2000 Edition

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 border war with Ethiopia that erupted in 1998 remains unresolved.

Area

land

121,320 sq km

total

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 in coastal desert

Coastline

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

Elevation extremes

highest point

Soira 3,018 m

lowest point

near Kulul within the Denakil depression -75 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 24 May 1993

Irrigated land

280 sq km (1993 est.)

Land boundaries

border countries

Djibouti 113 km, Ethiopia 912 km, Sudan 605 km

total

1,630 km

Land use

arable land

12%

forests and woodland

6%

other

32% (1998 est.)

permanent crops

1%

permanent pastures

49%

Location

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

Map references

Africa

Maritime claims

NA

Natural hazards

frequent droughts and locust storms

Natural resources

gold, potash, zinc, copper, salt, possibly oil and natural gas, 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 888,573; female 883,939) 15-64 years: 54% (male 1,104,082; female 1,122,683) 65 years and over: 3% (male 69,518; female 67,138) (2000 est.)

Birth rate

42.71 births/1,000 population (2000 est.)

Death rate

12.3 deaths/1,000 population (2000 est.)

Ethnic groups

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

Infant mortality rate

76.66 deaths/1,000 live births (2000 est.)

Languages

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

Life expectancy at birth

female

58.29 years (2000 est.)

male

53.36 years

total population

55.79 years

Literacy

definition

NA

female

NA%

male

NA%

total population

25%

Nationality

adjective

Eritrean

noun

Eritrean(s)

Net migration rate

8.22 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2000 est.)

note

according to the UNHCR, about 150,000 Eritrean refugees in Sudan have registered for voluntary repatriation, following the restoration of diplomatic relations between Eritrea and Sudan in January 2000

Population

4,135,933 (July 2000 est.)

Population growth rate

3.86% (2000 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: 1.04 male(s)/female

total population

0.99 male(s)/female (2000 est.)

Total fertility rate

5.93 children born/woman (2000 est.)

Administrative divisions

8 provinces (singular - awraja); Akale 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, became effective in 1997; the new provinces, the names of which had not been recommended by the US Board on Geographic Names for recognition by the

Capital

Asmara (formerly Asmera)

Constitution

the transitional constitution, decreed on 19 May 1993, was replaced by a new constitution adopted on 23 May 1997, but not yet implemented

Country name

conventional long form

State of Eritrea

conventional short form

Eritrea

former

Eritrea Autonomous Region in Ethiopia

local long form

Hagere Ertra

local short form

Ertra

Data code

ER

Diplomatic representation from the US

chief of mission

Ambassador William D. CLARKE

embassy

Franklin D. Roosevelt Street, Asmara

mailing address

P. O. Box 211, Asmara

telephone

(1) 120004

Diplomatic representation in the US

chancery

1708 New Hampshire Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20009

chief of mission

Ambassador SEMERE Russom

telephone

(202) 319-1991

Executive branch

cabinet

State Council is the collective executive authority

chief of state

President ISAIAS Afworki (since 8 June 1993); note - the president is both the chief of state and head of government

election results

ISAIAS Afworki elected president; percent of National Assembly vote - ISAIAS Afworki 95%

elections

president elected by the National Assembly; election last held 8 June 1993 (next to be held NA)

head of government

President ISAIAS Afworki (since 8 June 1993); note - the president is both the chief of state and head of government

note

the president is head of the State Council and National Assembly

FAX

(202) 319-1304

(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 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 August 1997, did not enter into effect, pending parliamentary and presidential elections; those elections have been postponed indefinitely following the start of the border conflict with Ethiopia

Independence

23-25 April 1993 referendum was held with vote for independence as the outcome; 24 May 1993 (from Ethiopia; formerly the Eritrea Autonomous Region)

International organization participation

ACP, AfDB, CCC, ECA, FAO, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, ICFTU, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IGAD, ILO, IMF, IMO, Intelsat (nonsignatory user), IOC, ITU, NAM, OAU, PCA, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO

Judicial branch

Supreme Court; 10 provincial courts; 29 district courts

Legal system

operates on the basis of transitional laws that incorporate pre-independence statutes of the Eritrean People's Liberation Front, revised Ethiopian laws, customary laws, and post independence enacted laws

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; only 75 members will be elected to the National Assembly - the other 75 will be members of the Central Committee of the PFDJ

National holiday

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

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 ; Eritrean Liberation Front-Revolutionary Council or ELF-RC ; Eritrean Liberation Front-United Organization or ELF-UO [Mohammed Said NAWD]

Suffrage

18 years of age; universal

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

Agriculture - products

sorghum, lentils, vegetables, corn, cotton, tobacco, coffee, sisal; livestock, goats; fish

Budget

expenditures

$351.6 million, including capital expenditures of $NA (1997 est.)

revenues

$283.9 million

Currency

1 nafka = 100 cents

Debt - external

$76 million (1997 est.)

Economic aid - recipient

$123.1 million (1997)

Economy - overview

With independence from Ethiopia on 24 May 1993, Eritrea faced the economic problems of a small, desperately poor country. The economy is largely based on subsistence agriculture, with 80% 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. In the long term, Eritrea may benefit from the development of offshore oil, offshore fishing, and tourism. Eritrea's economic future depends on its ability to master fundamental social and economic problems, e.g., by reducing illiteracy, promoting job creation, expanding technical training, attracting foreign investment, and streamlining the bureaucracy. The most immediate threat to the economy, however, is the possible expansion of the border conflict with Ethiopia, which broke out in May 1998. The hostilities have drained away substantial resources vital to Eritrea's economic development.

Electricity - consumption

177.6 million kWh (1997 est.)

Electricity - exports

0 kWh (1997)

Electricity - imports

0 kWh (1997)

Electricity - production

177.6 million kWh (1997 est.)

Electricity - production by source

fossil fuel

100%

hydro

0%

nuclear

0%

other

0% (1997 est.)

Exchange rates

nakfa per US$1 = 9.5 (January 2000), 7.6 (January 1999), 7.2 (March 1998 est.)

Exports

$52.9 million (f.o.b., 1997)

Exports - commodities

livestock, sorghum, textiles, food, small manufactures

Exports - partners

Ethiopia 64%, Sudan 17%, Italy 5%, Saudi Arabia 2%, US, Yemen (1997)

Fiscal year

calendar year

GDP

purchasing power parity - $2.9 billion (1999 est.)

GDP - composition by sector

agriculture

18%

industry

20%

services

62% (1995 est.)

GDP - per capita

purchasing power parity - $750 (1999 est.)

GDP - real growth rate

3% (1999 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share

lowest 10%: NA% highest 10%: NA%

Imports

$489.4 million (c.i.f., 1997)

Imports - commodities

processed goods, machinery, petroleum products

Imports - partners

Saudi Arabia 16%, Italy 14%, UAE 13%, Ethiopia 9%, Germany 6% (1997)

Industrial production growth rate

NA%

Industries

food processing, beverages, clothing and textiles

Inflation rate (consumer prices)

9% (1998 est.)

Labor force

NA

Labor force - by occupation

agriculture 80%, industry and commerce 20%

Population below poverty line

NA%

Unemployment rate

NA%

Internet Service Providers (ISPs)

1 (1999)

Radio broadcast stations

AM 2, FM 1, shortwave 2 (2000)

Radios

345,000 (1997)

Telephone system

domestic

very inadequate; most telephones are in Asmara; government is seeking international tenders to improve the system

international

NA

Telephones - main lines in use

23,578 (2000)

Telephones - mobile cellular

0 (1995)

Television broadcast stations

1 (2000)

Televisions

1,000 (1997)

Airports

21 (1999 est.)

Airports - with paved runways

total

3 over 3,047 m: 2 2,438 to 3,047 m: 1 (1999 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: 6 914 to 1,523 m: 6 under 914 m: 2 (1999 est.)

Highways

paved

874 km

total

4,010 km

unpaved

3,136 km (1996 est.)

Merchant marine

ships by type

bulk 1, cargo 1, liquified gas 1, petroleum tanker 1, roll-on/roll-off 1 (1999 est.)

total

5 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 16,069 GRT/19,549 DWT

Ports and harbors

Assab (Aseb), Massawa (Mits'iwa)

Railways

narrow gauge

317 km 0.950-m gauge (1999)

note

links Ak'ordat and Asmara with the port of Massawa; 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

total

317 km

Military branches

Army, Navy, Air Force

Military expenditures - dollar figure

$196 million (FY97)

Military expenditures - percent of GDP

28.6% (FY97)

Disputes - international

dispute over alignment of boundary with Ethiopia led to armed conflict in 1998, which is still unresolved despite arbitration efforts

ESTONIA