Child mortality rate in Afghanistan
Afghanistan: Child mortality rate was 5.6% in 2023. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2023)
5.6%
Change on year
down 3.2%
World rank
24th
of 236 countries
All-time high
41.4%
in 1950
All-time low
5.6%
in 2023
Years of data
74
1950–2023
Child mortality rate in Afghanistan, 1950–2023
Source: UN, World Population Prospects (2024) – processed by Our World in Data. Measured in % of children.
Analysis
The most recent figure for child mortality rate in Afghanistan is 5.6%, measured in 2023. That is the lowest value across all 74 years on record.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 3.2% on the previous year and down 29.6% over ten years.
Over the whole period, child mortality rate in Afghanistan peaked at 41.4% in 1950 and was at its lowest, 5.6%, in 2023.
Afghanistan ranks 24th of 236 countries on this measure, in the top 10%.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Child mortality rate in Afghanistan, year by year
| Year | % of children | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1950 | 41.4% | — |
| 1951 | 40.8% | -1.4% |
| 1952 | 40.2% | -1.4% |
| 1953 | 39.6% | -1.4% |
| 1954 | 39.2% | -1.2% |
| 1955 | 38.4% | -1.8% |
| 1956 | 37.8% | -1.6% |
| 1957 | 37.2% | -1.7% |
| 1958 | 36.6% | -1.6% |
| 1959 | 36.0% | -1.6% |
| 1960 | 35.4% | -1.6% |
| 1961 | 34.9% | -1.6% |
| 1962 | 34.3% | -1.6% |
| 1963 | 33.8% | -1.5% |
| 1964 | 33.3% | -1.6% |
| 1965 | 32.7% | -1.6% |
| 1966 | 32.2% | -1.6% |
| 1967 | 31.7% | -1.6% |
| 1968 | 31.2% | -1.7% |
| 1969 | 30.7% | -1.7% |
| 1970 | 30.1% | -1.7% |
| 1971 | 29.6% | -1.7% |
| 1972 | 29.1% | -1.7% |
| 1973 | 28.5% | -1.9% |
| 1974 | 28.0% | -1.9% |
| 1975 | 27.4% | -2.0% |
| 1976 | 26.9% | -2.0% |
| 1977 | 26.3% | -2.2% |
| 1978 | 26.4% | +0.3% |
| 1979 | 26.7% | +1.0% |
| 1980 | 26.1% | -2.0% |
| 1981 | 25.7% | -1.6% |
| 1982 | 27.1% | +5.5% |
| 1983 | 26.6% | -2.1% |
| 1984 | 29.4% | +10.7% |
| 1985 | 28.7% | -2.5% |
| 1986 | 24.6% | -14.3% |
| 1987 | 24.0% | -2.3% |
| 1988 | 21.5% | -10.5% |
| 1989 | 20.6% | -4.3% |
| 1990 | 19.9% | -3.1% |
| 1991 | 19.4% | -2.6% |
| 1992 | 18.3% | -5.5% |
| 1993 | 16.5% | -9.9% |
| 1994 | 15.8% | -4.1% |
| 1995 | 15.4% | -2.8% |
| 1996 | 14.9% | -3.4% |
| 1997 | 14.6% | -2.0% |
| 1998 | 14.4% | -1.2% |
| 1999 | 13.6% | -5.3% |
| 2000 | 13.2% | -3.3% |
| 2001 | 12.8% | -3.1% |
| 2002 | 12.4% | -3.0% |
| 2003 | 11.8% | -5.0% |
| 2004 | 11.3% | -3.8% |
| 2005 | 10.9% | -3.4% |
| 2006 | 10.5% | -3.7% |
| 2007 | 10.1% | -4.6% |
| 2008 | 9.6% | -4.2% |
| 2009 | 9.4% | -2.7% |
| 2010 | 9.0% | -3.6% |
| 2011 | 8.6% | -4.3% |
| 2012 | 8.3% | -4.0% |
| 2013 | 8.0% | -3.8% |
| 2014 | 7.8% | -2.0% |
| 2015 | 7.7% | -2.1% |
| 2016 | 7.4% | -3.4% |
| 2017 | 6.8% | -8.4% |
| 2018 | 6.5% | -3.5% |
| 2019 | 6.4% | -2.0% |
| 2020 | 6.3% | -1.8% |
| 2021 | 6.1% | -2.4% |
| 2022 | 5.8% | -5.4% |
| 2023 | 5.6% | -3.2% |
Afghanistan compared with similar countries
- Afghanistan's 5.6% is below the median for low income countries, which is 6.4%, 87% of the median. (25 countries reporting)
- Afghanistan's 5.6% is above the median for Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan, which is 1.7%, 3.3× the median. (23 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1950s | 38.7% | 36.0% | 41.4% | 10 |
| 1960s | 33.0% | 30.7% | 35.4% | 10 |
| 1970s | 27.9% | 26.3% | 30.1% | 10 |
| 1980s | 25.4% | 20.6% | 29.4% | 10 |
| 1990s | 16.3% | 13.6% | 19.9% | 10 |
| 2000s | 11.2% | 9.4% | 13.2% | 10 |
| 2010s | 7.6% | 6.4% | 9.0% | 10 |
| 2020s | 6.0% | 5.6% | 6.3% | 4 |
Countries ranked near Afghanistan
More health data for Afghanistan
- Un projection of annual infant deaths, annual growth rate -1.45 % change on previous year (2100)
- Heat deaths vs projected death rates, annual growth rate 1.03 % change on previous year (2090)
- Number of infants who die before age 1 14,735 deaths (2100)
- Neonatal tetanus - number of reported cases, gaps filled 19 (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, female, annual growth rate 1.78 % change on previous year (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, female, per unit of GDP 0.0002 units per US$ of GDP (2024)
- Population ages 00-04, female, per capita 0.077 units per person (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, male, annual growth rate 1.75 % change on previous year (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, male, per unit of GDP 0.0002 units per US$ of GDP (2024)
- Population ages 00-04, male, per capita 0.0804 units per person (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is child mortality rate in Afghanistan?
- Child mortality rate in Afghanistan was 5.6% in 2023, according to UN, World Population Prospects (2024) – processed by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest child mortality rate recorded in Afghanistan?
- The highest recorded value was 41.4% in 1950.
- What is the lowest child mortality rate recorded in Afghanistan?
- The lowest recorded value was 5.6% in 2023.
- How does Afghanistan rank for child mortality rate?
- Afghanistan ranks 24th out of 236 countries with data for 2023.
- Is child mortality rate rising or falling in Afghanistan?
- Over the last ten years it is down 29.6%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Afghanistan data come from?
- The figures come from UN, World Population Prospects (2024) – 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
Share of children who die before reaching the age of 5.