Eritrea

Summary

Official Name: State of Eritrea
Population: 3,662,000
General Remarks: Semenawi Key Bahri region includes Red Sea islands offshore from Massawa, mainly the Dahlak Archipelago. The Hanish Islands in the middle of the Red Sea are disputed between Eritrea and Yemen. Further south off of Aseb, Debubawi Key Bahri region includes Halba Island and associated islets
Principal Languages: English, Standard Arabic, Tigrigna
Literacy Rate: 77% (2018 UNESCO)
International Conventions: ACHPR (1987), CSICH (2012), ICCPR (1966)
Language Counts: The number of established languages listed for Eritrea is 15. All are living languages. Of these, 9 are indigenous and 6 are non-indigenous. Furthermore, 10 are institutional, 2 are vigorous, 1 is in trouble, and 2 are dying.

Languages

Afar aar: Northern Red Sea and Southern Red Sea regions. Users: 505,000 in Eritrea (2020), increasing. Status: 4 (Educational). Alternate Names: Afaraf, Qafar, Qafar af, Qafaraf, ʿAfár af, “Danakil” (pej.), “Denkel” (pej.) Classification: Afro-Asiatic, Cushitic, East, Saho-Afar
Arabic, Hijazi Spoken acw: Northern Red Sea and Southern Red Sea regions. Users: 30,400 in Eritrea (2020). Ethnic population: 80,000 (2010). Status: 6a* (Vigorous). Alternate Names: Rashaida, Rashida Classification: Afro-Asiatic, Semitic, Central, South, Arabic
Arabic, Standard arb: Widespread. Users: 2,420,000 in Eritrea (2015 SIL), all users. Status: 1 (National). De facto national language. Classification: Afro-Asiatic, Semitic, Central, South, Arabic
Arabic, Sudanese Spoken apd: Anseba and Gash-Barka regions: possibly Asmara and other urban communities. Status: 6a* (Vigorous). Alternate Names: Arabi Classification: Afro-Asiatic, Semitic, Central, South, Arabic
Bedawiyet bej: Anseba and Gash-Barka regions. Users: 201,000 in Eritrea (2020). Status: 4 (Educational). Alternate Names: Beḍauye, Bedawi, Bedawiye, Bedawye, Bedja, Bedwi, Bedya, Bedàwie, Beja, Bidhaaweet, Bidhaawyeet, Lobat, Tu Bdhaawi Classification: Afro-Asiatic, Cushitic, North
Bilen byn: Anseba region: Keren town area. Users: 116,000 (2020). Status: 4 (Educational). Alternate Names: Balen, Belen, Beleni, Bilayn, Bilein, Bilene, Bileno, Bilin, Bogo, Bogos, North Agaw Autonym: Blin, ብሊን‎ (Blin) Classification: Afro-Asiatic, Cushitic, Central, Northern
Dahalik dlk: Northern Red Sea region: Dahlak Archipelago. Users: 2,500 (2012 J. McLaughlin). Status: 6b* (Threatened). Alternate Names: Dahlak Classification: Afro-Asiatic, Semitic, South, Ethiopian, North
English eng: Widespread. Status: 3 (Wider communication). De facto national working language. Classification: Indo-European, Germanic, West, English
Geez gez: Widespread. Users: No known L1 speakers in Eritrea. Ethnic population: No ethnic community. Status: 9 (Second language only). Alternate Names: Ancient Ethiopic, Ethiopic, Ge’ez, Giiz Classification: Afro-Asiatic, Semitic, South, Ethiopian, North
Italian ita: Maekel region: Asmara area. Users: A few monolinguals. Status: 8b (Nearly extinct). Alternate Names: Italiano Classification: Indo-European, Italic, Romance, Italo-Western, Italo-Dalmatian
Kunama kun: Gash-Barka region: between Gash river and Ethiopia border; Aimara west of Barentu, Barka south of Barentu, Marda north, northeast, and east of Barentu, Barentu. Users: 237,000 in Eritrea (2020), increasing. Total users in all countries: 244,570 (as L1: 244,430; as L2: 140). Status: 4 (Educational). Alternate Names: Baada, Baaden, Baaza, Baazayn, Baazen, Bada, Baden, Baza, Bazen, Cunama, Diila Autonym: Kunama Classification: Nilo-Saharan, Satellite-Core, Satellites, Kunama
Nara nrb: Gash-Barka region: north of Barentu. Users: 103,000 (2020), increasing. Status: 4 (Educational). Alternate Names: Nara bana, Nera, “Barea” (pej.), “Baria” (pej.), “Barya” (pej.) Autonym: Nara Classification: Nilo-Saharan, Satellite-Core, Core, Eastern Sudanic, Northern (k languages), Nara
Saho ssy: Debub, Northern Red Sea, and Southern Red Sea regions. Users: 243,000 in Eritrea (2020), increasing. Total users in all countries: 279,180 (as L1: 275,800; as L2: 3,380). Status: 4 (Educational). Alternate Names: Sao, Shaho, Shiho, Shoho Autonym: Saaho Classification: Afro-Asiatic, Cushitic, East, Saho-Afar
Tigré tig: Anseba, Gash-Barka, and Northern Red Sea regions. Widespread except in Southern Red Sea region. Users: 1,340,000 in Eritrea (2020), increasing. Total users in all countries: 1,359,000. Status: 4 (Educational). Autonym: ትግራይት‎ (Tigrayit/Tigraayit) Classification: Afro-Asiatic, Semitic, South, Ethiopian, North
Tigrigna tir: Widespread, especially south and central. Users: 3,220,000 in Eritrea (2020), increasing. Total users in all countries: 10,005,540 (as L1: 9,853,540; as L2: 152,000). Status: 3 (Wider communication). De facto national working language. Alternate Names: Habashi, Tigray, Tigrinya Autonym: ትግርኛ‎ (Tigrinya) Classification: Afro-Asiatic, Semitic, South, Ethiopian, North

Languages by Status

1 (National)

Arabic, Standard

[arb] 1 (National). De facto national language. 2,420,000 in Eritrea (2015 SIL), all users.

3 (Wider communication)

English

[eng] 3 (Wider communication). De facto national working language.

Tigrigna

[tir] 3 (Wider communication). De facto national working language. 3,220,000 in Eritrea (2020), increasing. Total users in all countries: 10,005,540 (as L1: 9,853,540; as L2: 152,000).

4 (Educational)

Afar

[aar] 4 (Educational). 505,000 in Eritrea (2020), increasing.

Bedawiyet

[bej] 4 (Educational). 201,000 in Eritrea (2020).

Bilen

[byn] 4 (Educational). 116,000 (2020).

Kunama

[kun] 4 (Educational). 237,000 in Eritrea (2020), increasing. Total users in all countries: 244,570 (as L1: 244,430; as L2: 140).

Nara

[nrb] 4 (Educational). 103,000 (2020), increasing.

Saho

[ssy] 4 (Educational). 243,000 in Eritrea (2020), increasing. Total users in all countries: 279,180 (as L1: 275,800; as L2: 3,380).

Tigré

[tig] 4 (Educational). 1,340,000 in Eritrea (2020), increasing. Total users in all countries: 1,359,000.

6a (Vigorous)

Arabic, Hijazi Spoken

[acw] 6a* (Vigorous). 30,400 in Eritrea (2020). Ethnic population: 80,000 (2010).

Arabic, Sudanese Spoken

[apd] 6a* (Vigorous).

6b (Threatened)

Dahalik

[dlk] 6b* (Threatened). 2,500 (2012 J. McLaughlin).

8b (Nearly extinct)

Italian

[ita] 8b (Nearly extinct). A few monolinguals.

Maps

Djibouti, Eritrea and Ethiopia

Graphs

Language Vitality Profile
Full explanation
This graph shows the profile of languages in Eritrea with respect to their level of language vitality. Each individual language that has an entry for Eritrea is included in the profile. The horizontal axis represents the estimated level of vitality. The height of each bar indicates the number of languages that are estimated to be at the given level.
The vitality levels and the color coding of the bars match the scheme used in the guide on How many languages are endangered? In this scheme, the levels and colors are as follows:
- Dark green = Institutional (EGIDS 0-4) — The language has been developed to the point that it is used and sustained by institutions beyond the home and community.
- Light green = Stable (EGIDS 5-6a) — The language is not being sustained by formal institutions, but It is still the norm in the home and community that all children learn and use the language.
- Red = Endangered (EGIDS 6b-9) — It is no longer the norm that children learn and use this language.
These three summary levels have been derived by grouping levels in the Expanded Graded Intergenerational Disruption Scale (EGIDS), which is the more fine-grained scale that Ethnologue uses to assess the status of every language in terms of development versus endangerment; see the Language Status page for a description of the levels of that scale. See also the pages on Development and Endangerment for more discussion.
Language Status Profile
Full explanation
This graph shows the profile of languages in Eritrea with respect to their status of language development versus language endangerment. Each individual language that has an entry for Eritrea is included in the profile. The horizontal axis represents the estimated level of development or endangerment as measured on the EGIDS scale. (See the pages on Development and Endangerment for a fuller explanation.) The height of each bar indicates the number of languages that are estimated to be at the given level. Consult the Status listings for Eritrea in order to see the specific languages for each level.
The color coding of the bars matches the color scheme used in the summary profile graphs on the navigation maps for the site. In this scheme, the EGIDS levels are grouped as follows:
- Purple = Institutional (EGIDS 0-4) — The language has been developed to the point that it is used and sustained by institutions beyond the home and community.
- Blue = Developing (EGIDS 5) — The language is in vigorous use, with literature in a standardized form being used by some though this is not yet widespread or sustainable.
- Green = Vigorous (EGIDS 6a) — The language is unstandardized and in vigorous use among all generations.
- Yellow = In trouble (EGIDS 6b-7) — Intergenerational transmission is in the process of being broken, but the child-bearing generation can still use the language so it is possible that revitalization efforts could restore transmission of the language in the home.
- Red = Dying (EGIDS 8a-9) — The only fluent users (if any) are older than child-bearing age, so it is too late to restore natural intergenerational transmission through the home; a mechanism outside the home would need to be developed.
- Black = Extinct (EGIDS 10) — The language has fallen completely out of use and no one retains a sense of ethnic identity associated with the language.

Resources

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Digest of the languages of Eritrea ($149.95, 28 page PDF)

Eritrea

Summary

Languages

Languages by Status

Maps

Djibouti, Eritrea and Ethiopia

Graphs

Language Vitality Profile

Language Status Profile

Resources

Contributions

Editorial Action