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Africa :: Eritrea

- ## Introduction :: ERITREA

- Background:
  After independence from Italian colonial control in 1941 and 10 years of British administrative control, the UN established Eritrea as an autonomous region within the Ethiopian federation in 1952. Ethiopia's full annexation of Eritrea as a province 10 years later sparked a violent 30-year struggle for independence that ended in 1991 with Eritrean rebels defeating government forces. Eritreans overwhelmingly approved independence in a 1993 referendum. ISAIAS Afworki has been Eritrea's only president since independence; his rule, particularly since 2001, has been highly autocratic and repressive. His government has created a highly militarized society by pursuing an unpopular program of mandatory conscription into national service, sometimes of indefinite length. A two-and-a-half-year border war with Ethiopia that erupted in 1998 ended under UN auspices in December 2000. A UN peacekeeping operation was established that monitored a 25 km-wide Temporary Security Zone. The Eritrea-Ethiopia Boundary Commission (EEBC) created in April 2003 was tasked "to delimit and demarcate the colonial treaty border based on pertinent colonial treaties (1900, 1902, and 1908) and applicable international law." The EEBC on 30 November 2007 remotely demarcated the border, assigning the town of Badme to Eritrea, despite Ethiopia's maintaining forces there from the time of the 1998-2000 war. Eritrea insisted that the UN terminate its peacekeeping mission on 31 July 2008. Eritrea has accepted the EEBC's "virtual demarcation" decision and repeatedly called on Ethiopia to remove its troops. Ethiopia has not accepted the demarcation decision, and neither party has entered into meaningful dialogue to resolve the impasse. Eritrea is subject to several UN Security Council Resolutions (from 2009, 2011, and 2012) imposing various military and economic sanctions, in view of evidence that it has supported armed opposition groups in the region.

- ## 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: 117,600 sq km
  land: 101,000 sq km
  water: 16,600 sq km
  country comparison to the world: 101
  Area - comparative:
  slightly larger than Pennsylvania
  Area comparison map:
  Land boundaries:
  total: 1,840 km
  border countries (3): Djibouti 125 km, Ethiopia 1,033 km, Sudan 682 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 Danakil Depression -75 m
  highest point: Soira 3,018 m
  Natural resources:
  gold, potash, zinc, copper, salt, possibly oil and natural gas, fish
  Land use:
  agricultural land: 75.1%
  arable land 6.8%; permanent crops 0%; permanent pasture 68.3%
  forest: 15.1%
  other: 9.8% (2011 est.)
  Irrigated land:
  215.9 sq km (2003)
  Total renewable water resources:
  6.3 cu km (2011)
  Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural):
  total: 0.58 cu km/yr (5%/0%/95%)
  per capita: 121.3 cu m/yr (2004)
  Natural hazards:
  frequent droughts, rare earthquakes and volcanoes; locust swarms
  volcanism: Dubbi (elev. 1,625 m), which last erupted in 1861, was the country's only historically active volcano until Nabro (2,218 m) came to life on 12 June 2011
  Environment - current issues:
  deforestation; desertification; soil erosion; overgrazing; loss of infrastructure from civil warfare
  Environment - international agreements:
  party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Ozone Layer Protection
  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 and Society :: ERITREA

- Nationality:
  noun: Eritrean(s)
  adjective: Eritrean
  Ethnic groups:
  nine recognized ethnic groups: Tigrinya 55%, Tigre 30%, Saho 4%, Kunama 2%, Rashaida 2%, Bilen 2%, other (Afar, Beni Amir, Nera) 5% (2010 est.)
  Languages:
  Tigrinya (official), Arabic (official), English (official), Tigre, Kunama, Afar, other Cushitic languages
  Religions:
  Muslim, Coptic Christian, Roman Catholic, Protestant
  Population:
  6,527,689 (July 2015 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 107
  Age structure:
  0-14 years: 40.25% (male 1,320,752/female 1,306,357)
  15-24 years: 20.43% (male 665,900/female 667,509)
  25-54 years: 31.86% (male 1,031,391/female 1,048,303)
  55-64 years: 3.73% (male 104,004/female 139,637)
  65 years and over: 3.74% (male 104,513/female 139,323) (2015 est.)
  population pyramid:
  Dependency ratios:
  total dependency ratio: 83.2%
  youth dependency ratio: 78.4%
  elderly dependency ratio: 4.8%
  potential support ratio: 20.7% (2015 est.)
  Median age:
  total: 19.3 years
  male: 19 years
  female: 19.7 years (2015 est.)
  Population growth rate:
  2.25% (2015 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 36
  Birth rate:
  30 births/1,000 population (2015 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 41
  Death rate:
  7.52 deaths/1,000 population (2015 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 113
  Net migration rate:
  0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2015 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 98
  Urbanization:
  urban population: 22.6% of total population (2015)
  rate of urbanization: 5.11% annual rate of change (2010-15 est.)
  Major urban areas - population:
  ASMARA (capital) 804,000 (2015)
  Sex ratio:
  at birth: 1.03 male(s)/female
  0-14 years: 1.01 male(s)/female
  15-24 years: 1 male(s)/female
  25-54 years: 0.98 male(s)/female
  55-64 years: 0.75 male(s)/female
  65 years and over: 0.75 male(s)/female
  total population: 0.98 male(s)/female (2015 est.)
  Maternal mortality rate:
  501 deaths/100,000 live births (2015 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 46
  Infant mortality rate:
  total: 37.53 deaths/1,000 live births
  male: 42.59 deaths/1,000 live births
  female: 32.31 deaths/1,000 live births (2015 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 56
  Life expectancy at birth:
  total population: 63.81 years
  male: 61.65 years
  female: 66.03 years (2015 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 184
  Total fertility rate:
  4.02 children born/woman (2015 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 37
  Health expenditures:
  3% of GDP (2013)
  country comparison to the world: 184
  Hospital bed density:
  0.7 beds/1,000 population (2011)
  Drinking water source:
  improved:
  urban: 73.2% of population
  rural: 53.3% of population
  total: 57.8% of population
  unimproved:
  urban: 26.8% of population
  rural: 46.7% of population
  total: 42.2% of population (2015 est.)
  Sanitation facility access:
  improved:
  urban: 44.5% of population
  rural: 7.3% of population
  total: 15.7% of population
  unimproved:
  urban: 55.5% of population
  rural: 92.7% of population
  total: 84.3% of population (2015 est.)
  HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
  0.68% (2014 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 56
  HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
  16,100 (2014 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 86
  HIV/AIDS - deaths:
  700 (2014 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 78
  Major infectious diseases:
  degree of risk: high
  food or waterborne diseases: bacterial diarrhea, hepatitis A, and typhoid fever
  vectorborne diseases: malaria and dengue fever (2013)
  Obesity - adult prevalence rate:
  3.4% (2014)
  country comparison to the world: 188
  Children under the age of 5 years underweight:
  38.8% (2010)
  country comparison to the world: 7
  Education expenditures:
  2.1% of GDP (2006)
  country comparison to the world: 165
  Literacy:
  definition: age 15 and over can read and write
  total population: 73.8%
  male: 82.4%
  female: 65.5% (2015 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
  etymology: the country name derives from the ancient Greek appellation "Erythra Thalassa" meaning Red Sea, which is the major water body bordering the country
  Government type:
  authoritarian presidential regime
  Capital:
  name: Asmara (Asmera)
  geographic coordinates: 15 20 N, 38 56 E
  time difference: UTC+3 (8 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)
  Administrative divisions:
  6 regions (zobatat, singular - zoba); Anseba, Debub (South), 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 (1991)
  Constitution:
  adopted 23 May 1997 (not fully implemented); note - in mid-2014, the president announced plans to draft a new constitution (2015)
  Legal system:
  mixed legal system of civil, customary, and Islamic religious law
  International law organization participation:
  has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration; non-party state to the ICCt
  Citizenship:
  citizenship by birth: no
  citizenship by descent only: at least one parent must be a citizen of Eritrea
  dual citizenship recognized: no
  residency requirement for naturalization: 20 years
  Suffrage:
  18 years of age; universal
  Executive branch:
  chief of state: President ISAIAS Afworki (since 8 June 1993); note - the president is both 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 appointed by the president
  elections/appointments: president indirectly elected by the National Assembly for a 5-year term (eligible for a second term); the only election was held on 8 June 1993, following independence from Ethiopia (next election postponed indefinitely)
  election results: ISAIAS Afworki elected president by the transitional National Assembly; percent of National Assembly vote - ISAIAS Afworki (PFDJ) 95%, other 5%
  Legislative branch:
  description: unicameral National Assembly or Hagerawi Baito (150 seats; 75 members indirectly elected by the ruling party and 75 directly elected by simple majority vote; members serve 5-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 form 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 due to the war with Ethiopia
  Judicial branch:
  highest court(s): High Court (consists of 20 judges and organized into civil, commercial, criminal, labor, administrative, and customary sections)
  judge selection and term of office: High Court judges appointed by the president
  subordinate courts: regional/zonal courts; community courts; special courts; sharia courts (for issues dealing with Muslim marriage, inheritance, and family); military 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 never debated or voted on it
  Political pressure groups and leaders:
  Democratic Movement for the Liberation of Eritrean Kunama or DMLEK
  Eritrean Democratic Alliance or EDA
  Eritrean Islamic Party for Justice and Development or EIPJD (includes the Eritrean Islamic Jihad (EIJ), Eritrean Islamic Jihad Movement (EIJM), Eritrean Islamic Salvation, and the Eritrean Islamic Foundation)
  Eritrean National Congress for Democratic Change or ENCDC
  Eritrean National Salvation Front or ENSF
  Eritrean People's Democratic Party or EPDP
  Red Sea Afar Democratic Organization or RSADO
  International organization participation:
  ACP, AfDB, AU, COMESA, FAO, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC (NGOs), IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS (observer), ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, ISO (correspondent), ITU, ITUC (NGOs), LAS (observer), MIGA, NAM, OPCW, PCA, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WFTU (NGOs), WHO, WIPO, WMO
  Diplomatic representation in the US:
  chief of mission: Ambassador (vacant); Charge d'Affaires BERHANE Gebrehiwet Solomon (since 15 March 2011)
  chancery: 1708 New Hampshire Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20009
  telephone: [1] (202) 319-1991
  FAX: [1] (202) 319-1304
  consulate(s) general: San Francisco
  Diplomatic representation from the US:
  chief of mission: Ambassador (vacant); Charge d'Affaires Louis MAZEL (since 10 July 2014)
  embassy: 179 Ala 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; green stands for the country's agriculture economy, red signifies the blood shed in the fight for freedom, and blue symbolizes the bounty of the sea; the wreath-olive branch symbol is similar to that on the first flag of Eritrea from 1952; the shape of the red triangle broadly mimics the shape of the country
  note: one of several flags where a prominent component of the design reflects the shape of the country; other such flags are those of Bosnia and Herzegovina, Brazil, and Vanuatu
  National symbol(s):
  camel; national colors: green, red, blue
  National anthem:
  name: "Ertra, Ertra, Ertra" (Eritrea, Eritrea, Eritrea)
  lyrics/music: SOLOMON Tsehaye Beraki/Isaac Abraham MEHAREZGI and ARON Tekle Tesfatsion
  note: adopted 1993; upon independence from Ethiopia

- ## Economy :: ERITREA

- Economy - overview:
  Since formal independence from Ethiopia in 1993, Eritrea has faced many economic problems, including lack of resources and chronic drought, which have been exacerbated by 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, a large share of the population - nearly 80% - is engaged in subsistence agriculture, but the sector only produces a small share of the country's total output. Since the conclusion of the Ethiopian-Eritrea war in 2000, the government has expanded use of military and party-owned businesses to complete President ISAIAS's development agenda. The government has strictly controlled the use of foreign currency by limiting access and availability; new regulations in 2013 aimed at relaxing currency controls have had little economic effect. Few large private enterprises exist in Eritrea and most operate in conjunction with government partners, including a number of large international mining ventures that have recently begun production. While reliable statistics on food security are difficult to obtain, erratic rainfall and the percentage of the labor force tied up in national service continue to interfere with agricultural production and economic development. Eritrea's harvests generally cannot meet the food needs of the country without supplemental grain purchases. Copper, potash, and gold production is likely to drive economic growth over the next few years, but military spending will continue to compete with development and investment plans. Eritrea's economic future will depend on market reform, international sanctions, global food prices, and success at addressing social problems such refugee emigration.
  GDP (purchasing power parity):
  $7.842 billion (2014 est.)
  $7.711 billion (2013 est.)
  $7.61 billion (2012 est.)
  note: data are in 2014 US dollars
  country comparison to the world: 163
  GDP (official exchange rate):
  $3.858 billion (2014 est.)
  GDP - real growth rate:
  1.7% (2014 est.)
  1.3% (2013 est.)
  7% (2012 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 162
  GDP - per capita (PPP):
  $1,200 (2014 est.)
  $1,200 (2013 est.)
  $1,200 (2012 est.)
  note: data are in 2014 US dollars
  country comparison to the world: 220
  Gross national saving:
  2.4% of GDP (2014 est.)
  4% of GDP (2013 est.)
  5.9% of GDP (2012 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 170
  GDP - composition, by end use:
  household consumption: 91.5%
  government consumption: 22.8%
  investment in fixed capital: 15.7%
  investment in inventories: -15.3%
  exports of goods and services: 10.1%
  imports of goods and services: -24.8%
  (2014 est.)
  GDP - composition, by sector of origin:
  agriculture: 12.3%
  industry: 28.7%
  services: 59% (2014 est.)
  Agriculture - products:
  sorghum, lentils, vegetables, corn, cotton, tobacco, sisal; livestock, goats; fish
  Industries:
  food processing, beverages, clothing and textiles, light manufacturing, salt, cement
  Industrial production growth rate:
  6.5% (2014 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 26
  Labor force:
  3.155 million (2014 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 102
  Labor force - by occupation:
  agriculture: 80%
  industry and services: 20% (2004 est.)
  Unemployment rate:
  8.6% (2013 est.)
  10% (2012 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 98
  Population below poverty line:
  50% (2004 est.)
  Household income or consumption by percentage share:
  lowest 10%: NA%
  highest 10%: NA%
  Budget:
  revenues: $1.145 billion
  expenditures: $1.639 billion (2014 est.)
  Taxes and other revenues:
  29.7% of GDP (2014 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 88
  Budget surplus (+) or deficit (-):
  -12.8% of GDP (2014 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 214
  Public debt:
  125.3% of GDP (2014 est.)
  126% of GDP (2013 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 8
  Fiscal year:
  calendar year
  Inflation rate (consumer prices):
  12.3% (2014 est.)
  12.3% (2013 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 216
  Commercial bank prime lending rate:
  NA%
  Stock of narrow money:
  $2.129 billion (31 December 2014 est.)
  $1.843 billion (31 December 2013 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 127
  Stock of broad money:
  $4.494 billion (31 December 2014 est.)
  $3.983 billion (31 December 2013 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 134
  Stock of domestic credit:
  $4.052 billion (31 December 2014 est.)
  $3.647 billion (31 December 2013 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 126
  Current account balance:
  -$35 million (2014 est.)
  $12 million (2013 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 73
  Exports:
  $504.9 million (2014 est.)
  $462 million (2013 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 173
  Exports - commodities:
  gold and other minerals, livestock, sorghum, textiles, food, small manufactures
  Imports:
  $1.15 billion (2014 est.)
  $1.028 billion (2013 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 177
  Imports - commodities:
  machinery, petroleum products, food, manufactured goods
  Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:
  $247.8 million (31 December 2015 est.)
  $218.9 million (31 December 2014 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 159
  Debt - external:
  $955.6 million (31 December 2014 est.)
  $945.2 million (31 December 2013 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 165
  Exchange rates:
  nakfa (ERN) per US dollar -
  15.375 (2014 est.)
  15.375 (2013 est.)
  15.375 (2012 est.)
  15.375 (2011 est.)
  15.375 (2010 est.)

- ## Energy :: ERITREA

- Electricity - production:
  338 million kWh (2012 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 170
  Electricity - consumption:
  284 million kWh (2012 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 182
  Electricity - exports:
  0 kWh (2013 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 135
  Electricity - imports:
  0 kWh (2013 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 145
  Electricity - installed generating capacity:
  140,800 kW (2012 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 167
  Electricity - from fossil fuels:
  98.7% of total installed capacity (2012 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 51
  Electricity - from nuclear fuels:
  0% of total installed capacity (2012 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 87
  Electricity - from hydroelectric plants:
  0% of total installed capacity (2012 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 171
  Electricity - from other renewable sources:
  1.3% of total installed capacity (2012 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 91
  Crude oil - production:
  0 bbl/day (2014 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 130
  Crude oil - exports:
  0 bbl/day (2012 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 119
  Crude oil - imports:
  0 bbl/day (2012 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 186
  Crude oil - proved reserves:
  0 bbl (1 January 2015 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 129
  Refined petroleum products - production:
  0 bbl/day (2012 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 178
  Refined petroleum products - consumption:
  3,500 bbl/day (2013 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 178
  Refined petroleum products - exports:
  0 bbl/day (2012 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 175
  Refined petroleum products - imports:
  3,500 bbl/day (2012 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 170
  Natural gas - production:
  0 cu m (2013 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 182
  Natural gas - consumption:
  0 cu m (2013 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 139
  Natural gas - exports:
  0 cu m (2013 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 93
  Natural gas - imports:
  0 cu m (2013 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 192
  Natural gas - proved reserves:
  0 cu m (1 January 2014 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 134
  Carbon dioxide emissions from consumption of energy:
  739,500 Mt (2012 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 173

- ## Communications :: ERITREA

- Telephones - fixed lines:
  total subscriptions: 64,000
  subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 1 (2014 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 154
  Telephones - mobile cellular:
  total: 417,400
  subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 7 (2014 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 172
  Telephone system:
  general assessment: inadequate; most fixed-line telephones are in Asmara; government is seeking international tenders to improve the system; cell phones in increasing use throughout the country
  domestic: combined fixed-line and mobile-cellular subscribership is less than 5 per 100 persons
  international: country code - 291 (2011)
  Broadcast media:
  government controls broadcast media with private ownership prohibited; 1 state-owned TV station; state-owned radio operates 2 networks; purchases of satellite dishes and subscriptions to international broadcast media are permitted (2007)
  Radio broadcast stations:
  AM 2, FM NA, shortwave 2 (2000)
  Television broadcast stations:
  2 (2006)
  Internet country code:
  .er
  Internet users:
  total: 58,100
  percent of population: 0.91% (2014 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 180

- ## Transportation :: ERITREA

- Airports:
  13 (2013)
  country comparison to the world: 151
  Airports - with paved runways:
  total: 4
  over 3,047 m: 2
  2,438 to 3,047 m: 2 (2013)
  Airports - with unpaved runways:
  total: 9
  over 3,047 m: 1
  2,438 to 3,047 m: 1
  1,524 to 2,437 m: 5
  914 to 1,523 m: 2 (2013)
  Heliports:
  1 (2013)
  Railways:
  total: 306 km
  narrow gauge: 306 km 0.950-m gauge (2014)
  country comparison to the world: 120
  Roadways:
  total: 4,010 km
  paved: 874 km
  unpaved: 3,136 km (2000)
  country comparison to the world: 159
  Merchant marine:
  total: 4
  by type: cargo 2, petroleum tanker 1, roll on/roll off 1 (2010)
  country comparison to the world: 129
  Ports and terminals:
  major seaport(s): Assab, Massawa

- ## Military :: ERITREA

- Military branches:
  Eritrean Armed Forces: Eritrean Ground Forces, Eritrean Navy, Eritrean Air Force (includes Air Defense Force) (2011)
  Military service age and obligation:
  18-40 years of age for male and female voluntary and compulsory military service; 16-month conscript service obligation (2012)
  Manpower available for military service:
  males age 16-49: 1,350,446
  females age 16-49: 1,362,575 (2010 est.)
  Manpower fit for military service:
  males age 16-49: 896,096
  females age 16-49: 953,757 (2010 est.)
  Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually:
  male: 66,829
  female: 66,731 (2010 est.)

- ## Transnational Issues :: ERITREA

- 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; Sudan accuses Eritrea of supporting eastern Sudanese rebel groups; in 2008, Eritrean troops moved across the border on Ras Doumera peninsula and occupied Doumera Island with undefined sovereignty in the Red Sea
  Trafficking in persons:
  current situation: Eritrea is a source country for men, women, and children trafficked for forced labor domestically and, to a lesser extent, sex and labor trafficking abroad; the country’s national service program is often abused to keep conscripts indefinitely and to force them to perform labor outside the scope of their duties; each year large numbers of migrants, often fleeing national service, depart Eritrea in search of work in Ethiopia, Sudan, Djibouti, and Yemen, where some are likely to become victims of forced labor; Eritrean children working in various economic sectors, including domestic service, workshops, and agriculture may be subjected to forced labor; some Eritrean refugees in Sudanese camps are held for ransom in the Sinai Peninsula, where they are forced to work and are abused
  tier rating: Tier 3 – Eritrea does not fully comply with the minimum standards for the elimination of trafficking and is not making significant efforts to do so; the Eritrean Government does not operate with transparency and reported no data in 2013 regarding its efforts to combat human trafficking; no investigations, prosecutions, or convictions of any traffickers were reported, and few efforts were made to identify or to refer any victims to protective services; authorities largely lacked an understanding of human trafficking, conflating it with all forms of transnational migration; the government continued to warn its citizens of the dangers of human trafficking; Eritrea is not a party to the 2000 UN TIP Protocol (2014)

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