World Factbook
Eritrea
Hagere Ertra
Last updated: 2026-03-28 (today)
Flag
description: a red isosceles triangle (based on the left side) divides the flag into two right triangles; the upper triangle is green, the lower is blue; a gold wreath around a gold olive branch is on the left side of the red triangle meaning: green stands for the country's agriculture economy, red for the blood shed in the fight for freedom, and blue for the sea's bounty; the shape of the red triangle mimics the country's shape
note: one of four national flags that reflect the country's shape in the flag design; the others are Bosnia and Herzegovina, Brazil, and Vanuatu
Capital
name
Asmara
etymology
the name's origin is unclear; according to Tigrinya oral tradition, the name is part of a phrase meaning "the women made them unite," referring to a group of women who made four clans unite to defeat a common enemy; asmara also means "flowery wood" in the Tigrinya language
time difference
UTC+3 (8 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)
geographic coordinates
15 20 N, 38 56 E
Suffrage
18 years of age; universal
Citizenship
citizenship by birth
no
citizenship by descent only
at least one parent must be a citizen of Eritrea
dual citizenship recognized
no
residency requirement for naturalization
20 years
Constitution
history
ratified by the Constituent Assembly 23 May 1997 (never implemented)
amendment process
proposed by the president of Eritrea or by assent of at least one half of the National Assembly membership; passage requires at least an initial three-quarters majority vote by the Assembly and, after one year, final passage by at least four-fifths majority vote by the Assembly
Country name
former
Eritrea Autonomous Region in Ethiopia
etymology
the country name derives from the ancient Greek name Erythra Thalassa , meaning "Red Sea," the body of water that borders the country
local long form
Hagere Ertra
local short form
Ertra
conventional long form
State of Eritrea
conventional short form
Eritrea
Independence
24 May 1993 (from Ethiopia)
Legal system
mixed system of civil, customary, and Islamic religious law
Government type
authoritarian
Judicial branch
highest court(s)
High Court (consists of 20 judges and organized into civil, commercial, criminal, labor, administrative, and customary sections)
subordinate courts
regional/zonal courts; community courts; special courts; sharia courts (for issues dealing with Muslim marriage, inheritance, and family); military courts
judge selection and term of office
High Court judges appointed by the president
Executive branch
note
note 1: Eritrea’s authoritarian regime is controlled entirely by the president, who heads the sole political party, which has ruled the country since 1991; national elections have not taken place since 1991 and the constitution has not been implemented. note 2: the president is both chief of state and head of government and is head of the State Council and National Assembly
cabinet
State Council appointed by the president
chief of state
President ISAIAS Afwerki (since 24 May 1993)
election results
1993: ISAIAS Afwerki elected president by the transitional National Assembly; percent of National Assembly vote - ISAIAS Afwerki (PFDJ) 95%, other 5%
head of government
President ISAIAS Afwerki (since 8 June 1993)
most recent election date
24 May 1993, following independence from Ethiopia
election/appointment process
president indirectly elected by the National Assembly for a 5-year term (eligible for a second term), according to the constitution
expected date of next election
postponed indefinitely
National holiday
Independence Day, 24 May (1991)
National color(s)
green, red, blue
National heritage
total World Heritage Sites
1 (cultural)
selected World Heritage Site locales
Asmara: A Modernist African City
Political parties
People's Front for Democracy and Justice or PFDJ (the only party recognized by the government)
Legislative branch
note
note: in 1997, after the new constitution was adopted, the government formed a Transitional National Assembly to serve as the country's legislative body until countrywide elections to form a National Assembly could be held; the constitution stipulates that once past the transition stage, all National Assembly members will be elected by secret ballot of all eligible voters; National Assembly elections scheduled for December 2001 were postponed indefinitely due to the war with Ethiopia; as of 2025, no sitting legislative body exists
term in office
4 years
number of seats
150 (all indirectly elected)
legislature name
National Assembly (Hagerawi Baito)
scope of elections
full renewal
legislative structure
unicameral
most recent election date
2/1/1994
National anthem(s)
title
"Ertra, Ertra, Ertra" (Eritrea, Eritrea, Eritrea)
history
adopted 1993, after gaining independence from Ethiopia
lyrics/music
SOLOMON Tsehaye Beraki/Isaac Abraham MEHAREZGI and ARON Tekle Tesfatsion
National symbol(s)
camel
National coat of arms
Eritrea adopted its coat of arms on May 24, 1993, when it won independence from Ethiopia; the camel was used to transport supplies and goods during the war, and it became a symbol of the country’s success; the olive wreath represents peace, reconciliation, and harmony; under the camel is name of the country in its three official languages: Tigrinya, English, and Arabic
Administrative divisions
6 regions ( zobatat , singular - zoba ); 'Anseba, Debub (South), Debubawi K'eyyih Bahri (Southern Red Sea), Gash-Barka, Ma'ikel (Central), Semienawi K'eyyih Bahri (Northern Red Sea)
Diplomatic representation in the US
FAX
[1] (202) 319-1304
chancery
1708 New Hampshire Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20009
telephone
[1] (202) 319-1991
chief of mission
Ambassador (vacant); Chargé d'Affaires Berhane Gebrehiwet SOLOMON (since 15 March 2011)
email address and website
embassyeritrea@embassyeritrea.org https://us.embassyeritrea.org/
Diplomatic representation from the US
FAX
[291] (1) 12-75-84
embassy
179 Alaa Street, Asmara
telephone
[291] (1) 12-00-04
mailing address
7170 Asmara Place, Washington DC 20521-7170
chief of mission
Ambassador (vacant); Chargé d'Affaires Christine E. MEYER (since July 2025)
email address and website
consularasmara@state.gov https://er.usembassy.gov/
International organization participation
ACP, AfDB, AU, COMESA, FAO, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC (NGOs), IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS (observer), IGAD, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, ISO (correspondent), ITU, ITUC (NGOs), LAS (observer), MIGA, NAM, OPCW, PCA, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHRC, UNIDO, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WFTU (NGOs), WHO, WIPO, WMO
International law organization participation
has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration; non-party state to the ICCt