Eritrea is located in the Horn of Africa occupying a northeast portion of the continent, and shares its long eastern shoreline with the Red Sea.
Eritrea has one of the largest militaries in Africa, and is located on the continent’s northeastern coast in the Horn of Africa overlooking the Red Sea and across from Saudi Arabia and Yemen.
Eritrea exported US$290.7 million worth of products around the globe in 2016. Highest-value Eritrean exports include copper, precious metals ores, zinc, precious stones and gold according to the International Trade Centre.
Capital Facts for Asmara, Eritrea: Quick Reference
Geography
Capital landmarks: Cathedral of Asmara, Nda Mariam Orthodox Church, Al Khulafa Al Rashiudin Mosque, Asmara Theater and Opera House and the Eritrean National Museum
Famous People
Below, you will find 10 of the most famous people born in Asmara, Eritrea:
- Isaias Afwerki, president (born Feb. 2, 1946)
- Ella Thomas, actress (born Aug. 15, 1981)
- Meb Keflezighi, long distance runner (born May 5, 1975)
- Gianfranco Rosi, film director & producer (born Nov. 30, 1963)
- Ella Thomas, actress & costume designer (born Aug. 15, 1981)
- Yared Asmerom, marathon runner (born Feb. 4, 1980)
- Salvatore Marino, actor (born Jan. 2, 1960)
- Massimo Antonelli, director & writer (born May 18, 1942)
- Nando Cicero, actor & director (born Jan. 22, 1931)
- Semhar Tadesse, social media/reality show star (born Sep. 12, 1986)
Note: Data for our Famous People tab was sourced from Google searches mostly targeting published Wikipedia articles specific to each person’s name.
Population
Demonym for an Asmara resident: Asmarino
Population: 804,000 (Asmarino city)
Density: 46,744 people per square mile (18,048 per square kilometer)
Population: 1,258,001 (Metropolitan Asmarino)
Density: 30,683 people per square mile (11,847 per square kilometer)
Population: 5,869,869 (Eritrea)
Density: 151 people per square mile (58 per square kilometer)
Financial
GDP: US$8.713 billion as of October 2016 (for Eritrea, per WorldsRichestCountries.com)
GDP per person: $1,300
Note: The above country-level GDP metrics are on a Purchasing Power Parity basis and are in U.S. dollars. Credible city GDP statistics for Asmara were unavailable.
Official currency used in Asmara: Eritrean nakfa
Research
Research Sources:
Brookings Institution, Global Metro Monitor Report (includes GDP data). Accessed on January 9, 2017
Central Intelligence Agency, World Factbook, Field Listing: Major Urban Areas. Accessed on January 9, 2017
CityMetric, Where are largest cities in the world? 2015 edition. Accessed on January 9, 2017
Demographia, World Urban Area, 12th Annual Edition. Accessed on January 9, 2017
International Trade Centre, Trade Map. Accessed on August 2, 2017
Official Government Website, Eritrea–Ministry of Information: Asmara. Accessed on January 9, 2017
The World Factbook, Field Listing: Major Urban Areas – Population, Central Intelligence Agency. Accessed on January 9, 2017
Wikimedia Commons, City Flags. Accessed on January 9, 2017
Note: Some city flags were unavailable. If so, attribution belongs to Wikimedia Commons for pertinent country flags.
Wikipedia, Asmara. Accessed on January 9, 2017
Wikipedia, Ella Thomas. Accessed on January 9, 2017
Wikipedia, Eritrea. Accessed on January 9, 2017
Asmara’s city limits contain a land area equal to 17 square miles (45 square kilometers), and served as home to 804,000 Asmarinos in 2015.
Including its metropolitan areas, Asmara extends over a total 41 square miles (106 square kilometers) with an overall population estimated at 1.3 million residents.
Eritrea’s population count was approximately 5.9 million inhabitants at July 2016. Its national land area covers 38,996 square miles (101,000 square kilometers).
Population density is more concentrated within Eritrea’s capital city with an average 46,700 Asmarinos per square mile (18,000 per square kilometer). Density diminishes to an average 30,700 people per square mile (11,800 per square kilometer) for Asmara’s metropolitan area.
At the country level, population density thins dramatically to 151 inhabitants per square mile (58 per square kilometer).
Eritreans celebrate Independence Day each May 24 since that same date in 1993 when Eritrea broke away from Ethiopia.