The Tigrinya-speaking people are the largest population group in Eritrea, probably more than 50% of the total, and inhabit the densely settled central highlands (kebessa) of the country, particularly the districts of Hamasien, Seraye and Akkele-Guzai.

They are distinguished primarily because of their language and Orthodox Christian culture, and it is difficult to define them as an ‘ethnic’ group. ‘Tigrinya’ itself means ‘speakers of the Tigray language’.

Their language is now one of the two official working languages in Eritrea (the second being Arabic) and is most widely used in the educational system. Tigrinya speakers also live in neighbouring Tigray Region in Ethiopia, where they are about 3,5 million.