Geography Quiz Arcade

Capital of Eritrea: Asmara — Facts & 5-Question Quiz

The capital of Eritrea is Asmara. Eritrea sits in Africa, has a population of 3,684,032, and uses the ERN. Official languages include Tigrinya, Arabic, English.

Quick facts

  • Capital: Asmara
  • Continent: Africa
  • Population: ~3,684,032
  • Area: 117,600 km²
  • Population density: 31.3 people per km²
  • Official languages: Tigrinya, Arabic, English
  • Currency: ERN
  • ISO code: ER

How big is Eritrea?

By population, Eritrea ranks 131st in the world, holding roughly 0.05% of all people on Earth. By land area it ranks 99th.

Those two numbers rarely match, and the gap between them is the interesting part. Eritrea has 31.3 people per square kilometre, which is about 1.9 times below the world average of 59.4. It is more spacious than its population alone would suggest.

Within Africa, Eritrea is the 40th most populous country of 54.

Countries of a similar size

The two countries closest to Eritrea in population are Georgia (3,744,385) and Uruguay (3,422,794).

By land area, its closest counterparts are Malawi (118,484 km²) and North Korea (120,538 km²).

Comparisons like these are worth more than raw figures when you are trying to remember them. A number on its own is hard to hold; a number next to a country you already have a feel for is much easier.

Language and currency

Tigrinya is listed as an official language of Eritrea alone, which is unusual — most official languages are shared across borders.

Eritrea uses the ERN, and it is the only country that does, which makes the currency name a reliable one-to-one clue.

How to remember Eritrea

Asmara is inland, about 2,325 m above sea level, not on the Red Sea coast. For the flag, look for a gold olive wreath on a red arrow pointing across green and blue.

The flag of Eritrea: red, green, blue and gold

🇪🇷 The flag is a red triangle pointing from the flagpole to the far side, dividing the flag into a green top and a blue bottom, with a gold olive wreath and branch on the red. Green stands for farming, blue for the riches of the sea, and red for the blood shed for freedom. The shape of the red triangle is said to mimic the shape of the country.

Region and neighbours

Eritrea is a country in the Horn of Africa with a long coast on the Red Sea, including the islands of the Dahlak Archipelago. It shares land borders with 3 countries: Sudan, Ethiopia and Djibouti.

Three facts about Eritrea

  1. Asmara was added to the UNESCO World Heritage list in 2017 as 'Asmara: A Modernist African City'.
  2. Eritrea gained de jure independence in 1993, after an independence referendum.
  3. Eritrea has nine recognised ethnic groups, each with its own language.

Sources: Wikipedia: Eritrea, Wikipedia: Flag of Eritrea, Wikipedia: Asmara, CIA World Factbook.

Quiz yourself on Eritrea

Eritrea capital quiz

  1. What is the capital of Eritrea 🇪🇷?

    • Nairobi
    • Asmara
    • Abuja
    • Cairo
    Show answer

    Asmara

  2. What is the capital of Mauritania 🇲🇷?

    • Accra
    • Harare
    • Nouakchott
    • Malabo
    Show answer

    Nouakchott

  3. What is the capital of Gambia 🇬🇲?

    • Nouakchott
    • Port Louis
    • Banjul
    • Kinshasa
    Show answer

    Banjul

  4. What is the capital of Botswana 🇧🇼?

    • Pretoria
    • Port Louis
    • Malabo
    • Gaborone
    Show answer

    Gaborone

  5. What is the capital of Namibia 🇳🇦?

    • Praia
    • Windhoek
    • Kinshasa
    • Kigali
    Show answer

    Windhoek

Eritrea in Africa

The largest countries by population sharing this continent are Nigeria, Ethiopia, Egypt and Democratic Republic of the Congo.

If you are learning capitals region by region — far more effective than working alphabetically — Africa is the block Eritrea belongs to, and its neighbours are the ones worth learning alongside it.

Try the Country to Capital Quiz, or the harder reverse direction. There is also a full country profile for Eritrea.

Frequently asked questions

What is the capital of Eritrea?

The capital of Eritrea is Asmara.

What is the population of Eritrea?

About 3,684,032, making it the 131st most populous country in the world.

How big is Eritrea?

117,600 square kilometres, ranking 99th by land area, at a density of 31.3 people per square kilometre.

What currency does Eritrea use?

The ERN, which no other country uses.

What are the colours of the Eritrea flag?

The flag of Eritrea is a red triangle pointing from the flagpole to the far side, dividing the flag into a green top and a blue bottom, with a gold olive wreath and branch on the red. Green stands for farming, blue for the riches of the sea, and red for the blood shed for freedom. The shape of the red triangle is said to mimic the shape of the country.

Which countries border Eritrea?

Eritrea shares land borders with Sudan, Ethiopia and Djibouti.

How can I remember the capital of Eritrea?

Asmara is inland, about 2,325 m above sea level, not on the Red Sea coast. For the flag, look for a gold olive wreath on a red arrow pointing across green and blue.

More capitals to learn

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