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Background:
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 Eritrea
was awarded to Ethiopia in 1952 as part of a federation.
Ethiopia's annexation of Eritrea as a province 10 years later
sparked a 30-year struggle for independence that ended in 1991
with Eritrean rebels defeating governmental forces;
independence was overwhelmingly approved in a 1993 referendum.
A two-and-a-half-year border war with Ethiopia that erupted in
1998 ended under UN auspices on 12 December 2000. Eritrea
currently hosts a UN peacekeeping operation that is monitoring
a 25 km-wide Temporary Security Zone on the border with
Ethiopia. An international commission, organized to resolve
the border dispute, posted its findings in 2002 but final
demarcation is on hold due to Ethiopian objections. |
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Location:
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Eastern Africa,
bordering the Red Sea, between Djibouti and Sudan |
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Map references:
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Africa |
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Area:
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total:
121,320 sq km
water: 0 sq km
land: 121,320 sq km |
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Area - comparative:
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slightly larger
than Pennsylvania |
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Land boundaries:
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total:
1,626 km
border countries: Djibouti 109 km, Ethiopia 912 km,
Sudan 605 km |
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Coastline:
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2,234 km total;
mainland on Red Sea 1,151 km, islands in Red Sea 1,083 km |
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Climate:
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hot, dry desert
strip along Red Sea coast; cooler and wetter in the central
highlands (up to 61 cm of rainfall annually); semiarid in
western hills and lowlands; rainfall heaviest during
June-September except in coastal desert |
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Terrain:
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dominated by
extension of Ethiopian north-south trending highlands,
descending on the east to a coastal desert plain, on the
northwest to hilly terrain and on the southwest to
flat-to-rolling plains |
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Elevation extremes:
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lowest point:
near Kulul within the Denakil depression -75 m
highest point: Soira 3,018 m |
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Natural resources:
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gold, potash,
zinc, copper, salt, possibly oil and natural gas, fish |
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Land use:
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arable land:
3.87%
permanent crops: 0.02%
other: 96.11% (1998 est.) |
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Irrigated land:
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220 sq km (1998
est.) |
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Natural hazards:
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frequent
droughts; locust swarms |
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Environment - current issues:
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deforestation;
desertification; soil erosion; overgrazing; loss of
infrastructure from civil warfare |
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Environment - international agreements:
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party to:
Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, Endangered
Species
signed, but not ratified: none of the selected
agreements |
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Geography - note:
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strategic
geopolitical position along world's busiest shipping lanes;
Eritrea retained the entire coastline of Ethiopia along the
Red Sea upon de jure independence from Ethiopia on 24 May 1993 |
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Population:
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4,447,307 (July
2004 est.) |
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Age structure:
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0-14 years:
44.8% (male 998,404; female 993,349)
15-64 years: 51.9% (male 1,140,892; female 1,166,481)
65 years and over: 3.3% (male 72,776; female 75,405)
(2004 est.) |
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Median age:
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total:
17.5 years
male: 17.3 years
female: 17.7 years (2004 est.) |
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Population growth rate:
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2.57% (2004 est.) |
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Birth rate:
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39.03
births/1,000 population (2004 est.) |
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Death rate:
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13.36
deaths/1,000 population (2004 est.) |
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Net migration rate:
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0 migrant(s)/1,000
population
note: UNHCR began repatriating about 150,000 Eritrean
refugees from Sudan in 2001 following the restoration of
diplomatic relations between the two countries in 2000 (2004
est.) |
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Sex ratio:
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at birth:
1.03 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.01 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 0.98 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.97 male(s)/female
total population: 0.99 male(s)/female (2004 est.) |
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Infant mortality rate:
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total:
75.59 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 67.94 deaths/1,000 live births (2004 est.)
male: 83.03 deaths/1,000 live births |
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Life expectancy at birth:
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total
population: 52.7 years
male: 51.32 years
female: 54.12 years (2004 est.) |
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HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
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2.8% (2001 est.) |
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HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
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55,000 (2001
est.) |
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HIV/AIDS - deaths:
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350 (2001 est.) |
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Nationality:
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noun:
Eritrean(s)
adjective: Eritrean |
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Ethnic groups:
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ethnic Tigrinya
50%, Tigre and Kunama 40%, Afar 4%, Saho (Red Sea coast
dwellers) 3%, other 3% |
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Religions:
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Muslim, Coptic
Christian, Roman Catholic, Protestant |
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Languages:
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Afar, Arabic,
Tigre and Kunama, Tigrinya, other Cushitic languages |
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Literacy:
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definition:
NA
total population: 58.6%
male: 69.9%
female: 47.6% (2003 est.) |
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Country name:
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conventional
long form: State of Eritrea
conventional short form: Eritrea
local long form: Hagere Ertra
former: Eritrea Autonomous Region in Ethiopia
local short form: Ertra |
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Government type:
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transitional
government
note: following a successful referendum on independence
for the Autonomous Region of Eritrea on 23-25 April 1993, a
National Assembly, composed entirely of the People's Front for
Democracy and Justice or PFDJ, was established as a
transitional legislature; a Constitutional Commission was also
established to draft a constitution; ISAIAS Afworki was
elected president by the transitional legislature; the
constitution, ratified in May 1997, did not enter into effect,
pending parliamentary and presidential elections;
parliamentary elections had been scheduled in December 2001,
but were postponed indefinitely; currently the sole legal
party is the People's Front for Democracy and Justice (PFDJ) |
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Capital:
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Asmara (formerly
Asmera) |
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Administrative divisions:
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6 regions
(regions, singular - region); Central, Anelba, Southern Red
Sea, Northern Red Sea, Southern, Gash-Barka |
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Independence:
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24 May 1993 (from
Ethiopia) |
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National holiday:
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Independence Day,
24 May (1993) |
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Constitution:
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the transitional
constitution, decreed on 19 May 1993, was replaced by a new
constitution adopted on 23 May 1997, but not yet implemented |
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Legal system:
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primary basis is
the Ethiopian legal code of 1957, with revisions; new civil,
commercial, and penal codes have not yet been promulgated;
also relies on customary and post-independence-enacted laws
and, for civil cases involving Muslims, Sharia law |
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Executive branch:
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chief of
state: President ISAIAS Afworki (since 8 June 1993); note
- the president is both the chief of state and head of
government and is head of the State Council and National
Assembly
head of government: President ISAIAS Afworki (since 8
June 1993); note - the president is both the chief of state
and head of government and is head of the State Council and
National Assembly
cabinet: State Council is the collective executive
authority; members appointed by the president
elections: president elected by the National Assembly;
election last held 8 June 1993 (next election date uncertain
as the National Assembly did not hold a presidential election
in December 2001 as anticipated)
election results: ISAIAS Afworki elected president;
percent of National Assembly vote - ISAIAS Afworki 95% |
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Legislative branch:
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unicameral
National Assembly (150 seats; term limits not established)
elections: in May 1997, following the adoption of the
new constitution, 75 members of the PFDJ Central Committee
(the old Central Committee of the EPLF), 60 members of the
527-member Constituent Assembly, that had been established in
1997 to discuss and ratify the new constitution, and 15
representatives of Eritreans living abroad were formed into a
Transitional National Assembly to serve as the country's
legislative body until countrywide elections to a National
Assembly were held; although only 75 of 150 members of the
Transitional National Assembly were elected, the constitution
stipulates that once past the transition stage, all members of
the National Assembly will be elected by secret ballot of all
eligible voters; National Assembly elections scheduled for
December 2001 were postponed indefinitely |
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Judicial branch:
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High Court -
regional, subregional, and village courts; also have military
and special courts |
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Political parties and leaders:
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People's Front
for Democracy and Justice or PFDJ, the only party recognized
by the government [ISAIAS Afworki]; note - a National Assembly
committee drafted a law on political parties in January 2001,
but the full National Assembly has not yet debated or voted on
it |
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Political pressure groups and leaders:
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Eritrean Islamic
Jihad or EIJ [leader NA] (also including Eritrean Islamic
Jihad Movement or EIJM (also known as the Abu Sihel Movement)
[leader NA]); Eritrean Islamic Salvation or EIS (also known as
the Arafa Movement) [leader NA]; Eritrean Liberation Front or
ELF [ABDULLAH Muhammed]; Eritrean National Alliance or ENA (a
coalition including EIJ, EIS, ELF, and a number of ELF
factions) [HERUY Tedla Biru]; Eritrean Public Forum or EPF [ARADOM
Iyob] |
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Diplomatic representation in the US:
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chief of
mission: Ambassador GIRMA Asmerom
telephone: [1] (202) 319-1991
consulate(s) general: Oakland (California)
FAX: [1] (202) 319-1304
chancery: 1708 New Hampshire Avenue NW, Washington, DC
20009 |
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Diplomatic representation from the US:
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chief of
mission: Ambassador Donald J. McCONNELL
embassy: Franklin D. Roosevelt Street, Asmara
mailing address: P. O. Box 211, Asmara
telephone: [291] (1) 120004
FAX: [291] (1) 127584 |
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Economy - overview:
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Since
independence from Ethiopia on 24 May 1993, Eritrea has faced
the economic problems of a small, desperately poor country.
Like the economies of many African nations, the economy is
largely based on subsistence agriculture, with 80% of the
population involved in farming and herding. The
Ethiopian-Eritrea war in 1998-2000 severely hurt Eritrea's
economy. GDP growth fell to zero in 1999 and to -12.1% in
2000. The May 2000 Ethiopian offensive into northern Eritrea
caused some $600 million in property damage and loss,
including losses of $225 million in livestock and 55,000
homes. The attack prevented planting of crops in Eritrea's
most productive region, causing food production to drop by
62%. Even during the war, Eritrea developed its transportation
infrastructure, asphalting new roads, improving its ports, and
repairing war damaged roads and bridges. Since the war ended,
the government has maintained a firm grip on the economy,
expanding the use of the military and party-owned businesses
to complete Eritrea's development agenda. Erratic rainfall and
the delayed demobilization of agriculturalists from the
military kept cereal production well below normal, holding
down growth in 2002. Eritrea's economic future depends upon
its ability to master social problems such as illiteracy,
unemployment, and low skills, and to open its economy to
private enterprise so the diaspora's money and expertise can
foster economic growth. |
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GDP:
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purchasing power
parity - $3.3 billion (2002 est.) |
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GDP - real growth rate:
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2% (2002 est.) |
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GDP - per capita:
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purchasing power
parity - $700 (2002 est.) |
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GDP - composition by sector:
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agriculture:
17%
industry: 29%
services: 54% (2001 est.) |
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Population below poverty line:
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53% (1993-94) |
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Inflation rate (consumer prices):
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15% (2001) |
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Labor force:
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NA (1999) |
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Labor force - by occupation:
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agriculture 80%,
industry and services 20% |
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Unemployment rate:
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NA% (2003 est.) |
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Budget:
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revenues:
$206.4 million
expenditures: $615.7 million, including capital
expenditures of $NA (2000 est.) |
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Industries:
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food processing,
beverages, clothing and textiles |
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Industrial production growth rate:
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NA% |
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Electricity - production:
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220.5 million kWh
(2001) |
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Electricity - production by source:
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fossil fuel:
100%
hydro: 0%
other: 0% (2001)
nuclear: 0% |
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Electricity - consumption:
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205.1 million kWh
(2001) |
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Oil - production:
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0 bbl/day (2001
est.) |
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Oil - consumption:
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6,000 bbl/day
(2001 est.) |
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Agriculture - products:
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sorghum, lentils,
vegetables, corn, cotton, tobacco, coffee, sisal; livestock,
goats; fish |
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Exports:
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$56 million
f.o.b. (2003 est.) |
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Exports - commodities:
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livestock,
sorghum, textiles, food, small manufactures (2000) |
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Exports - partners:
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Malaysia 30.8%,
Italy 25.2%, Germany 11.4%, France 7% (2002) |
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Imports:
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$600 million
f.o.b. (2003 est.) |
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Imports - commodities:
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machinery,
petroleum products, food, manufactured goods (2000) |
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Imports - partners:
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Italy 25.7%, US
14.9%, Germany 6.9%, Ukraine 5.5%, Turkey 5.2%, France 4.3%
(2002) |
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Debt - external:
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$311 million
(2000 est.) |
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Economic aid - recipient:
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$77 million
(1999) |
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Currency:
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nakfa (ERN) |
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Currency code:
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ERN |
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Exchange rates:
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nakfa (ERN) per
US dollar - NA (2003), 13.96 (2002), 11.31 (2001), 9.5 (2000),
7.6 (1999) |
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Fiscal year:
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calendar year |
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Telephones - main lines in use:
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35,900 (2002) |
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Telephones - mobile cellular:
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NA |
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Telephone system:
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general
assessment: inadequate
domestic: very inadequate; most telephones are in
Asmara; government is seeking international tenders to improve
the system (2002)
international: country code - 291; note - international
connections exist |
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Radio broadcast stations:
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AM 2, FM NA,
shortwave 2 (2000) |
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Television broadcast stations:
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1 (2000) |
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Internet country code:
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.er |
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Internet hosts:
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859 (2002) |
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Internet users:
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9,000 (2002) |
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Railways:
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total: 306
km
narrow gauge: 306 km 0.950-m gauge
note: railway is being rebuilt (2002) |
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Highways:
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total:
4,010 km
paved: 874 km
unpaved: 3,136 km (1999 est.) |
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Waterways:
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none |
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Ports and harbors:
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Assab (Aseb),
Massawa (Mits'iwa) |
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Merchant marine:
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total: 5
ships (1,000 GRT or over) 16,069 GRT/19,549 DWT
registered in other countries: 1 (2003 est.)
by type: bulk 1, cargo 1, liquefied gas 1, petroleum
tanker 1, roll on/roll off 1 |
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Airports:
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18 (2003 est.) |
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Airports - with paved runways:
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total: 5
over 3,047 m: 3
2,438 to 3,047 m: 2 (2003 est.) |
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Airports - with unpaved runways:
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total: 13
over 3,047 m: 1
2,438 to 3,047 m: 1
1,524 to 2,437 m: 5
914 to 1,523 m: 4
under 914 m: 2 (2003 est.) |
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Military branches:
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Army, Navy, Air
Force |
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Military expenditures - dollar figure:
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$77.9 million
(2003) |
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Military expenditures - percent of GDP:
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11.8% (2003) |
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Disputes - international:
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Eritrea and
Ethiopia agreed to abide by 2002 Ethiopia-Eritrea Border
Commission's (EEBC) delimitation decision, but demarcation has
been delayed, despite intense international intervention, by
Ethiopian insistence that the decision ignored "human
geography," made technical errors in the delimitation,
and incorrectly awarded Badme, the focus of the 1998-2000 war,
and other areas to Eritrea and Eritrea's insistence on not
deviating from the commission's decision; UN Peacekeeping
Mission to Ethiopia and Eritrea (UNMEE) continues to monitor a
25km-wide Temporary Security Zone in Eritrea until the
demarcation; Sudan accuses Eritrea of supporting Sudanese
rebel groups; Eritrea protests Yemeni fishing around the
Hanish Islands awarded to Eritrea by the ICJ in 1999 |
This page was last updated on 11 May, 2004
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