Given to Ethiopia as part of a federation in 1952, Eritrea fought for its sovereignty for 30 years; independence was accepted in a 1993 referendum. In 1998, Eritrea embarked on a border war with Ethiopia that lasted for two and a half years; the conflict ended in 2000 under UN support. A UN peacekeeping force is in Eritrea looking after the Temporary Security Zone (TSZ) bordering Ethiopia. In 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. 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.
Capital City:
Asmara (+3 GMT)
Chief of State:
President Isaias Afworki
Head of Govt.:
President Isaias Afworki
Currency:
Nakfa
Main Cities:
Keren, Assab, Massawa
Major Languages:
Afar, Arabic, Tigre and Kunama, Tigrinya, other Cushitic languages
Calling Code:
291
Voltage:
230
Primary Religions:
Muslim, Coptic Christian, Roman Catholic, Protestant
Main Airports
Asmara (ASM)
U.S. Embassy
28 Franklin D. Roosevelt Street, P.O. Box 211, Asmara
tel. 291-1-120-004
Key Facts
-
GDP (ppp) per CAPITA
-
$700 (2008 est.)
-
Inflation Rate
-
18% (2008 est.)
-
Population
-
5,647,168 (July 2009 est.)
-
Country Risk Ratings
-
D
-
Ease of Doing Business
-
173/181
-
Global Competitiveness
-
-/134
Statistics
- Labor force:
- NA
- Exports:
- $13 million (2008 est.)
- Exports - partners:
- India 31.7%, Italy 18.6%, Kenya 11.9%, China 11.5%, France 5.4% (2008)
- Imports:
- $601 million (2008 est.)
- Imports - partners:
- Italy 16.9%, UAE 15.7%, China 13%, India 9.4%, US 6.7%, Germany 6%, Turkey 5% (2008)
- Major Industries:
- food processing, beverages, clothing and textiles, light manufacturing, salt, cement
Rankings
Corruption Perceptions Index
2.9
out of 180
The Corruptions Perception Index (CPI) is reported annually by Transparency International, an international civil society organization. The CPI ranks countries in terms of the degree to which corruption exists in the misuse of public power for private benefit among public officials and politicians. CPI is a composite index determined by expert assessments and opinion surveys. The highest ranked country is the country with the least amount of perceived corruption. Index units, 10=least corrupt, 0=most corrupt.
Data collected in
2006
Source:
Transparency International
The E-readiness Ranking is reported yearly by the Economist Intelligence Unit, a research and advisory firm. The E-readiness Ranking evaluates the technological, economic, political and social assets of countries to assess the information and communications technology infrastructure, and the infrastructures benefits on the country's consumers, businesses and governments. The higher ranked countries have a better ability to leverage digital channels for communication, commerce, and government in order to further development.
Data collected in
2007
Source:
EIU
Freedom of the Press
91
out of 191
The Freedom of the Press Survey is an annual report by The Freedom House, an organization that promotes and researches advocacy of freedom across countries. The Press Survey assesses the degree of print, broadcast, and internet freedom in every country in the world. Ratings are determined by examining three broad categories: the legal environment in which media operate (0-30 points), political influences on reporting and access to information (0-40 points), and economic pressures on content and the dissemination of news (0-30 points). The highest ranked country has the greatest degree of press freedom. Index units, 1-30: Free, 31-60: Partly Free, 61-100: Not Free.
Data collected in
2006
Source:
Freedom House
Global Services Location Index
-
The Global Services Location Index is published annually by A.T. Kearney, a global management consulting firm. The Global Services Location Index measures the viability of countries as a potential offshore destination for services, based on their financial attractiveness (0-4 points), people and skills availability (0-3 points), and business environment (0-3 points). The highest ranked country is the most attractive as a potential offshoring destination. Index units, 0=location does not provide offshore support, 10=location does provide offshore support.
Data collected in
2007
Source:
A.T. Kearney
Index of Economic Freedom
-
The Index of Economic Freedom is reported annually by the Heritage Foundation, a research and educational institute. The Index of Economic Freedom analyzes a wide range of issues including trade barriers, corruption, government expenditures, property rights, and tax rates to generate an overall ranking of economic freedom. The highest ranked country is the country with the least number of restrictions and constraints on businesses.
Data collected in
2007
Source:
Heritage Foundation
Tax Misery & Reform Index
-
The Forbes Tax Misery Index is annually compiled by Forbes, an American publishing and media company. The Tax Misery Index reflects the sum of corporate income, personal income and wealth taxes plus employer social security, employee social security and VAT/sales taxes at the highest marginal rate in each locale. The highest ranked countries impose the harshest taxes while those at the bottom are the most tax friendly.
Data collected in
2007
Source:
Forbes
The Globalization Index
-
The Globalization Index is compiled annually by A.T. Kearney and Foreign Policy. The Globalization Index ranks the major developed and developing countries in the world by analyzing key components of global integration, such as economic, personal, technological, and political integration. The highest ranked country is the most globalized.
Data collected in
2007
Source:
Foreign Policy
