Eritrea - Simple English Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

State of Eritrea ሃገረ ኤርትራ  Hagere Ertra دولة إرتريا  Dawlat Iritriyā
Flag Emblem
Anthem: ኤርትራ ኤርትራ ኤርትራ  (Tigrinya) "Eritrea, Eritrea, Eritrea"
Capital and largest city	Asmara
Official languages	Tigrinya[1] Arabic[1] English[1][2]
Ethnic groups (2012[3])	55% Tigrinya 30% Tigre 4% Saho 2% Kunama 2% Rashaida 2% Bilen 5% othera
Demonym(s)	Eritrean
Government	Unitary single-party presidential republic under an totalitarian dictatorship
• President	Isaias Afewerki
Independence
• From Italy	November 1941
• From United Kingdom under UN Mandate	1951
• from Ethiopia de facto	May 24, 1991
• From Ethiopia de jure	May 24, 1993
Area
• Total	117,600 km2 (45,400 sq mi) (101st)
• Water (%)	0.14%
Population
• 2012 estimate	6,086,495 (107th)
• 2008 census	5,291,370
• Density	51.8/km2 (134.2/sq mi) (154th)
GDP (PPP)	2012 estimate
• Total	$4.397 billion[4]
• Per capita	$777[4]
GDP (nominal)	2012 estimate
• Total	$3.108 billion[4]
• Per capita	$549[4]
HDI (2011)	0.349 low · 177th
Currency	Nakfa (ERN)
Time zone	UTC+3 (EAT)
• Summer (DST)	UTC+3 (not observed)
Driving side	right
Calling code	291
ISO 3166 code	ER
Internet TLD	.er
Afar, Beni-Amer, Nara. Working languages only.[5]

Eritrea is a country on the eastern coast of Africa. Its official name is The State of Eritrea.

Part of a series on the
Habesha Community ሐበሻ | Habesha
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National origin groups Eritrea (Eritreans) Ethiopia (Ethiopians)
Ethnic groups Afar Agaw Awi Daasanach Gabra Hadiya Kambaata Konso Oromo Yejju Qemant Saho Irob Sidama Somali Tsamai Werji Afar Beja Bilen Saho Amhara Argobba Chebo Gurage Beta Israel Harari Silt’e Tigrayan Zay Tigrinyas Tigre (Beni-Amer Beit Asgede Ad Shaikh Mensa Beit Juk Marya) Arbore Awi Banna Basketo Chara Danta Dawro Dizi Dorze Gamo Gedeo Hamar Koore Maale Shinasha Welayta Yemsa Anuak Bare Berta Gumuz Kichepo Kwama Kwegu Majang Mekan Murle Mursi Nuer Nyangatom Shabo Shanqella Shita Surma Tirma Weyto Kunama Nara Eritrean Americans Ethiopian Americans Eritrean Australians Ethiopian Australians Eritrean Canadians Ethiopian Canadians Eritreans in Denmark Ethiopians in Denmark Eritreans in Germany Ethiopians in Germany Ethiopian Jews in Israel Eritreans in Norway Ethiopians in Norway Eritreans in Sweden Ethiopians in Sweden Eritreans in the United Kingdom Ethiopians in the United Kingdom
Homeland Regions  Eritrea ** Maekel Region (1) Anseba Region (2) Gash-Barka Region (3) Debub Region (4) Northern Red Sea Region (5) Southern Red Sea Region (6)  Ethiopia ** Addis Ababa Afar Region Amhara Region Benishangul-Gumuz Region Dire Dawa Gambela Region Harari Region Oromia Region Ogaden-Somali Region Southern Nations, Nationalities, and People's Region Tigray Region Historical Provinces of the Ethiopian Empire **Arsi Province Begemder Gamu-Gofa Gojjam Hararghe Illubabor Province Kaffa Province Shewa Sidama Province Tigray Province Welega Province Wollo Province Bete Amhara Assab Dire Dawa Eritrea Province Ogaden Tigray Province Asosa Zone Bale Province Borena Zone East Gojjam Zone East Hararghe Zone East Shewa Zone Gambela Region Illubabor Zone Kaffa Province Metekel Zone North Gondar Zone North Omo Zone North Shewa Zone - North Shewa Zone (Amhara)-North Shewa Zone (Oromia) North Wollo Zone South Gondar Zone South Omo Zone South Shewa Agame Agawmeder Amhara Province Dawaro Dembiya Enderta Province Fatagar Province Hadiya Zone Ifat Lasta Menz Province Qwara Province Semien Province Tembien Province Tselemt Tsegede Wag Province Wegera Hamasien Akele Guzai Barka Denkalia Gash-Setit Sahl Province Semhar Serae Kassala / Kassala (state) Historical Kingdoms **Dʿmt Sultanate of Aussa Federation of Ethiopia and Eritrea Kingdom of Aksum Zagwe dynasty Medri Bahri Land of Punt Ethiopian Empire Kingdom of Shewa Sultanate of Showa Kingdom of Tankish Sharkha Kingdom of Qita'a Kingdom of Nagash Kingdom of Jarin Sultanate of Dawaro Kingdom of Bazin Template:Medieval Horn of Africa Sultanate of Dahlak Kingdom of Belgin Sultanate of Bale Sultanate of Arababni Sultanate of Ifat Sultanate of Harar Ajuran Sultanate Adal Sultanate Kingdom of Garo Kingdom of Kaffa Kingdom of Janjero Adulis
Diaspora Communities  United States[6][7] Eritrean Americans: Little Ethiopia, Los Angeles Ethiopian Americans: Ethiopians in Washington, D.C., History of Ethiopian Americans in Baltimore, Little Ethiopia, Los Angeles  Australia[8][9][10] Eritrean Australians Ethiopian Australians  Canada[11][12][13][14] Eritrean Canadians Ethiopian Canadians  Denmark[15] Eritreans in Denmark Ethiopians in Denmark  Germany[16][17][18] Eritreans in Germany Ethiopians in Germany  Israel Ethiopian Jews in Israel  Norway[19] Eritreans in Norway Ethiopians in Norway  Sweden[20] Eritreans in Sweden Ethiopians in Sweden  United Kingdom[21][22][23] Eritreans in the United Kingdom Ethiopians in the United Kingdom
Religions Religions * Christianity Oriental Orthodoxy-Orthodox Tewahedo Ethiopian Orthodoxy Eritrean Orthodoxy Protestantism-Evangelicalism P'ent'ay: Ethiopian-Eritrean Evangelicalism Catholicism Eritrean Catholicism Ethiopian Catholicism [24] Islam Sunni Judaism Beta Israel (Ethiopian Jewish ethno-religious group) Traditional Faiths Christianity in Ethiopia and Eritrea and in the Habesha Community Branches of Christianity *Oriental Orthodoxy Orthodox Tewahedo Protestantism P'ent'ay Catholicism Eastern Catholic Origins, Tradition, Culture Christianity in Ethiopia Christianity in Eritrea Alexandrian Rite Apostolic Succession and Missionary Origins: Frumentius (328 AD Axum)[25] Philip the Evangelist (8:26-39%20{{{2}}};&version=KJV; Acts 8:26-39 {{{2}}} "via Ethiopian eunuch of Kush") Mark the Evangelist (42 AD via Alexandria)[26] Christian Missionaries & Mission Organizations (19th-20th centuries) Regions with Significant Populations: Ethiopia and Eritrea United States Canada Norway Sweden Finland Denmark Germany United Kingdom Israel-Palestine Kenya Australia Italy Netherlands South Africa Ethiopian-Eritrean Diaspora Languages: Geʽez (liturgical language) Languages of Ethiopia Languages of Eritrea Oromo Amharic Wolayta Sidama Tigrinya Somali (other languages) Diaspora Languages English German Swedish Norwegian Danish French Dutch Hebrew Finnish , etc. Orthodox Tewahedo * Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo Church Eritrean Orthodox Tewahedo Church Orthodox Tehadeso Reforms P'ent'ay Primary Denominations: Ethiopian Kale Heywet Church Holiness Baptists-(some Pentecostalism) Ethiopian Evangelical Church Mekane Yesus Lutheranism-(some Presbyterianism) Evangelical Lutheran Church of Eritrea / Lutheran Church of Eritrea Lutheranism Ethiopian Full Gospel Believers' Church Pentecostalism-(some Mennonites) Meserete Kristos Church Mennonite-(some Pentecostalism) Other Denominations: Christian Brethren Ammanuel Baptist Church Misgana Church of Ethiopia Assemblies of God Pentecostal Hiwot Berhan Church (Light of Life Church) Emnet Kristos Berhane Wongel — Gospel Light Ethiopian Addis Kidan Baptist Church Seventh-day Adventist Church Anglicanism Episcopal Church in Jerusalem and the Middle East Episcopal Anglican Province of Alexandria Orientation: Protestantism Evangelicalism Eastern Protestant Christianity Pentecostalism Lutheranism Baptist Holiness Baptists Mennonite-Anabaptist Holiness movement Anglican Methodist Presbyterian Adventist Catholicism * Eritrean Catholic Church Ethiopian Catholic Church Miscellaneous * Pentecostalism in Ethiopia Protestantism in Eritrea Religion in Ethiopia Religion in Eritrea
Languages Major Languages Amharic, Tigrinya, Oromo, Somali, Afar, Geʽez Native Languages *Languages of Ethiopia Languages of Eritrea Tigrinya Afar Beja Bilen Kunama (Bitama) Nara Saho Tigre (Dahalik) Amharic Argobba Geʽez Gurage Harari Inor Mesqan Muher Sebat Bet Gurage Siltʼe Soddo Tigrinya Zay Afar Alaba Ale Arbore Awngi Baiso Bussa Burji Daasanach Dirasha Gedeo Hadiyya Kambaata Konso Libido Oromo Qimant Saho Sidamo Somali Tsamai Xamtanga Aari Anfillo Bambassi Basketo Bench Boro Chara Dime Dizi Dorze Gamo-Gofa-Dawro Ganza Gayil Hamer-Banna Hozo Kachama-Ganjule Kafa Karo Koorete Maale Melo Nayi Oyda Seze Shekkacho Sheko Wolaytta Yemsa Zayse-Zergulla Anuak Berta Daatsʼiin Gumuz Kacipo-Balesi Komo Kwama Kwegu Majang Meʼen Murle Mursi Nuer Nyangatom Opuuo Shabo Suri Uduk Foreign & Diaspora Languages *English Italian Arabic German Swedish Norwegian Danish French Dutch Hebrew Finnish Armenian Chinese Greek
Related national groups
History
Lists
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Eritrea is located on the coast of the Red Sea. It is north of the Bab-el-Mandeb and the Horn of Africa. Eritrea has borders with the countries of Sudan, Ethiopia, and Djibouti. The land area of Eritrea is 101,000 km², and it is one of the smallest countries in Africa.^[51]

Eritrea became an independent country on May 24, 1993.^[51] It is one of the newest countries in the world.

Many different countries have ruled the land that is now called Eritrea. Between 1885 and 1941 it was a colony of Italy. Between 1941 and 1952, the United Nations put it under the protection of the United Kingdom. After 1952, Eritrea became a part of Ethiopia.^[51] This was the reason for a long civil war between the Eritreans and the government of Ethiopia.

Eventually, in 1993, Eritrea became an independent country after a vote by its people.^[51]

Eritreans are the native inhabitants of Eritrea, as well as the global diaspora of Eritreans displaced by the Eritrean War of Independence and seeking refuge from human rights violations by the Eritrean government. Eritreans constitute several component ethnic groups, many of which are closely related to ethnic groups in Ethiopia and other parts of the Horn of Africa.

The Eritrean national identity began to develop during the Scramble for Africa, when Italy claimed Eritrea as one of its colonies. This marked the establishment of Eritrea's present-day borders.^[52] Following Italy's defeat in World War II and the subsequent British administration of Eritrea, the former colony was federated with Ethiopia in 1952. Tensions increased through the 1950s between Eritreans wishing for independence and the Ethiopian government, culminating in the Eritrean War of Independence.

Eritreans

Total population
Eritrea: 3.6–6.7 million[53][54] Eritrean diaspora: ≥600,000
Regions with significant populations
Eritrea	3.6–6.7 million[53][54]
Ethiopia	179,276[55]
Sudan	159,748 (Eritrean-born)[56]
Germany	84,000 (Eritrean citizens)[57]
Uganda	49,913[58]
Sweden	49,636[59]
United States	47,449[60][61][62]
Switzerland	42,978[63]
Canada	36,290[64]
England and  Wales	24,812[65]
Israel	20,500[66]
Norway	19,957[67]
United Arab Emirates	17,916 (Eritrean-born)[56]
Italy	13,592 (Eritrean-born)[56]
Australia	9,383[68]
Denmark	8,060[69]
Kuwait	4,725 (Eritrean-born)[56]
South Sudan	3,318 (Eritrean-born)[56]
Egypt	2,368 (Eritrean-born)[56]
Netherlands	2,150 (Eritrean-born)[56]
Kenya	2,127 (Eritrean-born)[56]
Libya	1,983 (Eritrean-born)[56]
Qatar	1,854 (Eritrean-born)[56]
Finland	1,642[70]
South Africa	1,604 (Eritrean-born)[56]
Bahrain	1,550 (Eritrean-born)[56]
Greece	1,055[71]
Yemen	1,009 (Eritrean-born)[56]
Lithuania	55 (Eritrean-citizens)[72]
Languages
Tigrinya, Tigre, Kunama, Bilen, Nara, Saho, Afar, Beja, and other Languages of Eritrea
Religion
Christian (Eritrean Orthodox, P'ent'ay, Catholic, Protestant), Muslim, Animism[73][74]
Related ethnic groups
Ethiopians, Djiboutians, Somalis, other Horn Africans, and other Afro-Asiatic and Nilo-Saharan populations.

The majority of the Tigrinya inhabit the highlands of Eritrea; however, migration to other parts of the country has occurred. Their language is called Tigrinya. They are the largest ethnic group in the country, constituting about 60% of the population.^[75] The predominantly Tigrinya populated urban centers in Eritrea are the capital Asmara, Mendefera, Dekemhare, Adi Keyh, Adi Quala and Senafe, while there is a significant population of Tigrinya in other cities including Keren, and Massawa.

They are 96% Christians, (of which 90% are of the Eritrean Orthodox faith, 5% Roman Catholic and Eastern Catholic (whose mass is held in Ge'ez as opposed to Latin), and 5% belonging to various Protestant and other Christian denominations, the majority of which belong to the (Lutheran) Evangelical Church of Eritrea).

The Tigre reside in the western lowlands in Eritrea. Many also migrated to Sudan at the time of the Ethiopian-Eritrean conflict and lived there since. They are a nomadic and pastoralist people, related to the Tigrinya and to the Beja people. They are a predominantly Muslim nomadic people who inhabit the northern, western, and coastal lowlands of Eritrea, where they constitute 30% of local residents.^[75] Some also inhabit areas in eastern Sudan. 95% of the Tigre people adhere to the Islamic religion Sunni Islam, but there are a small number of Christians among them as well (often referred to as the Mensaï in Eritrea). Their language is called Tigre.

The Jeberti people in Eritrea trace descent from early Muslim adherents. The term Jeberti is also locally sometimes used to generically refer to all Islamic inhabitants of the highlands.^[76] The Jeberti in Eritrea speak Arabic and Tigrinya.^[77] They account for about 4% of the Tigrinya speakers in the nation.

According to the CIA, the Afar constitute under 5% of the nation's population.^[75] They live in the Debubawi Keyih Bahri Region of Eritrea, as well as the Afar Region in Ethiopia, and Djibouti. They speak the Afar language as a mother tongue, and are predominantly Muslim. Afars in Eritrea number about 397,000 individuals, the smallest population out of the countries they reside in. In Djibouti, there are about 780,000 group members, and in Ethiopia, they number approximately 1,300,000.

The Saho represent 4% of Eritrea's population.^[75] They principally reside in the Debubawi Keyih Bahri Region and the Northern Red Sea Region of Eritrea. Their language is called Saho. They are predominantly Muslim, although a few Christians known as the Irob live in the Debub Region of Eritrea and the Tigray region of Ethiopia.

The Bilen in Eritrea represent around 2% of the country's population.^[75] They are primarily concentrated in the north-central areas, in and around the city of Keren, and south towards Asmara, the nation's capital. Many of them entered Eritrea from Kush (central Sudan) in the 8th century and settled at Merara, after which they went to Lalibela and Lasta. The Bilen then returned to Axum in Ethiopia's Tigray Province, and battled with the natives; in the resulting aftermath, the Bilen returned to their main base at Merara. The Bilen include adherents of both Islam and Christianity. They speak the Bilen as a mother tongue. Christian adherents are mainly urban and have intermingled with the Tigrinya who live in the area. Muslim adherents are mainly rural and have interbred with the adjacent Tigre.

The Beja in Eritrea, or Hedareb, constitute under 5% of local residents.^[75] They mainly live along the north-western border with Sudan. Group members are predominantly Muslim and communicate in Hedareb as a first or second language. The Beja also include the Beni-Amer people, who have retained their native Beja language alongside Hedareb.

According to the CIA, the Kunama constitute around 2% of Eritrea's population.^[75] They mainly live in the country's Gash Barka Region, as well as in adjacent parts of Ethiopia's Tigray Region. Many of them reside in the contested border village of Badme. Their language is called Kunama. Although some Kunama still practice traditional beliefs, most are converts to either Christianity (Roman Catholic and Protestant) or Islam.

The Nara represent under 5% of the nation's population.^[75] They principally reside along the south-western border with Sudan and Ethiopia. They are generally Muslim, with a few Christians and some practising their indigenous beliefs. Their language is called Nara.

The Rashaida are one of Eritrea's nine recognized ethnic groups. They represent around 2% of the population of Eritrea.^[75] The Rashaida reside in the northern coastal lowlands of Eritrea and the northern eastern coasts of Sudan. They are predominantly Muslim and are the only ethnic group in Eritrea to have Arabic as their communal language, specifically the Hejazi dialect. The Rashaida first came to Eritrea in the 19th century from the Arabian Coast.^[78]

A few monolingual Italian Eritreans remain. As of 2008, they were estimated at 900 people, down from around 38,000 residents at the end of World War II. They contributed with the development of the Eritrean language with a local "Pidgin".^[79]

• Eritrean Americans
• Eritrean Australians
• Eritrean Canadians
• Eritreans in Italy
• Eritreans in the United Kingdom
• Eritreans in Denmark
• Eritreans in Israel
• Eritreans in Norway
• Eritreans in Sweden
• Ethiopians
• Habesha peoples
  • Eritrean people of Ethiopian descent
  • Ethiopian people of Eritrean descent

Eritrea is known for being the most oppressive country in Africa, sometimes considered to be the "North Korea of Africa".^[80] The nation has been accused of many human rights violations, severely limited freedoms, and many arbitrary (made-up) arrests.

Eritrea is divided into six administrative regions. These areas are then divided into 58 districts.

Regions of Eritrea

Region	Area (km2)	Population	Capital
Central	1,300	1,053,254	Asmara
Anseba	23,200	893,587	Keren
Gash-Barka	33,200	1,103,742	Barentu
Southern	8,000	1,476,765	Mendefera
Northern Red Sea	27,800	897,454	Massawa
Southern Red Sea	27,600	398,073	Assab

The population of Eritrea is about 3.6 million.^[51] About 0.5 million people live in Asmara. People from Eritrea are called Eritreans. Most of them speak Tigrinya or Tigre as their first language. The people usually use Tigrinya or Arabic for official business.

Eritrea has nine ethnic groups. These are the Afar people, the Bilen people, the Hedareb people, the Kunama, the Nara, the Rashaida, the Saho, the Tigre, and Tigray-Tigrinya.

The currency of Eritrea is called the Nakfa. Eritrea is a very poor country. Almost half of Eritrea's economy comes from Eritreans who live abroad. They send money home to their families. Most of the rest comes from farming.

Football and cycling are the most popular sports in Eritrea. In recent years, Eritrean athletes have also seen increasing success in the international arena.

• Eritrea at the Olympics
• Eritrea national football team
• List of rivers of Eritrea