Eritrea flag

Eritrea

State of Eritrea

Capital

Asmara

Region

Africa

Population

3,607,000

Area (km²)

117,600

💡Quick Summary

Eritrea, a coastal nation in the Horn of Africa, spans 117,600 km² and is home to around 3.6 million people, with Asmara serving as its historic capital known for Italian colonial architecture. Gaining independence from Ethiopia in 1993 after a long struggle, it boasts diverse landscapes from Red Sea beaches to arid highlands. While GDP figures are unavailable, the country relies on agriculture, mining, and remittances amid ongoing economic challenges.

Key Insights

Moderate Forest Cover for Arid Region

Eritrea maintains 8.63% forest area, which is notable given its location in the arid Horn of Africa. This suggests successful conservation efforts or specific geographical features (like highlands) that support forestation, contrasting with the severe deforestation issues faced by some neighboring countries.

Electricity Access Lagging Behind Regional Peers

Access to electricity is reported at 54.4%. While exceeding 50%, this figure is relatively low for a nation with a small population base, suggesting significant infrastructural deficits and hindering industrial development, particularly in rural areas where the majority of the population resides.

Low Urbanization Despite Small Population

Only about one-third of Eritrea's population (34.696%) lives in urban areas. For a relatively small country (population 3.47 million), this low urbanization rate indicates that the majority of the population remains reliant on rural, likely agricultural, livelihoods, contrasting with global trends of rapid urbanization.

Significant Progress in Child Health

The infant mortality rate stands at 25.5 per 1,000 live births. While still high by global standards, this represents significant progress compared to many Sub-Saharan African nations, suggesting effective localized public health interventions or vaccination programs, despite limited reported health expenditure data.

Economic Indicators
Latest economic data from World Bank

GDP (Current US$)

$N/A

Year: 2023

GDP Per Capita

$N/A

GDP Growth (%)

N/A%

Inflation (%)

N/A%

Unemployment (%)

5.59%

Debt to GDP (%)

N/A%

Source: World Bank • Last updated: 12/24/2025

Historical Trends & Data Visualizations

GDP Growth Rate
Annual percentage change in GDP over time

No data available

Population Growth
Total population over time
20142015201620172018201920202021202220230900,0001,800,0002,700,0003,600,000
  • Population
Life Expectancy
Average life expectancy at birth (years)
20142015201620172018201920202021202220230.0years20.0years40.0years60.0years80.0years
  • Life Expectancy (years)
Renewable Energy Consumption
Percentage of total energy from renewable sources
201420152016201720182019202020210.0%25.0%50.0%75.0%100.0%
  • Renewable Energy (%)
GDP Per Capita
Economic output per person (current US$)

No data available

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