Statistical information Eritrea 1994

Eritrea in the World
top of pageBackground: on 29 May 1991, ISAIAS Afworke, secretary general of the Peoples' Front for Democracy and Justice (PFDJ), which then served as the country's legislative body, announced the formation of the Provisional Government in Eritrea (PGE) in preparation for the 23-25 April 1993 referendum on independence for the Autonomous Region of Eritrea; the referendum resulted in a landslide vote for independence which was proclaimed on 27 April 1993
top of pageLocation: Eastern Africa, bordering the Red Sea between Djibouti and Sudan
Geographic coordinatesMap reference:
Africa, Standard Time Zones of the WorldAreaTotal area total: 121,320 km²
Land: 121,320 km²
Land boundaries: total 1,630 km, Djibouti 113 km, Ethiopia 912 km, Sudan 605 km
Coastline: 1,151 km (land and island coastline is 2,234 km)
Maritime claims: territorial sea:12 nm
Climate: 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 coast desert
Terrain: dominated by extension of Ethiopian north-south trending highlands, descending on the east to a coastal desert plan, on the northwest to hilly terrain and on the southwest to flat-to-rolling plains
ElevationNatural resources: gold, potash, zinc, copper, salt, probably oil, fish
Land useArable land: 3%
Permanent crops: 2% (coffee)
Meadows and pastures: 40%
Forest and woodland: 5%
Other: 50%
Irrigated land: NA km²
Major riversMajor watersheds area km²Total water withdrawalTotal renewable water resourcesNatural hazards: frequent droughts
GeographyNote: strategic geopolitical position along world's busiest shipping lanes and close to Arabian oilfields, Eritrea retained the entire coastline of Ethiopia along the Red Sea upon de jure independence from Ethiopia on 27 April 1993
top of pagePopulation: 3,782,543 (July 1994 est.)
Growth rate: 3.41% (1994 est.)
Nationality: noun:Eritrean(s)
Ethnic groups: ethnic Tigrays 50%, Tigre and Kunama 40%, Afar 4%, Saho (Red Sea coast dwellers) 3%
Languages: Tigre and Kunama, Cushitic dialects, Tigre, Nora Bana, Arabic
Religions: Muslim, Coptic Christian, Roman Catholic, Protestant
Demographic profileAge structureDependency ratiosMedian agePopulation growth rate: 3.41% (1994 est.)
Birth rateDeath rateNet migration ratePopulation distributionUrbanizationMajor urban areasEnvironmentCurrent issues: famine; deforestation; soil erosion; overgrazing; loss of infrastructure from civil warfare
International agreements: NA
Air pollutantsSex ratioMothers mean age at first birthMaternal mortality ratioInfant mortality rateLife expectancy at birthTotal fertility rateContraceptive prevalence rateDrinking water sourceCurrent health expenditurePhysicians densityHospital bed densitySanitation facility accessHiv/AidsMajor infectious diseasesObesity adult prevalence rateAlcohol consumptionTobacco useChildren under the age of 5 years underweightEducation expendituresLiteracyTotal population: NA%
Male: NA%
Female: NA%
School life expectancy primary to tertiary educationYouth unemploymenttop of pageCountry nameConventional long form: State of Eritrea
Conventional short form:local long form: none
local short form; none
Former: Eritrea Autonomous Region in Ethiopia
Government type: transitional government
Note: on 29 May 1991 ISSAIAS Afeworke, secretary general of the Eritrean People's Liberation Front (EPLF), announced the formation of the Provisional Government in Eritrea (PGE), in preparation for the 23-25 April 1993 referendum on independence for the autonomous region of Eritrea; the result was a landslide vote for independence that was announced on 27 April 1993
Capital: Asmara (formerly Asmera)
Administrative divisions: 7 provinces; Akale Guzay, Baraka, Denakil, Hamasen, Samhar, Seraye, Sahil (1993)
Dependent areasIndependence: 27 May 1993 (from Ethiopia; formerly the Eritrea Autonomous Region)
National holiday: National Day (independence from Ethiopia), 24 May (1993)
Constitution: transitional "constitution" decreed 19 May 1993
Legal system: NA
International law organization participationCitizenshipSuffrage: NA
Executive branch: chief of state and head of government:President ISSAIAS Afeworke (since 22 May 1993)
Legislative branch: Eritrean People's Liberation Front (EPLF)
National Assembly: EPLF Central Committee serves as the country's legislative body until multinational elections are held (before 20 May 1997)
Judicial branch: Judiciary
Political parties and leadersInternational organization participation: OAU, ACP, AfDB, ECA, ILO, IMO, INTELSAT (nonsignatory user), ITU, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UPU, WMO
Diplomatic representationFrom the us chief of mission: Ambassador Robert G. HOUDEK
From the us chancery: Suite 400, 910 17th Street NW, Washington DC 20,006
From the us telephone: [291] (1) 123-720
From the us fax: (202) 429-9,004
From the us embassy: 34 Zera Yacob St., Asmara
From the us mailing address: P.O. Box 211, Asmara
From the us FAX: [291] (1) 127-584
Flag description
: 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
National symbolsNational anthemNational heritagetop of pageEconomy overview: With independence from Ethiopia on 27 April 1993, Eritrea faces the bitter economic problems of a small, desperately poor African country. Most of the population will continue to depend on subsistence farming. Domestic output is substantially augmented by worker remittances from abroad. Government revenues come from custom duties and income and sales taxes. 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. For the time being, Ethiopia will be largely dependent on Eritrean ports for its foreign trade.
Real gdp purchasing power parityReal gdp growth rate: NA%
Real gdp per capita: $500 (1993 est.)
Gross national savingGdp composition by sector of origin
Gdp composition by end useGdp composition by sector of originAgriculture products: products - sorghum, livestock (including goats), fish, lentils, vegetables, maize, cotton, tobacco, coffee, sisal (for making rope)
Industries: food processing, beverages, clothing and textiles
Industrial production growth rate: NA%
Labor force: NA
Unemployment rate: NA%
Youth unemploymentPopulation below poverty lineGini indexHousehold income or consumption by percentage shareDistribution of family income gini indexBudget: revenues:$NA
Taxes and other revenuesPublic debtRevenueFiscal year: NA
Inflation rate consumer pricesCentral bank discount rateCommercial bank prime lending rateStock of narrow moneyStock of broad moneyStock of domestic creditMarket value of publicly traded sharesCurrent account balanceExports: $NA
Commodities: NA
Partners: NA
Imports: $NA
Commodities: NA
Partners: NA
Reserves of foreign exchange and goldDebt external: $NA
Stock of direct foreign investment at homeStock of direct foreign investment abroadExchange rates: 1 birr (Br) per US$1 - 5.000 (fixed rate since 1992)
top of pageElectricityCapacity: NA kW
Production: NA kWh
Consumption per capita: NA kWh
CoalPetroleumCrude oilRefined petroleumNatural gasCarbon dioxide emissionsEnergy consumption per capitatop of pageTelephonesTelephone systemBroadcast mediaInternetBroadband fixed subscriptionstop of pageMilitary expendituresDollar figure: $NA, NA% of GDP
Military and security forcesMilitary service age and obligationSpace programTerrorist groupstop of pageNational air transport systemCivil aircraft registration country code prefixAirports: 5
Usable: 5
With permanentsurface runways: 2
With runways over 3659 m: 0
With runways 2440-3659 m: 2
With runways 1220-2439 m: 2
HeliportsPipelinesRailwaysRoadwaysWaterwaysMerchant marine: none
Ports and terminalsEritrea - Transnational issues 1994
top of pageDisputes international: none
Refugees and internally displaced personsIllicit drugs