Eritrea
Introduction Geography People Government Economy Communications Transportation Military Transnational Issues
Introduction	Back To Top
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 (TSZ) 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. On 30 November 2007, the Eritrea-Ethiopia Boundary Commission remotely demarcated the border by coordinates and dissolved itself, leaving Ethiopia still occupying several tracts of disputed territory, including the town of Badme. Eritrea accepted the EEBC's "virtual demarcation" decision and called on Ethiopia to remove its troops from the TSZ which it states is Eritrean territory. Ethiopia has not accepted the virtual demarcation decision.
Geography	Back To Top
Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural): total: 0.3 cu km/yr (3%/0%/97%) per capita: 68 cu m/yr (2000) Total renewable water resources: 6.3 cu km (2001) Land boundaries: total: 1,626 km border countries: Djibouti 109 km, Ethiopia 912 km, Sudan 605 km 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 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 Map references: Africa Geographic coordinates: 15 00 N, 39 00 E Natural resources: gold, potash, zinc, copper, salt, possibly oil and natural gas, fish Elevation extremes: lowest point: near Kulul within the Denakil depression -75 m highest point: Soira 3,018 m 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 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 Area: total: 121,320 sq km land: 121,320 sq km water: 0 sq km Location: Eastern Africa, bordering the Red Sea, between Djibouti and Sudan Coastline: 2,234 km (mainland on Red Sea 1,151 km, islands in Red Sea 1,083 km) Area - comparative: slightly larger than Pennsylvania Irrigated land: 210 sq km (2003) Environment - current issues: deforestation; desertification; soil erosion; overgrazing; loss of infrastructure from civil warfare Maritime claims: territorial sea: 12 nm Natural hazards: frequent droughts; locust swarms Land use: arable land: 4.78% permanent crops: 0.03% other: 95.19% (2005)
People	Back To Top
Total fertility rate: 4.84 children born/woman (2008 est.) Sex ratio: at birth: 1.03 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1.01 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 0.96 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.85 male(s)/female total population: 0.98 male(s)/female (2008 est.) HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate: 2.7% (2003 est.) HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS: 60,000 (2003 est.) Life expectancy at birth: total population: 61.38 years male: 59.35 years female: 63.46 years (2008 est.) Major infectious diseases: degree of risk: high food or waterborne diseases: bacterial diarrhea, hepatitis A, and typhoid fever vectorborne disease: malaria (2008) Literacy: definition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 58.6% male: 69.9% female: 47.6% (2003 est.) Net migration rate: NA (2008 est.) Ethnic groups: Tigrinya 50%, Tigre and Kunama 40%, Afar 4%, Saho (Red Sea coast dwellers) 3%, other 3% Median age: total: 18.3 years male: 17.9 years female: 18.7 years (2008 est.) Population: 5,502,026 (July 2008 est.) Education expenditures: 2.4% of GDP (2006) Population growth rate: 2.631% (2008 est.) Languages: Afar, Arabic, Tigre and Kunama, Tigrinya, other Cushitic languages Death rate: 8.63 deaths/1,000 population (2008 est.) Infant mortality rate: total: 44.34 deaths/1,000 live births male: 50.09 deaths/1,000 live births female: 38.42 deaths/1,000 live births (2008 est.) HIV/AIDS - deaths: 6,300 (2003 est.) School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education): total: 5 years male: 6 years female: 4 years (2004) Age structure: 0-14 years: 43% (male 1,188,496/female 1,178,520) 15-64 years: 53.4% (male 1,437,653/female 1,502,449) 65 years and over: 3.5% (male 89,634/female 105,274) (2008 est.) Birth rate: 34.94 births/1,000 population (2008 est.) Religions: Muslim, Coptic Christian, Roman Catholic, Protestant Nationality: noun: Eritrean(s) adjective: Eritrean
Government	Back To Top
Diplomatic representation from the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Ronald MCMULLEN embassy: 179 Ala Street, Asmara mailing address: P. O. Box 211, Asmara telephone: [291] (1) 120004 FAX: [291] (1) 127584 National holiday: Independence Day, 24 May (1993) Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal 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) Political pressure groups and leaders: Eritrean Democratic Party (EDP) [HAGOS, Mesfin]; Eritrean Islamic Jihad or EIJ (includes 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] Diplomatic representation in the US: chief of mission: Ambassador GHIRMAI Ghebremariam chancery: 1708 New Hampshire Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20009 telephone: [1] (202) 319-1991 FAX: [1] (202) 319-1304 consulate(s) general: Oakland (California) International organization participation: ACP, AfDB, AU, COMESA, FAO, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICCt (signatory), IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS (observer), ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, ISO (correspondent), ITU, ITUC, LAS (observer), MIGA, NAM, OPCW, PCA, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO 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 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 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 Independence: 24 May 1993 (from Ethiopia) Country name (Goverment): 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 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 yet to debate or vote on it 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) Constitution: a transitional constitution, decreed on 19 May 1993, was replaced by a new constitution adopted on 23 May 1997, but not yet implemented 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% 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) Judicial branch: High Court - regional, subregional, and village courts; also have military and special courts
Economy	Back To Top
Exports - partners: Italy 34.4%, China 16.2%, Sudan 15.2%, France 9.4%, Saudi Arabia 5.2%, Australia 4.4% (2007) Electricity - consumption: 216 million kWh (2006 est.) Electricity - imports: 0 kWh (2007 est.) Current account balance: -$247 million (2008 est.) Debt - external: $311 million (2000 est.) Unemployment rate: NA% Oil - exports: 54.74 bbl/day (2005) GDP - per capita (PPP): $700 (2008 est.) Investment (gross fixed): 21.2% of GDP (2008 est.) Stock of domestic credit: $1.711 billion (31 December 2007) GDP (purchasing power parity): $3.965 billion (2008 est.) GDP (official exchange rate): $1.479 billion (2008 est.) Exchange rates: nakfa (ERN) per US dollar - 15.38 (2008 est.), 15.5 (2007), 15.4 (2006), 14.5 (2005), 13.788 (2004) note: the official exchange rate is 15 nakfa to the dollar GDP - real growth rate: 2% (2008 est.) Stock of money: $749.1 million (31 December 2007) Labor force: NA Imports - partners: Saudi Arabia 19.1%, Italy 15.1%, China 11.1%, Turkey 8.3%, Germany 7.2%, Ukraine 5.1% (2007) Inflation rate (consumer prices): 18% (2008 est.) GDP - composition by sector: agriculture: 17.4% industry: 23.2% services: 59.4% (2008 est.) Oil - imports: 4,924 bbl/day (2005) Exports: $14 million f.o.b. (2008 est.) Natural gas - consumption: 0 cu m (2007 est.) Currency (code): nakfa (ERN) 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. 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. The government continues to place its hope for additional revenue on the development of several international mining projects. Despite difficulties for international companies in working with the Eritrean government, a Canadian mining company signed a contract with the GSE in 2007 and plans to begin mineral extraction in 2010. Eritrea also opened a free trade zone at the port of Massawa in 2008. 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. Natural gas - exports: 0 cu m (2007 est.) Imports - commodities: machinery, petroleum products, food, manufactured goods Industries: food processing, beverages, clothing and textiles, light manufacturing, salt, cement Electricity - exports: 0 kWh (2007 est.) Population below poverty line: 50% (2004 est.) Stock of quasi money: $932.9 million (31 December 2007) Electricity - production: 253 million kWh (2006 est.) Imports: $601 million f.o.b. (2008 est.) Oil - proved reserves: 0 bbl (1 January 2006 est.) Labor force - by occupation: agriculture: 80% industry and services: 20% (2004 est.) Natural gas - proved reserves: 0 cu m (1 January 2006 est.) Reserves of foreign exchange and gold: $27 million (31 December 2008 est.) Oil - consumption: 5,186 bbl/day (2006 est.) Currency code: ERN Household income or consumption by percentage share: lowest 10%: NA% highest 10%: NA% Exports - commodities: livestock, sorghum, textiles, food, small manufactures Economic aid - recipient: $355.2 million (2005) Electricity - production by source: fossil fuel: 100% hydro: 0% nuclear: 0% other: 0% (2001) Natural gas - imports: 0 cu m (2007 est.) Natural gas - production: 0 cu m (2007 est.) Budget: revenues: $234.5 million expenditures: $523.1 million (2008 est.) Fiscal year: calendar year Oil - production: 0 bbl/day (2007 est.)
Communications	Back To Top
Internet users: 120,000 (2007) Telephones - main lines in use: 37,500 (2006) Televisions: 1,000 (1997) Internet country code: .er Radio broadcast stations: AM 2, FM NA, shortwave 2 (2000) Radios: 345,000 (1997) Telephones - mobile cellular: 70,000 (2007) Television broadcast stations: 2 (2006) Telephone system: general assessment: inadequate; combined fixed-line and mobile cellular subscribership is only about 2 per 100 persons 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 Internet Service Providers (ISPs): 5 (2001) Internet hosts: 1,074 (2008)
Transportation	Back To Top
Railways: total: 306 km narrow gauge: 306 km 0.950-m gauge (2006) Ports and terminals: Assab, Massawa Heliports: 1 (2007) Merchant marine: total: 5 by type: cargo 2, liquefied gas 1, petroleum tanker 1, roll on/roll off 1 (2008) Airports - with paved runways: total: 4 over 3,047 m: 2 2,438 to 3,047 m: 2 (2007) Roadways: total: 4,010 km paved: 874 km unpaved: 3,136 km (2000) Airports - with unpaved runways: total: 14 over 3,047 m: 1 2,438 to 3,047 m: 1 1,524 to 2,437 m: 6 914 to 1,523 m: 4 under 914 m: 2 (2007) Airports: 18 (2007)
Military	Back To Top
Military service age and obligation: 18-40 years of age for male and female voluntary and compulsory military service; 16-month conscript service obligation (2006) Manpower available for military service: males age 16-49: 1,108,836 females age 16-49: 1,096,120 (2008 est.) Manpower fit for military service: males age 16-49: 715,531 females age 16-49: 731,511 (2008 est.) Military branches: Eritrean Armed Forces: Ground Forces, Navy, Air Force (2008) Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually: male: 60,490 female: 60,639 (2008 est.) Military expenditures: 6.3% of GDP (2006 est.)
Transnational Issues	Back To Top
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: 32,000 (border war with Ethiopia from 1998-2000; most IDPs are near the central border region) (2007)

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