Infant deaths (UN IGME estimate, 2024) in Zambia
Zambia: Infant deaths (UN IGME estimate, 2024) was 23,802 in 2024. ▲ Rising
Latest (2024)
23,802
Change on year
up 0.4%
World rank
36th
of 201 countries
All-time high
40,301
in 1999
All-time low
13,257
in 1953
Years of data
72
1953–2024
Infant deaths in Zambia, 1953–2024
Source: UNICEF.
Analysis
The most recent figure for infant deaths in Zambia is 23,802, measured in 2024.
That represents a change of up 0.4% on the previous year and down 7.6% over ten years.
Over the whole period, infant deaths in Zambia peaked at 40,301 in 1999 and was at its lowest, 13,257, in 1953.
That places Zambia 36th out of 201 countries with data for 2024, putting it in the top quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 72 years of available data.
Infant deaths (UN IGME estimate, 2024) in Zambia, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1953 | 13,257 | — |
| 1954 | 13,439 | +1.4% |
| 1955 | 13,661 | +1.7% |
| 1956 | 13,859 | +1.4% |
| 1957 | 14,076 | +1.6% |
| 1958 | 14,326 | +1.8% |
| 1959 | 14,589 | +1.8% |
| 1960 | 14,860 | +1.9% |
| 1961 | 15,135 | +1.9% |
| 1962 | 15,424 | +1.9% |
| 1963 | 15,771 | +2.2% |
| 1964 | 16,149 | +2.4% |
| 1965 | 16,578 | +2.7% |
| 1966 | 17,061 | +2.9% |
| 1967 | 17,609 | +3.2% |
| 1968 | 18,144 | +3.0% |
| 1969 | 18,608 | +2.6% |
| 1970 | 18,971 | +2.0% |
| 1971 | 19,187 | +1.1% |
| 1972 | 19,264 | +0.4% |
| 1973 | 19,344 | +0.4% |
| 1974 | 19,439 | +0.5% |
| 1975 | 19,736 | +1.5% |
| 1976 | 20,124 | +2.0% |
| 1977 | 20,631 | +2.5% |
| 1978 | 21,237 | +2.9% |
| 1979 | 21,833 | +2.8% |
| 1980 | 22,444 | +2.8% |
| 1981 | 23,175 | +3.3% |
| 1982 | 24,191 | +4.4% |
| 1983 | 25,496 | +5.4% |
| 1984 | 27,010 | +5.9% |
| 1985 | 28,712 | +6.3% |
| 1986 | 30,506 | +6.2% |
| 1987 | 32,220 | +5.6% |
| 1988 | 33,765 | +4.8% |
| 1989 | 35,213 | +4.3% |
| 1990 | 36,381 | +3.3% |
| 1991 | 37,310 | +2.6% |
| 1992 | 37,975 | +1.8% |
| 1993 | 38,504 | +1.4% |
| 1994 | 39,021 | +1.3% |
| 1995 | 39,332 | +0.8% |
| 1996 | 39,558 | +0.6% |
| 1997 | 39,865 | +0.8% |
| 1998 | 40,260 | +1.0% |
| 1999 | 40,301 | +0.1% |
| 2000 | 39,692 | -1.5% |
| 2001 | 38,247 | -3.6% |
| 2002 | 36,253 | -5.2% |
| 2003 | 34,083 | -6.0% |
| 2004 | 31,909 | -6.4% |
| 2005 | 30,149 | -5.5% |
| 2006 | 29,127 | -3.4% |
| 2007 | 28,875 | -0.9% |
| 2008 | 28,335 | -1.9% |
| 2009 | 27,924 | -1.5% |
| 2010 | 27,620 | -1.1% |
| 2011 | 27,384 | -0.9% |
| 2012 | 27,036 | -1.3% |
| 2013 | 26,386 | -2.4% |
| 2014 | 25,753 | -2.4% |
| 2015 | 25,642 | -0.4% |
| 2016 | 24,831 | -3.2% |
| 2017 | 24,003 | -3.3% |
| 2018 | 23,676 | -1.4% |
| 2019 | 23,054 | -2.6% |
| 2020 | 23,158 | +0.5% |
| 2021 | 23,405 | +1.1% |
| 2022 | 23,606 | +0.9% |
| 2023 | 23,706 | +0.4% |
| 2024 | 23,802 | +0.4% |
Zambia compared with similar countries
- Zambia's 23,802 is above the median for lower middle income countries, which is 7,969, 3.0× the median. (47 countries reporting)
- Zambia's 23,802 is above the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 22,678, 1.0× the median. (48 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1950s | 13,887 | 13,257 | 14,589 | 7 |
| 1960s | 16,534 | 14,860 | 18,608 | 10 |
| 1970s | 19,977 | 18,971 | 21,833 | 10 |
| 1980s | 28,273 | 22,444 | 35,213 | 10 |
| 1990s | 38,851 | 36,381 | 40,301 | 10 |
| 2000s | 32,459 | 27,924 | 39,692 | 10 |
| 2010s | 25,538 | 23,054 | 27,620 | 10 |
| 2020s | 23,535 | 23,158 | 23,802 | 5 |
Countries ranked near Zambia
More health data for Zambia
- Un projection of annual infant deaths, annual growth rate -1.09 % change on previous year (2100)
- Heat deaths vs projected death rates, annual growth rate 0.7971 % change on previous year (2090)
- Estimated changes in temperature-related death rates compared to projected death rates 809.3 deaths per 1,000 people (2090)
- Number of infants who die before age 1 8,894 deaths (2100)
- Neonatal tetanus - number of reported cases, gaps filled 2 (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, female, annual growth rate 1.68 % 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 0.0743 units per person (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, male, annual growth rate 1.69 % 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 Zambia?
- Infant deaths in Zambia was 23,802 in 2024, according to UNICEF.
- What is the highest infant deaths recorded in Zambia?
- The highest recorded value was 40,301 in 1999.
- What is the lowest infant deaths recorded in Zambia?
- The lowest recorded value was 13,257 in 1953.
- How does Zambia rank for infant deaths?
- Zambia ranks 36th out of 201 countries with data for 2024.
- Is infant deaths rising or falling in Zambia?
- Over the last ten years it is down 7.6%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Zambia 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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