Eritrea
State of Eritrea
People: Eritrean
Eritrea is located in Eastern Africa and has a population of around 3.6 million. Its capital city is Asmara, and the most widely spoken official language is Arabic.
By the numbers, Eritrea is the 131st most populous of the 196 countries covered on this site, home to 0.05% of the world's population. By land area it ranks 99th out of 196, with a population density of roughly 31 people per km².
Facts last checked 31 August 2026.
Eritrea — key facts at a glance
| Official Name | State of Eritrea |
|---|---|
| Capital City | Asmara |
| Continent | Africa |
| Region | Eastern Africa |
| Population | 3,607,000 |
| Area | 117,600 km² |
| Currency | Eritrean nakfa (ERN) Nfk |
| Official Languages | Arabic, English, Tigrinya |
| Dialling Code | +291 |
| Internet TLD | .er |
| Timezone | UTC+03:00 |
| Drives on the | Right side |
| Emergency Number | 112 (works on most mobile networks worldwide) |
| ISO Code | ER / ERI |
| Borders | Djibouti, Ethiopia, Sudan |
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Getting to and around Eritrea
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Frequently Asked Questions about Eritrea
What is the capital and currency of Eritrea?
The capital of Eritrea is Asmara and the currency is the Eritrean nakfa (ERN), symbol Nfk.
What is the capital of Eritrea?
The capital of Eritrea is Asmara.
What currency does Eritrea use?
Eritrea uses the Eritrean nakfa (ERN, symbol: Nfk).
What language do they speak in Eritrea?
The official languages of Eritrea are Arabic and English and Tigrinya.
What is the dialling code for Eritrea?
The international dialling code for Eritrea is +291.
What side of the road does Eritrea drive on?
Eritrea drives on the right-hand side of the road.
Djibouti
Ethiopia
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