Eritrea

Eritrea sits in the Horn of Africa, bordered by Sudan to the west, Ethiopia to the south, Djibouti to the southeast, and the Red Sea to the east and northeast. Its seat of government and largest city is Asmara. The nation is a single-party presidential republic where the People’s Front for Democracy and Justice (PFDJ) has governed since independence in 1993. The 1997 constitution has not been fully implemented, and no national legislative elections have been held since independence.

Every number below is a snapshot, not a fact frozen in time. Population, economic output, and health statistics change each year, and different agencies may publish different figures for the same year because they use different definitions and collection methods. Every changing figure should be checked against the named source for the year you need.

Fixed statistical identifiers

These identifiers are administrative codes assigned by the United Nations Statistics Division (UNSD) and the International Organization for Standardization. They define Eritrea’s position in global statistical frameworks and change rarely. They are classification codes, not political statements about territory, sovereignty, borders, or recognition.

Field	Value
UN M49 code	232
ISO alpha-2	ER
ISO alpha-3	ERI
UN region	Africa
UN subregion	Sub-Saharan Africa
UN member state	Yes
World Bank capital field	Asmara

The M49 standard is maintained by UNSD and is the standard reference for regional groupings in UN databases. The World Bank uses the same code set in its country API; the API response returns the ISO codes, capital name, regional grouping, income level, and lending category. The capital value is administrative metadata, not a political statement.

How to verify current data

Population

The UN Population Division publishes annual estimates and projections. As of the UN’s 2024 World Population Prospects, Eritrea’s population was estimated at roughly 3.5-3.8 million people, with a median age around19 years. Eritrea has not conducted a full census since1984; the government’s own statistical office, the National Statistics Office of Eritrea, has not published complete census results since independence in1993. All recent figures are model-based estimates, not counts. The World Bank’s country API provides the current population estimate series (SP.POP.TOTL), but the latest available year will lag by1-2 years.

For population estimates and demographic indicators, use the United Nations World Population Prospects (UN DESA). The reference year is stated in each data file.

Languages

Eritrea has no single official language at the federal level. The working languages are Tigrinya and Arabic, with English used in higher education and some official contexts. The Eritrean constitution, ratified1997, states that all Eritrean languages are equal. Tigre, Saho, Bilen, Nara, Kunama, Afar, and other minority languages are spoken. Figures on speaker numbers are not reliably published by the Eritrean government. The CIA World Factbook provides estimates but notes that recent census data are absent.

Currency

The national currency is the Eritrean nakfa (ERN). The Bank of Eritrea issues and manages it. Exchange rates change frequently; check the Bank of Eritrea or a current currency converter for today’s rate. Do not rely on static conversion tables from older articles.

Government and economy

Eritrea is a single-party presidential republic. The World Bank’s country profile provides income grouping and development indicators. As of the latest World Bank fiscal year grouping, published July2024, Eritrea is grouped as a low-income nation. GDP figures are irregular and should be treated as estimates. For economic data, use the World Bank API and note the reference year for each indicator. Do not combine GDP (nominal) with GDP (PPP) without labelling the difference.

For economic indicators such as GDP, income groups, and poverty, use the World Bank country API. The API response includes the nation code, region, income level, and a reference year for each indicator.

Health, education, and governance

For health statistics, use the World Health Organization’s country profile. For education and culture, use UNESCO. For political rights and civil liberties, consult Freedom House. For corruption perception, consult Transparency International.

Travel requirements

Do not rely on a single summary. Check your own government’s travel advisory and the IATA Travel Centre, because visa rules change without notice.