Child mortality rate in Jamaica
Jamaica: Child mortality rate was 1.9% in 2023. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2023)
1.9%
Change on year
up 0.2%
World rank
83rd
of 236 countries
All-time high
13.7%
in 1950
All-time low
1.9%
in 2016
Years of data
74
1950–2023
Child mortality rate in Jamaica, 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 Jamaica is 1.9%, measured in 2023.
That represents a change of up 0.2% on the previous year and up 3.1% over ten years.
Over the whole period, child mortality rate in Jamaica peaked at 13.7% in 1950 and was at its lowest, 1.9%, in 2016.
Jamaica ranks 83rd of 236 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 Jamaica, year by year
| Year | % of children | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1950 | 13.7% | — |
| 1951 | 13.1% | -3.9% |
| 1952 | 12.4% | -5.6% |
| 1953 | 11.8% | -4.8% |
| 1954 | 11.2% | -4.9% |
| 1955 | 10.7% | -5.0% |
| 1956 | 10.1% | -5.1% |
| 1957 | 9.6% | -5.2% |
| 1958 | 9.1% | -5.2% |
| 1959 | 8.6% | -5.0% |
| 1960 | 8.2% | -4.8% |
| 1961 | 7.8% | -4.6% |
| 1962 | 7.5% | -4.2% |
| 1963 | 7.2% | -3.9% |
| 1964 | 6.9% | -3.8% |
| 1965 | 6.7% | -3.5% |
| 1966 | 6.5% | -3.4% |
| 1967 | 6.3% | -3.3% |
| 1968 | 6.0% | -3.5% |
| 1969 | 5.8% | -3.3% |
| 1970 | 5.6% | -3.4% |
| 1971 | 5.4% | -3.7% |
| 1972 | 5.2% | -3.7% |
| 1973 | 5.0% | -4.0% |
| 1974 | 4.8% | -4.1% |
| 1975 | 4.6% | -3.9% |
| 1976 | 4.4% | -4.0% |
| 1977 | 4.3% | -4.0% |
| 1978 | 4.1% | -3.9% |
| 1979 | 4.0% | -3.0% |
| 1980 | 3.8% | -4.5% |
| 1981 | 3.7% | -3.7% |
| 1982 | 3.5% | -3.4% |
| 1983 | 3.4% | -3.4% |
| 1984 | 3.3% | -3.1% |
| 1985 | 3.2% | -2.9% |
| 1986 | 3.2% | -1.8% |
| 1987 | 3.0% | -3.7% |
| 1988 | 3.0% | -2.2% |
| 1989 | 2.9% | -3.5% |
| 1990 | 2.8% | -2.7% |
| 1991 | 2.7% | -2.2% |
| 1992 | 2.6% | -3.2% |
| 1993 | 2.6% | -2.6% |
| 1994 | 2.5% | -3.0% |
| 1995 | 2.4% | -3.3% |
| 1996 | 2.3% | -3.2% |
| 1997 | 2.3% | -3.2% |
| 1998 | 2.2% | -3.1% |
| 1999 | 2.1% | -3.0% |
| 2000 | 2.1% | -2.7% |
| 2001 | 2.1% | -0.8% |
| 2002 | 2.0% | -2.6% |
| 2003 | 2.0% | -2.2% |
| 2004 | 1.9% | -0.7% |
| 2005 | 1.9% | -0.9% |
| 2006 | 1.9% | -0.3% |
| 2007 | 1.9% | -0.3% |
| 2008 | 1.9% | +0.1% |
| 2009 | 1.9% | -0.5% |
| 2010 | 1.9% | +0.2% |
| 2011 | 1.9% | -0.6% |
| 2012 | 1.9% | -0.3% |
| 2013 | 1.9% | -0.4% |
| 2014 | 1.9% | -0.3% |
| 2015 | 1.9% | -0.2% |
| 2016 | 1.9% | -0.1% |
| 2017 | 1.9% | +0.2% |
| 2018 | 1.9% | +2.0% |
| 2019 | 1.9% | +1.2% |
| 2020 | 1.9% | -0.8% |
| 2021 | 1.9% | +0.4% |
| 2022 | 1.9% | +0.5% |
| 2023 | 1.9% | +0.2% |
Jamaica compared with similar countries
- Jamaica's 1.9% is above the median for upper middle income countries, which is 1.4%, 1.4× the median. (58 countries reporting)
- Jamaica's 1.9% is above the median for Latin America & Caribbean, which is 1.4%, 1.4× the median. (42 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1950s | 11.0% | 8.6% | 13.7% | 10 |
| 1960s | 6.9% | 5.8% | 8.2% | 10 |
| 1970s | 4.8% | 4.0% | 5.6% | 10 |
| 1980s | 3.3% | 2.9% | 3.8% | 10 |
| 1990s | 2.5% | 2.1% | 2.8% | 10 |
| 2000s | 2.0% | 1.9% | 2.1% | 10 |
| 2010s | 1.9% | 1.9% | 1.9% | 10 |
| 2020s | 1.9% | 1.9% | 1.9% | 4 |
Countries ranked near Jamaica
More health data for Jamaica
- Un projection of annual infant deaths, annual growth rate -3.12 % change on previous year (2100)
- Heat deaths vs projected death rates, annual growth rate -0.3325 % change on previous year (2090)
- Number of infants who die before age 1 31 deaths (2100)
- Neonatal tetanus - number of reported cases, gaps filled 0 (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, female, annual growth rate -1.64 % 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 0.0278 units per person (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, male, annual growth rate -1.6 % change on previous year (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, male, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, male, per capita 0.0288 units per person (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is child mortality rate in Jamaica?
- Child mortality rate in Jamaica was 1.9% in 2023, according to UN, World Population Prospects (2024) – processed by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest child mortality rate recorded in Jamaica?
- The highest recorded value was 13.7% in 1950.
- What is the lowest child mortality rate recorded in Jamaica?
- The lowest recorded value was 1.9% in 2016.
- How does Jamaica rank for child mortality rate?
- Jamaica ranks 83rd out of 236 countries with data for 2023.
- Is child mortality rate rising or falling in Jamaica?
- Over the last ten years it is up 3.1%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Jamaica 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.