Child mortality rate in Namibia
Namibia: Child mortality rate was 3.7% in 2023. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2023)
3.7%
Change on year
down 3.1%
World rank
53rd
of 236 countries
All-time high
27.2%
in 1950
All-time low
3.7%
in 2023
Years of data
74
1950–2023
Child mortality rate in Namibia, 1950–2023
Source: UN, World Population Prospects (2024) – processed by Our World in Data. Measured in % of children.
Analysis
The most recent figure for child mortality rate in Namibia is 3.7%, measured in 2023. That is the lowest value across all 74 years on record.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 3.1% on the previous year and down 22.2% over ten years.
Over the whole period, child mortality rate in Namibia peaked at 27.2% in 1950 and was at its lowest, 3.7%, in 2023.
That places Namibia 53rd 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.
Child mortality rate in Namibia, year by year
| Year | % of children | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1950 | 27.2% | — |
| 1951 | 26.5% | -2.5% |
| 1952 | 25.8% | -2.5% |
| 1953 | 25.2% | -2.5% |
| 1954 | 24.5% | -2.7% |
| 1955 | 23.8% | -2.7% |
| 1956 | 23.2% | -2.8% |
| 1957 | 22.5% | -3.0% |
| 1958 | 21.8% | -3.1% |
| 1959 | 21.1% | -3.2% |
| 1960 | 20.4% | -3.3% |
| 1961 | 19.7% | -3.3% |
| 1962 | 19.0% | -3.4% |
| 1963 | 18.4% | -3.4% |
| 1964 | 17.8% | -3.4% |
| 1965 | 17.2% | -3.4% |
| 1966 | 16.6% | -3.4% |
| 1967 | 16.1% | -3.3% |
| 1968 | 15.5% | -3.3% |
| 1969 | 15.0% | -3.3% |
| 1970 | 14.5% | -3.3% |
| 1971 | 14.0% | -3.3% |
| 1972 | 13.6% | -3.3% |
| 1973 | 13.1% | -3.2% |
| 1974 | 12.7% | -3.2% |
| 1975 | 12.3% | -3.1% |
| 1976 | 11.9% | -3.1% |
| 1977 | 11.6% | -3.0% |
| 1978 | 11.3% | -2.9% |
| 1979 | 10.9% | -2.9% |
| 1980 | 10.6% | -2.8% |
| 1981 | 10.3% | -3.0% |
| 1982 | 10.0% | -3.0% |
| 1983 | 9.7% | -3.2% |
| 1984 | 9.4% | -3.3% |
| 1985 | 9.0% | -3.4% |
| 1986 | 8.7% | -3.6% |
| 1987 | 8.4% | -3.8% |
| 1988 | 8.1% | -2.9% |
| 1989 | 7.8% | -4.4% |
| 1990 | 7.5% | -3.3% |
| 1991 | 7.3% | -2.5% |
| 1992 | 7.2% | -1.6% |
| 1993 | 7.2% | -0.5% |
| 1994 | 7.2% | +0.6% |
| 1995 | 7.3% | +1.2% |
| 1996 | 7.4% | +1.4% |
| 1997 | 7.5% | +1.4% |
| 1998 | 7.6% | +1.1% |
| 1999 | 7.6% | +0.5% |
| 2000 | 7.7% | +0.1% |
| 2001 | 7.7% | +0.0% |
| 2002 | 7.5% | -2.3% |
| 2003 | 7.3% | -2.2% |
| 2004 | 7.1% | -3.1% |
| 2005 | 6.8% | -4.3% |
| 2006 | 6.4% | -5.2% |
| 2007 | 6.1% | -5.5% |
| 2008 | 5.7% | -5.4% |
| 2009 | 5.5% | -4.6% |
| 2010 | 5.2% | -6.0% |
| 2011 | 5.1% | -1.2% |
| 2012 | 4.8% | -4.8% |
| 2013 | 4.7% | -2.2% |
| 2014 | 4.6% | -2.2% |
| 2015 | 4.5% | -2.2% |
| 2016 | 4.4% | -2.3% |
| 2017 | 4.3% | -2.1% |
| 2018 | 4.2% | -2.1% |
| 2019 | 4.1% | -2.2% |
| 2020 | 4.0% | -2.5% |
| 2021 | 3.9% | -2.9% |
| 2022 | 3.8% | -3.1% |
| 2023 | 3.7% | -3.1% |
Namibia compared with similar countries
- Namibia's 3.7% is below the median for lower middle income countries, which is 3.9%, 95% of the median. (47 countries reporting)
- Namibia's 3.7% is below the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 5.0%, 74% of the median. (48 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1950s | 24.2% | 21.1% | 27.2% | 10 |
| 1960s | 17.6% | 15.0% | 20.4% | 10 |
| 1970s | 12.6% | 10.9% | 14.5% | 10 |
| 1980s | 9.2% | 7.8% | 10.6% | 10 |
| 1990s | 7.4% | 7.2% | 7.6% | 10 |
| 2000s | 6.8% | 5.5% | 7.7% | 10 |
| 2010s | 4.6% | 4.1% | 5.2% | 10 |
| 2020s | 3.9% | 3.7% | 4.0% | 4 |
Countries ranked near Namibia
More health data for Namibia
- 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 0.6445 % change on previous year (2090)
- Estimated changes in temperature-related death rates compared to projected death rates 1,046 deaths per 1,000 people (2090)
- Number of infants who die before age 1 561 deaths (2100)
- Neonatal tetanus - number of reported cases, gaps filled 1 (2024)
- Population ages 00-04, female, annual growth rate -1.83 % 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 0.0644 units per person (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, male, annual growth rate -1.56 % 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 Namibia?
- Child mortality rate in Namibia was 3.7% in 2023, according to UN, World Population Prospects (2024) – processed by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest child mortality rate recorded in Namibia?
- The highest recorded value was 27.2% in 1950.
- What is the lowest child mortality rate recorded in Namibia?
- The lowest recorded value was 3.7% in 2023.
- How does Namibia rank for child mortality rate?
- Namibia ranks 53rd out of 236 countries with data for 2023.
- Is child mortality rate rising or falling in Namibia?
- Over the last ten years it is down 22.2%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Namibia 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.