Child mortality rate in Vanuatu
Vanuatu: Child mortality rate was 1.8% in 2023. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2023)
1.8%
Change on year
down 2.7%
World rank
89th
of 236 countries
All-time high
20.8%
in 1951
All-time low
1.8%
in 2023
Years of data
74
1950–2023
Child mortality rate in Vanuatu, 1950–2023
Source: UN, World Population Prospects (2024) – processed by Our World in Data. Measured in % of children.
Analysis
In 2023, child mortality rate in Vanuatu stood at 1.8%. That is the lowest value across all 74 years on record.
The figure is down 2.7% on the previous year and down 19.6% over ten years.
Over the whole period, child mortality rate in Vanuatu peaked at 20.8% in 1951 and was at its lowest, 1.8%, in 2023.
Vanuatu ranks 89th 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 Vanuatu, year by year
| Year | % of children | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1950 | 19.6% | — |
| 1951 | 20.8% | +5.9% |
| 1952 | 18.5% | -10.9% |
| 1953 | 18.0% | -2.6% |
| 1954 | 17.6% | -2.7% |
| 1955 | 17.1% | -2.6% |
| 1956 | 16.7% | -2.4% |
| 1957 | 16.3% | -2.4% |
| 1958 | 15.9% | -2.5% |
| 1959 | 15.5% | -2.6% |
| 1960 | 15.1% | -2.7% |
| 1961 | 14.6% | -2.9% |
| 1962 | 14.2% | -3.1% |
| 1963 | 13.7% | -3.2% |
| 1964 | 13.3% | -3.3% |
| 1965 | 12.8% | -3.6% |
| 1966 | 12.3% | -3.7% |
| 1967 | 11.9% | -3.8% |
| 1968 | 11.4% | -3.9% |
| 1969 | 10.9% | -3.9% |
| 1970 | 10.5% | -4.0% |
| 1971 | 10.1% | -4.1% |
| 1972 | 9.7% | -3.7% |
| 1973 | 9.3% | -4.6% |
| 1974 | 8.9% | -4.2% |
| 1975 | 8.5% | -4.2% |
| 1976 | 8.1% | -4.3% |
| 1977 | 7.8% | -4.5% |
| 1978 | 7.4% | -4.8% |
| 1979 | 7.0% | -5.1% |
| 1980 | 6.6% | -5.4% |
| 1981 | 6.3% | -5.8% |
| 1982 | 5.9% | -6.0% |
| 1983 | 5.5% | -6.1% |
| 1984 | 5.2% | -6.2% |
| 1985 | 4.9% | -4.7% |
| 1986 | 4.6% | -7.4% |
| 1987 | 4.7% | +2.5% |
| 1988 | 4.1% | -12.7% |
| 1989 | 4.0% | -3.2% |
| 1990 | 3.7% | -6.1% |
| 1991 | 3.6% | -4.0% |
| 1992 | 3.5% | -3.1% |
| 1993 | 3.4% | -2.8% |
| 1994 | 3.2% | -3.5% |
| 1995 | 3.2% | -2.4% |
| 1996 | 3.1% | -2.1% |
| 1997 | 3.0% | -1.9% |
| 1998 | 3.0% | -1.7% |
| 1999 | 3.2% | +6.4% |
| 2000 | 2.9% | -8.8% |
| 2001 | 2.9% | -1.0% |
| 2002 | 2.8% | -1.7% |
| 2003 | 2.8% | -1.3% |
| 2004 | 2.8% | -1.0% |
| 2005 | 2.7% | -2.0% |
| 2006 | 2.6% | -1.9% |
| 2007 | 2.6% | -2.3% |
| 2008 | 2.5% | -2.6% |
| 2009 | 2.5% | -2.8% |
| 2010 | 2.4% | -2.9% |
| 2011 | 2.3% | -2.9% |
| 2012 | 2.2% | -2.7% |
| 2013 | 2.2% | -2.4% |
| 2014 | 2.2% | +0.2% |
| 2015 | 2.2% | -2.1% |
| 2016 | 2.1% | -3.9% |
| 2017 | 2.0% | -1.8% |
| 2018 | 2.0% | -1.9% |
| 2019 | 2.0% | -2.1% |
| 2020 | 1.9% | -1.8% |
| 2021 | 1.9% | -3.0% |
| 2022 | 1.8% | -2.5% |
| 2023 | 1.8% | -2.7% |
Vanuatu compared with similar countries
- Vanuatu's 1.8% is below the median for lower middle income countries, which is 3.9%, 45% of the median. (47 countries reporting)
- Vanuatu's 1.8% is above the median for East Asia & Pacific, which is 1.6%, 1.1× the median. (37 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1950s | 17.6% | 15.5% | 20.8% | 10 |
| 1960s | 13.0% | 10.9% | 15.1% | 10 |
| 1970s | 8.7% | 7.0% | 10.5% | 10 |
| 1980s | 5.2% | 4.0% | 6.6% | 10 |
| 1990s | 3.3% | 3.0% | 3.7% | 10 |
| 2000s | 2.7% | 2.5% | 2.9% | 10 |
| 2010s | 2.2% | 2.0% | 2.4% | 10 |
| 2020s | 1.8% | 1.8% | 1.9% | 4 |
Countries ranked near Vanuatu
- 86 North Korea 1.8% compare
- 87 Solomon Islands 1.8% compare
- 88 Egypt 1.8% compare
- 90 Azerbaijan 1.7% compare
- 91 Saint Lucia 1.7% compare
- 92 Kyrgyzstan 1.7% compare
More health data for Vanuatu
- Un projection of annual infant deaths, annual growth rate -2.22 % change on previous year (2100)
- Heat deaths vs projected death rates, annual growth rate 0.8846 % change on previous year (2090)
- Number of infants who die before age 1 44 deaths (2100)
- Neonatal tetanus - number of reported cases, gaps filled 0 (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, female, annual growth rate 0.3888 % 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 0.0639 units per person (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, male, annual growth rate 0.395 % 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 0.0682 units per person (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is child mortality rate in Vanuatu?
- Child mortality rate in Vanuatu was 1.8% in 2023, according to UN, World Population Prospects (2024) – processed by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest child mortality rate recorded in Vanuatu?
- The highest recorded value was 20.8% in 1951.
- What is the lowest child mortality rate recorded in Vanuatu?
- The lowest recorded value was 1.8% in 2023.
- How does Vanuatu rank for child mortality rate?
- Vanuatu ranks 89th out of 236 countries with data for 2023.
- Is child mortality rate rising or falling in Vanuatu?
- Over the last ten years it is down 19.6%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Vanuatu 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.