Moving to Eritrea: visas, cost of living & immigrant guide

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Population

6,081,196

Population Growth Rate

2.36%

Urban Population

21.300000

Population in Major Urban Areas

ASMARA (capital) 712,000

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Age Structure

40.660000

Median Age

18.900000

Birth Rate - births/1,000 population

31

Death Rate - deaths/1,000 population

7.78

Total Fertility Rate - children born/woman

4.25

Contraceptive Prevalance Rate - female 12-49

8%

Contraceptive Prevalence Rate - female 12-49

8%

Mean Age for Mother's First Birth (age 25-49)

20.6

Mother's mean age at first birth

20.6

Sex Ratio at Birth - male/female

1.030000

Ethnic Groups

Ethnic Tigrinya 50%, Tigre and Kunama 40%, Afar 4%, Saho (Red Sea coast dwellers) 3%, other 3%

Language Note

Eritrea has no official language.

Tigrinya, Arabic and English are all government, working languages.

Tigrinya is spoken by highlanders, and is related to Tigre, spoken by people in the western and eastern lowlands.

They use an ancient Ge'ez script.

Like Arabic, they are both Semitic tongues.

Arabic is widely used in commerce.

Nationality Noun

Eritrean(s)

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Literacy - total population

58.6%

Literacy - male

69.9%

Literacy - female

47.6%

Literacy Definition

NA

Education Expenditures - percent of GDP

2.1%

Total School Life Expectancy - (primary to tertiary)

4.000000

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Life Expectancy at Birth

63.190000

Infant Mortality Rate

39.380000

Infant Mortality Rate - total deaths/1,000 live births

39.380000

Maternal Mortality Rate - deaths/100,000 live births

240

Physicians Density - physicians/1,000 population

.05

Hospital Bed Density - beds/1,000 population

.7

Health Expenditures - percent of GDP

2.6%

Major Infectious Diseases - degree of risk

High

Obesity - adult prevalence rate

1.5%

Drinking Water Source - percent of urban population improved

73.700000

Sanitation Facility Access - percent of urban population improved

51.600000

Underweight - percent of children under five years

34.5%

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Economic Overview

Since formal independence from Ethiopia in 1993, Eritrea has faced many economic problems, including lack of financial resources and chronic drought.

Eritrea has a command economy under the control of the sole political party, the People's Front for Democracy and Justice.

Like the economies of many African nations, a large share of the population - nearly 80% in Eritrea - is engaged in subsistence agriculture, but the sector only produces a small share of the country's total output.

Mining accounts for the lion's share of output.

The government has strictly controlled the use of foreign currency by limiting access and availability; new regulations in 2013 aimed at relaxing currency controls have had little economic effect.

Few large private enterprises exist in Eritrea and most operate in conjunction with government partners, including a number of large international mining ventures, which began production in 2013.

In late 2015, the Government of Eritrea introduced a new currency, retaining the name nakfa, and restricted the amount of hard currency individuals could withdraw from banks per month.

The changeover has resulted in exchange fluctuations and the scarcity of hard currency available in the market.

While reliable statistics on Eritrea are difficult to obtain, erratic rainfall and the large percentage of the labor force tied up in military service continue to interfere with agricultural production and economic development.

Eritrea's harvests generally cannot meet the food needs of the country without supplemental grain purchases.

Copper, potash, and gold production are likely to continue to drive limited economic growth and government revenue over the next few years, but military spending will continue to compete with development and investment plans.

Industries

Food processing, beverages, clothing and textiles, light manufacturing, salt, cement

GDP - per capita (PPP)

$1,300.00 (USD)

GDP - real growth rate

3.7%

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GDP - Gross Domestic Product (PPP)

$9,702,000,000 (USD)

GDP Per Capita

$1,300.00 (USD)

GDP - real growth rate

3.7%

GDP - official exchange rate

$5,352,000,000 (USD)

GDP - composition, by end use

• consumption: 80.6% Government
• consumption: 23.4% Investment in fixed
• capital: 9% Investment in
• inventories: 0.1% Exports of goods and
• services: 9.7% Imports of goods and
• services: -22.8%

GDP by Sector- agriculture

12.1%

GDP by Sector- Industry

29.5%

GDP by Sector- services

58.5%

Industrial Growth Rate

12.2%

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Inflation Rate

11.8%

Exchange Rate per US Dollar

15.38

Currency Name and Code

nakfa (ERN)

Fiscal Year

Calendar year

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Labor Force

2,620,000

Unemployment Rate

8.6%

Major Industries

Food processing, beverages, clothing and textiles, light manufacturing, salt, cement

Agriculture Products

• Sorghum, lentils, vegetables, corn, cotton, tobacco, sisal
• livestock, goats
• fish

Population Below Poverty Line

50%

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Labor Force By Occupation - industry and services

20%

Labor Force By Occupation- agriculture

80%

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Annual Budget

$1,580,000,000 (USD)

Public Debt (% of GDP)

119.8%

Budget Surplus or Deficit - percent of GDP

-10.9%

Taxes and other revenues - percent of GDP

29.5%

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Full Country Name

State of Eritrea

Country Name

Eritrea

Local - Long

Hagere Ertra

Local - Short

Ertra

Former Name

Eritrea Autonomous Region in Ethiopia

Etymology- history of name

Tthe country name derives from the ancient Greek appellation "Erythra Thalassa" meaning Red Sea, which is the major water body bordering the country

Independence

24 May 1993 (from Ethiopia)

National Holiday

Independence Day, 24 May (1991)

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Government Type

Presidential republic

Constitution

• History: ratified by the Constituent Assembly 23 May 1997 (never implemented)
• Amendments: proposed by the president of Eritrea or by assent of at least one half of the National Assembly membership; passage requires at least an initial three-quarters majority vote by the Assembly and, after one year, final passage by at least four-fifths majority vote by the Assembly

Legal System:

Mixed legal system of civil, customary, and Islamic religious law

Executive Branch:

• Chief of State: President ISAIAS Afwerki (since 24 May 1993); note - the president is both chief of state and head of government and is head of the State Council and National Assembly
• Head of Government: President ISAIAS Afwerki (since 8 June 1993)
• Cabinet: State Council appointed by the president
• Elections/appointments: president indirectly elected by the National Assembly for a 5-year term (eligible for a second term), according to the constitution; the only election held was on 24 May 1993, following independence from Ethiopia (next postponed indefinitely)
• Election results: 1993: ISAIAS Afwerki elected president by the transitional National Assembly; percent of National Assembly vote - ISAIAS Afwerki (PFDJ) 95%, other 5%

Legislative Branch:

• Description: Unicameral National Assembly (Hagerawi Baito) (150 seats; 75 members directly elected by simple majority vote and 75 members indirectly elected by the ruling party; members serve 5-year terms)
• Elections: in May 1997, following the adoption of the new constitution, 75 members of the PFDJ Central Committee (the old Central Committee of the EPLF), 60 members of the 527-member Constituent Assembly, which had been established in 1997 to discuss and ratify the new constitution, and 15 representatives of Eritreans living abroad were formed into a Transitional National Assembly to serve as the country's legislative body until countrywide elections to form a National Assembly were held; although only 75 of 150 members of the Transitional National Assembly were elected, the constitution stipulates that once past the transition stage, all members of the National Assembly will be elected by secret ballot of all eligible voters; National Assembly elections scheduled for December 2001 were postponed indefinitely due to the war with Ethiopia, and as of 2023, there was no sitting legislative body
• Election Results: NA

Judicial Branch:

• office: High Court judges appointed by the president
• Subordinate courts: regional/zonal courts; community courts; special courts; sharia courts (for issues dealing with Muslim marriage, inheritance, and family); military courts

Regions or States:

6 regions (zobatat, singular - zoba); 'Anseba, Debub (South), Debubawi K'eyyih Bahri (Southern Red Sea), Gash-Barka, Ma'ikel (Central), Semienawi K'eyyih Bahri (Northern Red Sea)

Political Parties and Leaders:

• People's Front for Democracy and Justice or PFDJ [ISAIAS Afwerki] (the only party recognized by the government)

Suffrage:

18 years of age; universal

Citizenship Criteria:

• birth: No Citizenship by descent
• only: At least one parent must be a citizen of Eritrea Dual citizenship
• recognized: No Residency requirement for
• naturalization: 20 years

Capital Name

Asmara

Capital - geographic coordinate

15 20 N, 38 56 E

Capital Time Difference

UTC+3 (8 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)

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International Organization Participation:

• ACP
• AfDB
• AU
• COMESA
• FAO
• G-77
• IAEA
• IBRD
• ICAO
• ICC (NGOs)
• IDA
• IFAD
• IFC
• IFRCS (observer)
• IGAD
• ILO
• IMF
• IMO
• Interpol
• IOC
• ISO (correspondent)
• ITU
• ITUC (NGOs)
• LAS (observer)
• MIGA
• NAM
• OPCW
• PCA
• UN
• UNCTAD
• UNESCO
• UNHRC
• UNIDO
• UNWTO
• UPU
• WCO
• WFTU (NGOs)
• WHO
• WIPO
• WMO

International Law Organization Participation:

Has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration; non-party state to the ICCt

Diplomatic Representation from US:

• Chief of Mission: Ambassador (vacant); Chargé d'Affaires Leslie FRERIKSEN (since 18 July 2022)
• Embassy: 179 Alaa Street, Asmara
• Mailing Address: 7170 Asmara Place, Washington DC 20521-7170
• Telephone: [291] (1) 12-00-04
• FAX: [291] (1) 12-75-84
• Email: consularasmara@state.gov
• Website: https://er.usembassy.gov/

Diplomatic Representation in the US:

• Chief of Mission: Ambassador (vacant); Chargé d'Affaires Berhane Gebrehiwet SOLOMON (since 15 March 2011)
• Chancery: 1708 New Hampshire Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20009
• Telephone: [1] (202) 319-1991
• FAX: [1] (202) 319-1304
• Email: embassyeritrea@embassyeritrea.org
• Website: https://us.embassyeritrea.org/

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Geographic Location

Africa

Geographic Coordinates

15 00 N, 39 00 E

Total Area

45,405 Square Miles 117,600 Square Kilometers

Land Area

38,996 Square Miles 101,000 Square Kilometers

Water Area

6,409 Square Miles 16,600 Square Kilometers

Land Boundaries

1,010 Miles 1,626 Kilometers

Border Countries

Djibouti 109 km, Ethiopia 912 km, Sudan 605 km

Coastline

1,388 Miles 2,234 Kilometers

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Terrain

Dominated by extension of Ethiopian north-south trending highlands, descending on the east to a coastal desert plain, on the northwest to hilly terrain and on the southwest to flat-to-rolling plains

Highest Point

3,018 Meters

Highest Point Location

Soira 3,018 m

Lowest Point

-75 Meters

Lowest Point Location

Near Kulul within the Denakil depression -75 m

Natural Resources

Gold, potash, zinc, copper, salt, possibly oil and natural gas, fish

Irrigated Land

83 Square Miles 215 Square Kilometers

Time Zone

UTC+3 (8 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)

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Climate

The climate in the central highlands, including Asmara, is near perfection, usually in the 70’s or 80’s during the day, cooling off to the 50’s at night.

There is little humidity and it seldom rains except during the July/August rainy season when daily afternoon showers are the norm.

Asmara receives about 21 inches of rain each year.

April, May and June are the warmest months on the plateau, with the cooler season stretching from November to March.

Temperatures in the lowlands can be scorchingly hot, typically ranging from 105°F to 120°F, sometimes more, in August.

Along the coast, including in the port cities of Massawa and Assab, high humidity often accompanies the heat.

Winter highs here are around 90, with evening temperatures in the 70s.

Terrain

Dominated by extension of Ethiopian north-south trending highlands, descending on the east to a coastal desert plain, on the northwest to hilly terrain and on the southwest to flat-to-rolling plains

Location

Eastern Africa, bordering the Red Sea, between Djibouti and Sudan

Total Area

45,405 Square Miles 117,600 Square Kilometers

Border Countries

Djibouti 109 km, Ethiopia 912 km, Sudan 605 km

Environment - Current Issues

Deforestation; desertification; soil erosion; overgrazing; loss of infrastructure from civil warfare

Environment - International Agreements

Party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Ozone Layer Protection Signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements

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Exports

$485,200,000 (USD)

Imports

$1,022,000,000 (USD)

Major Exports

Gold and other minerals, livestock, sorghum, textiles, food, small industry manufactures

Major Imports

Machinery, petroleum products, food, manufactured goods

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Country Description

Eritrea is a poor East African country, the capital of which is Asmara.

Formerly a province of Ethiopia, Eritrea became an independent country on May 24, 1993, following a 30-year struggle that culminated in an overwhelming referendum vote for independence.

Tourism facilities are very limited.

Safety & Security

Eritrea and Ethiopia fought a border war from 1998-2000.

United Nations peacekeepers patrolled the border until March 2008, when Government of Eritrea diesel fuel restrictions resulted in the peacekeepers’ withdrawal.

Both Eritrea and Ethiopia maintain large military presences along the border and all border crossings into Ethiopia from Eritrea remain closed.

U.S. citizens are strongly advised to avoid travel near the Eritrean-Ethiopian border and to the Southern Red Sea region, including the port of Assab, as there have been military tensions in these areas.

Landmines and unexploded ordnance remain a serious problem throughout the country.

There are reports of accidents and incidents where vehicles and people occasionally detonate mines.

Many detonations occurred on relatively well-traveled roads in and near the Gash Barka region of western Eritrea; subsequent investigations indicated that several mines were recently laid.

In September 2011, press reported that a vehicle in Senafe, 60 miles south of Asmara, ran over a landmine, killing five persons and injuring the 34 others.

Vast areas of the country still have not been certified free of mines and unexploded ordnance left over from both the 30-year war for independence and the subsequent 1998-2000 conflict with Ethiopia.

U.S. citizens should avoid walking alone and hiking in riverbeds or areas that local government officials have not certified as safe.

Although Eritrea and Sudan have diplomatic relations, the procedures for crossing their common border are variable and subject to change.

Overland travel between the two countries is dangerous and ill-advised.

Travelers crossing from Eritrea to Sudan north and west of the Keren-Barentu road risk becoming victims of banditry, kidnapping, or insurgent activity.

Numerous incidents have been reported since 2008, apparently involving insurgents or criminals in this area.

The U.S.

Embassy also received reports of sporadic bombings of vehicles and government facilities in the Gash Barka region near Sudan in 2007 and 2008.

If travel near the Eritrean-Sudanese border is essential, travelers should consult both the Eritrean authorities and the U.S.

Embassy in advance.

Foreign travelers who wish to visit any area outside of Asmara must apply at least ten days in advance for a travel permit from the Eritrean government.

U.S. citizens are urged to avoid sailing off the coast of Eritrea.

In August 2011, three separate incidents of piracy were reported off the Eritrean coast near the port of Assab.

Multiple high-speed skiffs with armed persons onboard continue to attack merchant vessels.

If transit around the Horn of Africa is necessary, it is strongly recommended that vessels travel in convoys, maintain good communications contact at all times, and follow the guidance provided by the Maritime Security Center – Horn of Africa (MSC-HOA).

U.S. citizens should consult the Maritime Administration’s Horn of Africa Piracy page for information on maritime advisories, self-protection measures, and naval forces in the region.

U.S. citizens are also urged to avoid remote Eritrean islands, some which have Eritrean military facilities.

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Crime

Crime in Asmara has increased due to deteriorating economic conditions along with persistent food, water, and fuel shortages, and rapid price inflation.

Travelers should exercise vigilance in their personal security and take safety precautions regarding the valuables they carry and areas they visit.

Eritrean authorities have limited capacity to deter or investigate crime or prosecute perpetrators.

Don’t buy counterfeit and pirated goods, even if they are widely available.

Not only are the bootlegs illegal in the United States, if you purchase them you may also be breaking local law.

Do not attempt to take advantage of street or black market exchange in foreign currency.

It is illegal and there are extremely stiff penalties.

Utilize government exchange at the airport, hotel, or bank.

Criminal Penalties

While you are in Eritrea, you are subject to its laws even if you are a U.S. citizen.

Foreign laws and legal systems are vastly different than our own.

You may be taken in for questioning if you don’t have your passport or identification with you.

It is illegal to take pictures of government buildings.

Driving under the influence could land you immediately in jail, as could a traffic accident, whether or not you are at fault.

There are also some things that might be legal in the country you visit, but still illegal in the United States; for example you can be prosecuted under U.S. law if you buy pirated goods in Eritrea, even if you are not prosecuted in Eritrea.

Engaging in sexual conduct with children or using or disseminating child pornography in a foreign country is a crime prosecutable in the United States.

If you break local laws in Eritrea, your U.S. passport won’t help you avoid arrest or prosecution.

It’s very important to know what’s legal and what’s not where you are going.

Persons violating Eritrea’s laws, even unknowingly, may be expelled, arrested, or imprisoned.

Penalties for possessing, using, or trafficking in illegal drugs in Eritrea are severe, and convicted offenders can expect long jail sentences and heavy fines.

Arrest notifications in Eritrea: Based on the Vienna Convention on Consular Relations, bilateral agreements with certain countries, and customary international law, if you are arrested in Eritrea, you have the option to request that the police, prison officials, or other authorities alert the nearest U.S. embassy or consulate of your arrest, and to have communications from you forwarded to the nearest U.S. embassy or consulate.

However, in Eritrea, contrary to the Vienna Convention, such requests are not generally granted.

Languages Eritrea has no official language.

Tigrinya, Arabic and English are all government, working languages.

Tigrinya is spoken by highlanders, and is related to Tigre, spoken by people in the western and eastern lowlands.

They use an ancient Ge'ez script.

Like Arabic, they are both Semitic tongues.

Arabic is widely used in commerce.

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Medical Facilities

Medical facilities and physicians in Eritrea are limited.

In 2010, the Eritrean government closed all private medical clinics and laboratories.

Travelers should carry their own supplies of prescription drugs and preventative medicines because pharmaceuticals may be in short supply.

Food and water-borne illnesses are very common among travelers, so drink only bottled or purified water and eat foods that are cooked or peeled.

Malaria and dengue fever are serious risks to travelers in the lowlands of Eritrea, particularly during the rainy season (November to February).

One of the worst dengue fever outbreaks in recent Eritrean history occurred during the winter of 2009-10 in Massawa.

Asmara, because of its altitude, is generally considered free of these mosquito-borne illnesses.

Travelers to the lowlands are urged to carry mosquito repellent and mosquito nets, especially during the rainy season.

Traffic Safety

While in Eritrea, you may encounter road conditions that differ significantly from those in the United States.

According to the World Health Organization’s first report on global road safety in September 2009, Eritrea’s roads are deadly.

The roads between major cities (Asmara, Massawa, Mendefera, Dekemhare, Barentu, and Keren) are paved and in relatively good condition, though winding mountain roads do not generally have guardrails.

Secondary roads and roads in remote areas are usually unpaved and in poor condition.

U.S. citizens should avoid traveling on these roads, especially at night.

Bad weather can also make the condition of poor roads worse.

If you must take unpaved roads, check first with local government and village officials as new minefields continue to be discovered.

Even in Asmara city, some road surfaces have deteriorated to dangerous conditions.

Eritreans are found travelling on foot nearly everywhere due to lack of transportation, often dressed in dark clothing and in unlit areas at night, which creates unpredictable and dangerous situations on roads.

Street lighting may not exist in some locations, and power outages continue to leave some neighborhoods in the dark.

Speed limits may not be obeyed.

Travelers should check with the

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Airports - total

13

Airports with Paved Runways

4

Heliports

1

Railways

190 Miles 306 Kilometers

Roadways- total

2,492 Miles 4,010 Kilometers

Roadways- paved

543 Miles 874 Kilometers

Ports and Terminals

Assab (Aseb), Massawa (Mits'iwa)

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Telephones

48,500

Cell Phones

70,000

Internet Users

120,000

Internet Country Code

er

Internet Hosts

1,241

Broadcast Media

• Government controls broadcast media with private ownership prohibited
• 1 state-owned TV station
• state-owned radio operates 2 networks
• purchases of satellite dishes and subscriptions to international broadcast media are permitted

Telephone System

• assessment: inadequate; most fixed-line telephones are in Asmara; government is seeking international tenders to improve the system; cell phones in increasing use throughout the country
• Domestic: combined fixed-line and mobile-cellular subscribership is less than 5 per 100 persons
• International: country code - 291

Electricity Consumption- Kilowatt Hours (kWh)

228,000,000

Electricity Production- Kilowatt Hours (kWh)

271,000,000

Oil Consumption- Barrels Per Day (bbl/day)

4,480

Anthem History

Ertra, Ertra, Ertra is national anthem of Eritrea. Song was adopted in 1993, soon after country became independent. The song is written by Solomon Tsehaye Beraki, composed by Isaac Abraham Meharezghi and Aron Tekle Tesfatsion

Anthem Lyrics

Ertra, Ertra, Ertra, Beal dema'nalkese tedem sisu, Meswaéta bharnet tdebisu. Mewaél nekhisa'b élame Témrti tsnat koynu sma, Ertra za haben wtsuat, Ameskira haki kem téwet. CHORUS: Ertra, Ertra, Abalem chebitato gbué kbra.

Anthem Lyrics English

Eritrea, Eritrea, Eritrea, Her enemy decimated and her sacrifices vindicated by liberation. Steadfast in her goal, symbolising endurance, Eritrea, the pride of her oppressed people, proved that the truth prevails. Eritrea, Eritrea holds her rightful place in the world.