Eastern Africa > Eritrea > People, Geography and History

This information is current as of Tuesday, January 6, 2009 - 11:00:05 ERITREA November 15, 2008 The U.S. Department of State warns U.S. citizens of the risks of travel to Eritrea and recommends that U.S. citizens defer travel at this time. This replaces the Travel Warning dated June 11, 2008, and informs U.S. citizens that the consular section of the U.S. Embassy in Asmara is currently closed for all public non-emergency services. The Consular Section will continue to provide emergency ... Read this Article

Global Cost of Living Rank

Location: Asmara
Rank: 589 of 1082 monitored. Click for Detail

CIA Background Information

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 two-and-a-half-year border war with Ethiopia that erupted in 1998 ended under UN auspices in December 2000. Eritrea currently hosts a UN peacekeeping operation that is monitoring a 25 km-wide Temporary Security Zone (TSZ) on the border with Ethiopia. An international commission, organized to resolve the border dispute, posted its findings in 2002. However, both parties have been unable to reach agreement on implementing the decision. On 30 November 2007, the Eritrea-Ethiopia Boundary Commission remotely demarcated the border by coordinates and dissolved itself, leaving Ethiopia still occupying several tracts of disputed territory, including the town of Badme. Eritrea accepted the EEBC's "virtual demarcation" decision and called on Ethiopia to remove its troops from the TSZ which it states is Eritrean territory. Ethiopia has not accepted the virtual demarcation decision.

U.S. State Department Description

Country Description: Eritrea is a poor but developing East African country, the capital of which is Asmara. Formerly a province of Ethiopia, Eritrea became an independent country on May 24, 1993, following a 30-year struggle that culminated in an overwhelming referendum vote for independence. Tourism facilities are very limited. Read the Department of State Background Notes on Eritrea for additional information. ENTRY/EXIT REQUIREMENTS: All travelers should have a passport and valid visa prior to arrival; visas are not available at the airport unless specifically pre-authorized by the Eritrean government. Travelers visiting Eritrea using a foreign ... Read this Article

About the People

People Nationality: Noun and adjective--Eritrean(s). Population (2004 est.): 3.6 million. Annual growth rate: 2.5%. Ethnic groups: Tigrinya 50%, Tigre 31.4%, Saho 5%, Afar 5%, Beja 2.5%, Bilen 2.1%, Kunama 2%, Nara 1.5%, and Rashaida 0.5%. Religions: Christian 50%, mostly Orthodox, Muslim 48%, indigenous beliefs 2%. Education: Years compulsory--none. Attendance--elementary (net 2002) 45.2%; secondary (net 2002) 21.2%. Health: Infant mortality rate (2003)--45/1,000. Life expectancy--52 yrs. Work force: Agriculture--80%. Industry ... Read this Article

Statistics at a Glance

Location: Eritrea is Eastern Africa, bordering the Red Sea, between Djibouti and Sudan See Map

Capital: name: Asmara (Asmera)
geographic coordinates: 15 20 N, 38 56 E
time difference: UTC+3 (8 hours ahead of Washington, DC during Standard Time)

Currency (Code): nakfa (ERN) ...More

Area: total: 121,320 sq km , land: 121,320 sq km , water: 0 sq km ( 1 sq km is approximately 0.4 sq miles or 250 acres)

Area Comparison: slightly larger than Pennsylvania

Elevation Extremes: lowest point: near Kulul within the Denakil depression -75 m , highest point: Soira 3,018 m (1 meter = 3.28 feet)

Population: 5,502,026 (July 2008 est.)

Unemployment: NA%

Ethnic Groups: Tigrinya 50%, Tigre and Kunama 40%, Afar 4%, Saho (Red Sea coast dwellers) 3%, other 3%

Religion: Muslim, Coptic Christian, Roman Catholic, Protestant

Languages: Afar, Arabic, Tigre and Kunama, Tigrinya, other Cushitic languages

More Statistics

History

History Prior to Italian colonization in 1885, what is now Eritrea had been ruled by the various local or international powers that successively dominated the Red Sea region. In 1896, the Italians used Eritrea as a springboard for their disastrous attempt to conquer Ethiopia. Eritrea was placed under British military administration after ... Read this Article

Geographic Info for Eritrea :

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. ... Read this Article

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