Photo: Original photograph taken by User:Voice of Clam , edited by jjron - adjusted levels, reduced highlights, sharpened. derivative work: Jjtkk · Public domain · via Wikimedia Commons, shown in greyscale
Topic 06 of 18 · Country Index 2026
Eritrea: Development & Human Capital
Is a country turning its resources into better lives?
Eritrea is placed 181st of 196 countries on development & human capital in the Country Index 2026, from 3 of its 3 key statistics. Readings behind it: Social Protection Coverage 8.4 (2025); Maternal Mortality Ratio 291.36 (2023).
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Development & Human Capital
181st
of 196 countries placed
Placed from 3 of 3 key statistics
01The evidence
The 3 key statistics that decide it
Only these place Eritrea on development & human capital — one vote each. Every value is the publisher’s own, read at the edition the Country Index 2026 used — or, for a survey-based key, each country’s latest reading; the grey ticks are every other country it was compared with, lowest on the left.
Key 2 of 3
Maternal Mortality Ratio
UN Maternal Mortality Estimation Inter-Agency Group (MMEIG)
2023 edition · data for 2023 · CC BY 3.0 IGO
291.36
Maternal deaths per 100,000 live births
Lower is better
Eritrea: 291.36. Across the 195 countries in this edition, values run from 0.11 (Cook Islands) to 992.83 (Nigeria); the world median is 46.65.
- World median
- 46.65
- Best in Eastern Africa
- 41.89 Seychelles
- Land neighbours
- Djibouti 161.88 · Ethiopia 194.94 · Sudan 255.71
Key 3 of 3
Human Development Index
UNDP Human Development Report Office
2023 edition · data for 2023 · CC BY 3.0 IGO
0.503
HDI score (0–1)
Higher is better
Ranked 178th of 193 by UNDP Human Development Report Office
Eritrea: 0.503. Across the 193 countries in this edition, values run from 0.388 (South Sudan) to 0.972 (Iceland); the world median is 0.762.
- World median
- 0.762
- Best in Eastern Africa
- 0.848 Seychelles
- Land neighbours
- Djibouti 0.513 · Ethiopia 0.497 · Sudan 0.511
02Over time
Which way Eritrea is moving
Each key’s published value, edition by edition, beside the world median. The Country Index 2026 is the first edition of the standing, so the standing itself has no history to chart yet.
Maternal Mortality Ratio
Maternal deaths per 100,000 live births · lower is better
EritreaWorld median
Eritrea fell from 741.44 in 2000 to 291.36 in 2023; the world median went from 70.99 to 46.65.
Every year’s figures
Year Eritrea World median 2023 291.4 46.7 2022 301.4 53.0 2021 338.5 76.6 2020 333.7 56.0 2019 350.7 48.4 2018 363.3 49.3 2017 379.1 47.2 2016 394.6 50.6 2015 412.9 51.9 2014 429.7 52.8 2013 443.5 53.3 2012 457.8 54.6 2011 477.5 55.0 2010 498.2 56.1 2009 514.5 56.3 2008 529.9 55.8 2007 541.4 56.8 2006 554.6 58.1 2005 566.6 60.1 2004 588.3 63.0 2003 587.6 66.8 2002 636.3 66.0 2001 650.9 68.1 2000 741.4 71.0 Human Development Index
HDI score (0–1) · higher is better
EritreaWorld median
Eritrea rose from 0.474 in 2005 to 0.503 in 2023; the world median went from 0.696 to 0.762.
Every year’s figures
Year Eritrea World median 2023 0.503 0.7620 2022 0.499 0.7610 2021 0.496 0.7450 2020 0.495 0.7425 2019 0.495 0.7515 2018 0.490 0.7520 2017 0.480 0.7480 2016 0.485 0.7500 2015 0.480 0.7430 2014 0.497 0.7410 2013 0.479 0.7390 2012 0.483 0.7350 2011 0.480 0.7250 2010 0.465 0.7250 2009 0.462 0.7220 2008 0.457 0.7180 2007 0.472 0.7100 2006 0.473 0.7045 2005 0.474 0.6960 2004 — 0.6960 2003 — 0.6910 2002 — 0.6845 2001 — 0.6770 2000 — 0.6720
03In context
Eritrea beside its neighbours
A position reads best beside the countries around it. Every position below is a place among all 196 countries on development & human capital, never a place within the region.
Eritrea and the countries it borders
Standing among all 196; the key columns are the publishers’ own values.
| Country | Standing | Social Protection CoveragePopulation covered by at least one social protection benefit (%) | Maternal Mortality RatioMaternal deaths per 100,000 live births | Human Development IndexHDI score (0–1) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
 Djibouti | 163rd | 12.3 | 161.88 | 0.513 |
 Ethiopiacompare | 174th | 11.5 | 194.94 | 0.497 |
 Sudan | 176th | 10.4 | 255.71 | 0.511 |
| Eritrea | 181st | 8.4 | 291.36 | 0.503 |
“—”: no published reading in that edition. What a standing is
Across Eastern Africa
Every country in the sub-region, by its place among all 196.
Placed either side on development & human capital
The countries immediately above and below Eritrea in the topic’s list.
04Context, no vote
Where Eritrea is ahead of the world, and behind
26 more statistics filed under development & human capital, published in full and deliberately given no vote in the standing. Select a row for the publisher, the rank and the links.
Ahead of the world median5
Statistics on which Eritrea does better than the middle country measured.
Exclusive Breastfeeding Under Six MonthsUNICEF · 2024 · world median 40.7468.740.74No earlier reading
Eritrea: 68.7 · world median 40.74 · Infants under 6 months exclusively breastfed (%). UNICEF, 2024 edition, data for 2024.
Published values in that edition run from 3.497 to 83.3; higher is better.
Position 9th of 136 · derived.
Immunisation Coverage, DTP3WUENIC · 2025 · world median 919691▲ Improved since 2015
Eritrea: 96 · world median 91 · Infants given a third dose of DTP vaccine (%). WHO and UNICEF (WUENIC), 2025 edition, data for 2025.
Published values in that edition run from 39 to 99; higher is better.
Immunisation Coverage, Measles First Dose (MCV1)WUENIC · 2025 · world median 909390▼ Worsened since 2015
Eritrea: 93 · world median 90 · Infants given a first dose of measles vaccine (%). WHO and UNICEF (WUENIC), 2025 edition, data for 2025.
Published values in that edition run from 13 to 99; higher is better.
Malaria Incidence (P. falciparum)MAP · 2025 · world median 52.4731.4352.47No real change since 2015
Eritrea: 31.43 · world median 52.47 · New P. falciparum malaria cases per 1,000 people per year. Malaria Atlas Project (MAP), 2025 edition, data for 2025.
Published values in that edition run from 0 to 334.75; lower is better.
Malaria Mortality (P. falciparum)MAP · 2024 · world median 8.1066.5918.106No real change since 2014
Eritrea: 6.591 · world median 8.106 · Deaths from P. falciparum malaria per 100,000 people per year. Malaria Atlas Project (MAP), 2024 edition, data for 2024.
Published values in that edition run from 0 to 133.27; lower is better.
Behind the world median21
Statistics on which Eritrea does worse than the middle country measured.
Child and Family Benefit CoverageILO · 2024 · world median 23.7510.223.75No earlier reading
Eritrea: 10.2 · world median 23.75 · Children or households with children receiving child or family cash benefits (%). International Labour Organization (ILO), 2024 edition, data for 2024.
Published values in that edition run from 0 to 100; higher is better.
Neonatal Mortality RateUN IGME · 2024 · world median 8.13415.628.134No real change since 2014
Eritrea: 15.62 · world median 8.134 · Deaths in the first 28 days (per 1,000 live births). UN Inter-agency Group for Child Mortality Estimation (UN IGME), 2024 edition, data for 2024.
Published values in that edition run from 0.544 to 39.47; lower is better.
Position 57th of 200 · derived, 1st = worst.
Infant Mortality RateUN IGME · 2024 · world median 12.2624.712.26No real change since 2014
Eritrea: 24.7 · world median 12.26 · Deaths before age one (per 1,000 live births). UN Inter-agency Group for Child Mortality Estimation (UN IGME), 2024 edition, data for 2024.
Published values in that edition run from 1.214 to 71.87; lower is better.
Position 56th of 200 · derived, 1st = worst.
Malaria Incidence (P. vivax)MAP · 2025 · world median 1.3826.3871.382▼ Worsened since 2015
Eritrea: 6.387 · world median 1.382 · New P. vivax malaria cases per 1,000 people per year. Malaria Atlas Project (MAP), 2025 edition, data for 2025.
Published values in that edition run from 0.001 to 184.62; lower is better.
Under-Five Mortality RateUN IGME · 2024 · world median 14.5434.314.54No real change since 2014
Eritrea: 34.3 · world median 14.54 · Deaths before age five (per 1,000 live births). UN Inter-agency Group for Child Mortality Estimation (UN IGME), 2024 edition, data for 2024.
Published values in that edition run from 1.26 to 115.65; lower is better.
Position 54th of 200 · derived, 1st = worst.
Life Expectancy at BirthUN DESA Population Division · 2023 · world median 74.6368.6274.63▲ Improved since 2013
Eritrea: 68.62 · world median 74.63 · Years a newborn would live at current death rates. UN DESA Population Division, 2023 edition, data for 2023.
Published values in that edition run from 54.46 to 86.37; higher is better.
Position 166th of 222 · derived.
Mortality Rate, Ages 5–14UN IGME · 2024 · world median 2.8585.9272.858▼ Worsened since 2014
Eritrea: 5.927 · world median 2.858 · Deaths between ages 5 and 14 (per 1,000 children aged 5). UN Inter-agency Group for Child Mortality Estimation (UN IGME), 2024 edition, data for 2024.
Published values in that edition run from 0.392 to 59.04; lower is better.
Position 49th of 200 · derived, 1st = worst.
Stillbirth RateUN IGME · 2023 · world median 8.16315.198.163No real change since 2013
Eritrea: 15.19 · world median 8.163 · Stillbirths (per 1,000 total births). UN Inter-agency Group for Child Mortality Estimation (UN IGME), 2023 edition, data for 2023.
Published values in that edition run from 1.18 to 34.9; lower is better.
Position 45th of 200 · derived, 1st = worst.
Low Birthweight PrevalenceUNICEF and WHO (Joint Low Birthweight Estimates) · 2020 · world median 10.2115.1610.21No real change since 2010
Eritrea: 15.16 · world median 10.21 · Live births weighing under 2,500 g (%). UNICEF and WHO (Joint Low Birthweight Estimates), 2020 edition, data for 2020.
Published values in that edition run from 3.993 to 27.44; lower is better.
Position 32nd of 158 · derived, 1st = worst.
Disability Benefit CoverageILO · 2025 · world median 43.93.643.9No earlier reading
Eritrea: 3.6 · world median 43.9 · People with severe disabilities receiving disability benefits (%). International Labour Organization (ILO), 2025 edition, data for 2025.
Published values in that edition run from 0 to 100; higher is better.
Access to Electricity, RuralWorld Bank Group · 2024 · world median 10043.2100No real change since 2014
Eritrea: 43.2 · world median 100 · Rural population with electricity access (%). World Bank Group, 2024 edition, data for 2024.
Published values in that edition run from 0.7 to 100; higher is better.
Mean Years of SchoolingUNDP Human Development Report Office · 2023 · world median 9.9335.0919.933▼ Worsened since 2013
Eritrea: 5.091 · world median 9.933 · Mean years of schooling (adults 25+). UNDP Human Development Report Office, 2023 edition, data for 2023.
Published values in that edition run from 1.412 to 14.3; higher is better.
Position 168th of 193 · derived.
Planetary pressures-adjusted HDIUNDP Human Development Report Office · 2023 · world median 0.6780.4960.678▲ Improved since 2013
Eritrea: 0.496 · world median 0.678 · PHDI (0–1). UNDP Human Development Report Office, 2023 edition, data for 2023.
Published values in that edition run from 0.276 to 0.827; higher is better.
Position 138th of 156 · derived.
Access to ElectricityWorld Bank Group · 2024 · world median 10055.3100▼ Worsened since 2014
Eritrea: 55.3 · world median 100 · Population with electricity access (%). World Bank Group, 2024 edition, data for 2024.
Published values in that edition run from 5.4 to 100; higher is better.
Child MarriageUNICEF · 2025 · world median 17.140.717.1No earlier reading
Eritrea: 40.7 · world median 17.1 · Women 20–24 married before 18 (%). UNICEF, 2025 edition, data for 2025.
Published values in that edition run from 0 to 76.3; lower is better.
Position 11th of 143 · derived, 1st = worst.
Productive Capacities IndexUNCTAD · 2022 · world median 46.6724.446.67No real change since 2012
Eritrea: 24.4 · world median 46.67 · Productive Capacities Index (1–100). UN Trade and Development (UNCTAD), 2022 edition, data for 2022.
Published values in that edition run from 17.8 to 71.02; higher is better.
Position 187th of 195 · derived.
Country Policy and Institutional AssessmentWorld Bank Group · 2025 · world median 3.2461.6923.246▲ Improved since 2015
Eritrea: 1.692 · world median 3.246 · IDA Resource Allocation Index (1 = low to 6 = high). World Bank Group, 2025 edition, data for 2025.
Published values in that edition run from 1.617 to 4.225; higher is better.
Position 75th of 78 · derived.
Cereal YieldFAO · 2023 · world median 3,072638.23,072No real change since 2013
Eritrea: 638.2 · world median 3,072 · Cereal yield (kg per hectare). Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), 2023 edition, data for 2023.
Published values in that edition run from 23 to 29,147; higher is better.
Position 173rd of 179 · derived.
Wasting Prevalence in Children Under FiveUNICEF, WHO and World Bank Group (Joint Malnutrition Estimates) · 2024 · world median 3.54614.553.546No earlier reading
Eritrea: 14.55 · world median 3.546 · Children under 5 who are wasted (%). UNICEF, WHO and World Bank Group (Joint Malnutrition Estimates), 2024 edition, data for 2024.
Published values in that edition run from 0.1 to 22.74; lower is better.
Position 6th of 163 · derived, 1st = worst.
Expected Years of SchoolingUNDP Human Development Report Office · 2023 · world median 13.347.33713.34No real change since 2013
Eritrea: 7.337 · world median 13.34 · Expected years of schooling. UNDP Human Development Report Office, 2023 edition, data for 2023.
Published values in that edition run from 5.635 to 21.69; higher is better.
Position 192nd of 195 · derived.
Stunting Prevalence in Children Under FiveUNICEF, WHO and World Bank Group (Joint Malnutrition Estimates) · 2024 · world median 13.852.5313.8No earlier reading
Eritrea: 52.53 · world median 13.8 · Children under 5 who are stunted (%). UNICEF, WHO and World Bank Group (Joint Malnutrition Estimates), 2024 edition, data for 2024.
Published values in that edition run from 0.518 to 52.8; lower is better.
Position 2nd of 162 · derived, 1st = worst.
No current reading for Eritrea
Account Ownership at a Financial Institution, Adequacy of Social Protection and Labour Benefits, Children with Functional Difficulties, Coefficient of Human Inequality, Completeness of Birth Registration, Comprehensive Wealth per Capita, Employment Injury Protection Coverage, Foundational ID Ownership, GDP per Capita (PPP), Gender Development Index, Gender Inequality Index, Global Multidimensional Poverty Index, GNI per Capita (PPP), Historical GDP per Capita (Maddison), Human Capital Index, Human Capital Wealth per Capita, Inequality-adjusted Human Development Index, Manufacturing Value Added (% of GDP) (last 2009), Multidimensional Poverty Measure, Net Official Development Assistance Received (last 2011), Official Development Assistance Given (% of GNI), Old-Age Pension Coverage, Poverty Gap at $3.00 a Day, Poverty Headcount at $3.00 a Day, Line-up Estimates, Poverty Headcount Ratio at $3.00 a Day, Poverty Headcount Ratio at $4.20 a Day, Poverty Headcount Ratio at $8.30 a Day, Poverty Severity (Squared Poverty Gap) at $3.00 a Day, Prosperity Gap, Statistical Performance Indicators, Unemployment Benefit Coverage and Violent Discipline of Children. Listed rather than hidden, so the page can be checked against it.
“Position · derived” is this site’s ordering of the published values, 1st = best unless the row says otherwise; the publisher ranks no country on it. Rank, position and standing
05Country Index 2026
Development & Human Capital among Eritrea’s 14 topics
Development & Human Capital is Eritrea’s 8th best-placed topic of 14. Strongest first, each marker at its share of that topic’s field.
- Environment & Sustainabilityjoint 15th of 1863/4 keys
- Work & Labourjoint 117th of 1824/4 keys
- Peace & Securityjoint 126th of 1773/4 keys
- Health & Wellbeingjoint 152nd of 2002/4 keys
- Energyjoint 127th of 1652/3 keys
- Risk & Resilience162nd of 1933/4 keys
- Gender & Equality165th of 1832/4 keys
- Development & Human Capital181st of 1963/3 keys
- Digital & Technology190th of 1983/4 keys
- Food & Agriculture179th of 1842/4 keys
- Education & Knowledge194th of 1982/4 keys
- Governance & Institutionsjoint 191st of 1943/4 keys
- Democracy & Civil Liberties198th of 1983/4 keys
- Mobility & Trade177th of 1772/4 keys
No standing on Economy & Innovation, Poverty & Inequality: too few of those topics’ key statistics are published for this country.
06The top of the list
Who leads on development & human capital
The three countries placed highest of 196, and the leaders Eritrea can most readily be measured against.
1
Cook IslandsPolynesia
1st of 196 · 2 of 3 keys
Photo: Benedict Adam · CC BY 2.0, greyscale
2
NorwayNorthern Europe
2nd of 196 · 3 of 3 keys
Photo: Ximonic , Simo Räsänen · CC BY-SA 3.0, greyscale
3
DenmarkNorthern Europe
3rd of 196 · 3 of 3 keys
Photo: User:Aconcagua · CC BY-SA 3.0, greyscale
Placed highest nearby
Highest in Africa
Seychelles74th3/3 keysThis page
Eritrea181st3/3 keys
Positions out of 196 placed on the topic. A country needs readings on enough keys to be placed, and the top of the list is often held on fewer of them.
07Analysis
Charts and analysis about Eritrea and development & human capital
On development & human capital
Global Hunger Index 2025: Countries with the Most Alarming Hunger Crisis
Thirteen countries scored across four editions — 2000, 2008, 2016 and 2025 — and five the report could not score at all. DR Congo and South Sudan share 121st place on 37.5.
On development & human capital
India vs Pakistan 2025: Comparison of Hunger Index, Happiness, HDI, Rule of Law, Literacy & GDP
India and Pakistan on six published measures: hunger, happiness, human development, rule of law, literacy and GDP per capita, each from its own publisher and year.
08Questions
Eritrea on development & human capital: questions answered
Every answer is built from the numbers on this page, so none can say something the page does not.
How does Eritrea rank on development & human capital?
Eritrea is placed 181st of 196 countries on Development & Human Capital in the Country Index 2026, from 3 of its 3 key statistics (Social Protection Coverage, Maternal Mortality Ratio and Human Development Index). The position is this site’s ordering of published statistics, not a rank any publisher printed.
What is the latest Social Protection Coverage figure for Eritrea?
8.4 in 2025 (population covered by at least one social protection benefit (%)), according to International Labour Organization (ILO). The world median in the same edition was 52.1.
What is the latest Maternal Mortality Ratio figure for Eritrea?
291.36 in 2023 (maternal deaths per 100,000 live births), according to UN Maternal Mortality Estimation Inter-Agency Group (MMEIG). The world median in the same edition was 46.65.
How does Eritrea compare with Ethiopia on development & human capital?
Ethiopia is placed 174th of 196, and Eritrea 181st. Social Protection Coverage: Ethiopia 11.5, Eritrea 8.4; Maternal Mortality Ratio: Ethiopia 194.94, Eritrea 291.36; Human Development Index: Ethiopia 0.497, Eritrea 0.503.
How have Eritrea’s development & human capital figures changed?
Maternal Mortality Ratio fell from 741.44 in 2000 to 291.36 in 2023; Human Development Index rose from 0.474 in 2005 to 0.503 in 2023.
Which development & human capital statistics are missing for Eritrea?
No current reading is published for Eritrea on Account Ownership at a Financial Institution, Adequacy of Social Protection and Labour Benefits, Children with Functional Difficulties, Coefficient of Human Inequality, Completeness of Birth Registration, Comprehensive Wealth per Capita, Employment Injury Protection Coverage, Foundational ID Ownership, GDP per Capita (PPP), Gender Development Index, Gender Inequality Index, Global Multidimensional Poverty Index, GNI per Capita (PPP), Historical GDP per Capita (Maddison), Human Capital Index, Human Capital Wealth per Capita, Inequality-adjusted Human Development Index, Manufacturing Value Added (% of GDP), Multidimensional Poverty Measure, Net Official Development Assistance Received, Official Development Assistance Given (% of GNI), Old-Age Pension Coverage, Poverty Gap at $3.00 a Day, Poverty Headcount at $3.00 a Day, Line-up Estimates, Poverty Headcount Ratio at $3.00 a Day, Poverty Headcount Ratio at $4.20 a Day, Poverty Headcount Ratio at $8.30 a Day, Poverty Severity (Squared Poverty Gap) at $3.00 a Day, Prosperity Gap, Statistical Performance Indicators, Unemployment Benefit Coverage and Violent Discipline of Children. They are listed rather than hidden, so the evidence on the page can be checked against it.
09Method
Method, sources and how to cite
What this topic does not measure
Poverty lines, inequality and aid received are published here as context rather than as keys, often because they cover fewer countries or are measured too rarely. Development is also not the same as economic size or growth, which belong to Economy & Innovation.
How the Development & Human Capital standing is decided
A standing is this site’s ordering, named with its edition — never a publisher’s rank. 3 key statistics vote, one vote each; every country’s published value becomes a place within that key’s own field, the places are averaged, and the average is never published. A country needs 2 of the 3 keys to be placed.
The development & human capital method, step by stepHow every standing on this site is built
The key statistics and their licences
- Social Protection Coverage — International Labour Organization (ILO), CC BY 4.0
- Maternal Mortality Ratio — UN Maternal Mortality Estimation Inter-Agency Group (MMEIG), CC BY 3.0 IGO
- Human Development Index — UNDP Human Development Report Office, CC BY 3.0 IGO
The other 26 statistics on this page come from 12 publishers, each named beside its numbers, with every edition and licence on the datasets pages.
The standing itself is part of the Country Index 2026, published under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Photographs
Eritrea’s banner and the countries placed highest, from their profiles: Wikimedia Commons, shown in greyscale, each used under the licence named.
- Eritrea (banner) — Original photograph taken by User:Voice of Clam , edited by jjron - adjusted levels, reduced highlights, sharpened. derivative work: Jjtkk, Public domain
- Cook Islands — Benedict Adam, CC BY 2.0
- Norway — Ximonic , Simo Räsänen, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Denmark — User:Aconcagua, CC BY-SA 3.0
Cite this page
Nations Inquiry (2026). Eritrea: Development & Human Capital — standing and statistics, Country Index 2026. https://nationsinquiry.com/countries/eritrea/development