World Country Guide

General Information

Area
121,144 sq km (46,774 sq miles).

Population
3,991,000 (official estimate 2002).

Population Density
32.9 per sq km.

Capital
Asmara. Population: 400,000 (official estimate 2003).

Geography
Eritrea stretches along the Red Sea for almost 1000km (625 miles). To the south and west it borders Ethiopia, to the southeast Djibouti and to the northwest Sudan. The low-lying coastal area is very humid. The mountainous interior is largely cultivated.

Government
Independent State since 1993. Head of State and Government: President Isaias Afewerki since 1993.

Language
Arabic and Tigrinya are the main business languages. Various dialects such as Afar, Bilien, Hedareb, Kunama, Nara, Rashaida, Saho and Tigre are also spoken. English is rapidly becoming the language of business and education; Italian and Arabic are also spoken.

Religion
Roughly half Ethiopian Orthodox Christians and half Muslim, but some have traditional beliefs.

Time
GMT + 3.

Electricity
110/220 volts AC; there are occasional power surges.

Communications

Telephone
IDD is available to Asmara, Massawa and Assab. Country code: 291. Outgoing international code: 00. Operator assistance may be required. All larger cities are connected via the internal system.

Mobile telephone
GSM 900 was launched in 2004 by Eritel.

Fax
These can be sent and received at the Telecommunications Office in Harnet Street (Asmara); some hotels also provide services.

Internet
The main ISPs are EWAN Technical Solutions and the Eritrean PTO working with USAID’s Leland project. There is Internet access in the main towns.

Telegram
International services are available in the office in Asmara.

Post
International post services have not been resumed with all countries. Delays are likely

Press
The Eritrea Profile is published weekly in English. Hadas Eritrea is published three times a week in English, Arabic and Tigrinya. A pro-government youth paper called Tirigta is published once a week.

Radio
BBC World Service (website: www.bbc.co.uk/worldservice) and Voice of America (website: www.voa.gov) can be received. From time to time the frequencies change and the most up-to-date can be found online.