Introduction: After years of war and disputes Eritrea is now an independant country and was formerly the northern most province of Ethiopia. The country is mainly mountainousbut to the north and east its narrow Red Sea coastal plain is one of the hottest and driest places in Africa. The cooler central highlands have fertile valleys that support agriculture. Eritrea is bordered by the Sudan on the north and west, the Red Sea on the north and east, and Ethiopia and Djibouti on the south.

Official Name: State of Eritrea
Area: 121,320 sq km (46,842 sq miles)
Population: 4,362,000
Continent: Africa
Density per square mile: 93
Capital City: Asmara
Religions: 60% Coptic Christians, Ethiopian Orthodox or Roman Catholic. The remainder are Muslims.

Language: Afar, Amharic, Arabic, Bilen, To Bedawi, Kunama, Nara, Saho, Tigre, Tigrinya, English
Government: Constitutional Democracy

Currency: Nakfa
GDP: $3.3 billion
GDP Per Head: $740

Natural Resources: Copper, gold, potash, zinc, salt & fish.
Land Use: Arable Land 4%
Agriculture: sorghum, lentils, vegetables, corn, cotton, tobacco, coffee, sisal, livestock specifically goats & fish.
Industry: food processing, beverages, textiles & clothing.

Tourism: The British & Foreign Commonwealth office state 'All visitors to Eritrea should take sensible precautions, especially in public places. We advise against all travel to the border areas with Ethiopia and Sudan and along one road in the west of the country (detail below). There is an increased risk in Eritrea from global terrorism'.

Natural Hazards: Frequent droughts; locust swarms
Health Risks: Malaria, dengue fever diarrhoea, giardia, dehydration and worm infestations.

Climate: Eritrea has a variety of climatic conditions with conditions at sea level along the coast, hot and semi-arid. The highlands, further inland are cooler. Asmera in the highlands has an average temperature of 16 degrees Celsius and receives approx. 20 inches of rainfall annually. Mitsiwa at sea level has an average annual temperature of 30 degrees Celsius and an annual rainfall of 8 inches.

Time: GMT/UTC + 3 hours
National Days: May 24

Visas: Foreign citizens need a visa to enter Eritrea. They should obtain this before arrival from the Embassy of the State of Eritrea. Yellow Fever Vaccination certificates are also an entry requirement for all visitors over the age of one year if travelling from an infected country.

British Embassy Details