Eritrea

This Page was last updated on the 14th November, 2007.

Country News	Eritrean Government expells 13 Catholic missionaries 13th November 2007. For further information, see the CISA website at www.cisanewsafrica.org
Official Name	State of Eritrea (Hagere Ertra)
Former Name	Eritrea Autonomous Region in Ethiopia (colonized by Italy in 1885; under British military administration after World War II; federation of Eritrea with Ethiopia under UN resolution in 1952; Eritrean parliament dissolved, country annexed as a province within Ethiopia, and start of Eritrean fight for independence in 1962; independence after referendum in 1993; two and a half year border war between Ethiopian-Eritrea in 1998-2000.)
Capital	Asmera
Main Towns	Adekeieh (pop. 15,000), Afabet (pop. 25,000), Asmara (est. pop. 435,000), Assab (pop. 28,000), Barentu (pop. 15,000), Dekemhare (pop. 20,000), Ghinda (pop. 15,000), Keren (pop. 57,000), Massawa (pop. 25,000), Mendefera (pop. 25,000), Tessenie (pop. 25,000)
Subdivisions	6 regions (zobatat, singular - zoba); Anseba, Debub (Southern), Debubawi K'eyih Bahri (Southern Red Sea), Gash Barka, Ma'akel (Central), Semenawi Keyih Bahri (Northern Red Sea)
Independence	24 May 1993 (from Ethiopia)
Constitution	the transitional constitution, decreed on 19 May 1993, was replaced by a new constitution adopted on 23 May 1997, but not yet implemented
National Holiday	Independence Day, 24 May (1993)
UN Membership	28 May 1993
OAU Membership	24 May 1993 – now African Union (AU)
Commonwealth	n/a
Other Organisations	In alphabetical order according to abbreviation/acronym: Africa-Caribbean-Pacific-European Union (ACP-EU), African Development Bank (AfDB or AFDB), Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (COMESA), Economic Commission for Africa (ECA), Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO), Group of 77 at the United Nations (G-77), International Bank for Reconstruction and Development (IBRD), International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO), International Criminal Court (ICCt - signatory), International Confederation of Free Trade Unions (ICFTU), International Development Association (IDA), International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD), International Finance Corporation (IFC), International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRCS - associate), Inter-Governmental Authority on Development (IGAD), International Labour Organisation (ILO), International Monetary Fund (IMF), International Maritime Organisation (IMO), International Criminal Police Organization (Interpol), International Olympic Committee (IOC), International Organisation for Standardisation (ISO - subscriber), International Telecommunications Union (ITU), Non Aligned Movement (NAM), Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW), Permanent Court of Arbitration (PCA), United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD), United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO), United Nations Industrial Development Organisation (UNIDO), Universal Postal Union (UPU), World Customs Organization (WCO, former Customs Cooperation Council [CCC]), World Federation of Trade Unions (WFTU), World Health Organisation (WHO), World Intellectual Property Organisation (WIPO), World Meteorological Organisation (WMO), World Tourism Organisation (WToO).
Population	World Bank Figures: 3,991,000 (1999), 4,097,000 (2000), 4,199,000 (2001), 4,296,700 (2002), 4,389,500 (2003) Other Sources: 4,298,269 (July 2001 est.), 4,362,254 (July 2003 est.) 4,561,599 (July 2005 est.)
Area	46,842 sq. mls. (121,320 sq. kms.)
Density	---
Highest Point	Soria 9,806 ft. (2,989 m.)
Lowest Point	unnamed - -515 ft. (-157 m.)
Neighbours	Djibouti (E), Ethiopia (S), Sudan (W)
Life Expectancy	48 years (1995), total population: 56.18 years, male: 53.73 years, female: 58.71 years (2001 est.) total population: 53.18 years, male: 51.48 years, female: 54.92 years (2003 est.) total population: 52.16 years male: 51.14 years female: 53.22 years (2005 est.)
Infant Mortality Rate	total: 76.32 deaths/1,000, live births female: 68.64 deaths/1,000 live births (2003 est.), male: 83.78 deaths/1,000 live births total: 74.87 deaths/1,000 live births male: 82.28 deaths/1,000 live births female: 67.24 deaths/1,000 live births (2005 est.)
HIV/AIDS	adult prevalence rate: 2.8% (2001 est.) 2.7% (2003 est.) people living with HIV/AIDS: 55,000 (2001 est.) 60,000 (2003 est.) deaths: 350 (2001 est.) 6,300 (2003 est.) IRIN Plus News - HIV/AIDS Treatment Map: Eritrea - Updated: Sept 2004 Population: 3.9 million HIV Prevalence Rate (%) 2003 End: 2.4 No. Of People living with HIV/AIDS: 60,000-70,000 No. Of People in need of ART: N/A No. Of People Currently On ART (Sep 04): N/A No. Of People on ART Public Sector: N/A No. Of People on ART in Non Govt Programmes: N/A No. Of People Exptd to be on ART (2005 End): 2,000 Front Line Drug Regimen: Nevirapine+Lamivudine+Stavudine HIV/AIDS Treatment Sites: 5 Global Fund 2 Year Approved Funding (Round 3: Approved 02-Jul-04): US$8,124,910 Total Funds Disbursed By The Global Fund: US$3,731,005.00 Total Funds Disbursed By The World Bank Multi-Country HIV/AIDS Programme (MAP): US$40 million Total Funds Disbursed By PEPFAR: Nil Source: WHO, UNAIDS, Ministry of Health
Adult Literacy Rate	80%, total population: 58.6% male: 69.9% female: 47.6% (2003 est.)
Ethnic Groups	Tigrinya 50%, Tigre and Kunama 40%, Afar 4%, Saho (Red Sea coast dwellers) 3%
Languages	Afar, Amharic, Arabic, Tigre (lowlands) and Kunama, Tigrinya (highlands), Somali, other Cushitic languages
Religions	Muslim 40%, Christian (Coptic, Roman Catholic, Protestant) 40%
Type of Government	Transitional government
President	Isaias Afeworki (since 8 June 1993 [20/10/2005])
Prime Minister	---
Political Parties	Eritrean Islamic Jihad (EIJ, including Eritrean Islamic Jihad Movement [EIJM or the Abu Sihel Movement]); Eritrean Islamic Salvation (EIS or Arafa Movement); Eritrean Liberation Front (ELF); Eritrean National Alliance (ENA, a coalition including EIJ, EIS, ELF, and of ELF factions); Eritrean Public Forum (EPF)
Ruling Party	People’s Front for Democracy & Justice (PFDgdp)
Currency	nakfa (ERN) nakfa (ERN) per US dollar - 13.788 (2004), 13.878 (2003), 13.958 (2002), 11.31 (2001), 9.625 (2000)
GDP	GDP: US$667 million Real GDP: US$700 million (2004 est.) purchasing power parity - US$4.154 billion (2004 est.) per capita purchasing power parity - US$740 (2002 est.) per capita purchasing power parity - US$900 (2004 est.)
GNP	US$165 (1994)
Per Capita Income	GNP per capita (US$): US$150
Population Below Poverty Line	53% (1993/94) 50% (2004 est.)
Land Use	arable land: 4.95% permanent crops: 0.03% other: 95.02% (2001)
Natural Resources	gold, iron ore, potash, zinc, copper, salt, possibly oil and natural gas, fish
Oil and Natural Gas	production: 0 bbl/day (2001 est.) consumption: 6,000 bbl/day (2001 est.) exports: NA (2001) imports: NA (2001)
Military	Military branches: Army, Navy, Air Force Military expenditures - dollar figure: $95.75 million, 12% of GDP (FY02) $151 million, 13.4% of GDP(2004)
Economic Aid Received	US$77 million (1999) Aid per Capita (World Bank): US$37 (1999), US$43 (2000), US$67 (2001), US$54 (2002), US$70 (2003)
Debt	Moderately indebted World Bank Figures: US$187,900,000 (2000), US$234,800,000 (2001), US$306,200,000 (2002), US$389,100,000 (2003) Other Sources: US$75m (1995), US$281 million (2000 est.), US$311 million (2000 est.)
Major Imports	machinery, petroleum products, food, manufactured goods (2000)
Imports from	Italy 17.4%, UAE 16.2%, Germany 5.7%, UK 4.5%, Korea 4.4% (1998) US 32.3%, Italy 15.5%, Turkey 5.5%, UK 4.6%, Russia 4.4%, Italy 6.4% (2004) US$622 million f.o.b. (2004 est.)
Major Exports	Livestock, sorghum, textiles, food, small manufactures livestock, sorghum, textiles, food, small manufactures (2000)
Exports to	Sudan 27.2%, Ethiopia 26.5%, Japan 13.2%, UAE 7.3%, Italy 5.3% (1998) Malaysia 54.7%, Italy 8.8%, France 3.7% (2004) US$64.44 million f.o.b. (2004 est.)

See also the 'White Fathers - White Sisters' Article -
Eritrea, Some Facts and Figures

We try to have each fact sheet up to date and as accurate as possible.
If you notice any mistakes, or have suggestions on items which could be added, please let us know by emailing to: suttonlink@dial.pipex.com

The White Fathers, Sutton Coldfield, 14 November, 2007

Page 17 of 61

First Previous Next Last