Eritrea Population: 6,233,682


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Geographic coordinates: 15 00 N, 39 00 E
Area: total: 117,600 sq km
land: 101,000 sq km
water: 16,600 sq km

Size comparison: slightly larger than Pennsylvania
Land Boundaries: total: 1,626 km
Maritime claims: territorial sea: 12 nm
Elevation extremes: lowest point: near Kulul within the Danakil Depression -75 m
highest point: Soira 3,018 m
Land use: arable land: 5.87%
permanent crops: 0.02%
other: 94.12% (2011)
Irrigated land: 215.9 sq km (2003)
signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
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Nationality: noun: Eritrean(s)
adjective: Eritrean
Religions: Muslim, Coptic Christian, Roman Catholic, Protestant
Population: 6,233,682 (July 2013 est.)
Age structure: 0-14 years: 41.3% (male 1,292,544/female 1,279,523)
15-24 years: 20% (male 623,797/female 625,527)
25-54 years: 31.2% (male 963,635/female 982,786)
55-64 years: 3.8% (male 99,755/female 136,557)
65 years and over: 3.7% (male 100,332/female 129,226) (2013 est.)
Dependency ratios: total dependency ratio: 83.2 %
youth dependency ratio: 79.1 %
elderly dependency ratio: 4.1 %
potential support ratio: 24.1 (2013)
Median age: total: 18.9 years
male: 18.6 years
female: 19.3 years (2013 est.)
Population growth rate: 2.36% (2013 est.)
Birth rate: 31.39 births/1,000 population (2013 est.)
Death rate: 7.78 deaths/1,000 population (2013 est.)
Urbanization: urban population: 21.3% of total population (2011)
rate of urbanization: 5.01% annual rate of change (2010-15 est.)
Major urban areas - population: ASMARA (capital) 649,000 (2009)
0-14 years: 1.01 male(s)/female
15-24 years: 1 male(s)/female
25-54 years: 0.98 male(s)/female
55-64 years: 0.73 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.79 male(s)/female
Mother's mean age at first birth: 20.6 (2002 est.)
Infant mortality rate: total: 39.38 deaths/1,000 live births
male: 44.63 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 33.97 deaths/1,000 live births (2013 est.)
Life expectancy at birth: total population: 63.19 years
male: 61.04 years
female: 65.4 years (2013 est.)
Total fertility rate: 4.25 children born/woman (2013 est.)
Contraceptive prevalence rate: 8% (2002)
Health expenditures: 2.7% of GDP (2010)
Physicians density: 0.05 physicians/1,000 population (2004)
Hospital bed density: 0.7 beds/1,000 population (2011)
Drinking water source: improved:
urban: 74% of population
rural: 57% of population
total: 61% of population

urban: 26% of population
rural: 43% of population
total: 39% of population (2008 est.)
Sanitation facility access: improved:
urban: 52% of population
rural: 4% of population
total: 14% of population

urban: 48% of population
rural: 96% of population
total: 86% of population (2008 est.)
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS: 25,000 (2009 est.)
HIV/AIDS - deaths: 1,700 (2009 est.)
Obesity - adult prevalence rate: 1.5% (2008)
Children under the age of 5 years underweight: 34.5% (2002)
Education expenditures: 2.1% of GDP (2006)
Literacy: definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 68.9%
male: 79.5%
female: 59% (2011 est.)
male: 5 years
female: 4 years (2010)
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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 People's Front for Democracy and Justice or PFDJ, was established as a transitional legislature and a Constitutional Commission was established to draft a constitution; ISAIAS Afworki was named 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 PFDJ is the sole legal party and controls all national, regional, and local political offices
Capital: name: Asmara (Asmera)
geographic coordinates: 15 20 N, 38 56 E
Independence: 24 May 1993 (from Ethiopia)
National holiday: Independence Day, 24 May (1993)
Constitution: adopted 23 May 1997, but never fully implemented
Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal


cabinet: State Council the collective exercises executive authority; members appointed by the president (For more information visit the World Leaders website )

elections: president elected by the National Assembly for a five-year term (eligible for a second term); the most recent and only election was held on 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 by the transitional National Assembly; 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)

Judicial branch: highest court(s): High Court (organized into civil, commercial, criminal, labor, administrative, and customary sections with 20 judges) judge selection and term of office: High Court judges appointed by the president

Political parties and leaders: People's 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 never debated or voted on it
Political pressure groups and leaders: Democratic Movement for the Liberation of Eritrean Kunama (DMLEK) Eritrean Democratic Alliance (EDA) Eritrean National Congress for Democratic Change (ENCDC) Eritrean National Salvation Front (ENSF) Eritrean Islamic Party for Justice and Development (EIPJD) (includes the Eritrean Islamic Jihad (EIJ), Eritrean Islamic Jihad Movement (EIJM), Eritrean Islamic Salvation, and the Eritrean Islamic Foundation) Eritrean People's Democratic Party (EPDP) Red Sea Afar Democratic Organization (RSADO)
National symbol(s): camel

note: adopted 1993; upon independence from Ethiopia
chancery: 1708 New Hampshire Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20009
telephone: [1] (202) 319-1991
FAX: [1] (202) 319-1304
Diplomatic representation from the US: chief of mission: Ambassador (vacant); Charge d'Affaires Sue BREMNER
embassy: 179 Ala Street, Asmara
mailing address: P. O. Box 211, Asmara
telephone: [291] (1) 120004
FAX: [291] (1) 127584
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Since independence from Ethiopia in 1993, Eritrea has faced the economic problems of a small, poor country, facing chronic drought. These have been exacerbated by restrictive economic policies. Eritrea has a command economy under the control of the sole political party, the People's Front for Democracy and Justice (PFDJ). Like the economies of many African nations, a large share of the population - nearly 80% - is engaged in subsistence agriculture. That sector only produces a small share of the country's total output. Since the conclusion of the Ethiopian-Eritrea war in 2000, the government has expanded use of military and party-owned businesses to complete President ISAIAS's development agenda. The government strictly controls the use of foreign currency by limiting access and availability. Few large private enterprises exist in Eritrea and most operate in conjunction with government partners, although recently a number of large international mining ventures have opened. Eritrea's national income also relies in part on taxes paid by members of the Diaspora. While reliable statistics on food security are difficult to obtain, erratic rainfall and the percentage of the labor force tied up in national service continue to interfere with agricultural production and economic development. Eritrea's harvests generally cannot meet the food needs of the country without supplemental grain purchases. Copper and gold production is likely to drive economic growth over the next few years, but military spending will continue to compete with development and investment plans. Eritrea's economic future will depend on market reform and success at addressing social problems such as illiteracy and low skills.
GDP (purchasing power parity): GDP (purchasing power parity): $4.468 billion (2012 est.) $4.176 billion (2011 est.) $3.842 billion (2010 est.)

note: data are in 2012 US dollars
GDP (official exchange rate): GDP (official exchange rate): $3.092 billion (2012 est.)
GDP - real growth rate: 7% (2012 est.) 8.7% (2011 est.) 2.2% (2010 est.)
GDP - per capita (PPP): GDP - per capita (PPP): $800 (2012 est.) $800 (2011 est.) $700 (2010 est.)

note: data are in 2012 US dollars
Gross national saving: 3.6% of GDP (2012 est.) 1.6% of GDP (2011 est.) -3.2% of GDP (2010 est.)
GDP - composition, by end use: household consumption: 64%
government consumption: 26.8%
investment in fixed capital: 15.2%
exports of goods and services: 14.6%
GDP - composition, by sector of origin: household consumption: 64%
government consumption: 26.8%
investment in fixed capital: 15.2%
exports of goods and services: 14.6%
Industrial production growth rate: -10% (2012 est.)
Labor force: 1.935 million (2007)
Labor force - by occupation: agriculture: 80% industry and
services: 20% (2004 est.)
Unemployment rate: NA%
Population below poverty line: 50% (2004 est.)
highest 10%: NA%
Budget: revenues: $806.5 million
expenditures: $1.19 billion (2012 est.)
Public debt: 110.5% of GDP (2012 est.) 124.5% of GDP (2011 est.)
Fiscal year: calendar year
Inflation rate (consumer prices): Inflation rate (consumer prices): 17% (2012 est.) 20% (2011 est.)
Current account balance: -$271.5 million (2012 est.) -$127.8 million (2011 est.)
Exports: $434.8 million (2012 est.) $415.9 million (2011 est.)
Imports: $1 billion (2012 est.) $891.9 million (2011 est.)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold: $180.6 million (31 December 2012 est.) $114.8 million (31 December 2011 est.)
Debt - external: $1.057 billion (31 December 2012 est.) $1.055 billion (31 December 2011 est.)
Exchange rates: nakfa (ERN) per US dollar - 15.375 (2012 est.) 15.375 (2011 est.) 15.375 (2010 est.) 15.375 (2009) 15.38 (2008)
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Electricity - consumption: 242 million kWh (2009 est.)
Electricity - exports: 0 kWh (2010 est.)
Electricity - imports: 0 kWh (2010 est.)
Electricity - installed generating capacity: 139,000 kW (2009 est.)
Electricity - from fossil fuels: 99.3% of total installed capacity (2009 est.)
Refined petroleum products - consumption: 4,480 bbl/day (2011 est.)
Refined petroleum products - imports: 2,670 bbl/day (2008 est.)
Carbon dioxide emissions from consumption of energy: 798,200 Mt (2010 est.)
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Telephones in use: 58,500 (2011)
country comparison to the world: 159
Cellular Phones in use: 241,900 (2011)
Telephone system: general assessment: inadequate; most fixed-line telephones are in Asmara; government is seeking international tenders to improve the system; cell phones in increasing use throughout the country

domestic: combined fixed-line and mobile-cellular subscribership is less than 5 per 100 persons

international: country code - 291 (2011)
Internet country code: .er
Internet hosts: 701 (2012)
Internet users: 200,000 (2008)
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Airports: 13 (2013)
country comparison to the world: 151
Airports (paved runways): total 4
over 3,047 m: 2
2,438 to 3,047 m: 2 (2013)
Airports (unpaved runways): total 9
over 3,047 m: 1
2,438 to 3,047 m: 1
1,524 to 2,437 m: 5
914 to 1,523 m: 2 (2013)
Heliports: 1 (2013)
Railways: total 306 km

narrow gauge: 306 km 0.950-m gauge (2008)
Roadways: total 4,010 km
paved: 874 km
unpaved: 3,136 km (2000)
Merchant marine: total 4

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Manpower available for military service: males age 16-49: 1,350,446
females age 16-49: 1,362,575 (2010 est.)
Manpower fit for military service: males age 16-49: 896,096
females age 16-49: 953,757 (2010 est.)
Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually: male: 66,829
female: 66,731 (2010 est.)
Military expenditures: 6.3% of GDP (2006 est.)
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 Transnational Issues
Disputes - International: Eritrea and Ethiopia agreed to abide by 2002 Ethiopia-Eritrea Boundary Commission's (EEBC) delimitation decision, but neither party responded to the revised line detailed in the November 2006 EEBC Demarcation Statement; Sudan accuses Eritrea of supporting eastern Sudanese rebel groups; in 2008 Eritrean troops moved across the border on Ras Doumera peninsula and occupied Doumera Island with undefined sovereignty in the Red Sea
Refugees and internally displaced persons: IDPs: 10,000 (border war with Ethiopia from 1998-2000; it has not been possible to confirm whether remaining IDPs are still living with hosts or have been returned or resettled) (2009)
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   Source: CIA - The World Factbook

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