Eritrea15.79° N, 38.29° E
geometry: Natural Earth 1:50m · EPSG:6933 equal-area
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The name Eritrea derives from the ancient Greek name "Erythra Thalassa," meaning "Red Sea," the body of water that borders the country. Its conventional long form is State of Eritrea.
Source: CIA World Factbook · 2026-02-01 · text generated from this source, approved by a person
A hot, dry desert strip runs along the Red Sea coast, while the central highlands are cooler and wetter. Rainfall in the central highlands is heaviest from June to September, while the western hills and lowlands are semiarid.
Source: CIA World Factbook · 2026-02-01 · text generated from this source, approved by a person
Its ethnic groups include Tigrinya, Tigre, Saho, Afar, Kunama, Bilen, Hedareb/Beja, Nara, and Rashaida. Religions include Eritrean Orthodox, Roman Catholic, Evangelical Lutheran, and Sunni Muslim.
Population density is highest in the center, in and around Asmara, the capital, and Keren. Smaller settlements exist in the north and south.
Source: CIA World Factbook · 2026-02-01 · text generated from this source, approved by a person
The government is authoritarian. Its legal system is a mixed system of civil, customary, and Islamic religious law. The constitution was ratified by the Constituent Assembly 23 May 1997 but never implemented. The country gained independence from Ethiopia on 24 May 1993. Its national holiday is Independence Day, 24 May (1991).
Source: CIA World Factbook · 2026-02-01 · text generated from this source, approved by a person
CIA World Factbook
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