Child mortality around the world in Zambia
Zambia: Child mortality around the world was 5.2 in 2023. ▼ Falling
Child mortality around the world in Zambia, 1950–2023
Source: Our World in Data.
Analysis
Zambia recorded 5.2 for child mortality around the world in 2023. That is the lowest value across all 74 years on record.
That represents a change of down 5.1% on the previous year and down 27.6% over ten years.
Over the whole period, child mortality around the world in Zambia peaked at 24.25 in 1950 and was at its lowest, 5.2, in 2023.
That places Zambia 27th out of 236 countries with data for 2023, putting it in the top quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 74 years of available data.
Child mortality around the world in Zambia, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1950 | 24.25 | — |
| 1951 | 23.83 | -1.7% |
| 1952 | 23.44 | -1.7% |
| 1953 | 23.04 | -1.7% |
| 1954 | 22.66 | -1.7% |
| 1955 | 22.29 | -1.6% |
| 1956 | 21.92 | -1.7% |
| 1957 | 21.56 | -1.6% |
| 1958 | 21.18 | -1.8% |
| 1959 | 20.81 | -1.8% |
| 1960 | 20.45 | -1.7% |
| 1961 | 20.11 | -1.7% |
| 1962 | 19.84 | -1.4% |
| 1963 | 19.59 | -1.3% |
| 1964 | 19.52 | -0.3% |
| 1965 | 19.14 | -1.9% |
| 1966 | 18.94 | -1.0% |
| 1967 | 18.73 | -1.1% |
| 1968 | 18.48 | -1.3% |
| 1969 | 18.19 | -1.6% |
| 1970 | 17.84 | -1.9% |
| 1971 | 17.42 | -2.3% |
| 1972 | 17.01 | -2.4% |
| 1973 | 16.58 | -2.5% |
| 1974 | 16.21 | -2.3% |
| 1975 | 15.92 | -1.8% |
| 1976 | 15.72 | -1.2% |
| 1977 | 15.62 | -0.7% |
| 1978 | 15.61 | -0.1% |
| 1979 | 15.63 | +0.2% |
| 1980 | 15.72 | +0.6% |
| 1981 | 15.85 | +0.8% |
| 1982 | 16.06 | +1.3% |
| 1983 | 16.25 | +1.2% |
| 1984 | 16.55 | +1.8% |
| 1985 | 16.86 | +1.9% |
| 1986 | 17.19 | +1.9% |
| 1987 | 17.5 | +1.8% |
| 1988 | 17.77 | +1.6% |
| 1989 | 17.99 | +1.2% |
| 1990 | 18.15 | +0.9% |
| 1991 | 18.27 | +0.6% |
| 1992 | 18.2 | -0.4% |
| 1993 | 18.03 | -0.9% |
| 1994 | 17.79 | -1.3% |
| 1995 | 17.53 | -1.5% |
| 1996 | 17.21 | -1.8% |
| 1997 | 16.83 | -2.2% |
| 1998 | 16.36 | -2.8% |
| 1999 | 15.85 | -3.1% |
| 2000 | 15.16 | -4.4% |
| 2001 | 14.35 | -5.3% |
| 2002 | 13.45 | -6.3% |
| 2003 | 12.53 | -6.8% |
| 2004 | 11.64 | -7.1% |
| 2005 | 10.78 | -7.4% |
| 2006 | 10.07 | -6.6% |
| 2007 | 9.41 | -6.6% |
| 2008 | 8.86 | -5.8% |
| 2009 | 8.4 | -5.2% |
| 2010 | 8.01 | -4.7% |
| 2011 | 7.7 | -3.9% |
| 2012 | 7.43 | -3.5% |
| 2013 | 7.18 | -3.3% |
| 2014 | 6.95 | -3.3% |
| 2015 | 6.78 | -2.4% |
| 2016 | 6.6 | -2.8% |
| 2017 | 6.43 | -2.6% |
| 2018 | 6.27 | -2.4% |
| 2019 | 6.09 | -2.9% |
| 2020 | 5.91 | -2.8% |
| 2021 | 5.74 | -2.9% |
| 2022 | 5.48 | -4.6% |
| 2023 | 5.2 | -5.1% |
Zambia compared with similar countries
- Zambia's 5.2 is above the median for lower middle income countries, which is 3.9, 1.3× the median. (47 countries reporting)
- Zambia's 5.2 is above the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 4.99, 1.0× the median. (48 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1950s | 22.5 | 20.81 | 24.25 | 10 |
| 1960s | 19.3 | 18.19 | 20.45 | 10 |
| 1970s | 16.36 | 15.61 | 17.84 | 10 |
| 1980s | 16.77 | 15.72 | 17.99 | 10 |
| 1990s | 17.42 | 15.85 | 18.27 | 10 |
| 2000s | 11.47 | 8.4 | 15.16 | 10 |
| 2010s | 6.94 | 6.09 | 8.01 | 10 |
| 2020s | 5.59 | 5.2 | 5.91 | 4 |
Countries ranked near Zambia
More health data for Zambia
- Un projection of annual infant deaths, annual growth rate -1.09 % change on previous year (2100)
- Heat deaths vs projected death rates, annual growth rate 0.7971 % change on previous year (2090)
- Un projection of annual infant deaths 8,894 (2100)
- Neonatal tetanus - number of reported cases, gaps filled 2 (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, female, annual growth rate 1.68 % change on previous year (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, female, per unit of GDP 0.0001 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, female, per capita 0.0743 units per person (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, male, annual growth rate 1.69 % change on previous year (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, male, per unit of GDP 0.0001 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, male, per capita 0.0744 units per person (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is child mortality around the world in Zambia?
- Child mortality around the world in Zambia was 5.2 in 2023, according to Our World in Data.
- What is the highest child mortality around the world recorded in Zambia?
- The highest recorded value was 24.25 in 1950.
- What is the lowest child mortality around the world recorded in Zambia?
- The lowest recorded value was 5.2 in 2023.
- How does Zambia rank for child mortality around the world?
- Zambia ranks 27th out of 236 countries with data for 2023.
- Is child mortality around the world rising or falling in Zambia?
- Over the last ten years it is down 27.6%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this Zambia data come from?
- The figures come from Our World in Data, published as part of Child mortality around the world. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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