Child deaths (aged 1-4 years) in Zambia
Zambia: Child deaths was 9,147 in 2024. ▼ Falling
Latest (2024)
9,147
Change on year
down 1.1%
World rank
25th
of 200 countries
All-time high
28,104
in 1994
All-time low
9,090
in 2022
Years of data
68
1957–2024
Child deaths in Zambia, 1957–2024
Source: UNICEF.
Analysis
In 2024, child deaths in Zambia stood at 9,147.
That represents a change of down 1.1% on the previous year and down 19.7% over ten years.
Over the whole period, child deaths in Zambia peaked at 28,104 in 1994 and was at its lowest, 9,090, in 2022.
That places Zambia 25th out of 200 countries with data for 2024, putting it in the top quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 68 years of available data.
Child deaths in Zambia, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1957 | 14,586 | — |
| 1958 | 14,648 | +0.4% |
| 1959 | 14,693 | +0.3% |
| 1960 | 14,761 | +0.5% |
| 1961 | 14,863 | +0.7% |
| 1962 | 14,998 | +0.9% |
| 1963 | 15,153 | +1.0% |
| 1964 | 15,362 | +1.4% |
| 1965 | 15,626 | +1.7% |
| 1966 | 15,924 | +1.9% |
| 1967 | 16,261 | +2.1% |
| 1968 | 16,566 | +1.9% |
| 1969 | 16,784 | +1.3% |
| 1970 | 16,881 | +0.6% |
| 1971 | 16,882 | +0.0% |
| 1972 | 16,812 | -0.4% |
| 1973 | 16,735 | -0.5% |
| 1974 | 16,697 | -0.2% |
| 1975 | 16,761 | +0.4% |
| 1976 | 16,986 | +1.3% |
| 1977 | 17,401 | +2.4% |
| 1978 | 17,883 | +2.8% |
| 1979 | 18,321 | +2.4% |
| 1980 | 18,708 | +2.1% |
| 1981 | 19,037 | +1.8% |
| 1982 | 19,449 | +2.2% |
| 1983 | 20,016 | +2.9% |
| 1984 | 20,787 | +3.9% |
| 1985 | 21,710 | +4.4% |
| 1986 | 22,789 | +5.0% |
| 1987 | 23,913 | +4.9% |
| 1988 | 24,964 | +4.4% |
| 1989 | 25,915 | +3.8% |
| 1990 | 26,727 | +3.1% |
| 1991 | 27,338 | +2.3% |
| 1992 | 27,811 | +1.7% |
| 1993 | 28,066 | +0.9% |
| 1994 | 28,104 | +0.1% |
| 1995 | 28,000 | -0.4% |
| 1996 | 27,919 | -0.3% |
| 1997 | 27,848 | -0.3% |
| 1998 | 27,711 | -0.5% |
| 1999 | 27,310 | -1.4% |
| 2000 | 26,529 | -2.9% |
| 2001 | 25,332 | -4.5% |
| 2002 | 23,801 | -6.0% |
| 2003 | 22,227 | -6.6% |
| 2004 | 20,855 | -6.2% |
| 2005 | 19,707 | -5.5% |
| 2006 | 18,327 | -7.0% |
| 2007 | 17,105 | -6.7% |
| 2008 | 16,348 | -4.4% |
| 2009 | 14,786 | -9.6% |
| 2010 | 13,830 | -6.5% |
| 2011 | 13,490 | -2.5% |
| 2012 | 13,014 | -3.5% |
| 2013 | 12,326 | -5.3% |
| 2014 | 11,398 | -7.5% |
| 2015 | 10,496 | -7.9% |
| 2016 | 9,878 | -5.9% |
| 2017 | 9,882 | +0.0% |
| 2018 | 10,368 | +4.9% |
| 2019 | 10,740 | +3.6% |
| 2020 | 10,488 | -2.3% |
| 2021 | 9,354 | -10.8% |
| 2022 | 9,090 | -2.8% |
| 2023 | 9,252 | +1.8% |
| 2024 | 9,147 | -1.1% |
Zambia compared with similar countries
- Zambia's 9,147 is above the median for lower middle income countries, which is 1,280, 7.1× the median. (47 countries reporting)
- Zambia's 9,147 is above the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 7,144, 1.3× the median. (48 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1950s | 14,642 | 14,586 | 14,693 | 3 |
| 1960s | 15,630 | 14,761 | 16,784 | 10 |
| 1970s | 17,136 | 16,697 | 18,321 | 10 |
| 1980s | 21,729 | 18,708 | 25,915 | 10 |
| 1990s | 27,683 | 26,727 | 28,104 | 10 |
| 2000s | 20,502 | 14,786 | 26,529 | 10 |
| 2010s | 11,542 | 9,878 | 13,830 | 10 |
| 2020s | 9,466 | 9,090 | 10,488 | 5 |
Countries ranked near Zambia
- 22 Benin 13,749 compare
- 23 South Africa 12,865 compare
- 24 Indonesia 11,410 compare
- 26 Sierra Leone 9,133 compare
- 27 Philippines 8,954 compare
- 28 South Sudan 7,922 compare
More health data for Zambia
- Un projection of annual infant deaths, annual growth rate -1.09 % change on previous year (2100)
- Heat deaths vs projected death rates, annual growth rate 0.7971 % change on previous year (2090)
- Estimated changes in temperature-related death rates compared to projected death rates 809.3 deaths per 1,000 people (2090)
- Number of infants who die before age 1 8,894 deaths (2100)
- Neonatal tetanus - number of reported cases, gaps filled 2 (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, female, annual growth rate 1.68 % 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 0.0743 units per person (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, male, annual growth rate 1.69 % 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 Zambia?
- Child deaths in Zambia was 9,147 in 2024, according to UNICEF.
- What is the highest child deaths recorded in Zambia?
- The highest recorded value was 28,104 in 1994.
- What is the lowest child deaths recorded in Zambia?
- The lowest recorded value was 9,090 in 2022.
- How does Zambia rank for child deaths?
- Zambia ranks 25th out of 200 countries with data for 2024.
- Is child deaths rising or falling in Zambia?
- Over the last ten years it is down 19.7%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this Zambia 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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