Child mortality rate in Kenya
Kenya: Child mortality rate was 4.1% in 2023. ◆ Volatile
Child mortality rate in Kenya, 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 Kenya stood at 4.1%. That is the lowest value across all 74 years on record.
That represents a change of down 1.3% on the previous year and down 17.1% over ten years.
Over the whole period, child mortality rate in Kenya peaked at 32.1% in 1950 and was at its lowest, 4.1%, in 2023.
Kenya ranks 38th 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.
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1950s | 26.1% | 20.7% | 32.1% | 10 |
| 1960s | 17.2% | 15.3% | 19.8% | 10 |
| 1970s | 13.2% | 11.3% | 15.0% | 10 |
| 1980s | 10.0% | 9.6% | 11.0% | 10 |
| 1990s | 10.4% | 9.9% | 10.7% | 10 |
| 2000s | 7.4% | 5.7% | 9.4% | 10 |
| 2010s | 4.8% | 4.4% | 5.4% | 10 |
| 2020s | 4.5% | 4.1% | 4.8% | 4 |
Countries ranked near Kenya
More health data for Kenya
- Estimated changes in temperature-related death rates compared to projected death rates 1,119 deaths per 1,000 people (2090)
- Number of infants who die before age 1 16,059 deaths (2100)
- Deaths in armed conflicts based on where they occurred 3 deaths (2026)
- Deaths in armed conflicts by region 3 deaths (2026)
- Age population, age 25, male, interpolated 504,714 (2025)
- Age population, age 25, female, interpolated 527,528 (2025)
- Age population, age 24, male, interpolated 526,588 (2025)
- Age population, age 24, female, interpolated 546,326 (2025)
- Age population, age 23, male, interpolated 548,338 (2025)
- Age population, age 23, female, interpolated 564,731 (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is child mortality rate in Kenya?
- Child mortality rate in Kenya was 4.1% in 2023, according to UN, World Population Prospects (2024) – processed by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest child mortality rate recorded in Kenya?
- The highest recorded value was 32.1% in 1950.
- What is the lowest child mortality rate recorded in Kenya?
- The lowest recorded value was 4.1% in 2023.
- How does Kenya rank for child mortality rate?
- Kenya ranks 38th out of 236 countries with data for 2023.
- Is child mortality rate rising or falling in Kenya?
- Over the last ten years it is down 17.1%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Kenya 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.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 74 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data).
About this data
The share of children who die before reaching the age of 5.