years of age was 22.0. The under-5 mortality rate stood at 60.0. The number of children with the prevalence of Acute Respiratory Infection (ARI) was 1069, fever was 1069, and Diarrhea was 1069. The number of women with the knowledge of AIDS was 2,264 and the number of people with no knowledge of the disease or its prevention was 0.2 per cent. As of 2005, the region had a population of 675,700 compared to a population of 595,900 in 2001. The net growth rate was 11.81 per cent. The total area of the province was 1300.00 km2 and the density was 519.77 persons per km2. Education and economy As of 2002, the number of males completing or attending highest level of schooling in the region was 3,186 while it was 4,506 females. The per centage of literate males was 85.00 and the percentage of literate females was 72.00. A fraction of 13.80 males had no education, while the corresponding number for females was 23.90. The fraction of males completing secondary school stood at 9.60 and the fraction of males completing more than secondary was 009. The corresponding numbers for females was 9.30 and 003 respectively. As of 2002, the number of people engaged in Professional/technical/managerial activities was 16.40 per cent, Clerical was 12.80 per cent, Sales and services was 27.30 per cent, Skilled Manual was 15.10 per cent, Unskilled Manual was 0.60 per cent, Domestic Service was 22.30 per cent and Agriculture was 4.60 per cent. The total number of employed men was 2,810 and the total number of employed women was 3,202. The number of men who were paid their total earnings in cash was 80.40 per cent, in kind was 0.90 and in both was 0.40. The number of women who were paid their total earnings in cash was 89.00 per cent, in kind was 1.20 per cent and in both was 0.30 per cent. Administration The region is divided into subregions; Berikh, Ghala Nefhi, North Eastern, North Western, Serejaka, South Eastern and South Western, while Asmara forms a separate administrative area. Other settlements within the Central Region include Himberti, Emba Derho and Tsazega. The region's administrator is Major General Ramadan Osman Awliyai. Eritrea has a one party national Assembly governed by People's Front for Democracy and Justice (PFDJ) (originally Eritrean Liberation Front), an authoritarian government. From the time of independence since 30 May 1991, the country has