Eritrea

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Introduction - Eritrea:
Country	Eritrea


Background	Eritrea was awarded to Ethiopia in 1952 as part of a federation. Ethiopias 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 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. In November 2006, the international commission informed Eritrea and Ethiopia they had one year to demarcate the border or the border demarcation would be based on coordinates.


Location - 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: 121,320 sq km land: 121,320 sq km water: 0 sq km

Area comparative	slightly larger than Pennsylvania

Land boundaries	total: 1,626 km border countries: Djibouti 109 km, Ethiopia 912 km, Sudan 605 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 Denakil depression -75 m highest point: Soira 3,018 m

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

Land use	arable land: 4.78% permanent crops: 0.03% other: 95.19% (2005)

Irrigated land	210 sq km (2003)

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, 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 worlds 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 - Eritrea:
Population	4,906,585 (July 2007 est.)

Age structure	0-14 years: 43.5% (male 1,073,404/female 1,060,674) 15-64 years: 52.9% (male 1,286,613/female 1,310,294) 65 years and over: 3.6% (male 85,052/female 90,548) (2007 est.)

Median age	total: 17.9 years male: 17.7 years female: 18.2 years (2007 est.)

Population growth rate	2.461% (2007 est.)

Birth rate	33.97 births/1,000 population (2007 est.)

Death rate	9.36 deaths/1,000 population (2007 est.)

Net migration rate	0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2007 est.)

Sex ratio	at birth: 1.03 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1.012 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 0.982 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.939 male(s)/female total population: 0.993 male(s)/female (2007 est.)

Infant mortality rate	total: 45.24 deaths/1,000 live births male: 51.05 deaths/1,000 live births female: 39.25 deaths/1,000 live births (2007 est.)

Life expectancy at birth	total population: 59.55 years male: 57.88 years female: 61.28 years (2007 est.)

Total fertility rate	4.96 children born/woman (2007 est.)

Hiv aids adult prevalence rate	2.7% (2003 est.)

Hiv aids people living with hiv aids	60,000 (2003 est.)

Hiv aids deaths	6,300 (2003 est.)

Nationality	noun: Eritrean(s) adjective: Eritrean

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 (2007)

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

Religions	Muslim, Coptic Christian, Roman Catholic, Protestant

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

Literacy	definition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 58.6% male: 69.9% female: 47.6% (2003 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

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; 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 Peoples Front for Democracy and Justice (PFDJ)

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 (Southern), Debubawi Keyih Bahri (Southern Red Sea), Gash Barka, Maakel (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

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

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) 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%

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 countrys 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	Peoples 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 not yet debated or voted on it

Political pressure groups and leaders	Eritrean Islamic Jihad or EIJ (also including 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]; Eritrean Democratic Party (EDP) [HAGOS, Mesfin]

International organization participation	ACP, AfDB, AU, COMESA, FAO, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICCt (signatory), IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS (observer), IGAD, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, ISO (correspondent), ITU, ITUC, MIGA, NAM, OPCW, PCA, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO

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)

Diplomatic representation from the us	chief of mission: Ambassador Scott H. DELISI embassy: 179 Alaa 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 - Eritrea:
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 Peoples 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 Eritreas 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 Eritreas 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 Eritreas development agenda. In January 2005, the government essentially banned all imports. The government strictly controls the use of foreign currency, limiting access and availability. Few private enterprises remain in Eritrea. Eritreas 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 Eritreas recent harvests have not been able to meet the food needs of the country. Eritreas economic future depends upon its ability to master social problems such as illiteracy, unemployment, and low skills, and more importantly, on the governments willingness to support a true market economy.

Gdp purchasing power parity	$4.751 billion (2006 est.)

Gdp official exchange rate	$1.244 billion (2005 est.)

Gdp real growth rate	2% (2005 est.)

Gdp per capita ppp	$1,000 (2005 est.)

Gdp composition by sector	agriculture: 9.9% industry: 25.4% services: 64.6% (2006 est.)

Labor force	NA

Labor force by occupation	agriculture: 80% industry and services: 20%

Unemployment rate	NA%

Population below poverty line	50% (2004 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share	lowest 10%: NA% highest 10%: NA%

Inflation rate consumer prices	14% (2006 est.)

Investment gross fixed	24.5% of GDP (2006 est.)

Budget	revenues: $257.6 million expenditures: $424 million; including capital expenditures of $NA (2006 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	NA%

Electricity production	276.1 million kWh (2004)

Electricity consumption	256.7 million kWh (2004)

Electricity exports	0 kWh (2004)

Electricity imports	0 kWh (2004)

Oil production	0 bbl/day (2004 est.)

Oil consumption	5,300 bbl/day (2004 est.)

Oil exports	NA bbl/day

Oil imports	NA bbl/day

Oil proved reserves	0 bbl

Natural gas production	0 cu m (2004 est.)

Natural gas consumption	0 cu m (2004 est.)

Current account balance	-$440.5 million (2006 est.)

Exports	$17.65 million f.o.b. (2006 est.)

Exports commodities	livestock, sorghum, textiles, food, small manufactures (2000)

Exports partners	Italy 31.4%, US 11.9%, Belarus 5.9%, France 5.1%, Germany 4.6%, Turkey 4.4%, UK 4% (2006)

Imports	$701.8 million f.o.b. (2006 est.)

Imports commodities	machinery, petroleum products, food, manufactured goods

Imports partners	Italy 15.1%, France 11.8%, US 9.5%, Germany 8.6%, Taiwan 7.3%, India 7%, Ireland 6.1%, Turkey 4.4%, Jordan 4.2% (2006)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold	$30.6 million (2006 est.)

Debt external	$311 million (2000 est.)

Economic aid recipient	$77 million (1999)

Currency code	nakfa (ERN)

Exchange rates	nakfa (ERN) per US dollar - 15.4 (2006), 14.5 (2005), 13.788 (2004), 13.878 (2003), 13.958 (2002) note: the official exchange rate is 15 nakfa to the dollar

Communications - Eritrea:
Fiscal year	calendar year

Telephones main lines in use	37,700 (2006)

Telephones mobile cellular	62,000 (2006)

Telephone system	general assessment: inadequate 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

Radio broadcast stations	AM 2, FM NA, shortwave 2 (2000)

Television broadcast stations	2 (2006)

Internet country code	.er

Internet hosts	1,088 (2006)

Internet users	100,000 (2006)

Transportation - Eritrea:
Airports	17 (2006)

Airports with paved runways	total: 4 over 3,047 m: 2 2,438 to 3,047 m: 2 (2006)

Airports with unpaved runways	total: 13 over 3,047 m: 1 2,438 to 3,047 m: 1 1,524 to 2,437 m: 5 914 to 1,523 m: 4 under 914 m: 2 (2006)

Railways	total: 306 km narrow gauge: 306 km 0.950-m gauge (2006)

Roadways	total: 4,010 km paved: 874 km unpaved: 3,136 km (1999)

Merchant marine	total: 6 ships (1000 GRT or over) 19,506 GRT/23,649 DWT by type: cargo 3, liquefied gas 1, petroleum tanker 1, roll on/roll off 1 (2006)

Ports and terminals	Assab, Massawa

Military - Eritrea:
Military branches	Army, Navy, Air Force

Military service age and obligation	18 years of age for voluntary and compulsory military service; 16-month conscript service obligation (2004)

Manpower available for military service	males age 18-49: 893,361 females age 18-49: 891,662 (2005 est.)

Manpower fit for military service	males age 18-49: 555,553 females age 18-49: 562,426 (2005)

Manpower reaching military service age annually	males age 18-49: 50,156 females age 18-49: 49,746 (2005 est.)

Military expenditures percent of gdp	6.3% (2006 est.)

Disputes international	Eritrea and Ethiopia agreed to abide by 2002 Ethiopia-Eritrea Boundary Commissions (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