Country Guide • Eritrea

Flag of Eritrea

After years of war and disputes Eritrea is now an independant country and was formerly the northern most province of Ethiopia. The country is mainly mountainousbut to the north and east its narrow Red Sea coastal plain is one of the hottest and driest places in Africa. The cooler central highlands have fertile valleys that support agriculture. Eritrea is bordered by the Sudan on the north and west, the Red Sea on the north and east, and Ethiopia and Djibouti on the south.

Official NameState of Eritrea
Area121,320km² (46,842mile²)
Population4,362,000
ContinentAfrica
Population per mile²93
Capital CityAsmara
Religions60% Coptic Christians, Ethiopian Orthodox or Roman Catholic. The remainder are Muslims
LanguageAfar, Amharic, Arabic, Bilen, To Bedawi, Kunama, Nara, Saho, Tigre, Tigrinya, English
GovernmentConstitutional Democracy
CurrencyNakfa
GDP$3.3 billion
GDP per Head$740
Natural ResourcesCopper, gold, potash, zinc, salt and fish
Land UseArable Land 4%
AgricultureSorghum, lentils, vegetables, corn, cotton, tobacco, coffee, sisal, livestock specifically goats and fish
IndustryFood processing, beverages, textiles and clothing
TourismThe British and Foreign Commonwealth office state 'All visitors to Eritrea should take sensible precautions, especially in public places. We advise against all travel to the border areas with Ethiopia and Sudan and along one road in the west of the country (detail below). There is an increased risk in Eritrea from global terrorism'
Natural HazardsFrequent droughts; locust swarms
Health RisksMalaria, dengue fever diarrhoea, giardia, dehydration and worm infestations
ClimateEritrea has a variety of climatic conditions with conditions at sea level along the coast, hot and semi-arid. The highlands, further inland are cooler. Asmera in the highlands has an average temperature of 16°C and receives approx. 20 inches of rainfall annually. Mitsiwa at sea level has an average annual temperature of 30°C and an annual rainfall of 8 inches
TimeGMT/UTC+3 hours
National DaysMay 24
VisasForeign citizens need a visa to enter Eritrea. They should obtain this before arrival from the Embassy of the State of Eritrea. Yellow Fever Vaccination certificates are also an entry requirement for all visitors over the age of one year if travelling from an infected country
British EmbassyEmbassy Details

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