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PEOPLE

Language
Tigrinya, Afar, Beni-Amir, Arabic and other local languages
Source: New Internationalist World Guide

Population

2009	5.1 million	U.N. Department of Economic and Social Affairs (DESA) Population Division (2009)
2007	4.7 million	U.N. Department of Economic and Social Affairs (DESA) Population Division (2006)
2006	4.6 million	U.N. DESA (2006)
2005	4.5 million	U.N. DESA (2006)
2004	4.4 million	U.N. DESA (2006)
2003	4.2 million	U.N. DESA (2006)
2002	4.0 million	U.N. DESA (2006)
2001	3.8 million	U.N. DESA (2006)
2000	3.7 million	U.N. DESA (2006)

Future population estimates
10.8 million (2050)
Source: U.N. DESA (2009)

Ethnic groups
There are nine ethnic groups living in the country (Tigrinya, Tigray, Bilen, Afar, Saho, Kunama, Nara, Hidareb and Rashaida). Half a million Eritrean refugees live in Sudan.
Source: NI World Guide

Religion
Almost half of all Eritreans are Coptic Christians and most of the rest are Muslims. There are also Catholic and Protestant minorities.
Source: NI World Guide

Percentage urban population

2007	20.2 percent	U.N. DESA - World Urbanisation Prospects 2005
2006	19.8 percent	U.N. DESA (2005)
2005	19.4 percent	U.N. DESA (2005)
2004	19.0 percent	U.N. DESA (2005)
2003	18.7 percent	U.N. DESA (2005)
2002	18.4 percent	U.N. DESA (2005)
2001	18.1 percent	U.N. DESA (2005)
2000	17.8 percent	U.N. DESA (2005)

Year women granted right to vote
1955
Source: U.N. Development Programme (UNDP) Human Development Report
Where two figures are shown, the first refers to a partial recognition of the right to vote and the second to the year women received the right to vote on a universal and equal basis.

Net percentage of girls enrolled in primary education
38 (2007)
Source: UNESCO

Percentage of population under 15

2005	43.0 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2007/2008
2004	44.8 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2006
2003	44.9 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2005
2002	45.5 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2004
2001	45.7 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2003
2000	43.9 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2002

USEFUL INFORMATION

Time zone
GMT +3

Climate description
Three climatic zones: central plateau, coastal zone and western lowlands, with large temperature differences between day and night. Two main rainy seasons: short rains between March and April and the long rains in June, and between December and February on the northern coast.

Currency
Nakfa

Telephone dialling code
(+) 291

Driving (left/right)
Right

STANDARD OF LIVING

Average life expectancy

2005	56.6 years	UNDP - Human Development Report 2007/2008
2004	54.3 years	UNDP - Human Development Report 2006
2003	53.8 years	UNDP - Human Development Report 2005
2002	52.7 years	UNDP - Human Development Report 2004
2001	52.5 years	UNDP - Human Development Report 2003
2000	52.0 years	UNDP - Human Development Report 2002

Life expectancy - male

2005	54.0 years	UNDP - Human Development Report 2007/2008
2004	52.3 years	UNDP - Human Development Report 2006
2003	51.8 years	UNDP - Human Development Report 2005
2002	51.1 years	UNDP - Human Development Report 2004
2001	50.9 years	UNDP - Human Development Report 2003
2000	50.6 years	UNDP - Human Development Report 2002

Life expectancy - female

2005	59.0 years	UNDP - Human Development Report 2007/2008
2004	56.1 years	UNDP - Human Development Report 2006
2003	55.7 years	UNDP - Human Development Report 2005
2002	54.2 years	UNDP - Human Development Report 2004
2001	54.1 years	UNDP - Human Development Report 2003
2000	53.3 years	UNDP - Human Development Report 2002

Infant mortality

2007	46 per 1,000 live births	U.N. Children's Fund (UNICEF) - State of the World's Children 2009
2006	48 per 1,000 live births	UNICEF - State of the World's Children 2008
2005	50 per 1,000 live births	U.N. Children's Fund (UNICEF) - State of the World's Children 2007
2004	52 per 1,000 live births	UNICEF - State of the World's Children 2006
2003	45 per 1,000 live births	UNDP - Human Development Report 2005
2002	47 per 1,000 live births	UNDP - Human Development Report 2004
2001	72 per 1,000 live births	UNDP - Human Development Report 2003
2000	73 per 1,000 live births	UNDP - Human Development Report 2002

Child mortality - deaths before the age of five

2007	70 per 1,000 live births	U.N. Children's Fund (UNICEF) - State of the World's Children 2009
2006	74 per 1,000 live births	UNICEF - State of the World's Children 2008
2005	78 per 1,000 live births	UNICEF - State of the World's Children 2007
2004	82 per 1,000 live births	UNICEF - State of the World's Children 2006
2003	85 per 1,000 live births	UNDP - Human Development Report 2005
2002	89 per 1,000 live births	UNDP - Human Development Report 2004
2000	114 per 1,000 live births	UNDP - Human Development Report 2002

Births attended by skilled personnel

1997-2005	28 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2007/2008
1996-2004	28 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2006
1995-2003	28 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2005
1995-2002	21 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2004
1995-2001	21 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2003
1995-2000	21 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2002

Maternal mortality

2005	450 per 100,000 live births	UNDP - Human Development Report 2007/2008
2000	630 per 100,000 live births	UNDP - Human Development Report 2006

Human development index (HDI rank)

2005	157	UNDP - Human Development Report 2007/2008
2004	157	UNDP - Human Development Report 2006
2003	161	UNDP - Human Development Report 2005
2002	156	UNDP - Human Development Report 2004
2001	155	UNDP - Human Development Report 2003
2000	157	UNDP - Human Development Report 2002

Percentage of children under weight for age (under age 5)

2000-2007	40 percent	U.N. Children's Fund (UNICEF) - State of the World's Children 2009
2000-2006	40 percent	UNICEF - State of the World's Children 2008
1996-2005	40 percent	UNICEF - State of the World's Children 2007
1996-2004	40 percent	UNICEF - State of the World's Children 2006
1995-2003	40 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2005
1995-2002	44 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2004
1995-2001	44 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2003
1995-2000	44 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2002

Percentage of undernourished population

2003-2005	68 percent	U.N. Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) 2008
2002-2004average	75 percent	U.N. Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) 2006
2001-2003average	73 percent	FAO 2006

Food intake falls below the minimum requirement.

Population with access to improved water

2006	60 percent	UNICEF and WHO 2008
2004	60 percent	UNICEF and World Health Organisation (WHO) 2006
2002	57 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2005
2000	46 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2004

Population with access to improved sanitation

2006	5 percent	UNICEF and WHO 2008
2004	9 percent	UNICEF and WHO 2006
2002	9 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2005
2000	13 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2004

Literacy - average

2004	No data available percent
2003	56.7 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2005
2002	56.7 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2004
2001	56.7 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2003
2000	55.7 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2002

Literacy - male

2004	No data available percent
2003	68.2 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2005
2002	38.2 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2004
2001	68.2 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2003
2000	67.3 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2002

Literacy - female

2004	No data available percent
2003	45.6 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2005
2002	45.6 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2004
2001	45.6 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2003
2000	44.5 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2002

Landlines telephones

2008	8 per 1,000 people	ITU 2009
2007	8 per 1,000 people	ITU 2009
2006	8 per 1,000 people	ITU 2009
2005	8 per 1,000 people	ITU 2009
2004	9 per 1,000 people	ITU 2009
2003	9 per 1,000 people	ITU 2009
2002	9 per 1,000 people	ITU 2009
2001	8 per 1,000 people	ITU 2009
2000	8 per 1,000 people	ITU 2009

Cellular telephone subscribers

2008	22 per 1,000 people	ITU 2009
2007	18 per 1,000 people	ITU 2009
2006	13 per 1,000 people	ITU 2009
2005	9 per 1,000 people	ITU 2009
2004	5 per 1,000 people	ITU 2009
2003	No data available per 1,000 people
2002	No data available per 1,000 people
2001	No data available per 1,000 people
2000	No data available per 1,000 people

Internet users

2008	30 per 1,000 people	ITU 2009
2007	25 per 1,000 people	ITU 2009
2006	22 per 1,000 people	ITU 2009
2005	18 per 1,000 people	ITU 2009
2004	12 per 1,000 people	ITU 2009
2003	7 per 1,000 people	ITU 2009
2002	2 per 1,000 people	ITU 2009
2001	2 per 1,000 people	ITU 2009
2000	1 per 1,000 people	ITU 2009

Transparency International corruption ranking (Scale: 1 = least corrupt, >175 = most corrupt)

2008	126 (joint)	Transparency International 2008
2007	111 (joint)	Transparency International 2007
2006	93 (joint)	Transparency International
2005	107 (joint)	Transparency International
2004	102 (joint)	Transparency International
2003	Not ranked
2002	Not ranked
2001	Not ranked
2000	Not ranked

Signatory of International Convention on the Prevention and Punishment for the crime of Genocide
No (1948)
Source: UNDP - Human Development Report

Signatory of the Convention against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment
No (1984)
Source: UNDP - Human Development Report

Signatory of the Convention on the Rights of the Child
Yes (1989)
Source: UNDP - Human Development Report

ECONOMY & AID

Percentage of population living on less than US$1 a day
No data available percent

GNI per capita, Atlas method

2007	270 current US$	World Bank Data Profile Tables 2009
2006	210 current US$	World Bank Data Profile Tables 2009
2005	180 current US$	World Bank Data Profile Tables 2009
2004	150 current US$	World Bank Data Profile Tables 2009
2003	150 current US$	World Bank Data Profile Tables 2009
2002	170 current US$	World Bank Data Profile Tables 2009
2001	170 current US$	World Bank Data Profile Tables 2009
2000	170 current US$	World Bank Data Profile Tables 2009

The purpose of the Atlas conversion factor is to reduce the impact of exchange rate fluctuations in a cross-country comparison of national incomes. The Atlas conversion factor for any year is the average of a country's exchange rate (or alternative conversion factor) for that year and its exchange rates for the two preceding years.

GDP

2007	1.4 current US$ billions	World Bank Data Profile Tables 2009
2006	1.3 current US$ billions	World Bank Data Profile Tables 2009
2005	1.2 current US$ billions	World Bank Data Profile Tables 2009
2004	0.6 current US$ billions	World Bank Data Profile Tables 2009
2003	0.6 current US$ billions	World Bank Data Profile Tables 2009
2002	0.7 current US$ billions	World Bank Data Profile Tables 2009
2001	0.7 current US$ billions	World Bank Data Profile Tables 2009
2000	0.6 current US$ billions	World Bank Data Profile Tables 2009

Annual GDP growth

2006	-1.0 percent	World Bank Data Profile Tables 2008
2005	0.5 percent	World Bank Data Profile Tables 2008
2004	1.9 percent	World Bank Data Profile Tables 2008
2003	6.1 percent	World Bank Data Profile Tables 2008
2002	0.7 percent	World Bank Data Profile Tables 2008
2001	9.2 percent	World Bank Data Profile Tables 2008
2000	-13.1 percent	World Bank Data Profile Tables 2008

Annual inflation

2007	5.9 percent	World Bank Data Profile Tables 2009
2006	10.5 percent	World Bank Data Profile Tables 2009
2005	35.6 percent	World Bank Data Profile Tables 2009
2004	19.2 percent	World Bank Data Profile Tables 2009
2003	16.6 percent	World Bank Data Profile Tables 2009
2002	17.7 percent	World Bank Data Profile Tables 2009
2001	17.1 percent	World Bank Data Profile Tables 2009
2000	25.0 percent	World Bank Data Profile Tables 2009

Share of income or consumption (poorest 10 percent)
No data available

Share of income or consumption (richest 10 percent)
No data available

HEALTH

Physicians

2000-2004	5 per 100,000 people	UNDP - Human Development Report 2007/2008
1990-2004	5 per 100,000 people	UNDP - Human Development Report 2006
1990-2003	5 per 100,000 people	UNDP - Human Development Report 2004
1990-2002	5 per 100,000 people	UNDP - Human Development Report 2003

Percentage HIV+ (adults aged 15-49)

2007	1.3 percent	U.N. Programme on HIV and AIDS (UNAIDS) 2008
2006	1.3 percent	U.N. Programme on HIV and AIDS (UNAIDS) 2008
2005	1.2 percent	U.N. Programme on HIV and AIDS (UNAIDS) 2008
2004	1.2 percent	U.N. Programme on HIV and AIDS (UNAIDS) 2008
2003	1.2 percent	U.N. Programme on HIV and AIDS (UNAIDS) 2008

Malaria
Risk from P.falciparum throughout the year in the whole country below 2200 metres. No risk in Asmara. Resistance to chloroquine and sulfadoxine-pyrimethamine reported.
Source: WHO

TB cases

2007	95 per 100,000 people	WHO 2009
2006	94 per 100,000 people	WHO 2009
2005	92 per 100,000 people	WHO 2009
2004	91 per 100,000 people	WHO 2009
2003	89 per 100,000 people	WHO 2009
2002	88 per 100,000 people	WHO 2009
2001	86 per 100,000 people	WHO 2009
2000	85 per 100,000 people	WHO 2009

CONFLICT & MIGRATION

Number of refugees originating here

2008	181971	UNHCR
2007	208743	UNHCR
2006	193745	Office of the U.N. High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR)
2005	143594	UNHCR
2004	131119	UNHCR
2003	124121	UNHCR
2002	318176	UNHCR
2001	333229	UNHCR
2000	376851	UNHCR

Number of refugees residing here

2008	4862	UNHCR
2007	5031	UNHCR
2006	4621	UNHCR
2005	4418	UNHCR
2004	4240	UNHCR
2003	3889	UNHCR
2002	3619	UNHCR
2001	2272	UNHCR
2000	1984	UNHCR

Number of internally displaced people\Estimate

2009	10000	Internal Displacement Monitoring Centre (IDMC) 2009
2008	32000	IDMC 2008
2007	32000	IDMC 2008
2006	40000 - 45000	IDMC 2006
2005	50509	IDMC 2006

Landmine casualties per year

2007	70	Landmine Monitor Report 2008
2006	32	Landmine Monitor Report 2008
2004	30	Landmine Monitor Report 2005
2003	87	Landmine Monitor Report 2004

Casualty figures may include both civilians and military personnel injured or killed by landmines and unexploded ordnance.
Signatory to landmine convention?
Yes (2001)
Source: Landmine Monitor Report

Percentage of GDP spent on military

2005	No data available percent
2004	No data available percent
2003	19.4 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2005

Percentage of GDP spent on education

2002-2005	5.4 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2007/2008
2002-2004	3.8 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2006
2000-2002	4.1 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2005
1999-2001	2.7 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2004
1998-2000	4.8 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2003

Percentage of GDP spent on health

2004	1.8 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2007/2008
2003-2004	2.0 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2006
2002	3.2 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2005
2001	3.7 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2004
2000	2.8 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2003