Question 1

What is the population of Eritrea?

Accepted Answer

The population of Eritrea is approximately 3.7M.

Question 2

How do people greet each other in Eritrea?

Accepted Answer

Greetings vary by region and ethnic group, but generally involve a handshake and always inquiring about one's well-being. Do: Shake hands (highlanders and urban dwellers) Ask about the other person's well-being when greeting Use a general greeting like 'Salaam' Call people by their surname; use second-person plural to show respect Villagers may nudge right shoulders during a handshake Urban dwellers shake hands and 'kiss the air' while touching cheeks three times Muslims grasp and kiss each other's right hands, asking 'Kefelhal?' Boys and men often hold hands in friendship

Question 3

What are the dining customs in Eritrea?

Accepted Answer

Diners eat from a communal tray at a low table, using only the right hand and taking the portion in front of them; guests are always served tea or coffee. Do: Eat with your right hand Take only the portion of food in front of you Accept the tea or coffee always offered to guests Don't: Don't expect everyone to eat together—in highland families children and adults eat separately Before the meal, the oldest man blesses a piece of bread and offers some to each person The hostess serves guests and eats later with the children Ingera (also called taitah) accompanies spicy dishes Orthodox Christians eat no animal products on Wednesdays and Fridays

Question 4

What should I know about etiquette and visiting in Eritrea?

Accepted Answer

Eritreans value cooperation and friendliness; visiting among friends and relatives is common without invitation, and guests are usually invited to share a meal. Do: Bring a gift when visiting on special occasions—townspeople take tea or coffee, villagers bring local produce or firewood Enjoy the prolonged conversation of the tea and coffee ceremony For some events, men and women socialize separately A heavy barley porridge, ga'at, is served to welcome new babies When someone dies, friends and relatives cook for the grieving family for twenty-one days

Question 5

How should I dress in Eritrea?

Accepted Answer

Eritreans wear Western-style clothing, though traditional dress remains common among highlanders and Muslims. Highland Christian women often wear white cotton dresses with embroidery and a matching shawl Highland men wear a long-sleeved knee-length white shirt over white pants Muslim men wear long gowns and caps; women cover their dresses with cloth called luiet Women and girls do wear pants

Question 6

What gestures should I use or avoid in Eritrea?

Accepted Answer

The right hand is used for gesturing and eating, and pointing at people is considered impolite. Do: Use your right hand for gesturing Beckon by waving all fingers with palm facing out Snap your fingers to show agreement Raise a hand high as a greeting Don't: Don't point at people Don't wave a hand back and forth—it is a negative signal Young girls keep knees together and uncrossed, with elbows on knees, to show respect

Question 7

What is family life like in Eritrea?

Accepted Answer

The family—often including grandparents, parents, and four or more children—is regarded as more important than any individual within it. A son and his wife generally live with his parents for a couple of years after marrying Almost all marriages are arranged, though the couple usually makes the final decision Homes are always kept clean and neat

Question 8

What do people do for fun and sport in Eritrea?

Accepted Answer

Soccer is the most popular sport, and traditional games are widely played, especially by children in rural areas. Fans gather by the thousands at Asmara Stadium to support the national football team Volleyball is also liked by many Traditional games include Kwosso (Afar goatskin ball game), Feres gugs (on horseback), and the board game Gabata Children enjoy games like Arimando (marble race), Inkil (played with old car tires), blabburo, cucinetti, and kib-kib

Question 9

What is the capital of Eritrea?

Accepted Answer

Asmara is the capital and largest city of Eritrea. Situated on a high plateau in the country's interior, it served as the administrative center during the Italian colonial period and retains a striking collection of modernist and Art Deco architecture from that era. Today Asmara functions as the political, cultural, and economic heart of the nation, and its historic perimeter was designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2017 in recognition of its unique urban landscape.

Question 10

Where is Eritrea located?

Accepted Answer

Eritrea is located in the Horn of Africa, in the northeastern corner of the continent along the southwestern coast of the Red Sea. It occupies a strategically significant position, with its long coastline giving it access to one of the world's busiest maritime shipping lanes. The country's terrain transitions from a narrow coastal plain into a highland plateau before descending again into arid lowlands near its western and southern frontiers.

Question 11

What countries border Eritrea?

Accepted Answer

Eritrea shares land borders with three countries: Ethiopia to the south, Sudan to the west and northwest, and Djibouti to the southeast. Its eastern edge is defined by an extensive coastline along the Red Sea, which also encompasses the Dahlak Archipelago. The border with Ethiopia has been a source of prolonged conflict; a devastating war from 1998 to 2000 ended under UN auspices, though final demarcation of the boundary long remained unresolved.

Question 12

What religions are practiced in Eritrea?

Accepted Answer

Sunni Islam is the most widely practiced religion in Eritrea, observed by roughly 50 percent of the population. Orthodox Christianity—primarily the Eritrean Orthodox Tewahedo Church—accounts for approximately 30 percent of adherents, while Roman Catholicism represents around 13 percent, a legacy of Italian and later Catholic missionary influence. The remaining population follows Protestant denominations and indigenous traditional beliefs. Religious communities have historically coexisted with a notable degree of tolerance and social intermingling.

Question 13

What is the currency of Eritrea?

Accepted Answer

The currency of Eritrea is the nakfa, with the ISO code ERN. Introduced in 1997, the nakfa replaced the Ethiopian birr following Eritrea's independence and is named after the town of Nakfa, which held symbolic importance as a stronghold of the Eritrean independence movement during the long war against Ethiopian rule. The currency is divided into 100 cents and is managed by the Bank of Eritrea.

Question 14

What languages are spoken in Eritrea?

Accepted Answer

Eritrea recognizes several languages as official, reflecting its diverse ethnic composition: Tigrinya, Arabic, and Tigre are the most widely used, while Afar, Kunama, and other Cushitic languages also hold official status. Tigrinya is the dominant language of the highland population and serves as the principal language of government and daily commerce. Arabic functions as an important language of trade and religious practice, particularly among Muslim communities in the lowlands.

Question 15

What is the geography of Eritrea like?

Accepted Answer

Eritrea's terrain is sharply varied, encompassing a narrow, hot coastal plain along the Red Sea, a central highland plateau averaging around 2,000 meters in elevation, and semi-arid to arid western lowlands that extend toward the Sudanese border. The country also controls the Dahlak Archipelago, a chain of coral islands in the Red Sea notable for their marine biodiversity. Because no rivers flow into the Red Sea from Eritrea's coast, the sea maintains unusually high salinity and supports over 1,000 species and subspecies of marine life.

Question 16

What is Eritrea known for?

Accepted Answer

Eritrea is known for its hard-won independence, achieved in 1993 after a 30-year liberation struggle, which has produced a fierce national pride and strong sense of self-sufficiency. The country is also recognized for Asmara's modernist architecture, its vibrant injera-based cuisine flavored with distinctive spice blends, and the symbolic role of the camel—Eritrea's national emblem—which served as the primary means of transporting supplies and fighters during the independence war. The Red Sea coastline and Dahlak Archipelago attract divers seeking largely unspoiled coral reef ecosystems.

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