Names: 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

Capital City: Asmara (Asmera)

Population: 4,786,994 (July 2006 est.)

GDP Per Capita: $1,000 (2005 est.)

Currency: nakfa (ERN)

Languages: Afar, Arabic, Tigre and Kunama, Tigrinya, other Cushitic languages

Total Area: total: 121,320 sq km land: 121,320 sq km water: 0 sq km slightly larger than Pennsylvania

Region: Africa

Industries: food processing, beverages, clothing and textiles, light manufacturing, salt, cement, commercial ship repair

Agriculture: sorghum, lentils, vegetables, corn, cotton, tobacco, coffee, sisal; livestock, goats; fish

Resources: gold, potash, zinc, copper, salt, possibly oil and natural gas, fish

Labor Force: NA
agriculture: 80% industry and services: 20%

Exports: $17.65 million f.o.b. (2006 est.)
livestock, sorghum, textiles, food, small manufactures (2000)

Imports: $701.8 million f.o.b. (2006 est.)
machinery, petroleum products, food, manufactured goods (2000)

Overview: Since independence from Ethiopia in 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 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. Erratic rainfall and the delayed demobilization of agriculturalists from the military kept cereal production well below normal, holding down growth in 2002-06. Eritrea's economic future depends upon its ability to master social problems such as illiteracy, unemployment, and low skills, as well as the willingness to open its economy to private enterprise so that the diaspora's money and expertise can foster economic growth.

_{CIA World Book}

In 2007 Missouri exported $15,295 in goods to Eritrea. This ranks Eritrea 160^th among the 223 international buyers of Missouri goods. Missouri exports to Eritrea increased from the previous year by $15,295 a change of NA. State exports to Eritrea have increased over the last 5 years by $12,742 a change of 499.10. Missouri exports account for .00%. of all 2007 US exports to Eritrea.