Eritreans
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.
| Total population | |
|---|---|
| Eritrea: 3.6–6.7 million Eritrean diaspora: ≥600,000 | |
| Regions with significant populations | |
| Eritrea | 3.6–6.7 million |
| Ethiopia | 170,231 |
| Sudan | 159,748 (Eritrean-born) |
| Germany | 82,000 (Eritrean citizens) |
| Sweden | 49,213 |
| United States | 47,449 |
| Switzerland | 36,359 |
| Canada | 36,290 |
| England and Wales | 24,812 |
| Israel | 20,500 |
| Norway | 19,957 |
| United Arab Emirates | 17,916 (Eritrean-born) |
| Italy | 13,592 (Eritrean-born) |
| Australia | 9,383 |
| Denmark | 8,060 |
| Kuwait | 4,725 (Eritrean-born) |
| Uganda | 3,529 (Eritrean-born) |
| South Sudan | 3,318 (Eritrean-born) |
| Egypt | 2,368 (Eritrean-born) |
| Netherlands | 2,150 (Eritrean-born) |
| Kenya | 2,127 (Eritrean-born) |
| Libya | 1,983 (Eritrean-born) |
| Qatar | 1,854 (Eritrean-born) |
| Finland | 1,642 |
| South Africa | 1,604 (Eritrean-born) |
| Bahrain | 1,550 (Eritrean-born) |
| Greece | 1,055 |
| Yemen | 1,009 (Eritrean-born) |
| 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 | |
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. Following Italy's defeat in World War II and the subsequent British administration of Eritrea, the former colony was federated with Ethiopia in 1952. Tensions increased through the 1950s between Eritreans wishing for independence and the Ethiopian government, culminating in the Eritrean War of Independence.