Child mortality rate in Papua New Guinea
Papua New Guinea: Child mortality rate was 4.0% in 2023. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2023)
4.0%
Change on year
down 3.3%
World rank
42nd
of 236 countries
All-time high
28.1%
in 1951
All-time low
4.0%
in 2023
Years of data
74
1950–2023
Child mortality rate in Papua New Guinea, 1950–2023
Source: UN, World Population Prospects (2024) – processed by Our World in Data. Measured in % of children.
Analysis
Papua New Guinea recorded 4.0% for child mortality rate in 2023. That is the lowest value across all 74 years on record.
The figure is down 3.3% on the previous year and down 26.6% over ten years.
Over the whole period, child mortality rate in Papua New Guinea peaked at 28.1% in 1951 and was at its lowest, 4.0%, in 2023.
That places Papua New Guinea 42nd out of 236 countries with data for 2023, 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 Papua New Guinea, year by year
| Year | % of children | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1950 | 26.6% | — |
| 1951 | 28.1% | +5.4% |
| 1952 | 25.1% | -10.5% |
| 1953 | 24.4% | -2.9% |
| 1954 | 23.7% | -2.8% |
| 1955 | 23.0% | -2.9% |
| 1956 | 22.4% | -2.9% |
| 1957 | 21.7% | -2.9% |
| 1958 | 21.1% | -3.0% |
| 1959 | 20.5% | -2.9% |
| 1960 | 19.8% | -3.1% |
| 1961 | 19.2% | -3.1% |
| 1962 | 18.8% | -2.3% |
| 1963 | 18.0% | -4.0% |
| 1964 | 17.4% | -3.2% |
| 1965 | 16.9% | -3.2% |
| 1966 | 16.3% | -3.2% |
| 1967 | 15.8% | -3.3% |
| 1968 | 15.3% | -3.3% |
| 1969 | 14.8% | -3.3% |
| 1970 | 14.3% | -3.3% |
| 1971 | 13.9% | -3.0% |
| 1972 | 13.4% | -3.4% |
| 1973 | 13.0% | -3.2% |
| 1974 | 12.6% | -3.2% |
| 1975 | 12.2% | -3.1% |
| 1976 | 11.8% | -3.0% |
| 1977 | 11.5% | -2.9% |
| 1978 | 11.1% | -2.8% |
| 1979 | 10.8% | -2.7% |
| 1980 | 10.5% | -2.7% |
| 1981 | 10.3% | -2.5% |
| 1982 | 10.0% | -2.4% |
| 1983 | 9.8% | -1.9% |
| 1984 | 9.6% | -2.6% |
| 1985 | 9.4% | -2.1% |
| 1986 | 9.2% | -2.1% |
| 1987 | 9.0% | -2.0% |
| 1988 | 8.8% | -1.8% |
| 1989 | 8.7% | -2.1% |
| 1990 | 8.5% | -1.9% |
| 1991 | 8.4% | -1.4% |
| 1992 | 8.2% | -2.3% |
| 1993 | 8.1% | -1.6% |
| 1994 | 7.9% | -1.9% |
| 1995 | 7.8% | -1.7% |
| 1996 | 7.6% | -1.6% |
| 1997 | 7.5% | -1.5% |
| 1998 | 7.8% | +3.2% |
| 1999 | 7.3% | -6.3% |
| 2000 | 7.2% | -1.7% |
| 2001 | 7.0% | -1.6% |
| 2002 | 6.9% | -1.5% |
| 2003 | 6.8% | -2.2% |
| 2004 | 6.7% | -1.9% |
| 2005 | 6.5% | -1.9% |
| 2006 | 6.4% | -2.1% |
| 2007 | 6.3% | -1.8% |
| 2008 | 6.1% | -2.6% |
| 2009 | 6.0% | -2.2% |
| 2010 | 5.8% | -2.3% |
| 2011 | 5.7% | -2.6% |
| 2012 | 5.6% | -2.2% |
| 2013 | 5.4% | -2.7% |
| 2014 | 5.3% | -2.6% |
| 2015 | 5.1% | -2.6% |
| 2016 | 5.0% | -2.9% |
| 2017 | 4.9% | -2.9% |
| 2018 | 4.7% | -2.8% |
| 2019 | 4.6% | -3.3% |
| 2020 | 4.4% | -3.2% |
| 2021 | 4.3% | -3.4% |
| 2022 | 4.1% | -3.5% |
| 2023 | 4.0% | -3.3% |
Papua New Guinea compared with similar countries
- Papua New Guinea's 4.0% is above the median for lower middle income countries, which is 3.9%, 1.0× the median. (47 countries reporting)
- Papua New Guinea's 4.0% is above the median for East Asia & Pacific, which is 1.6%, 2.5× the median. (37 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1950s | 23.7% | 20.5% | 28.1% | 10 |
| 1960s | 17.2% | 14.8% | 19.8% | 10 |
| 1970s | 12.4% | 10.8% | 14.3% | 10 |
| 1980s | 9.5% | 8.7% | 10.5% | 10 |
| 1990s | 7.9% | 7.3% | 8.5% | 10 |
| 2000s | 6.6% | 6.0% | 7.2% | 10 |
| 2010s | 5.2% | 4.6% | 5.8% | 10 |
| 2020s | 4.2% | 4.0% | 4.4% | 4 |
Countries ranked near Papua New Guinea
More health data for Papua New Guinea
- Un projection of annual infant deaths, annual growth rate -1.77 % change on previous year (2100)
- Heat deaths vs projected death rates, annual growth rate 0.3741 % change on previous year (2090)
- Number of infants who die before age 1 2,501 deaths (2100)
- Neonatal tetanus - number of reported cases, gaps filled 2 (2023)
- Population ages 00-04, female, annual growth rate 0.27 % 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 0.0555 units per person (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, male, annual growth rate 0.2621 % 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 0.0594 units per person (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is child mortality rate in Papua New Guinea?
- Child mortality rate in Papua New Guinea was 4.0% in 2023, according to UN, World Population Prospects (2024) – processed by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest child mortality rate recorded in Papua New Guinea?
- The highest recorded value was 28.1% in 1951.
- What is the lowest child mortality rate recorded in Papua New Guinea?
- The lowest recorded value was 4.0% in 2023.
- How does Papua New Guinea rank for child mortality rate?
- Papua New Guinea ranks 42nd out of 236 countries with data for 2023.
- Is child mortality rate rising or falling in Papua New Guinea?
- Over the last ten years it is down 26.6%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Papua New Guinea 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.