Child mortality rate in Nepal
Nepal: Child mortality rate was 2.6% in 2023. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2023)
2.6%
Change on year
down 4.7%
World rank
67th
of 236 countries
All-time high
34.0%
in 1950
All-time low
2.6%
in 2023
Years of data
74
1950–2023
Child mortality rate in Nepal, 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 Nepal is 2.6%, measured in 2023. That is the lowest value across all 74 years on record.
That represents a change of down 4.7% on the previous year and down 37.5% over ten years.
Over the whole period, child mortality rate in Nepal peaked at 34.0% in 1950 and was at its lowest, 2.6%, in 2023.
Nepal ranks 67th 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 Nepal, year by year
| Year | % of children | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1950 | 34.0% | — |
| 1951 | 34.0% | -0.2% |
| 1952 | 33.9% | -0.3% |
| 1953 | 33.8% | -0.2% |
| 1954 | 33.7% | -0.3% |
| 1955 | 33.6% | -0.3% |
| 1956 | 33.5% | -0.3% |
| 1957 | 33.3% | -0.5% |
| 1958 | 33.1% | -0.5% |
| 1959 | 32.8% | -0.9% |
| 1960 | 32.5% | -1.0% |
| 1961 | 32.1% | -1.3% |
| 1962 | 31.7% | -1.5% |
| 1963 | 31.2% | -1.5% |
| 1964 | 30.5% | -2.1% |
| 1965 | 29.9% | -2.0% |
| 1966 | 29.3% | -2.2% |
| 1967 | 28.6% | -2.2% |
| 1968 | 28.0% | -2.2% |
| 1969 | 27.3% | -2.5% |
| 1970 | 26.7% | -2.1% |
| 1971 | 26.1% | -2.4% |
| 1972 | 25.5% | -2.2% |
| 1973 | 24.9% | -2.3% |
| 1974 | 24.3% | -2.3% |
| 1975 | 23.8% | -2.3% |
| 1976 | 23.2% | -2.3% |
| 1977 | 22.6% | -2.6% |
| 1978 | 22.0% | -2.6% |
| 1979 | 21.4% | -2.9% |
| 1980 | 20.7% | -3.0% |
| 1981 | 20.1% | -2.8% |
| 1982 | 19.4% | -3.6% |
| 1983 | 18.7% | -3.5% |
| 1984 | 18.1% | -3.6% |
| 1985 | 17.4% | -3.9% |
| 1986 | 16.7% | -4.0% |
| 1987 | 16.0% | -4.2% |
| 1988 | 15.3% | -4.4% |
| 1989 | 14.5% | -4.9% |
| 1990 | 13.8% | -4.7% |
| 1991 | 13.2% | -4.9% |
| 1992 | 12.4% | -5.5% |
| 1993 | 11.9% | -4.6% |
| 1994 | 11.2% | -6.0% |
| 1995 | 10.6% | -5.2% |
| 1996 | 10.0% | -5.2% |
| 1997 | 9.4% | -6.1% |
| 1998 | 8.9% | -5.3% |
| 1999 | 8.4% | -5.7% |
| 2000 | 7.9% | -5.4% |
| 2001 | 7.5% | -5.7% |
| 2002 | 7.1% | -5.2% |
| 2003 | 6.7% | -5.3% |
| 2004 | 6.4% | -5.1% |
| 2005 | 6.1% | -5.0% |
| 2006 | 5.8% | -4.6% |
| 2007 | 5.5% | -4.4% |
| 2008 | 5.3% | -4.6% |
| 2009 | 5.0% | -4.2% |
| 2010 | 4.8% | -4.5% |
| 2011 | 4.6% | -4.5% |
| 2012 | 4.4% | -4.6% |
| 2013 | 4.2% | -4.4% |
| 2014 | 4.0% | -4.2% |
| 2015 | 4.0% | +0.2% |
| 2016 | 3.6% | -9.8% |
| 2017 | 3.5% | -4.6% |
| 2018 | 3.3% | -5.1% |
| 2019 | 3.1% | -4.3% |
| 2020 | 3.0% | -3.8% |
| 2021 | 2.9% | -4.8% |
| 2022 | 2.8% | -4.5% |
| 2023 | 2.6% | -4.7% |
Nepal compared with similar countries
- Nepal's 2.6% is below the median for lower middle income countries, which is 3.9%, 67% of the median. (47 countries reporting)
- Nepal's 2.6% is above the median for South Asia, which is 2.4%, 1.1× the median. (6 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1950s | 33.6% | 32.8% | 34.0% | 10 |
| 1960s | 30.1% | 27.3% | 32.5% | 10 |
| 1970s | 24.1% | 21.4% | 26.7% | 10 |
| 1980s | 17.7% | 14.5% | 20.7% | 10 |
| 1990s | 11.0% | 8.4% | 13.8% | 10 |
| 2000s | 6.3% | 5.0% | 7.9% | 10 |
| 2010s | 4.0% | 3.1% | 4.8% | 10 |
| 2020s | 2.8% | 2.6% | 3.0% | 4 |
Countries ranked near Nepal
More health data for Nepal
- Un projection of annual infant deaths, annual growth rate -1.95 % change on previous year (2100)
- Heat deaths vs projected death rates, annual growth rate 0.8518 % change on previous year (2090)
- Number of infants who die before age 1 955 deaths (2100)
- Neonatal tetanus - number of reported cases, gaps filled 3 (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, female, annual growth rate -1.17 % 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 0.0451 units per person (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, male, annual growth rate -2.11 % 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 0.0467 units per person (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is child mortality rate in Nepal?
- Child mortality rate in Nepal was 2.6% in 2023, according to UN, World Population Prospects (2024) – processed by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest child mortality rate recorded in Nepal?
- The highest recorded value was 34.0% in 1950.
- What is the lowest child mortality rate recorded in Nepal?
- The lowest recorded value was 2.6% in 2023.
- How does Nepal rank for child mortality rate?
- Nepal ranks 67th out of 236 countries with data for 2023.
- Is child mortality rate rising or falling in Nepal?
- Over the last ten years it is down 37.5%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Nepal 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.