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Communications

Broadcast media (Radio broadcast stations) [time series]

AM NA, FM NA, shortwave 0

Radios [time series]

Telecommunication systems (Telephone system) [time series]

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 - fixed lines (Telephones) [time series]

Broadcast media (Television broadcast stations) [time series]

1 (government controlled)

Televisions [time series]

Economy

Agricultural products (Agriculture - products) [time series]

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

Budget [time series]

revenues : $214 million expenditures: $397 million, including capital expenditures of $78 million (1995 est.)

Exchange rates (Currency) [time series]

1 birr (Br) = 100 cents; at present, Ethiopian currency used; note - new Eritrean currency, the nakfa, to be circulated in 1997

Debt - external [time series]

$162 million (1995 est.)

Economic aid [time series]

recipient: ODA, $NA

Economic overview (Economy - overview) [time series]

With independence from Ethiopia on 27 April 1993, Eritrea faced the bitter economic problems of a small, desperately poor African country. Most of the population must continue to depend on subsistence farming. Domestic output (GDP) is substantially augmented by worker remittances from abroad. Government revenues come from custom duties and income and sales taxes. Road construction is a top domestic priority. Shortages persist in housing, education, and health care. Eritrea has inherited the entire coastline of Ethiopia and has long-term prospects for revenues from the development of offshore oil, offshore fishing, and tourism. Ethiopia is largely dependent on Eritrean ports for its foreign commerce.

Electricity - capacity [time series]

73,000 kW (1995)

Electricity - consumption per capita [time series]

NA kWh

Electricity - production [time series]

NA kWh

Exchange rates [time series]

birr (Br) per US$1 (end of the period) - 6.4260 (December 1996), 6.4260 (1996), 6.3200 (1995), 5.9500 (1994), 5.000 (fixed rate 1992-93); note - following independence from Ethiopia, Eritrea continued to use Ethiopian currency note: since May 1993, the birr market rate has been determined in an interbank market supported by weekly wholesale auction; prior to that date, the official rate was pegged to US$1 = 5.000 birr

Exports [time series]

total value: $81 million (1995 est.) commodities: livestock, sorghum, textiles partners: Ethiopia, Italy, Saudi Arabia, UK, US, Yemen

Fiscal year [time series]

calendar year

Real GDP (purchasing power parity) (GDP) [time series]

purchasing power parity - $2 billion (1995 est.)

GDP - composition, by sector of origin (GDP - composition by sector) [time series]

agriculture: 19% industry: 18% services : 63% (1995 est.)

Real GDP per capita (GDP - per capita) [time series]

purchasing power parity - $570 (1995 est.)

Real GDP growth rate (GDP - real growth rate) [time series]

3.9% (1995 est.)

Imports [time series]

total value : $404 million (1995 est.) commodities: processed goods, machinery, petroleum products partners: Ethiopia, Saudi Arabia, Italy, United Arab Emirates

Industrial production growth rate [time series]

NA%

Industries [time series]

food processing, beverages, clothing and textiles

Inflation rate (consumer prices) (Inflation rate - consumer price index) [time series]

8% (1995 est.)

Labor force [time series]

Unemployment rate [time series]

NA%

Geography

Area [time series]

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

Area - comparative [time series]

slightly larger than Pennsylvania

Climate [time series]

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 [time series]

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

Elevation (Elevation extremes) [time series]

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

Environment - current issues [time series]

deforestation; desertification; soil erosion; overgrazing; loss of infrastructure from civil warfare

International environmental agreements (Environment - international agreements) [time series]

party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, Endangered Species signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements

Geographic coordinates [time series]

15 00 N, 39 00 E

Geography - note [time series]

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 [time series]

280 sq km (1993 est.)

Land boundaries [time series]

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

Land use [time series]

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

Location [time series]

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

Map references [time series]

Africa

Maritime claims [time series]

Natural hazards [time series]

frequent droughts

Natural resources [time series]

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

Terrain [time series]

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

Government

Administrative divisions [time series]

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 sometime in 1998; the new provinces, which have not been recommended by the US Board on Geographic Names for recognition by the

Constitution [time series]

transitional "constitution" decreed 19 May 1993; the promulgation of a draft constitution is expected in 1998

Country name [time series]

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 [time series]

Diplomatic representation from the US [time series]

chief of mission : Ambassador John HICKS embassy: Franklin D. Roosevelt St., Asmara mailing address: P.O. Box 211, Asmara telephone: [291] (1) 120004

Diplomatic representation in the US [time series]

chief of mission: Ambassador AMDEMICHAEL Berhane Khasai chancery: 1708 New Hampshire Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20009 telephone : [1] (202) 319-1991

Executive branch [time series]

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 1997) election results: ISAIAS Afworki elected president; percent of National Assembly vote - ISAIAS Afworki 95%

Diplomatic representation in the US (FAX) [time series]

[1] (202) 319-1304

Diplomatic representation in the US (FAX) [time series]

[291] (1) 127584

Flag (Flag description) [time series]

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 [time series]

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 pending the promulgation of a constitution and popular elections

Independence [time series]

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

International organization participation [time series]

ACP, AfDB, CCC, ECA, FAO, IBRD, ICAO, ICFTU, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IGADD, ILO, IMF, IMO, Intelsat (nonsignatory user), ITU, NAM, OAU, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WFTU, WHO, WMO, WToO

Judicial branch [time series]

Judiciary

Legal system [time series]

Legislative branch [time series]

unicameral National Assembly (150 seats; term limits not established pending new constitution) elections: 75 members of the PFDJ Central Committee (the old Central Committee of the EPLF) and 75 directly elected members serve as the country's legislative body until country-wide elections are held in 1997

Capital (National capital) [time series]

Asmara (formerly Asmera)

National holiday [time series]

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

Political parties (Political parties and leaders) [time series]

People's Front for Democracy and Justice or PFDJ, the only party recognized by the government [ISAIAS Afworki, PETROS Solomon]

Political parties (Political pressure groups and leaders) [time series]

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]

Suffrage [time series]

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, to 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

US government, pending acceptable definition of the boundaries, are [time series]

Anseba, Debub, Debubawi, Gash-Barka, Maakel, and Semanawi Keyih Bahri

Military

Military and security forces (Military branches) [time series]

Army, Navy, Air Force

Military expenditures - dollar figure [time series]

$40 million (1995)

Military expenditures (Military expenditures - percent of GDP) [time series]

NA%

Military manpower - availability [time series]

males age 15-49: NA

Military manpower - fit for military service [time series]

males: NA

People

Age structure [time series]

0-14 years: 43% (male 781,169; female 770,497) 15-64 years: 54% (male 963,542; female 966,083) 65 years and over: 3% (male 55,811; female 52,585) (July 1997 est.)

Birth rate [time series]

43.96 births/1,000 population (1997 est.)

Death rate [time series]

15.26 deaths/1,000 population (1997 est.)

Ethnic groups [time series]

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

Infant mortality rate [time series]

117.2 deaths/1,000 live births (1997 est.)

Languages [time series]

Afar, Amharic, Arabic, Italian, Tigre and Kunama, Tigrinya, minor tribal languages

Life expectancy at birth [time series]

total population: 50.61 years male: 48.85 years female : 52.42 years (1997 est.)

Nationality [time series]

noun: Eritrean(s) adjective: Eritrean

Net migration rate [time series]

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

Population [time series]

3,589,687 (July 1997 est.)

Population growth rate [time series]

6.35% (1997 est.)

Religions [time series]

Muslim, Coptic Christian, Roman Catholic, Protestant

Sex ratio [time series]

at birth : 1.03 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1.01 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 1 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 1.06 male(s)/female total population : 1.01 male(s)/female (1997 est.)

Total fertility rate [time series]

6.47 children born/woman (1997 est.)

Transnational Issues

Disputes - international [time series]

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 ESTONIA

Transportation

Airports [time series]

14 (1996 est.)

Airports - with paved runways [time series]

total : 4 over 3,047 m: 1 2,438 to 3,047 m: 1 under 914 m: 2 (1996 est.)

Airports - with unpaved runways [time series]

total : 10 over 3,047 m: 1 2,438 to 3,047 m: 1 1,524 to 2,437 m: 4 914 to 1,523 m: 4 (1996 est.)

Roadways (Highways) [time series]

total: 3,930 km paved: 841 km unpaved : 3,089 km (1995 est.)

Merchant marine [time series]

total : 1 cargo ship (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 11,573 GRT/13,593 DWT (1996 est.)

Ports (Ports and harbors) [time series]

Assab (Aseb), Massawa (Mits'iwa)

Railways [time series]

total: 307 km narrow gauge: 307 km 0.950-m gauge (1995 est.) note: nonoperational since 1978 except for an about 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)