A Closer Look at Eritrea
Eritrea Flag
Eritrea Formation Date
The formation date of Eritrea is April 27, 1993.
Eritrea Capital Name
Asmara
Eritrea Neighbours
Exploring Eritrea
Origin of Eritrea
Eritrea is a nation located in the Horn of Africa, sharing boarders with Sudan, Ethiopia, and Djibouti. The country is not very large, covering a total area of around 117,600 sq km. It has a long and rich history, being the site of numerous ancient civilizations, including that of the Aksumite Kingdom and the Ottoman Empire. Since Italy briefly colonized Eritrea in the early part of the 20th century, it has been disputed for much of its modern history. A bloody struggle for independence from Ethiopia ensued which lasted from 1961 to 1991. Eritrea formally gained its independence in 1993, and it has been an independent nation ever since.Culture
The culture of Eritrea is known to be a rich and vibrant mixture of many different ethnic and religious influences. Especially prevalent are the Arab, Afro-Asiatic, and ancient African cultures present throughout the country. Eritrea has nine recognized cultural groups, and its peoples identify with the cultural traditions of these groups. These traditions often merge together in the cities or in rural areas, creating unique blends. Much of Eritrea’s culture is centered around the family. Families are like small villages, and many families live together. Food plays an important role in Eritrean culture, with some of the staples being injera, a flat bread made of teff, and zigni, a spicy stew.Sport
Sport is an important part of everyday life in Eritrea. The most popular sport is soccer, which is played by people of all ages and genders in both urban and rural areas. Other popular sports like basketball, cycling, and running are also common activities that people enjoy. Eritrea has had some success in international sporting competitions, such as the 2016 Summer Olympics in Rio de Janeiro, where it won two bronze medals. The country is particularly well known for its excellent cycling team, which often competes in major international races.Religion
Religion plays a large part in the life of people in Eritrea. The majority of the population, at around 60%, follows Orthodox Christianity. Islam is the second largest religion in the country, with around 23% of the population being Muslim. Various other faiths, such as Hare Krishnas, are also practiced in Eritrea, though they are not as widely adhered to. Religious practices vary throughout the country, with some strongholds of the Orthodox faith being in the highlands and many places of Muslim worship being concentrated in the lowlands.Languages
The official languages in Eritrea are Tigrigna, Tigrinya, as well as Arabic and English. Tigrinya is the most widely spoken language, with around 60% of the population speaking it as their first language. Other widely spoken languages include Afar, Saho, and Kunama. Eritrea is renowned for its incredible linguistic diversity, with over 80 ethnic languages being spoken. Most people in Eritrea are bilingual or multilingual, and English is often learned as a second language.Education
Education is taken seriously in Eritrea. According to the World Bank, the country has achieved a near 100% enrolment rate for primary education, with the majority of students staying in school past the sixth grade. The Eritrean education system is structured similarly to that of other European nations, with pre-primary, primary, secondary, and tertiary levels of education being offered. The curriculum is based on that of the United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) and is designed to prepare students for further education.Demographics
According to the World Bank, Eritrea is a predominantly young nation; more than 60% of its population is under the age of 24. Many Eritreans live in rural areas, with more than 30% of the population living in rural settlements. The capital city of Asmara is widely considered the largest city in Eritrea, and it is home to around 512,600 people. Other large cities in the country include Mendefera, Keren, and Massawa.Commerce
Eritrea is a country that is rich in natural resources. Its chief exports include coffee, textiles, leather goods, livestock, and various minerals. Mining and agriculture are two of the main sources of economic growth in the country. In addition to these, other small-scale activities like fishing and collecting salt are also important parts of the economy. Eritrea is slowly becoming more open to international trade, and the country has seen a notable increase in foreign direct investment in recent years.Weather
Eritrea has a typically sub-tropical climate. Summers are hot and dry, while winters are milder and more humid. The average temperature in Eritrea usually remains between 25 and 30°C throughout the year. The country experiences two rainy seasons, the Kiremet from June to September and theSet from February to April. During the rainy seasons, much of the country can experience substantial rainfall.Borders
Eritrea is located in the Horn of Africa and is bordered by Sudan in the west, Ethiopia in the south, and Djibouti in the east. Each of its borders is approximately 1,440 kilometers long. The country also has a lengthy coastline on the Red Sea, providing access to marine resources and trade opportunities. The borders of Eritrea remain largely peaceful, however the country does have a history of tension with Ethiopia in the past.Eritrea Highest Point Name
The highest point in Eritrea is MountSoira, with an elevation of 3,018 meters (9,902 ft).
Eritrea Capital Longitude
Asmara is the capital of Eritrea, and its longitude is 38.9183° N.
Eritrea Capital Latitude
Asmara is the capital of Eritrea and it has a latitude of 15.3333 degrees North.
Eritrea Official Languages
The official languages of Eritrea are Tigrinya, Arabic and English.
Eritrea Ethnic Groups
Eritrea is home to nine native ethnic groups. These include the Tigre, Bilen, Saho, Afar, Bihér-Hawwára, Nara, Kunama, Hedareb, and Hidarí. Together, these groups account for over 95% of the nation's population. The Tigre and Bilen ethnic groups are the most populous, accounting for approximately 70% of the population. There is also a small minority of foreign-born peoples, such as Europeans, Africans, and South Asians.
Eritrea Religions
Eritrea is a predominantly Christian nation, with around 63% of the population being members of the Eritrean Orthodox Tewahdo Church. The other major religions practiced in the country include the Roman Catholic Church (8%), Sunni Islam (6%), the Lutheran Evangelical Church in the Eritrean (5%) and the Protestant Evangelical Church of Eritrea (also 5%). Minor religious practices in include the traditional faith of the Kunama and Nara indigenous populations. Religious freedom is constitutionally mandated but restrictions exist in relation to public displays of devotions and proselytizing.
Eritrea Total Area
The total area of Eritrea is 117,600 square kilometers (45,405 square miles).
Eritrea Land Area
The land area of Eritrea is 101,000 square kilometers (38,850 square miles).
Eritrea Water Area
Eritrea is a small country in the Horn of Africa. It has an estimated total surface water area of 3,390 square kilometers, which is less than 2% of the total area. The country has large seasonal data in almost all parts of it and the rivers vary greatly in size and volume depending on the season. The most important rivers are the Baraka, Anseba, Gash and Tekeze.
Eritrea Total Population
The total population of Eritrea as of 2019 is 3,473,524 people.
Eritrea Currency Name
The official currency of Eritrea is the Eritrean Nakfa (ERN).
Eritrea Currency Code
The currency code for Eritrea is ERN.
Eritrea Currency Symbol
The Eritrea country currency symbol is the Nakfa (ERN).
Eritrea Time Zones
- Standard Time: UTC+02:00
- Daylight Saving Time: UTC+03:00
Eritrea has 2 time zones: Eastern Africa Time (EAT) and Eritrea Time (EAT). Eastern Africa Time is UTC+3 throughout the year, while Eritrea Time is UTC+3 during the summer (from mid-June to end of October) and UTC+2 during the winter months (end of October to mid-June). Daylight saving time is observed during the summer months, and on the last Sunday in June time is shifted forward by 1 hour.
Eritrea Calling Code
The calling code for Eritrea is +291
Eritrea Internet TLD
www.aveholidays.er
How to Say "Eritrea" In Different Languages?
- Chinese Traditional
- 厄立特里亞 (zh-Hant-TW)
- Chinese Simplified
- 厄立特里亚 (zh-Hans-CN)
- Finnish
- Eritrea (fi-FI)
- French
- Érythrée (fr-FR)
- German
- Eritrea (de-DE)
- Hindi
- इरित्रिया (hi-IN)
- Indonesian
- Eritrea (id-ID)
- Hebrew
- אריתראה (he-IL)
- Italian
- Eritrea (it-IT)
- Japanese
- エリトリア (ja-JP)
- Dutch
- Eritrea (nl-NL)
- Portuguese
- Eritreia (pt-PT)
- Romanian
- Eritreea (ro-RO)
- Ukrainian
- Еритрея (uk-UA)
- Russian
- Эритрея (ru-RU)
- Spanish
- Eritrea (es-ES)
- Swedish
- Eritrea (sv-SE)
- Thai
- เอริเทรีย (th-TH)
- Vietnamese
- Eritrea (vi-VN)
Eritrea Popular Holidays
- New Year's Day
- 1 January
- Dia de los Reyes (Three Kings Day)
- 6 January
- Genna (Traditional Christmas)
- 7 January
- Bashazyr (Epiphany)
- 19 January
- Yohannes IV Day
- 12 March
- Good Friday
- 2 April
- Easter Sunday
- 4 April
- Armed Forces Day
- 8 April
- Tekeze Day
- 12 April
- Massawa Anniversary Day
- 14 April
- Qeddase (St. Mark)
- 25 April
- Friendship Day
- 27 April
- Labor Day
- 1 May
- Gwakede Tsom (St. George)
- 1 May
- Mother's Day
- 2 May
- Ramadan
- 7 May
- Welday
- 18 May
- Independence Day
- 24 May
- Eid al-Fitr
- 25 May (31 May)
- End of Ramadan
- 5 June
- Buhe Day
- 10 June
- Day of the Fallen Soldier
- 11 June
- Martyrs Day
- 20 June
- Father's Day
- 20 June
- Gedamawi Tsom (St. John The Baptist)
- 24 June
- Victory Day
- 28 June
- Law Day
- 5 July
- Gom Gomay Tsom (St. Mary Magdalene)
- 22 July
- Veterans Day
- 27 July
- Eid al-Adha
- 30 July (4 August)
- Judgment Day
- 31 July
- Negash Day
- 9 August
- Prisoner's Day
- 13 August
- Assumption of Mary
- 15 August
- Hidar Tsom (St. Gabriel)
- 21 August
- Kulbis (St. John)
- 29 August
- Kormmoddee (St. John)
- 29 August
- Idd ul-Hajj
- 30 August
- Zagwe Dynasty Day
- 31 August
- Kulubi (St. Gabriel)
- 8 September
- Genna (Traditional New Year)
- 20 September
- New Year's Day (Genna)
- 20 September
- Teacher's Day
- 22 September
- Feast of the Cross
- 27 September
- Melake Tsom (Holy Cross)
- 27 September
- Meskal (St. Mary)
- 28 September
- Michaelmas
- 29 September
- Girgir Tsom (St. Michael)
- 8 October
- Remembrance Day
- 20 October
- Mikal (St. Michael)
- 29 October
- Yekaal Tsom (All Saints Day)
- 1 November
- Hirum Day
- 10 November
- Egziabher (St. Mercurius)
- 10 November
- Hidar (St. Mary)
- 3 December
- Dalio (Immaculate Conception)
- 8 December
- Santa Lucia Day
- 13 December
- Fetreti Camp David Peace Accords
- 18 December
- Christmas
- 25 December
- Tesfazion Tsom (St. Stephen)
- 26 December
- New Year's Eve
- 31 December