A description of the empirical data used and the methods applied in revising past estimates of population and components of demographic change (fertility, child, adult and overall mortality, international migration) is available here for each country or area for the period 1950 to 2021. For the countries with less than 1,000 inhabitants in 2021, only the data sources for total population are made available.
Select below a country or area to see the respective information, or download the whole set of metadata in PDF format for all countries or areas or a tabular version for each demographic component under
Documentation.
Eritrea
Population: Total population and distribution by age and sex estimated to be consistent with the population by age and sex of the (a) 2000 Quick Population Count; (b) adjusted for under/over count; (c) adjusted for age heaping; (d) adjusted for under enumeration of children under age 15; (e) 2002 DHS survey estimates; and with estimates of the subsequent trends in fertility, mortality and international migration. In addition, the (a) 1984 Census; (b) adjusted for under/over count; (c) adjusted for age heaping; (d) adjusted for under enumeration of children under age 15; (e) official estimates through 2021 have been considered.
Fertility: Total fertility rate and age pattern of fertility based on: (a) birth-histories data from the 1995, 2002 DHS and 2010 PHS; (b) indirect estimates obtained from the application of the reverse survival method to the 1984 Census; (c) cohort-completed fertility backdated by the mean age of childbearing from the 2002 DHS. In addition, the indirect estimates obtained from the application of the reverse survival method to the 1974-2011 Education Stats have been considered.
Child Mortality: Under-five mortality based on: (a) registered infant and child deaths through 2010; (b) direct estimates from births and deaths under-five calculated from full birth histories data from the 1995, 2002 DHS and 2010 PHS; (c) International estimates used up to 2021.
Overall Mortality: Life expectancy at birth and age pattern of mortality based on: (a) estimates of under-five mortality; (b) estimates using CD North model life tables and estimates of under-five mortality (5q0), and adult mortality (45q15). In addition, the registered deaths by age and sex available through 2019 have been considered.
Adult and Old Age Mortality: Estimates derived from: (a) deaths by age and sex available from Register through 2019; (b) adjusted for underregistration; (c) recent household deaths data by age and sex from the 1995 DHS; (d) siblings deaths from the 1995 DHS and 2010 PHS; (e) estimates of under-five, adult and old age mortality. In addition, the recent household deaths data by age and sex from the 2002 DHS have been considered.
Migration: International migration based on: (a) information on foreign-born populations from censuses and registers from major countries of destination; (b) estimates derived as the differences between overall population growth and natural increase; (c) UNHCR statistics on the number of refugees in the main countries of asylum.
