What is the capital of Eritrea?
Asmara stands at 2,325 metres above sea level on the tip of the escarpment that forms the north-western edge of the Eritrean Highlands, in the country's Central Region.
Asmara is the capital and seat of government of Eritrea. Eritrea itself has an estimated population of 3,607,003 (2025).
Asmara is also the largest city in Eritrea, which is the usual arrangement, though it is far from universal: see the countries where capital and largest city differ.
Asmara at a glance
| City population | 1,073,000 (2023) |
|---|---|
| Pronunciation | əs-MAHR-ə |
| Country | 🇪🇷 Eritrea |
| Founded | 800 BC |
| Largest city in Eritrea | Asmara |
| Time zone | UTC+03:00 (EAT) |
| Currency | Eritrean nakfa (ERN) |
About Asmara
The site was settled as far back as 800 BC, and local tradition holds that the city was formed when four separate villages united to live peacefully after long periods of conflict; it was incorporated in 1890.
Asmara is the sixth highest capital in the world by altitude and the second highest in Africa.
In 2017 the city was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site for its unusually well-preserved Italian colonial modernist architecture.
It grew in importance as a stop on the trade route to the Red Sea port of Massawa.
City facts sourced from Wikipedia: Asmara.
Frequently asked questions
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Capitals of neighbouring countries
See the full profile of Eritrea on its country page, or browse every capital city.
Capital and country data from open datasets; city and metropolitan populations are hand-curated per city and cited where they are shown. Populations of countries come from the World Bank (SP.POP.TOTL). Full sources and vintage on the data page. Last updated . Report a correction.