The World Health Organisation in Geneva (Switzerland) has published its annual WHO Health Report for 2009 on the 21.05.2009.

Life expectancy for Eritrean females has increased from 53 years in 1990 to 65 years in 2007. Amongst Eritrean males the expected life span increased from 28 years to 61 years.

The unusual jump of 33 years for males between 1990 and 2007 can be mostly contributed to the end of the war and independence struggle.

Nevertheless, the average life time for both males and females in Eritrea is 63 years. In comparison the African average lies by 52 years and is therefore 11 years lower. The average European makes it to 74 years, while the Eastern Mediterranean region with 64 years of life expectancy is comparable to Eritrea.

Moreover, the 2009 report shows, that there is a correlation between national income and life expectancy. The more disposal income people have the longer they tend to live.

In respect to child mortality in Eritrea, out of every 1000 children born 930 will make it over the age of 5. This is a good improvement compared with Japan where 996 children and Turkey where 977 out of 1000 will make it over their 5 birthday

It has to be mentioned, that between 2000 and 2007 Japan had on average 21 Physicians per 10000 inhabitants and Turkey 16, while Eritrea had only 1 Physician per 10000 of population. Regarding, Nursing and Midwifery staff Japan had 95 personnel and Turkey 29 per 10000 inhabitants in comparison to Eritrea with 6 personnel.

According to the WHO child mortality has decreased substantially in developing countries, Ties Boerma, the director of WHO’s Department of Health Statistics states;

“The decline in the death toll of children under five illustrates what can be achieved by strengthening health systems and scaling up interventions, such as insecticide-treated mosquito nets for malaria and oral rehydration therapy for diarrhoea, increased access to vaccines and improved water and sanitation in developing countries,”

According to the WHO Report 2009 the third smallest country in Europe, which is San Marion has the longest life expectancy for males with 81 years and the lowest child mortality in the world. The latest available data used by the WHO for gathering these information is from the year 2007.