Child mortality rate in Congo
Congo: Child mortality rate was 3.91 deaths per 100 live births in 2024. ◆ Volatile
Child mortality rate in Congo, 1944–2024
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
In 2024, child mortality rate in Congo stood at 3.91 deaths per 100 live births. That is the lowest value across all 81 years on record.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 2.9% on the previous year and down 28.2% over ten years.
Over the whole period, child mortality rate in Congo peaked at 31.74 deaths per 100 live births in 1944 and was at its lowest, 3.91 deaths per 100 live births, in 2024.
Congo ranks 40th of 199 countries on this measure, in the top quarter.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Child mortality rate in Congo, year by year
| Year | deaths per 100 live births | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1944 | 31.74 deaths per 100 live births | — |
| 1945 | 31.03 deaths per 100 live births | -2.2% |
| 1946 | 30.42 deaths per 100 live births | -2.0% |
| 1947 | 29.74 deaths per 100 live births | -2.2% |
| 1948 | 29.11 deaths per 100 live births | -2.1% |
| 1949 | 28.44 deaths per 100 live births | -2.3% |
| 1950 | 27.73 deaths per 100 live births | -2.5% |
| 1951 | 27.01 deaths per 100 live births | -2.6% |
| 1952 | 26.28 deaths per 100 live births | -2.7% |
| 1953 | 25.47 deaths per 100 live births | -3.1% |
| 1954 | 24.62 deaths per 100 live births | -3.3% |
| 1955 | 23.74 deaths per 100 live births | -3.6% |
| 1956 | 22.83 deaths per 100 live births | -3.9% |
| 1957 | 21.91 deaths per 100 live births | -4.0% |
| 1958 | 21 deaths per 100 live births | -4.1% |
| 1959 | 20.15 deaths per 100 live births | -4.1% |
| 1960 | 19.35 deaths per 100 live births | -4.0% |
| 1961 | 18.62 deaths per 100 live births | -3.8% |
| 1962 | 17.92 deaths per 100 live births | -3.8% |
| 1963 | 17.27 deaths per 100 live births | -3.6% |
| 1964 | 16.65 deaths per 100 live births | -3.6% |
| 1965 | 16.08 deaths per 100 live births | -3.4% |
| 1966 | 15.54 deaths per 100 live births | -3.4% |
| 1967 | 15.01 deaths per 100 live births | -3.4% |
| 1968 | 14.53 deaths per 100 live births | -3.2% |
| 1969 | 14.09 deaths per 100 live births | -3.0% |
| 1970 | 13.66 deaths per 100 live births | -3.0% |
| 1971 | 13.3 deaths per 100 live births | -2.6% |
| 1972 | 12.97 deaths per 100 live births | -2.5% |
| 1973 | 12.65 deaths per 100 live births | -2.4% |
| 1974 | 12.33 deaths per 100 live births | -2.6% |
| 1975 | 12.04 deaths per 100 live births | -2.3% |
| 1976 | 11.76 deaths per 100 live births | -2.3% |
| 1977 | 11.47 deaths per 100 live births | -2.5% |
| 1978 | 11.22 deaths per 100 live births | -2.3% |
| 1979 | 10.96 deaths per 100 live births | -2.3% |
| 1980 | 10.7 deaths per 100 live births | -2.4% |
| 1981 | 10.44 deaths per 100 live births | -2.4% |
| 1982 | 10.2 deaths per 100 live births | -2.4% |
| 1983 | 9.93 deaths per 100 live births | -2.6% |
| 1984 | 9.67 deaths per 100 live births | -2.6% |
| 1985 | 9.45 deaths per 100 live births | -2.2% |
| 1986 | 9.28 deaths per 100 live births | -1.9% |
| 1987 | 9.14 deaths per 100 live births | -1.4% |
| 1988 | 9.06 deaths per 100 live births | -0.9% |
| 1989 | 9.07 deaths per 100 live births | +0.1% |
| 1990 | 9.15 deaths per 100 live births | +0.9% |
| 1991 | 9.31 deaths per 100 live births | +1.7% |
| 1992 | 9.53 deaths per 100 live births | +2.3% |
| 1993 | 9.79 deaths per 100 live births | +2.8% |
| 1994 | 10.11 deaths per 100 live births | +3.3% |
| 1995 | 10.45 deaths per 100 live births | +3.3% |
| 1996 | 10.8 deaths per 100 live births | +3.3% |
| 1997 | 11.1 deaths per 100 live births | +2.8% |
| 1998 | 11.32 deaths per 100 live births | +2.0% |
| 1999 | 11.37 deaths per 100 live births | +0.4% |
| 2000 | 11.25 deaths per 100 live births | -1.1% |
| 2001 | 10.93 deaths per 100 live births | -2.8% |
| 2002 | 10.46 deaths per 100 live births | -4.3% |
| 2003 | 9.89 deaths per 100 live births | -5.5% |
| 2004 | 9.23 deaths per 100 live births | -6.7% |
| 2005 | 8.57 deaths per 100 live births | -7.1% |
| 2006 | 7.95 deaths per 100 live births | -7.3% |
| 2007 | 7.39 deaths per 100 live births | -7.0% |
| 2008 | 6.92 deaths per 100 live births | -6.5% |
| 2009 | 6.53 deaths per 100 live births | -5.5% |
| 2010 | 6.24 deaths per 100 live births | -4.5% |
| 2011 | 6 deaths per 100 live births | -3.9% |
| 2012 | 5.79 deaths per 100 live births | -3.4% |
| 2013 | 5.62 deaths per 100 live births | -3.0% |
| 2014 | 5.45 deaths per 100 live births | -3.1% |
| 2015 | 5.27 deaths per 100 live births | -3.3% |
| 2016 | 5.1 deaths per 100 live births | -3.2% |
| 2017 | 4.93 deaths per 100 live births | -3.3% |
| 2018 | 4.76 deaths per 100 live births | -3.4% |
| 2019 | 5.22 deaths per 100 live births | +9.8% |
| 2020 | 4.45 deaths per 100 live births | -14.8% |
| 2021 | 4.3 deaths per 100 live births | -3.4% |
| 2022 | 4.15 deaths per 100 live births | -3.4% |
| 2023 | 4.03 deaths per 100 live births | -3.0% |
| 2024 | 3.91 deaths per 100 live births | -2.9% |
Congo compared with similar countries
- Congo's 3.91 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)
- Congo's 3.91 deaths per 100 live births is below the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 4.89 deaths per 100 live births, 80% of the median. (48 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1940s | 30.08 deaths per 100 live births | 28.44 deaths per 100 live births | 31.74 deaths per 100 live births | 6 |
| 1950s | 24.07 deaths per 100 live births | 20.15 deaths per 100 live births | 27.73 deaths per 100 live births | 10 |
| 1960s | 16.5 deaths per 100 live births | 14.09 deaths per 100 live births | 19.35 deaths per 100 live births | 10 |
| 1970s | 12.24 deaths per 100 live births | 10.96 deaths per 100 live births | 13.66 deaths per 100 live births | 10 |
| 1980s | 9.69 deaths per 100 live births | 9.06 deaths per 100 live births | 10.7 deaths per 100 live births | 10 |
| 1990s | 10.29 deaths per 100 live births | 9.15 deaths per 100 live births | 11.37 deaths per 100 live births | 10 |
| 2000s | 8.91 deaths per 100 live births | 6.53 deaths per 100 live births | 11.25 deaths per 100 live births | 10 |
| 2010s | 5.44 deaths per 100 live births | 4.76 deaths per 100 live births | 6.24 deaths per 100 live births | 10 |
| 2020s | 4.17 deaths per 100 live births | 3.91 deaths per 100 live births | 4.45 deaths per 100 live births | 5 |
Countries ranked near Congo
- 37 Gambia 4.24 deaths per 100 live births compare
- 38 Namibia 3.95 deaths per 100 live births compare
- 39 Papua New Guinea 3.94 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
- 43 Kenya 3.88 deaths per 100 live births compare
More health data for Congo
- Un projection of annual infant deaths, annual growth rate -0.4813 % change on previous year (2100)
- Heat deaths vs projected death rates, annual growth rate 0.9705 % change on previous year (2090)
- Estimated changes in temperature-related death rates compared to projected death rates 759.5 deaths per 1,000 people (2090)
- Number of infants who die before age 1 2,688 deaths (2100)
- Neonatal tetanus - number of reported cases, gaps filled 11 (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, female, annual growth rate 1.44 % 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 0.0695 units per person (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, male, annual growth rate 1.45 % 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 Congo?
- Child mortality rate in Congo was 3.91 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 rate recorded in Congo?
- The highest recorded value was 31.74 deaths per 100 live births in 1944.
- What is the lowest child mortality rate recorded in Congo?
- The lowest recorded value was 3.91 deaths per 100 live births in 2024.
- How does Congo rank for child mortality rate?
- Congo ranks 40th out of 199 countries with data for 2024.
- Is child mortality rate rising or falling in Congo?
- Over the last ten years it is down 28.2%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Congo 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 rate. 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 .