from
CIA World Factbook 2006
Eritrea
Introduction
Background: 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 in 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.
Geography
Location: Eastern Africa, bordering the Red Sea, between Djibouti
and Sudan
Geographic 15 00 N, 39 00 E
coordinates:
Map Africa
references:
Area: total: 121,320 sq km
land: 121,320 sq km
water: 0 sq km
Area - slightly larger than Pennsylvania
comparative:
Land total: 1,626 km
boundaries: border countries: Djibouti 109 km, Ethiopia 912 km,
Sudan 605 km
Coastline: 2,234 km (mainland on Red Sea 1,151 km, islands in Red
Sea 1,083 km)
Maritime territorial sea: 12 nm
claims:
Climate: hot, dry desert strip along Red Sea coast; cooler and
wetter in the central highlands (up to 61 cm of
rainfall annually, heaviest June to September);
semiarid in western hills and lowlands
Terrain: 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
Elevation lowest point: near Kulul within the Denakil depression
extremes: -75 m
highest point: Soira 3,018 m
Natural gold, potash, zinc, copper, salt, possibly oil and
resources: natural gas, fish
Land use: arable land: 4.78%
permanent crops: 0.03%
other: 95.19% (2005)
Irrigated 210 sq km (2003)
land:
Natural frequent droughts; locust swarms
hazards:
Environment - deforestation; desertification; soil erosion;
current overgrazing; loss of infrastructure from civil warfare
issues:
Environment - party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change,
international Desertification, Endangered Species
agreements: signed, but not ratified: none of the selected
agreements
Geography - strategic geopolitical position along world's busiest
note: shipping lanes; Eritrea retained the entire coastline
of Ethiopia along the Red Sea upon de jure independence
from Ethiopia on 24 May 1993
People
Population: 4,786,994 (July 2006 est.)
Age structure: 0-14 years: 44% (male 1,059,458/female 1,046,955)
15-64 years: 52.5% (male 1,244,153/female 1,268,189)
65 years and over: 3.5% (male 82,112/female 86,127)
(2006 est.)
Median age: total: 17.8 years
male: 17.6 years
female: 18 years (2006 est.)
Population 2.47% (2006 est.)
growth rate:
Birth rate: 34.33 births/1,000 population (2006 est.)
Death rate: 9.6 deaths/1,000 population (2006 est.)
Net migration 0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2006 est.)
rate:
Sex ratio: 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: 0.95 male(s)/female
total population: 0.99 male(s)/female (2006 est.)
Infant total: 46.3 deaths/1,000 live births
mortality male: 52.22 deaths/1,000 live births
rate: female: 40.2 deaths/1,000 live births (2006 est.)
Life total population: 59.03 years
expectancy at male: 57.44 years
birth: female: 60.66 years (2006 est.)
Total 5.08 children born/woman (2006 est.)
fertility
rate:
HIV/AIDS - 2.7% (2003 est.)
adult
prevalence
rate:
HIV/AIDS - 60,000 (2003 est.)
people living
with HIV/AIDS:
HIV/AIDS - 6,300 (2003 est.)
deaths:
Major degree of risk: high
infectious food or waterborne diseases: bacterial diarrhea,
diseases: hepatitis A, and typhoid fever
vectorborne disease: malaria is a high risk in some
locations (2005)
Nationality: noun: Eritrean(s)
adjective: Eritrean
Ethnic groups: Tigrinya 50%, Tigre and Kunama 40%, Afar 4%, Saho (Red
Sea coast dwellers) 3%, other 3%
Religions: Muslim, Coptic Christian, Roman Catholic, Protestant
Languages: Afar, Arabic, Tigre and Kunama, Tigrinya, other
Cushitic languages
Literacy: definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 58.6%
male: 69.9%
female: 47.6% (2003 est.)
Government
Country name: conventional long form: State of Eritrea
conventional short form: Eritrea
local long form: Hagere Ertra
local short form: Ertra
former: Eritrea Autonomous Region in Ethiopia
Government transitional government
type: 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)
Capital: name: Asmara (Asmera)
geographic coordinates: 15 20 N, 38 53 E
time difference: UTC+3 (8 hours ahead of Washington, DC
during Standard Time)
Administrative 6 regions (zobatat, singular - zoba); Anseba, Debub
divisions: (Southern), Debubawi K'eyih Bahri (Southern Red Sea),
Gash Barka, Ma'akel (Central), Semenawi Keyih Bahri
(Northern Red Sea)
Independence: 24 May 1993 (from Ethiopia)
National Independence Day, 24 May (1993)
holiday:
Constitution: a transitional constitution, decreed on 19 May 1993,
was replaced by a new constitution adopted on 23 May
1997, but not yet implemented
Legal system: 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
Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal
Executive chief of state: President ISAIAS Afworki (since 8 June
branch: 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
for a five-year term (eligible for a second term);
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%
Legislative unicameral National Assembly (150 seats; term limits
branch: 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
Judicial High Court - regional, subregional, and village courts;
branch: also have military and special courts
Political People's Front for Democracy and Justice or PFDJ, the
parties and only party recognized by the government [ISAIAS
leaders: 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
Political Eritrean Islamic Jihad or EIJ (also including Eritrean
pressure Islamic Jihad Movement or EIJM (also known as the Abu
groups and Sihel Movement)); Eritrean Islamic Salvation or EIS
leaders: (also known as the Arafa Movement); 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]
International ACP, AfDB, AU, COMESA, FAO, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO,
organization ICCt (signatory), ICFTU, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS
participation: (observer), IGAD, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, ISO
(correspondent), ITU, MIGA, NAM, OPCW, PCA, UN, UNCTAD,
UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO
Diplomatic chief of mission: Ambassador GIRMA Asmerom
representation chancery: 1708 New Hampshire Avenue NW, Washington, DC
in the US: 20009
telephone: [1] (202) 319-1991
FAX: [1] (202) 319-1304
consulate(s) general: Oakland (California)
Diplomatic chief of mission: Ambassador Scott H. DELISI
representation embassy: 179 Alaa Street, Asmara
from the US: mailing address: P. O. Box 211, Asmara
telephone: [291] (1) 120004
FAX: [291] (1) 127584
Flag red isosceles triangle (based on the hoist side)
description: dividing the flag into two right triangles; the upper
triangle is green, the lower one is blue; a gold wreath
encircling a gold olive branch is centered on the hoist
side of the red triangle
Economy
Economy - Since independence from Ethiopia in 1993, Eritrea has
overview: 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
2002-05. Eritrea's economic future depends upon its
ability to master social problems such as illiteracy,
unemployment, and low skills, as well as the
willingness to open its economy to private enterprise
so that the diaspora's money and expertise can foster
economic growth.
GDP $4.471 billion (2005 est.)
(purchasing
power parity):
GDP (official $1.244 billion (2005 est.)
exchange
rate):
GDP - real 2% (2005 est.)
growth rate:
GDP - per $1,000 (2005 est.)
capita (PPP):
GDP - agriculture: 10.2%
composition by industry: 25.4%
sector: services: 64.3% (2005 est.)
Labor force: NA
Labor force - agriculture: 80%
by occupation: industry and services: 20%
Unemployment NA%
rate:
Population 50% (2004 est.)
below poverty
line:
Household lowest 10%: NA%
income or highest 10%: NA%
consumption by
percentage
share:
Inflation rate 15% (2005 est.)
(consumer
prices):
Investment 25.1% of GDP (2005 est.)
(gross fixed):
Budget: revenues: $248.8 million
expenditures: $409.4 million; including capital
expenditures of $NA (2005 est.)
Agriculture - sorghum, lentils, vegetables, corn, cotton, tobacco,
products: coffee, sisal; livestock, goats; fish
Industries: food processing, beverages, clothing and textiles,
salt, cement, commercial ship repair
Industrial NA%
production
growth rate:
Electricity - 270.9 million kWh (2003)
production:
Electricity - fossil fuel: 100%
production by hydro: 0%
source: nuclear: 0%
other: 0% (2001)
Electricity - 251.9 million kWh (2003)
consumption:
Electricity - 0 kWh (2003)
exports:
Electricity - 0 kWh (2003)
imports:
Oil - 0 bbl/day (2003 est.)
production:
Oil - 4,600 bbl/day (2003 est.)
consumption:
Oil - exports: NA bbl/day
Oil - imports: NA bbl/day
Natural gas - 0 cu m (2003 est.)
production:
Natural gas - 0 cu m (2003 est.)
consumption:
Current $-291 million (2005 est.)
account
balance:
Exports: $33.58 million f.o.b. (2005 est.)
Exports - livestock, sorghum, textiles, food, small manufactures
commodities: (2000)
Exports - Italy 39.3%, US 14.9%, Belarus 7.3%, Germany 5.8%, UK
partners: 4.9% (2005)
Imports: $676.5 million f.o.b. (2005 est.)
Imports - machinery, petroleum products, food, manufactured goods
commodities: (2000)
Imports - Germany 22.2%, Italy 20.3%, France 15.9%, US 12.8%,
partners: Ireland 8.2% (2005)
Reserves of $30 million (2005 est.)
foreign
exchange and
gold:
Debt - $311 million (2000 est.)
external:
Economic aid - $77 million (1999)
recipient:
Currency nakfa (ERN)
(code):
Currency code: ERN
Exchange nakfa (ERN) per US dollar - 14.5 (2005), 13.788 (2004),
rates: 13.878 (2003), 13.958 (2002), 11.31 (2001)
Fiscal year: calendar year
Communications
Telephones - 37,700 (2005)
main lines in
use:
Telephones - 40,400 (2005)
mobile
cellular:
Telephone general assessment: inadequate
system: domestic: inadequate; most telephones are in Asmara;
government is seeking international tenders to improve
the system (2002)
international: country code - 291; note - international
connections exist
Radio AM 2, FM NA, shortwave 2 (2000)
broadcast
stations:
Radios: 345,000 (1997)
Television 1 (2000)
broadcast
stations:
Televisions: 1,000 (1997)
Internet .er
country code:
Internet 1,088 (2006)
hosts:
Internet 5 (2001)
Service
Providers
(ISPs):
Internet 70,000 (2005)
users:
Transportation
Airports: 17 (2006)
Airports - total: 4
with paved over 3,047 m: 2
runways: 2,438 to 3,047 m: 2 (2006)
Airports - total: 13
with unpaved over 3,047 m: 1
runways: 2,438 to 3,047 m: 1
1,524 to 2,437 m: 5
914 to 1,523 m: 4
under 914 m: 2 (2006)
Railways: total: 306 km
narrow gauge: 306 km 0.950-m gauge (2005)
Roadways: total: 4,010 km
paved: 874 km
unpaved: 3,136 km (1999)
Merchant total: 6 ships (1000 GRT or over) 19,506 GRT/23,649 DWT
marine: by type: cargo 3, liquefied gas 1, petroleum tanker 1,
roll on/roll off 1 (2006)
Ports and Assab, Massawa
terminals:
Military
Military Army, Navy, Air Force
branches:
Military 18 years of age for voluntary and compulsory military
service age service; conscript service obligation - 16 months
and (2004)
obligation:
Manpower males age 18-49: 893,361
available for females age 18-49: 891,662 (2005 est.)
military
service:
Manpower fit males age 18-49: 555,553
for military females age 18-49: 562,426 (2005)
service:
Manpower males age 18-49: 50,156
reaching females age 18-49: 49,746 (2005 est.)
military
service age
annually:
Military $220.1 million (2005 est.)
expenditures -
dollar figure:
Military 17.7% (2005 est.)
expenditures -
percent of
GDP:
Transnational
Issues
Disputes - Eritrea and Ethiopia agreed to abide by 2002
international: Ethiopia-Eritrea Boundary Commission's (EEBC)
delimitation decision, but despite international
intervention, mutual animosities, accusations, and
armed posturing have prevented demarcation; Ethiopia
refuses to withdraw to the delimited boundary until
claimed technical errors made by the EEBC that ignored
"human geography" are addressed, including the award of
Badme, the focus of the 1998-2000 war; Eritrea insists
that the EEBC decision be implemented immediately
without modifications; in 2005 Eritrea began severely
restricting the operations of the UN Peacekeeping
Mission to Ethiopia and Eritrea (UNMEE) monitoring the
25km-wide Temporary Security Zone in Eritrea since
2000; Sudan sustains over 110,000 Eritrean refugees and
accuses Eritrea of supporting Sudanese rebel groups
Refugees and IDPs: 59,000 (border war with Ethiopia from 1998-2000;
internally most IDPs are near the central border region) (2005)
displaced
persons: