Quick facts
Asmara overview
Asmara (orange) and the other large cities of Eritrea
Asmara lies in Maekel in Eritrea at 15.34°N, 38.93°E, about 2,334 m above sea level. The local time zone is Africa/Asmara (UTC+3); GeoNames classifies it as a national capital.
It is the biggest urban centre of Eritrea: the next largest cities are Keren (74,800), Himora (46,100), Af’abet (35,673). Together, the three largest cities hold 18.5% of the national population.
The nearest large city is Mendefera, about 52 km away, followed by Massawa (65 km).
Eritrea as a whole has a live population of 3,705,792 (+2.1% a year) and ranks #132 of 238 countries — see the Eritrea population page for the full statistics and the Eritrea atlas for provinces, terrain and society maps.
Cities near Asmara
| City | Distance | Population |
|---|---|---|
| Mendefera Debub | 52 km | 17,781 |
| Massawa Northern Red Sea | 65 km | 23,100 |
| Keren Anseba | 71 km | 74,800 |
| Af’abet Debub | 98 km | 35,673 |
| Barentu Gash-Barka | 146 km | 15,891 |
Largest cities in Eritrea
| # | City | Region | Population |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | AsmaraCapital | Maekel | 563,930 |
| 2 | Keren | Anseba | 74,800 |
| 3 | Himora | Gash-Barka | 46,100 |
| 4 | Af’abet | Debub | 35,673 |
| 5 | Massawa | Northern Red Sea | 23,100 |
| 6 | Assab | Southern Red Sea | 21,300 |
| 7 | Mendefera | Debub | 17,781 |
| 8 | Barentu | Gash-Barka | 15,891 |
Frequently asked questions
What is the population of Asmara?
Asmara has about 563,930 inhabitants according to the latest official census or estimate compiled by GeoNames. This is the city proper; the metropolitan area is larger.
Is Asmara the capital of Eritrea?
Yes — Asmara is the national capital of Eritrea.
How big is Asmara compared with the rest of Eritrea?
Its 563,930 residents are 15.2% of the 3,705,792 people living in Eritrea today. It is the largest city in the country.
Where is Asmara?
In Maekel, Eritrea, at latitude 15.34 and longitude 38.93, 2,334 m above sea level. Nearby large cities include Mendefera (52 km), Massawa (65 km), Keren (71 km).
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Cite or link to this page
Glostats. (2026). Asmara Population 2026 — Eritrea. Retrieved October 20, 2026, from https://glostats.com/cities/eritrea/asmara/<a href="https://glostats.com/cities/eritrea/asmara/">Asmara Population 2026 — Eritrea</a> — GlostatsFigures on this page may be quoted, charted or republished as long as the page is credited with a link. Terms · Download the data as CSV · Embed a live counter.
City populations are GeoNames figures (CC BY 4.0): the latest official census or estimate for the city proper — the municipality, not the wider metropolitan area — so they can differ from "metro area" numbers you see elsewhere. Country populations are live Glostats estimates from the UN World Population Prospects. Distances are great-circle distances between city centres. Page generated 2026-10-20. More about our data.