ERI
Data file updated Jul 5, 2026
Eritrea
Country profile covering economy, demographics, military, quality-of-life signals, and historical trends.
Quick Facts
- Capital
- Asmara
- Currency
- Eritrean Nakfa (ERN)
- Language
- Tigrinya, Arabic, English
- Government
- Unitary one-party presidential republic
- Internet Users
- 14.3%
- Unemployment
- 6.0%
Population
3.61M
GDP
$2.07B
GDP per Capita
$551
Area
117,600 km²
Life Expectancy
68.9 years
HDI
0.5
Economy
5 metrics| GDP (USD) | $2.07B |
|---|---|
| GDP Per Capita (USD) | $551 |
| Unemployment Rate (%) | 6.0% |
| GINI Index (Income Inequality) | 35.3 |
| Currency | Eritrean Nakfa (ERN) |
Society & Demographics
4 metrics| Life Expectancy (years) | 68.9 |
|---|---|
| Literacy Rate (%) | 76.6% |
| Internet Users (%) | 14.3% |
| Human Development Index | 0.5 |
Military Strength
9 metrics| Active Personnel | 200,000 |
|---|---|
| Reserve Personnel | 120,000 |
| Total Military Personnel | 320,000 |
| Defense Budget (USD) | $220M |
| Tanks | 270 |
| Armored Vehicles | 1,000 |
| Self-Propelled Artillery | 18 |
| Towed Artillery | 150 |
| Rocket Projectors | 35 |
Air Force
7 metrics| Total Aircraft | 55 |
|---|---|
| Fighters | 12 |
| Attack Aircraft | 8 |
| Transport Aircraft | 6 |
| Trainer Aircraft | 12 |
| Helicopters | 17 |
| Attack Helicopters | 4 |
Education
4 metrics| Education Expenditure (% of GDP) | 2.6% |
|---|---|
| Universities | 8 |
| Primary Enrollment (%) | 47.0% |
| Secondary Enrollment (%) | 35.0% |
Healthcare
5 metrics| Healthcare Expenditure (% of GDP) | 4.0% |
|---|---|
| Physicians per 1,000 people | 0.1 |
| Hospital Beds per 1,000 people | 0.7 |
| Life Expectancy (Male) | 65.2 |
| Life Expectancy (Female) | 69.9 |
Cost of Living
12 metrics| Cost of Living Index | 27.5 |
|---|---|
| Rent Index | 8.0 |
| Groceries Index | 25.0 |
| Restaurant Price Index | 15.0 |
| Local Purchasing Power | 9.0 |
| Meal at Inexpensive Restaurant (USD) | $2 |
| Three-Course Meal for 2 (USD) | $8 |
| Monthly Rent - City Center (USD) | $120 |
| Monthly Rent - Outside Center (USD) | $55 |
| Monthly Utilities (USD) | $25 |
| Internet (60 Mbps, USD) | $30 |
| Monthly Public Transport Pass (USD) | $5 |
Historical Data
No Historical Data Available
Historical data is not available for the selected countries.
Compare Eritrea
Religious Composition
- Sunni Muslim 48.0%
- Orthodox Christian 43.0%
- Catholic 4.0%
- Protestant 2.0%
- Traditional 2.0%
- Other 1.0%
Beverages per Person
- Alcohol 1.4 L pure/yr
Per-capita — consumption where available, else FAOSTAT supply · alcohol = litres of pure alcohol (WHO)
Age Demographics
19.5
Median Age