Child mortality rate (aged 1-4 years) in Zambia
Zambia: Child mortality rate was 14.25 in 2024. ▼ Falling
Latest (2024)
14.25
Change on year
down 2.6%
World rank
27th
of 200 countries
All-time high
143.52
in 1952
All-time low
14.25
in 2024
Years of data
73
1952–2024
Child mortality rate in Zambia, 1952–2024
Source: UNICEF.
Analysis
Zambia recorded 14.25 for child mortality rate in 2024. That is the lowest value across all 73 years on record.
The figure is down 2.6% on the previous year and down 30.3% over ten years.
Over the whole period, child mortality rate in Zambia peaked at 143.52 in 1952 and was at its lowest, 14.25, in 2024.
That places Zambia 27th out of 200 countries with data for 2024, putting it in the top quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 73 years of available data.
Child mortality rate in Zambia, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1952 | 143.52 | — |
| 1953 | 140.38 | -2.2% |
| 1954 | 136.68 | -2.6% |
| 1955 | 133.34 | -2.4% |
| 1956 | 130.01 | -2.5% |
| 1957 | 126.64 | -2.6% |
| 1958 | 123.56 | -2.4% |
| 1959 | 120.35 | -2.6% |
| 1960 | 117.27 | -2.6% |
| 1961 | 114.39 | -2.5% |
| 1962 | 111.72 | -2.3% |
| 1963 | 109.24 | -2.2% |
| 1964 | 107.15 | -1.9% |
| 1965 | 105.49 | -1.6% |
| 1966 | 104.1 | -1.3% |
| 1967 | 102.95 | -1.1% |
| 1968 | 101.61 | -1.3% |
| 1969 | 99.72 | -1.9% |
| 1970 | 97.09 | -2.6% |
| 1971 | 93.86 | -3.3% |
| 1972 | 90.27 | -3.8% |
| 1973 | 86.78 | -3.9% |
| 1974 | 83.63 | -3.6% |
| 1975 | 81.16 | -3.0% |
| 1976 | 79.53 | -2.0% |
| 1977 | 78.85 | -0.9% |
| 1978 | 78.65 | -0.3% |
| 1979 | 78.44 | -0.3% |
| 1980 | 78.29 | -0.2% |
| 1981 | 78.1 | -0.2% |
| 1982 | 78.26 | +0.2% |
| 1983 | 78.84 | +0.7% |
| 1984 | 79.9 | +1.3% |
| 1985 | 81.21 | +1.6% |
| 1986 | 82.79 | +2.0% |
| 1987 | 84.39 | +1.9% |
| 1988 | 85.71 | +1.6% |
| 1989 | 86.72 | +1.2% |
| 1990 | 87.29 | +0.7% |
| 1991 | 87.23 | -0.1% |
| 1992 | 86.76 | -0.5% |
| 1993 | 85.65 | -1.3% |
| 1994 | 83.92 | -2.0% |
| 1995 | 81.72 | -2.6% |
| 1996 | 79.53 | -2.7% |
| 1997 | 77.34 | -2.8% |
| 1998 | 75.06 | -2.9% |
| 1999 | 72.24 | -3.8% |
| 2000 | 68.58 | -5.1% |
| 2001 | 64.02 | -6.6% |
| 2002 | 58.8 | -8.1% |
| 2003 | 53.65 | -8.8% |
| 2004 | 49.11 | -8.5% |
| 2005 | 45.15 | -8.1% |
| 2006 | 40.7 | -9.8% |
| 2007 | 36.72 | -9.8% |
| 2008 | 33.91 | -7.6% |
| 2009 | 29.73 | -12.3% |
| 2010 | 27.02 | -9.1% |
| 2011 | 25.68 | -5.0% |
| 2012 | 24.21 | -5.7% |
| 2013 | 22.48 | -7.2% |
| 2014 | 20.44 | -9.1% |
| 2015 | 18.55 | -9.2% |
| 2016 | 17.24 | -7.1% |
| 2017 | 17.03 | -1.2% |
| 2018 | 17.65 | +3.6% |
| 2019 | 18.04 | +2.2% |
| 2020 | 17.36 | -3.8% |
| 2021 | 15.26 | -12.1% |
| 2022 | 14.6 | -4.3% |
| 2023 | 14.62 | +0.2% |
| 2024 | 14.25 | -2.6% |
Zambia compared with similar countries
- Zambia's 14.25 is above the median for lower middle income countries, which is 4.43, 3.2× the median. (47 countries reporting)
- Zambia's 14.25 is above the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 13.74, 1.0× the median. (48 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1950s | 131.81 | 120.35 | 143.52 | 8 |
| 1960s | 107.36 | 99.72 | 117.27 | 10 |
| 1970s | 84.83 | 78.44 | 97.09 | 10 |
| 1980s | 81.42 | 78.1 | 86.72 | 10 |
| 1990s | 81.67 | 72.24 | 87.29 | 10 |
| 2000s | 48.04 | 29.73 | 68.58 | 10 |
| 2010s | 20.83 | 17.03 | 27.02 | 10 |
| 2020s | 15.22 | 14.25 | 17.36 | 5 |
Countries ranked near Zambia
More health data for Zambia
- Un projection of annual infant deaths, annual growth rate -1.09 % change on previous year (2100)
- Heat deaths vs projected death rates, annual growth rate 0.7971 % change on previous year (2090)
- Estimated changes in temperature-related death rates compared to projected death rates 809.3 deaths per 1,000 people (2090)
- Number of infants who die before age 1 8,894 deaths (2100)
- Neonatal tetanus - number of reported cases, gaps filled 2 (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, female, annual growth rate 1.68 % 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 0.0743 units per person (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, male, annual growth rate 1.69 % 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 Zambia?
- Child mortality rate in Zambia was 14.25 in 2024, according to UNICEF.
- What is the highest child mortality rate recorded in Zambia?
- The highest recorded value was 143.52 in 1952.
- What is the lowest child mortality rate recorded in Zambia?
- The lowest recorded value was 14.25 in 2024.
- How does Zambia rank for child mortality rate?
- Zambia ranks 27th out of 200 countries with data for 2024.
- Is child mortality rate rising or falling in Zambia?
- Over the last ten years it is down 30.3%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this Zambia 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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