Discover Fascinating Eritrea Facts
Dive into the history, culture, and unique insights about Eritrea.
Eritrea
Background
Eritrea has an interesting history! ๐ It all started when it gained independence from Italy and went under brief UK oversight. The United Nations helped establish Eritrea as an autonomous region in the Ethiopian federation in 1952. However, things took a turn when Ethiopia annexed Eritrea, leading to a 30-year struggle for independence. ๐ฉ Finally, in 1991, Eritrea achieved independence, and in 1993, Eritreans voted overwhelmingly in a referendum to confirm their rightful place as an independent nation! ๐ณ๏ธ
Year of independence achieved
1991
Year of referendum for independence
1993
Duration of conflict for independence
30 years
Exports - commodities
Eritrea's economy thrives on its exports, showcasing a mix of valuable commodities! ๐ In 2022, the country exported a variety of goods, including:
- Zinc Ore ๐ง
- Gold ๐ฐ
- Copper Ore โ๏ธ
- Wheat ๐พ
- Garments ๐
These exports are crucial for Eritreaโs growth and development, contributing significantly to its economy!
Main export commodities of Eritrea
Zinc Ore, Gold, Copper Ore, Wheat, Garments
Exports - partners
๐ Eritrea's Export Partners in 2022 ๐
Eritrea has some interesting export partners! Hereโs a look at where Eritrea sends its goods:
- China leads the pack with a whopping 52%! ๐จ๐ณ
- Next up is the UAE, contributing 33%! ๐ฆ๐ช
- South Korea is also in the mix with 9%! ๐ฐ๐ท
- Both Japan and Madagascar make up the remaining 2% each! ๐ฏ๐ต ๐ฒ๐ฌ
Together, these partners help shape Eritrea's economy! ๐ผ๐ฐ
Percentage of Exports to China
52%
Percentage of Exports to UAE
33%
Percentage of Exports to South Korea
9%
Percentage of Exports to Japan
2%
Percentage of Exports to Madagascar
2%
Eritrea's Export Partners - 2022
Capital
๐ก The capital city of Eritrea is Asmara! This beautiful city is known for its stunning architecture and rich history. Asmara sits at an elevation of nearly 2,400 meters (7,874 feet), making it one of the highest capital cities in the world! ๐๏ธ
Imports - commodities
Eritrea imports various important commodities that help support its economy and meet its people's needs. In 2022, the country brought in a range of goods, including:
- Ships ๐ข
- Sorghum ๐พ
- Wheat ๐พ
- Construction Vehicles ๐ง
- Other Foods ๐ฝ๏ธ
These imports are vital for trade and food security, ensuring that the people of Eritrea have access to necessary resources.
Year of Data
2022
Types of Commodities Imported
5
Climate
Eritrea has a very interesting climate! ๐ The country features a hot and dry desert strip along the beautiful Red Sea coast. The temperatures can soar high, making it quite warm. โ๏ธ But wait, it gets cooler and wetter in the stunning central highlands, where rainfalls can reach up to 61 cm per year! The rainfall is heaviest from June to September. ๐ง๏ธ In the western hills and lowlands, the climate is semiarid, which means it's drier but still has some rain. This variety makes Eritrea's weather unique and vibrant! ๐
Annual Rainfall in Central Highlands
61 cm
Executive branch
In Eritrea, the keys to the executive branch are held tightly by President ISAIAS Afwerki. He has been the chief of state since 24 May 1993 and also serves as the head of government since 8 June 1993. This means that for many years, he has played a crucial role in leading the country! ๐โจ
Not only does President Afwerki hold both titles, but he also represents the stability and consistency in governance over the long years of his leadership.
Years in office as chief of state
30 years
Years in office as head of government
30 years
Legislative branch
๐ช๐ท Eritrea's Legislative Branch ๐ช๐ท
As of 2024, Eritrea does not have a sitting legislative body! ๐ซ This means there's currently no formal group of lawmakers making and passing laws in the country. This is an important aspect to understand as it affects governance and political representation in Eritrea. ๐๏ธ
What does this mean for the people of Eritrea? ๐ค It means that decisions regarding laws and regulations are running in a different way without a traditional legislative process.
Stay tuned for more insights on Eritrean governance! ๐
Year with no legislative body
2024
Natural resources
Eritrea is rich in natural resources! ๐ Hereโs what you can find in this wonderful country:
- Gold ๐ฐ
- Potash โจ
- Zinc โ๏ธ
- Copper ๐
- Salt ๐ง
- Possibly Oil and Natural Gas โฝ
- Fish ๐
These resources contribute to the economy and help in creating jobs for the people. Isnโt that exciting? ๐
Economic overview
Eritrea has a largely agrarian economy ๐พ, which means agriculture plays a big role in its economy. But thatโs not all! There's a significant mining sector ๐ which adds to the country's wealth. Thanks to tight controls, the country enjoys a substantial fiscal surplus ๐ฐ. This is great news! However, Eritrea also faces high and vulnerable debts โ ๏ธ, which could be a challenge in the future.
Recently, trade with Ethiopia ๐ has increased, and they are sharing port usage. This has resulted in decreasing prices ๐ณ๏ธ for goods, making it easier for the people to buy what they need. However, Eritrea also has some issues with financial and economic data integrity ๐, which means that sometimes the economic data might not be completely reliable.
Economic focus
Agricultural and mining sectors
Fiscal condition
Substantial fiscal surplus
Debt status
High and vulnerable debts
Trade impact
Increased Ethiopian trade
Data reliability
Challenges with financial and economic data integrity
Government type
Eritrea is officially classified as a presidential republic! ๐๏ธ This means that the country has a president who serves as both the head of state and government, making important decisions and leading the country. It is a system that gives significant power to the president in steering the nationโs policies and direction.
Ethnic groups
Eritrea is a country of rich cultures and languages! ๐ The population is made up of various ethnic groups, each contributing to the vibrant tapestry of Eritrean society. Here's a fun breakdown of the major ethnic groups:
- Tigrinya: 50% โจ
- Tigre: 30% ๐
- Saho: 4% ๐ฟ
- Afar: 4% ๐
- Kunama: 4% ๐ผ
- Bilen: 3% ๐ธ
- Hedareb/Beja: 2% ๐๏ธ
- Nara: 2% ๐ฝ
- Rashaida: 1% ๐บ
As you can see, the Tigrinya and Tigre groups are the largest, making up 80% of the population together! Each group has its own unique history and traditions, making Eritrea a truly diverse country. ๐
Total percentage of Tigrinya and Tigre
80%
Smallest ethnic group (Rashaida)
1%
Ethnic Groups in Eritrea
Religions
In Eritrea, a vibrant tapestry of faiths comes together! ๐ The main religions practiced here include:
- Eritrean Orthodox
- Roman Catholic
- Evangelical Lutheran
- Sunni Muslim
These communities contribute to the rich cultural heritage of the nation, each with its unique traditions and celebrations! ๐
Languages
Eritrea is a vibrant country with a rich tapestry of languages! ๐ The official languages here are:
- Tigrinya
- Arabic
- English
In addition to these, there are other languages spoken in Eritrea, including Tigre, Kunama, Afar, and several other Cushitic languages. ๐ This diversity showcases the multicultural essence of Eritrea and the different communities that call it home.
Official Languages
3
Other Languages
4
Imports - partners
๐ Eritrea's Import Partners! In 2022, Eritrea sourced its imports from various countries, each contributing a significant percentage to the total imports. Here's a breakdown of the key partners:
- China: 34% ๐ฆ
- United Arab Emirates (UAE): 26% ๐ฆ๐ช
- Turkey: 12% ๐ฆ
- United States: 7% ๐บ๐ธ
- India: 4% ๐ฎ๐ณ
This colorful chart highlights the main contributors to Eritrea's imports, showcasing a vibrant mix of global trade partners! ๐๐ผ
Total Import Percentage from Top Five Partners
83%
Percentage from China
34%
Percentage from UAE
26%
Percentage from Turkey
12%
Percentage from US
7%
Percentage from India
4%
Eritrea's Import Partners in 2022
Population
๐ฅ Eritrea has a total population of 6,343,956 people! That's quite a vibrant community of individuals making up this beautiful country. ๐
Total Population
6,343,956
Area
๐ Let's dive into the land and water of Eritrea! Did you know that the total area of Eritrea is 117,600 sq km? This is made up of 101,000 sq km of land and 16,600 sq km of water. That's a lot of space for beautiful landscapes and amazing marine life! ๐๐๏ธ
Total Area
117600 sq km
Land Area
101000 sq km
Water Area
16600 sq km
Eritrea's Area Distribution
Real GDP (purchasing power parity)
๐ Let's take a look at the Real GDP (Purchasing Power Parity) of Eritrea over the past few years! This number helps us understand how much the country's economy is producing, adjusted for prices. Here are the estimates for the past few years:
- 2015: $8.791 billion ๐
- 2016: $8.953 billion ๐
- 2017: $9.702 billion ๐
As we can see, Eritrea's economy has been growing! ๐ The GDP has increased steadily each year, showing that more goods and services are being made in the country.
Let's visualize this growth!
Real GDP in 2015
8.791 billion USD
Real GDP in 2016
8.953 billion USD
Real GDP in 2017
9.702 billion USD
Eritrea's Real GDP Growth (PPP)
Real GDP per capita
๐ Let's take a peek at Eritrea's Real GDP per capita over the past few years! This is like seeing how much money each person would have if all the money in the country were shared equally. ๐ฐ
- 2015: $1,500
- 2016: $1,500
- 2017: $1,600
It's great to see that from 2016 to 2017, the GDP per capita went up by $100! ๐ That shows some positive growth in the economy. Keep it up, Eritrea!
GDP per capita in 2017
$1,600
GDP per capita in 2016
$1,500
GDP per capita in 2015
$1,500
Eritrea's Real GDP per Capita (2015-2017)
Imports
๐ Let's explore the imports of Eritrea! In 2017, Eritrea imported goods worth $1.127 billion. The previous year, 2016, saw imports totaling $1.048 billion. ๐ This shows an upward trend in imports, which might indicate growing trade activity! ๐
Import Value in 2016
$1.048 billion
Import Value in 2017
$1.127 billion
Eritrea Imports Over Time
Exports
Eritrea's exports have seen some fluctuations in recent years. ๐ฐ In 2016, the country exported goods worth $485.4 million, but this number rose to $624.3 million in 2017! ๐ This increase shows a significant growth in their export market. ๐
Export Value in 2016
485.4 million USD
Export Value in 2017
624.3 million USD
Eritrea's Exports Over Time
Population growth rate
๐ The population growth rate of Eritrea is projected to be 1.12% in 2024! This means that the number of people living in Eritrea is expected to increase, making for a vibrant and growing community. Keep an eye on those numbers, as a growing population can bring both exciting opportunities and challenges. ๐
Population growth rate for Eritrea in 2024
1.12%