Child mortality rate (aged 1-4 years) in Kenya
Kenya: Child mortality rate was 4.86 in 2024. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2024)
4.86
Change on year
down 4.7%
World rank
52nd
of 200 countries
All-time high
145.31
in 1953
All-time low
4.86
in 2024
Years of data
72
1953–2024
Child mortality rate in Kenya, 1953–2024
Source: UNICEF.
Analysis
In 2024, child mortality rate in Kenya stood at 4.86. That is the lowest value across all 72 years on record.
That represents a change of down 4.7% on the previous year and down 43.5% over ten years.
Over the whole period, child mortality rate in Kenya peaked at 145.31 in 1953 and was at its lowest, 4.86, in 2024.
Kenya ranks 52nd of 200 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Child mortality rate in Kenya, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1953 | 145.31 | — |
| 1954 | 135.78 | -6.6% |
| 1955 | 127.16 | -6.3% |
| 1956 | 119.32 | -6.2% |
| 1957 | 112.3 | -5.9% |
| 1958 | 106 | -5.6% |
| 1959 | 100.37 | -5.3% |
| 1960 | 95.27 | -5.1% |
| 1961 | 90.76 | -4.7% |
| 1962 | 86.86 | -4.3% |
| 1963 | 83.5 | -3.9% |
| 1964 | 80.66 | -3.4% |
| 1965 | 78.35 | -2.9% |
| 1966 | 76.41 | -2.5% |
| 1967 | 74.53 | -2.5% |
| 1968 | 72.65 | -2.5% |
| 1969 | 70.67 | -2.7% |
| 1970 | 68.61 | -2.9% |
| 1971 | 66.47 | -3.1% |
| 1972 | 64.23 | -3.4% |
| 1973 | 61.84 | -3.7% |
| 1974 | 59.33 | -4.1% |
| 1975 | 56.78 | -4.3% |
| 1976 | 54.12 | -4.7% |
| 1977 | 51.46 | -4.9% |
| 1978 | 48.81 | -5.2% |
| 1979 | 46.28 | -5.2% |
| 1980 | 43.92 | -5.1% |
| 1981 | 41.68 | -5.1% |
| 1982 | 39.65 | -4.9% |
| 1983 | 37.87 | -4.5% |
| 1984 | 36.3 | -4.1% |
| 1985 | 35.09 | -3.3% |
| 1986 | 34.34 | -2.2% |
| 1987 | 34.03 | -0.9% |
| 1988 | 34.3 | +0.8% |
| 1989 | 35.1 | +2.3% |
| 1990 | 36.39 | +3.7% |
| 1991 | 37.96 | +4.3% |
| 1992 | 39.49 | +4.0% |
| 1993 | 40.73 | +3.1% |
| 1994 | 41.43 | +1.7% |
| 1995 | 41.4 | -0.1% |
| 1996 | 40.69 | -1.7% |
| 1997 | 39.47 | -3.0% |
| 1998 | 37.82 | -4.2% |
| 1999 | 35.82 | -5.3% |
| 2000 | 33.6 | -6.2% |
| 2001 | 31.27 | -6.9% |
| 2002 | 28.99 | -7.3% |
| 2003 | 26.81 | -7.5% |
| 2004 | 24.77 | -7.6% |
| 2005 | 22.79 | -8.0% |
| 2006 | 20.81 | -8.7% |
| 2007 | 18.74 | -10.0% |
| 2008 | 16.06 | -14.3% |
| 2009 | 13.67 | -14.9% |
| 2010 | 12.15 | -11.1% |
| 2011 | 11.14 | -8.3% |
| 2012 | 9.94 | -10.7% |
| 2013 | 9.12 | -8.3% |
| 2014 | 8.62 | -5.5% |
| 2015 | 8.16 | -5.3% |
| 2016 | 7.31 | -10.4% |
| 2017 | 6.74 | -7.8% |
| 2018 | 6.44 | -4.5% |
| 2019 | 5.97 | -7.2% |
| 2020 | 5.77 | -3.4% |
| 2021 | 5.45 | -5.5% |
| 2022 | 5.26 | -3.6% |
| 2023 | 5.1 | -2.9% |
| 2024 | 4.86 | -4.7% |
Kenya compared with similar countries
- Kenya's 4.86 is above the median for lower middle income countries, which is 4.43, 1.1× the median. (47 countries reporting)
- Kenya's 4.86 is below the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 13.74, 35% of the median. (48 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1950s | 120.89 | 100.37 | 145.31 | 7 |
| 1960s | 80.97 | 70.67 | 95.27 | 10 |
| 1970s | 57.79 | 46.28 | 68.61 | 10 |
| 1980s | 37.23 | 34.03 | 43.92 | 10 |
| 1990s | 39.12 | 35.82 | 41.43 | 10 |
| 2000s | 23.75 | 13.67 | 33.6 | 10 |
| 2010s | 8.56 | 5.97 | 12.15 | 10 |
| 2020s | 5.29 | 4.86 | 5.77 | 5 |
Countries ranked near Kenya
- 49 Vietnam 5.33 compare
- 50 Afghanistan 4.96 compare
- 51 Philippines 4.9 compare
- 53 Tajikistan 4.76 compare
- 54 Yemen 4.45 compare
- 55 Sao Tome and Principe 4.43 compare
More health data for Kenya
- Un projection of annual infant deaths, annual growth rate -1.44 % change on previous year (2100)
- Heat deaths vs projected death rates, annual growth rate 0.6026 % change on previous year (2090)
- Estimated changes in temperature-related death rates compared to projected death rates 1,119 deaths per 1,000 people (2090)
- Number of infants who die before age 1 16,059 deaths (2100)
- Neonatal tetanus - number of reported cases, gaps filled 89 (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, female, annual growth rate 1.28 % 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 0.0621 units per person (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, male, annual growth rate 1.28 % 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 Kenya?
- Child mortality rate in Kenya was 4.86 in 2024, according to UNICEF.
- What is the highest child mortality rate recorded in Kenya?
- The highest recorded value was 145.31 in 1953.
- What is the lowest child mortality rate recorded in Kenya?
- The lowest recorded value was 4.86 in 2024.
- How does Kenya rank for child mortality rate?
- Kenya ranks 52nd out of 200 countries with data for 2024.
- Is child mortality rate rising or falling in Kenya?
- Over the last ten years it is down 43.5%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Kenya data come from?
- The figures come from UNICEF, published as part of Child mortality rate (aged 1-4 years). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
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