Changes

*Work force: Agriculture--80%. Industry and commerce--20%.

*Work force: Agriculture--80%. Industry and commerce--20%.

===Religion===

===Religion===

Although reliable statistics are not available, it is estimated that 50% of the population of 3.6 million  is Sunni Muslim, 30% is Orthodox Christian, and 13% is Roman Catholic. Groups that each constitute less than 5% of the population include Protestants, Seventh-day Adventists, Jehovah's Witnesses, Buddhists, Hindus, and Baha'is. Approximately 2% of the population practice traditional indigenous religions. The population in the eastern and western lowlands is predominantly Muslim and predominantly Christian in the highlands. Religious participation is high among all ethnic groups.

Eritrea's population is composed mainly of [[Muslims]] and [[Orthodox Christians]] and in comparison a small amount are [[Roman Catholic]]. Most Muslims follow [[Sunni Islam]]. The Christians consist primarily of the [[Eritrean Orthodox Tewahdo Church]], which is the local [[Oriental Orthodox]] church, and considerable groups of [[Roman Catholic]]s (including Italian Eritreans), [[Protestant]]s, and other denominations also exist.

The Government officially recognizes only four religious groups: the Eritrean Orthodox Church, the Evangelical Lutheran Church, Islam, and the Roman Catholic Church. Other religious groups are severely restricted.

Since May 2002, the Government of Eritrea has officially recognized the [[Eritrean Orthodox Tewahdo Church]], [[Sunni Islam]], [[Roman Catholic Church|Catholicism]], and the Evangelical [[Lutheran]] church. All other faiths and denominations are required to undergo a registration process. {{Fact|date=January 2009}} Among other things, the Government's registration system requires religious groups to submit personal information on their membership to be allowed to [[worship]]. {{Fact|date=January 2009}} The few organizations that have met all of the registration requirements have still not received official recognition. {{Fact|date=January 2009}}

 

[[Jehovah's Witnesses]], [[Bahá'í Faith]], the [[Seventh-day Adventist Church]], and numerous Protestant denominations are not registered and cannot worship freely. They have effectively been banned, and measures have been taken against their adherents. Many have been incarcerated for months or even years. None have been charged officially or given access to the judicial process. In its 2006 religious freedom report, the U.S. State Department for the third year in a row named Eritrea a "Country of Particular Concern", designating it one of the worst violators of religious freedom in the world.<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.state.gov/g/drl/rls/irf/2008/108367.htm | title=Eritrea. International Religious Freedom Report 2008|publisher= U.S. Department of State. Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights, and Labor| accessdate=2008-11-08}}</ref><ref>http://www.cswusa.com/Reports%20Pages/Reports-Eritrea.htm</ref>

There is one last native Jew in Eritrea, formerly from a community of hundreds in Asmara, whose ancestors had crossed from Aden in the late 19th century.<ref>http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/africa/4955088.stm</ref><ref>http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-3246419,00.html</ref>

==Government and Political Conditions==

==Government and Political Conditions==