Child mortality rate in Zimbabwe
Zimbabwe: Child mortality rate was 4.6% in 2023. ▼ Falling
Latest (2023)
4.6%
Change on year
down 3.8%
World rank
34th
of 236 countries
All-time high
18.5%
in 1950
All-time low
4.6%
in 2023
Years of data
74
1950–2023
Child mortality rate in Zimbabwe, 1950–2023
Source: UN, World Population Prospects (2024) – processed by Our World in Data. Measured in % of children.
Analysis
Zimbabwe recorded 4.6% for child mortality rate in 2023. That is the lowest value across all 74 years on record.
The figure is down 3.8% on the previous year and down 32.9% over ten years.
Over the whole period, child mortality rate in Zimbabwe peaked at 18.5% in 1950 and was at its lowest, 4.6%, in 2023.
That places Zimbabwe 34th 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 rate in Zimbabwe, year by year
| Year | % of children | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1950 | 18.5% | — |
| 1951 | 18.1% | -2.0% |
| 1952 | 17.7% | -1.9% |
| 1953 | 17.4% | -1.9% |
| 1954 | 17.1% | -1.9% |
| 1955 | 16.7% | -1.9% |
| 1956 | 16.4% | -1.9% |
| 1957 | 16.1% | -2.0% |
| 1958 | 15.8% | -2.0% |
| 1959 | 15.4% | -2.3% |
| 1960 | 15.0% | -2.5% |
| 1961 | 14.7% | -2.5% |
| 1962 | 14.3% | -2.7% |
| 1963 | 13.9% | -2.8% |
| 1964 | 13.5% | -2.8% |
| 1965 | 13.1% | -2.8% |
| 1966 | 12.7% | -2.8% |
| 1967 | 12.4% | -2.5% |
| 1968 | 12.1% | -2.3% |
| 1969 | 11.9% | -1.8% |
| 1970 | 11.7% | -1.5% |
| 1971 | 11.6% | -1.2% |
| 1972 | 11.5% | -0.8% |
| 1973 | 11.5% | -0.5% |
| 1974 | 11.4% | -0.3% |
| 1975 | 11.4% | -0.1% |
| 1976 | 11.4% | -0.3% |
| 1977 | 11.3% | -0.5% |
| 1978 | 11.2% | -1.0% |
| 1979 | 11.1% | -1.1% |
| 1980 | 10.7% | -3.2% |
| 1981 | 10.4% | -3.5% |
| 1982 | 9.9% | -4.5% |
| 1983 | 9.5% | -4.1% |
| 1984 | 8.9% | -6.0% |
| 1985 | 8.5% | -4.6% |
| 1986 | 8.2% | -3.9% |
| 1987 | 8.0% | -2.3% |
| 1988 | 7.9% | -0.9% |
| 1989 | 8.0% | +0.9% |
| 1990 | 8.2% | +2.3% |
| 1991 | 8.4% | +3.3% |
| 1992 | 8.8% | +3.8% |
| 1993 | 9.1% | +3.9% |
| 1994 | 9.4% | +3.0% |
| 1995 | 9.6% | +2.4% |
| 1996 | 9.8% | +2.3% |
| 1997 | 9.8% | -0.7% |
| 1998 | 9.7% | -0.5% |
| 1999 | 9.6% | -0.9% |
| 2000 | 9.5% | -1.4% |
| 2001 | 9.3% | -1.7% |
| 2002 | 9.2% | -1.0% |
| 2003 | 9.2% | -0.7% |
| 2004 | 9.2% | -0.1% |
| 2005 | 9.2% | +0.2% |
| 2006 | 9.2% | +0.1% |
| 2007 | 9.1% | -0.6% |
| 2008 | 9.2% | +0.4% |
| 2009 | 8.9% | -3.2% |
| 2010 | 8.3% | -6.8% |
| 2011 | 7.8% | -6.0% |
| 2012 | 7.3% | -6.5% |
| 2013 | 6.8% | -6.2% |
| 2014 | 6.4% | -5.8% |
| 2015 | 6.1% | -5.4% |
| 2016 | 5.8% | -4.9% |
| 2017 | 5.6% | -3.8% |
| 2018 | 5.3% | -4.0% |
| 2019 | 5.2% | -2.3% |
| 2020 | 5.0% | -4.0% |
| 2021 | 4.8% | -3.0% |
| 2022 | 4.8% | -2.0% |
| 2023 | 4.6% | -3.8% |
Zimbabwe compared with similar countries
- Zimbabwe's 4.6% is above the median for lower middle income countries, which is 3.9%, 1.2× the median. (47 countries reporting)
- Zimbabwe's 4.6% is below the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 5.0%, 92% of the median. (48 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1950s | 16.9% | 15.4% | 18.5% | 10 |
| 1960s | 13.4% | 11.9% | 15.0% | 10 |
| 1970s | 11.4% | 11.1% | 11.7% | 10 |
| 1980s | 9.0% | 7.9% | 10.7% | 10 |
| 1990s | 9.2% | 8.2% | 9.8% | 10 |
| 2000s | 9.2% | 8.9% | 9.5% | 10 |
| 2010s | 6.4% | 5.2% | 8.3% | 10 |
| 2020s | 4.8% | 4.6% | 5.0% | 4 |
Countries ranked near Zimbabwe
More health data for Zimbabwe
- Un projection of annual infant deaths, annual growth rate -1.39 % change on previous year (2100)
- Heat deaths vs projected death rates, annual growth rate 1.11 % change on previous year (2090)
- Estimated changes in temperature-related death rates compared to projected death rates 874.6 deaths per 1,000 people (2090)
- Number of infants who die before age 1 4,457 deaths (2100)
- Neonatal tetanus - number of reported cases, gaps filled 2 (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, female, annual growth rate 0.9632 % 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 0.0689 units per person (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, male, annual growth rate 0.9673 % 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 Zimbabwe?
- Child mortality rate in Zimbabwe was 4.6% in 2023, according to UN, World Population Prospects (2024) – processed by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest child mortality rate recorded in Zimbabwe?
- The highest recorded value was 18.5% in 1950.
- What is the lowest child mortality rate recorded in Zimbabwe?
- The lowest recorded value was 4.6% in 2023.
- How does Zimbabwe rank for child mortality rate?
- Zimbabwe ranks 34th out of 236 countries with data for 2023.
- Is child mortality rate rising or falling in Zimbabwe?
- Over the last ten years it is down 32.9%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this Zimbabwe 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.