Number of child deaths by region in Ethiopia
Ethiopia: Number of child deaths by region was 181,228 in 2024. ▼ Falling
Number of child deaths by region in Ethiopia, 1971–2024
Source: UN Inter-agency Group for Child Mortality Estimation (UNICEF, WHO, UN Population Division), via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data.
Analysis
In 2024, number of child deaths by region in Ethiopia stood at 181,228. That is the lowest value across all 54 years on record.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 12.4% on the previous year and down 19.1% over ten years.
Over the whole period, number of child deaths by region in Ethiopia peaked at 606,966 in 1983 and was at its lowest, 181,228, in 2024.
That places Ethiopia 5th out of 195 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.
Number of child deaths by region in Ethiopia, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1971 | 335,381 | — |
| 1972 | 406,154 | +21.1% |
| 1973 | 413,211 | +1.7% |
| 1974 | 421,843 | +2.1% |
| 1975 | 431,458 | +2.3% |
| 1976 | 379,655 | -12.0% |
| 1977 | 392,177 | +3.3% |
| 1978 | 401,880 | +2.5% |
| 1979 | 408,429 | +1.6% |
| 1980 | 412,755 | +1.1% |
| 1981 | 412,655 | -0.0% |
| 1982 | 415,872 | +0.8% |
| 1983 | 606,966 | +46.0% |
| 1984 | 602,934 | -0.7% |
| 1985 | 592,444 | -1.7% |
| 1986 | 594,471 | +0.3% |
| 1987 | 428,154 | -28.0% |
| 1988 | 438,620 | +2.4% |
| 1989 | 447,551 | +2.0% |
| 1990 | 455,763 | +1.8% |
| 1991 | 461,580 | +1.3% |
| 1992 | 466,287 | +1.0% |
| 1993 | 468,301 | +0.4% |
| 1994 | 465,808 | -0.5% |
| 1995 | 461,054 | -1.0% |
| 1996 | 454,845 | -1.3% |
| 1997 | 447,282 | -1.7% |
| 1998 | 437,049 | -2.3% |
| 1999 | 426,969 | -2.3% |
| 2000 | 416,009 | -2.6% |
| 2001 | 403,851 | -2.9% |
| 2002 | 390,811 | -3.2% |
| 2003 | 376,220 | -3.7% |
| 2004 | 360,994 | -4.0% |
| 2005 | 346,678 | -4.0% |
| 2006 | 331,615 | -4.3% |
| 2007 | 316,202 | -4.6% |
| 2008 | 300,993 | -4.8% |
| 2009 | 285,403 | -5.2% |
| 2010 | 270,973 | -5.1% |
| 2011 | 258,304 | -4.7% |
| 2012 | 245,820 | -4.8% |
| 2013 | 233,777 | -4.9% |
| 2014 | 224,104 | -4.1% |
| 2015 | 217,031 | -3.2% |
| 2016 | 210,991 | -2.8% |
| 2017 | 205,897 | -2.4% |
| 2018 | 202,298 | -1.7% |
| 2019 | 200,241 | -1.0% |
| 2020 | 197,679 | -1.3% |
| 2021 | 275,537 | +39.4% |
| 2022 | 270,294 | -1.9% |
| 2023 | 206,843 | -23.5% |
| 2024 | 181,228 | -12.4% |
Ethiopia compared with similar countries
- Ethiopia's 181,228 is above the median for low income countries, which is 52,477, 3.5× the median. (25 countries reporting)
- Ethiopia's 181,228 is above the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 31,761, 5.7× the median. (48 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Number of child deaths by region 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1983 | +46.0% | 415,872 | 606,966 |
| 2021 | +39.4% | 197,679 | 275,537 |
| 1987 | -28.0% | 594,471 | 428,154 |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 398,910 | 335,381 | 431,458 | 9 |
| 1980s | 495,242 | 412,655 | 606,966 | 10 |
| 1990s | 454,494 | 426,969 | 468,301 | 10 |
| 2000s | 352,878 | 285,403 | 416,009 | 10 |
| 2010s | 226,944 | 200,241 | 270,973 | 10 |
| 2020s | 226,316 | 181,228 | 275,537 | 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 number of child deaths by region in Ethiopia?
- Number of child deaths by region in Ethiopia was 181,228 in 2024, according to UN Inter-agency Group for Child Mortality Estimation (UNICEF, WHO, UN Population Division), via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest number of child deaths by region recorded in Ethiopia?
- The highest recorded value was 606,966 in 1983.
- What is the lowest number of child deaths by region recorded in Ethiopia?
- The lowest recorded value was 181,228 in 2024.
- How does Ethiopia rank for number of child deaths by region?
- Ethiopia ranks 5th out of 195 countries with data for 2024.
- Is number of child deaths by region rising or falling in Ethiopia?
- Over the last ten years it is down 19.1%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this Ethiopia data come from?
- The figures come from UN Inter-agency Group for Child Mortality Estimation (UNICEF, WHO, UN Population Division), via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data, published as part of Number of child deaths by region. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 54 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data).
About this data
The estimated number of children under five years old who die each year.