factbook.json/africa/er.json

{
  "Introduction": {
    "Background": {
      "text": "<p>Eritrea won independence from Italian colonial control in 1941, but the UN only established it as an autonomous region within the Ethiopian federation in 1952, after a decade of British administrative control. Ethiopia's full annexation of Eritrea as a province 10 years later sparked a violent 30-year conflict for independence that ended in 1991 with Eritrean fighters defeating government forces. Eritreans overwhelmingly approved independence in a 1993 referendum. ISAIAS Afwerki has been Eritrea's only president since independence; his rule, particularly since 2001, has been characterized by highly autocratic and repressive actions. His government has created a highly militarized society by instituting an unpopular program of mandatory conscription into national service -- divided between military and civilian service -- of indefinite length. <br><br>A two-and-a-half-year border war with Ethiopia that erupted in 1998 ended under UN auspices in 2000. Ethiopia rejected a subsequent 2007 Eritrea-Ethiopia Boundary Commission (EEBC) demarcation. More than a decade of a tense “no peace, no war” stalemate ended in 2018 when the newly elected Ethiopian prime minister accepted the EEBC’s 2007 ruling, and the two countries signed declarations of peace and friendship. Eritrean leaders then engaged in intensive diplomacy around the Horn of Africa, bolstering regional peace, security, and cooperation, as well as brokering rapprochements between governments and opposition groups. In 2018, the UN Security Council lifted an arms embargo that had been imposed on Eritrea since 2009, after the UN Somalia-Eritrea Monitoring Group reported they had not found evidence of Eritrean support in recent years for al-Shabaab. The country’s rapprochement with Ethiopia led to a resumption of economic ties, but the level of air transport, trade, and tourism have remained roughly the same since late 2020. <br><br>The Eritrean economy remains agriculture-dependent, and the country is still one of Africa’s poorest nations. Eritrea faced new international condemnation and US sanctions in mid-2021 for its participation in the war in Ethiopia’s Tigray Regional State, where Eritrean forces were found to have committed war crimes and crimes against humanity. As most Eritrean troops were departing northern Ethiopia in January 2023, ISAIAS began a series of diplomatic engagements aimed at bolstering Eritrea’s foreign partnerships and regional influence. Despite the country's improved relations with its neighbors, ISAIAS has not let up on repression, and conscription and militarization continue.</p>"
    }
  },
  "Geography": {
    "Location": {
      "text": "Eastern Africa, bordering the Red Sea, between Djibouti and Sudan"
    },
    "Geographic coordinates": {
      "text": "15 00 N, 39 00 E"
    },
    "Map references": {
      "text": "Africa"
    },
    "Area": {
      "total ": {
        "text": "117,600 sq km"
      },
      "land": {
        "text": "101,000 sq km"
      },
      "water": {
        "text": "16,600 sq km"
      }
    },
    "Area - comparative": {
      "text": "slightly smaller than Pennsylvania"
    },
    "Land boundaries": {
      "total": {
        "text": "1,840 km"
      },
      "border countries": {
        "text": "Djibouti 125 km; Ethiopia 1,033 km; Sudan 682 km"
      }
    },
    "Coastline": {
      "text": "2,234 km (mainland on Red Sea 1,151 km, islands in Red Sea 1,083 km)"
    },
    "Maritime claims": {
      "territorial sea": {
        "text": "12 nm"
      }
    },
    "Climate": {
      "text": "hot, dry desert strip along Red Sea coast; cooler and wetter in the central highlands (up to 61 cm of rainfall annually, heaviest June to September); semiarid in western hills and lowlands"
    },
    "Terrain": {
      "text": "dominated by extension of Ethiopian north-south trending highlands, descending on the east to a coastal desert plain, on the northwest to hilly terrain and on the southwest to flat-to-rolling plains"
    },
    "Elevation": {
      "highest point": {
        "text": "Soira 3,018 m"
      },
      "lowest point": {
        "text": "near Kulul within the Danakil Depression -75 m"
      },
      "mean elevation": {
        "text": "853 m"
      }
    },
    "Natural resources": {
      "text": "gold, potash, zinc, copper, salt, possibly oil and natural gas, fish"
    },
    "Land use": {
      "agricultural land": {
        "text": "75.1% (2018 est.)"
      },
      "agricultural land: arable land": {
        "text": "arable land: 6.8% (2018 est.)"
      },
      "agricultural land: permanent crops": {
        "text": "permanent crops: 0% (2018 est.)"
      },
      "agricultural land: permanent pasture": {
        "text": "permanent pasture: 68.3% (2018 est.)"
      },
      "forest": {
        "text": "15.1% (2018 est.)"
      },
      "other": {
        "text": "9.8% (2018 est.)"
      }
    },
    "Irrigated land": {
      "text": "210 sq km (2012)"
    },
    "Population distribution": {
      "text": "density is highest in the center of the country in and around the cities of Asmara (capital) and Keren; smaller settlements exist in the north and south as shown in this population distribution map"
    },
    "Natural hazards": {
      "text": "<p>frequent droughts, rare earthquakes and volcanoes; locust swarms</p><p><strong>volcanism:</strong> Dubbi (1,625 m), which last erupted in 1861, was the country's only historically active volcano until Nabro (2,218 m) came to life on 12 June 2011</p>"
    },
    "Geography - note": {
      "text": "strategic geopolitical position along world's busiest shipping lanes; Eritrea retained the entire coastline of Ethiopia along the Red Sea upon de jure independence from Ethiopia on 24 May 1993"
    }
  },
  "People and Society": {
    "Population": {
      "total": {
        "text": "6,343,956"
      },
      "male": {
        "text": "3,122,433"
      },
      "female": {
        "text": "3,221,523 (2024 est.)"
      }
    },
    "Nationality": {
      "noun": {
        "text": "Eritrean(s)"
      },
      "adjective": {
        "text": "Eritrean"
      }
    },
    "Ethnic groups": {
      "text": "Tigrinya 50%, Tigre 30%, Saho 4%, Afar 4%, Kunama 4%, Bilen 3%, Hedareb/Beja 2%, Nara 2%, Rashaida 1% (2021 est.)",
      "note": "<strong>note:</strong> data represent Eritrea's nine recognized ethnic groups"
    },
    "Languages": {
      "text": "Tigrinya (official), Arabic (official), English (official), Tigre, Kunama, Afar, other Cushitic languages"
    },
    "Religions": {
      "text": "Eritrean Orthodox, Roman Catholic, Evangelical Lutheran, Sunni Muslim"
    },
    "Demographic profile": {
      "text": "<p>Eritrea is a persistently poor country that has made progress in some socioeconomic categories but not in others. Education and human capital formation are national priorities for facilitating economic development and eradicating poverty. To this end, Eritrea has made great strides in improving adult literacy – doubling the literacy rate over the last 20 years – in large part because of its successful adult education programs. The overall literacy rate was estimated to be more than 75% in 2018; more work needs to be done to raise female literacy and school attendance among nomadic and rural communities. Subsistence farming fails to meet the needs of Eritrea’s growing population because of repeated droughts, dwindling arable land, overgrazing, soil erosion, and a shortage of farmers due to conscription and displacement. The government’s emphasis on spending on defense over agriculture and its lack of foreign exchange to import food also contribute to food insecurity.</p> <p>Eritrea has been a leading refugee source country since at least the 1960s, when its 30-year war for independence from Ethiopia began. Since gaining independence in 1993, Eritreans have continued migrating to Sudan, Ethiopia, Yemen, Egypt, or Israel because of a lack of basic human rights or political freedom, educational and job opportunities, or to seek asylum because of militarization. Eritrea’s large diaspora has been a source of vital remittances, funding its war for independence and providing 30% of the country’s GDP annually since it became independent.</p> <p>In the last few years, Eritreans have increasingly been trafficked and held hostage by Bedouins in the Sinai Desert, where they are victims of organ harvesting, rape, extortion, and torture. Some Eritrean trafficking victims are kidnapped after being smuggled to Sudan or Ethiopia, while others are kidnapped from within or around refugee camps or crossing Eritrea’s borders. Eritreans composed approximately 90% of the conservatively estimated 25,000-30,000 victims of Sinai trafficking from 2009-2013, according to a 2013 consultancy firm report.</p>"
    },
    "Age structure": {
      "0-14 years": {
        "text": "35.7% (male 1,138,382/female 1,123,925)"
      },
      "15-64 years": {
        "text": "60.3% (male 1,882,547/female 1,944,266)"
      },
      "65 years and over": {
        "text": "4% (2024 est.) (male 101,504/female 153,332)"
      }
    },
    "Dependency ratios": {
      "total dependency ratio": {
        "text": "77.9"
      },
      "youth dependency ratio": {
        "text": "70.8"
      },
      "elderly dependency ratio": {
        "text": "7.1"
      },
      "potential support ratio": {
        "text": "14 (2021 est.)"
      }
    },
    "Median age": {
      "total": {
        "text": "21.3 years (2024 est.)"
      },
      "male": {
        "text": "20.8 years"
      },
      "female": {
        "text": "21.8 years"
      }
    },
    "Population growth rate": {
      "text": "1.12% (2024 est.)"
    },
    "Birth rate": {
      "text": "26.3 births/1,000 population (2024 est.)"
    },
    "Death rate": {
      "text": "6.5 deaths/1,000 population (2024 est.)"
    },
    "Net migration rate": {
      "text": "-8.7 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2024 est.)"
    },
    "Population distribution": {
      "text": "density is highest in the center of the country in and around the cities of Asmara (capital) and Keren; smaller settlements exist in the north and south as shown in this population distribution map"
    },
    "Urbanization": {
      "urban population": {
        "text": "43.3% of total population (2023)"
      },
      "rate of urbanization": {
        "text": "3.67% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)"
      }
    },
    "Major urban areas - population": {
      "text": "1.073 million ASMARA (capital) (2023)"
    },
    "Sex ratio": {
      "at birth": {
        "text": "1.03 male(s)/female"
      },
      "0-14 years": {
        "text": "1.01 male(s)/female"
      },
      "15-64 years": {
        "text": "0.97 male(s)/female"
      },
      "65 years and over": {
        "text": "0.66 male(s)/female"
      },
      "total population": {
        "text": "0.97 male(s)/female (2024 est.)"
      }
    },
    "Mother's mean age at first birth": {
      "text": "21.3 years (2010 est.)",
      "note": "<strong>note:</strong> data represents median age at first birth among women 25-29"
    },
    "Maternal mortality ratio": {
      "text": "322 deaths/100,000 live births (2020 est.)"
    },
    "Infant mortality rate": {
      "total": {
        "text": "39.8 deaths/1,000 live births (2024 est.)"
      },
      "male": {
        "text": "46.6 deaths/1,000 live births"
      },
      "female": {
        "text": "32.8 deaths/1,000 live births"
      }
    },
    "Life expectancy at birth": {
      "total population": {
        "text": "67.5 years (2024 est.)"
      },
      "male": {
        "text": "64.9 years"
      },
      "female": {
        "text": "70.2 years"
      }
    },
    "Total fertility rate": {
      "text": "3.43 children born/woman (2024 est.)"
    },
    "Gross reproduction rate": {
      "text": "1.69 (2024 est.)"
    },
    "Contraceptive prevalence rate": {
      "text": "NA"
    },
    "Drinking water source": {
      "improved: urban": {
        "text": "urban: 73.2% of population"
      },
      "improved: rural": {
        "text": "rural: 53.3% of population"
      },
      "improved: total": {
        "text": "total: 57.8% of population"
      },
      "unimproved: urban": {
        "text": "urban: 26.8% of population"
      },
      "unimproved: rural": {
        "text": "rural: 46.7% of population"
      },
      "unimproved: total": {
        "text": "total: 42.2% of population (2015 est.)"
      }
    },
    "Current health expenditure": {
      "text": "4.1% of GDP (2020)"
    },
    "Physician density": {
      "text": "0.08 physicians/1,000 population (2020)"
    },
    "Hospital bed density": {
      "text": "0.7 beds/1,000 population (2011)"
    },
    "Sanitation facility access": {
      "improved: urban": {
        "text": "urban: 44.5% of population"
      },
      "improved: rural": {
        "text": "rural: 7.3% of population"
      },
      "improved: total": {
        "text": "total: 15.7% of population"
      },
      "unimproved: urban": {
        "text": "urban: 55.5% of population"
      },
      "unimproved: rural": {
        "text": "rural: 92.7% of population"
      },
      "unimproved: total": {
        "text": "total: 84.3% of population (2017 est.)"
      }
    },
    "Obesity - adult prevalence rate": {
      "text": "5% (2016)"
    },
    "Alcohol consumption per capita": {
      "total": {
        "text": "0.93 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)"
      },
      "beer": {
        "text": "0.42 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)"
      },
      "wine": {
        "text": "0 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)"
      },
      "spirits": {
        "text": "0 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)"
      },
      "other alcohols": {
        "text": "0.51 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)"
      }
    },
    "Tobacco use": {
      "total": {
        "text": "7.5% (2020 est.)"
      },
      "male": {
        "text": "14.7% (2020 est.)"
      },
      "female": {
        "text": "0.2% (2020 est.)"
      }
    },
    "Children under the age of 5 years underweight": {
      "text": "NA"
    },
    "Currently married women (ages 15-49)": {
      "text": "52.3% (2023 est.)"
    },
    "Education expenditures": {
      "text": "NA"
    },
    "Literacy": {
      "definition": {
        "text": "age 15 and over can read and write"
      },
      "total population": {
        "text": "76.6%"
      },
      "male": {
        "text": "84.4%"
      },
      "female": {
        "text": "68.9% (2018)"
      }
    },
    "School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education)": {
      "total": {
        "text": "8 years"
      },
      "male": {
        "text": "8 years"
      },
      "female": {
        "text": "7 years (2015)"
      }
    }
  },
  "Environment": {
    "Environment - current issues": {
      "text": "deforestation; desertification; soil erosion; overgrazing"
    },
    "Environment - international agreements": {
      "party to": {
        "text": "Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Ozone Layer Protection, Whaling"
      },
      "signed, but not ratified": {
        "text": "Climate Change-Paris Agreement"
      }
    },
    "Climate": {
      "text": "hot, dry desert strip along Red Sea coast; cooler and wetter in the central highlands (up to 61 cm of rainfall annually, heaviest June to September); semiarid in western hills and lowlands"
    },
    "Land use": {
      "agricultural land": {
        "text": "75.1% (2018 est.)"
      },
      "agricultural land: arable land": {
        "text": "arable land: 6.8% (2018 est.)"
      },
      "agricultural land: permanent crops": {
        "text": "permanent crops: 0% (2018 est.)"
      },
      "agricultural land: permanent pasture": {
        "text": "permanent pasture: 68.3% (2018 est.)"
      },
      "forest": {
        "text": "15.1% (2018 est.)"
      },
      "other": {
        "text": "9.8% (2018 est.)"
      }
    },
    "Urbanization": {
      "urban population": {
        "text": "43.3% of total population (2023)"
      },
      "rate of urbanization": {
        "text": "3.67% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)"
      }
    },
    "Air pollutants": {
      "particulate matter emissions": {
        "text": "22.74 micrograms per cubic meter (2019 est.)"
      },
      "carbon dioxide emissions": {
        "text": "0.71 megatons (2016 est.)"
      },
      "methane emissions": {
        "text": "4.48 megatons (2020 est.)"
      }
    },
    "Waste and recycling": {
      "municipal solid waste generated annually": {
        "text": "726,957 tons (2011 est.)"
      }
    },
    "Total water withdrawal": {
      "municipal": {
        "text": "30 million cubic meters (2020 est.)"
      },
      "industrial": {
        "text": "1 million cubic meters (2017 est.)"
      },
      "agricultural": {
        "text": "550 million cubic meters (2020 est.)"
      }
    },
    "Total renewable water resources": {
      "text": "7.32 billion cubic meters (2020 est.)"
    }
  },
  "Government": {
    "Country name": {
      "conventional long form": {
        "text": "State of Eritrea"
      },
      "conventional short form": {
        "text": "Eritrea"
      },
      "local long form": {
        "text": "Hagere Ertra"
      },
      "local short form": {
        "text": "Ertra"
      },
      "former": {
        "text": "Eritrea Autonomous Region in Ethiopia"
      },
      "etymology": {
        "text": "the country name derives from the ancient Greek appellation \"Erythra Thalassa\" meaning Red Sea, which is the major water body bordering the country"
      }
    },
    "Government type": {
      "text": "presidential republic"
    },
    "Capital": {
      "name": {
        "text": "Asmara"
      },
      "geographic coordinates": {
        "text": "15 20 N, 38 56 E"
      },
      "time difference": {
        "text": "UTC+3 (8 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)"
      },
      "etymology": {
        "text": "the name means \"they [women] made them unite,\" which according to Tigrinya oral tradition refers to the women of the four clans in the Asmara area who persuaded their menfolk to unite and defeat their common enemy; the name has also been translated as \"live in peace\""
      }
    },
    "Administrative divisions": {
      "text": "6 regions (zobatat, singular - zoba); 'Anseba, Debub (South), Debubawi K'eyyih Bahri (Southern Red Sea), Gash-Barka, Ma'ikel (Central), Semienawi K'eyyih Bahri (Northern Red Sea)"
    },
    "Independence": {
      "text": "24 May 1993 (from Ethiopia)"
    },
    "National holiday": {
      "text": "Independence Day, 24 May (1991)"
    },
    "Legal system": {
      "text": "mixed legal system of civil, customary, and Islamic religious law"
    },
    "Constitution": {
      "history": {
        "text": "ratified by the Constituent Assembly 23 May 1997 (never implemented)"
      },
      "amendments": {
        "text": "proposed by the president of Eritrea or by assent of at least one half of the National Assembly membership; passage requires at least an initial three-quarters majority vote by the Assembly and, after one year, final passage by at least four-fifths majority vote by the Assembly"
      }
    },
    "International law organization participation": {
      "text": "has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration; non-party state to the ICCt"
    },
    "Citizenship": {
      "citizenship by birth": {
        "text": "no"
      },
      "citizenship by descent only": {
        "text": "at least one parent must be a citizen of Eritrea"
      },
      "dual citizenship recognized": {
        "text": "no"
      },
      "residency requirement for naturalization": {
        "text": "20 years"
      }
    },
    "Suffrage": {
      "text": "18 years of age; universal"
    },
    "Executive branch": {
      "chief of state": {
        "text": "President ISAIAS Afwerki (since 24 May 1993)"
      },
      "head of government": {
        "text": "President ISAIAS Afwerki (since 8 June 1993)"
      },
      "cabinet": {
        "text": "State Council appointed by the president"
      },
      "elections/appointments": {
        "text": "president indirectly elected by the National Assembly for a 5-year term (eligible for a second term), according to the constitution; the only election held was&nbsp;on 24 May 1993, following independence from Ethiopia (next postponed indefinitely)"
      },
      "election results": {
        "text": "<em><br>1993:</em> ISAIAS Afwerki elected president by the transitional National Assembly; percent of National Assembly vote - ISAIAS Afwerki (PFDJ) 95%, other 5%"
      },
      "note": "<strong>note:</strong> the president is both chief of state and head of government and is head of the State Council and National Assembly"
    },
    "Legislative branch": {
      "legislature name": {
        "text": "National Assembly (Hagerawi Baito)"
      },
      "legislative structure": {
        "text": "unicameral"
      },
      "number of seats": {
        "text": "150 (all indirectly elected)"
      },
      "scope of elections": {
        "text": "full renewal"
      },
      "term in office": {
        "text": "4 years"
      },
      "most recent election date": {
        "text": "2/1/1994"
      },
      "percentage of women in chamber": {
        "text": "22%"
      },
      "note": "<strong>note:</strong> in 1997, after the new constitution was adopted, the government formed a Transitional National Assembly to serve as the country's legislative body until countrywide elections to form a National Assembly could be held; the constitution stipulates that once past the transition stage, all National Assembly members will be elected by secret ballot of all eligible voters; National Assembly elections scheduled for December 2001 were postponed indefinitely due to the war with Ethiopia; as of 2024, no sitting legislative body exists"
    },
    "Judicial branch": {
      "highest court(s)": {
        "text": "High Court (consists of 20 judges and organized into civil, commercial, criminal, labor, administrative, and customary sections)"
      },
      "judge selection and term of office": {
        "text": "High Court judges appointed by the president"
      },
      "subordinate courts": {
        "text": "regional/zonal courts; community courts; special courts; sharia courts (for issues dealing with Muslim marriage, inheritance, and family); military courts"
      }
    },
    "Political parties": {
      "text": "People's Front for Democracy and Justice or PFDJ (the only party recognized by the government)"
    },
    "International organization participation": {
      "text": "ACP, AfDB, AU, COMESA, FAO, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC (NGOs), IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS (observer), IGAD, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, ISO (correspondent), ITU, ITUC (NGOs), LAS (observer), MIGA, NAM, OPCW, PCA, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHRC, UNIDO, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WFTU (NGOs), WHO, WIPO, WMO"
    },
    "Diplomatic representation in the US": {
      "chief of mission": {
        "text": "Ambassador (vacant); Charg&eacute; d'Affaires Berhane Gebrehiwet SOLOMON (since 15 March 2011)"
      },
      "chancery": {
        "text": "1708 New Hampshire Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20009"
      },
      "telephone": {
        "text": "[1] (202) 319-1991"
      },
      "FAX": {
        "text": "[1] (202) 319-1304"
      },
      "email address and website": {
        "text": "<br>embassyeritrea@embassyeritrea.org<br><br>https://us.embassyeritrea.org/"
      }
    },
    "Diplomatic representation from the US": {
      "chief of mission": {
        "text": "Ambassador (vacant); Charg&eacute; d'Affaires Leslie FRERIKSEN (since 18 July 2022)"
      },
      "embassy": {
        "text": "179 Alaa Street, Asmara"
      },
      "mailing address": {
        "text": "7170 Asmara Place, Washington DC&nbsp; 20521-7170"
      },
      "telephone": {
        "text": "[291] (1) 12-00-04"
      },
      "FAX": {
        "text": "[291] (1) 12-75-84"
      },
      "email address and website": {
        "text": "<br>consularasmara@state.gov<br><br>https://er.usembassy.gov/"
      }
    },
    "Flag description": {
      "text": "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; green stands for the country's agriculture economy, red signifies the blood shed in the fight for freedom, and blue symbolizes the bounty of the sea; the wreath-olive branch symbol is similar to that on the first flag of Eritrea from 1952; the shape of the red triangle broadly mimics the shape of the country",
      "note": "<strong>note:</strong> one of several flags where a prominent component of the design reflects the shape of the country; other such flags are those of Bosnia and Herzegovina, Brazil, and Vanuatu"
    },
    "National symbol(s)": {
      "text": "camel; national colors: green, red, blue"
    },
    "National anthem": {
      "name": {
        "text": "\"Ertra, Ertra, Ertra\" (Eritrea, Eritrea, Eritrea)"
      },
      "lyrics/music": {
        "text": "SOLOMON Tsehaye Beraki/Isaac Abraham MEHAREZGI and ARON Tekle Tesfatsion"
      },
      "note": "<strong>note:</strong> adopted 1993; upon independence from Ethiopia"
    },
    "National heritage": {
      "total World Heritage Sites": {
        "text": "1 (cultural)"
      },
      "selected World Heritage Site locales": {
        "text": "Asmara: A Modernist African City"
      }
    }
  },
  "Economy": {
    "Economic overview": {
      "text": "largely agrarian economy with a significant mining sector; substantial fiscal surplus due to tight controls; high and vulnerable debts; increased Ethiopian trade and shared port usage decreasing prices; financial and economic data integrity challenges"
    },
    "Real GDP (purchasing power parity)": {
      "Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2017": {
        "text": "$9.702 billion (2017 est.)"
      },
      "Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2016": {
        "text": "$8.953 billion (2016 est.)"
      },
      "Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2015": {
        "text": "$8.791 billion (2015 est.)"
      },
      "note": "<strong>note:</strong> data are in 2017 dollars"
    },
    "Real GDP growth rate": {
      "Real GDP growth rate 2017": {
        "text": "5% (2017 est.)"
      },
      "Real GDP growth rate 2016": {
        "text": "1.9% (2016 est.)"
      },
      "Real GDP growth rate 2015": {
        "text": "2.6% (2015 est.)"
      }
    },
    "Real GDP per capita": {
      "Real GDP per capita 2017": {
        "text": "$1,600 (2017 est.)"
      },
      "Real GDP per capita 2016": {
        "text": "$1,500 (2016 est.)"
      },
      "Real GDP per capita 2015": {
        "text": "$1,500 (2015 est.)"
      },
      "note": "<strong>note:</strong> data are in 2017 dollars"
    },
    "GDP (official exchange rate)": {
      "text": "$5.813 billion (2017 est.)"
    },
    "Inflation rate (consumer prices)": {
      "Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2017": {
        "text": "9% (2017 est.)"
      },
      "Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2016": {
        "text": "9% (2016 est.)"
      }
    },
    "GDP - composition, by sector of origin": {
      "agriculture": {
        "text": "11.7% (2017 est.)"
      },
      "industry": {
        "text": "29.6% (2017 est.)"
      },
      "services": {
        "text": "58.7% (2017 est.)"
      }
    },
    "GDP - composition, by end use": {
      "household consumption": {
        "text": "80.9% (2017 est.)"
      },
      "government consumption": {
        "text": "24.3% (2017 est.)"
      },
      "investment in fixed capital": {
        "text": "6.4% (2017 est.)"
      },
      "investment in inventories": {
        "text": "0.1% (2017 est.)"
      },
      "exports of goods and services": {
        "text": "10.9% (2017 est.)"
      },
      "imports of goods and services": {
        "text": "-22.5% (2017 est.)"
      }
    },
    "Agricultural products": {
      "text": "sorghum, milk, barley, vegetables, root vegetables, cereals, pulses, millet, wheat, beef (2022)",
      "note": "<b>note:</b> top ten agricultural products based on tonnage"
    },
    "Industries": {
      "text": "food processing, beverages, clothing and textiles, light manufacturing, salt, cement"
    },
    "Industrial production growth rate": {
      "text": "4.3% (2014 est.)",
      "note": "<b>note:</b> annual % change in industrial value added based on constant local currency"
    },
    "Labor force": {
      "text": "1.666 million (2023 est.)",
      "note": "<b>note:</b> number of people ages 15 or older who are employed or seeking work"
    },
    "Unemployment rate": {
      "Unemployment rate 2023": {
        "text": "5.87% (2023 est.)"
      },
      "Unemployment rate 2022": {
        "text": "5.94% (2022 est.)"
      },
      "Unemployment rate 2021": {
        "text": "6.34% (2021 est.)"
      },
      "note": "<b>note:</b> % of labor force seeking employment"
    },
    "Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24)": {
      "total": {
        "text": "10% (2023 est.)"
      },
      "male": {
        "text": "8.9% (2023 est.)"
      },
      "female": {
        "text": "11.3% (2023 est.)"
      },
      "note": "<b>note:</b> % of labor force ages 15-24 seeking employment"
    },
    "Budget": {
      "revenues": {
        "text": "$633 million (2018 est.)"
      },
      "expenditures": {
        "text": "$549 million (2018 est.)"
      }
    },
    "Public debt": {
      "Public debt 2017": {
        "text": "131.2% of GDP (2017 est.)"
      }
    },
    "Taxes and other revenues": {
      "text": "34.9% (of GDP) (2017 est.)"
    },
    "Current account balance": {
      "Current account balance 2017": {
        "text": "-$137 million (2017 est.)"
      },
      "Current account balance 2016": {
        "text": "-$105 million (2016 est.)"
      }
    },
    "Exports": {
      "Exports 2017": {
        "text": "$624.3 million (2017 est.)"
      },
      "Exports 2016": {
        "text": "$485.4 million (2016 est.)"
      }
    },
    "Exports - partners": {
      "text": "China 52%, UAE 33%, South Korea 9%, Japan 2%, Madagascar 2% (2022)",
      "note": "<b>note:</b> top five export partners based on percentage share of exports"
    },
    "Exports - commodities": {
      "text": "zinc ore, gold, copper ore, wheat, garments (2022)",
      "note": "<b>note:</b> top five export commodities based on value in dollars"
    },
    "Imports": {
      "Imports 2017": {
        "text": "$1.127 billion (2017 est.)"
      },
      "Imports 2016": {
        "text": "$1.048 billion (2016 est.)"
      }
    },
    "Imports - partners": {
      "text": "China 34%, UAE 26%, Turkey 12%, US 7%, India 4% (2022)",
      "note": "<b>note:</b> top five import partners based on percentage share of imports"
    },
    "Imports - commodities": {
      "text": "ships, sorghum, wheat, construction vehicles, other foods (2022)",
      "note": "<b>note:</b> top five import commodities based on value in dollars"
    },
    "Reserves of foreign exchange and gold": {
      "Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2019": {
        "text": "$191.694 million (2019 est.)"
      },
      "Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2018": {
        "text": "$163.034 million (2018 est.)"
      },
      "Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2017": {
        "text": "$143.412 million (2017 est.)"
      },
      "note": "<b>note:</b> holdings of gold (year-end prices)/foreign exchange/special drawing rights in current dollars"
    },
    "Debt - external": {
      "Debt - external 2023": {
        "text": "$513.131 million (2023 est.)"
      },
      "note": "<b>note:</b> present value of external debt in current US dollars"
    },
    "Exchange rates": {
      "Currency": {
        "text": "nakfa (ERN) per US dollar -"
      },
      "Exchange rates 2023": {
        "text": "15.075 (2023 est.)"
      },
      "Exchange rates 2022": {
        "text": "15.075 (2022 est.)"
      },
      "Exchange rates 2021": {
        "text": "15.075 (2021 est.)"
      },
      "Exchange rates 2020": {
        "text": "15.075 (2020 est.)"
      },
      "Exchange rates 2019": {
        "text": "15.075 (2019 est.)"
      }
    }
  },
  "Energy": {
    "Electricity access": {
      "electrification - total population": {
        "text": "55.4% (2022 est.)"
      },
      "electrification - urban areas": {
        "text": "75.5%"
      },
      "electrification - rural areas": {
        "text": "36%"
      }
    },
    "Electricity": {
      "installed generating capacity": {
        "text": "219,000 kW (2022 est.)"
      },
      "consumption": {
        "text": "337.42 million kWh (2022 est.)"
      },
      "transmission/distribution losses": {
        "text": "50.261 million kWh (2022 est.)"
      }
    },
    "Electricity generation sources": {
      "fossil fuels": {
        "text": "96.3% of total installed capacity (2022 est.)"
      },
      "solar": {
        "text": "3.2% of total installed capacity (2022 est.)"
      },
      "wind": {
        "text": "0.5% of total installed capacity (2022 est.)"
      }
    },
    "Petroleum": {
      "refined petroleum consumption": {
        "text": "4,000 bbl/day (2022 est.)"
      }
    },
    "Carbon dioxide emissions": {
      "total emissions": {
        "text": "671,000 metric tonnes of CO2 (2022 est.)"
      },
      "from petroleum and other liquids": {
        "text": "671,000 metric tonnes of CO2 (2022 est.)"
      }
    },
    "Energy consumption per capita": {
      "Total energy consumption per capita 2022": {
        "text": "2.53 million Btu/person (2022 est.)"
      }
    }
  },
  "Communications": {
    "Telephones - fixed lines": {
      "total subscriptions": {
        "text": "66,000 (2021 est.)"
      },
      "subscriptions per 100 inhabitants": {
        "text": "2 (2022 est.)"
      }
    },
    "Telephones - mobile cellular": {
      "total subscriptions": {
        "text": "1.8 million (2021 est.)"
      },
      "subscriptions per 100 inhabitants": {
        "text": "50 (2021 est.)"
      }
    },
    "Telecommunication systems": {
      "general assessment": {
        "text": "Eritrea&rsquo;s telecom sector operates under a state-owned monopoly for fixed and mobile services; as a result of such restrictions on competition, the country has the least developed telecommunications market in Africa; mobile penetration stands at only about 20%, while fixed-line internet use barely registers; this is exacerbated by the very low use of computers, with only about 4% of households having a computer, and most of these being in the capital, Asmara; the 3G network continues to rollout which provides basic internet access to a limited number of Eritreans who can afford the expensive services; investment in telecom infrastructure is still required to improve the quality of services; the government has embarked on a work program to do exactly that, specifically aimed at extending services to remote areas, improving the quality of services, and ensuring that more telecoms infrastructure is supported by solar power to compensate for the poor state of the electricity network (2022)"
      },
      "domestic": {
        "text": "fixed-line subscribership is less than 2 per 100 persons and mobile-cellular is just over 50 per 100 (2021)"
      },
      "international": {
        "text": "country code - 291 (2019)"
      }
    },
    "Broadcast media": {
      "text": "government controls broadcast media with private ownership prohibited; 1 state-owned TV station; 2 state-owned radio networks; purchases of satellite dishes and subscriptions to international broadcast media are permitted (2023)"
    },
    "Internet country code": {
      "text": ".er"
    },
    "Internet users": {
      "percent of population": {
        "text": "27% (2022 est.)"
      }
    },
    "Broadband - fixed subscriptions": {
      "total": {
        "text": "6,000 (2022 est.)"
      },
      "subscriptions per 100 inhabitants": {
        "text": "(2022 est.) less than 1"
      }
    }
  },
  "Transportation": {
    "National air transport system": {
      "number of registered air carriers": {
        "text": "1 (2020)"
      },
      "inventory of registered aircraft operated by air carriers": {
        "text": "1"
      },
      "annual passenger traffic on registered air carriers": {
        "text": "102,729 (2018)"
      }
    },
    "Civil aircraft registration country code prefix": {
      "text": "E3"
    },
    "Airports": {
      "text": "10 (2024)"
    },
    "Railways": {
      "total": {
        "text": "306 km (2018)"
      },
      "narrow gauge": {
        "text": "306 km (2018) 0.950-m gauge"
      }
    },
    "Roadways": {
      "total": {
        "text": "16,000 km (2018)"
      },
      "paved": {
        "text": "1,600 km (2000)"
      },
      "unpaved": {
        "text": "14,400 km (2000)"
      }
    },
    "Merchant marine": {
      "total": {
        "text": "9 (2023)"
      },
      "by type": {
        "text": "general cargo 4, oil tanker 1, other 4"
      }
    },
    "Ports": {
      "total ports": {
        "text": "2 (2024)"
      },
      "large": {
        "text": "0"
      },
      "medium": {
        "text": "0"
      },
      "small": {
        "text": "2"
      },
      "very small": {
        "text": "0"
      },
      "ports with oil terminals": {
        "text": "2"
      },
      "key ports": {
        "text": "Assab, Mitsiwa Harbor"
      }
    }
  },
  "Military and Security": {
    "Military and security forces": {
      "text": "Eritrean Defense Forces (EDF): Eritrean Ground Forces, Eritrean Navy, Eritrean Air Force (includes Air Defense Force); People's Militia (aka People's Army or Hizbawi Serawit) (2023)",
      "note": "<strong>note: </strong>police are responsible for maintaining internal security, but the government sometimes used the armed forces, reserves, demobilized soldiers, or civilian militia to meet domestic as well as external security requirements; the armed forces have authority to arrest and detain civilians"
    },
    "Military expenditures": {
      "Military Expenditures 2019": {
        "text": "10% of GDP (2019 est.)"
      },
      "Military Expenditures 2018": {
        "text": "10.2% of GDP (2018 est.)"
      },
      "Military Expenditures 2017": {
        "text": "10.3% of GDP (2017 est.)"
      },
      "Military Expenditures 2016": {
        "text": "10.4% of GDP (2016 est.)"
      },
      "Military Expenditures 2015": {
        "text": "10.6% of GDP (2015 est.)"
      }
    },
    "Military and security service personnel strengths": {
      "text": "available information varies widely; estimated 150,000-200,000 personnel (2024)"
    },
    "Military equipment inventories and acquisitions": {
      "text": "the EDF's inventory is comprised primarily of Soviet-era weapons and equipment (2024)"
    },
    "Military service age and obligation": {
      "text": "Eritrea mandates military service for all citizens age 18-40; 18-month conscript service obligation, which includes 4-6 months of military training and 12 months of military or other national service (military service is most common); in practice, military and national service is often extended indefinitely; citizens up to the age of 55 eligible for recall during mobilization (2023)"
    },
    "Military - note": {
      "text": "the military’s primary responsibilities are external defense, border security, and providing the regime a vehicle for national cohesion; the Army is the dominant service; it is a large, conscript-based force and estimated to have more than 20 infantry divisions, including some that are mechanized, as well as a division of commandos/special forces<br><br>since the country's independence in 1991, the Eritrean military has participated in numerous conflicts, including the Hanish Island Crisis with Yemen (1995), the First Congo War (1996-1997), the Second Sudanese Civil War (1996-1998), the Eritrea-Ethiopia War (1998-2000), the Djiboutian-Eritrean border conflict (2008), and the Tigray conflict in Ethiopia (2020-2022); during the Tigray conflict, the Eritrean Defense Forces were accused of widespread human rights abuses (2023)"
    }
  },
  "Transnational Issues": {
    "Trafficking in persons": {
      "tier rating": {
        "text": "Tier 3 — Eritrea does not fully meet the minimum standards for the elimination of trafficking and is not making significant efforts to do so, therefore Eritrea remained on Tier 3; for more details, go to:  https://www.state.gov/reports/2024-trafficking-in-persons-report/eritrea/"
      }
    }
  }
}