Child deaths (aged 1-4 years) in Afghanistan
Afghanistan: Child deaths was 6,793 in 2024. ◆ Volatile
Child deaths in Afghanistan, 1962–2024
Source: UNICEF.
Analysis
Afghanistan recorded 6,793 for child deaths in 2024. That is the lowest value across all 63 years on record.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 3.3% on the previous year and down 33.1% over ten years.
Over the whole period, child deaths in Afghanistan peaked at 64,350 in 1984 and was at its lowest, 6,793, in 2024.
Afghanistan ranks 34th of 200 countries on this measure, in the top quarter.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Child deaths in Afghanistan, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1962 | 41,913 | — |
| 1963 | 41,676 | -0.6% |
| 1964 | 41,496 | -0.4% |
| 1965 | 41,316 | -0.4% |
| 1966 | 41,168 | -0.4% |
| 1967 | 41,101 | -0.2% |
| 1968 | 41,061 | -0.1% |
| 1969 | 40,944 | -0.3% |
| 1970 | 40,853 | -0.2% |
| 1971 | 54,897 | +34.4% |
| 1972 | 53,885 | -1.8% |
| 1973 | 39,317 | -27.0% |
| 1974 | 39,253 | -0.2% |
| 1975 | 39,273 | +0.1% |
| 1976 | 39,358 | +0.2% |
| 1977 | 39,239 | -0.3% |
| 1978 | 38,854 | -1.0% |
| 1979 | 38,326 | -1.4% |
| 1980 | 37,715 | -1.6% |
| 1981 | 36,840 | -2.3% |
| 1982 | 55,569 | +50.8% |
| 1983 | 52,142 | -6.2% |
| 1984 | 64,350 | +23.4% |
| 1985 | 57,800 | -10.2% |
| 1986 | 38,875 | -32.7% |
| 1987 | 37,674 | -3.1% |
| 1988 | 21,670 | -42.5% |
| 1989 | 21,247 | -2.0% |
| 1990 | 20,691 | -2.6% |
| 1991 | 20,082 | -2.9% |
| 1992 | 19,467 | -3.1% |
| 1993 | 18,972 | -2.5% |
| 1994 | 18,802 | -0.9% |
| 1995 | 19,111 | +1.6% |
| 1996 | 19,734 | +3.3% |
| 1997 | 20,367 | +3.2% |
| 1998 | 20,707 | +1.7% |
| 1999 | 20,562 | -0.7% |
| 2000 | 20,094 | -2.3% |
| 2001 | 19,551 | -2.7% |
| 2002 | 18,758 | -4.1% |
| 2003 | 17,810 | -5.1% |
| 2004 | 16,847 | -5.4% |
| 2005 | 16,008 | -5.0% |
| 2006 | 15,232 | -4.8% |
| 2007 | 14,571 | -4.3% |
| 2008 | 13,877 | -4.8% |
| 2009 | 13,073 | -5.8% |
| 2010 | 12,340 | -5.6% |
| 2011 | 11,699 | -5.2% |
| 2012 | 11,088 | -5.2% |
| 2013 | 10,574 | -4.6% |
| 2014 | 10,154 | -4.0% |
| 2015 | 9,743 | -4.0% |
| 2016 | 9,388 | -3.6% |
| 2017 | 9,031 | -3.8% |
| 2018 | 8,622 | -4.5% |
| 2019 | 8,232 | -4.5% |
| 2020 | 7,881 | -4.3% |
| 2021 | 7,557 | -4.1% |
| 2022 | 7,286 | -3.6% |
| 2023 | 7,025 | -3.6% |
| 2024 | 6,793 | -3.3% |
Afghanistan compared with similar countries
- Afghanistan's 6,793 is below the median for low income countries, which is 7,922, 86% of the median. (25 countries reporting)
- Afghanistan's 6,793 is above the median for Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan, which is 352, 19.3× the median. (23 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Child deaths in Afghanistan changed far more than this series normally does. A large move can be a real event or a change in how the figure was measured — the source note below says who published it.
| Year | Change | From | To |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1982 | +50.8% | 36,840 | 55,569 |
| 1988 | -42.5% | 37,674 | 21,670 |
| 1971 | +34.4% | 40,853 | 54,897 |
| 1986 | -32.7% | 57,800 | 38,875 |
| 1973 | -27.0% | 53,885 | 39,317 |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 41,334 | 40,944 | 41,913 | 8 |
| 1970s | 42,326 | 38,326 | 54,897 | 10 |
| 1980s | 42,388 | 21,247 | 64,350 | 10 |
| 1990s | 19,850 | 18,802 | 20,707 | 10 |
| 2000s | 16,582 | 13,073 | 20,094 | 10 |
| 2010s | 10,087 | 8,232 | 12,340 | 10 |
| 2020s | 7,308 | 6,793 | 7,881 | 5 |
Countries ranked near Afghanistan
More health data for Afghanistan
- Un projection of annual infant deaths, annual growth rate -1.45 % change on previous year (2100)
- Heat deaths vs projected death rates, annual growth rate 1.03 % change on previous year (2090)
- Estimated changes in temperature-related death rates compared to projected death rates 812.4 deaths per 1,000 people (2090)
- Number of infants who die before age 1 14,735 deaths (2100)
- Neonatal tetanus - number of reported cases, gaps filled 19 (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, female, annual growth rate 1.78 % change on previous year (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, female, per unit of GDP 0.0002 units per US$ of GDP (2024)
- Population ages 00-04, female, per capita 0.077 units per person (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, male, annual growth rate 1.75 % change on previous year (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, male, per unit of GDP 0.0002 units per US$ of GDP (2024)
Frequently asked questions
- What is child deaths in Afghanistan?
- Child deaths in Afghanistan was 6,793 in 2024, according to UNICEF.
- What is the highest child deaths recorded in Afghanistan?
- The highest recorded value was 64,350 in 1984.
- What is the lowest child deaths recorded in Afghanistan?
- The lowest recorded value was 6,793 in 2024.
- How does Afghanistan rank for child deaths?
- Afghanistan ranks 34th out of 200 countries with data for 2024.
- Is child deaths rising or falling in Afghanistan?
- Over the last ten years it is down 33.1%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Afghanistan data come from?
- The figures come from UNICEF, published as part of Child deaths (aged 1-4 years). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
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