Eritreans
Total population
Eritrea: 3.6–6.7 million[1][2]
Eritrean diaspora: ≥600,000
Regions with significant populations
 Eritrea3.6–6.7 million[1][2]
 Ethiopia170,231[3]
 Sudan159,748 (Eritrean-born)[4]
 Germany82,000 (Eritrean citizens)[5]
 Sweden49,213[6]
 United States47,449[7][8][9]
  Switzerland36,359[10]
 Canada36,290[11]
 United Kingdom24,812[12]
 Israel20,500[13]
 Norway19,957[14]
 United Arab Emirates17,916 (Eritrean-born)[4]
 Italy13,592 (Eritrean-born)[4]
 Australia9,383[15]
 Denmark8,060[16]
 Kuwait4,725 (Eritrean-born)[4]
 Uganda3,529 (Eritrean-born)[4]
 South Sudan3,318 (Eritrean-born)[4]
 Egypt2,368 (Eritrean-born)[4]
 Netherlands2,150 (Eritrean-born)[4]
 Kenya2,127 (Eritrean-born)[4]
 Libya1,983 (Eritrean-born)[4]
 Qatar1,854 (Eritrean-born)[4]
 Finland1,642 [17]
 South Africa1,604 (Eritrean-born)[4]
 Bahrain1,550 (Eritrean-born)[4]
 Greece1,055[18]
 Yemen1,009 (Eritrean-born)[4]
Languages
Tigrinya, Tigre, Kunama, Bilen, Nara, Saho, Afar, Beja, and other Languages of Eritrea
Religion
Christian (Eritrean Orthodox, P'ent'ay, Catholic, Protestant), Muslim, Animism[19][20]

Eritreans are the native inhabitants of Eritrea, as well as the global diaspora of Eritrea. Eritreans constitute several component ethnic groups, some of which are related to ethnic groups that make up the Ethiopian people in neighboring Ethiopia and people groups in other parts of the Horn of Africa. Nine of these component ethnic groups are officially recognized by the Government of Eritrea.

The Eritrean national identity began to develop during the Scramble for Africa, when Italy claimed Eritrea as one of its colonies. This marked the establishment of Eritrea's present-day borders.[21] Following Italy's defeat in World War II and the subsequent British administration of Eritrea, the former colony was federated with Ethiopia in 1952.[22] Tensions increased through the 1950s between Eritreans wishing for independence and the Ethiopian government, culminating in the Eritrean War of Independence.[23]

History

Ancient history

Eritrea is widely considered to have been part of the territory of the ancient Land of Punt, which was first recorded by the ancient Egyptians in the 25th century BC.[24] Most of the area, along with northern Ethiopia, became part of Dʿmt from the 10th to 5th centuries BC. This area later became the centre of the Kingdom of Aksum in the 1st century BC.[25] The 3rd century Iranian prophet Mani wrote that Aksum was one of four great powers of the world, along with Persia, Rome, and China.[26] It is mentioned in the Periplus of the Erythraean Sea;[27] the name Erythraean Sea refers to the Red Sea, and is the origin of the name Eritrea.[28] Aksum began to decline in the mid 6th century, eventually collapsing by the end of the 10th century.[29]

Medieval history

Following the fall of Aksum, the land of present-day Eritrea was part of Medri Bahri. The kingdom lasted until Italian colonization in 1889,[30] however the coastal regions were ruled by other polities during this time. The Adal Sultanate conquered the coast under Badlay ibn Sa'ad ad-Din in the 15th century,[31] and the Ottomans conquered the area in 1517, incorporating into the empire as Habesh Eyalet.[32]

Modern history

Eritrea, with its current borders, was established as a colony of the Kingdom of Italy in 1889.[21] The colonial period saw a large influx of Italians to the country, particularly during the fascist period. However, despite the substantial Italian Eritrean community, mixed-race Eritreans were uncommon, as Italians and Africans were prohibited from marrying or having sexual relations under the Italian racial laws.[33]

Eritrea was under British administration from 1941 to 1952,[34] at which point it was federated with Ethiopia.[22] The Eritrean War of Independence began on September 1, 1961, with the Battle of Adal,[35] and ended on May 24, 1991.[36] Eritrea officially gained independence in 1993; since then it has been governed by Isaias Afwerki, whose regime has been defined by an extremely poor human rights record.[37] Diaspora displaced by the Eritrean War of Independence[38] and seeking refuge from human rights violations by the Eritrean government.[39]

Component ethnicities

Tigrinya

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. They are the largest ethnic group in the country, constituting about 60% of the population.[40] 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, and Massawa.

They are 96% 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

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 and to the Beja people. They are a predominantly Muslim nomadic people who inhabit the northern, western, and coastal lowlands of Eritrea, where they constitute 30% of local residents.[40] 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.

Jeberti

The Jeberti people in Eritrea trace descent from early Muslim adherents. The term Jeberti is also used to refer more generally to Muslim inhabitants of the highlands.[41] The Jeberti in Eritrea speak Arabic and Tigrinya.[42]

Afar

According to the CIA, the Afar constitute under 5% of the nation's population.[40] 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 397,000 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 1,300,000.

Saho

The Saho represent 4% of Eritrea's population.[40] They principally reside in the Southern Region and the Northern Red Sea Region of Eritrea. Their language is called Saho. They are predominantly Muslim, although a few Christians known as the Irob live in the Debub Region of Eritrea and the Tigray region of Ethiopia.

Bilen

The Bilen in Eritrea represent around 2% of the country's population.[40] They are primarily concentrated in the north-central areas, in and around the city of 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 Lalibela 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 as a mother tongue. Christian adherents are mainly urban and have intermingled with the Tigrinya who live in the area. Muslim adherents are mainly rural and have interbred with the adjacent Tigre.

Beja

The Beja in Eritrea, or Hedareb, constitute under 5% of local residents.[40] They mainly live along the north-western border with Sudan. Group members are predominantly Muslim and communicate in Hedareb as a first or second language. The Beja also include the Beni-Amer people, who have retained their native Beja language alongside Hedareb.

Kunama

According to the CIA, the Kunama constitute around 2% of Eritrea's population.[40] 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. Although some Kunama still practice traditional beliefs, most are converts to either Christianity (Roman Catholic and Protestant) or Islam.

Nara

The Nara represent under 5% of the nation's population.[40] 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.

Rashaida Arabs in Eritrean

The Rashaida are one of Eritrea's nine recognized ethnic groups. They represent around 2% of the population of Eritrea.[40] 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 as their mother tongue, specifically the Hejazi dialect. The Rashaida first came to Eritrea in the 19th century from the Arabian Coast.[43]

Italians in Eritrea

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.

Eritrean diaspora

Languages

Most languages spoken in Eritrea are from the Afroasiatic and Nilo-Saharan language family.

Afroasiatic languages

Semitic languages

Cushitic languages

Nilo-Saharan languages

Other languages

See also

References

  1. 1 2 "World Population Prospects 2019". UN DESA. 2019. Archived from the original on 2021-02-27. Retrieved 2021-02-28.
  2. 1 2 "Eritrea – Indicators – Population (million people), 2018". Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa. 2019. Archived from the original on 2021-02-28. Retrieved 2021-02-28.
  3. ↑ "Country – Ethiopia – UNHCR data portal". UNHCR. Retrieved 16 June 2021.
  4. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 "Trends in International Migrant Stock: Migrants by Destination and Origin (United Nations database, POP/DB/MIG/Stock/Rev.2015)" (XLS). United Nations, Department of Economic and Social Affairs. 2015. Retrieved 16 June 2021.
  5. ↑ "(translation) foreigners in Germany from 2020-2022". Retrieved 12 October 2023.
  6. ↑ "Population statistics". Statistics Sweden. Retrieved 30 May 2023.
  7. ↑ "PLACE OF BIRTH FOR THE FOREIGN-BORN POPULATION IN THE UNITED STATES". U.S. Census Bureau. Retrieved 2023-05-30.
  8. ↑ "Table 1. First, Second, and Total Responses to the Ancestry Question by Detailed Ancestry Code: 2000". U.S. Census Bureau. Retrieved 2013-04-19.
  9. ↑ "'I can't sleep': Eritreans in the US worry for loved ones living in Ethiopian refugee camps". U.S. Census Bureau. Retrieved 2022-04-19.
  10. ↑ "Ständige ausländische Wohnbevölkerung nach Staatsangehörigkeit, 1980-2017 - 1980-2017 | Tabelle". 31 August 2018.
  11. ↑ "Census Profile, 2021 Census". www12.statcan.gc.ca. Statistics Canada. Retrieved 30 May 2023.
  12. ↑ "Phase two - Combinations of Census 2021 data". www.ons.gov.uk. Office for National Statistics. Retrieved 30 May 2023.
  13. ↑ "Refugees in Israel - א.ס.ף | ASSAF". א.ס.ף | ASSAF -. 2021-06-19. Retrieved 2023-07-14.
  14. ↑ "Immigrants and Norwegian-born to immigrant parents, 1 January 2021". Statistics Norway (in Norwegian).
  15. ↑ "Ancestry – Australia – Community profile". .id. ABS. 2016. Retrieved 2020-02-15.
  16. ↑ "FOLK1C: Population at the first day of the quarter by region, sex, age (5 years age groups), ancestry and country of origin". Statistics Denmark. Retrieved 2 December 2017.
  17. ↑ "Origin and background country by sex, by municipality, 1990–2022". Statistics Finland.
  18. ↑ Eritrea - International emigrant stock
  19. ↑ "Religious Composition by Country, 2010–2050". Pew Research Center's Religion & Public Life Project. 2015-04-02. Retrieved 2021-05-12.
  20. ↑ "National Profiles". www.thearda.com. Retrieved 2022-10-21.
  21. 1 2 Ullendorff, Edward. The Ethiopians: An Introduction to Country and People 2nd ed., p. 90. Oxford University Press (London), 1965. ISBN 0-19-285061-X.
  22. 1 2 Matienzo, Eduardo Anze (1952). Final report of the United Nations Commissioner in Eritrea. General Assembly seventh regular session. United Nations.
  23. ↑ Biziouras, Nikolaos (2013-01-01). "The Genesis of the Modern Eritrean Struggle (1942–1961)". The Journal of the Middle East and Africa. 4 (1): 41. doi:10.1080/21520844.2013.771419. ISSN 2152-0844. S2CID 210662586.
  24. ↑ Jarus, Owen (26 April 2010). "Baboon mummy analysis reveals Eritrea and Ethiopia as location of land of Punt". The Independent. Retrieved 26 April 2010.
  25. ↑ Uhlig, Siegbert (ed.), Encyclopaedia Aethiopica: D-Ha. Wiesbaden: Harrassowitz Verlag, 2005. p. 185.
  26. ↑ Henze, Paul B. (2000). "The Aksumite Empire". Layers of Time. Palgrave Macmillan. pp. 22–43. doi:10.1007/978-1-137-11786-1_2. ISBN 9781137117861.
  27. ↑ Periplus of the Erythreaean Sea, chs. 4, 5
  28. ↑ Dan Connell; Tom Killion (14 October 2010). Historical Dictionary of Eritrea. Scarecrow Press. pp. 7–. ISBN 978-0-8108-7505-0.
  29. ↑ David W. Phillipson (2012): Foundations of an African Civilisation: Aksum and the Northern Horn, 1000 BC – AD 1300. James Currey. p. 209
  30. ↑ Richard Alan Caulk (2002). "Between the Jaws of Hyenas": A Diplomatic History of Ethiopia (1876–1896). Otto Harrassowitz Verlag. pp. 143–149. ISBN 978-3-447-04558-2.
  31. ↑ Pouwels, Randall (31 March 2000). The History of Islam in Africa. Ohio University Press. p. 229. ISBN 9780821444610.
  32. ↑ Okbazghi Yohannes (1991). A Pawn in World Politics: Eritrea. University of Florida Press. pp. 31–32. ISBN 978-0-8130-1044-1.
  33. ↑ Philip Morgan (10 November 2003). Italian Fascism, 1915-1945. Palgrave Macmillan. p. 202. ISBN 978-0-230-80267-4.
  34. ↑ Law, Gwillim. "Regions of Eritrea". Administrative Divisions of Countries ('Statoids'). Retrieved 15 August 2011.
  35. ↑ "From the Experiences of the Eritrean Liberation Army (ELA)". NHarnet.net. 13 January 2005. Archived from the original on 2009-09-26. Retrieved 6 December 2018.
  36. ↑ "Ethiopia-Eritrea: A Troubled Relationship". The Washington Post.
  37. ↑ Eritrea Human Rights Overview. Human Rights Watch (2006)
  38. ↑ Berhane, Aaron; Tyyskä, Vappu (3 November 2017). "Coercive Transnational Governance and Its Impact on the Settlement Process of Eritrean Refugees in Canada". Refuge. 3 (2): 78–87. doi:10.7202/1043065ar. Retrieved 15 March 2021.
  39. ↑ "Report of the detailed findings of the Commission of Inquiry on Human Rights in Eritrea" (PDF). Human Rights Council. Retrieved 16 March 2021.
  40. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 "The World Factbook". Archived from the original on June 13, 2007. Retrieved 31 May 2015.
  41. ↑ Kifleyesus, Abbebe (January 2009). "Jeberti Women Traders' Innumeracy: Its Impact on Commercial Activity in Eritrea". L'Homme: Revue française d'anthropologie (189): 59. Retrieved 27 February 2015 – via OpenEdition.org. The word Jeberti is a generic term for Muslims scattered throughout the Christian Tigrigna-speaking south-central highlands of Eritrea and the Christian Amharic-speaking north-central highlands.
  42. ↑ Facts On File, Incorporated (2009). Encyclopedia of the Peoples of Africa and the Middle East. Infobase Publishing. p. 336. ISBN 978-1438126760.
  43. ↑ Alders, Anne. "the Rashaida". Retrieved 2006-06-07.
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