Eritrea
Africa · Eastern Africa
Africa's North Korea: one of the world's most closed states, with compulsory military service.
At a Glance
📈Eritrea's Human Development Index
0.493
Low human development#173 of 191 countries worldwide, #38 of 54 in Africa.
Higher than 9% of countries with data. UNDP Human Development Report.
UNDP builds the index from three dimensions: a long and healthy life, being knowledgeable, and a decent standard of living. They are measured by life expectancy at birth, mean and expected years of schooling, and gross national income per capita.
Closest indicators in this dataset
World Bank, own vintages. UNDP’s own component values are not carried here, so these are related measures rather than the index inputs.
Nearest countries by HDI
Full HDI ranking, all 191 countries →Eritrea
Eritrea is a small East African country on the Red Sea coast with a landscape ranging from the hot Danakil lowlands to the cool, Italian-influenced highlands around the capital Asmara. Asmara itself is a striking open-air museum of 1930s Italian modernist architecture, now a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The country is one of the most isolated in the world, which gives it an eerie, time-stopped quality that fascinates the small number of travellers who visit.
- Mandatory military service is indefinite — conscripts often serve 10+ years without pay.
- No independent press has operated since 2001 — one of the world's most press-restricted countries.
- Gained independence from Ethiopia in 1993 after a 30-year war.
- Asmara's Italian Art Deco architecture makes it one of Africa's most visually distinct capitals.
Quick Facts
Capital
Asmara
Languages
Arabic, English, Tigrinya
Currency
Nfk ERN
Area
121,178 km²
Nomad Hub
Unemployment
6.0%
20-Year Trend + IMF Forecast
Income & inflation over time
HDI since 2005
0.466 → 0.493 (+0.027)Year by year →UNDP Human Development Report, 2023-24 edition. 18 annual values, none interpolated; hover any point for its year.
Twenty years here
Year by year →The world report →World Bank observations, first to last available year per indicator (roughly 2005–2024; each series has its own window).
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💬Quick answers
What is Eritrea's Human Development Index?
Eritrea's Human Development Index is 0.493 (UNDP Human Development Report), ranked #173 of 191 countries.
Is Eritrea safe?
Eritrea scores 2.41 on the Global Peace Index (lower is more peaceful), ranked #127 of 160 countries by the Institute for Economics & Peace. That measures national-level peace, not street crime; both are covered below.
What is life expectancy in Eritrea?
Life expectancy at birth in Eritrea is 68.9 yrs (World Bank), ranked #139 of 195 countries.