Population figures
Total country population
3,817,651
Forcibly displaced population
Refugees (under UNHCR's mandate):
119
Asylum-seekers:
0
IDPs (of concern to UNHCR):
0
Other people in need of international protection:
0
Other
Statelessness persons
0
Host community
0
Others of concern to UNHCR
18
Country context
Eritrea, located in the Horn of Africa, shares borders with Sudan to the west, Ethiopia to the south, and Djibouti to the southeast, with a coastline along the Red Sea to the northeast. The country has experienced significant displacement both within and beyond its borders, primarily due to prolonged internal conflicts and regional tensions.
Eritrea is not a party to the 1951 Refugee Convention or its 1967 Protocol, nor to the 1969 Organization of African Unity (OAU) Convention Governing the Specific Aspects of Refugee Problems in Africa. There is no national legal framework specifically addressing the protection of refugees or asylum seekers. This absence of a formal legal structure poses challenges in ensuring the rights and protection of displaced individuals within the country. The absence of a national asylum framework, combined with economic constraints, has made it difficult for refugees to achieve self-reliance or integration into the local community.
...Eritrea has not acceded to the 1954 Convention relating to the Status of Stateless Persons or the 1961 Convention on the Reduction of Statelessness. The lack of such legal frameworks means that individuals at risk of statelessness may find themselves without legal recognition, leaving them vulnerable to exclusion from basic rights such as education, healthcare, and employment. Statelessness can occur in Eritrea due to issues such as loss of nationality or lack of documentation for certain groups.
Many refugees face challenges to access public services with limited opportunities for self-reliance. Their legal status remains unclear, especially since the closure of the Elite Camp in 2012, which led the government to withdraw refugee status for individuals living in urban areas.
Refugees in urban areas, often engage in casual and seasonal labor in agriculture, which is low-paid and limited in scope. Some refugees, that are recognized as refugees by UNHCR, are regarded as migrants, which has led to restrictions on their legal rights, including the ability to access residency and work permits.
Despite the difficulties faced by refugees, some positive developments have occurred, including Eritrea's rejoining of the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD) in 2023, signaling potential improvements in regional integration and trade.
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