Eritrea
Capital
Asmara
Population
~3.6 million
Currency
Eritrean Nakfa (ERN)
Quick Facts
- Languages
- Tigrinya, Arabic, English
- Religion
- Christianity (Orthodox), Islam
- Climate
- Arid; hot and dry with mild winters
Culture & History
Known for: military conscription, its Red Sea location, and Italian colonial heritage
Also famous for: Asmara architecture, the Dahlak Archipelago, and the liberation struggle
Food: Injera (flatbread) with stews
Brief History
Part of Ethiopia; gained independence in 1993 after a long war; authoritarian government and mandatory military service