World 8.2bn peopleGDP $118tnLife expectancy 73.5 yrsOnline 73.6%
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Health · Sub-Saharan Africa · Low income

Eritrea: health in numbers

Life expectancy is 68.9 yrs (2024), 162nd of 217 in the world and 7th of 48 in Sub-Saharan Africa. Life expectancy, women is 70.9 yrs (2024), 168th of 217 in the world and 11th of 48 in Sub-Saharan Africa. Life expectancy, men is 66.8 yrs (2024), 158th of 217 in the world and 6th of 48 in Sub-Saharan Africa.

Life expectancy68.9 yrs2024 · world 162/217 · region 7/48Life expectancy, women70.9 yrs2024 · world 168/217 · region 11/48Life expectancy, men66.8 yrs2024 · world 158/217 · region 6/48Infant mortality24.72024 · world 56/196 · region 43/48
Life expectancy
EritreaSub-Saharan AfricaLow incomeWorld
0.020406080199520002005201020152020Eritrea68.9 yrsSub-Saharan AfricaLow incomeWorld
Life expectancy, women
EritreaSub-Saharan AfricaLow incomeWorld
50607080199520002005201020152020Eritrea70.9 yrsSub-Saharan AfricaLow incomeWorld
17 indicators

Health: Eritrea in detail

Latest reported value, world rank and rank within Sub-Saharan Africa; values around 2000, 2010, 2020; group and world columns are World Bank aggregates.

IndicatorLatestWorld rankIn region~2000~2010~202010-year changeRegionIncome groupWorldSince 2000
Life expectancyLife expectancy at birth, years68.9 yrs2024162/2177/4856.3 yrs63.7 yrs67.0 yrs+5.2%since 201462.8 yrs65.2 yrs73.5 yrs
Life expectancy, womenLife expectancy at birth, women, years70.9 yrs2024168/21711/4858.5 yrs65.5 yrs69.3 yrs+5.2%since 201465.0 yrs67.7 yrs76.0 yrs
Life expectancy, menLife expectancy at birth, men, years66.8 yrs2024158/2176/4854.1 yrs61.8 yrs64.6 yrs+5.1%since 201460.7 yrs62.8 yrs71.1 yrs
Infant mortalityInfant mortality, per 1,000 live births24.7202456/19643/4850.837.527.8−26%since 201447.146.727.7
Under-5 mortalityUnder-5 mortality, per 1,000 live births34.3202454/19642/4885.355.239.1−29%since 201471.268.837.4
Neonatal mortalityNeonatal mortality, per 1,000 live births15.6202457/19643/4826.121.617.5−21%since 201426.624.917.2
Maternal mortalityMaternal mortality, per 100,000 live births291202324/19422/48741498334−34%since 2013448346197
Measles vaccinationMeasles immunisation, % of children 12–23 months93%202478/1936/4876%95%93%+3.0 ppsince 201469%67%84%
HIV prevalenceHIV prevalence, % of people 15–490.4%202474/15338/442.3%1.0%0.5%−0.4 ppsince 20143.0%1.6%0.7%
TuberculosisTuberculosis incidence, per 100,000 people115202460/20832/481,440258111−38%since 2014205199131
Health spendingCurrent health expenditure, % of GDP3.7%2023164/19335/485.8%4.8%4.3%−1.3 ppsince 20134.9%4.6%10.1%
Out-of-pocket spendingOut-of-pocket health spending, % of health expenditure48.4%202336/19313/4863.8%48.7%48.6%−0.3 ppsince 201330.4%44.5%17.3%
PhysiciansPhysicians per 1,000 people0.092022172/18039/460.040.040.09+76%since 20120.250.341.86
Hospital bedsHospital beds per 1,000 people1.02023143/18219/40·1.31.1−18%since 2013——3.3
Basic waterBasic drinking water, % of population51.8%2016——46.8%50.0%·+3.0 ppsince 200667.5%60.3%91.5%
Basic sanitationBasic sanitation, % of population11.9%2016——8.3%11.2%·+1.7 ppsince 200637.1%33.3%82.2%
Road deathsRoad traffic deaths, per 100,000 people37.920195/1863/4831.334.037.92019+11%since 200927.428.716.7
Source: World Bank, World Development Indicators (CC BY 4.0)“·” — no value reported within two years of that date. World rank counts countries with a recent value.

Better than ten years ago

Worse than ten years ago

Only indicators where higher or lower is clearly better are rated (for example, unemployment down is better, life expectancy up is better).

neighbours

Eritrea and its neighbours

Countries sharing a land border with Eritrea. Latest values since 2005; the highest in each row is marked.

IndicatorEritreaEthiopiaSudanDjibouti
Life expectancy68.9 yrs202467.6 yrs202466.5 yrs202466.2 yrs2024
Life expectancy, women70.9 yrs202471.0 yrs202469.8 yrs202468.7 yrs2024
Life expectancy, men66.8 yrs202464.4 yrs202463.4 yrs202463.7 yrs2024
Infant mortality24.7202434.5202442.9202443.02024
Under-5 mortality34.3202444.5202461.6202448.92024
Neonatal mortality15.6202425.2202423.7202427.12024
Maternal mortality2912023195202325620231622023
Measles vaccination93%202472%202446%202475%2024
HIV prevalence0.4%20240.7%20240.2%20240.9%2024
Ethiopia: healthSudan: healthDjibouti: health
Health in Sub-Saharan Africaall 48 economies rankedHealth: low-income countries25 economies rankedHealth: world leaderboardstop and bottom countriesEritrea: all key statisticscountry profile