Number of child deaths by region in Zambia
Zambia: Number of child deaths by region was 32,949 in 2024. ▲ Rising
Latest (2024)
32,949
Change on year
down 0.0%
World rank
32nd
of 195 countries
All-time high
67,971
in 1998
All-time low
29,621
in 1960
Years of data
65
1960–2024
Number of child deaths by region in Zambia, 1960–2024
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 Zambia stood at 32,949.
That represents a change of down 11.3% over ten years.
Over the whole period, number of child deaths by region in Zambia peaked at 67,971 in 1998 and was at its lowest, 29,621, in 1960.
Zambia ranks 32nd of 195 countries on this measure, in the top quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 65 years of available data.
Number of child deaths by region in Zambia, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1960 | 29,621 | — |
| 1961 | 29,998 | +1.3% |
| 1962 | 30,422 | +1.4% |
| 1963 | 30,924 | +1.7% |
| 1964 | 31,511 | +1.9% |
| 1965 | 32,204 | +2.2% |
| 1966 | 32,985 | +2.4% |
| 1967 | 33,870 | +2.7% |
| 1968 | 34,710 | +2.5% |
| 1969 | 35,392 | +2.0% |
| 1970 | 35,852 | +1.3% |
| 1971 | 36,069 | +0.6% |
| 1972 | 36,076 | +0.0% |
| 1973 | 36,079 | +0.0% |
| 1974 | 36,136 | +0.2% |
| 1975 | 36,497 | +1.0% |
| 1976 | 37,110 | +1.7% |
| 1977 | 38,032 | +2.5% |
| 1978 | 39,120 | +2.9% |
| 1979 | 40,154 | +2.6% |
| 1980 | 41,152 | +2.5% |
| 1981 | 42,212 | +2.6% |
| 1982 | 43,640 | +3.4% |
| 1983 | 45,512 | +4.3% |
| 1984 | 47,797 | +5.0% |
| 1985 | 50,422 | +5.5% |
| 1986 | 53,295 | +5.7% |
| 1987 | 56,133 | +5.3% |
| 1988 | 58,729 | +4.6% |
| 1989 | 61,128 | +4.1% |
| 1990 | 63,108 | +3.2% |
| 1991 | 64,648 | +2.4% |
| 1992 | 65,786 | +1.8% |
| 1993 | 66,570 | +1.2% |
| 1994 | 67,125 | +0.8% |
| 1995 | 67,332 | +0.3% |
| 1996 | 67,477 | +0.2% |
| 1997 | 67,713 | +0.3% |
| 1998 | 67,971 | +0.4% |
| 1999 | 67,611 | -0.5% |
| 2000 | 66,221 | -2.1% |
| 2001 | 63,579 | -4.0% |
| 2002 | 60,054 | -5.5% |
| 2003 | 56,310 | -6.2% |
| 2004 | 52,764 | -6.3% |
| 2005 | 49,856 | -5.5% |
| 2006 | 47,454 | -4.8% |
| 2007 | 45,980 | -3.1% |
| 2008 | 44,683 | -2.8% |
| 2009 | 42,710 | -4.4% |
| 2010 | 41,450 | -3.0% |
| 2011 | 40,874 | -1.4% |
| 2012 | 40,050 | -2.0% |
| 2013 | 38,712 | -3.3% |
| 2014 | 37,151 | -4.0% |
| 2015 | 36,138 | -2.7% |
| 2016 | 34,709 | -4.0% |
| 2017 | 33,885 | -2.4% |
| 2018 | 34,044 | +0.5% |
| 2019 | 33,794 | -0.7% |
| 2020 | 33,646 | -0.4% |
| 2021 | 32,759 | -2.6% |
| 2022 | 32,696 | -0.2% |
| 2023 | 32,958 | +0.8% |
| 2024 | 32,949 | -0.0% |
Zambia compared with similar countries
- Zambia's 32,949 is above the median for lower middle income countries, which is 9,859, 3.3× the median. (47 countries reporting)
- Zambia's 32,949 is above the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 31,761, 1.0× the median. (48 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 32,164 | 29,621 | 35,392 | 10 |
| 1970s | 37,112 | 35,852 | 40,154 | 10 |
| 1980s | 50,002 | 41,152 | 61,128 | 10 |
| 1990s | 66,534 | 63,108 | 67,971 | 10 |
| 2000s | 52,961 | 42,710 | 66,221 | 10 |
| 2010s | 37,081 | 33,794 | 41,450 | 10 |
| 2020s | 33,002 | 32,696 | 33,646 | 5 |
Countries ranked near Zambia
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 number of child deaths by region in Zambia?
- Number of child deaths by region in Zambia was 32,949 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 Zambia?
- The highest recorded value was 67,971 in 1998.
- What is the lowest number of child deaths by region recorded in Zambia?
- The lowest recorded value was 29,621 in 1960.
- How does Zambia rank for number of child deaths by region?
- Zambia ranks 32nd out of 195 countries with data for 2024.
- Is number of child deaths by region rising or falling in Zambia?
- Over the last ten years it is down 11.3%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Zambia 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
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About this data
The estimated number of children under five years old who die each year.