Compare Eritrea (2002) - Western Sahara (2007)

Compare Eritrea (2002) z Western Sahara (2007)

	Eritrea (2002)	Western Sahara (2007)

Administrative divisions	6 regions (regions, singular - region); Central, Anelba, Southern Red Sea, Northern Red Sea, Southern, Gash-Barka	none (under de facto control of Morocco)
Age structure	0-14 years: 42.9% (male 958,564; female 955,625) 15-64 years: 53.9% (male 1,192,454; female 1,213,313) 65 years and over: 3.2% (male 73,017; female 72,678) (2002 est.)	0-14 years: 45.4% (male 88,176/female 85,421) 15-64 years: 52.3% (male 98,345/female 101,895) 65 years and over: 2.3% (male 3,705/female 5,075) (2007 est.)
Agriculture - products	sorghum, lentils, vegetables, corn, cotton, tobacco, coffee, sisal; livestock, goats; fish	fruits and vegetables (grown in the few oases); camels, sheep, goats (kept by nomads); fish
Airports	21 (2001)	9 (2007)
Airports - with paved runways	total: 4 over 3,047 m: 2 2,438 to 3,047 m: 2 (2002)	total: 3 2,438 to 3,047 m: 3 (2007)
Airports - with unpaved runways	total: 14 over 3,047 m: 1 2,438 to 3,047 m: 1 1,524 to 2,437 m: 6 914 to 1,523 m: 4 under 914 m: 2 (2002)	total: 6 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 914 to 1,523 m: 3 under 914 m: 2 (2007)
Area	total: 121,320 sq km land: 121,320 sq km water: 0 sq km	total: 266,000 sq km land: 266,000 sq km water: 0 sq km
Area - comparative	slightly larger than Pennsylvania	about the size of Colorado
Background	Eritrea was awarded to Ethiopia in 1952 as part of a federation. Ethiopia's annexation of Eritrea as a province 10 years later sparked a 30-year struggle for independence that ended in 1991 with Eritrean rebels defeating governmental forces; independence was overwhelmingly approved in a 1993 referendum. A two and a half year border war with Ethiopia that erupted in 1998 ended under UN auspices on 12 December 2000. Eritrea currently hosts a UN peacekeeping operation that will monitor the border region until an international commission determines and demarcates the boundary between the two countries.	Morocco virtually annexed the northern two-thirds of Western Sahara (formerly Spanish Sahara) in 1976, and the rest of the territory in 1979, following Mauritania's withdrawal. A guerrilla war with the Polisario Front contesting Rabat's sovereignty ended in a 1991 UN-brokered cease-fire; a UN-organized referendum on final status has been repeatedly postponed.
Birth rate	42.25 births/1,000 population (2002 est.)	NA
Budget	revenues: $206.4 million expenditures: $615.7 million, including capital expenditures of $NA (2000 est.)	revenues: $NA expenditures: $NA
Capital	Asmara (formerly Asmera)	none time difference: UTC 0 (5 hours ahead of Washington, DC during Standard Time)
Climate	hot, dry desert strip along Red Sea coast; cooler and wetter in the central highlands (up to 61 cm of rainfall annually); semiarid in western hills and lowlands; rainfall heaviest during June-September except in coastal desert	hot, dry desert; rain is rare; cold offshore air currents produce fog and heavy dew
Coastline	2,234 km total; mainland on Red Sea 1,151 km, islands in Red Sea 1,083 km	1,110 km
Constitution	the transitional constitution, decreed on 19 May 1993, was replaced by a new constitution adopted on 23 May 1997, but not yet implemented	-
Country name	conventional long form: State of Eritrea conventional short form: Eritrea local long form: Hagere Ertra local short form: Ertra former: Eritrea Autonomous Region in Ethiopia	conventional long form: none conventional short form: Western Sahara former: Spanish Sahara
Currency	nakfa (ERN)	-
Death rate	11.82 deaths/1,000 population (2002 est.)	NA
Debt - external	$281 million (2000 est.)	$NA
Diplomatic representation from the US	chief of mission: Ambassador Donald J. McCONNELL embassy: Franklin D. Roosevelt Street, Asmara mailing address: P. O. Box 211, Asmara telephone: [291] (1) 120004 FAX: [291] (1) 127584	none
Diplomatic representation in the US	chief of mission: Ambassador GIRMA Asmerom chancery: 1708 New Hampshire Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20009 telephone: [1] (202) 319-1991 FAX: [1] (202) 319-1304 consulate(s) general: Oakland (California)	none
Disputes - international	Eritrea and Ethiopia have expressed general approval of the April 2002 arbitration commission ruling re-delimiting the boundary, the focus of their 1998-2000 war; United Nations Mission in Ethiopia and Eritrea (UNMEE) will monitor activities within the 25-km wide temporary security zone in Eritrea until demarcation and de-mining are complete; Yemen has asserted traditional fishing rights to islands ceded to Eritrea in ICJ ruling	Morocco claims and administers Western Sahara, whose sovereignty remains unresolved; UN-administered cease-fire has remained in effect since September 1991, administered by the UN Mission for the Referendum in Western Sahara (MINURSO), but attempts to hold a referendum have failed and parties thus far have rejected all brokered proposals; several states have extended diplomatic relations to the "Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic" represented by the Polisario Front in exile in Algeria, while others recognize Moroccan sovereignty over Western Sahara; most of the approximately 102,000 Sahrawi refugees are sheltered in camps in Tindouf, Algeria
Economic aid - recipient	$77 million (1999) (1999)	$NA
Economy - overview	Since independence from Ethiopia on 24 May 1993, Eritrea has faced the economic problems of a small, desperately poor country. 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 in 1999 fell to less than 1%, and GDP decreased by 8.2% 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. Eritrea's economic future remains mixed. The cessation of Ethiopian trade, which mainly used Eritrean ports before the war, leaves Eritrea with a large economic hole to fill. Eritrea's economic future depends upon its ability to master fundamental social problems like illiteracy, unemployment, and low skills, and to convert the diaspora's money and expertise into economic growth.	Western Sahara depends on pastoral nomadism, fishing, and phosphate mining as the principal sources of income for the population. The territory lacks sufficient rainfall for sustainable agricultural production, and most of the food for the urban population must be imported. Incomes in Western Sahara are substantially below the Moroccan level. The Moroccan Government controls all trade and other economic activities in Western Sahara. Morocco and the EU signed a four-year agreement in July 2006 allowing European vessels to fish off the coast of Morocco, including the disputed waters off the coast of Western Sahara. Moroccan energy interests in 2001 signed contracts to explore for oil off the coast of Western Sahara, which has angered the Polisario. However, in 2006, the Polisario awarded similar exploration licenses in the disputed territory, which would come into force if Morocco and the Polisario resolve their dispute over Western Sahara.
Electricity - consumption	195.3 million kWh (2000)	79.05 million kWh (2005)
Electricity - exports	0 kWh NA kWh (2000)	0 kWh (2005)
Electricity - imports	0 kWh NA kWh (2000)	0 kWh (2005)
Electricity - production	210 million kWh (2000)	85 million kWh (2005)
Electricity - production by source	fossil fuel: 100% hydro: 0% nuclear: 0% other: 0% (2000)	-
Elevation extremes	lowest point: near Kulul within the Denakil depression -75 m highest point: Soira 3,018 m	lowest point: Sebjet Tah -55 m highest point: unnamed location 463 m
Environment - current issues	deforestation; desertification; soil erosion; overgrazing; loss of infrastructure from civil warfare	sparse water and lack of arable land
Environment - international agreements	party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, Endangered Species signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements	party to: none of the selected agreements signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
Ethnic groups	ethnic Tigrinya 50%, Tigre and Kunama 40%, Afar 4%, Saho (Red Sea coast dwellers) 3%, other 3%	Arab, Berber
Exchange rates	nakfa (ERN) per US dollar - 9.5 (January 2000), 7.6 (January 1999), 7.2 (March 1998 est.)	Moroccan dirhams per US dollar - 8.7722 (2006), 8.865 (2005), 8.868 (2004), 9.5744 (2003), 11.0206 (2002)
Executive branch	chief of state: President Afworki ISAIAS (since 8 June 1993); note - the president is both the chief of state and head of government and is head of the State Council and National Assembly head of government: President Afworki ISAIAS (since 8 June 1993); note - the president is both the chief of state and head of government and is head of the State Council and National Assembly cabinet: State Council is the collective executive authority; members appointed by the president elections: president elected by the National Assembly; election last held 8 June 1993 (next election date uncertain as the National Assembly did not hold a presidential election in December 2001 as anticipated) election results: ISAIAS Afworki elected president; percent of National Assembly vote - ISAIAS Afworki 95%	none
Exports	$34.8 million f.o.b. (2000)	NA bbl/day
Exports - commodities	livestock, sorghum, textiles, food, small manufactures	phosphates 62%
Exports - partners	Sudan 27.2%, Ethiopia 26.5%, Japan 13.2%, UAE 7.3%, Italy 5.3% (1998)	Morocco claims and administers Western Sahara, so trade partners are included in overall Moroccan accounts (2006)
Fiscal year	calendar year	calendar year
Flag description	red isosceles triangle (based on the hoist side) dividing the flag into two right triangles; the upper triangle is green, the lower one is blue; a gold wreath encircling a gold olive branch is centered on the hoist side of the red triangle	-
GDP	purchasing power parity - $3.2 billion (2001 est.)	-
GDP - composition by sector	agriculture: 17% industry: 29% services: 54% (2001 est.)	agriculture: NA% industry: NA% services: 40%
GDP - per capita	purchasing power parity - $740 (2001 est.)	-
GDP - real growth rate	7% (2001 est.)	NA%
Geographic coordinates	15 00 N, 39 00 E	24 30 N, 13 00 W
Geography - note	strategic geopolitical position along world's busiest shipping lanes; Eritrea retained the entire coastline of Ethiopia along the Red Sea upon de jure independence from Ethiopia on 24 May 1993	the waters off the coast are particularly rich fishing areas
Highways	total: 3,850 km paved: 810 km unpaved: 3,040 km (2000)	-
Household income or consumption by percentage share	lowest 10%: NA% highest 10%: NA%	lowest 10%: NA% highest 10%: NA%
Imports	$470.5 million c.i.f. (2000)	NA bbl/day
Imports - commodities	machinery, petroleum products, food, manufactured goods	fuel for fishing fleet, foodstuffs
Imports - partners	Italy 17.4%, UAE 16.2%, Germany 5.7%, UK 4.5%, Korea 4.4% (1998)	Morocco claims and administers Western Sahara, so trade partners are included in overall Moroccan accounts (2006)
Independence	24 May 1993 (from Ethiopia)	-
Industrial production growth rate	NA%	NA%
Industries	food processing, beverages, clothing and textiles	phosphate mining, handicrafts
Infant mortality rate	73.62 deaths/1,000 live births (2002 est.)	total: NA male: NA female: NA
Inflation rate (consumer prices)	15% (2001 est.)	NA%
International organization participation	ACP, AfDB, CCC, ECA, FAO, IBRD, ICAO, ICFTU, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS (associate), IGAD, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, ITU, NAM, OAU, OPCW, PCA, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO	none
Internet Service Providers (ISPs)	5 (2001)	-
Irrigated land	220 sq km (1998 est.)	NA
Judicial branch	High court, regional, subregional, and village courts; also have military and special courts	-
Labor force	NA	12,000
Labor force - by occupation	agriculture 80%, industry and services 20%	agriculture: 50% industry and services: 50%
Land boundaries	total: 1,626 km border countries: Djibouti 109 km, Ethiopia 912 km, Sudan 605 km	total: 2,046 km border countries: Algeria 42 km, Mauritania 1,561 km, Morocco 443 km
Land use	arable land: 3.87% permanent crops: 0.02% other: 96.11% (1998 est.)	arable land: 0.02% permanent crops: 0% other: 99.98% (2005)
Languages	Afar, Amharic, Arabic, Tigre and Kunama, Tigrinya, other Cushitic languages	Hassaniya Arabic, Moroccan Arabic
Legal system	primary basis is the Ethiopian legal code of 1957, with revisions; new civil, commercial, and penal codes have not yet been promulgated; also relies on customary and post-independence-enacted laws and, for civil cases involving Muslims, Sharia law	-
Legislative branch	unicameral National Assembly (150 seats; term limits not established) 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 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 indefinately	-
Life expectancy at birth	total population: 56.57 years male: 54.09 years female: 59.13 years (2002 est.)	total population: NA male: NA female: NA
Literacy	definition: NA total population: 25% male: NA% female: NA%	NA
Location	Eastern Africa, bordering the Red Sea, between Djibouti and Sudan	Northern Africa, bordering the North Atlantic Ocean, between Mauritania and Morocco
Map references	Africa	Africa
Maritime claims	territorial sea: 12 NM	contingent upon resolution of sovereignty issue
Merchant marine	total: 6 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 19,100 GRT/23,399 DWT ships by type: bulk 1, cargo 2, liquefied gas 1, petroleum tanker 1, roll on/roll off 1 (2002 est.)	-
Military branches	Army, Navy, Air Force	-
Military expenditures - dollar figure	$138.3 million (FY01)	-
Military expenditures - percent of GDP	19.8% (FY01)	-
National holiday	Independence Day, 24 May (1993)	-
Nationality	noun: Eritrean(s) adjective: Eritrean	noun: Sahrawi(s), Sahraoui(s) adjective: Sahrawi, Sahrawian, Sahraouian
Natural hazards	frequent droughts; locust swarms	hot, dry, dust/sand-laden sirocco wind can occur during winter and spring; widespread harmattan haze exists 60% of time, often severely restricting visibility
Natural resources	gold, potash, zinc, copper, salt, possibly oil and natural gas, fish	phosphates, iron ore
Net migration rate	7.61 migrant(s)/1,000 population note: UNHCR began repatriating about 150,000 Eritrean refugees from Sudan in 2001 following the restoration of diplomatic relations between the two countries in 2000 (2002 est.)	-
Political parties and leaders	People's Front for Democracy and Justice or PFDJ, the only party recognized by the government [Afworki ISAIAS]; note - a National Assembly committee drafted a law on political parties in January 2001, but the full National Assembly had not yet debated or voted on it as of December 2001	-
Political pressure groups and leaders	Eritrean Islamic Jihad or EIJ; Eritrean Liberation Front or ELF [ABDULLAH Muhammed]; Eritrean Liberation Front-Revolutionary Council or ELF-RC [Ahmed NASSER]; Eritrean Liberation Front-United Organization or ELF-UO [Mohammed Said NAWD]; Eritrean Public Forum or EPF [ARADOM Iyob]	none
Population	4,465,651 (July 2002 est.)	382,617 note: estimate is based on projections by age, sex, fertility, mortality, and migration; fertility and mortality are based on data from neighboring countries (July 2007 est.)
Population below poverty line	NA%	NA%
Population growth rate	3.8% (2002 est.)	NA
Ports and harbors	Assab (Aseb), Massawa (Mits'iwa)	-
Radio broadcast stations	AM 2, FM NA, shortwave 2 (2000)	AM 2, FM 0, shortwave 0 (1998)
Radios	345,000 (1997)	-
Railways	total: 317 km narrow gauge: 317 km 0.950-m gauge note: links Ak'ordat and Asmara with the port of Massawa; nonoperational since 1978 except for about a 5 km stretch that was reopened in Massawa in 1994; rehabilitation of the remainder and of the rolling stock is under way (2001 est.)	-
Religions	Muslim, Coptic Christian, Roman Catholic, Protestant	Muslim
Sex ratio	at birth: 1.03 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 0.98 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 1 male(s)/female total population: 0.99 male(s)/female (2002 est.)	NA
Suffrage	18 years of age; universal	none; a UN-sponsored voter identification campaign not yet completed
Telephone system	general assessment: inadequate domestic: very inadequate; most telephones are in Asmara; government is seeking international tenders to improve the system (2002) international: NA; note - international connections exist	general assessment: sparse and limited system domestic: NA international: country code - 212; tied into Morocco's system by microwave radio relay, tropospheric scatter, and satellite; satellite earth stations - 2 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean) linked to Rabat, Morocco
Telephones - main lines in use	30,000 (2001)	about 2,000 (1999 est.)
Telephones - mobile cellular	NA; note - mobile cellular service was introduced in May 2001	0 (1999)
Television broadcast stations	1 (2000)	NA
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	mostly low, flat desert with large areas of rocky or sandy surfaces rising to small mountains in south and northeast
Total fertility rate	5.8 children born/woman (2002 est.)	NA
Unemployment rate	NA%	NA%
Waterways	none	-

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