Child deaths (aged 1-4 years) in Malawi
Malawi: Child deaths was 6,960 in 2024. ▼ Falling
Child deaths in Malawi, 1966–2024
Source: UNICEF.
Analysis
Malawi recorded 6,960 for child deaths in 2024. That is the lowest value across all 59 years on record.
That represents a change of down 2.6% on the previous year and down 38.8% over ten years.
Over the whole period, child deaths in Malawi peaked at 51,946 in 2001 and was at its lowest, 6,960, in 2024.
That places Malawi 32nd out of 200 countries with data for 2024, putting it in the top quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 59 years of available data.
Child deaths in Malawi, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1966 | 39,086 | — |
| 1967 | 39,658 | +1.5% |
| 1968 | 40,179 | +1.3% |
| 1969 | 40,723 | +1.4% |
| 1970 | 41,081 | +0.9% |
| 1971 | 41,112 | +0.1% |
| 1972 | 40,890 | -0.5% |
| 1973 | 40,461 | -1.0% |
| 1974 | 39,856 | -1.5% |
| 1975 | 39,192 | -1.7% |
| 1976 | 38,508 | -1.7% |
| 1977 | 37,809 | -1.8% |
| 1978 | 37,127 | -1.8% |
| 1979 | 36,494 | -1.7% |
| 1980 | 36,175 | -0.9% |
| 1981 | 36,243 | +0.2% |
| 1982 | 36,833 | +1.6% |
| 1983 | 37,979 | +3.1% |
| 1984 | 39,570 | +4.2% |
| 1985 | 41,235 | +4.2% |
| 1986 | 42,658 | +3.5% |
| 1987 | 43,613 | +2.2% |
| 1988 | 44,096 | +1.1% |
| 1989 | 44,361 | +0.6% |
| 1990 | 44,559 | +0.4% |
| 1991 | 44,714 | +0.3% |
| 1992 | 44,844 | +0.3% |
| 1993 | 44,911 | +0.1% |
| 1994 | 44,748 | -0.4% |
| 1995 | 43,944 | -1.8% |
| 1996 | 42,883 | -2.4% |
| 1997 | 41,349 | -3.6% |
| 1998 | 39,374 | -4.8% |
| 1999 | 37,087 | -5.8% |
| 2000 | 34,517 | -6.9% |
| 2001 | 51,946 | +50.5% |
| 2002 | 28,428 | -45.3% |
| 2003 | 25,995 | -8.6% |
| 2004 | 24,076 | -7.4% |
| 2005 | 22,643 | -6.0% |
| 2006 | 21,680 | -4.3% |
| 2007 | 20,537 | -5.3% |
| 2008 | 19,519 | -5.0% |
| 2009 | 18,044 | -7.6% |
| 2010 | 16,599 | -8.0% |
| 2011 | 15,282 | -7.9% |
| 2012 | 13,480 | -11.8% |
| 2013 | 12,075 | -10.4% |
| 2014 | 11,369 | -5.8% |
| 2015 | 10,642 | -6.4% |
| 2016 | 10,097 | -5.1% |
| 2017 | 9,229 | -8.6% |
| 2018 | 8,459 | -8.3% |
| 2019 | 7,853 | -7.2% |
| 2020 | 7,444 | -5.2% |
| 2021 | 7,177 | -3.6% |
| 2022 | 7,177 | +0.0% |
| 2023 | 7,148 | -0.4% |
| 2024 | 6,960 | -2.6% |
Malawi compared with similar countries
- Malawi's 6,960 is below the median for low income countries, which is 7,922, 88% of the median. (25 countries reporting)
- Malawi's 6,960 is below the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 7,144, 97% of the median. (48 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Child deaths in Malawi 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2001 | +50.5% | 34,517 | 51,946 |
| 2002 | -45.3% | 51,946 | 28,428 |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 39,912 | 39,086 | 40,723 | 4 |
| 1970s | 39,253 | 36,494 | 41,112 | 10 |
| 1980s | 40,276 | 36,175 | 44,361 | 10 |
| 1990s | 42,841 | 37,087 | 44,911 | 10 |
| 2000s | 26,738 | 18,044 | 51,946 | 10 |
| 2010s | 11,508 | 7,853 | 16,599 | 10 |
| 2020s | 7,181 | 6,960 | 7,444 | 5 |
Countries ranked near Malawi
More health data for Malawi
- Un projection of annual infant deaths, annual growth rate -0.8368 % change on previous year (2100)
- Heat deaths vs projected death rates, annual growth rate 0.9312 % change on previous year (2090)
- Estimated changes in temperature-related death rates compared to projected death rates 856.3 deaths per 1,000 people (2090)
- Number of infants who die before age 1 6,399 deaths (2100)
- Neonatal tetanus - number of reported cases, gaps filled 2 (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, female, annual growth rate 1.61 % 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 0.0714 units per person (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, male, annual growth rate 1.63 % 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 Malawi?
- Child deaths in Malawi was 6,960 in 2024, according to UNICEF.
- What is the highest child deaths recorded in Malawi?
- The highest recorded value was 51,946 in 2001.
- What is the lowest child deaths recorded in Malawi?
- The lowest recorded value was 6,960 in 2024.
- How does Malawi rank for child deaths?
- Malawi ranks 32nd out of 200 countries with data for 2024.
- Is child deaths rising or falling in Malawi?
- Over the last ten years it is down 38.8%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this Malawi 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.
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