Pray for ERITREA

Christianity is one of the two dominant religions in Eritrea, along with Sunni Islam, and has deep historical roots in the region dating back to the 4th century. Despite this long history, Eritrea is currently ranked as one of the world’s most difficult places to practice Christianity due to severe government restrictions and state-sponsored persecution.

Religious Demographics

Reliable census data is scarce, but estimates generally place the Christian population between 47% and 63%.

Eritrean Orthodox Tewahedo Church: The largest denomination, comprising nearly 90% of all Christians in the country. It is one of the oldest state churches in the world.
Roman Catholic Church: Represents approximately 4–5% of the population.
Protestantism: Includes the state-recognized Evangelical Lutheran Church and numerous unrecognized evangelical and pentecostal groups, totaling about 2–5% of Christians.
Geographic Distribution: Christians primarily reside in the southern and central highlands, while the northern and coastal areas are majority Muslim.

State Control and Recognition

The Eritrean government officially recognizes only four religious groups:

All other Christian denominations, including Pentecostals, Baptists, and Jehovah’s Witnesses, are considered illegal and face systematic repression. Even recognized churches face intense government interference; for instance, the government deposed the late Orthodox Patriarch Abune Antonios in 2006 and kept him under house arrest until his death.

Persecution of Believers

Eritrea is frequently termed the “North Korea of Africa” due to its totalitarian control. Christians from non-sanctioned groups are subject to:

Arbitrary Detention: Believers are often arrested during private prayer meetings or raids and held without charge or trial.
Extreme Conditions: Prisoners are famously held in metal shipping containers or underground cells, exposed to extreme temperatures and physical abuse.
Military Repression: Christians in the military caught worshipping face severe punishment.
Family/Social Rejection: Converts from Islam or the Orthodox Church may also face social exclusion and pressure from their communities.

According to Open Doors, Eritrea remains a “Country of Particular Concern” by the U.S. State Department due to these egregious violations of religious freedom.