LEARN::Spotlight
Eritrea is one of the poorest countries in the world, with an average annual per capita income of US$ 200 in 2006, and ranks 157th out of 177 countries in the 2005 Human Development Index. 1 The population is estimated to be about 4.5 million of who two thirds normally live in rural areas.
Rural infrastructures have led to improved agricultural performance and food security in the last three years, following the droughts witnessed in 2002 and 2003. However, non-agricultural growth remains weak. Large fiscal and trade deficits are managed through price, exchange rate and interest rate controls, which have lead to a shortage of foreign exchange
The size of the public debt in proportion to GDP is a concern, although Eritrea remains current on debt payments. The official annual inflation rate was 12.6 percent in 2007, and is reported to be on a downward trend. In the longer term, sustained real economic growth of 7 percent or more will be required for Eritrea to reach the Millennium Development Goal of halving the proportion of people living in extreme poverty by 2015.
Like many small, low income states with a trade imbalance, Eritrea is extremely vulnerable to the rising international fuel and food prices.
Eritrea is a young nation-state. After a 30-year war with Ethiopia, Eritrea attained de facto independence in May 1991 and de jure independence two years later.
Malnutrition is of particular concern among women and children. An estimated 46 percent of the population were estimated as undernourished in 2002 and 40 percent of children were found to be underweight for their age
Situated in the Sahel, Eritrea suffers periodic droughts and chronic food shortages. Even in times of good rainfall domestic food production is estimated to be 60 to 70 percent of the population's needs. The last household survey and Participatory Poverty Assessment (PPA) undertaken in 2003 estimated around two thirds of the population were living below the poverty line.
Despite expanding schooling opportunities, Eritrea faces significant challenges in enrollment and completion of elementary school. Additional challenges lie in the high repetition and dropout rates.
With support from World Bank-funded projects, malaria morbidity and mortality has dropped over 80 percent since 1999, making Eritrea one of only few countries in Sub-Saharan Africa to meet the Abuja "Roll Back Malaria" targets, while most other SSA countries suffer from an increasing HIV epidemic.
Information from The World Bank. Learn more about Eritrea here.
| Country Data as of 2006 | |
|---|---|
| Population (millions) | 4.7 |
| GDP (current US$ billions 2007) | 1.1 |
| Official development assistance and official aid (current US$ millions) | 129 |
| External debt, total (DOD, current US$ millions) | 800 |
| Foreign direct investment, net inflows (BoP, current US$ millions) | 4 |
| Life expectancy at birth (years) | 57 |
| Mortality rate, under-5 (per 1,000) | 74 |
| Fertility rate, total (births per woman) | 5.1 |
| Adolescent fertility rate (births per 1,000 women ages 15-19) | 75 |
| Improved sanitation facilities, urban (% of urban population with access) | 14 |
| Improved water source (% of population with access) | 60 |
| Internet users (per 100 people) | 0.1 |
