East African Facts and Figures 2009

Abstract

The EAC Facts and Figures Report presents empirical data of socio-economic indicators in the region from which trends of development and growth levels can be analyzed. Regional issues such as implementation of the Common Market Protocol and negotiations on the Monetary Union and its subsequent implementation will all rely on availability of reliable statistical data.

Findings indicate that EAC midyear population was estimated at 126.6 million by June 2008 with average annual growth rate of 2.9 percent. The annual Infant mortality rate and child mortality rates ranges between 52 to 84 and 74 to 137 respectively in 2008 while literacy rate of the region is estimated between 47 and 78 percent in 2008.

Overall, the EAC recorded an average per capita of US$ 502 with Kenya US$ 794, Uganda US$556, Tanzania US$525, Rwanda US$494 and Burundi US$164. In aggregate, total GDP for the region amounted to US$ 73,338 million in 2008, compared to US$ 60,258 in 2007. The average annual underlying inflation rate increased to 13.3 percent in 2008 from 7.6 percent in 2007. On average, the EAC fiscal deficit, excluding grants, as a ratio of GDP reduced from 10.5 percent in 2007 to 9.5 percent in 2008.

Further analysis reveals that the number of foreign tourists to the EAC region reduced by about 9 percent in 2008, compared to an increase of 12 percent in 2007. Coffee production which has been fluctuating in the region since 2004 recorded an increase of 24.1 per cent between 2007 and 2008. Tea production recorded a major decline shrinking from a total of 625 thousand tonnes in 2007 to 476 thousand tonnes in 2008. Hydro power generation declined slightly while that of thermal power rose by 29.1 per cent in 2008.

The data in the report was obtained from the National Statistics Offices, Central Banks of the Partner States and other government departments and targets a wide spectrum of users including policy makers, researchers, investors, academicians and development Partners.