transitional government note: following a successful referendum on independence for the Autonomous Region of Eritrea on 23-25 April 1993, a National Assembly, composed entirely of the People's Front for Democracy and Justice or PFDJ, was established as a transitional legislature; a Constitutional Commission was also established to draft a constitution; ISAIAS Afworki was elected president by the transitional legislature; the constitution, ratified in May 1997, did not enter into effect, pending parliamentary and presidential elections; parliamentary elections were scheduled in December 2001, but were postponed indefinitely; currently the sole legal party is the People's Front for Democracy and Justice (PFDJ)
republic
Independence date
9 April 1991 (from Soviet Union)
Religions
Muslim, Coptic Christian, Roman Catholic, Protestant
Orthodox Christian 83.9%, Muslim 9.9%, Armenian-Gregorian 3.9%, Catholic 0.8%, other 0.8%, none 0.7% (2002 census)
Languages
Afar, Arabic, Tigre and Kunama, Tigrinya, other Cushitic languages
Georgian 71% (official), Russian 9%, Armenian 7%, Azeri 6%, other 7% note: Abkhaz is the official language in Abkhazia
Exports
scrap metal, wine, mineral water, ores, vehicles, fruits and nuts
External Debt
$11,080,000,000 US
Exchange Rate
laris (GEL) per US dollar - 1.47 (2008 est.), 1.7 (2007), 1.78 (2006), 1.8127 (2005), 1.9167 (2004)
Military Budget as percentage of GDP
1.900%
Beijing Olympics Medal Count
0
6
Location
Eastern Africa, bordering the Red Sea, between Djibouti and Sudan
Southwestern Asia, bordering the Black Sea, between Turkey and Russia
Area
117,600 km sq
69,700 km sq
Coastline
2,234 km
310 km
Climate
hot, dry desert strip along Red Sea coast; cooler and wetter in the central highlands (up to 61 cm of rainfall annually, heaviest June to September); semiarid in western hills and lowlands
warm and pleasant; Mediterranean-like on Black Sea coast
