Child mortality in Kenya
Kenya: Child mortality was 3.88 in 2024. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2024)
3.88
Change on year
down 2.0%
World rank
43rd
of 200 countries
All-time high
31.98
in 1950
All-time low
3.88
in 2024
Years of data
75
1950–2024
Child mortality in Kenya, 1950–2024
Source: Our World in Data.
Analysis
In 2024, child mortality in Kenya stood at 3.88. That is the lowest value across all 75 years on record.
That represents a change of down 2.0% on the previous year and down 19.7% over ten years.
Over the whole period, child mortality in Kenya peaked at 31.98 in 1950 and was at its lowest, 3.88, in 2024.
That places Kenya 43rd 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 Kenya, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1950 | 31.98 | — |
| 1951 | 30.54 | -4.5% |
| 1952 | 30.02 | -1.7% |
| 1953 | 28.36 | -5.5% |
| 1954 | 26.79 | -5.5% |
| 1955 | 25.35 | -5.4% |
| 1956 | 24 | -5.3% |
| 1957 | 22.78 | -5.1% |
| 1958 | 21.66 | -4.9% |
| 1959 | 20.64 | -4.7% |
| 1960 | 19.72 | -4.5% |
| 1961 | 18.91 | -4.1% |
| 1962 | 18.2 | -3.8% |
| 1963 | 17.58 | -3.4% |
| 1964 | 17.07 | -2.9% |
| 1965 | 16.66 | -2.4% |
| 1966 | 16.32 | -2.0% |
| 1967 | 16 | -2.0% |
| 1968 | 15.68 | -2.0% |
| 1969 | 15.36 | -2.0% |
| 1970 | 15.02 | -2.2% |
| 1971 | 14.68 | -2.3% |
| 1972 | 14.32 | -2.5% |
| 1973 | 13.93 | -2.7% |
| 1974 | 13.52 | -2.9% |
| 1975 | 13.1 | -3.1% |
| 1976 | 12.66 | -3.4% |
| 1977 | 12.22 | -3.5% |
| 1978 | 11.78 | -3.6% |
| 1979 | 11.35 | -3.7% |
| 1980 | 10.97 | -3.3% |
| 1981 | 10.6 | -3.4% |
| 1982 | 10.27 | -3.1% |
| 1983 | 9.98 | -2.8% |
| 1984 | 9.75 | -2.3% |
| 1985 | 9.59 | -1.6% |
| 1986 | 9.51 | -0.8% |
| 1987 | 9.52 | +0.1% |
| 1988 | 9.64 | +1.3% |
| 1989 | 9.86 | +2.3% |
| 1990 | 10.14 | +2.8% |
| 1991 | 10.44 | +3.0% |
| 1992 | 10.71 | +2.6% |
| 1993 | 10.9 | +1.8% |
| 1994 | 10.97 | +0.6% |
| 1995 | 10.93 | -0.4% |
| 1996 | 10.8 | -1.2% |
| 1997 | 10.59 | -1.9% |
| 1998 | 10.3 | -2.7% |
| 1999 | 9.95 | -3.4% |
| 2000 | 9.52 | -4.3% |
| 2001 | 9.05 | -4.9% |
| 2002 | 8.56 | -5.4% |
| 2003 | 8.08 | -5.6% |
| 2004 | 7.61 | -5.8% |
| 2005 | 7.12 | -6.4% |
| 2006 | 6.68 | -6.2% |
| 2007 | 6.29 | -5.8% |
| 2008 | 5.8 | -7.8% |
| 2009 | 5.52 | -4.8% |
| 2010 | 5.31 | -3.8% |
| 2011 | 5.17 | -2.6% |
| 2012 | 5.07 | -1.9% |
| 2013 | 4.94 | -2.6% |
| 2014 | 4.83 | -2.2% |
| 2015 | 4.68 | -3.1% |
| 2016 | 4.55 | -2.8% |
| 2017 | 4.47 | -1.8% |
| 2018 | 4.37 | -2.2% |
| 2019 | 4.27 | -2.3% |
| 2020 | 4.21 | -1.4% |
| 2021 | 4.13 | -1.9% |
| 2022 | 4.05 | -1.9% |
| 2023 | 3.96 | -2.2% |
| 2024 | 3.88 | -2.0% |
Kenya compared with similar countries
- Kenya's 3.88 is above the median for lower middle income countries, which is 3.69, 1.1× the median. (47 countries reporting)
- Kenya's 3.88 is below the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 4.89, 79% of the median. (48 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1950s | 26.21 | 20.64 | 31.98 | 10 |
| 1960s | 17.15 | 15.36 | 19.72 | 10 |
| 1970s | 13.26 | 11.35 | 15.02 | 10 |
| 1980s | 9.97 | 9.51 | 10.97 | 10 |
| 1990s | 10.57 | 9.95 | 10.97 | 10 |
| 2000s | 7.42 | 5.52 | 9.52 | 10 |
| 2010s | 4.77 | 4.27 | 5.31 | 10 |
| 2020s | 4.05 | 3.88 | 4.21 | 5 |
Countries ranked near Kenya
More health data for Kenya
- Un projection of annual infant deaths, annual growth rate -1.44 % change on previous year (2100)
- Heat deaths vs projected death rates, annual growth rate 0.6026 % change on previous year (2090)
- Un projection of annual infant deaths 16,059 (2100)
- Neonatal tetanus - number of reported cases, gaps filled 89 (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 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, female, per capita 0.0621 units per person (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, male, annual growth rate 1.28 % 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 0.063 units per person (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is child mortality in Kenya?
- Child mortality in Kenya was 3.88 in 2024, according to Our World in Data.
- What is the highest child mortality recorded in Kenya?
- The highest recorded value was 31.98 in 1950.
- What is the lowest child mortality recorded in Kenya?
- The lowest recorded value was 3.88 in 2024.
- How does Kenya rank for child mortality?
- Kenya ranks 43rd out of 200 countries with data for 2024.
- Is child mortality rising or falling in Kenya?
- Over the last ten years it is down 19.7%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Kenya 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 — 75 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data).