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. However, both parties have been unable to reach agreement on implementing the decision. In November 2006, the international commission informed Eritrea and Ethiopia they had one year to demarcate the border or the border demarcation would be based on coordinates.
Location
Eastern Africa, bordering the Red Sea, between Djibouti and Sudan
Geographic coordinates
15 00 N, 39 00 E
Map references
Africa
Area
total
121,320 sq km
land
121,320 sq km
water
0 sq km
Area - comparative
slightly larger than Pennsylvania
Land boundaries
total
1,626 km
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 claims
territorial sea: 12 nm
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 extremes
lowest point
near Kulul within the Denakil depression -75 m
highest point
Soira 3,018 m
Natural resources
gold, potash, zinc, copper, salt, possibly oil and natural gas, fish
Land use
arable land
4.78%
permanent crops
0.03%
other
95.19% (2005)
Irrigated land
210 sq km (2003)
Natural hazards
frequent droughts; locust swarms
Environment - current issues
deforestation; desertification; soil erosion; overgrazing; loss of infrastructure from civil warfare
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
Population
4,906,585 (July 2007 est.)
Age structure
0-14 years
43.5% (male 1,073,404/female 1,060,674)
15-64 years
52.9% (male 1,286,613/female 1,310,294)
65 years and over
3.6% (male 85,052/female 90,548) (2007 est.)
Median age
total
17.9 years
male
17.7 years
female
18.2 years (2007 est.)
Population growth rate
2.461% (2007 est.)
Birth rate
33.97 births/1,000 population (2007 est.)
Death rate
9.36 deaths/1,000 population (2007 est.)
Net migration rate
0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2007 est.)
Sex ratio
at birth
1.03 male(s)/female
under 15 years
1.012 male(s)/female
15-64 years
0.982 male(s)/female
65 years and over
0.939 male(s)/female
total population
0.993 male(s)/female (2007 est.)
Infant mortality rate
total
45.24 deaths/1,000 live births
male
51.05 deaths/1,000 live births
female
39.25 deaths/1,000 live births (2007 est.)
Life expectancy at birth
total population
59.55 years
male
57.88 years
female
61.28 years (2007 est.)
Total fertility rate
4.96 children born/woman (2007 est.)
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate
2.7% (2003 est.)
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS
60,000 (2003 est.)
HIV/AIDS - deaths
6,300 (2003 est.)
Major infectious diseases
degree of risk
high
food or waterborne diseases
bacterial diarrhea, hepatitis A, and typhoid fever
vectorborne disease
malaria is a high risk in some locations (2007)
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.)
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 type
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 were 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 divisions
6 regions (zobatat, singular - zoba); Anseba, Debub (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 holiday
Independence Day, 24 May (1993)
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; government also issues unilateral proclamations setting laws and policies; also relies on customary and post-independence-enacted laws and, for civil cases involving Muslims, Islamic law; does not accept compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
Suffrage
18 years of age; universal
Executive branch
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)
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); the most recent and only election 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%, other 5%
Legislative branch
unicameral National Assembly (150 seats; members elected by direct popular vote to serve five-year terms)
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, which 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 branch
High Court - regional, subregional, and village courts; also have military and special courts
Political parties and leaders
People's Front for Democracy and Justice or PFDJ [ISAIAS Afworki] (the only party recognized by the government); 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 pressure groups and leaders
Eritrean Islamic Jihad or EIJ (also including Eritrean Islamic Jihad Movement or EIJM (also known as the Abu Sihel Movement)); Eritrean Islamic Salvation or EIS (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]; Eritrean Democratic Party (EDP) [HAGOS, Mesfin]
1708 New Hampshire Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20009
telephone
[1] (202) 319-1991
FAX
[1] (202) 319-1304
consulate(s) general
Oakland (California)
Diplomatic representation from the US
chief of mission
Ambassador Scott H. DELISI
embassy
179 Alaa Street, Asmara
mailing address
P. O. Box 211, Asmara
telephone
[291] (1) 120004
FAX
[291] (1) 127584
Flag description
red isosceles triangle (based on the hoist side) 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 - overview
Since independence from Ethiopia in 1993, Eritrea has faced the economic problems of a small, desperately poor country, accentuated by the recent implementation of restrictive economic policies. Eritrea has a command economy under the control of the sole political party, the People's Front for Democracy and Justice (PFDJ). 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. In January 2005, the government essentially banned all imports. The government strictly controls the use of foreign currency, limiting access and availability. Few private enterprises remain in Eritrea. Eritrea's economy is heavily dependent on taxes paid by members of the diaspora. Erratic rainfall and the delayed demobilization of agriculturalists from the military continue to interfere with agricultural production, and Eritrea's recent harvests have not been able to meet the food needs of the country. Eritrea's economic future depends upon its ability to master social problems such as illiteracy, unemployment, and low skills, and more importantly, on the government's willingness to support a true market economy.
GDP (purchasing power parity)
$4.471 billion (2005 est.)
GDP (official exchange rate)
$1.244 billion (2005 est.)
GDP - real growth rate
2% (2005 est.)
GDP - per capita (PPP)
$1,000 (2005 est.)
GDP - composition by sector
agriculture
9.9%
industry
25.4%
services
64.6% (2006 est.)
Labor force
NA
Labor force - by occupation
agriculture
80%
industry and services
20%
Unemployment rate
NA%
Population below poverty line
50% (2004 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share
lowest 10%
NA%
highest 10%
NA%
Inflation rate (consumer prices)
14% (2006 est.)
Investment (gross fixed)
24.5% of GDP (2006 est.)
Budget
revenues
$257.6 million
expenditures
$424 million; including capital expenditures of $NA (2006 est.)
Agriculture - products
Industries
food processing, beverages, clothing and textiles, light manufacturing, salt, cement
Industrial production growth rate
NA%
Electricity - production
276.1 million kWh (2004)
Electricity - production by source
fossil fuel
100%
hydro
0%
nuclear
0%
other
0% (2001)
Electricity - consumption
256.7 million kWh (2004)
Electricity - exports
0 kWh (2004)
Electricity - imports
0 kWh (2004)
Oil - production
0 bbl/day (2004 est.)
Oil - consumption
5,300 bbl/day (2004 est.)
Oil - exports
NA bbl/day
Oil - imports
NA bbl/day
Natural gas - production
0 cu m (2004 est.)
Natural gas - consumption
0 cu m (2004 est.)
Current account balance
-$440.5 million (2006 est.)
Exports
$17.65 million f.o.b. (2006 est.)
Exports - commodities
livestock, sorghum, textiles, food, small manufactures (2000)
Exports - partners
Italy 31.4%, US 11.9%, Belarus 5.9%, France 5.1%, Germany 4.6%, Turkey 4.4%, UK 4% (2006)
Italy 15.1%, France 11.8%, US 9.5%, Germany 8.6%, Taiwan 7.3%, India 7%, Ireland 6.1%, Turkey 4.4%, Jordan 4.2% (2006)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold
$30.6 million (2006 est.)
Debt - external
$311 million (2000 est.)
Economic aid - recipient
$77 million (1999)
Currency (code)
nakfa (ERN)
Currency code
ERN
Exchange rates
nakfa (ERN) per US dollar - 15.4 (2006), 14.5 (2005), 13.788 (2004), 13.878 (2003), 13.958 (2002)
note: the official exchange rate is 15 nakfa to the dollar
Fiscal year
calendar year
Telephones - main lines in use
37,700 (2005)
Telephones - mobile cellular
58,000 (2006)
Telephone system
general assessment
inadequate
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 broadcast stations
AM 2, FM NA, shortwave 2 (2000)
Radios
345,000 (1997)
Television broadcast stations
2 (2006)
Televisions
1,000 (1997)
Internet country code
.er
Internet hosts
1,088 (2006)
Internet Service Providers (ISPs)
5 (2001)
Internet users
70,000 (2005)
Airports
17 (2006)
Airports - with paved runways
total
4
over 3,047 m
2
2,438 to 3,047 m
2 (2006)
Airports - with unpaved runways
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 (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 marine
total
6 ships (1000 GRT or over) 19,506 GRT/23,649 DWT
by type
cargo 3, liquefied gas 1, petroleum tanker 1, roll on/roll off 1 (2006)
Ports and terminals
Assab, Massawa
Military branches
Army, Navy, Air Force
Military service age and obligation
18 years of age for voluntary and compulsory military service; conscript service obligation - 16 months (2004)
Manpower available for military service
males age 18-49
893,361
females age 18-49
891,662 (2005 est.)
Manpower fit for military service
males age 18-49
555,553
females age 18-49
562,426 (2005)
Manpower reaching military service age annually
males age 18-49
50,156
females age 18-49
49,746 (2005 est.)
Military expenditures - percent of GDP
6.3% (2006 est.)
Disputes - international
Eritrea and Ethiopia agreed to abide by 2002 Ethiopia-Eritrea Boundary Commission's (EEBC) delimitation decision but, neither party responded to the revised line detailed in the November 2006 EEBC Demarcation Statement; UN Peacekeeping Mission to Ethiopia and Eritrea (UNMEE), which has monitored the 25-km-wide Temporary Security Zone in Eritrea since 2000, is extended for six months in 2007 despite Eritrean restrictions on its operations and reduced force of 17,000; Sudan accuses Eritrea of supporting eastern Sudanese rebel groups
Refugees and internally displaced persons
IDPs: 40,000-45,000 (border war with Ethiopia from 1998-2000; most IDPs are near the central border region) (2006)
