Infant mortality rate (UN IGME estimate, 2024) in Botswana
Botswana: Infant mortality rate was 32.1 in 2024. ▼ Falling
Latest (2024)
32.1
Change on year
down 3.6%
World rank
43rd
of 201 countries
All-time high
134.37
in 1954
All-time low
32.1
in 2024
Years of data
71
1954–2024
Infant mortality rate in Botswana, 1954–2024
Source: UNICEF.
Analysis
In 2024, infant mortality rate in Botswana stood at 32.1. That is the lowest value across all 71 years on record.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 3.6% on the previous year and down 30.5% over ten years.
Over the whole period, infant mortality rate in Botswana peaked at 134.37 in 1954 and was at its lowest, 32.1, in 2024.
Botswana ranks 43rd of 201 countries on this measure, in the top quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 71 years of available data.
Infant mortality rate in Botswana, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1954 | 134.37 | — |
| 1955 | 131.38 | -2.2% |
| 1956 | 128.27 | -2.4% |
| 1957 | 125.68 | -2.0% |
| 1958 | 123.33 | -1.9% |
| 1959 | 120.52 | -2.3% |
| 1960 | 117.98 | -2.1% |
| 1961 | 115.39 | -2.2% |
| 1962 | 113.15 | -1.9% |
| 1963 | 110.94 | -2.0% |
| 1964 | 108.6 | -2.1% |
| 1965 | 106.51 | -1.9% |
| 1966 | 104.64 | -1.8% |
| 1967 | 102.57 | -2.0% |
| 1968 | 100.21 | -2.3% |
| 1969 | 97.79 | -2.4% |
| 1970 | 95.21 | -2.6% |
| 1971 | 92.34 | -3.0% |
| 1972 | 89.41 | -3.2% |
| 1973 | 86.32 | -3.5% |
| 1974 | 82.86 | -4.0% |
| 1975 | 79.21 | -4.4% |
| 1976 | 75.37 | -4.8% |
| 1977 | 71.25 | -5.5% |
| 1978 | 67.27 | -5.6% |
| 1979 | 63.53 | -5.6% |
| 1980 | 60.03 | -5.5% |
| 1981 | 56.9 | -5.2% |
| 1982 | 54.03 | -5.0% |
| 1983 | 51.6 | -4.5% |
| 1984 | 49.51 | -4.1% |
| 1985 | 47.48 | -4.1% |
| 1986 | 45.36 | -4.5% |
| 1987 | 43.36 | -4.4% |
| 1988 | 41.63 | -4.0% |
| 1989 | 40.52 | -2.7% |
| 1990 | 39.95 | -1.4% |
| 1991 | 39.81 | -0.4% |
| 1992 | 40.45 | +1.6% |
| 1993 | 41.23 | +1.9% |
| 1994 | 42.01 | +1.9% |
| 1995 | 40.6 | -3.4% |
| 1996 | 40.7 | +0.2% |
| 1997 | 40.43 | -0.6% |
| 1998 | 39.78 | -1.6% |
| 1999 | 39.9 | +0.3% |
| 2000 | 39.44 | -1.2% |
| 2001 | 39.04 | -1.0% |
| 2002 | 39.68 | +1.6% |
| 2003 | 41.45 | +4.5% |
| 2004 | 43.97 | +6.1% |
| 2005 | 43.61 | -0.8% |
| 2006 | 45.78 | +5.0% |
| 2007 | 50.3 | +9.9% |
| 2008 | 52.8 | +5.0% |
| 2009 | 52.49 | -0.6% |
| 2010 | 53.28 | +1.5% |
| 2011 | 54.32 | +2.0% |
| 2012 | 49.5 | -8.9% |
| 2013 | 47 | -5.0% |
| 2014 | 46.21 | -1.7% |
| 2015 | 44.16 | -4.4% |
| 2016 | 42.85 | -3.0% |
| 2017 | 40 | -6.6% |
| 2018 | 38.66 | -3.4% |
| 2019 | 37.4 | -3.2% |
| 2020 | 36.52 | -2.4% |
| 2021 | 35.36 | -3.2% |
| 2022 | 34.3 | -3.0% |
| 2023 | 33.29 | -2.9% |
| 2024 | 32.1 | -3.6% |
Botswana compared with similar countries
- Botswana's 32.1 is above the median for upper middle income countries, which is 11.59, 2.8× the median. (58 countries reporting)
- Botswana's 32.1 is below the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 37.19, 86% of the median. (48 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1950s | 127.26 | 120.52 | 134.37 | 6 |
| 1960s | 107.78 | 97.79 | 117.98 | 10 |
| 1970s | 80.28 | 63.53 | 95.21 | 10 |
| 1980s | 49.04 | 40.52 | 60.03 | 10 |
| 1990s | 40.49 | 39.78 | 42.01 | 10 |
| 2000s | 44.86 | 39.04 | 52.8 | 10 |
| 2010s | 45.34 | 37.4 | 54.32 | 10 |
| 2020s | 34.31 | 32.1 | 36.52 | 5 |
Countries ranked near Botswana
More health data for Botswana
- Un projection of annual infant deaths, annual growth rate -1.75 % change on previous year (2100)
- Heat deaths vs projected death rates, annual growth rate 0.2265 % change on previous year (2090)
- Estimated changes in temperature-related death rates compared to projected death rates 1,150 deaths per 1,000 people (2090)
- Number of infants who die before age 1 281 deaths (2100)
- Neonatal tetanus - number of reported cases, gaps filled 0 (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, female, annual growth rate 0.6484 % change on previous year (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, female, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, female, per capita 0.0579 units per person (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, male, annual growth rate 0.9109 % change on previous year (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, male, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is infant mortality rate in Botswana?
- Infant mortality rate in Botswana was 32.1 in 2024, according to UNICEF.
- What is the highest infant mortality rate recorded in Botswana?
- The highest recorded value was 134.37 in 1954.
- What is the lowest infant mortality rate recorded in Botswana?
- The lowest recorded value was 32.1 in 2024.
- How does Botswana rank for infant mortality rate?
- Botswana ranks 43rd out of 201 countries with data for 2024.
- Is infant mortality rate rising or falling in Botswana?
- Over the last ten years it is down 30.5%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this Botswana data come from?
- The figures come from UNICEF, published as part of Infant mortality rate (UN IGME estimate, 2024). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
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