Eritrea

State of EritreaHagere Ertra

transitional governmentIndependence 24 May 1993 (from Ethiopia)

Eritrea as the 2005 edition of the CIA World Factbook published it: 116 fields, one of 33 editions from 1993 to 2025.

field in that editiontext changed from the edition beforenot in that editionthe open editionEach field below ends in its editions, 1990 to 2025. Point at a year above to follow it down.

CapitalAsmara
Position15 00 N, 39 00 E
Area121,320 sq km
LocationEastern Africa, bordering the Red Sea, between Djibouti and Sudan
2005

Every edition of Eritrea

Populationas each edition published it
4.56 million July 2005 est. · 3.47m in 1993
Population growth% a year
2.51% 2005 est. · 3.46% in 1993
Median ageyears
17.54 years 2005 est. · 17.6 yrs in 2003
Life expectancyyears at birth
58.47 years 2005 est. · 50 yrs in 1995
Fertility ratechildren per woman
5.61 children per woman 2005 est. · 6.53 in 1995
Infant mortalitydeaths per 1,000 live births
74.87 deaths per 1,000 live births 2005 est. · 120.6 in 1995
GDP per capitaeach edition's own dollars
$900 2004 est. · $115 in 1993
GDP real growth% a year
2.5% 2004 est. · 2% in 1995

Introduction

1 field

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

Eastern Africa, bordering the Red Sea, between Djibouti and Sudan

18 fields

Land useshare of 121,320 sq km

arable land 4.95%permanent crops 0.03%other 95.02% (2001)irrigated 220 sq km (1998 est.)
Area
121,320sq km
land: 121,320 sq kmwater: 0 sq kmslightly larger than Pennsylvania
Coastline
2,234km total
mainland on Red Sea 1,151 km, islands in Red Sea 1,083 kmterritorial sea: 12 nm
Highest point
3,018m
Soiralowest point: near Kulul within the Denakil depression -75 m
Land boundaries
1,626km
border countries: Djibouti 109 km, Ethiopia 912 km, Sudan 605 km

Location

Eastern Africa, bordering the Red Sea, between Djibouti and Sudan

Geographic coordinates

15 00 N, 39 00 E

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

Natural resources

gold, potash, zinc, copper, salt, possibly oil and natural gas, fish

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

20 fields

Age structuremale left, female right · (2005 est.)

74,312
65 and over3.3%
78,436
1,170,823
15-6451.9%
1,194,741
1,023,898
0-1444.8%
1,019,389
MaleFemale
Population
4,561,599
(July 2005 est.)growth rate: 2.51% (2005 est.)

Per 1,000 population

Birth
38.62 (2005 est.)Death
13.53 (2005 est.)Net migration
0
Net migration: 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.)

Male · female

TotalMale · femaleLife expectancy years (2005 est.)58.47
56.96 · 60.02Infant mortality deaths/1,000 live births (2005 est.)74.87
82.28 · 67.24
TotalMale · femaleLiteracy (2003 est.)58.6%
69.9% · 47.6%Median age years (2005 est.)17.54
17.35 · 17.73
MaleFemaleLiteracy definition: NA

Ethnic groups

ethnic Tigrinya 50%Tigre and Kunama 40%Afar 4%Saho (Red Sea coast dwellers) 3%other 3%

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.)

Total fertility rate

5.61 children born/woman (2005 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

Religions

Muslim, Coptic Christian, Roman Catholic, Protestant

Languages

Afar, Arabic, Tigre and Kunama, Tigrinya, other Cushitic languages

Government

Transitional government; President ISAIAS Afworki (since 8 June 1993); President ISAIAS Afworki (since 8 June 1993)

18 fields

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

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

Since independence from Ethiopia on 24 May 1993, Eritrea has faced the economic problems of a small, desperately poor country.

37 fields
GDP, purchasing power parity
$4.154billion
(2004 est.)
Real growth rate
2.5%
(2004 est.)industrial production growth: NA

GDP - composition by sector(2004 est.)

agriculture 12.4%industry 25.9%services 61.7% (2004 est.)

Trading partnersexports left, imports right

26.6%
Malaysia
Ireland
26.6%
4.7%
US
18.6%
17.1%
Italy
16.6%
8%
Japan
6.6%
Germany
Turkey
6.4%
5%
China
4.9%
UK
4.4%
France
4.2%
Poland
Exports $64.44 million f.o.b. (2004 est.)Imports $622 million f.o.b. (2004 est.)(2004)

Budget

Revenues
$235.2 millionExpenditures
$373.2 million (2004 est.)
expenditures including capital expenditures of NA

Electricity

Electricity production
246.6 million (2002)Electricity consumption
229.4 million (2002)

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 - per capita

purchasing power parity - $900 (2004 est.)

Labor force - by occupation

agriculture 80%, industry and services 20%

Unemployment rate

NA (2003 est.)

Investment (gross fixed)

26.3% of GDP (2002)

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

Oil - production

0 bbl/day (2001 est.)

Oil - consumption

6,000 bbl/day (2001 est.)

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)

Imports

$622 million f.o.b. (2004 est.)

Imports - commodities

machinery, petroleum products, food, manufactured goods (2000)

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)

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

8 fields
Internet users
1,047
(2004)
Fixed lines
38,100
(2003) · country code .er

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)

Internet users

9,500 (2003)

Transportation

7 fields

Airports by runway lengthpaved left, unpaved right

2
over 3,047 m
1
2
2,438 to 3,047 m
1
1,524 to 2,437 m
5
914 to 1,523 m
4
under 914 m
2
Paved 4Unpaved 13

Networkskm

Highways
4,010Railways
306
Highways: paved: 874 km · unpaved: 3,136 km (1999 est.) · Railways: narrow gauge: 306 km 0.950-m gauge (2004)

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.)

Military

Army, Navy, Air Force

5 fields

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)

Transnational Issues

2 fields

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)

Central Intelligence Agency. “Eritrea.” The World Factbook 2005. Archived by The Factbook, thefactbook.org/eritrea/2005.

How to cite ← 2004 edition 2006 edition →