Child mortality in Botswana
Botswana: Child mortality was 3.33 in 2024. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2024)
3.33
Change on year
down 3.8%
World rank
55th
of 200 countries
All-time high
20.14
in 1954
All-time low
3.33
in 2024
Years of data
71
1954–2024
Child mortality in Botswana, 1954–2024
Source: Our World in Data.
Analysis
The most recent figure for child mortality in Botswana is 3.33, measured in 2024. That is the lowest value across all 71 years on record.
That represents a change of down 3.8% on the previous year and down 32.0% over ten years.
Over the whole period, child mortality in Botswana peaked at 20.14 in 1954 and was at its lowest, 3.33, in 2024.
Botswana ranks 55th of 200 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 in Botswana, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1954 | 20.14 | — |
| 1955 | 19.52 | -3.1% |
| 1956 | 18.89 | -3.2% |
| 1957 | 18.34 | -2.9% |
| 1958 | 17.83 | -2.8% |
| 1959 | 17.28 | -3.1% |
| 1960 | 16.78 | -2.9% |
| 1961 | 16.27 | -3.0% |
| 1962 | 15.82 | -2.8% |
| 1963 | 15.39 | -2.7% |
| 1964 | 14.95 | -2.9% |
| 1965 | 14.55 | -2.7% |
| 1966 | 14.19 | -2.5% |
| 1967 | 13.81 | -2.7% |
| 1968 | 13.39 | -3.0% |
| 1969 | 12.97 | -3.1% |
| 1970 | 12.53 | -3.4% |
| 1971 | 12.07 | -3.7% |
| 1972 | 11.59 | -4.0% |
| 1973 | 11.11 | -4.1% |
| 1974 | 10.58 | -4.8% |
| 1975 | 10.04 | -5.1% |
| 1976 | 9.48 | -5.6% |
| 1977 | 8.89 | -6.2% |
| 1978 | 8.33 | -6.3% |
| 1979 | 7.81 | -6.2% |
| 1980 | 7.33 | -6.1% |
| 1981 | 6.9 | -5.9% |
| 1982 | 6.52 | -5.5% |
| 1983 | 6.19 | -5.1% |
| 1984 | 5.91 | -4.5% |
| 1985 | 5.66 | -4.2% |
| 1986 | 5.42 | -4.2% |
| 1987 | 5.21 | -3.9% |
| 1988 | 5.07 | -2.7% |
| 1989 | 5.05 | -0.4% |
| 1990 | 5.15 | +2.0% |
| 1991 | 5.36 | +4.1% |
| 1992 | 5.71 | +6.5% |
| 1993 | 6.15 | +7.7% |
| 1994 | 6.62 | +7.6% |
| 1995 | 6.64 | +0.3% |
| 1996 | 7.04 | +6.0% |
| 1997 | 7.34 | +4.3% |
| 1998 | 7.54 | +2.7% |
| 1999 | 7.85 | +4.1% |
| 2000 | 7.98 | +1.7% |
| 2001 | 7.93 | -0.6% |
| 2002 | 7.79 | -1.8% |
| 2003 | 7.67 | -1.5% |
| 2004 | 7.57 | -1.3% |
| 2005 | 7.08 | -6.5% |
| 2006 | 6.6 | -6.8% |
| 2007 | 6.43 | -2.6% |
| 2008 | 6.37 | -0.9% |
| 2009 | 6.06 | -4.9% |
| 2010 | 5.84 | -3.6% |
| 2011 | 5.88 | +0.7% |
| 2012 | 5.39 | -8.3% |
| 2013 | 5.03 | -6.7% |
| 2014 | 4.9 | -2.6% |
| 2015 | 4.67 | -4.7% |
| 2016 | 4.51 | -3.4% |
| 2017 | 4.21 | -6.7% |
| 2018 | 4.12 | -2.1% |
| 2019 | 4 | -2.9% |
| 2020 | 3.89 | -2.7% |
| 2021 | 3.71 | -4.6% |
| 2022 | 3.57 | -3.8% |
| 2023 | 3.46 | -3.1% |
| 2024 | 3.33 | -3.8% |
Botswana compared with similar countries
- Botswana's 3.33 is above the median for upper middle income countries, which is 1.3, 2.6× the median. (58 countries reporting)
- Botswana's 3.33 is below the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 4.89, 68% of the median. (48 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1950s | 18.67 | 17.28 | 20.14 | 6 |
| 1960s | 14.81 | 12.97 | 16.78 | 10 |
| 1970s | 10.24 | 7.81 | 12.53 | 10 |
| 1980s | 5.93 | 5.05 | 7.33 | 10 |
| 1990s | 6.54 | 5.15 | 7.85 | 10 |
| 2000s | 7.15 | 6.06 | 7.98 | 10 |
| 2010s | 4.85 | 4 | 5.88 | 10 |
| 2020s | 3.59 | 3.33 | 3.89 | 5 |
Countries ranked near Botswana
- 52 Dominica 3.57 compare
- 53 South Africa 3.51 compare
- 54 Eritrea 3.43 compare
- 56 Gabon 3.26 compare
- 57 Dominican Republic 3.06 compare
- 58 Bangladesh 3.05 compare
More health data for Botswana
- Un projection of annual infant deaths, annual growth rate -1.75 % change on previous year (2100)
- Heat deaths vs projected death rates, annual growth rate 0.2265 % change on previous year (2090)
- Un projection of annual infant deaths 281 (2100)
- Neonatal tetanus - number of reported cases, gaps filled 0 (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, female, annual growth rate 0.6484 % 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 0.0579 units per person (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, male, annual growth rate 0.9109 % 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 0.0591 units per person (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is child mortality in Botswana?
- Child mortality in Botswana was 3.33 in 2024, according to Our World in Data.
- What is the highest child mortality recorded in Botswana?
- The highest recorded value was 20.14 in 1954.
- What is the lowest child mortality recorded in Botswana?
- The lowest recorded value was 3.33 in 2024.
- How does Botswana rank for child mortality?
- Botswana ranks 55th out of 200 countries with data for 2024.
- Is child mortality rising or falling in Botswana?
- Over the last ten years it is down 32.0%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Botswana 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 — 71 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data).