Country List | World Factbook Home
The World Factbook
| Eritrea |

Introduction | Eritrea

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 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.

Geography | Eritrea

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 total; 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); semiarid in western hills and lowlands; rainfall heaviest during June-September except in coastal desert
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: 4.95% permanent crops: 0.03% other: 95.02% (2001)
Irrigated land: | 220 sq km (1998 est.)
Natural hazards: | frequent droughts; locust swarms
Environment - current issues: | deforestation; desertification; soil erosion; overgrazing; loss of infrastructure from civil warfare
Environment - international agreements: | party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, Endangered Species signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
Geography - note: | 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

People | Eritrea

Population: | 4,561,599 (July 2005 est.)
Age structure: | 0-14 years: 44.8% (male 1,023,898/female 1,019,389) 15-64 years: 51.9% (male 1,170,823/female 1,194,741) 65 years and over: 3.3% (male 74,312/female 78,436) (2005 est.)
Median age: | total: 17.54 years male: 17.35 years female: 17.73 years (2005 est.)
Population growth rate: | 2.51% (2005 est.)
Birth rate: | 38.62 births/1,000 population (2005 est.)
Death rate: | 13.53 deaths/1,000 population (2005 est.)
Net migration rate: | 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 (2005 est.)
Sex ratio: | at birth: 1.03 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1 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 (2005 est.)
Infant mortality rate: | total: 74.87 deaths/1,000 live births male: 82.28 deaths/1,000 live births female: 67.24 deaths/1,000 live births (2005 est.)
Life expectancy at birth: | total population: 58.47 years male: 56.96 years female: 60.02 years (2005 est.)
Total fertility rate: | 5.61 children born/woman (2005 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 (2004)
Nationality: | noun: Eritrean(s) adjective: Eritrean
Ethnic groups: | ethnic 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: NA total population: 58.6% male: 69.9% female: 47.6% (2003 est.)

Government | Eritrea

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 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: | Asmara
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; also relies on customary and post-independence-enacted laws and, for civil cases involving Muslims, Sharia law
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); 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%
Legislative branch: | 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
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, 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
Political pressure groups and leaders: | 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]
International organization participation: | ACP, AfDB, AU, FAO, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICCt (signatory), ICFTU, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS (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 representation in the US: | chief of mission: Ambassador GIRMA Asmerom chancery: 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: Franklin D. Roosevelt 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 | Eritrea

Economy - overview: | 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 2002-04. 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.
GDP (purchasing power parity): | $4.154 billion (2004 est.)
GDP - real growth rate: | 2.5% (2004 est.)
GDP - per capita: | purchasing power parity - $900 (2004 est.)
GDP - composition by sector: | agriculture: 12.4% industry: 25.9% services: 61.7% (2004 est.)
Labor force: | NA
Labor force - by occupation: | agriculture 80%, industry and services 20%
Unemployment rate: | NA (2003 est.)
Population below poverty line: | 50% (2004 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share: | lowest 10%: NA highest 10%: NA
Inflation rate (consumer prices): | 10% (2004 est.)
Investment (gross fixed): | 26.3% of GDP (2002)
Budget: | revenues: $235.2 million expenditures: $373.2 million, including capital expenditures of NA (2004 est.)
Agriculture - products: | sorghum, lentils, vegetables, corn, cotton, tobacco, coffee, sisal; livestock, goats; fish
Industries: | food processing, beverages, clothing and textiles, salt, cement, commercial ship repair
Industrial production growth rate: | NA
Electricity - production: | 246.6 million kWh (2002)
Electricity - production by source: | fossil fuel: 100% hydro: 0% nuclear: 0% other: 0% (2001)
Electricity - consumption: | 229.4 million kWh (2002)
Electricity - exports: | 0 kWh (2002)
Electricity - imports: | 0 kWh (2002)
Oil - production: | 0 bbl/day (2001 est.)
Oil - consumption: | 6,000 bbl/day (2001 est.)
Oil - exports: | NA
Oil - imports: | NA
Current account balance: | $-144.9 million (2004 est.)
Exports: | $64.44 million f.o.b. (2004 est.)
Exports - commodities: | livestock, sorghum, textiles, food, small manufactures (2000)
Exports - partners: | Malaysia 26.6%, Italy 17.1%, Japan 8%, Germany 6.6%, China 5%, UK 4.9%, US 4.7%, France 4.4%, Poland 4.2% (2004)
Imports: | $622 million f.o.b. (2004 est.)
Imports - commodities: | machinery, petroleum products, food, manufactured goods (2000)
Imports - partners: | Ireland 26.6%, US 18.6%, Italy 16.6%, Turkey 6.4% (2004)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold: | $30.87 million (2004 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 - 13.788 (2004), 13.878 (2003), 13.958 (2002), 11.31 (2001), 9.625 (2000)
Fiscal year: | calendar year

Communications | Eritrea

Telephones - main lines in use: | 38,100 (2003)
Telephones - mobile cellular: | NA
Telephone system: | 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
Radio broadcast stations: | AM 2, FM NA, shortwave 2 (2000)
Radios: | 345,000 (1997)
Television broadcast stations: | 1 (2000)
Televisions: | 1,000 (1997)
Internet country code: | .er
Internet hosts: | 1,047 (2004)
Internet Service Providers (ISPs): | 5 (2001)
Internet users: | 9,500 (2003)

Transportation | Eritrea

Railways: | total: 306 km narrow gauge: 306 km 0.950-m gauge (2004)
Highways: | total: 4,010 km paved: 874 km unpaved: 3,136 km (1999 est.)
Ports and harbors: | Assab, Massawa
Merchant marine: | total: 6 ships (1,000 GRT or over) 16,069 GRT/19,549 DWT by type: cargo 3, liquefied gas 1, petroleum tanker 1, roll on/roll off 1 registered in other countries: 1 (2005)
Airports: | 17 (2004 est.)
Airports - with paved runways: | total: 4 over 3,047 m: 2 2,438 to 3,047 m: 2 (2004 est.)
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 (2004 est.)

Military | Eritrea

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 fit for military service: | males age 18-49: NA (2005)
Military expenditures - dollar figure: | $151 million (2004)
Military expenditures - percent of GDP: | 13.4% (2004)

Transnational Issues | Eritrea

Disputes - international: | Eritrea and Ethiopia agreed to abide by 2002 Ethiopia-Eritrea Boundary Commission's (EEBC) delimitation decision, but despite international intervention, mutual animosities, accusations and armed posturing prevail, preventing demarcation; Ethiopia refuses to withdraw to the delimited boundary until 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; since 2000, the UN Peacekeeping Mission to Ethiopia and Eritrea (UNMEE) monitors the 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
Refugees and internally displaced persons: | IDPs: 59,000 (border war with Ethiopia from 1998-2000; most IDPs are near the central border region) (2004)

This page was last updated on 20 October, 2005