Geography
Area: 125,000 sq. km. (48,000 sq. mi.); about the size of
Pennsylvania.
Cities: Capital--Asmara (est. pop. 435,000). Other cities--Keren
(57,000); Assab (28,000); Massawa (25,000); Afabet (25,000); Tessenie
(25,000); Mendefera (25,000); Dekemhare (20,000); Adekeieh (15,000);
Barentu (15,000); Ghinda (15,000).
Terrain: Central highlands straddle escarpment associated with Rift
Valley, dry coastal plains, and western lowlands.
Climate: Temperate in the highlands; hot in the lowlands.
People
Nationality: Noun and adjective--Eritrean(s).
Population (2004 est.): 4.3 million.
Annual growth rate: 3%.
Ethnic groups: Tigrinya 50%, Tigre 31.4%, Saho 5%, Afar 5%, Beja 2.5%,
Bilen 2.1%, Kunama 2%, Nara 1.5%, and Rashaida .5%.
Christian singles note-Religions: Christian 50%, mostly Orthodox, Muslim
48%, indigenous beliefs 2%.
Education: Years compulsory--none. Attendance--elementary
57%; secondary 21%.
Health: Infant mortality rate--48/1,000. Life expectancy--51
yrs.
Work force: Agriculture--80%. Industry and commerce--20%.
Government
Type: Transition government.
Independence: Eritrea officially celebrated its independence on May
24, 1993.
Constitution: Ratified May 24, 1997, but not yet implemented.
Branches: Executive--president, cabinet. Legislative--National
Assembly. Judicial--Supreme Court.
Administrative subdivisions: Six administrative regions.
Political party: People's Front for Democracy and Justice (name
adopted by the Eritrean People's Liberation Front when it established
itself as a political party).
Suffrage: Universal, age 18 and above.
Central government budget (2000): $442 million.
Defense: $107 million.
Economy
Real GDP (2002): $667 million.
Annual growth rate (2002): -1.2%
Per capita income: $153. On a purchasing power parity basis, $700.
Avg. inflation rate (CPI, Asmara, end of period): 23.8% in 2002.
Mineral resources: Gold, copper, iron ore, potash, oil.
Agriculture (12% of GDP in 2002): Products--millet, sorghum,
teff, wheat, barley, flax, cotton, papayas, citrus fruits, bananas,
beans and lentils, potatoes, vegetables, fish, dairy products, meat,
and skins. Cultivated land--10% of arable land.
Industry (25% of GDP in 2002): Types--processed food and dairy
products, alcoholic beverages, leather goods, textiles, chemicals,
cement and other construction materials, salt, paper, and matches.
Trade: Exports (2002)--$52 million: skins, meat, live sheep and
cattle, gum arabic. Major markets--Middle East (Saudi Arabia,
Yemen), Europe (Italy), Djibouti, and Sudan. Imports
(2002)--$533 million: food, military materiel, and fuel, manufactured
goods, machinery and transportation equipment. Major suppliers--U.A.E.,
Saudi Arabia, Italy, Germany, Belgium.
GEOGRAPHY
Eritrea is located in the Horn of Africa and is bordered on the
northeast and east by the Red Sea, on the west and northwest by Sudan,
on the south by Ethiopia, and on the southeast by Djibouti. The
country has a high central plateau that varies from 1,800 to 3,000
meters (6,000-10,000 ft.) above sea level. A coastal plain, western
lowlands, and some 300 islands comprise the remainder of Eritrea's
land mass. Eritrea has no year-round rivers.
The climate is temperate in the mountains and hot in the lowlands.
Asmara, the capital, is about 2,300 meters (7,500 ft.) above sea
level. Maximum temperature is 26o C (80o F). The
weather is usually sunny and dry, with the short or belg rains
occurring February-April and the big or meher rains beginning in late
June and ending in mid-September.
PEOPLE
Christian singles note-Eritrea's population comprises nine ethnic
groups, most of which speak Semitic or Cushitic languages. The
Tigrinya and Tigre make up four-fifths of the population and speak
different, but related and somewhat mutually intelligible, Semitic
languages. In general, most of the Christians live in the highlands,
while Muslims and adherents of traditional beliefs live in lowland
regions. Tigrinya and Arabic are the most frequently used languages
for commercial and official transactions, but English is widely spoken
and is the language used for secondary and university education.
