when they argue about budgets.
β€οΈ How long people live
68.9 years on average
Doctors, clean water and food supply all change this number over time.
πΌ Money made per person each year
about US$689
A lower-income country: money for schools, clinics and roads has to stretch a very long way.
π’ Living in cities
34.5% of people
Many people still live in villages and farming towns.
π Kids under 15
37.6% of the population
A very young country β schools have to be built quickly.
Everyday details π§
π Phone code
+291
Dial this before the number to call from another country.
π Websites end in
.er
π§ People here are called
Eritrean
π·οΈ Name at home
Ψ₯Ψ±ΩΨͺΨ±ΩΨ§ Β· Eritrea Β· α€αα΅α«
Also written: State of Eritrea, ααα¨ α€αα΅α«, Dawlat IritriyΓ‘.
π Coast or inland
Has a coastline
ποΈ UN voting group
African Group
Countries in the same group often plan votes together.
Neighbours & borders π€
Eritrea touches 3 neighbours by land. Neighbours share rivers, roads and usually a lot of trade.
Say its name around the world π£οΈ
Countries have different names in different languages. Try these with a penpal.
Spanish
Eritrea
French
ΓrythrΓ©e
Arabic
Ψ₯Ψ±ΩΨͺΨ±ΩΨ§
Chinese
εη«ηΉιδΊ
Japanese
γ¨γͺγγͺγ’
Russian
ΠΡΠΈΡΡΠ΅Ρ
Portuguese
Eritreia
German
Eritrea
Put it in perspective π
- Nigeria β the most populated country in Africa β has about 65.9Γ as many people as Eritrea.
- Eritrea covers roughly 1,120 times the area of Hong Kong Island.
- If everyone in Eritrea lined up shoulder to shoulder, the line would stretch about 1,804 km.
Fast facts π§
Fact of the day: πͺπ· is the flag of Eritrea. Its country code β the short name used on the internet and at the Olympics β is ER.
π·οΈ Official name
State of Eritrea
ποΈ Capital
Asmara
π Region
Africa Β· Eastern Africa
π€ Country code
ER
ποΈ UN status
UN member state
π© Independence
Independent country
More about Eritrea π
π§ Where on the map
15.0Β° N, 39.0Β° E
π Half of the world
Northern & Eastern hemisphere
π°οΈ Clock check
Roughly UTC+3 β when it is noon in London it is about 15:00 in Asmara.
- Eritrea sits in Eastern Africa, in the northern and eastern half of the globe.
- Eritrea is an independent country, meaning it makes its own laws.
- Eritrea shares its part of the world with British Indian Ocean Territory. Countries close together often trade the most with each other.
- The capital of Eritrea is Asmara β that's where the country's big decisions get made.
- πͺπ· is the flag of Eritrea. Its country code β the short name used on the internet and at the Olympics β is ER.
Countries nearby π€
Talk about it π¬
- Eritrea has 3 official languages. How would your school day change if lessons were taught in more than one language?
- Eritrea can trade by sea. What should a country protect first: its ports, its fishing waters, or its beaches?
- If Eritrea spoke at the General Assembly tomorrow, what one problem should its delegate ask the world to help fix?
Quick quiz π§ͺ
Guess first, then tap to check your answer.
What is the capital of Eritrea?
Asmara
Which money do people spend in Eritrea?
Eritrean nakfa (Nfk)
How many countries share a land border with Eritrea?
3 β Djibouti, Ethiopia, Sudan.
Roughly how many people live in Eritrea?
3.6 million people
Keep researching π
Everything here is a starting point. These trusted sites, databases and libraries will take you further β and they are the kind of sources a teacher will accept in a report.
Start here β kid-friendly encyclopedias π
Short articles written for students, with maps and photos you can use in a report.
Official data & government sources ποΈ
Primary sources. Cite these when your teacher asks for real data.
News & current policy π°
Use two different outlets before you decide what you think.
Your library card π«
Libraries give you books, databases and librarians β all free.
Library tip: Ask your school or public librarian for their online databases (like Gale in Context or EBSCO Explora). Your library card unlocks them for free at home, and they are already checked by adults for school use.