Health Statistics

Public health expenditure is among the lowest in the Americas; around 1% of the GDP

20% of its population lacks regular access to health services

21.5% of the population lives on less than US $1 per day, mainly in rural and indigenous areas

49% of children under 5 suffer from chronic malnutrion

30% of pregnant women have nutrional defects

Food insecurity has worsened in recent years and a large amount of the population suffering from acute and severe malnutrion has reappeared

Birth rate: 34.58 births/1,000 population (U.S- 66.3 births/1,000 population)- 2004

Life expectancy at birth: 65 years (U.S- 77.9 years)