Tigray National Regional State

The Tigray National Regional State (TNRS) covers the northern part of Ethiopia bordering Eritrea and the Sudan.

Out of the total population, 82 per cent reside in the rural areas and depend on rain-fed subsistence farming. This reliance on rain can cause severe food shortages. The rains in Northern Ethiopia are erratic and unevenly distributed and affect crop production.

In 2000, 61 per cent of the population lived in absolute poverty and real expenditure per capita stood at Birr 854 (US$103.90).

While the adult literacy rate in the region is 29 per cent (40 per cent for men and 19 per cent for women), the gross primary enrolment rate has reached 61 per cent. Unusually, the enrolment rate for girls (62 per cent) is higher than that for boys (59 per cent).

65 per cent of the population live within a 10 km radius of a health facility. Of the four regions where Young Lives is working, the Tigray region has the highest DPPT3 coverage for children under-1 at 76 per cent.