View source for Demographics of Eritrea

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{{Hatnote|For the national origin group of Eritrea, see [[Eritreans]].}}
{{Infobox place demographics
 | place              = [[Eritrea]]
 | image              = Flag of Eritrea.svg
 | image_size         =
 | alt                = Flag of Eritrea
 | caption            =

<!-- main demographics -->
 | size_of_population = Estimates range between 3.6 million and 6.7 million<ref name="UNDESA_WPP_2019_total_population" /><ref name="COMESA_ERpop_2019" /> Eritrea has never conducted an official government census.<ref name="PHS2010_full" />
 | density            = 
 | growth             =1.03% (2022 est.) 
 | birth              =27.04 births/1,000 population (2022 est.) 
 | death              =6.69 deaths/1,000 population (2022 est.) 
 | life               = 66.85 years
 | life_male          =64.25 years 
 | life_female        =69.53 years (2022 est.) 
 | fertility          =3.58 children born/woman (2022 est.) 
 | infant_mortality   =41.5 deaths/1,000 live births
 | net_migration      =

-10.11 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2022 est.)
 | under_18_years     = 
 | age_18–44_years    = 
 | age_45-64_years    =
 | age_65_years       =4% 
 | age_0–14_years     =38.23%
 | age_15–64_years    =
<!-- sex ratio -->
 | total_mf_ratio     =0.97 male(s)/female (2022 est.) 
 | sr_at_birth        =1.03 male(s)/female 
 | sr_under_15        =1.01 male(s)/female 
 | sr_15–64_years     = 
 | sr_65_years_over   =

0.67 male(s)/female
 | nation             =Eritrean 
 | major_ethnic       = [[Tigrinya people|Tigrinya]], [[Tigre people|Tigre]]
 | minor_ethnic       = [[Saho people|Saho]], [[Bilen people|Bilen]], [[Beja people|Beja]], [[Kunama people|Kunama]], [[Nara people|Nara]], [[Afar people|Afar]]

<!-- language -->
 | spoken             = [[Languages of Eritrea]]
 | footnote           =
|official=}}
Sources disagree as to the current population of [[Eritrea]], with some proposing numbers as low as 3.6 million<ref name="UNDESA_WPP_2019_total_population" /> and others as high as 6.7 million.<ref name="COMESA_ERpop_2019" /> Eritrea has never conducted an official government census.<ref name="PHS2010_full" />
[[File:Eritrea Population 1950-2021 Forecast 2022-2032 UN World Population Prospects 2022.svg|thumb|300px|[[Population]], [[fertility rate]] and [[net reproduction rate]], United Nations estimates]]
The nation has nine recognized ethnic groups. Of these, the largest is the [[Tigrinya people|Tigrinya]], who make up around 50% of the population; the [[Tigre people|Tigre]] people, who also speak Semitic languages, constitute around 30% of residents.<ref name=":2" /> Most of the rest of the population belong to other [[Afroasiatic languages|Afro-Asiatic]]-speaking communities of the [[Cushitic languages|Cushitic]] branch. Additionally, there are a number of [[Nilo-Saharan languages|Nilo-Saharan]]-speaking ethnic minorities and other smaller groups.<ref name="Minahan">{{cite book|last=Minahan|first=James|title=Miniature empires: a historical dictionary of the newly independent states|year=1998|publisher=Greenwood Publishing Group|isbn=0-313-30610-9|pages=76|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=RSxt-JB-PDkC&pg=PA76|quote="The majority of the Eritreans speak Semitic or Cushitic languages of the Afro-Asiatic language group. The Kunama, Baria, and other smaller groups in the north and northwest speak Nilotic languages."}}</ref>
 
The two most followed religions are [[Christianity]] (47%-63% of the total population) and [[Islam]] (52%).<ref name=":0">{{Cite web|date=2015-04-02|title=Religious Composition by Country, 2010-2050|url=https://www.pewforum.org/2015/04/02/religious-projection-table/|url-status=live|access-date=2021-05-12|website=Pew Research Center's Religion & Public Life Project|language=en-US|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150404142344/http://www.pewforum.org:80/2015/04/02/religious-projection-table/ |archive-date=2015-04-04 }}</ref><ref name=":1">{{Cite web |title=Eritrea |url=https://www.state.gov/reports/2021-report-on-international-religious-freedom/eritrea/ |access-date=2022-10-19 |website=United States Department of State |language=en-US}}</ref><ref name=":2">{{Cite web |title=Eritrea |url=https://www.cia.gov/the-world-factbook/countries/eritrea |access-date=2023-06-01 |website=CIA World Factbook}}</ref>

==Population==
Sources disagree as to the current population of Eritrea, with [[United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs|UN DESA]] proposing a low estimate of 3.6 million for 2021<ref name="UNDESA_WPP_2019_total_population" /> and the [[Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa]] proposing a high estimate of 6.7 million for 2019.<ref name="COMESA_ERpop_2019" /> Eritrea has never conducted an official government census.<ref name="PHS2010_full" /> In its 2019 data release, UN DESA described why its estimate was much lower than earlier estimates, stating, "The decrease is due to the availability of new official population estimates for several years (population count in 2000, official estimates up to 2018) that contribute to lower the size of the population in the recent years, as well as to revised past estimates since 1950."<ref name="UNDESA2019_release_notes" />

In the 2010s, worsening conditions fueled migration pressure, with Eritreans trying to reach Europe illegally.<ref>[https://www.economist.com/news/middle-east-and-africa/21587844-eritreans-are-taking-seas-because-worsening-conditions-home-why-they Why they leave --  Eritreans are taking to the seas because of worsening conditions at home] 12 October 2013. 
"Some 30,000 people reached Italy illegally in boats in the first nine months of 2013, three times as many as in the whole of 2012, according to [[Frontex]], [...] the largest batch came from Eritrea, a country that has supposedly been at peace for the past 13 years."
[http://www.catholicherald.co.uk/news/2014/06/12/emigration-has-left-eritrea-desolate-say-bishops/ Emigration has left Eritrea ‘desolate’, say bishops], ''Catholic Herald'', 6 September 2014.</ref><ref>[http://www.worldbank.org/prospects/migrationandremittances Bilateral Estimates of Migrant Stocks in 2010] estimates 942,000 emigrants, of whom 450,000 migrated to [[Sudan]] and 290,000 to [[Ethiopia]]. Cf. the World' Bank's [http://siteresources.worldbank.org/INTLAC/Resources/Factbook2011-Ebook.pdf Migration and Remittances Factbook 2011].</ref> The UN Department of Economic and Social Affairs expects Eritrean population growth to accelerate to 1.8% per year from 2020 to 2030, vs. 1.1% per year from 2010 to 2020.<ref name="WPP 2010" />

The proportion of children below the age of 15 in 2020 was 41.1%, 54.3% were between 15 and 65 years of age, while 4.5% were 65 or older.<ref name="WPP 2010">{{cite web|title=World Population Prospects 2019, custom data acquired via website.|url=https://population.un.org/wpp/DataQuery/|url-status=live|access-date=14 April 2021|website=United Nations, Department of Economic and Social Affairs, Population Division|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180922024646/https://population.un.org/wpp/DataQuery/ |archive-date=2018-09-22 }}</ref>
[[File:Eritrea single age population pyramid 2020.png|350px|alt=|thumb|upright=1.4|Eritrea [[population pyramid]] in 2020]]
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align: right;"
|-
!
! width="80pt"|Population aged 0–14 (%)
! width="80pt"|Population aged 15–64 (%)
! width="80pt"|Population aged 65+ (%)
|-
| 1950||45.3||51.6||3.0
|-
| 1960||43.4||53.9||2.7
|-
| 1970||44.1||53.4||2.5
|-
| 1980||44.3||53.1||2.6
|-
| 1990||45.2||52.1||2.7
|-
| 2000||45.7||50.4||3.8
|-
| 2010||39.5||56.5||4.0
|-
| 2020||41.1||54.3||4.5
|}

Population Estimates by Sex and Age Group (1 July 2020) (Estimates based on the 2000 quick population count results and 1995, 2002 and 2010 Eritrea Demographic and Health Surveys.):<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://unstats.un.org/unsd/demographic-social/products/dyb/dyb_2020/|title=UNSD — Demographic and Social Statistics|website=unstats.un.org}}</ref>
{| class="wikitable"
|-
! width="80pt"|Age Group
! width="80pt"|Male
! width="80pt"|Female
! width="80pt"|Total
! width="80pt"|%
|-
| align="right" | Total
| align="right" | 1 704 531
| align="right" | 1 760 057
| align="right" | 3 464 588
| align="right" | 100
|-
| align="right" | 0–4
| align="right" | 258 209
| align="right" | 260 452
| align="right" | 518 661
| align="right" | 14.97
|-
| align="right" | 5–9
| align="right" | 226 081
| align="right" | 229 410
| align="right" | 455 492
| align="right" | 13.15
|-
| align="right" | 10–14
| align="right" | 189 259
| align="right" | 192 799
| align="right" | 382 058
| align="right" | 11.03
|-
| align="right" | 15–19
| align="right" | 156 082
| align="right" | 159 332
| align="right" | 315 413
| align="right" | 9.10
|-
| align="right" | 20–24
| align="right" | 141 888
| align="right" | 134 220
| align="right" | 276 108
| align="right" | 7.97
|-
| align="right" | 25–29
| align="right" | 166 664
| align="right" | 158 295
| align="right" | 324 959
| align="right" | 9.38
|-
| align="right" | 30–34
| align="right" | 139 275
| align="right" | 141 835
| align="right" | 281 110
| align="right" | 9.11
|-
| align="right" | 35–39
| align="right" | 103 079
| align="right" | 103 347
| align="right" | 206 427 
| align="right" | 5.96
|-
| align="right" | 40–44
| align="right" | 62 197
| align="right" | 76 107
| align="right" | 138 304
| align="right" | 3.99
|-
| align="right" | 45–49
| align="right" | 60 159
| align="right" | 77 960
| align="right" | 138 119
| align="right" | 3.99
|-
| align="right" | 50–54
| align="right" | 47 632
| align="right" | 55 264
| align="right" | 102 896
| align="right" | 2.97
|-
| align="right" | 55–59
| align="right" | 39 491
| align="right" | 50 117
| align="right" | 89 607
| align="right" | 2.59
|-
| align="right" | 60–64
| align="right" | 34 801
| align="right" | 35 259
| align="right" | 70 060
| align="right" | 2.02
|-
| align="right" | 65–69
| align="right" | 28 019
| align="right" | 28 134
| align="right" | 56 153
| align="right" | 1.62
|-
| align="right" | 70–74
| align="right" | 22 886
| align="right" | 24 318
| align="right" | 47 204
| align="right" | 1.36
|-
| align="right" | 75–79
| align="right" | 14 576
| align="right" | 18 574
| align="right" | 33 150 
| align="right" | 0.96
|-
| align="right" | 80–84
| align="right" | 8 912
| align="right" | 10 116
| align="right" | 19 028
| align="right" | 0.55
|-
| align="right" | 85+
| align="right" | 5 323
| align="right" | 4 519
| align="right" | 9 842
| align="right" | 0.28
|-
! width="50"|Age group 
! width="80pt"|Male
! width="80"|Female
! width="80"|Total
! width="50"|Percent
|-
| align="right" | 0–14
| align="right" | 673 549
| align="right" | 682 661
| align="right" | 1 356 210
| align="right" | 39.14
|-
| align="right" | 15–64
| align="right" | 951 266
| align="right" | 991 735
| align="right" | 1 943 001
| align="right" | 56.08
|-
| align="right" | 65+
| align="right" | 79 716
| align="right" | 85 661
| align="right" | 165 377
| align="right" | 4.77
|-
|}

== Vital statistics ==

===Demographic and Health Surveys===
The [[United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs]] (UN DESA) Population Division published its ''UN DESA 2019 Revision'' (''World Population Prospects 2019'') data release<ref name="UNDESA2019_data_sources" /> based on several data samples, including the 1995 and 2002 [[Demographic and Health Surveys]] (1995 DHS, 2002 DHS) and the 2010 ''Population and Health Survey'' (2010 PHS), since a full [[census]] had not been carried out in Eritrea {{as of|2010|lc=yes}}.<ref name="PHS2010_full" />{{rp|31}}

The 1995 DHS survey was carried out in Eritrea by the Eritrean National Statistics Office (NSO) and Macro International Inc., collecting data by interviewing 5,054 women aged 15–49 and 1,114 men aged 15–59, chosen to be a statistically representative sample, from September 1995 to January 1996.<ref name="DHS1995_full" />

The 2002 DHS survey was carried out by the NSO (renamed as the ''National Statistics and Evaluation Office''), with support from the [[United States Agency for International Development]] (USAID) and ORC Macro, collecting data with interviews of 8,754 women in Eritrea in the 15–49 age range, in what was considered to be a statistically representative sample of the full population.<ref name="DHS2002_full" /> Key findings of the survey included a drop from 1995 to 2002 of fertility from 6.1 to 4.8 children per woman; improved knowledge of [[contraception]]; a drop in post-neonatal mortality; improved antenatal care; a doubling of the full vaccination rate for 12–23 month old babies from 41 to 76 percent; 38 percent of children under five years old were chronically malnourished or stunted; and near universal knowledge of [[HIV]] and [[AIDS]].<ref name="DHS2002_key_findings" />

In 2010, the NSO, supported by the [[Fafo Foundation|Fafo]] Institute for Applied International Studies, published a ''Population and Health Survey'' (EPHS2010), based on a survey covering 34,423 households by choosing 900 areas around Eritrea, 525 rural and 375 urban, and randomly selecting 40 households in each cluster. Interviews aimed to include all women aged 15–49 and men aged 15–59 who were either residents or visitors in any selected household on the night preceding the interview. Key findings compared to the 1995 DHS survey included a decrease in early childhood mortality, increased children's vaccination, decreased maternal death, and a "wide gap between knowledge and use of [[family planning]]".<ref name="PHS2010_full" />

===Fertility and mortality===
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align: right;"
|-
! width="70pt"|Period
! width="70pt"|Live births per 5 years<ref name="UNDESA2019_births" />
! width="70pt"|Deaths per 5 years<ref name="UNDESA2019_mortality" />
! width="70pt"|Natural change per 5 years
! width="70pt"|CBR*<ref name="UNDESA2019_CBR" />
! width="70pt"|CDR*<ref name="UNDESA2019_CDR" />
! width="70pt"|NC*<ref name="UNDESA2019_NatChange" />
! width="70pt"|TFR*<ref name="UNDESA2019_TFR" />
! width="70pt"|IMR*<ref name="UNDESA2019_IMR" />
|-
| 1950–1955 || 204 000|| 128 000|| 76 000|| 47.5|| 29.7 ||17.7|| 6.96|| 199
|-
| 1955–1960 || 233 000|| 128 000|| 105 000||48.8|| 26.8 ||22.0|| 6.96|| 181
|-
| 1960–1965 || 261 000|| 127 000|| 134 000||48.4|| 23.6 ||24.8|| 6.82||160
|-
| 1965–1970 || 291 000|| 133 000|| 158 000||47.4|| 21.7 || 25.7 || 6.70||148
|-
| 1970–1975 || 324 000|| 140 000|| 184 000||46.0|| 19.8 || 26.2||6.62||140
|-
| 1975–1980 || 366 000|| 148 000|| 218 000||45.3|| 18.3 || 27.9|| 6.62|| 132
|-
| 1980–1985 || 422 000|| 161 000|| 261 000||45.2|| 17.3 ||27.7|| 6.70|| 121
|-
| 1985–1990 || 469 000|| 174 000|| 295 000||44.0|| 16.4 || 23.3|| 6.6|| 112
|-
| 1990–1995 || 428 000|| 168 000|| 260 000||38.4|| 15.1 ||19.4|| 6.3||94.4
|-
| 1995–2000 || 359 000|| 140 000|| 219 000||31.9|| 12.5 ||24.0|| 5.6||71.1
|-
| 2000–2005 || 442 000|| 135 000|| 307 000||34.6|| 10.6 ||28.3|| 5.1||59.4
|-
| 2005–2010 || 564 000|| 140 000|| 424 000||37.6|| 9.4 ||28.3|| 4.8||51.6
|-
| 2010–2015 || 552 000|| 134 000|| 418 000||33.9|| 8.2 ||25.7|| 4.35||45.0
|-
| 2015–2020 || 528 000|| 125 000|| 403 000||30.6|| 7.2 ||23.4|| 4.1|| 34.7
|-
|align="left" colspan="9" | * <small>Values per year: CBR = crude birth rate (per 1000); CDR = crude death rate (per 1000); NC = natural change (per 1000); IMR = infant mortality rate per 1000 births; TFR = total fertility rate (number of children per woman)</small>
|}

====Urban/rural and geographical distribution====
Total Fertility Rate (TFR) (Wanted Fertility Rate) and Crude Birth Rate (CBR) (1995 DHS, Table 3.1;<ref name="DHS1995_full" /> 2002 DHS, Table 4.1;<ref name="DHS2002_full" /><ref>{{cite web|url=http://microdata.worldbank.org/index.php/catalog/dhs#_r=&collection=&country=&dtype=&from=1890&page=5&ps=&sk=&sort_by=nation&sort_order=&to=2014&topic=&view=s&vk=|title=MEASURE DHS: Demographic and Health Surveys|access-date=31 May 2015}}</ref>)
{| class="wikitable"
|-
! rowspan=2| Year
! colspan=2| Total
! colspan=2| Urban
! colspan=2| Rural
|-
! CBR !! TFR
! CBR !! TFR
! CBR !! TFR
|-
| 1995
| style="text-align:right;"| 37.5
| style="text-align:right;"| 6.10
| style="text-align:right;"| 29.3
| style="text-align:right;"| 4.23
| style="text-align:right;"| 40.3
| style="text-align:right;"| 6.99
|-
| 2002
| style="text-align:right;"| 32
| style="text-align:right;"| 4.8
| style="text-align:right;"| 28
| style="text-align:right;"| 3.5
| style="text-align:right;"| 35
| style="text-align:right;"| 5.7
|-
|}

Fertility geographical distribution as of 2010 (PHS, Table 4–2):<ref name="PHS2010_full" />

{| class="wikitable sortable"
|-
! style="width:100pt;"| Zoba
! style="width:100pt;"| Total fertility rate
! style="width:100pt;"| Mean number of children ever born to women age 40–49
! style="width:100pt;"| Percentage of women age 15-49 currently pregnant
|-
| Debubawi Keih Bahri || 4.2 || 5.4 || 7.6
|-
| Maekel || 3.4 || 4.1 || 5.5
|-
| Semenawi Keih Bahri || 5.4 || 5.9 || 8.1
|-
| Anseba || 5.7 || 6.3 || 8.2
|-
| Gash-Barka || 5.4 || 5.6 || 8.0
|-
| Debub || 5.0 || 6.0 || 7.9
|}

=== Life expectancy ===
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align: center;"
!Period
!Life expectancy in <br /> Years<ref name="UNDESA2019_LifeExpect" />
|-
|1950–1955
|34.08
|-
|1955–1960
|{{increase}} 36.68
|-
|1960–1965
|{{increase}} 40.08
|-
|1965–1970
|{{increase}} 42.15
|-
|1970–1975
|{{increase}} 44.11
|-
|1975–1980
|{{increase}} 45.91
|-
|1980–1985
|{{increase}} 47.33
|-
|1985–1990
|{{increase}} 48.69
|-
|1990–1995
|{{increase}} 50.77
|-
|1995–2000
|{{increase}} 53.97
|-
|2000–2005
|{{increase}} 56.70
|-
|2005–2010
|{{increase}} 60.71
|-
|2010–2015
|{{increase}} 63.42
|-
|2015–2020
|{{increase}} 65.74
|}

===Migration===
{{image frame
|content={{Graph:Chart
|type= line
|xType=date
|linewidth=1 
|showSymbols= 
|width= 
|colors= #FF8317,#BFB000,#001E00,#87CEEB,#000000
|showValues=
|xAxisTitle= Final year of 5-year period
|xAxisAngle= -90
|x= 1955,1960,1965,1970,1975,1980,1985,1990,1995,2000,2005,2010,2015,2020
|yAxisTitle= Net migrants in thousands
|yAxisMin = 
|yScaleType =
|yAxisFormat = 
|legend=Eritrean net migration
|y1Title=2019
|y1=0.997, 3, 6.997, 4.999, 10, 10, 10, -40.0, -314.772, -129.998, 227.29, -80.009, -246, -199.29
|y2Title=2015
|y2=0.997, 3, 6.997, 4.999, 10, 10, 10, -40, -400.002, -70, 110.001, -160.001, -160.001
|y3Title=2010
|y3=0.175, 2.212, 6.356, 2.91, 7.773, 53.231, 49.2, -3.8, -358.661, -8.887, 229.376, 55
|yGrid=
|xGrid=
}}
|width=420
|caption=Eritrean migration (immigrants minus emigrants; [[United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs|UN DESA]] Revisions 2010 to 2019). ''Negative'' numbers indicate more ''emigration'' than immigration; ''positive'' numbers indicate more ''immigration''. Sources: [[United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs]] (UN DESA) Population Division: (Revisions 2012<ref name="UNDESA2012_MIGR_NET_NUMBERS" /> and 2017 are almost identical to Revisions 2010 and 2015, respectively.<ref name="UNDESA2017_MIGR_NET_NUMBERS" />)
* Revision 2010<ref name="UNDESA2010_MIGR_NET_NUMBERS" />
* Revision 2015<ref name="UNDESA2015_MIGR_NET_NUMBERS" />
* Revision 2019<ref name="UNDESA2019_MIGR_NET_NUMBERS" />
|border=no
}}
In 2015, there was a major outflow of emigrants from Eritrea. ''[[The Guardian]]'' attributed the emigration to Eritrea being "a totalitarian state where most citizens fear arrest at any moment and dare not speak to their neighbours, gather in groups or linger long outside their homes", with a major factor being the conditions and long durations of [[Eritrean Army#National service|conscription in the Eritrean Army]].<ref name="Guardian_not_at_war_fled" /> At the end of 2018, the [[United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees]] (UNHCR) estimated that about 507,300 Eritreans were refugees who had fled Eritrea.<ref name="HRW_ER_2019" /> Factors corresponding to emigration include the "lack of political, religious and social freedom", economic reasons and indefinite military service. Young people choosing to flee Eritrea often keep their plans secret from their families in order to decrease their families' stress and risk of being fined or imprisoned. Payment to people smugglers is typically made when a refugee arrives in Libya and provides the smugglers with a telephone number of a diaspora contact who is expected to pay.<ref name="Conversation_ER_why_emigrate" /> Several refugees given educational opportunities while residing in refugee camps in Ethiopia felt that they lacked long-term life opportunities beyond obtaining academic degrees, motivating them to attempt further emigration to Europe.<ref name="Conversation_ER_why_risky_migration" />

During the first four half decades of the twenty-first century, [[United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs|UN DESA]] Population Division, in its ''2019 Revision'' of ''World Population Prospects'', estimated that Eritrea had 227 thousand more immigrants than emigrants during 2000–2005 (more people arrived than left), and had net outflows afterwards, with 80 thousand net emigrants during 2005–2010, 246 thousand during 2010–2015 and 199 thousand during 2015–2020.<ref name="UNDESA_migration_worldwide_2019" /> 
{{clear}}<!-- text for this same section should go *above* this 'clear' template; 'clear' stops the graph from sliding into sections lower down -->

==Ethno-linguistic groups==
{{further|Languages of Eritrea}}
[[File:Ethno-Demography of Eritrea.png|thumb|400px|Ethno-Demography of Eritrea]]

{{Pie chart
|thumb = right
|caption = Ethnicity in Eritrea (2021) <ref>{{cite web| url = https://www.cia.gov/the-world-factbook/countries/eritrea/#people-and-society| title = The World Factbook| date = 2023-02-09}}</ref>
|label1 = [[Tigrinya people|Tigrinya]]
|value1 = 50
|color1 = Red
|label2 = [[Tigre people|Tigre]]
|value2 = 30
|color2 = Green
|label3 = [[Saho people|Saho]]
|value3 = 4
|color3 = Cyan
|label4 = [[Afar people|Afar]]
|value4 = 4
|color4 = Yellow
|label5 = [[Kunama people|Kunama]]
|value5 = 4
|color5 = Violet
|label6 = [[Bilen people|Bilen]]
|value6 = 3
|color6 = Maroon
|label7 = Other
|value7 = 5
|color7 = Grey}}

Eritrea's population comprises nine recognized [[ethnic group]]s, most of whom speak languages from the [[Ethiopian Semitic languages|Ethiopian Semitic]] branch of the [[Afroasiatic languages|Afro-Asiatic]] family.<ref name="Minahan" /> The East African Semitic languages spoken in Eritrea are [[Tigre language|Tigre]], [[Tigrinya language|Tigrinya]], and the newly recognized [[Dahlik language|Dahlik]]. Other Afro-Asiatic languages belonging to the [[Cushitic languages|Cushitic]] branch are also widely spoken in the country.<ref name="Minahan" /> The latter include [[Afar language|Afar]], [[Beja language|Beja]], [[Blin language|Blin]], and [[Saho language|Saho]].

In addition, languages belonging to the [[Nilo-Saharan languages|Nilo-Saharan]] language family ([[Kunama language|Kunama]] and [[Nara language|Nara]]) are spoken as a [[mother tongue]] by the Kunama and Nara Nilotic ethnic minorities that live in the north and northwestern part of the country.<ref name="Minahan" /> The [[Rashaida people|Rashaida]] speak [[Arabic language|Arabic]], while there are also a number of [[Italian people|Italians]] who speak their native [[Italian language]].

===Afro-Asiatic communities===

====Semitic speakers====
=====Tigrinya=====
{{main|Tigrinya people}}
[[File:Traditional Eritrean dance.jpg|thumb|A [[Tigrinyas|Tigrigna]] traditional dance.]]
The majority of the Tigrinya inhabit the highlands of Eritrea; however, migration to other parts of the country has occurred. Their language is called [[Tigrinya language|Tigrinya]]. They are the largest ethnic group in the country, constituting about 50% of the population.<ref name=":2" /> The predominantly Tigrinya populated urban centers in Eritrea are the capital [[Asmara]], [[Mendefera]], [[Dekemhare]], [[Adi Keyh]], [[Adi Quala]] and [[Senafe]], while there is a significant population of Tigrinya in other cities including [[Keren, Eritrea|Keren]], and [[Massawa]].
They are 92% Christians, (of which 90% are of the [[Eritrean Orthodox]] faith, 5% [[Roman Catholic]] and [[Eastern Catholic]] (whose mass is held in [[Ge'ez]] as opposed to Latin), and 5% belonging to various [[Protestant]] and other Christian denominations, the majority of which belong to the (Lutheran) Evangelical Church of Eritrea).
=====Tigre=====
{{main|Tigre people}}
[[File:Traditional Eritrean dancing.jpg|thumb|Traditional [[Tigre people|Tigre]] dance]]
The Tigre reside in the western lowlands in Eritrea. Many also migrated to Sudan at the time of the Ethiopian-Eritrean conflict and lived there since. They are a nomadic and pastoralist people, related to the [[Tigrinya people|Tigrinya]] and to the [[Beja people]]. They are a predominantly Muslim nomadic people who inhabit the northern, western, and coastal lowlands of Eritrea, and constitute 30% of the country's population.<ref name=":2" /> Some also inhabit areas in eastern Sudan. 95% of the Tigre people adhere to the Islamic religion [[Sunni Islam]], but there are a small number of Christians among them as well (often referred to as the Mensaï in Eritrea). Their language is called [[Tigre language|Tigre]].
=====Rashaida=====
{{main|Rashaida people}}
The Rashaida are one of Eritrea's nine recognized ethnic groups. They represent around 1% of the population of Eritrea. The Rashaida reside in the northern coastal lowlands of Eritrea and the northern eastern coasts of Sudan. They are predominantly Muslim and are the only ethnic group in Eritrea to have [[Arabic language|Arabic]] as their communal language, specifically the [[Hejazi Arabic|Hejazi dialect]]. The Rashaida first came to Eritrea in the 19th century from the Arabian Coast.<ref>{{cite web|last=Alders|first=Anne|url=http://www.eritreanbeauty.com/r.html|title=the Rashaida|access-date=2006-06-07|archive-date=2006-07-09|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060709094430/http://www.eritreanbeauty.com/r.html|url-status=usurped}}</ref>
====Jeberti====
The [[Jeberti people]] in Eritrea trace descent from early Muslim adherents. The term ''Jeberti'' is also locally sometimes used to generically refer to all Islamic inhabitants of the [[Ethiopian Highlands|highlands]].<ref name="Lhrfda">{{cite journal|first=Abbebe|last=Kifleyesus|journal=L'Homme: Revue française d'anthropologie|url=http://www.cairn.info/revue-l-homme-2009-1-page-49.htm|title=Jeberti Women Traders' Innumeracy: Its Impact on Commercial Activity in Eritrea|date=January 2009|volume=189 |issue=189|page=59|doi=10.4000/lhomme.21986 |access-date=27 February 2015}}</ref> The Jeberti in Eritrea speak [[Arabic language|Arabic]] and [[Tigrinya language|Tigrinya]].<ref name="Eotpoaatme">{{cite book|last=Facts On File, Incorporated|title=Encyclopedia of the Peoples of Africa and the Middle East|year=2009|publisher=Infobase Publishing|isbn=978-1438126760|page=336|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=stl97FdyRswC}}</ref> They account for about 8% of the Tigrinya speakers in the nation.

====Cushitic speakers====
=====Afar=====
{{main|Afar people}}
According to the CIA, the Afar constitute 4% of the nation's population.<ref name=":2" /> They live in the [[Debubawi Keyih Bahri Region]] of Eritrea, as well as the [[Afar Region]] in Ethiopia, and [[Djibouti]]. They speak the [[Afar language]] as a mother tongue, and are predominantly Muslim. Afars in Eritrea number about 600,000 individuals, the smallest population out of the countries they reside in. In Djibouti, there are about 780,000 group members, and in Ethiopia, they number approximately 2,100,000.
=====Saho=====
{{main|Saho people}}
The Saho represent 4% of Eritrea's population.<ref name=":2" /> They principally reside in the [[Debubawi Keyih Bahri Region]] and the [[Northern Red Sea Region]] of Eritrea. Their language is called [[Saho language|Saho]]. They are predominantly Muslim, although a few Christians known as the [[Irob people|Irob]] live in the [[Southern region (Eritrea)|Debub region]] of Eritrea and the [[Tigray region]] of Ethiopia.
=====Bilen=====
{{main|Bilen people}}
The Bilen in Eritrea represent around 3% of the country's population.<ref name=":2" /> They are primarily concentrated in the north-central areas, in and around the city of [[Keren, Eritrea|Keren]], and south towards [[Asmara]], the nation's capital. Many of them entered Eritrea from Kush (central Sudan) in the 8th century and settled at Merara, after which they went to Wag and Lasta. The Bilen then returned to Axum in Ethiopia's [[Tigray Province]], and battled with the natives; in the resulting aftermath, the Bilen returned to their main base at Merara. The Bilen include adherents of both [[Islam]] and [[Christianity]]. They speak the [[Bilen language|Bilen]] language as a mother tongue. Christian adherents are mainly urban and have interbred with the Tigrinya who live in the area. Muslim adherents are mainly rural and have intermingled with the adjacent Tigre.
=====Beja=====
{{main|Beja people}}
The Beja in Eritrea, or [[Hedareb]], constitute 2% of local residents.<ref name=":2" /> They mainly live along the north-western border with Sudan. Group members are predominantly Muslim and communicate in [[Beja language|Beja]] as a first or second language. The Beja also include the [[Beni-Amer people]], who have retained their native [[Beja language]] alongside Hedareb.

===Nilo-Saharan communities===
====Kunama====
{{main|Kunama people}}
According to the CIA, the Kunama constitute around 4% of Eritrea's population.<ref name=":2" /> They mainly live in the country's [[Gash Barka Region]], as well as in adjacent parts of Ethiopia's [[Tigray Region]]. Many of them reside in the contested border village of [[Badme]]. Their language is called [[Kunama language|Kunama]]. Although some Kunama still practice traditional beliefs, most are converts to either Christianity (Roman Catholic and Protestant) or Islam.

====Nara====
{{main|Nara people}}
The Nara represent 2% of the nation's population.<ref name=":2" /> They principally reside along the south-western border with Sudan and Ethiopia. They are generally Muslim, with a few Christians and some practising their indigenous beliefs. Their language is called [[Nara language|Nara]].

===Other communities===
====Italians====
{{main|Italian Eritreans}}
A few monolingual [[Italian Eritreans]] remain. As of 2008, they were estimated at 900 people, down from around 38,000 residents at the end of World War II.

==Languages==
:[[Afar language|Afar]], [[Arabic language|Arabic]] (spoken by the Rashaida), [[Beja language|Beja]] (spoken by the Hedareb), [[Blin language|Blin]], [[Kunama language|Kunama]], [[Nara language|Nara]], [[Saho language|Saho]], [[Tigre language|Tigre]], [[Tigrinya language|Tigrinya]], as a second language. English, Italian and Arabic are the foremost second languages.

==Religion==
{{Main|Religion in Eritrea}}
<imagemap> 
File:Regions of Eritrea.svg|thumb|Regions of Eritrea 1. Maekel 2. Anseba 3. Gash-Barka 4. Debub 5. Northern Red Sea 6. Southern Red Sea
poly 167 182  163 205  179 211  184 203  176 179 [[Maekel Region]]
poly 167 182  176 179  118 108  118  50   59  85   53 133 [[Anseba Region]]
poly 163 205  167 182   53 133   19 258   91 276  135 239  147 206 [[Gash-Barka Region]]
poly 184 203  179 211  147 206  135 239  153 254  221 248  225 226  189 200 [[Southern region (Eritrea)|Debub region]]
poly 176 179  184 203  189 200  225 226  221 248  271 259  279 220  200 159  155  21  118  50  118 108 [[Northern Red Sea Region]]
poly 279 220  271 259  419 388  442 361  319 241 [[Southern Red Sea Region]]
</imagemap>
People in Eritrea practice various religions. According to the [[Pew Research Center]] (2010), 62.9% of the population are [[Christianity|Christian]], mostly followers of Eritrean Orthodox Tewahdo, and to a lesser extent, [[Roman Catholicism]], with the second-largest religion being [[Muslims]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://features.pewforum.org/global-christianity/total-population-percentage.php|title=Table: Christian Population as Percentages of Total Population by Country|date=19 December 2011|work=Pew Research Center's Religion & Public Life Project|access-date=31 May 2015|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120107191939/http://features.pewforum.org/global-christianity/total-population-percentage.php|archive-date=7 January 2012}}</ref><ref name=":0" /> In general, most local residents who adhere to [[Christianity]] live in the [[Maekel Region|Maekel]] and [[Southern region (Eritrea)|Debub]] regions, whereas those who follow [[Islam]] predominantly inhabit the [[Anseba Region|Anseba]], [[Northern Red Sea Region|Northern Red Sea]], [[Southern Red Sea Region|Southern Red Sea]] and [[Gash-Barka Region|Gash-Barka]] regions. A few adherents of [[Traditional African religion|traditional faiths]] can also be found, particularly in the lowlands.

{| class="wikitable sortable"
|-
! Region<ref name="EncycloGRel">{{Cite encyclopedia |editor-first1=Mark |editor-last1=Juergensmeyer |editor-first2=Wade Clark |editor-last2=Roof |encyclopedia=Encyclopedia of Global Religion |publisher=[[SAGE Publishing]] |location=Los Angeles |date=2011 |isbn=978-0-7619-2729-7 |article=Eritrea |first=Becky |last= Hsu |pages=354–355 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=WwJzAwAAQBAJ&q=eritrea |access-date=2020-10-22 |via=[[Google Books]]}}</ref>
! Christians {{percentage bar|56}}
! Muslims {{percentage bar|43}}
! Other {{percentage bar|1}}
|-
| [[Maekel Region]], ''ዞባ ማእከል''
| {{percentage bar|90}}
| {{percentage bar|9}}
| {{percentage bar|1}}
|-
| [[Southern region (Eritrea)|Debub region]], ''ዞባ ደቡብ''
| {{percentage bar|89}}
| {{percentage bar|10}}
| {{percentage bar|1|<1%}}
|-
| [[Gash-Barka Region]], ''ዞባ ጋሽ ባርካ''
| {{percentage bar|9}}
| {{percentage bar|90}}
| {{percentage bar|1}}
|-
| [[Anseba Region]], ''ዞባ ዓንሰባ''
| {{percentage bar|27}}
| {{percentage bar|72}}
| {{percentage bar|1|<1%}}
|-
| [[Northern Red Sea Region]],<br />''Semienawi Keyih Bahri ዞባ ሰሜናዊ ቀይሕ ባሕሪ''
| {{percentage bar|1}}
| {{percentage bar|99}}
| {{percentage bar|0}}
|-
| [[Southern Red Sea Region]],<br />''Debubawi Keyih Bahri ዞባ ደቡባዊ ቀይሕ ባሕሪ''
| {{percentage bar|23}}
| {{percentage bar|76}}
| {{percentage bar|1|<1%}}
|-
|}

==See also==
{{portal|Eritrea}}
* [[Languages of Eritrea]]
* [[Culture of Eritrea]]

==References==
{{reflist|refs=

<ref name="UNDESA_WPP_2019_total_population">{{cite web | title= World Population Prospects 2019 | website= [[United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs|UN DESA]] |year = 2019 | url = https://population.un.org/wpp/Download/Files/1_Indicators%20(Standard)/EXCEL_FILES/1_Population/WPP2019_POP_F01_1_TOTAL_POPULATION_BOTH_SEXES.xlsx | access-date = 2021-02-28 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20210227235642/https://population.un.org/wpp/Download/Files/1_Indicators%20(Standard)/EXCEL_FILES/1_Population/WPP2019_POP_F01_1_TOTAL_POPULATION_BOTH_SEXES.xlsx |archive-date= 2021-02-27 |url-status=live }}</ref>

<ref name="COMESA_ERpop_2019">{{cite web | title= Eritrea – Indicators – Population (million people), 2018 | website= [[Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa]] |year = 2019 | url = https://comstat.comesa.int/lqpaqnf/comesa-in-figures-2019?tsId=1000510 | access-date = 2021-02-28 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210228195303/https://comstat.comesa.int/lqpaqnf/comesa-in-figures-2019?tsId=1000510 |archive-date= 2021-02-28 |url-status=live }}</ref>

<ref name="UNDESA2019_mortality">{{cite web | title= File MORT/3-1: Deaths (both sexes combined) by region, subregion and country, 1950-2100 (thousands) | website= [[United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs|UN DESA]] |year = 2019 | url =https://population.un.org/wpp/Download/Files/1_Indicators%20%28Standard%29/EXCEL_FILES/3_Mortality/WPP2019_MORT_F03_1_DEATHS_BOTH_SEXES.xlsx | access-date = 2021-03-10 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20210310002939/https://population.un.org/wpp/Download/Files/1_Indicators%20%28Standard%29/EXCEL_FILES/3_Mortality/WPP2019_MORT_F03_1_DEATHS_BOTH_SEXES.xlsx |archive-date= 2021-03-10 |url-status=live }}</ref>

<ref name="UNDESA2019_births">{{cite web | title= File FERT/1: Births (both sexes combined) by region, subregion and country, 1950-2100 (thousands) | website= [[United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs|UN DESA]] |year = 2019 | url =https://population.un.org/wpp/Download/Files/1_Indicators%20(Standard)/EXCEL_FILES/2_Fertility/WPP2019_FERT_F01_BIRTHS_BOTH_SEXES.xlsx | access-date = 2021-03-10 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20210310004254/https://population.un.org/wpp/Download/Files/1_Indicators%20(Standard)/EXCEL_FILES/2_Fertility/WPP2019_FERT_F01_BIRTHS_BOTH_SEXES.xlsx |archive-date= 2021-03-10 |url-status=live }}</ref>

<ref name="UNDESA2019_CBR">{{cite web | title= File FERT/3: Crude birth rate by region, subregion and country, 1950-2100 (births per 1,000 population) | website= [[United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs|UN DESA]] |year = 2019 | url = https://population.un.org/wpp/Download/Files/1_Indicators%20%28Standard%29/EXCEL_FILES/2_Fertility/WPP2019_FERT_F03_CRUDE_BIRTH_RATE.xlsx | access-date = 2021-03-10 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20210310005544/https://population.un.org/wpp/Download/Files/1_Indicators%20%28Standard%29/EXCEL_FILES/2_Fertility/WPP2019_FERT_F03_CRUDE_BIRTH_RATE.xlsx |archive-date= 2021-03-10 |url-status=live }}</ref>

<ref name="UNDESA2019_TFR">{{cite web | title= File FERT/4: Total fertility by region, subregion and country, 1950-2100 (live births per woman) | website= [[United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs|UN DESA]] |year = 2019 | url =https://population.un.org/wpp/Download/Files/1_Indicators%20(Standard)/EXCEL_FILES/2_Fertility/WPP2019_FERT_F04_TOTAL_FERTILITY.xlsx | access-date = 2021-03-10 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20210228192109/https://population.un.org/wpp/Download/Files/1_Indicators%20%28Standard%29/EXCEL_FILES/2_Fertility/WPP2019_FERT_F04_TOTAL_FERTILITY.xlsx |archive-date= 2021-02-28 |url-status=live }}</ref>

<ref name="UNDESA2019_NatChange">{{cite web | title= File POP/3: Rate of natural increase by region, subregion and country, 1950-2100 (per 1,000 population) | website= [[United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs|UN DESA]] |year = 2019 | url =https://population.un.org/wpp/Download/Files/1_Indicators%20(Standard)/EXCEL_FILES/1_Population/WPP2019_POP_F03_RATE_OF_NATURAL_INCREASE.xlsx | access-date = 2021-03-10 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20210310002352/https://population.un.org/wpp/Download/Files/1_Indicators%20%28Standard%29/EXCEL_FILES/1_Population/WPP2019_POP_F03_RATE_OF_NATURAL_INCREASE.xlsx |archive-date= 2021-03-10 |url-status=live }}</ref>

<ref name="UNDESA2019_CDR">{{cite web | title= File MORT/2: Crude death rate by region, subregion and country, 1950-2100 (deaths per 1,000 population) | website= [[United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs|UN DESA]] |year = 2019 | url =https://population.un.org/wpp/Download/Files/1_Indicators%20(Standard)/EXCEL_FILES/3_Mortality/WPP2019_MORT_F02_CRUDE_DEATH_RATE.xlsx | access-date = 2021-03-10 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20210310011201/https://population.un.org/wpp/Download/Files/1_Indicators%20%28Standard%29/EXCEL_FILES/3_Mortality/WPP2019_MORT_F02_CRUDE_DEATH_RATE.xlsx |archive-date= 2021-03-10 |url-status=live }}</ref>

<ref name="UNDESA2019_IMR">{{cite web | title= File MORT/1-1: Infant mortality rate (both sexes combined) by region, subregion and country, 1950-2100 (infant deaths per 1,000 live births) | website= [[United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs|UN DESA]] |year = 2019 | url =https://population.un.org/wpp/Download/Files/1_Indicators%20(Standard)/EXCEL_FILES/3_Mortality/WPP2019_MORT_F01_1_IMR_BOTH_SEXES.xlsx | access-date = 2021-03-10 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20210310012313/https://population.un.org/wpp/Download/Files/1_Indicators%20%28Standard%29/EXCEL_FILES/3_Mortality/WPP2019_MORT_F01_1_IMR_BOTH_SEXES.xlsx |archive-date= 2021-03-10 |url-status=live }}</ref>

<ref name="UNDESA2019_LifeExpect">{{cite web | title= File MORT/7-1: Life expectancy at birth (both sexes combined) by region, subregion and country, 1950-2100 (years) | website= [[United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs|UN DESA]] |year = 2019 | url =https://population.un.org/wpp/Download/Files/1_Indicators%20%28Standard%29/EXCEL_FILES/3_Mortality/WPP2019_MORT_F07_1_LIFE_EXPECTANCY_0_BOTH_SEXES.xlsx | access-date = 2021-03-10 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20210310015150/https://population.un.org/wpp/Download/Files/1_Indicators%20%28Standard%29/EXCEL_FILES/3_Mortality/WPP2019_MORT_F07_1_LIFE_EXPECTANCY_0_BOTH_SEXES.xlsx |archive-date= 2021-03-10 |url-status=live }}</ref>

<ref name="UNDESA2019_data_sources">{{cite web | title= Population Division – World Population Prospects 2019 – Data Sources | website= [[United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs|UN DESA]] |year= 2019 | url = https://population.un.org/wpp/DataSources/232 | access-date = 2021-02-28 |archive-url= https://archive.today/20210228203636/https://population.un.org/wpp/DataSources/232 |archive-date= 2021-02-28 |url-status=live }}</ref>

<ref name="DHS2002_key_findings">{{cite web | title= Eritrea – 2002 Demographic and Health Survey – Key Findings | website= [[National Statistics Office (Eritrea)]], [[ORC Macro]] |date = 2003-06-16 | url =https://dhsprogram.com/pubs/pdf/SR97/Eritrea_KF.pdf | access-date = 2021-03-03 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20201024054748/https://dhsprogram.com/pubs/pdf/SR97/Eritrea_KF.pdf |archive-date= 2020-10-24 |url-status=live }}</ref>

<ref name="DHS1995_full">{{cite web | title= Eritrea – Demographic and Health Survey 1995 | website= [[National Statistics Office (Eritrea)|National Statistics Office]] |date = 2001-01-29 | url =https://dhsprogram.com/pubs/pdf/FR80/FR80.pdf | access-date = 2021-03-03 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20200709082457/https://dhsprogram.com/pubs/pdf/FR80/FR80.pdf |archive-date= 2020-07-09 |url-status=live }}</ref>

<ref name="DHS2002_full">{{cite web | title= Eritrea – Demographic and Health Survey 2002 | website= [[National Statistics Office (Eritrea)]] |date = 2003-06-02 | url =https://www.dhsprogram.com/pubs/pdf/FR137/FR137.pdf | access-date = 2021-03-03 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20210303200322/https://www.dhsprogram.com/pubs/pdf/FR137/FR137.pdf |archive-date= 2021-03-03 |url-status=live }}</ref>

<ref name="PHS2010_full">{{cite web | title= Eritrea – Population and Health Survey 2010 | website= [[National Statistics Office (Eritrea)|National Statistics Office]], [[Fafo Institute for Applied International Studies]] |year = 2010 | url =https://www.unicef.org/eritrea/ECO_resources_populationhealthsurvey2010.pdf | access-date = 2021-03-03 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20190606121847/https://www.unicef.org/eritrea/ECO_resources_populationhealthsurvey2010.pdf |archive-date= 2019-06-06 |url-status=live }}</ref>

<ref name="Guardian_not_at_war_fled">{{cite news | last1= Kingsley | first1= Patrick | title=It's not at war, but up to 3% of its people have fled. What is going on in Eritrea?  | date= 2015-07-15 |newspaper= [[The Guardian]] | url= https://www.theguardian.com/world/2015/jul/22/eritrea-migrants-child-soldier-fled-what-is-going |access-date= 2021-02-28 |archive-url= https://archive.today/20150923100909/http://www.theguardian.com/world/2015/jul/22/eritrea-migrants-child-soldier-fled-what-is-going |archive-date= 2015-09-23 |url-status=live }}</ref>

<ref name="HRW_ER_2019">{{cite book | title= Eritrea – events of 2019 | website= [[Human Rights Watch]] |year = 2020 | url = https://www.hrw.org/world-report/2020/country-chapters/eritrea | access-date = 2021-02-28 |archive-url= https://archive.today/20210228205428/https://www.hrw.org/world-report/2020/country-chapters/eritrea%23 |archive-date= 2021-02-28 |url-status=live }}</ref>

.<ref name="UNDESA_migration_worldwide_2019">{{cite web | title= File MIGR/2: Net number of migrants (both sexes combined) by region, subregion and country, 1950-2100 (thousands) | website= [[United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs|UN DESA]] |year = 2019 | url = https://population.un.org/wpp/Download/Files/1_Indicators%20(Standard)/EXCEL_FILES/4_Migration/WPP2019_MIGR_F02_NET_NUMBER_OF_MIGRANTS.xlsx | access-date = 2021-02-28 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20210228192239/https://population.un.org/wpp/Download/Files/1_Indicators%20%28Standard%29/EXCEL_FILES/4_Migration/WPP2019_MIGR_F02_NET_NUMBER_OF_MIGRANTS.xlsx |archive-date= 2021-02-28 |url-status=live }}</ref>

<ref name="UNDESA2019_MIGR_NET_NUMBERS">{{cite web | title= File MIGR/2: Net number of migrants (both sexes combined) by region, subregion and country, 1950-2100 (thousands) | website= [[United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs|UN DESA]] |year = 2019 | url = https://population.un.org/wpp/Download/Files/1_Indicators%20(Standard)/EXCEL_FILES/4_Migration/WPP2019_MIGR_F02_NET_NUMBER_OF_MIGRANTS.xlsx | access-date = 2021-03-10 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20210228192239/https://population.un.org/wpp/Download/Files/1_Indicators%20%28Standard%29/EXCEL_FILES/4_Migration/WPP2019_MIGR_F02_NET_NUMBER_OF_MIGRANTS.xlsx |archive-date= 2021-02-28 |url-status=live }}</ref>

<ref name="UNDESA2017_MIGR_NET_NUMBERS">{{cite web | title=File MIGR/2: Net number of migrants (both sexes combined) by region, subregion and country, 1950-2100 (thousands) | website= [[United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs|UN DESA]] |year = 2017 | url = https://raw.githubusercontent.com/SachinPawaskarUNO/immigration/master/WPP2017_MIGR_F02_NET_NUMBER_OF_MIGRANTS.xlsx | access-date = 2021-03-10 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20210310221305/https://raw.githubusercontent.com/SachinPawaskarUNO/immigration/master/WPP2017_MIGR_F02_NET_NUMBER_OF_MIGRANTS.xlsx |archive-date= 2021-03-10 |url-status=live }}</ref>

<ref name="UNDESA2015_MIGR_NET_NUMBERS">{{cite web | title= File MIGR/2: Net number of migrants (both sexes combined) by major area, region and country, 1950-2100 (thousands) | website= [[United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs|UN DESA]] |year = 2015 | url = https://esa.un.org/unpd/wpp/DVD/Files/1_Indicators%20(Standard)/EXCEL_FILES/4_Migration/WPP2015_MIGR_F02_NET_NUMBER_OF_MIGRANTS.XLS | access-date = 2021-03-10 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20161006091231/https://esa.un.org/unpd/wpp/DVD/Files/1_Indicators%20%28Standard%29/EXCEL_FILES/4_Migration/WPP2015_MIGR_F02_NET_NUMBER_OF_MIGRANTS.XLS |archive-date= 2016-10-06 |url-status=live }}</ref>

<ref name="UNDESA2012_MIGR_NET_NUMBERS">{{cite web | title= File MIGR/2: Net number of migrants (both sexes combined) by major area, region and country, 1950-2100 (thousands) | website= [[United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs|UN DESA]] |year = 2013 | url = https://esa.un.org/unpd/wpp/Excel-Data/EXCEL_FILES/4_Migration/WPP2012_MIGR_F02_NET_NUMBER_OF_MIGRANTS.XLS | access-date = 2021-03-10 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20150320044155/https://esa.un.org/unpd/wpp/Excel-Data/EXCEL_FILES/4_Migration/WPP2012_MIGR_F02_NET_NUMBER_OF_MIGRANTS.XLS |archive-date= 2015-03-20 |url-status=live }}</ref>

<ref name="UNDESA2010_MIGR_NET_NUMBERS">{{cite web | title=File 19: Net number of migrants (both sexes combined) by major area, region and country, 1950-2100 (thousands) | website= [[United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs|UN DESA]] |year = 2011 | url = http://esa.un.org:80/unpd/wpp/Excel-Data/DB01_Period_Indicators/WPP2010_DB1_F19_NET_NUMBER_OF_MIGRANTS.XLS | access-date = 2021-03-10 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20130315043340/http://esa.un.org:80/unpd/wpp/Excel-Data/DB01_Period_Indicators/WPP2010_DB1_F19_NET_NUMBER_OF_MIGRANTS.XLS |archive-date= 2013-03-15 |url-status=live }}</ref>

<ref name="Conversation_ER_why_emigrate">{{cite web | last1 = Belloni | first1 = Milena |title = I asked young Eritreans why they risk migration. This is what they told me | website= [[The Conversation (website)|The Conversation]] |date = 2019-07-22 | url = https://theconversation.com/i-asked-young-eritreans-why-they-risk-migration-this-is-what-they-told-me-119324 | access-date = 2021-03-10 |archive-url= https://archive.today/20210310204620/https://theconversation.com/i-asked-young-eritreans-why-they-risk-migration-this-is-what-they-told-me-119324 |archive-date= 2021-03-10 |url-status=live }}</ref>

<ref name="Conversation_ER_why_risky_migration">{{cite web | last1 = Poole | first1 = Amanda | last2= Riggan | first2= Jennifer |title = Why Eritrean refugees choose the risky migration to Europe | website= [[The Conversation (website)|The Conversation]] |date = 2021-02-28 | url = https://theconversation.com/why-eritrean-refugees-choose-the-risky-migration-to-europe-155751 | access-date = 2021-03-10 |archive-url= https://archive.today/20210310204627/https://theconversation.com/why-eritrean-refugees-choose-the-risky-migration-to-europe-155751 |archive-date= 2021-03-10 |url-status=live }}</ref>

<ref name="UNDESA2019_release_notes">{{cite web | title= World Population Prospect 2019: release note about major differences in total population estimates for mid-2019 between 2017 and 2019 revisions | website= [[United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs]] Population Division |date = 2019-08-28 | url =https://population.un.org/wpp/Publications//Files/WPP2019_Release-Note-rev1.pdf |quote= The population of Eritrea in 2019 is 3.5 million, which is about 1.8 million (34.1 per cent) less than the previous estimate from the 2017 revision. The decrease is due to the availability of new official population estimates for several years (population count in 2000, official estimates up to 2018) that contribute to lower the size of the population in the recent years, as well as to revised past estimates since 1950. |access-date = 2021-03-03 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20210111101908/https://population.un.org/wpp/Publications//Files/WPP2019_Release-Note-rev1.pdf |archive-date= 2021-01-11 |url-status=live }}</ref>

}}
'''Attribution:'''
{{CIA World Factbook|year=2008}}

==External links==
{{Commons category|Demographics of Eritrea}}
*[http://home.planet.nl/~hans.mebrat/eritrea-languages.htm Languages in Eritrea]
*[http://home.planet.nl/~hans.mebrat/eritrea-people.htm Ethnic groups in Eritrea]
*[http://www.modaina.com Eritrean website featuring resources relevant to Tigre history and culture] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140202092433/http://www.modaina.com/ |date=2014-02-02 }}

{{Ethnic groups in Eritrea}}
{{Africa in topic|Demographics of}}
{{Eritrea topics}}
{{Eritrean diaspora}}

[[Category:Society of Eritrea]]
[[Category:Demographics of Eritrea| ]]