Sub Saharan Africa

Eritrea
Last updated: 27 February 2012

Country information

Eritrea today
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Map of Eritrea

Area: 124,320 sq km (including Dahlak archipelago)
Population: 5.6 million (2009 est)
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) fixed exchange rate 15 to 1US$ ( 2009)
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) , Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (COMESA).