Child mortality in Afghanistan
Afghanistan: Child mortality was 5.3 in 2024. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2024)
5.3
Change on year
down 3.5%
World rank
26th
of 200 countries
All-time high
36.82
in 1957
All-time low
5.3
in 2024
Years of data
68
1957–2024
Child mortality in Afghanistan, 1957–2024
Source: Our World in Data.
Analysis
The most recent figure for child mortality in Afghanistan is 5.3, measured in 2024. That is the lowest value across all 68 years on record.
That represents a change of down 3.5% on the previous year and down 29.0% over ten years.
Over the whole period, child mortality in Afghanistan peaked at 36.82 in 1957 and was at its lowest, 5.3, in 2024.
That places Afghanistan 26th out of 200 countries with data for 2024, putting it in the top quarter.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Child mortality in Afghanistan, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1957 | 36.82 | — |
| 1958 | 36.21 | -1.7% |
| 1959 | 35.64 | -1.6% |
| 1960 | 35.06 | -1.6% |
| 1961 | 34.52 | -1.5% |
| 1962 | 34.02 | -1.4% |
| 1963 | 33.5 | -1.5% |
| 1964 | 32.97 | -1.6% |
| 1965 | 32.45 | -1.6% |
| 1966 | 31.95 | -1.5% |
| 1967 | 31.48 | -1.5% |
| 1968 | 31 | -1.5% |
| 1969 | 30.49 | -1.6% |
| 1970 | 30 | -1.6% |
| 1971 | 34.43 | +14.8% |
| 1972 | 33.79 | -1.9% |
| 1973 | 28.47 | -15.7% |
| 1974 | 27.95 | -1.8% |
| 1975 | 27.42 | -1.9% |
| 1976 | 26.86 | -2.0% |
| 1977 | 26.29 | -2.1% |
| 1978 | 25.69 | -2.3% |
| 1979 | 25.11 | -2.3% |
| 1980 | 24.52 | -2.3% |
| 1981 | 23.9 | -2.5% |
| 1982 | 27.7 | +15.9% |
| 1983 | 27.12 | -2.1% |
| 1984 | 30.38 | +12.0% |
| 1985 | 29.6 | -2.6% |
| 1986 | 25.05 | -15.4% |
| 1987 | 24.42 | -2.5% |
| 1988 | 19.43 | -20.4% |
| 1989 | 18.78 | -3.3% |
| 1990 | 18.14 | -3.4% |
| 1991 | 17.52 | -3.4% |
| 1992 | 16.91 | -3.5% |
| 1993 | 16.35 | -3.3% |
| 1994 | 15.83 | -3.2% |
| 1995 | 15.34 | -3.1% |
| 1996 | 14.88 | -3.0% |
| 1997 | 14.44 | -3.0% |
| 1998 | 14.02 | -2.9% |
| 1999 | 13.6 | -3.0% |
| 2000 | 13.17 | -3.2% |
| 2001 | 12.75 | -3.2% |
| 2002 | 12.31 | -3.5% |
| 2003 | 11.85 | -3.7% |
| 2004 | 11.39 | -3.9% |
| 2005 | 10.93 | -4.0% |
| 2006 | 10.48 | -4.1% |
| 2007 | 10.04 | -4.2% |
| 2008 | 9.61 | -4.3% |
| 2009 | 9.19 | -4.4% |
| 2010 | 8.8 | -4.2% |
| 2011 | 8.43 | -4.2% |
| 2012 | 8.08 | -4.2% |
| 2013 | 7.76 | -4.0% |
| 2014 | 7.46 | -3.9% |
| 2015 | 7.19 | -3.6% |
| 2016 | 6.94 | -3.5% |
| 2017 | 6.71 | -3.3% |
| 2018 | 6.48 | -3.4% |
| 2019 | 6.27 | -3.2% |
| 2020 | 6.07 | -3.2% |
| 2021 | 5.87 | -3.3% |
| 2022 | 5.68 | -3.2% |
| 2023 | 5.49 | -3.3% |
| 2024 | 5.3 | -3.5% |
Afghanistan compared with similar countries
- Afghanistan's 5.3 is below the median for low income countries, which is 6.16, 86% of the median. (25 countries reporting)
- Afghanistan's 5.3 is above the median for Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan, which is 1.29, 4.1× the median. (23 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1950s | 36.22 | 35.64 | 36.82 | 3 |
| 1960s | 32.74 | 30.49 | 35.06 | 10 |
| 1970s | 28.6 | 25.11 | 34.43 | 10 |
| 1980s | 25.09 | 18.78 | 30.38 | 10 |
| 1990s | 15.7 | 13.6 | 18.14 | 10 |
| 2000s | 11.17 | 9.19 | 13.17 | 10 |
| 2010s | 7.41 | 6.27 | 8.8 | 10 |
| 2020s | 5.68 | 5.3 | 6.07 | 5 |
Countries ranked near Afghanistan
More health data for Afghanistan
- Un projection of annual infant deaths, annual growth rate -1.45 % change on previous year (2100)
- Heat deaths vs projected death rates, annual growth rate 1.03 % change on previous year (2090)
- Un projection of annual infant deaths 14,735 (2100)
- Neonatal tetanus - number of reported cases, gaps filled 19 (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, female, annual growth rate 1.78 % change on previous year (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, female, per unit of GDP 0.0002 units per US$ of GDP (2024)
- Population ages 00-04, female, per capita 0.077 units per person (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, male, annual growth rate 1.75 % change on previous year (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, male, per unit of GDP 0.0002 units per US$ of GDP (2024)
- Population ages 00-04, male, per capita 0.0804 units per person (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is child mortality in Afghanistan?
- Child mortality in Afghanistan was 5.3 in 2024, according to Our World in Data.
- What is the highest child mortality recorded in Afghanistan?
- The highest recorded value was 36.82 in 1957.
- What is the lowest child mortality recorded in Afghanistan?
- The lowest recorded value was 5.3 in 2024.
- How does Afghanistan rank for child mortality?
- Afghanistan ranks 26th out of 200 countries with data for 2024.
- Is child mortality rising or falling in Afghanistan?
- Over the last ten years it is down 29.0%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Afghanistan data come from?
- The figures come from Our World in Data, published as part of Child mortality. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 68 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data).