1998 Edition

Area

total: 121,320 sq km land: 121,320 sq km water: 0 sq km

Area-comparative

slightly larger than Pennsylvania

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 on coastal desert

Coastline

2,234 km total; mainland on Red Sea 1,151 km, islands in Red Sea 1,083 km

Elevation extremes

lowest point: Kobar Sink -75 m highest point: Soira 3,013 m

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

Geographic coordinates

15 00 N, 39 00 E

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 27 April 1993

Irrigated land

280 sq km (1993 est.)

Land boundaries

total: 1,630 km border countries: Djibouti 113 km, Ethiopia 912 km, Sudan 605 km

Land use

arable land: 12% permanent crops: 1% permanent pastures: 48% forests and woodland: 20% other: 19% (1993 est.)

Location

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

Map references

Africa

Maritime claims

NA

Natural hazards

frequent droughts

Natural resources

gold, potash, zinc, copper, salt, probably oil and natural gas (petroleum geologists are prospecting for it), fish

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

Age structure

0-14 years: 43% (male 826,686; female 818,323) 15-64 years: 54% (male 1,026,922; female 1,042,156) 65 years and over: 3% (male 66,222; female 62,127) (July 1998 est.)

Birth rate

42.52 births/1,000 population (1998 est.)

Death rate

12.57 deaths/1,000 population (1998 est.)

Ethnic groups

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

Infant mortality rate

78.51 deaths/1,000 live births (1998 est.)

Languages

Afar, Amharic, Arabic, Tigre and Kunama, Tigrinya, minor ethnic group languages

Life expectancy at birth

total population: 55.31 years male: 53.19 years female: 57.51 years (1998 est.)

Literacy

NA

Nationality

noun: Eritrean(s) adjective: Eritrean

Net migration rate

3.9 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1998 est.) note: it is estimated that between 200,000 and 350,000 Eritrean refugees were still living in Sudan in mid-1997

Population

3,842,436 (July 1998 est.)

Population growth rate

3.39% (1998 est.)

Religions

Muslim, Coptic Christian, Roman Catholic, Protestant

Sex ratio

at birth: 1.03 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1.01 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 0.98 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 1.06 male(s)/female (1998 est.)

Total fertility rate

5.99 children born/woman (1998 est.)

Administrative divisions

8 provinces (singular-awraja); Akele Guzay, Barka, Denkel, Hamasen, Sahil, Semhar, Senhit, Seraye note: in May 1995 the National Assembly adopted a resolution stating that the administrative structure of Eritrea, which had been established by former colonial powers, would consist of only six provinces when the new constitution, then being drafted, would go into effect some time in 1998; the new provinces, the names of which had not been recommended by the US Board on Geographic Names for recognition by the US government, pending acceptable definition of the boundaries, were: Anseba, Debub, Debubawi Keyih Bahri, Gash-Barka, Maakel, and Semanawi Keyih Bahri; more recently, it has been reported that these provinces have been redesignated regions and renamed Southern Red Sea, Northern Red Sea, Anseba, Gash-Barka, Southern, and Central

Constitution

the transitional constitution, decreed on 19 May 1993, was replaced by a new constitution that was promulgated in May 1997

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

Data code

ER

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 head of government: President ISAIAS Afworki (since 8 June 1993); note-the president is both the chief of state and head of government cabinet: State Council is the collective executive authority note: the president is head of the State Council and National Assembly elections: president elected by the National Assembly; election last held 8 June 1993 (next to be held NA) election results: ISAIAS Afworki elected president; percent of National Assembly vote - ISAIAS Afworki 95%

FAX

[1] (202) 319-1304 Diplomatic representation from the US: chief of mission: Ambassador-designate William CLARK embassy: Franklin D. Roosevelt Street, Asmara mailing address: P.O. Box 211, Asmara telephone: [291] (1) 120004

[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

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 Peoples' 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

Independence

27 May 1993 (from Ethiopia; formerly the Eritrea Autonomous Region)

International organization participation

ACP, AfDB, CCC, ECA, FAO, IBRD, ICAO, ICFTU, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IGAD, ILO, IMF, IMO, Intelsat (nonsignatory user), ITU, NAM, OAU, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO Diplomatic representation in the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Semere RUSSOM chancery: 1708 New Hampshire Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20009 telephone: [1] (202) 319-1991

Judicial branch

Judiciary the Supreme Court; 10 provincial courts; 29 district courts Political parties and leaders: People's Front for Democracy and Justice or PFDJ, the only party recognized by the government [ISAIAS Afworki, PETROS Solomon] Political pressure groups and leaders: Eritrean Islamic Jihad or EIJ; Eritrean Liberation Front or ELF [ABDULLAH Muhammed]; Eritrean Liberation Front-United Organization or ELF-UO [Mohammed Said NAWUD]; Eritrean Liberation Front-Revolutionary Council or ELF-RC [Ahmed NASSER]

Legal system

NA

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 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 country-wide elections to a National Assembly are held in 1998; only 75 members will be elected to the National Assembly-the other 75 will be members of the Central Committee of the PFDJ

National capital

Asmara (formerly Asmera)

National holiday

National Day (independence from Ethiopia), 24 May (1993)

Suffrage

NA; note-the transitional constitution of 19 May 1993 did not provide rules for suffrage, but it seems likely that the final version of the constitution, which may be promulgated some time in 1998, will follow the example set in the referendum of 1993 and extend suffrage to all persons 18 years of age or older

Agriculture-products

sorghum, lentils, vegetables, maize, cotton, tobacco, coffee, sisal (for making rope); livestock (including goats); fish

Budget

revenues: $226 million expenditures: $453 million, including capital expenditures of $88 million (1996 est.)

Currency

1 nafka = 100 cents

Debt-external

$162 million (1995 est.)

Economic aid

recipient: ODA, $NA

Economy-overview

With independence from Ethiopia on 27 April 1993, Eritrea faced the bitter economic problems of a small, desperately poor African country. The economy is largely based on subsistence agriculture, with over 70% of the population involved in farming and herding. The small industrial sector consists mainly of light industries with outmoded technologies. Domestic output (GDP) is substantially augmented by worker remittances from abroad. Government revenues come from custom duties and taxes on income and sales. Road construction is a top domestic priority. Eritrea has inherited the entire coastline of Ethiopia and has long-term prospects for revenues from the development of offshore oil fields, offshore fishing, and tourism. Eritrea's economic future depends on its ability to master fundamental social and economic problems, e.g., overcoming illiteracy, promoting job creation, expanding technical training, attracting foreign investment, and streamlining the bureaucracy.

Electricity-capacity

73,000 kW (1995)

Electricity-consumption per capita

NA kWh

Electricity-production

NA kWh

Exchange rates

nakfa per US$1 = 7.2 (March 1998 est.) note: following independence from Ethiopia, Eritrea continued to use Ethiopian currency until late in 1997 when Eritrea issued its own currency, the nakfa, at approximately the same rate as the birr, i.e., 7.2 nakfa per US$1

Exports

total value: $71 million (1996 est.) commodities: livestock, sorghum, textiles, food, small manufactures partners: Ethiopia 67%, Sudan 10%, Saudi Arabia 4%, US 3%, Italy, Yemen (1996)

Fiscal year

calendar year Communications

GDP

purchasing power parity-$2.2 billion (1996 est.)

GDP-composition by sector

agriculture: 18% industry: 20% services: 62% (1995 est.)

GDP-per capita

purchasing power parity-$600 (1996 est.)

GDP-real growth rate

6.8% (1996 est.)

Imports

total value: $499 million (1996 est.) commodities: processed goods, machinery, petroleum products partners: Ethiopia, Saudi Arabia, Italy, United Arab Emirates

Industrial production growth rate

NA%

Industries

food processing, beverages, clothing and textiles

Inflation rate-consumer price index

4% (1997 est.)

Labor force

NA

Radio broadcast stations

AM NA, FM NA, shortwave 0

Radios

NA

Telephone system

domestic: very inadequate; about 4 telephones per 100 families, most of which are in Asmara; government is seeking international tenders to improve the system international: NA

Telephones

NA

Television broadcast stations

1 (government controlled)

Televisions

NA

Unemployment rate

NA%

Airports

20 (1997 est.) Airports-with paved runways: total: 2 over 3,047 m: 1 2,438 to 3,047 m: 1 (1997 est.) Airports-with unpaved runways: total: 18 over 3,047 m: 2 2,438 to 3,047 m: 2 1,524 to 2,437 m: 5 914 to 1,523 m: 6 under 914 m: 3 (1997 est.)

Highways

total: 4,010 km paved: 874 km unpaved: 3,136 km (1996 est.) Ports and harbors: Assab (Aseb), Massawa (Mits'iwa)

Merchant marine

total: 2 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 5,516 GRT/5,747 DWT ships by type: oil tanker 1, roll-on/roll-off cargo 1 (1997 est.)

Railways

total: 307 km narrow gauge: 307 km 0.950-m gauge (1995 est.) note: nonoperational since 1978 except for about a 5 km stretch that was reopened in Massawa in 1994; rehabilitation of the remainder and of the rolling stock is under way; links Ak'ordat and Asmara (formerly Asmera) with the port of Massawa (formerly Mits'iwa)

Military branches

Army, Navy, Air Force

Military expenditures-dollar figure

$40 million (1995)

Military expenditures-percent of GDP

NA%

Disputes-international

a dispute with Yemen over sovereignty of the Hanish Islands in the southern Red Sea has been submitted to arbitration under the auspices of the ICJ; a decision on the Islands is expected in mid-1998