Child mortality by income level of country in Papua New Guinea
Papua New Guinea: Child mortality by income level of country was 3.94 deaths per 100 live births in 2024. ◆ Volatile
Child mortality by income level of country in Papua New Guinea, 1948–2024
Source: United Nations Inter-agency Group for Child Mortality Estimation (2025) – processed by Our World in Data. Measured in deaths per 100 live births.
Analysis
The most recent figure for child mortality by income level of country in Papua New Guinea is 3.94 deaths per 100 live births, measured in 2024. That is the lowest value across all 77 years on record.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 3.0% on the previous year and down 26.1% over ten years.
Over the whole period, child mortality by income level of country in Papua New Guinea peaked at 28.42 deaths per 100 live births in 1951 and was at its lowest, 3.94 deaths per 100 live births, in 2024.
That places Papua New Guinea 39th out of 199 countries with data for 2024, putting it in the top quarter.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Child mortality by income level of country in Papua New Guinea, year by year
| Year | deaths per 100 live births | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1948 | 27.96 deaths per 100 live births | — |
| 1949 | 27.19 deaths per 100 live births | -2.8% |
| 1950 | 26.43 deaths per 100 live births | -2.8% |
| 1951 | 28.42 deaths per 100 live births | +7.5% |
| 1952 | 24.99 deaths per 100 live births | -12.1% |
| 1953 | 24.31 deaths per 100 live births | -2.7% |
| 1954 | 23.63 deaths per 100 live births | -2.8% |
| 1955 | 22.97 deaths per 100 live births | -2.8% |
| 1956 | 22.32 deaths per 100 live births | -2.8% |
| 1957 | 21.69 deaths per 100 live births | -2.8% |
| 1958 | 21.07 deaths per 100 live births | -2.8% |
| 1959 | 20.45 deaths per 100 live births | -3.0% |
| 1960 | 19.84 deaths per 100 live births | -3.0% |
| 1961 | 19.24 deaths per 100 live births | -3.0% |
| 1962 | 18.64 deaths per 100 live births | -3.1% |
| 1963 | 18.06 deaths per 100 live births | -3.1% |
| 1964 | 17.49 deaths per 100 live births | -3.2% |
| 1965 | 16.92 deaths per 100 live births | -3.2% |
| 1966 | 16.38 deaths per 100 live births | -3.2% |
| 1967 | 15.84 deaths per 100 live births | -3.3% |
| 1968 | 15.32 deaths per 100 live births | -3.3% |
| 1969 | 14.8 deaths per 100 live births | -3.4% |
| 1970 | 14.31 deaths per 100 live births | -3.3% |
| 1971 | 13.83 deaths per 100 live births | -3.3% |
| 1972 | 13.38 deaths per 100 live births | -3.2% |
| 1973 | 12.95 deaths per 100 live births | -3.3% |
| 1974 | 12.54 deaths per 100 live births | -3.1% |
| 1975 | 12.15 deaths per 100 live births | -3.1% |
| 1976 | 11.78 deaths per 100 live births | -3.0% |
| 1977 | 11.44 deaths per 100 live births | -2.9% |
| 1978 | 11.12 deaths per 100 live births | -2.8% |
| 1979 | 10.81 deaths per 100 live births | -2.7% |
| 1980 | 10.54 deaths per 100 live births | -2.5% |
| 1981 | 10.27 deaths per 100 live births | -2.5% |
| 1982 | 10.02 deaths per 100 live births | -2.4% |
| 1983 | 9.79 deaths per 100 live births | -2.3% |
| 1984 | 9.57 deaths per 100 live births | -2.2% |
| 1985 | 9.37 deaths per 100 live births | -2.1% |
| 1986 | 9.18 deaths per 100 live births | -2.1% |
| 1987 | 9 deaths per 100 live births | -1.9% |
| 1988 | 8.83 deaths per 100 live births | -1.9% |
| 1989 | 8.66 deaths per 100 live births | -1.9% |
| 1990 | 8.5 deaths per 100 live births | -1.9% |
| 1991 | 8.34 deaths per 100 live births | -1.9% |
| 1992 | 8.18 deaths per 100 live births | -1.9% |
| 1993 | 8.04 deaths per 100 live births | -1.8% |
| 1994 | 7.9 deaths per 100 live births | -1.7% |
| 1995 | 7.77 deaths per 100 live births | -1.6% |
| 1996 | 7.65 deaths per 100 live births | -1.6% |
| 1997 | 8.53 deaths per 100 live births | +11.5% |
| 1998 | 7.42 deaths per 100 live births | -13.0% |
| 1999 | 7.31 deaths per 100 live births | -1.5% |
| 2000 | 7.2 deaths per 100 live births | -1.5% |
| 2001 | 7.08 deaths per 100 live births | -1.6% |
| 2002 | 6.96 deaths per 100 live births | -1.7% |
| 2003 | 6.84 deaths per 100 live births | -1.7% |
| 2004 | 6.72 deaths per 100 live births | -1.8% |
| 2005 | 6.59 deaths per 100 live births | -2.0% |
| 2006 | 6.46 deaths per 100 live births | -2.0% |
| 2007 | 6.32 deaths per 100 live births | -2.1% |
| 2008 | 6.18 deaths per 100 live births | -2.3% |
| 2009 | 6.03 deaths per 100 live births | -2.3% |
| 2010 | 5.89 deaths per 100 live births | -2.4% |
| 2011 | 5.75 deaths per 100 live births | -2.4% |
| 2012 | 5.61 deaths per 100 live births | -2.5% |
| 2013 | 5.47 deaths per 100 live births | -2.5% |
| 2014 | 5.33 deaths per 100 live births | -2.6% |
| 2015 | 5.73 deaths per 100 live births | +7.6% |
| 2016 | 5.04 deaths per 100 live births | -12.0% |
| 2017 | 4.89 deaths per 100 live births | -3.0% |
| 2018 | 4.75 deaths per 100 live births | -2.8% |
| 2019 | 4.61 deaths per 100 live births | -3.0% |
| 2020 | 4.47 deaths per 100 live births | -3.1% |
| 2021 | 4.32 deaths per 100 live births | -3.2% |
| 2022 | 4.19 deaths per 100 live births | -3.2% |
| 2023 | 4.06 deaths per 100 live births | -3.0% |
| 2024 | 3.94 deaths per 100 live births | -3.0% |
Papua New Guinea compared with similar countries
- Papua New Guinea's 3.94 deaths per 100 live births is above the median for lower middle income countries, which is 3.69 deaths per 100 live births, 1.1× the median. (47 countries reporting)
- Papua New Guinea's 3.94 deaths per 100 live births is above the median for East Asia & Pacific, which is 1.72 deaths per 100 live births, 2.3× the median. (30 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1940s | 27.57 deaths per 100 live births | 27.19 deaths per 100 live births | 27.96 deaths per 100 live births | 2 |
| 1950s | 23.63 deaths per 100 live births | 20.45 deaths per 100 live births | 28.42 deaths per 100 live births | 10 |
| 1960s | 17.25 deaths per 100 live births | 14.8 deaths per 100 live births | 19.84 deaths per 100 live births | 10 |
| 1970s | 12.43 deaths per 100 live births | 10.81 deaths per 100 live births | 14.31 deaths per 100 live births | 10 |
| 1980s | 9.52 deaths per 100 live births | 8.66 deaths per 100 live births | 10.54 deaths per 100 live births | 10 |
| 1990s | 7.96 deaths per 100 live births | 7.31 deaths per 100 live births | 8.53 deaths per 100 live births | 10 |
| 2000s | 6.64 deaths per 100 live births | 6.03 deaths per 100 live births | 7.2 deaths per 100 live births | 10 |
| 2010s | 5.31 deaths per 100 live births | 4.61 deaths per 100 live births | 5.89 deaths per 100 live births | 10 |
| 2020s | 4.2 deaths per 100 live births | 3.94 deaths per 100 live births | 4.47 deaths per 100 live births | 5 |
Countries ranked near Papua New Guinea
- 36 Ethiopia 4.45 deaths per 100 live births compare
- 37 Gambia 4.24 deaths per 100 live births compare
- 38 Namibia 3.95 deaths per 100 live births compare
- 40 Congo 3.91 deaths per 100 live births compare
- 41 Turkmenistan 3.9 deaths per 100 live births compare
- 42 Comoros 3.9 deaths per 100 live births compare
More health data for Papua New Guinea
- Un projection of annual infant deaths, annual growth rate -1.77 % change on previous year (2100)
- Heat deaths vs projected death rates, annual growth rate 0.3741 % change on previous year (2090)
- Estimated changes in temperature-related death rates compared to projected death rates 1,127 deaths per 1,000 people (2090)
- Number of infants who die before age 1 2,501 deaths (2100)
- Neonatal tetanus - number of reported cases, gaps filled 2 (2023)
- Population ages 00-04, female, annual growth rate 0.27 % 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 0.0555 units per person (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, male, annual growth rate 0.2621 % 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 by income level of country in Papua New Guinea?
- Child mortality by income level of country in Papua New Guinea was 3.94 deaths per 100 live births in 2024, according to United Nations Inter-agency Group for Child Mortality Estimation (2025) – processed by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest child mortality by income level of country recorded in Papua New Guinea?
- The highest recorded value was 28.42 deaths per 100 live births in 1951.
- What is the lowest child mortality by income level of country recorded in Papua New Guinea?
- The lowest recorded value was 3.94 deaths per 100 live births in 2024.
- How does Papua New Guinea rank for child mortality by income level of country?
- Papua New Guinea ranks 39th out of 199 countries with data for 2024.
- Is child mortality by income level of country rising or falling in Papua New Guinea?
- Over the last ten years it is down 26.1%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Papua New Guinea data come from?
- The figures come from United Nations Inter-agency Group for Child Mortality Estimation (2025) – processed by Our World in Data, published as part of Child mortality by income level of country. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Estimated number of deaths of children aged under five years, per 100 live births .