Infant deaths (UN IGME estimate, 2024) in Lesotho
Lesotho: Infant deaths (UN IGME estimate, 2024) was 3,104 in 2024. ▼ Falling
Latest (2024)
3,104
Change on year
down 3.7%
World rank
73rd
of 201 countries
All-time high
6,106
in 1976
All-time low
3,104
in 2024
Years of data
72
1953–2024
Infant deaths in Lesotho, 1953–2024
Source: UNICEF.
Analysis
In 2024, infant deaths in Lesotho stood at 3,104. That is the lowest value across all 72 years on record.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 3.7% on the previous year and down 27.3% over ten years.
Over the whole period, infant deaths in Lesotho peaked at 6,106 in 1976 and was at its lowest, 3,104, in 2024.
That places Lesotho 73rd out of 201 countries with data for 2024, putting it in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 72 years of available data.
Infant deaths (UN IGME estimate, 2024) in Lesotho, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1953 | 4,090 | — |
| 1954 | 4,107 | +0.4% |
| 1955 | 4,120 | +0.3% |
| 1956 | 4,131 | +0.3% |
| 1957 | 4,163 | +0.8% |
| 1958 | 4,214 | +1.2% |
| 1959 | 4,289 | +1.8% |
| 1960 | 4,387 | +2.3% |
| 1961 | 4,512 | +2.8% |
| 1962 | 4,664 | +3.4% |
| 1963 | 4,831 | +3.6% |
| 1964 | 5,003 | +3.6% |
| 1965 | 5,176 | +3.5% |
| 1966 | 5,335 | +3.1% |
| 1967 | 5,470 | +2.5% |
| 1968 | 5,570 | +1.8% |
| 1969 | 5,637 | +1.2% |
| 1970 | 5,689 | +0.9% |
| 1971 | 5,746 | +1.0% |
| 1972 | 5,814 | +1.2% |
| 1973 | 5,870 | +1.0% |
| 1974 | 5,951 | +1.4% |
| 1975 | 6,045 | +1.6% |
| 1976 | 6,106 | +1.0% |
| 1977 | 6,104 | -0.0% |
| 1978 | 6,047 | -0.9% |
| 1979 | 5,954 | -1.5% |
| 1980 | 5,831 | -2.1% |
| 1981 | 5,688 | -2.5% |
| 1982 | 5,547 | -2.5% |
| 1983 | 5,420 | -2.3% |
| 1984 | 5,300 | -2.2% |
| 1985 | 5,192 | -2.0% |
| 1986 | 5,104 | -1.7% |
| 1987 | 5,107 | +0.1% |
| 1988 | 5,074 | -0.6% |
| 1989 | 4,929 | -2.9% |
| 1990 | 4,794 | -2.7% |
| 1991 | 4,694 | -2.1% |
| 1992 | 4,620 | -1.6% |
| 1993 | 4,537 | -1.8% |
| 1994 | 4,468 | -1.5% |
| 1995 | 4,440 | -0.6% |
| 1996 | 4,438 | -0.0% |
| 1997 | 4,433 | -0.1% |
| 1998 | 4,343 | -2.0% |
| 1999 | 4,236 | -2.5% |
| 2000 | 4,196 | -0.9% |
| 2001 | 4,255 | +1.4% |
| 2002 | 4,375 | +2.8% |
| 2003 | 4,441 | +1.5% |
| 2004 | 4,406 | -0.8% |
| 2005 | 4,377 | -0.7% |
| 2006 | 4,377 | +0.0% |
| 2007 | 4,418 | +0.9% |
| 2008 | 4,799 | +8.6% |
| 2009 | 4,453 | -7.2% |
| 2010 | 4,225 | -5.1% |
| 2011 | 4,173 | -1.2% |
| 2012 | 4,277 | +2.5% |
| 2013 | 4,333 | +1.3% |
| 2014 | 4,271 | -1.4% |
| 2015 | 4,184 | -2.0% |
| 2016 | 4,149 | -0.8% |
| 2017 | 4,117 | -0.8% |
| 2018 | 3,889 | -5.5% |
| 2019 | 3,711 | -4.6% |
| 2020 | 3,556 | -4.2% |
| 2021 | 3,431 | -3.5% |
| 2022 | 3,320 | -3.2% |
| 2023 | 3,224 | -2.9% |
| 2024 | 3,104 | -3.7% |
Lesotho compared with similar countries
- Lesotho's 3,104 is below the median for lower middle income countries, which is 7,969, 39% of the median. (47 countries reporting)
- Lesotho's 3,104 is below the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 22,678, 14% of the median. (48 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1950s | 4,159 | 4,090 | 4,289 | 7 |
| 1960s | 5,058 | 4,387 | 5,637 | 10 |
| 1970s | 5,933 | 5,689 | 6,106 | 10 |
| 1980s | 5,319 | 4,929 | 5,831 | 10 |
| 1990s | 4,500 | 4,236 | 4,794 | 10 |
| 2000s | 4,410 | 4,196 | 4,799 | 10 |
| 2010s | 4,133 | 3,711 | 4,333 | 10 |
| 2020s | 3,327 | 3,104 | 3,556 | 5 |
Countries ranked near Lesotho
More health data for Lesotho
- Un projection of annual infant deaths, annual growth rate -2.05 % change on previous year (2100)
- Heat deaths vs projected death rates, annual growth rate 0.4669 % change on previous year (2090)
- Estimated changes in temperature-related death rates compared to projected death rates 1,227 deaths per 1,000 people (2090)
- Number of infants who die before age 1 382 deaths (2100)
- Neonatal tetanus - number of reported cases, gaps filled 0 (2020)
- Population ages 00-04, female, annual growth rate -0.8108 % change on previous year (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, female, per unit of GDP 0.0001 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, female, per capita 0.0548 units per person (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, male, annual growth rate -0.7473 % change on previous year (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, male, per unit of GDP 0.0001 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is infant deaths in Lesotho?
- Infant deaths in Lesotho was 3,104 in 2024, according to UNICEF.
- What is the highest infant deaths recorded in Lesotho?
- The highest recorded value was 6,106 in 1976.
- What is the lowest infant deaths recorded in Lesotho?
- The lowest recorded value was 3,104 in 2024.
- How does Lesotho rank for infant deaths?
- Lesotho ranks 73rd out of 201 countries with data for 2024.
- Is infant deaths rising or falling in Lesotho?
- Over the last ten years it is down 27.3%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this Lesotho 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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