Child mortality rate in Botswana
Botswana: Child mortality rate was 3.8% in 2023. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2023)
3.8%
Change on year
down 3.1%
World rank
50th
of 236 countries
All-time high
21.8%
in 1950
All-time low
3.8%
in 2023
Years of data
74
1950–2023
Child mortality rate in Botswana, 1950–2023
Source: UN, World Population Prospects (2024) – processed by Our World in Data. Measured in % of children.
Analysis
Botswana recorded 3.8% for child mortality rate in 2023. That is the lowest value across all 74 years on record.
That represents a change of down 3.1% on the previous year and down 28.5% over ten years.
Over the whole period, child mortality rate in Botswana peaked at 21.8% in 1950 and was at its lowest, 3.8%, in 2023.
Botswana ranks 50th of 236 countries on this measure, in the top quarter.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Child mortality rate in Botswana, year by year
| Year | % of children | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1950 | 21.8% | — |
| 1951 | 21.3% | -2.1% |
| 1952 | 20.9% | -2.1% |
| 1953 | 20.4% | -2.3% |
| 1954 | 19.9% | -2.4% |
| 1955 | 19.4% | -2.5% |
| 1956 | 18.9% | -2.7% |
| 1957 | 18.3% | -2.9% |
| 1958 | 17.8% | -3.0% |
| 1959 | 17.2% | -3.2% |
| 1960 | 16.7% | -3.0% |
| 1961 | 16.2% | -3.0% |
| 1962 | 15.7% | -2.9% |
| 1963 | 15.3% | -2.9% |
| 1964 | 14.9% | -2.8% |
| 1965 | 14.4% | -2.8% |
| 1966 | 14.0% | -2.8% |
| 1967 | 13.6% | -2.9% |
| 1968 | 13.2% | -3.1% |
| 1969 | 12.8% | -3.3% |
| 1970 | 12.3% | -3.5% |
| 1971 | 11.8% | -3.8% |
| 1972 | 11.4% | -4.1% |
| 1973 | 10.8% | -4.5% |
| 1974 | 10.3% | -4.8% |
| 1975 | 9.8% | -5.1% |
| 1976 | 9.3% | -5.5% |
| 1977 | 8.7% | -5.7% |
| 1978 | 8.2% | -5.9% |
| 1979 | 7.7% | -5.9% |
| 1980 | 7.3% | -5.9% |
| 1981 | 6.9% | -5.7% |
| 1982 | 6.5% | -5.6% |
| 1983 | 6.1% | -5.4% |
| 1984 | 5.8% | -5.1% |
| 1985 | 5.5% | -4.8% |
| 1986 | 5.3% | -4.3% |
| 1987 | 5.1% | -3.3% |
| 1988 | 5.2% | +1.1% |
| 1989 | 5.1% | -2.4% |
| 1990 | 5.2% | +2.3% |
| 1991 | 5.3% | +1.9% |
| 1992 | 5.7% | +7.4% |
| 1993 | 6.0% | +6.0% |
| 1994 | 6.4% | +6.1% |
| 1995 | 6.8% | +5.9% |
| 1996 | 7.0% | +3.9% |
| 1997 | 7.2% | +3.4% |
| 1998 | 7.4% | +2.4% |
| 1999 | 7.6% | +2.0% |
| 2000 | 7.6% | -0.0% |
| 2001 | 7.5% | -0.4% |
| 2002 | 7.4% | -1.3% |
| 2003 | 7.3% | -2.0% |
| 2004 | 7.1% | -2.5% |
| 2005 | 6.9% | -3.1% |
| 2006 | 6.9% | -0.1% |
| 2007 | 6.5% | -6.1% |
| 2008 | 6.3% | -3.1% |
| 2009 | 6.1% | -3.3% |
| 2010 | 5.8% | -3.5% |
| 2011 | 5.6% | -3.3% |
| 2012 | 5.4% | -3.7% |
| 2013 | 5.3% | -3.2% |
| 2014 | 5.1% | -3.8% |
| 2015 | 4.9% | -3.7% |
| 2016 | 4.7% | -3.7% |
| 2017 | 4.5% | -3.6% |
| 2018 | 4.4% | -2.9% |
| 2019 | 4.2% | -3.3% |
| 2020 | 4.1% | -3.0% |
| 2021 | 4.0% | -3.1% |
| 2022 | 3.9% | -2.9% |
| 2023 | 3.8% | -3.1% |
Botswana compared with similar countries
- Botswana's 3.8% is above the median for upper middle income countries, which is 1.4%, 2.7× the median. (58 countries reporting)
- Botswana's 3.8% is below the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 5.0%, 75% of the median. (48 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1950s | 19.6% | 17.2% | 21.8% | 10 |
| 1960s | 14.7% | 12.8% | 16.7% | 10 |
| 1970s | 10.0% | 7.7% | 12.3% | 10 |
| 1980s | 5.9% | 5.1% | 7.3% | 10 |
| 1990s | 6.4% | 5.2% | 7.6% | 10 |
| 2000s | 6.9% | 6.1% | 7.6% | 10 |
| 2010s | 5.0% | 4.2% | 5.8% | 10 |
| 2020s | 3.9% | 3.8% | 4.1% | 4 |
Countries ranked near Botswana
More health data for Botswana
- Un projection of annual infant deaths, annual growth rate -1.75 % change on previous year (2100)
- Heat deaths vs projected death rates, annual growth rate 0.2265 % change on previous year (2090)
- Estimated changes in temperature-related death rates compared to projected death rates 1,150 deaths per 1,000 people (2090)
- Number of infants who die before age 1 281 deaths (2100)
- Neonatal tetanus - number of reported cases, gaps filled 0 (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, female, annual growth rate 0.6484 % change on previous year (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, female, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, female, per capita 0.0579 units per person (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, male, annual growth rate 0.9109 % change on previous year (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, male, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is child mortality rate in Botswana?
- Child mortality rate in Botswana was 3.8% in 2023, according to UN, World Population Prospects (2024) – processed by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest child mortality rate recorded in Botswana?
- The highest recorded value was 21.8% in 1950.
- What is the lowest child mortality rate recorded in Botswana?
- The lowest recorded value was 3.8% in 2023.
- How does Botswana rank for child mortality rate?
- Botswana ranks 50th out of 236 countries with data for 2023.
- Is child mortality rate rising or falling in Botswana?
- Over the last ten years it is down 28.5%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Botswana data come from?
- The figures come from UN, World Population Prospects (2024) – processed by Our World in Data, published as part of Child mortality rate. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Share of children who die before reaching the age of 5.