Eritrea State of Eritrea

Capital Asmara Area 46,842 sq mi 121,320 sq km Population 4,362,254 est 2003 Largest city Asmara pop. 400,000 Languages Afar, Arabic, Tigre and Kunama, Tigrinya, Bilen, Nara, Saho, other Cushitic languages Peoples ethnic Tigrinya 50%, Tigre and Kunama 40%, Afar 4%, Saho (Red Sea coast dwellers) 3% Religion Islam, Coptic Christian Life Expectancy total population: 52.7 years male: 51.32 years female: 54.12 years (2004 est.) Literacy total population: 58.6% male: 69.9% female: 47.6% (2003 est.) Suffrage 18 years of age; universal Government Transitional government back to Africa Map