Country Profile: Eritrea

Last updated: 8 October 2007

Country information

Map of Eritrea

Area: 121,320 sq km
Population: 4.9 million (2007 estimate)
Capital City: Asmara
People: Tigrinya 50%, Tigre 35%, Afar 4%, Saho 3%, Kunama 3%
Main language(s): Tigrinya, Tigre, Arabic and English
Religion(s): 50% Christian (Coptic, Catholic and Protestant), 50% Muslim
Currency: Nakfa (replaced the Ethiopian Birr in 1997) exchange rate 15 to 1US$ (2007)
President: Isaias Afwerki
Foreign Minister: Mr Osman Saleh
Membership of international groupings/organisations: United Nations (UN), African Union (AU), Inter-Governmental Authority on Development (IGAD) (temporarily suspended), Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (COMESA).