Child mortality rate in Congo
Congo: Child mortality rate was 4.0% in 2023. ▼ Falling
Latest (2023)
4.0%
Change on year
down 2.7%
World rank
40th
of 236 countries
All-time high
27.9%
in 1950
All-time low
4.0%
in 2023
Years of data
74
1950–2023
Child mortality rate in Congo, 1950–2023
Source: UN, World Population Prospects (2024) – processed by Our World in Data. Measured in % of children.
Analysis
In 2023, child mortality rate in Congo stood at 4.0%. That is the lowest value across all 74 years on record.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 2.7% on the previous year and down 29.0% over ten years.
Over the whole period, child mortality rate in Congo peaked at 27.9% in 1950 and was at its lowest, 4.0%, in 2023.
Congo ranks 40th of 236 countries on this measure, in the top quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 74 years of available data.
Child mortality rate in Congo, year by year
| Year | % of children | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1950 | 27.9% | — |
| 1951 | 27.1% | -3.0% |
| 1952 | 26.2% | -3.1% |
| 1953 | 25.4% | -3.2% |
| 1954 | 24.6% | -3.3% |
| 1955 | 23.7% | -3.6% |
| 1956 | 22.8% | -3.8% |
| 1957 | 21.9% | -3.9% |
| 1958 | 21.0% | -4.0% |
| 1959 | 20.2% | -3.9% |
| 1960 | 19.4% | -3.9% |
| 1961 | 18.7% | -3.8% |
| 1962 | 18.0% | -3.8% |
| 1963 | 17.3% | -3.7% |
| 1964 | 16.7% | -3.5% |
| 1965 | 16.1% | -3.5% |
| 1966 | 15.6% | -3.4% |
| 1967 | 15.1% | -2.7% |
| 1968 | 14.6% | -3.7% |
| 1969 | 14.1% | -3.1% |
| 1970 | 13.7% | -2.9% |
| 1971 | 13.3% | -2.8% |
| 1972 | 13.0% | -2.7% |
| 1973 | 12.6% | -2.6% |
| 1974 | 12.3% | -2.4% |
| 1975 | 12.0% | -2.5% |
| 1976 | 11.7% | -2.5% |
| 1977 | 11.4% | -2.4% |
| 1978 | 11.2% | -2.3% |
| 1979 | 10.9% | -2.4% |
| 1980 | 10.6% | -2.4% |
| 1981 | 10.4% | -2.4% |
| 1982 | 10.1% | -2.4% |
| 1983 | 9.9% | -2.4% |
| 1984 | 9.7% | -2.2% |
| 1985 | 9.5% | -2.0% |
| 1986 | 9.3% | -1.7% |
| 1987 | 9.2% | -1.2% |
| 1988 | 9.1% | -0.6% |
| 1989 | 9.2% | +0.1% |
| 1990 | 9.2% | +0.8% |
| 1991 | 9.4% | +1.7% |
| 1992 | 9.6% | +2.1% |
| 1993 | 9.8% | +2.7% |
| 1994 | 10.1% | +2.8% |
| 1995 | 10.4% | +2.9% |
| 1996 | 10.7% | +2.8% |
| 1997 | 11.8% | +10.0% |
| 1998 | 11.6% | -1.8% |
| 1999 | 11.1% | -3.5% |
| 2000 | 10.9% | -1.9% |
| 2001 | 10.7% | -2.5% |
| 2002 | 10.2% | -3.9% |
| 2003 | 9.8% | -4.7% |
| 2004 | 9.2% | -6.2% |
| 2005 | 8.6% | -6.3% |
| 2006 | 8.0% | -6.6% |
| 2007 | 7.5% | -6.2% |
| 2008 | 7.0% | -6.5% |
| 2009 | 6.6% | -5.4% |
| 2010 | 6.4% | -4.3% |
| 2011 | 6.1% | -4.8% |
| 2012 | 5.8% | -4.0% |
| 2013 | 5.6% | -3.4% |
| 2014 | 5.4% | -4.2% |
| 2015 | 5.2% | -3.6% |
| 2016 | 5.0% | -3.5% |
| 2017 | 4.8% | -3.7% |
| 2018 | 4.6% | -3.5% |
| 2019 | 5.1% | +9.4% |
| 2020 | 4.3% | -14.7% |
| 2021 | 4.2% | -2.6% |
| 2022 | 4.1% | -3.0% |
| 2023 | 4.0% | -2.7% |
Congo compared with similar countries
- Congo's 4.0% is above the median for lower middle income countries, which is 3.9%, 1.0× the median. (47 countries reporting)
- Congo's 4.0% is below the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 5.0%, 80% of the median. (48 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1950s | 24.1% | 20.2% | 27.9% | 10 |
| 1960s | 16.6% | 14.1% | 19.4% | 10 |
| 1970s | 12.2% | 10.9% | 13.7% | 10 |
| 1980s | 9.7% | 9.1% | 10.6% | 10 |
| 1990s | 10.4% | 9.2% | 11.8% | 10 |
| 2000s | 8.8% | 6.6% | 10.9% | 10 |
| 2010s | 5.4% | 4.6% | 6.4% | 10 |
| 2020s | 4.2% | 4.0% | 4.3% | 4 |
Countries ranked near Congo
More health data for Congo
- Un projection of annual infant deaths, annual growth rate -0.4813 % change on previous year (2100)
- Heat deaths vs projected death rates, annual growth rate 0.9705 % change on previous year (2090)
- Estimated changes in temperature-related death rates compared to projected death rates 759.5 deaths per 1,000 people (2090)
- Number of infants who die before age 1 2,688 deaths (2100)
- Neonatal tetanus - number of reported cases, gaps filled 11 (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, female, annual growth rate 1.44 % 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 0.0695 units per person (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, male, annual growth rate 1.45 % 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 Congo?
- Child mortality rate in Congo was 4.0% in 2023, according to UN, World Population Prospects (2024) – processed by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest child mortality rate recorded in Congo?
- The highest recorded value was 27.9% in 1950.
- What is the lowest child mortality rate recorded in Congo?
- The lowest recorded value was 4.0% in 2023.
- How does Congo rank for child mortality rate?
- Congo ranks 40th out of 236 countries with data for 2023.
- Is child mortality rate rising or falling in Congo?
- Over the last ten years it is down 29.0%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this Congo 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.