Home Page |  NICI Infrastructure  |   NICI Policy   |   Internet Connectivity   |  NICI Indicators  |   Content Development
Web Resources   |   NICI  Projects

eritrea1.jpg (46715 bytes)

Eritrea

erflag.gif (1292 bytes)

diffpole.gif (7867 bytes)

eritrea.jpg (57541 bytes)

The boundaries and names shown on this map do not imply
official endorsement or acceptance by the United Nations.

 Location: East Africa
Bordering countries: Djibouti, Ethiopia and Sudan
Area: 93,679 sq. km
Population (based on United Nations sources):
  • Total: 3,719,000 (1999)
  • Growth rate: 3.92
  • Ratio of males per 100 females: 98.4
  • Age structure (1995 figures)
    • Percentage aged 0-4 : 17.9
    • Percentage aged 5-14 : 28.7
    • Percentage aged 15-24 : 20.0
    • Percentage aged 25-60 : 26.9
    • Percentage aged 60-over : 6.5
  • Population density: 27 per sq. km

Literacy rate: 51.7% (1998)
GNP in US$ billions: 0.8 (1998)
GNP per capita in US$: 200 (1998)
Human Development Index value: 0.408
Human Development Index rank: 159 of 174 countries
Gender-related Development Index value: 0.394
Gender-related Development Index rank: 131 of 174 countries

 

diffpole.gif (7867 bytes)

Eritrea is one of the newest independent states established in 1993 after seceding from Ethiopia.  The country, located in East Africa and bordering the Red Sea, between Djibouti, Ethiopia and Sudan, covers an area of 93,679 square kilometres and it has an estimated population of over 3.5 million people. The largest population concentration is in the highlands, in and around Asmara, the capital city, and the level of urbanisation accounts for over 17%.   After becoming an independent republic under a government led by the Eritrean People's Liberation Front (EPLF), Eritrea embarked in rebuilding its economy which was crippled by a war which lasted over three decades.

Despite the government's commitment to a market economy, there have been little foreign investments. By 1997, however, there was some encouraging progress in agriculture, fisheries, construction and tourism. In the political scene, the EPLF transformed itself into a political party, the People's Front for Democracy and Justice (PFDJ) and the country's first constitution was adopted in May 1997 following a referendum.  The economic and political cooperation with Ethiopia was short-lived in 1998 following the resurgence of conflicts between the two countries.

In 1999, there were a total of 27,400 connected lines resulting in a telephone density of 0.74 per hundred people.

Back to Top

Home Page |  NICI Infrastructure  |   NICI Policy   |   Internet Connectivity   |  NICI Indicators  |   Content Development
Web Resources   |   NICI  Projects