Infant deaths (UN IGME estimate, 2024) in India
India: Infant deaths was 539,573 in 2024. ▼ Falling
Latest (2024)
539,573
Change on year
down 4.8%
World rank
1st
of 201 countries
All-time high
2.87 million
in 1973
All-time low
539,573
in 2024
Years of data
71
1954–2024
Infant deaths in India, 1954–2024
Source: UNICEF.
Analysis
India recorded 539,573 for infant deaths in 2024. That is the lowest value across all 71 years on record.
That represents a change of down 4.8% on the previous year and down 44.3% over ten years.
Over the whole period, infant deaths in India peaked at 2.87 million in 1973 and was at its lowest, 539,573, in 2024.
India ranks 1st of 201 countries on this measure, in the top 10%.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 71 years of available data.
Infant deaths in India, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1954 | 2.67 million | — |
| 1955 | 2.68 million | +0.6% |
| 1956 | 2.69 million | +0.3% |
| 1957 | 2.70 million | +0.3% |
| 1958 | 2.70 million | +0.1% |
| 1959 | 2.70 million | -0.0% |
| 1960 | 2.71 million | +0.5% |
| 1961 | 2.73 million | +0.7% |
| 1962 | 2.75 million | +0.7% |
| 1963 | 2.77 million | +0.8% |
| 1964 | 2.80 million | +0.8% |
| 1965 | 2.81 million | +0.5% |
| 1966 | 2.82 million | +0.2% |
| 1967 | 2.82 million | +0.2% |
| 1968 | 2.83 million | +0.4% |
| 1969 | 2.84 million | +0.1% |
| 1970 | 2.84 million | +0.1% |
| 1971 | 2.86 million | +0.6% |
| 1972 | 2.87 million | +0.4% |
| 1973 | 2.87 million | +0.0% |
| 1974 | 2.87 million | -0.1% |
| 1975 | 2.84 million | -1.0% |
| 1976 | 2.81 million | -0.9% |
| 1977 | 2.77 million | -1.3% |
| 1978 | 2.72 million | -1.8% |
| 1979 | 2.69 million | -1.3% |
| 1980 | 2.67 million | -0.6% |
| 1981 | 2.65 million | -0.7% |
| 1982 | 2.62 million | -1.2% |
| 1983 | 2.59 million | -1.0% |
| 1984 | 2.58 million | -0.7% |
| 1985 | 2.55 million | -1.0% |
| 1986 | 2.53 million | -0.9% |
| 1987 | 2.49 million | -1.5% |
| 1988 | 2.44 million | -2.0% |
| 1989 | 2.39 million | -1.9% |
| 1990 | 2.34 million | -2.1% |
| 1991 | 2.30 million | -2.0% |
| 1992 | 2.26 million | -1.8% |
| 1993 | 2.21 million | -2.0% |
| 1994 | 2.17 million | -1.8% |
| 1995 | 2.13 million | -1.8% |
| 1996 | 2.09 million | -2.1% |
| 1997 | 2.04 million | -2.3% |
| 1998 | 1.99 million | -2.4% |
| 1999 | 1.94 million | -2.5% |
| 2000 | 1.90 million | -2.2% |
| 2001 | 1.86 million | -2.1% |
| 2002 | 1.80 million | -3.0% |
| 2003 | 1.73 million | -4.0% |
| 2004 | 1.66 million | -4.2% |
| 2005 | 1.58 million | -4.5% |
| 2006 | 1.50 million | -5.0% |
| 2007 | 1.43 million | -4.9% |
| 2008 | 1.36 million | -4.7% |
| 2009 | 1.31 million | -4.2% |
| 2010 | 1.24 million | -4.8% |
| 2011 | 1.18 million | -5.4% |
| 2012 | 1.11 million | -5.4% |
| 2013 | 1.04 million | -6.0% |
| 2014 | 968,037 | -7.3% |
| 2015 | 906,137 | -6.4% |
| 2016 | 864,666 | -4.6% |
| 2017 | 811,465 | -6.2% |
| 2018 | 763,495 | -5.9% |
| 2019 | 721,385 | -5.5% |
| 2020 | 670,895 | -7.0% |
| 2021 | 627,983 | -6.4% |
| 2022 | 595,743 | -5.1% |
| 2023 | 566,617 | -4.9% |
| 2024 | 539,573 | -4.8% |
India compared with similar countries
- India's 539,573 is above the median for lower middle income countries, which is 7,969, 67.7× the median. (47 countries reporting)
- India's 539,573 is above the median for South Asia, which is 7,125, 75.7× the median. (6 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1950s | 2.69 million | 2.67 million | 2.70 million | 6 |
| 1960s | 2.79 million | 2.71 million | 2.84 million | 10 |
| 1970s | 2.81 million | 2.69 million | 2.87 million | 10 |
| 1980s | 2.55 million | 2.39 million | 2.67 million | 10 |
| 1990s | 2.15 million | 1.94 million | 2.34 million | 10 |
| 2000s | 1.61 million | 1.31 million | 1.90 million | 10 |
| 2010s | 960,872 | 721,385 | 1.24 million | 10 |
| 2020s | 600,162 | 539,573 | 670,895 | 5 |
Countries ranked near India
More health data for India
- Un projection of annual infant deaths, annual growth rate -2.12 % change on previous year (2100)
- Heat deaths vs projected death rates, annual growth rate 0.4372 % change on previous year (2090)
- Estimated changes in temperature-related death rates compared to projected death rates 1,332 deaths per 1,000 people (2090)
- Number of infants who die before age 1 44,822 deaths (2100)
- Neonatal tetanus - number of reported cases, gaps filled 38 (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, female, annual growth rate -0.3809 % 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 0.0372 units per person (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, male, annual growth rate -0.5922 % change on previous year (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, male, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is infant deaths in India?
- Infant deaths in India was 539,573 in 2024, according to UNICEF.
- What is the highest infant deaths recorded in India?
- The highest recorded value was 2.87 million in 1973.
- What is the lowest infant deaths recorded in India?
- The lowest recorded value was 539,573 in 2024.
- How does India rank for infant deaths?
- India ranks 1st out of 201 countries with data for 2024.
- Is infant deaths rising or falling in India?
- Over the last ten years it is down 44.3%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this India data come from?
- The figures come from UNICEF, published as part of Infant deaths (UN IGME estimate, 2024). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
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