Eritrea Regions and Capitals List

Eritrea is divided into six administrative regions, which are further divided into sub-regions and districts. Here is a list of the regions in Eritrea:

Eritrea is a country in the Horn of Africa along the Red Sea, bordered by Sudan, Ethiopia, and Djibouti. The country is divided into 6 administrative regions, also called zobas, and those regions are further divided into districts and local administrative areas. Asmara is the national capital and also the largest city in Eritrea.

The country includes coastal plains, highland plateaus, desert areas, and long Red Sea shorelines with many islands offshore. Different regions have very different climates, from cooler mountain areas around Asmara to extremely hot coastal zones near the Red Sea.

Key Facts

• National capital: Asmara
• Total population: 3,748,901 (Official estimate 2024)
• Total area: 117,600 km² (45,406 sq miles)
• Currency: Eritrean Nakfa (Nfk, ERN)
• Bordering countries: Sudan, Ethiopia, Djibouti
• Total Regions (Zobas): 6
• Total Districts: 50+

List of Regions and Capitals of Eritrea

Total regions shown: 6 | Combined population: 3,748,901 | Combined area: 117,600 km²

Largest Regions by Area

• Gash-Barka - 12,818 sq mi (33,200 km²)
• Northern Red Sea - 10,656 sq mi (27,600 km²)
• Southern Red Sea - 9,382 sq mi (24,300 km²)
• Anseba - 8,958 sq mi (23,200 km²)
• Debub - 3,089 sq mi (8,000 km²)
• Maekel - 502 sq mi (1,300 km²)

Most Populous Regions

• Debub - Population: 1,050,000 (Official Estimate 2024)
• Gash-Barka - Population: 980,000 (Official Estimate 2024)
• Anseba - Population: 850,000 (Official Estimate 2024)
• Maekel - Population: 780,000 (Official Estimate 2024)
• Northern Red Sea - Population: 60,000 (Official Estimate 2024)
• Southern Red Sea - Population: 28,901 (Official Estimate 2024)

Smallest Regions by Area

• Maekel - 502 sq mi (1,300 km²)
• Debub - 3,089 sq mi (8,000 km²)
• Anseba - 8,958 sq mi (23,200 km²)
• Southern Red Sea - 9,382 sq mi (24,300 km²)
• Northern Red Sea - 10,656 sq mi (27,600 km²)
• Gash-Barka - 12,818 sq mi (33,200 km²)

Regions by Regional Grouping

• Central Plateau: Maekel
• Central Highlands: Anseba
• Southern Highlands: Debub
• Western Lowlands: Gash-Barka
• Red Sea Coast: Northern Red Sea
• Southern Coast: Southern Red Sea

Landlocked Regions

• Anseba
• Debub
• Gash-Barka
• Maekel

Regions with Coastline

• Northern Red Sea
• Southern Red Sea

Regions Sharing Borders with Other Countries

• Sudan: Anseba, Gash-Barka
• Ethiopia: Debub, Gash-Barka, Southern Red Sea
• Djibouti: Southern Red Sea

Sources

• Government of Eritrea
• World Bank - Eritrea Data
• CIA World Factbook - Eritrea
• Encyclopaedia Britannica - Eritrea
• United Nations Statistics Division