Agriculture > products
sorghum, lentils, vegetables, corn, cotton, tobacco, coffee, sisal; livestock, goats; fish |
|
Aid as % of GDP
|
29% |
|
[3rd of 129]
|
|
Source: CIA World Factbook, 28 July 2005 |
|
Current account balance
|
-$205,000,000.00 |
|
[92nd of 181]
|
|
Source: calculated on the basis of data on ODA from OECD (Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development), Development Assistance Committee. 2002. DAC Online. Database. Paris.; and data on GDP from World Bank. 2002. World Development Indicators 2002. CD-ROM. Washington, DC |
|
Debt > External
|
$311,000,000.00 |
|
[24th of 136]
|
|
Source: All CIA World Factbooks 18 December 2003 to 18 December 2008 |
Economy > Overview
Since independence from Ethiopia in 1993, Eritrea has faced the economic problems of a small, desperately poor country, accentuated by the recent implementation of restrictive economic policies. Eritrea has a command economy under the control of the sole political party, the People's Front for Democracy and Justice (PFDJ). Like the economies of many African nations, the economy is largely based on subsistence agriculture, with 80% of the population involved in farming and herding. The Ethiopian-Eritrea war in 1998-2000 severely hurt Eritrea's economy. GDP growth fell to zero in 1999 and to -12.1% in 2000. The May 2000 Ethiopian offensive into northern Eritrea caused some $600 million in property damage and loss, including losses of $225 million in livestock and 55,000 homes. The attack prevented planting of crops in Eritrea's most productive region, causing food production to drop by 62%. Even during the war, Eritrea developed its transportation infrastructure, asphalting new roads, improving its ports, and repairing war-damaged roads and bridges. Since the war ended, the government has maintained a firm grip on the economy, expanding the use of the military and party-owned businesses to complete Eritrea's development agenda. The government strictly controls the use of foreign currency, limiting access and availability. Few private enterprises remain in Eritrea. Eritrea's economy is heavily dependent on taxes paid by members of the diaspora. Erratic rainfall and the delayed demobilization of agriculturalists from the military continue to interfere with agricultural production, and Eritrea's recent harvests have not been able to meet the food needs of the country. The government continues to place its hope for additional revenue on the development of several international mining projects. Despite difficulties for international companies in working with the Eritrean government, a Canadian mining company signed a contract with the GSE in 2007 and plans to begin mineral extraction in 2010. Eritrea also anticipates opening a free trade zone at the port of Massawa in 2008. Eritrea's economic future depends upon its ability to master social problems such as illiteracy, unemployment, and low skills, and more importantly, on the government's willingness to support a true market economy. |
|
Source: All CIA World Factbooks 18 December 2003 to 18 December 2008 |
Exchange rates
nakfa (ERN) per US dollar - 13.788 (2004), 13.878 (2003), 13.958 (2002), 11.31 (2001), 9.625 (2000) |
|
Source: All CIA World Factbooks 18 December 2003 to 18 December 2008 |
|
Exports
|
$12,000,000.00 |
|
[152nd of 189]
|
|
Source: CIA World Factbook, 28 July 2005 |
|
Exports to US
|
$100,000.00 |
|
[199th of 224]
|
|
Source: All CIA World Factbooks 18 December 2003 to 18 December 2008 |
|
GDP
|
$1,084,989,000.00 |
|
[145th of 203]
|
|
Source: US Census Bureau |
|
GDP (purchasing power parity)
|
$3,619,000,000.00 |
|
[159th of 187]
|
|
Source: World Development Indicators database and CIA World Factbook |
|
GDP > PPP
|
$4,790,000,000.00 |
|
[140th of 163]
|
|
Source: All CIA World Factbooks 18 December 2003 to 18 December 2008 |
|
GDP > Real growth rate
|
1.3% |
|
[175th of 198]
|
|
Source: World Bank. 2005. World Development Indicators 2005. |
|
GDP growth > annual %
|
0.5 annual %
|
|
[162nd of 187]
|
|
Source: All CIA World Factbooks 18 December 2003 to 18 December 2008 |
|
GDP per capita, PPP > current international $
|
1,108.55 PPP $
|
|
[147th of 169]
|
|
Source: World Development Indicators database |
|
Gross National Income
|
$678,949,000.00 |
|
[145th of 172]
|
|
Source: World Development Indicators database |
|
Gross national income > constant LCU
|
3756922000 |
|
|
|
Human Development Index
|
0.444 |
|
[162nd of 178]
|
|
Source: World Development Indicators database |
|
Inflation rate (consumer prices)
|
17% |
|
[7th of 192]
|
|
Source: Human Development Report 2006, United Nations Development Programme |
|
Population below poverty line
|
50% |
|
[13th of 46]
|
|
Source: All CIA World Factbooks 18 December 2003 to 18 December 2008 |
|
Tourist arrivals
|
410,000 |
|
[72nd of 152]
|
|
Source: All CIA World Factbooks 18 December 2003 to 18 December 2008 |
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