Child mortality rate in Uganda
Uganda: Child mortality rate was 3.9% in 2023. ▼ Falling
Latest (2023)
3.9%
Change on year
down 5.8%
World rank
47th
of 236 countries
All-time high
27.2%
in 1950
All-time low
3.9%
in 2023
Years of data
74
1950–2023
Child mortality rate in Uganda, 1950–2023
Source: UN, World Population Prospects (2024) – processed by Our World in Data. Measured in % of children.
Analysis
Uganda recorded 3.9% for child mortality rate in 2023. That is the lowest value across all 74 years on record.
That represents a change of down 5.8% on the previous year and down 38.0% over ten years.
Over the whole period, child mortality rate in Uganda peaked at 27.2% in 1950 and was at its lowest, 3.9%, in 2023.
Uganda ranks 47th of 236 countries on this measure, in the top quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 74 years of available data.
Child mortality rate in Uganda, year by year
| Year | % of children | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1950 | 27.2% | — |
| 1951 | 26.6% | -2.2% |
| 1952 | 26.1% | -2.1% |
| 1953 | 25.5% | -2.2% |
| 1954 | 25.0% | -2.1% |
| 1955 | 24.5% | -2.0% |
| 1956 | 24.0% | -1.9% |
| 1957 | 23.5% | -1.9% |
| 1958 | 23.1% | -1.8% |
| 1959 | 22.7% | -1.8% |
| 1960 | 22.3% | -1.9% |
| 1961 | 21.9% | -1.8% |
| 1962 | 21.5% | -1.7% |
| 1963 | 21.2% | -1.6% |
| 1964 | 20.9% | -1.6% |
| 1965 | 20.5% | -1.5% |
| 1966 | 20.3% | -1.1% |
| 1967 | 20.0% | -1.7% |
| 1968 | 19.7% | -1.2% |
| 1969 | 19.5% | -0.9% |
| 1970 | 19.4% | -0.5% |
| 1971 | 20.4% | +4.8% |
| 1972 | 20.4% | +0.2% |
| 1973 | 20.1% | -1.4% |
| 1974 | 20.8% | +3.4% |
| 1975 | 20.7% | -0.6% |
| 1976 | 21.0% | +1.6% |
| 1977 | 21.3% | +1.5% |
| 1978 | 21.9% | +2.6% |
| 1979 | 22.0% | +0.6% |
| 1980 | 22.9% | +4.0% |
| 1981 | 22.8% | -0.7% |
| 1982 | 21.8% | -4.3% |
| 1983 | 21.4% | -1.8% |
| 1984 | 21.0% | -2.0% |
| 1985 | 19.9% | -5.2% |
| 1986 | 19.5% | -1.9% |
| 1987 | 19.1% | -2.0% |
| 1988 | 18.8% | -1.7% |
| 1989 | 18.5% | -1.7% |
| 1990 | 18.2% | -1.7% |
| 1991 | 17.8% | -2.1% |
| 1992 | 17.4% | -1.9% |
| 1993 | 17.1% | -2.0% |
| 1994 | 16.8% | -1.9% |
| 1995 | 16.5% | -1.8% |
| 1996 | 16.2% | -1.7% |
| 1997 | 15.9% | -2.0% |
| 1998 | 15.5% | -2.4% |
| 1999 | 14.9% | -3.6% |
| 2000 | 14.3% | -4.0% |
| 2001 | 13.7% | -4.7% |
| 2002 | 12.9% | -5.5% |
| 2003 | 12.2% | -5.3% |
| 2004 | 11.4% | -6.6% |
| 2005 | 10.7% | -6.5% |
| 2006 | 10.0% | -6.7% |
| 2007 | 9.3% | -6.7% |
| 2008 | 8.7% | -6.6% |
| 2009 | 8.1% | -6.4% |
| 2010 | 7.6% | -6.3% |
| 2011 | 7.1% | -6.4% |
| 2012 | 6.7% | -6.3% |
| 2013 | 6.3% | -6.0% |
| 2014 | 5.9% | -5.7% |
| 2015 | 5.6% | -5.8% |
| 2016 | 5.3% | -5.6% |
| 2017 | 5.0% | -5.6% |
| 2018 | 4.7% | -4.9% |
| 2019 | 4.5% | -4.5% |
| 2020 | 4.3% | -3.6% |
| 2021 | 4.2% | -3.3% |
| 2022 | 4.1% | -1.6% |
| 2023 | 3.9% | -5.8% |
Uganda compared with similar countries
- Uganda's 3.9% is below the median for low income countries, which is 6.4%, 61% of the median. (25 countries reporting)
- Uganda's 3.9% is below the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 5.0%, 78% of the median. (48 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1950s | 24.8% | 22.7% | 27.2% | 10 |
| 1960s | 20.8% | 19.5% | 22.3% | 10 |
| 1970s | 20.8% | 19.4% | 22.0% | 10 |
| 1980s | 20.6% | 18.5% | 22.9% | 10 |
| 1990s | 16.6% | 14.9% | 18.2% | 10 |
| 2000s | 11.1% | 8.1% | 14.3% | 10 |
| 2010s | 5.9% | 4.5% | 7.6% | 10 |
| 2020s | 4.1% | 3.9% | 4.3% | 4 |
Countries ranked near Uganda
More health data for Uganda
- Un projection of annual infant deaths, annual growth rate -2.2 % change on previous year (2100)
- Heat deaths vs projected death rates, annual growth rate 1.34 % change on previous year (2090)
- Number of infants who die before age 1 6,666 deaths (2100)
- Neonatal tetanus - number of reported cases, gaps filled 111 (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, female, annual growth rate 1.28 % 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 0.0787 units per person (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, male, annual growth rate 1.34 % change on previous year (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, male, per unit of GDP 0.0001 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, male, per capita 0.0804 units per person (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is child mortality rate in Uganda?
- Child mortality rate in Uganda was 3.9% in 2023, according to UN, World Population Prospects (2024) – processed by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest child mortality rate recorded in Uganda?
- The highest recorded value was 27.2% in 1950.
- What is the lowest child mortality rate recorded in Uganda?
- The lowest recorded value was 3.9% in 2023.
- How does Uganda rank for child mortality rate?
- Uganda ranks 47th out of 236 countries with data for 2023.
- Is child mortality rate rising or falling in Uganda?
- Over the last ten years it is down 38.0%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this Uganda 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.