Infant mortality rate (deaths per 1,000 live births) in Malawi
Malawi: Infant mortality rate (deaths per 1,000 live births) was 37.96 in 2024. ▼ Falling
Infant mortality rate in Malawi, 2000–2024
Source: United Nations Statistics Division, SDG Global Database.
Analysis
The most recent figure for infant mortality rate in Malawi is 37.96, measured in 2024. That is the lowest value across all 25 years on record.
That represents a change of down 1.1% on the previous year and down 7.6% over ten years.
Over the whole period, infant mortality rate in Malawi peaked at 138.5 in 2001 and was at its lowest, 37.96, in 2024.
That places Malawi 30th out of 213 countries with data for 2024, putting it in the top quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 25 years of available data.
Infant mortality rate (deaths per 1,000 live births) in Malawi, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2000 | 98.92 | — |
| 2001 | 138.5 | +40.0% |
| 2002 | 83.83 | -39.5% |
| 2003 | 76.43 | -8.8% |
| 2004 | 70.1 | -8.3% |
| 2005 | 65.15 | -7.1% |
| 2006 | 61.57 | -5.5% |
| 2007 | 59.07 | -4.1% |
| 2008 | 56.02 | -5.2% |
| 2009 | 53.69 | -4.2% |
| 2010 | 51.53 | -4.0% |
| 2011 | 48.01 | -6.8% |
| 2012 | 45.15 | -6.0% |
| 2013 | 42.63 | -5.6% |
| 2014 | 41.1 | -3.6% |
| 2015 | 39.74 | -3.3% |
| 2016 | 39.11 | -1.6% |
| 2017 | 38.51 | -1.5% |
| 2018 | 38 | -1.3% |
| 2019 | 38.31 | +0.8% |
| 2020 | 38.2 | -0.3% |
| 2021 | 38.34 | +0.4% |
| 2022 | 38.62 | +0.7% |
| 2023 | 38.37 | -0.6% |
| 2024 | 37.96 | -1.1% |
Malawi compared with similar countries
- Malawi's 37.96 is below the median for low income countries, which is 42.97, 88% of the median. (23 countries reporting)
- Malawi's 37.96 is above the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 37.96, 1.0× the median. (45 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Infant mortality rate (deaths per 1,000 live births) in Malawi changed far more than this series normally does. A large move can be a real event or a change in how the figure was measured — the source note below says who published it.
| Year | Change | From | To |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2001 | +40.0% | 98.92 | 138.5 |
| 2002 | -39.5% | 138.5 | 83.83 |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 76.33 | 53.69 | 138.5 | 10 |
| 2010s | 42.21 | 38 | 51.53 | 10 |
| 2020s | 38.3 | 37.96 | 38.62 | 5 |
Countries ranked near Malawi
More health data for Malawi
- Un projection of annual infant deaths, annual growth rate -0.8368 % change on previous year (2100)
- Heat deaths vs projected death rates, annual growth rate 0.9312 % change on previous year (2090)
- Estimated changes in temperature-related death rates compared to projected death rates 856.3 deaths per 1,000 people (2090)
- Number of infants who die before age 1 6,399 deaths (2100)
- Neonatal tetanus - number of reported cases, gaps filled 2 (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, female, annual growth rate 1.61 % 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 0.0714 units per person (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, male, annual growth rate 1.63 % 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 mortality rate in Malawi?
- Infant mortality rate in Malawi was 37.96 in 2024, according to United Nations Statistics Division, SDG Global Database.
- What is the highest infant mortality rate recorded in Malawi?
- The highest recorded value was 138.5 in 2001.
- What is the lowest infant mortality rate recorded in Malawi?
- The lowest recorded value was 37.96 in 2024.
- How does Malawi rank for infant mortality rate?
- Malawi ranks 30th out of 213 countries with data for 2024.
- Is infant mortality rate rising or falling in Malawi?
- Over the last ten years it is down 7.6%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this Malawi data come from?
- The figures come from United Nations Statistics Division, SDG Global Database, published as part of Infant mortality rate (deaths per 1,000 live births). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 25 observations, free to reuse under UN SDG Global Database (open, attribution requested).