Eritrean

Eritrean is the demonym for a person from Eritrea, a country in the Horn of Africa with a long coastline along the Red Sea. The capital and largest city is Asmara. Eritrea is bordered by Sudan to the west and Ethiopia to the south; it has a Red Sea coastline and a maritime border with Yemen.

Historically, the region was influenced by the Aksumite Kingdom. In the late 19th century it became an Italian colony, remaining under Italian rule until World War II. After the war, Eritrea was federated with Ethiopia in 1952 and annexed in 1962, triggering a long war of independence. Eritrea achieved de facto independence in 1991 and formal independence in 1993 after a UN-supervised referendum. A border war with Ethiopia from 1998 to 2000 caused heavy casualties and tension; relations with Ethiopia gradually improved, culminating in a 2018 peace initiative. Since independence, Eritrea has been governed by the ruling party, the People's Front for Democracy and Justice, under President Isaias Afwerki.

Ethnically diverse, Eritrea houses several major languages and religious groups. Tigrinya and Tigre are among the most widely spoken languages; Arabic and English are commonly used in education and administration. The population includes Eritrean Orthodox Christians, Muslims, Catholics and Protestants. Eritrean culture features hospitality, coffee ceremonies, and a cuisine based on injera and stews.

Politically, Eritrea is a unitary state with limited political pluralism; the governing People's Front for Democracy and Justice has maintained a single-party system. Civil liberties and press freedom are tightly constrained according to international observers. The economy is predominantly state-directed, with mining (notably gold and potash), agriculture, and services contributing to growth; much of the population relies on remittances from the diaspora.

Estimates place the population in the low millions. A significant diaspora exists in North America, Europe, and the Gulf States, where many Eritreans have migrated in search of work and safety.