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Communications

Internet users (Internet Service Providers (ISPs)) [time series]

1 (1999)

Broadcast media (Radio broadcast stations) [time series]

AM 2, FM 1, shortwave 2 (2000)

Radios [time series]

345,000 (1997)

Telecommunication systems (Telephone system) [time series]

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

Telephones - fixed lines (Telephones - main lines in use) [time series]

23,578 (2000)

Telephones - mobile cellular [time series]

0 (1995)

Broadcast media (Television broadcast stations) [time series]

1 (2000)

Televisions [time series]

1,000 (1997)

Economy

Agricultural products (Agriculture - products) [time series]

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

Budget [time series]

revenues: $283.9 million expenditures: $351.6 million, including capital expenditures of $NA (1997 est.)

Exchange rates (Currency) [time series]

1 nafka = 100 cents

Debt - external [time series]

$76 million (1997 est.)

Economic aid (Economic aid - recipient) [time series]

$123.1 million (1997)

Economic overview (Economy - overview) [time series]

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 [time series]

177.6 million kWh (1997 est.)

Electricity - exports [time series]

0 kWh (1997)

Electricity - imports [time series]

0 kWh (1997)

Electricity - production [time series]

177.6 million kWh (1997 est.)

Electricity - production by source [time series]

fossil fuel: 100% hydro: 0% nuclear: 0% other: 0% (1997 est.)

Exchange rates [time series]

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

Exports [time series]

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

Exports - commodities [time series]

livestock, sorghum, textiles, food, small manufactures

Exports - partners [time series]

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

Fiscal year [time series]

calendar year

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

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

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

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

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

purchasing power parity - $750 (1999 est.)

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

3% (1999 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share [time series]

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

Imports [time series]

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

Imports - commodities [time series]

processed goods, machinery, petroleum products

Imports - partners [time series]

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

Industrial production growth rate [time series]

NA%

Industries [time series]

food processing, beverages, clothing and textiles

Inflation rate (consumer prices) [time series]

9% (1998 est.)

Labor force [time series]

Labor force - by occupation [time series]

agriculture 80%, industry and commerce 20%

Population below poverty line [time series]

NA%

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 in 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: near Kulul within the Denakil depression -75 m highest point: Soira 3,018 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 24 May 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: 49% forests and woodland: 6% other: 32% (1998 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 and locust storms

Natural resources [time series]

gold, potash, zinc, copper, salt, possibly oil and natural gas, 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); 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 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

Capital [time series]

Asmara (formerly Asmera)

Constitution [time series]

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 [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 William D. CLARKE embassy: Franklin D. Roosevelt Street, Asmara mailing address: P. O. Box 211, Asmara telephone: [291] (1) 120004 FAX: [291] (1) 127584

Diplomatic representation in the US [time series]

chief of mission: Ambassador SEMERE Russom chancery: 1708 New Hampshire Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20009 telephone: [1] (202) 319-1991 FAX: [1] (202) 319-1304

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

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 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 [time series]

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 [time series]

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 [time series]

Supreme Court; 10 provincial courts; 29 district courts

Legal system [time series]

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 [time series]

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

Suffrage [time series]

18 years of age; universal

Introduction

Background [time series]

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.

Military

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

Army, Navy, Air Force

Military expenditures - dollar figure [time series]

$196 million (FY97)

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

28.6% (FY97)

People

Age structure [time series]

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 [time series]

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

Death rate [time series]

12.3 deaths/1,000 population (2000 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]

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

Languages [time series]

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

Life expectancy at birth [time series]

total population: 55.79 years male: 53.36 years female: 58.29 years (2000 est.)

Literacy [time series]

definition: NA total population: 25% male: NA% female: NA%

Nationality [time series]

noun: Eritrean(s) adjective: Eritrean

Net migration rate [time series]

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 [time series]

4,135,933 (July 2000 est.)

Population growth rate [time series]

3.86% (2000 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: 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 [time series]

5.93 children born/woman (2000 est.)

Transnational Issues

Disputes - international [time series]

dispute over alignment of boundary with Ethiopia led to armed conflict in 1998, which is still unresolved despite arbitration efforts [Country Listing] [ The World Factbook Home]

Transportation

Airports [time series]

21 (1999 est.)

Airports - with paved runways [time series]

total: 3 over 3,047 m: 2 2,438 to 3,047 m: 1 (1999 est.)

Airports - with unpaved runways [time series]

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.)

Roadways (Highways) [time series]

total: 4,010 km paved: 874 km unpaved: 3,136 km (1996 est.)

Merchant marine [time series]

total: 5 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 16,069 GRT/19,549 DWT ships by type: bulk 1, cargo 1, liquified gas 1, petroleum tanker 1, roll-on/roll-off 1 (1999 est.)

Ports (Ports and harbors) [time series]

Assab (Aseb), Massawa (Mits'iwa)

Railways [time series]

total: 317 km 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