Infant deaths in West and Central Africa

West and Central Africa: Infant deaths was 1.21 million in 2024. ▬ Flat

Latest (2024)
1.21 million
Change on year
up 0.1%
Rank
4th
of 33 groups
All-time high
1.30 million
in 1997
All-time low
1.12 million
in 1990
Years of data
35
1990–2024

Infant deaths in West and Central Africa, 1990–2024

0500.0k1.0M1.5M1990200720241990: 1.1M1991: 1.1M1992: 1.2M1993: 1.2M1994: 1.2M1995: 1.2M1996: 1.3M1997: 1.3M1998: 1.3M1999: 1.3M2000: 1.3M2001: 1.3M2002: 1.3M2003: 1.3M2004: 1.3M2005: 1.2M2006: 1.2M2007: 1.2M2008: 1.2M2009: 1.2M2010: 1.2M2011: 1.2M2012: 1.2M2013: 1.2M2014: 1.2M2015: 1.2M2016: 1.2M2017: 1.2M2018: 1.2M2019: 1.2M2020: 1.2M2021: 1.2M2022: 1.2M2023: 1.2M2024: 1.2M

Source: UNICEF.

Analysis

In 2024, infant deaths in West and Central Africa stood at 1.21 million.

Compared with earlier readings it is up 0.1% on the previous year and up 1.6% over ten years.

Over the whole period, infant deaths in West and Central Africa peaked at 1.30 million in 1997 and was at its lowest, 1.12 million, in 1990.

West and Central Africa ranks 4th of 33 groups on this measure, in the top 10%.

Infant deaths in West and Central Africa, year by year

Annual values for Infant deaths (UN IGME estimate, 2024) in West and Central Africa, 1990 to 2024.
Year Value Change
1990 1.12 million
1991 1.14 million +1.6%
1992 1.16 million +1.7%
1993 1.18 million +1.9%
1994 1.20 million +1.7%
1995 1.22 million +1.9%
1996 1.29 million +5.8%
1997 1.30 million +0.3%
1998 1.29 million -0.7%
1999 1.29 million +0.3%
2000 1.30 million +0.4%
2001 1.29 million -0.3%
2002 1.28 million -0.9%
2003 1.27 million -1.0%
2004 1.26 million -1.1%
2005 1.20 million -4.1%
2006 1.20 million -0.6%
2007 1.19 million -0.7%
2008 1.18 million -0.6%
2009 1.21 million +2.4%
2010 1.18 million -2.5%
2011 1.18 million -0.1%
2012 1.18 million +0.1%
2013 1.18 million +0.0%
2014 1.19 million +0.6%
2015 1.18 million -0.3%
2016 1.18 million -0.0%
2017 1.19 million +0.3%
2018 1.18 million -0.1%
2019 1.20 million +1.1%
2020 1.18 million -1.0%
2021 1.20 million +1.0%
2022 1.23 million +2.9%
2023 1.20 million -2.2%
2024 1.21 million +0.1%

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
1990s 1.22 million 1.12 million 1.30 million 10
2000s 1.24 million 1.18 million 1.30 million 10
2010s 1.18 million 1.18 million 1.20 million 10
2020s 1.20 million 1.18 million 1.23 million 5

Countries ranked near West and Central Africa

  1. 1 India 539,573 compare
  2. 2 Nigeria 519,644 compare
  3. 3 Pakistan 329,205 compare
  4. 4 Congo, Democratic Republic of the 247,025 compare
  5. 5 Ethiopia 141,578 compare
  6. 6 Bangladesh 84,684 compare
  7. 7 Niger 71,909 compare

See the full ranking of 235 places →

More health data for West and Central Africa

All data for West and Central Africa →

Frequently asked questions

What is infant deaths in West and Central Africa?
Infant deaths in West and Central Africa was 1.21 million in 2024, according to UNICEF.
What is the highest infant deaths recorded in West and Central Africa?
The highest recorded value was 1.30 million in 1997.
What is the lowest infant deaths recorded in West and Central Africa?
The lowest recorded value was 1.12 million in 1990.
How does West and Central Africa rank for infant deaths?
West and Central Africa ranks 4th out of 33 groups with data for 2024.
Is infant deaths rising or falling in West and Central Africa?
Over the last ten years it is up 1.6%. The long-run trend across the full record is flat.
Where does this West and Central Africa 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.

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Infant deaths in West and Central Africa. Statizoid, drawing on UNICEF. Retrieved 04 September 2026, from https://health.statizoid.com/stat/infant-deaths-un-igme-estimate-2024/west-and-central-africa/

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About this data

Indicator
Infant deaths (UN IGME estimate, 2024)
Source
UNICEF
Licence
UNICEF Terms of Use (attribution required)
Coverage
235 places, 14,052 data points, 1951–2024
Last refreshed