Child mortality rate (aged 1-4 years) in Malawi
Malawi: Child mortality rate was 11.25 in 2024. ◆ Volatile
Child mortality rate in Malawi, 1961–2024
Source: UNICEF.
Analysis
In 2024, child mortality rate in Malawi stood at 11.25. That is the lowest value across all 64 years on record.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 4.0% on the previous year and down 43.1% over ten years.
Over the whole period, child mortality rate in Malawi peaked at 232.78 in 1961 and was at its lowest, 11.25, in 2024.
That places Malawi 31st out of 200 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 rate in Malawi, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1961 | 232.78 | — |
| 1962 | 230.57 | -1.0% |
| 1963 | 228.3 | -1.0% |
| 1964 | 226.02 | -1.0% |
| 1965 | 224.24 | -0.8% |
| 1966 | 221.95 | -1.0% |
| 1967 | 219.75 | -1.0% |
| 1968 | 217.31 | -1.1% |
| 1969 | 214.89 | -1.1% |
| 1970 | 211.52 | -1.6% |
| 1971 | 206.79 | -2.2% |
| 1972 | 201.09 | -2.8% |
| 1973 | 194.61 | -3.2% |
| 1974 | 187.4 | -3.7% |
| 1975 | 179.96 | -4.0% |
| 1976 | 172.44 | -4.2% |
| 1977 | 164.82 | -4.4% |
| 1978 | 157.27 | -4.6% |
| 1979 | 149.83 | -4.7% |
| 1980 | 143.38 | -4.3% |
| 1981 | 138.11 | -3.7% |
| 1982 | 134.62 | -2.5% |
| 1983 | 133.2 | -1.1% |
| 1984 | 133.6 | +0.3% |
| 1985 | 134.77 | +0.9% |
| 1986 | 135.53 | +0.6% |
| 1987 | 135.05 | -0.3% |
| 1988 | 133.32 | -1.3% |
| 1989 | 130.36 | -2.2% |
| 1990 | 126.42 | -3.0% |
| 1991 | 121.92 | -3.6% |
| 1992 | 117.15 | -3.9% |
| 1993 | 112.73 | -3.8% |
| 1994 | 108.54 | -3.7% |
| 1995 | 103.94 | -4.2% |
| 1996 | 100.33 | -3.5% |
| 1997 | 96.68 | -3.6% |
| 1998 | 92.27 | -4.6% |
| 1999 | 86.85 | -5.9% |
| 2000 | 79.97 | -7.9% |
| 2001 | 116.65 | +45.9% |
| 2002 | 64.85 | -44.4% |
| 2003 | 58.02 | -10.5% |
| 2004 | 52.32 | -9.8% |
| 2005 | 47.65 | -8.9% |
| 2006 | 43.86 | -7.9% |
| 2007 | 40.2 | -8.3% |
| 2008 | 37.11 | -7.7% |
| 2009 | 33.46 | -9.8% |
| 2010 | 30.15 | -9.9% |
| 2011 | 27.32 | -9.4% |
| 2012 | 23.81 | -12.8% |
| 2013 | 21.13 | -11.2% |
| 2014 | 19.75 | -6.5% |
| 2015 | 18.38 | -6.9% |
| 2016 | 17.4 | -5.4% |
| 2017 | 15.9 | -8.6% |
| 2018 | 14.58 | -8.3% |
| 2019 | 13.5 | -7.4% |
| 2020 | 12.71 | -5.9% |
| 2021 | 12.1 | -4.8% |
| 2022 | 11.93 | -1.4% |
| 2023 | 11.71 | -1.8% |
| 2024 | 11.25 | -4.0% |
Malawi compared with similar countries
- Malawi's 11.25 is below the median for low income countries, which is 19.53, 58% of the median. (25 countries reporting)
- Malawi's 11.25 is below the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 13.74, 82% of the median. (48 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Child mortality rate in Malawi changed far more than this series normally does. A large move can be a real event or a change in how the figure was measured — the source note below says who published it.
| Year | Change | From | To |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2001 | +45.9% | 79.97 | 116.65 |
| 2002 | -44.4% | 116.65 | 64.85 |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 223.98 | 214.89 | 232.78 | 9 |
| 1970s | 182.57 | 149.83 | 211.52 | 10 |
| 1980s | 135.19 | 130.36 | 143.38 | 10 |
| 1990s | 106.68 | 86.85 | 126.42 | 10 |
| 2000s | 57.41 | 33.46 | 116.65 | 10 |
| 2010s | 20.19 | 13.5 | 30.15 | 10 |
| 2020s | 11.94 | 11.25 | 12.71 | 5 |
Countries ranked near Malawi
More health data for Malawi
- Un projection of annual infant deaths, annual growth rate -0.8368 % change on previous year (2100)
- Heat deaths vs projected death rates, annual growth rate 0.9312 % change on previous year (2090)
- Estimated changes in temperature-related death rates compared to projected death rates 856.3 deaths per 1,000 people (2090)
- Number of infants who die before age 1 6,399 deaths (2100)
- Neonatal tetanus - number of reported cases, gaps filled 2 (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, female, annual growth rate 1.61 % 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 0.0714 units per person (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, male, annual growth rate 1.63 % change on previous year (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, male, per unit of GDP 0.0001 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is child mortality rate in Malawi?
- Child mortality rate in Malawi was 11.25 in 2024, according to UNICEF.
- What is the highest child mortality rate recorded in Malawi?
- The highest recorded value was 232.78 in 1961.
- What is the lowest child mortality rate recorded in Malawi?
- The lowest recorded value was 11.25 in 2024.
- How does Malawi rank for child mortality rate?
- Malawi ranks 31st out of 200 countries with data for 2024.
- Is child mortality rate rising or falling in Malawi?
- Over the last ten years it is down 43.1%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Malawi 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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