Eritrea · Africa
How many people die in Eritrea every day?
In Eritrea, about 71 people die every day, roughly one death every 20 minutes. That is about 26,000 deaths a year, less than 0.1% of everyone who dies worldwide and the 130th highest total of 194 countries. Life expectancy is 66.3 years and the leading cause of death is cardiovascular disease. See every death on earth as it happens on the live death counter.
Deaths per day
71
Deaths per year
26,000
Life expectancy
66.3 years
Population
3,748,901
Death rate
6.9 per 1,000
Top cause of death
Cardiovascular disease
Compared to the World Average
Life expectancy
Eritrea
66.3
World avg
72.8
-6.5 yrs
Death rate (per 1,000)
Eritrea
6.9
World avg
7.7
Deaths in Eritrea by time period
| Per hour | 3.0 |
| Per day | 71 |
| Per week | 499 |
| Per month | 2,167 |
| Per year | 26,000 |
What people die of in Eritrea
According to the World Health Organization’s Global Health Estimates, the single biggest cause of death in Eritrea in 2023 was pneumonia and other lower respiratory infections, which accounted for 9.7% of all deaths, about 6.8 a day. It was followed by stroke and heart disease (ischaemic).
Deaths from hypertensive heart disease have increased about 8-fold since 2000, from about 115 to 910 a year. Deaths from tuberculosis have fallen by 86% since 2000, from about 9,295 to 1,296 a year.
WHO counts single causes, so heart disease and stroke appear as separate rows. Grouped together as cardiovascular disease, the category in the summary above, they are the largest killer.
| # | Cause | Deaths (2023) | Per day | Share | Since 2000 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Pneumonia and other lower respiratory infections | 2,467 | 6.8 | 9.7% | +28% |
| 2 | Stroke | 2,429 | 6.7 | 9.5% | +443% |
| 3 | Heart disease (ischaemic) | 1,666 | 4.6 | 6.5% | +606% |
| 4 | Tuberculosis | 1,296 | 3.6 | 5.1% | -86% |
| 5 | Diarrhoeal diseases | 1,096 | 3.0 | 4.3% | -45% |
| 6 | Diabetes | 1,076 | 2.9 | 4.2% | +443% |
| 7 | Hypertensive heart disease | 910 | 2.5 | 3.6% | +691% |
| 8 | Cirrhosis of the liver | 895 | 2.5 | 3.5% | +257% |
| 9 | Kidney diseases | 731 | 2.0 | 2.9% | +553% |
| 10 | Preterm birth complications | 640 | 1.8 | 2.5% | -1% |
Deaths in Eritrea since 2000
WHO estimates that about 25,498 people died in Eritrea in 2023, 1% fewer than in 2000. Totals rise as populations grow and age, even when health improves. WHO’s modelled estimates can differ from the headline figures above, which come from a different source.
| 2000 | 25,651 deaths |
| 2010 | 25,186 deaths |
| 2019 | 23,918 deaths |
| 2023 | 25,498 deaths |
Life expectancy in Eritrea since 1950
A baby born in Eritrea in 1950 could expect to live about 33.3 years. By 2023 that had risen to 68.6, a gain of 35.3 years. See how this compares worldwide on our life expectancy by country page.
| 1950 | 33.3 years |
| 1980 | 44.6 years |
| 2000 | 56.3 years |
| 2010 | 63.7 years |
| 2019 | 67.3 years |
| 2023 | 68.6 years |
Eritrea compared with similar countries in Africa
Among the 50 countries in Africa on this site, Eritrea ranks 9th for life expectancy. Here is how it compares with the countries closest to it in population.
| Country | Deaths per day | Life expectancy | Top cause |
|---|---|---|---|
| Eritrea | 71 | 66.3 | Cardiovascular disease |
| Mauritania | 88 | 64.4 | Cardiovascular disease |
| Gambia | 52 | 62.6 | Malaria |
| Botswana | 38 | 61.1 | HIV/AIDS |
| Namibia | 49 | 59.3 | HIV/AIDS |
| Liberia | 104 | 60.7 | Malaria |
Sources: WHO Global Health Estimates 2023 (deaths by cause and totals); UN World Population Prospects via Our World in Data (life expectancy). Figures are modelled estimates and are rounded.
Frequently asked questions
How many people die in Eritrea every day?
In Eritrea, about 71 people die every day, or roughly one death every 20 minutes. That adds up to about 26,000 deaths a year, less than 0.1% of all deaths worldwide.
What is the leading cause of death in Eritrea?
Cardiovascular disease is the leading cause of death in Eritrea. Heart disease and stroke are the biggest killers in most countries, driven largely by high blood pressure, smoking, diet and inactivity. Counting single causes, WHO's estimates put pneumonia and other lower respiratory infections first in 2023, with 9.7% of deaths.
What is the life expectancy in Eritrea?
Life expectancy at birth in Eritrea is 66.3 years, 6.5 years below the world average of 72.8. That ranks 138th of 194 countries.
Is the death rate in Eritrea high?
Eritrea records about 6.9 deaths per 1,000 people each year, below the world average of 7.7. Crude death rates are higher in countries with older populations, so a high rate does not always mean poor health care.