Eritrea Overview People
- People - Health - Crime - Age Structure - Education - Population Comparisons
Government - Politics Geography Environment & Climate Economy News - Weather History National Symbols Photos Travel and Tourism Link-to-CountryReports Sources   United States Edition Video Library

Eritrea Demographics

What is the population of Eritrea?

Population 6,081,196
Population Growth Rate 2.36%
Urban Population 21.300000
Population in Major Urban Areas ASMARA (capital) 712,000
Nationality Noun Eritrean(s)
Ethnic Groups ethnic Tigrinya 50%, Tigre and Kunama 40%, Afar 4%, Saho (Red Sea coast dwellers) 3%, other 3%
Language Note Eritrea has no official language. Tigrinya, Arabic and English are all government, working languages. Tigrinya is spoken by highlanders, and is related to Tigre, spoken by people in the western and eastern lowlands. They use an ancient Ge'ez script. Like Arabic, they are both Semitic tongues. Arabic is widely used in commerce.

Eritrea Learning

What is school like in Eritrea?

Classroom

Ten years after the independence of Eritrea, the government started investing enormously in the educational sector. Recent surveys have concluded that school enrollment in Eritrea has increased to more than 200% as compared to the rate of enrollment 5 years ago. Although many schools in the countryside are below average level, most urban schools are of modern architecture and provide students with reasonable environments for learning. However, most Eritrean schools lack modern scientific laboratories and other experimental tools that are the cornerstone of a successful education process. Moreover, a high percentage of Eritrean schools don’t have adequate computers to serve their students’ needs. A few schools across Eritrea offer their students Internet access on campus. Eritrean students have to wear school uniforms that differ according to the level of education.

Learning

Education in Eritrea is divided into Pre-Primary, Primary, Middle and Secondary sectors. Starting from grade 5, all subjects are studied in the English language. Education programs accept children at the age of five and start with two years of behavioral and social adjustment that are usually preparing for the upcoming years of elementary education. During the 5 year period of elementary education, students study mathematics, history, geography, biography, music, art and physical education. Thereafter, students will attend 2 years of middle school during which they will study the same elementary school subjects, but in more details. Finally, students will have to go secondary school for 4 years. During secondary school, Eritrean students study English, Physics, Chemistry, Mathematics, Civics, Biology, History and Geography. Although boys and girls got to schools in Eritrea, boys usually receive more care than girls do. Most girls don’t finish their secondary education as they are usually married before they reach the age of 15.

To School

Some Eritrean children go to their schools on foot, while others ride local buses to their schools. Cycling is a common sport in Eritrea and some students ride their bikes to school. A smaller percentage of Eritrean parents drive their children to school; however, this is uncommon as most Eritrean families can’t afford buying a car.

Eritrea Population Comparison

Eritrea Health Information

What are the health conditions in Eritrea?

Life Expectancy at Birth 63.190000
Death Rate - deaths/1,000 population 7.78
Infant Mortality Rate - total deaths/1,000 live births 39.380000
Health Expenditures - percent of GDP 2.6%
Physicians Density - physicians/1,000 population .05
Hospital Bed Density - beds/1,000 population .7
Major Infectious Diseases - degree of risk high
Drinking Water Source - percent of urban population improved 73.700000
Maternal Mortality Rate - deaths/100,000 live births 240
Mean Age for Mother's First Birth (age 25-49) 20.6
Contraceptive Prevalence Rate - female 12-49 8%
Total Fertility Rate - children born/woman 4.25
Obesity - adult prevalence rate 1.5%
Sanitation Facility Access - percent of urban population improved 51.600000
Underweight - percent of children under five years 34.5%

Eritrea Life Expectancy

How long do people live in Eritrea?

Life Expectancy at Birth 63.190000
Median Age 18.900000
Contraceptive Prevalance Rate - female 12-49 8%
Infant Mortality Rate 39.380000
Maternal Mortality Rate - deaths/100,000 live births 240
Total Fertility Rate - children born/woman 4.25

Eritrea median age, birth rate and death rates

Birth Rate - births/1,000 population 31
Median Age 18.900000
Population Growth Rate 2.36%
Sex Ratio at Birth - male/female 1.030000
Age Structure 40.660000
Contraceptive Prevalance Rate - female 12-49 8%
Infant Mortality Rate 39.380000
Maternal Mortality Rate - deaths/100,000 live births 240
Mother's mean age at first birth 20.6
Total Fertility Rate - children born/woman 4.25

Eritrea Medical Information

What are the health conditions in Eritrea?

Medical Facilities and Health Information

Medical facilities and physicians in Eritrea are limited. In 2010, the Eritrean government closed all private medical clinics and laboratories. Travelers should carry their own supplies of prescription drugs and preventative medicines because pharmaceuticals may be in short supply. Food and water-borne illnesses are very common among travelers, so drink only bottled or purified water and eat foods that are cooked or peeled. Malaria and dengue fever are serious risks to travelers in the lowlands of Eritrea, particularly during the rainy season (November to February). One of the worst dengue fever outbreaks in recent Eritrean history occurred during the winter of 2009-10 in Massawa. Asmara, because of its altitude, is generally considered free of these mosquito-borne illnesses. Travelers to the lowlands are urged to carry mosquito repellent and mosquito nets, especially during the rainy season.

Health Expenditures - percent of GDP

2.6%

Hospital Bed Density - beds/1,000 population

.7

Physicians Density - physicians/1,000 population

.05

Eritrea Education

What is school like in Eritrea?

Education Expenditures - percent of GDP 2.1%
Literacy - female 47.6%
Literacy - male 69.9%
Literacy - total population 58.6%
Literacy Definition NA
Total School Life Expectancy - (primary to tertiary) 4.000000

Eritrea Literacy

Can people in Eritrea read?

Literacy - female 47.6%
Literacy - male 69.9%
Literacy - total population 58.6%
Literacy Definition NA

Eritrea Crime

Is Eritrea a safe place to visit?

Crime Information

Crime in Asmara has increased due to deteriorating economic conditions along with persistent food, water, and fuel shortages, and rapid price inflation. Travelers should exercise vigilance in their personal security and take safety precautions regarding the valuables they carry and areas they visit. Eritrean authorities have limited capacity to deter or investigate crime or prosecute perpetrators.

Don’t buy counterfeit and pirated goods, even if they are widely available. Not only are the bootlegs illegal in the United States, if you purchase them you may also be breaking local law. Do not attempt to take advantage of street or black market exchange in foreign currency. It is illegal and there are extremely stiff penalties. Utilize government exchange at the airport, hotel, or bank.

Eritrea Penalties for Crime

Criminal Penalties

While you are in Eritrea, you are subject to its laws even if you are a U.S. citizen. Foreign laws and legal systems are vastly different than our own. You may be taken in for questioning if you don’t have your passport or identification with you. It is illegal to take pictures of government buildings. Driving under the influence could land you immediately in jail, as could a traffic accident, whether or not you are at fault. There are also some things that might be legal in the country you visit, but still illegal in the United States; for example you can be prosecuted under U.S. law if you buy pirated goods in Eritrea, even if you are not prosecuted in Eritrea.

Engaging in sexual conduct with children or using or disseminating child pornography in a foreign country is a crime prosecutable in the United States. If you break local laws in Eritrea, your U.S. passport won’t help you avoid arrest or prosecution. It’s very important to know what’s legal and what’s not where you are going.

Persons violating Eritrea’s laws, even unknowingly, may be expelled, arrested, or imprisoned. Penalties for possessing, using, or trafficking in illegal drugs in Eritrea are severe, and convicted offenders can expect long jail sentences and heavy fines.

Arrest notifications in Eritrea: Based on the Vienna Convention on Consular Relations, bilateral agreements with certain countries, and customary international law, if you are arrested in Eritrea, you have the option to request that the police, prison officials, or other authorities alert the nearest U.S. embassy or consulate of your arrest, and to have communications from you forwarded to the nearest U.S. embassy or consulate. However, in Eritrea, contrary to the Vienna Convention, such requests are not generally granted.

World Regions
Africa Asia Central America Europe Middle East North America Oceania South America The Caribbean
Most Popular
United States of America China France Italy Canada Spain India Brazil Mexico
All Countries
Afghanistan Akrotiri Albania Algeria American Samoa Andorra Angola Anguilla Antarctica Antigua and Barbuda Argentina Armenia Aruba Australia Austria Azerbaijan Bahamas Bahrain Bangladesh Barbados Belarus Belgium Belize Benin Bermuda Bhutan Bolivia Bosnia and Herzegovina Botswana Brazil British Indian Ocean Territory British Virgin Islands Brunei Bulgaria Burkina Faso Burma Burundi Cabo Verde Cambodia Cameroon Canada Cayman Islands Central African Republic Chad Chile China Christmas Island Clipperton Island Cocos (Keeling) Islands Colombia Comoros Congo, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Republic of the Cook Islands Coral Sea Islands Costa Rica Cote d’Ivoire Croatia Cuba Curacao Cyprus Czech Republic Denmark Dhekelia Djibouti Dominica Dominican Republic Ecuador Egypt El Salvador Equatorial Guinea Eritrea Estonia Eswatini Ethiopia Falkland Islands Faroe Islands Fiji Finland France French Guiana French Polynesia Gabon Gambia, The Gaza Strip Georgia Germany Ghana Gibraltar Greece Greenland Grenada Guadeloupe Guam Guatemala Guernsey Guinea Guinea-Bissau Guyana Haiti Holy See Honduras Hong Kong Hungary Iceland India Indonesia Iran Iraq Ireland Isle of Man Israel Italy Jamaica Jan Mayen Japan Jersey Jordan Kazakhstan Kenya Kiribati Korea, North Korea, South Kosovo Kuwait Kyrgyzstan Laos Latvia Lebanon Lesotho Liberia Libya Liechtenstein Lithuania Luxembourg Macau Madagascar Malawi Malaysia Maldives Mali Malta Marshall Islands Martinique Mauritania Mauritius Mayotte Mexico Micronesia Moldova Monaco Mongolia Montenegro Montserrat Morocco Mozambique Namibia Nauru Nepal Netherlands New Caledonia New Zealand Nicaragua Niger Nigeria Niue Norfolk Island North Macedonia Northern Mariana Islands Norway Oman Pakistan Palau Panama Papua New Guinea Paraguay Peru Philippines Pitcairn Islands Poland Portugal Puerto Rico Qatar Reunion Romania Russia Rwanda Saint Helena, Ascension, and Tristan da Cunha Saint Kitts and Nevis Saint Lucia Saint Pierre and Miquelon Saint Vincent and the Grenadines Samoa San Marino Sao Tome and Principe Saudi Arabia Senegal Serbia Seychelles Sierra Leone Singapore Slovakia Slovenia Solomon Islands Somalia South Africa Spain Sri Lanka Sudan Sudan, South Suriname Svalbard Sweden Switzerland Syria Taiwan Tajikistan Tanzania Thailand Timor-Leste Togo Tokelau Tonga Trinidad and Tobago Tunisia Turkey Turkmenistan Turks and Caicos Islands Tuvalu Uganda Ukraine United Arab Emirates United Kingdom United States (US) Uruguay Uzbekistan Vanuatu Venezuela Vietnam Virgin Islands Wake Island Wallis and Futuna West Bank Western Sahara World Yemen Zambia Zimbabwe