Child mortality rate in Malawi
Malawi: Child mortality rate was 3.9% in 2023. ◆ Volatile
Child mortality rate in Malawi, 1950–2023
Source: UN, World Population Prospects (2024) – processed by Our World in Data. Measured in % of children.
Analysis
Malawi recorded 3.9% for child mortality rate in 2023. That is the lowest value across all 74 years on record.
That represents a change of down 3.4% on the previous year and down 39.9% over ten years.
Over the whole period, child mortality rate in Malawi peaked at 38.8% in 1950 and was at its lowest, 3.9%, in 2023.
That places Malawi 45th out of 236 countries with data for 2023, putting it 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 | 37.8% | 36.8% | 38.8% | 10 |
| 1960s | 35.6% | 34.5% | 36.5% | 10 |
| 1970s | 30.6% | 26.7% | 34.1% | 10 |
| 1980s | 25.1% | 24.5% | 26.0% | 10 |
| 1990s | 21.1% | 17.9% | 24.0% | 10 |
| 2000s | 12.2% | 8.7% | 16.8% | 10 |
| 2010s | 6.1% | 4.6% | 8.1% | 10 |
| 2020s | 4.1% | 3.9% | 4.4% | 4 |
Countries ranked near Malawi
More health data for Malawi
- Estimated changes in temperature-related death rates compared to projected death rates 856.3 deaths per 1,000 people (2090)
- Number of infants who die before age 1 6,399 deaths (2100)
- Deaths in armed conflicts based on where they occurred 0 deaths (2026)
- Deaths in armed conflicts by region 0 deaths (2026)
- Age population, age 25, male, interpolated 193,780 (2025)
- Age population, age 25, female, interpolated 198,476 (2025)
- Age population, age 24, male, interpolated 200,046 (2025)
- Age population, age 24, female, interpolated 204,753 (2025)
- Age population, age 23, male, interpolated 207,829 (2025)
- Age population, age 23, female, interpolated 212,512 (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is child mortality rate in Malawi?
- Child mortality rate in Malawi was 3.9% in 2023, according to UN, World Population Prospects (2024) – processed by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest child mortality rate recorded in Malawi?
- The highest recorded value was 38.8% in 1950.
- What is the lowest child mortality rate recorded in Malawi?
- The lowest recorded value was 3.9% in 2023.
- How does Malawi rank for child mortality rate?
- Malawi ranks 45th out of 236 countries with data for 2023.
- Is child mortality rate rising or falling in Malawi?
- Over the last ten years it is down 39.9%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Malawi 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.