Child deaths (aged 1-4 years) in Ethiopia
Ethiopia: Child deaths was 39,650 in 2024. ▼ Falling
Child deaths in Ethiopia, 1971–2024
Source: UNICEF.
Analysis
In 2024, child deaths in Ethiopia stood at 39,650. That is the lowest value across all 54 years on record.
The figure is down 20.9% on the previous year and down 31.9% over ten years.
Over the whole period, child deaths in Ethiopia peaked at 244,686 in 1983 and was at its lowest, 39,650, in 2024.
That places Ethiopia 6th out of 200 countries with data for 2024, putting it in the top 10%.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 54 years of available data.
Child deaths in Ethiopia, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1971 | 136,039 | — |
| 1972 | 167,998 | +23.5% |
| 1973 | 168,970 | +0.6% |
| 1974 | 170,268 | +0.8% |
| 1975 | 172,154 | +1.1% |
| 1976 | 145,965 | -15.2% |
| 1977 | 150,279 | +3.0% |
| 1978 | 154,516 | +2.8% |
| 1979 | 157,521 | +1.9% |
| 1980 | 159,319 | +1.1% |
| 1981 | 159,484 | +0.1% |
| 1982 | 158,220 | -0.8% |
| 1983 | 244,686 | +54.6% |
| 1984 | 237,931 | -2.8% |
| 1985 | 227,838 | -4.2% |
| 1986 | 225,666 | -1.0% |
| 1987 | 148,853 | -34.0% |
| 1988 | 152,974 | +2.8% |
| 1989 | 156,859 | +2.5% |
| 1990 | 159,954 | +2.0% |
| 1991 | 162,037 | +1.3% |
| 1992 | 162,342 | +0.2% |
| 1993 | 161,995 | -0.2% |
| 1994 | 160,949 | -0.6% |
| 1995 | 159,150 | -1.1% |
| 1996 | 156,504 | -1.7% |
| 1997 | 153,084 | -2.2% |
| 1998 | 148,719 | -2.9% |
| 1999 | 143,992 | -3.2% |
| 2000 | 138,587 | -3.8% |
| 2001 | 132,596 | -4.3% |
| 2002 | 126,099 | -4.9% |
| 2003 | 119,639 | -5.1% |
| 2004 | 112,875 | -5.7% |
| 2005 | 106,272 | -5.8% |
| 2006 | 99,911 | -6.0% |
| 2007 | 93,937 | -6.0% |
| 2008 | 88,193 | -6.1% |
| 2009 | 82,642 | -6.3% |
| 2010 | 77,192 | -6.6% |
| 2011 | 71,908 | -6.8% |
| 2012 | 67,042 | -6.8% |
| 2013 | 62,509 | -6.8% |
| 2014 | 58,253 | -6.8% |
| 2015 | 54,452 | -6.5% |
| 2016 | 51,096 | -6.2% |
| 2017 | 48,552 | -5.0% |
| 2018 | 46,629 | -4.0% |
| 2019 | 45,234 | -3.0% |
| 2020 | 44,116 | -2.5% |
| 2021 | 77,966 | +76.7% |
| 2022 | 76,683 | -1.6% |
| 2023 | 50,143 | -34.6% |
| 2024 | 39,650 | -20.9% |
Ethiopia compared with similar countries
- Ethiopia's 39,650 is above the median for low income countries, which is 7,922, 5.0× the median. (25 countries reporting)
- Ethiopia's 39,650 is above the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 7,144, 5.6× the median. (48 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Child deaths in Ethiopia 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 | +76.7% | 44,116 | 77,966 |
| 1983 | +54.6% | 158,220 | 244,686 |
| 2023 | -34.6% | 76,683 | 50,143 |
| 1987 | -34.0% | 225,666 | 148,853 |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 158,190 | 136,039 | 172,154 | 9 |
| 1980s | 187,183 | 148,853 | 244,686 | 10 |
| 1990s | 156,873 | 143,992 | 162,342 | 10 |
| 2000s | 110,075 | 82,642 | 138,587 | 10 |
| 2010s | 58,287 | 45,234 | 77,192 | 10 |
| 2020s | 57,712 | 39,650 | 77,966 | 5 |
Countries ranked near Ethiopia
More health data for Ethiopia
- Un projection of annual infant deaths, annual growth rate -1.67 % change on previous year (2100)
- Heat deaths vs projected death rates, annual growth rate 0.9494 % change on previous year (2090)
- Estimated changes in temperature-related death rates compared to projected death rates 744.3 deaths per 1,000 people (2090)
- Number of infants who die before age 1 19,997 deaths (2100)
- Neonatal tetanus - number of reported cases, gaps filled 148 (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, female, annual growth rate 1.34 % change on previous year (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, female, per unit of GDP 0.0001 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, female, per capita 0.0709 units per person (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, male, annual growth rate 1.36 % change on previous year (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, male, per unit of GDP 0.0001 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is child deaths in Ethiopia?
- Child deaths in Ethiopia was 39,650 in 2024, according to UNICEF.
- What is the highest child deaths recorded in Ethiopia?
- The highest recorded value was 244,686 in 1983.
- What is the lowest child deaths recorded in Ethiopia?
- The lowest recorded value was 39,650 in 2024.
- How does Ethiopia rank for child deaths?
- Ethiopia ranks 6th out of 200 countries with data for 2024.
- Is child deaths rising or falling in Ethiopia?
- Over the last ten years it is down 31.9%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this Ethiopia 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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