Languages Spoken in Eritrea: English and Beyond

Eritrea has no official language at the national level, but English is the de facto working language of government, higher education, and secondary schools. It is widely spoken in urban areas and business.

The most widely spoken native language is Tigrinya (language of the Tigrinya people, the largest ethnic group). Other major languages include:

• Tigre (western lowlands)
• Arabic (widely used in commerce and by Muslim communities; also an official language in some contexts)
• Afar (eastern lowlands)
• Saho, Bilen, Kunama, Nara, Rashaida (minority languages)

English proficiency is high among educated Eritreans due to its role in the school system.