Facts and figures

• Number of blind people (aged 50+ years): 41,700
• Number of people who are visually impaired (aged 50+ years): 75,100
• Backlog of cataract blindness: 22,900
• Main causes of blindness: Cataract (55%), glaucoma (15%), age related macular degeneration (6%)
• Number of ophthalmologists: 8 (4 local and 4 expatriate)

Sources: Eritrean Rapid Assessment of Avoidable Blindness (RAAB 2003)

• Population: 4.8 million
• Life expectancy: 59.2 years
• Children underweight for age (aged under 5 years): 40%
• Infant mortality rate (per 1,000 live births): 50 
• Number of doctors (per 100,000 people): 5
  
• Adult literacy rate (aged 15 years and older): 64.2%
• Urban population: 21.6%
• Population living below the national poverty line: 53%

Source: Human Development Report 2007/2008 and 2009, UNDP