Infant mortality rate in Sub-Saharan Africa
Sub-Saharan Africa: Infant mortality rate was 47.28 per 1,000 live births in 2024. ▼ Falling
Latest (2024)
47.28 per 1,000 live births
Change on year
down 2.3%
Rank
1st
of 21 groups
All-time high
89.66 per 1,000 live births
in 2000
All-time low
47.28 per 1,000 live births
in 2024
Years of data
25
2000–2024
Infant mortality rate in Sub-Saharan Africa, 2000–2024
Source: United Nations Statistics Division, SDG Global Database. Measured in per 1,000 live births.
Analysis
Sub-Saharan Africa recorded 47.28 per 1,000 live births for infant mortality rate in 2024. That is the lowest value across all 25 years on record.
The figure is down 2.3% on the previous year and down 14.6% over ten years.
Over the whole period, infant mortality rate in Sub-Saharan Africa peaked at 89.66 per 1,000 live births in 2000 and was at its lowest, 47.28 per 1,000 live births, in 2024.
That places Sub-Saharan Africa 1st out of 21 groups with data for 2024, putting it in the top 10%.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 25 years of available data.
Infant mortality rate in Sub-Saharan Africa, year by year
| Year | per 1,000 live births | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2000 | 89.66 per 1,000 live births | — |
| 2001 | 87.41 per 1,000 live births | -2.5% |
| 2002 | 83.31 per 1,000 live births | -4.7% |
| 2003 | 80.04 per 1,000 live births | -3.9% |
| 2004 | 76.81 per 1,000 live births | -4.0% |
| 2005 | 72.34 per 1,000 live births | -5.8% |
| 2006 | 69.49 per 1,000 live births | -3.9% |
| 2007 | 66.85 per 1,000 live births | -3.8% |
| 2008 | 64.4 per 1,000 live births | -3.7% |
| 2009 | 63.27 per 1,000 live births | -1.8% |
| 2010 | 60.81 per 1,000 live births | -3.9% |
| 2011 | 60.83 per 1,000 live births | +0.0% |
| 2012 | 57.44 per 1,000 live births | -5.6% |
| 2013 | 55.79 per 1,000 live births | -2.9% |
| 2014 | 55.35 per 1,000 live births | -0.8% |
| 2015 | 54.48 per 1,000 live births | -1.6% |
| 2016 | 53.72 per 1,000 live births | -1.4% |
| 2017 | 53.24 per 1,000 live births | -0.9% |
| 2018 | 51.38 per 1,000 live births | -3.5% |
| 2019 | 50.77 per 1,000 live births | -1.2% |
| 2020 | 49.89 per 1,000 live births | -1.7% |
| 2021 | 50.75 per 1,000 live births | +1.7% |
| 2022 | 51.21 per 1,000 live births | +0.9% |
| 2023 | 48.41 per 1,000 live births | -5.5% |
| 2024 | 47.28 per 1,000 live births | -2.3% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 75.36 per 1,000 live births | 63.27 per 1,000 live births | 89.66 per 1,000 live births | 10 |
| 2010s | 55.38 per 1,000 live births | 50.77 per 1,000 live births | 60.83 per 1,000 live births | 10 |
| 2020s | 49.51 per 1,000 live births | 47.28 per 1,000 live births | 51.21 per 1,000 live births | 5 |
Countries ranked near Sub-Saharan Africa
More health data for Sub-Saharan Africa
- Population ages 80 and above, male, annual growth rate 3.45 % change on previous year (2025)
- Population ages 75-79, male, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Population ages 75-79, male, per capita 0.0023 units per person (2025)
- Population ages 80 and above, female, annual growth rate 3.25 % change on previous year (2025)
- Population ages 80 and above, female, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Population ages 80 and above, female, per capita 0.0026 units per person (2025)
- Population ages 0-14, female, annual growth rate 1.61 % change on previous year (2025)
- Population ages 0-14, female, per capita 0.1997 units per person (2025)
- Population ages 0-14, female, per unit of GDP 0.0001 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Population ages 75-79, male, annual growth rate 3.5 % change on previous year (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is infant mortality rate in Sub-Saharan Africa?
- Infant mortality rate in Sub-Saharan Africa was 47.28 per 1,000 live births in 2024, according to United Nations Statistics Division, SDG Global Database.
- What is the highest infant mortality rate recorded in Sub-Saharan Africa?
- The highest recorded value was 89.66 per 1,000 live births in 2000.
- What is the lowest infant mortality rate recorded in Sub-Saharan Africa?
- The lowest recorded value was 47.28 per 1,000 live births in 2024.
- How does Sub-Saharan Africa rank for infant mortality rate?
- Sub-Saharan Africa ranks 1st out of 21 groups with data for 2024.
- Is infant mortality rate rising or falling in Sub-Saharan Africa?
- Over the last ten years it is down 14.6%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this Sub-Saharan Africa 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.
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