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24 May 1968
24 May (Independence Day)
Pres Isaias Afewerki (b 1945), in office since 1993
Asmara
121 144 km²
4.7 million (2005 est)
40 (2005)
54 years (2005)
Arabic, Tigrinya (official), English, Italian
Christianity and Islam
One nafka (Nfa) = 100 cents
Salt, leather good, textiles
Sudan, Ethiopia
US $925 million (2004)
3.3% (2004)