Eritrea is located in the region known as the Horn of Africa, its territory is limited to Djibouti (to the south), Ethiopia (to the west) and Sudan (to the northwest), besides being bathed by the Red Sea (the East). Its geographical position is of great importance, as it is located in the Bab el Mandeb Strait, crossing point between the Suez Canal and the Indian Ocean.
The country was created by Italy on January 1, 1890, being occupied by the Italians until 1941. Later, Eritrea came under British rule (1941-1952). The United Nations (UN), in 1952, granted autonomy to the country, which federated itself with Ethiopia. Only on March 24, 1993, Eritrea gained its independence, becoming the youngest country in Africa.
A war that lasted more than 30 years with Ethiopia has devastated the country, leaving an estimated 100,000 dead and 350,000 refugees. The two countries fought another confrontation in 1998 over border areas, and reached a peace agreement in 2000.
Economic activities in the country are hampered by irregular rainfall and the consequences of several years of war. Subsistence agriculture is practiced by 80% of the national population. The industrial sector is concentrated in the capital, Asmara, and is based on the manufacture of food products, textiles and leather goods.
The population faces various socioeconomic problems – 68% of the inhabitants are undernourished; a large portion of the population is HIV positive; the illiteracy rate is extremely high (36%) and the majority of the population lives on less than $1.25 a day, that is, below the poverty line.
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Eritrean Coat of Arms
Eritrea data:
Territorial extension: 117,600 km².
Location: Africa.
Capital: Asmara.
Climate: Arid tropical.
Government: Presidential Republic.
Administrative division: 6 regions.
Language: Arabic and Tigris.
Religion: Christianity, 50.5% (Orthodox, 46.3%, others, 4.2%), Islam, 44.7%, no religion and atheism, 4.1%, traditional beliefs, 0.7%.
Population: 5,073,279 inhabitants. (Men: 2,495,201; Women: 2,578,078).
Ethnic Composition: Tigris, 50%, Tigers and Cunamas, 30%, Afars, 4%, Sahos, 3%, others, 13%.
Demographic density: 43 inhabitants/km².
Average annual population growth rate: 3%.
Population residing in urban areas: 21.1%.
Population residing in rural areas: 78.9%.
Undernourished population: 68%.
Life expectancy at birth: 57.2 years.
Households with access to clean water: 60%.
Households with access to a health network: 5%.
Currency: Nakfa.
Gross Domestic Product (GDP): US$1,316 million.
GDP per capita: US$271.
External relations: World Bank, IMF, UN, AU.
By Wagner de Cerqueira and Francisco
Graduated in Geography
Brazil School Team
countries - geography - Brazil School
