Eritrea

Background

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.

Area

Climate

a hot, arid desert corridor situated along the Red Sea coastline; the central highlands experience cooler and wetter conditions (receiving up to 61 cm of annual rainfall, predominantly from June to September); the western hills and lowlands are classified as semiarid

Terrain

characterized by an extension of the Ethiopian highlands, which trend north-south, sloping down to a coastal desert plain on the east, to hilly landscapes on the northwest, and to flat-to-rolling plains in the southwest

Land use

Location

located in Eastern Africa, adjacent to the Red Sea, positioned between Djibouti and Sudan

Coastline

2,234 km (mainland on Red Sea 1,151 km; islands in Red Sea 1,083 km)

Elevation

Irrigated land

210 sq km (2012)

Map references

Africa

Land boundaries

Maritime claims

Natural hazards

experiences frequent droughts, with infrequent occurrences of earthquakes and volcanoes; subject to locust infestations

volcanism: Dubbi (1,625 m), the only historically active volcano in the country until Nabro (2,218 m) erupted in 2011, last erupted in 1861

Geography - note

holds a strategically significant geopolitical location along the most trafficked shipping routes in the world

Natural resources

resources include gold, potash, zinc, copper, salt, and potentially oil and natural gas, along with fish

Area - comparative

marginally smaller than the state of Pennsylvania

Geographic coordinates

15 00 N, 39 00 E

Population distribution

population density is most concentrated in the central region of the country, particularly in and around the cities of Asmara (the capital) and Keren; smaller communities are found in the northern and southern regions, as depicted in this population distribution map

Languages

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

Religions

Eritrean Orthodox, Roman Catholic, Evangelical Lutheran, Sunni Muslim

Sex ratio

Birth rate

25.92 births/1,000 population (2025 est.)

Death rate

6.43 deaths/1,000 population (2025 est.)

Median age

Population

Nationality

Tobacco use

Urbanization

Age structure

Ethnic groups

Tigrinya 50%, Tigre 30%, Saho 4%, Afar 4%, Kunama 4%, Bilen 3%, Hedareb/Beja 2%, Nara 2%, Rashaida 1% (2021 estimate)

Dependency ratios

Physician density

0.09 physicians/1,000 population (2022)

Health expenditure

Net migration rate

-7.95 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2025 est.)

Hospital bed density

1 beds/1,000 population (2020 est.)

Total fertility rate

3.35 children born/woman (2025 est.)

Infant mortality rate

Population growth rate

1.16% (2025 est.)

Gross reproduction rate

1.65 (2025 est.)

Population distribution

population density is greatest in the central region, particularly in and around Asmara (the capital) and Keren; additional smaller communities are found in the northern and southern regions, as illustrated in this population distribution chart

Life expectancy at birth

Maternal mortality ratio

291 deaths/100,000 live births (2023 est.)

Alcohol consumption per capita

Major urban areas - population

1.073 million ASMARA (capital) (2023)

Obesity - adult prevalence rate

5% (2016)

Mother's mean age at first birth

21.3 years (2010 est.)

School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education)

Climate

a hot, arid desert region adjacent to the Red Sea; the central highlands experience cooler and more humid conditions (receiving up to 61 centimeters of rainfall each year, with the most significant precipitation occurring from June to September); the western hills and lowlands are classified as semiarid

Land use

Urbanization

Methane emissions

Waste and recycling

Environmental issues

deforestation; desertification; soil erosion; overgrazing

Total water withdrawal

Carbon dioxide emissions

Particulate matter emissions

22.7 micrograms per cubic meter (2019 est.)

Total renewable water resources

7.315 billion cubic meters (2022 est.)

International environmental agreements

Flag

description: a red isosceles triangle (anchored on the left side) separates the flag into two right triangles; the upper section is green, while the lower section is blue; a golden wreath encircling a golden olive branch is positioned on the left side of the red triangle

meaning: green symbolizes the nation’s agricultural economy, red represents the blood spilled in the struggle for independence, and blue signifies the wealth of the sea; the form of the red triangle reflects the outline of the country

Capital

Suffrage

18 years of age; universal

Citizenship

Constitution

Country name

Independence

24 May 1993 (from Ethiopia)

Legal system

a hybrid system comprising civil, customary, and Islamic religious laws

Government type

authoritarian

Judicial branch

Executive branch

National holiday

Independence Day, 24 May (1991)

National color(s)

green, red, blue

National heritage

Political parties

People's Front for Democracy and Justice or PFDJ (the only party recognized by the government)

Legislative branch

National anthem(s)

National symbol(s)

camel

National coat of arms

Eritrea officially adopted its coat of arms on May 24, 1993, coinciding with its independence from Ethiopia; the camel, utilized for transporting supplies and goods during the conflict, has become a symbol of the nation's success; the olive wreath signifies peace, reconciliation, and harmony; beneath the camel is the name of the country presented in its three official languages: Tigrinya, English, and Arabic

Administrative divisions

comprises 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)

Diplomatic representation in the US

Diplomatic representation from the US

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

International law organization participation

has not presented a declaration for ICJ jurisdiction; non-party state to the ICCt

Budget

Exports

Imports

Industries

beverages, food processing, textiles and clothing, light manufacturing, cement, salt

Labor force

1.71 million (2024 est.)

Public debt

Exchange rates

Debt - external

Economic overview

an economy primarily based on agriculture with a notable mining industry; significant fiscal surplus maintained through strict regulations; high and precarious debt levels; rising trade with Ethiopia and shared port access leading to reduced prices; challenges concerning the integrity of financial and economic data

Unemployment rate

Exports - partners

China 67%, UAE 26%, Philippines 5%, Italy 1%, Croatia 1% (2023)

Imports - partners

China 32%, UAE 27%, Turkey 9%, USA 7%, Italy 5% (2023)

Real GDP per capita

Real GDP growth rate

Agricultural products

sorghum, milk, barley, vegetables, root crops, cereals, pulses, wheat, beef, maize (2023)

Exports - commodities

copper ore, zinc ore, gold, textiles, alcoholic beverages (2023)

Imports - commodities

trucks, sorghum, construction equipment, wheat flour, various food items (2023)

GDP (official exchange rate)

$2.535 billion (2024 est.)

Inflation rate (consumer prices)

Real GDP (purchasing power parity)

Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold

Petroleum

Electricity

Electricity access

Energy consumption per capita

Electricity generation sources

Internet users

Broadcast media

The government regulates broadcast media, forbidding private ownership; there is 1 state-owned television station; 2 state-operated radio networks; the acquisition of satellite dishes and subscriptions to foreign broadcasting services is allowed (2023)

Internet country code

.er

Telephones - fixed lines

Telephones - mobile cellular

Broadband - fixed subscriptions

Ports

Airports

11 (2025)

Railways

Merchant marine

Civil aircraft registration country code prefix

E3

Military - note

The main duties of the military include external defense, securing borders, and serving as a unifying force for the regime; the conscription-based Army is the leading branch of service.

Since gaining independence in 1991, the Eritrean military has been involved in various conflicts, such as 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 faced allegations of human rights violations. In recent years, it has also provided training assistance to the Somali military (2025).

Military expenditures

Military and security forces

Eritrean Defense Forces (EDF): Comprising the Eritrean Ground Forces, Eritrean Navy, and Eritrean Air Force; People's Militia (also known as People's Army or Hizbawi Serawit) (2024).

Military service age and obligation

Eritrea requires military service from all citizens aged 18 to 40; the conscription period lasts 18 months, which typically consists of 4-6 months of training followed by 12 months of military or other national service (with military service being the most prevalent). In practice, service and national duties are frequently extended indefinitely. Citizens up to 59 years of age are subject to recall during times of mobilization (2025).

Military equipment inventories and acquisitions

The inventory of the EDF is mainly composed of weapons and equipment from the Soviet era (2025).

Military and security service personnel strengths

Data available is highly variable; the estimated number of active Defense Forces ranges from 150,000 to 200,000 (2025).

Trafficking in persons

Refugees and internally displaced persons