Eritrea

Eritrea is a poor, tightly controlled economy under one of the world's most repressive and isolated governments, with much of the population in subsistence agriculture and a system of indefinite national conscription.

Mining, especially gold, has provided some revenue, but the closed, militarized economy and lack of freedoms have driven large numbers of Eritreans to flee abroad.

Key Sectors

The economy rests on subsistence agriculture and livestock, with mining (gold, copper, potash) the main source of export earnings and foreign investment.