Country profile · true scale
Africa · ERI

Eritrea

Eritrea is more than a dot in an atlas. This page combines area, ranking position, population density, and comparisons that make scale easier to understand beyond the traps of familiar world maps.

True geographic outline
121,765.8 km²
CapitalAsmara
Total surface area121,765.8 km²2023 data
Population3,607,0032025 data
Land area121,178.2 km²2023 data
ISO CodeERIISO 3166-1 alpha-3 / UN M49
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Fun Fact

Eritrea covers 121,765.8 km² and has a population of approximately 3,607,003 people, averaging 29.8/km². The closest area match in the dataset is North Korea.

Country profile: Africa

Eritrea: true size, population, and map scale without illusions

Eritrea is more than a dot in an atlas. This page combines area, ranking position, population density, and comparisons that make scale easier to understand beyond the traps of familiar world maps.

Eritrea covers 121,765.8 km², ranking 100 out of 203 by area in this dataset. Its scale becomes clearer when placed beside neighbors or a familiar reference country, because a wall map can flatten our intuition. Within Africa, that places it 37 out of 55.

Eritrea is about 2.6 times smaller than Poland by area. This comparison is deliberately simple: Poland works as an easy reference point, and then it makes sense to move toward a similarly sized country. By area, the closest match is North Korea.

The population is approximately 3,607,003 people, with an average density of 29.8/km². Eritrea ranks 131 out of 203 by population and 154 by density. That points to a fairly spread-out population profile, where cities and open spaces strongly contrast.

Within its continent, Eritrea represents about 0.4% of the area and about 0.23% of the population covered by this dataset. Its continental population rank is 40 out of 55, so area alone does not tell the full story.

In Africa, many territories sit closer to the equator, so world maps often visually underplay them compared with northern places stretched by the Mercator projection. That is why Eritrea is best read through several lenses: raw numbers, an equal-scale outline, a comparison with Poland, and a matchup with North Korea. Then the map stops being a picture and starts becoming a tool for discovery.

If you want to remember the scale quickly, compare Eritrea with a country of similar area and a country of similar population. By population, Mongolia is a useful next clue.

Area#100Area rank among 203 countries and territories in the dataset.
Continent#37Eritrea covers about 0.4% of the area in Africa.
Population#131About 3,607,003 people; continental rank 40 of 55.
Density29.8/km²Average people per square kilometer; density rank: #154.
Closest scaleNorth KoreaThe most natural same-area outline comparison.

How to explore Eritrea on the map

The best path is short: compare outlines, check a country with similar population, then try the quiz. It turns numbers into something easier to remember.

The numeric values are used as comparative references for learning scale. Rankings are based on the countries and territories available in this dataset.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) - Size & Location

Eritrea covers 121,765.8 km². In this dataset, that ranks 100 out of 203 by area, and 37 out of 55 within its continent. Eritrea is about 2.6 times smaller than Poland by area.

The population is approximately 3,607,003 people, with an average density of 29.8/km². Eritrea ranks 131 out of 203 by population and 154 by density. That points to a fairly spread-out population profile, where cities and open spaces strongly contrast.

Two comparisons work especially well: Eritrea vs Poland as a familiar reference point, and Eritrea vs North Korea because their areas are very close. For population, Mongolia is another useful comparison.

In Africa, many territories sit closer to the equator, so world maps often visually underplay them compared with northern places stretched by the Mercator projection. That is why a country's position on the map can mislead, while same-scale outline comparison usually gives a better intuition than a classic atlas.

Every projection moves a globe onto a flat surface and must trade something away: shape, area, direction, or distance. On this page, you can compare the impression created by Mercator, orthographic, and equal-area views.

Start with the numbers, open a 1vs1 comparison with a similar country, and then try the size-illusion quiz. That sequence combines facts, visuals, and play, making the scale easier to remember.

Read the data methodology
Data correction

Eritrea

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