Infant mortality rate in Eastern and Southern Africa

Eastern and Southern Africa: Infant mortality rate was 37.3 in 2024. ▼ Falling

Latest (2024)
37.3
Change on year
down 3.6%
Rank
6th
of 33 groups
All-time high
102.98
in 1991
All-time low
37.3
in 2024
Years of data
35
1990–2024

Infant mortality rate in Eastern and Southern Africa, 1990–2024

02550751001990200720241990: 100.81991: 1031992: 102.41993: 101.31994: 99.11995: 95.11996: 93.81997: 91.81998: 93.41999: 86.72000: 83.72001: 82.12002: 772003: 73.62004: 70.52005: 67.22006: 63.62007: 60.72008: 582009: 55.72010: 54.22011: 55.82012: 50.32013: 482014: 47.72015: 46.92016: 462017: 45.32018: 42.22019: 40.72020: 39.92021: 41.62022: 41.62023: 38.72024: 37.3

Source: UNICEF.

Analysis

The most recent figure for infant mortality rate in Eastern and Southern Africa is 37.3, measured in 2024. That is the lowest value across all 35 years on record.

Compared with earlier readings it is down 3.6% on the previous year and down 21.7% over ten years.

Over the whole period, infant mortality rate in Eastern and Southern Africa peaked at 102.98 in 1991 and was at its lowest, 37.3, in 2024.

That places Eastern and Southern Africa 6th out of 33 groups with data for 2024, putting it in the top quarter.

The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 35 years of available data.

Infant mortality rate in Eastern and Southern Africa, year by year

Annual values for Infant mortality rate (UN IGME estimate, 2024) in Eastern and Southern Africa, 1990 to 2024.
Year Value Change
1990 100.76
1991 102.98 +2.2%
1992 102.37 -0.6%
1993 101.28 -1.1%
1994 99.14 -2.1%
1995 95.15 -4.0%
1996 93.78 -1.4%
1997 91.84 -2.1%
1998 93.41 +1.7%
1999 86.7 -7.2%
2000 83.74 -3.4%
2001 82.12 -1.9%
2002 77.05 -6.2%
2003 73.56 -4.5%
2004 70.5 -4.1%
2005 67.15 -4.8%
2006 63.61 -5.3%
2007 60.72 -4.6%
2008 58 -4.5%
2009 55.68 -4.0%
2010 54.19 -2.7%
2011 55.78 +2.9%
2012 50.27 -9.9%
2013 47.99 -4.5%
2014 47.65 -0.7%
2015 46.94 -1.5%
2016 46 -2.0%
2017 45.33 -1.5%
2018 42.17 -7.0%
2019 40.66 -3.6%
2020 39.91 -1.8%
2021 41.55 +4.1%
2022 41.55 +0.0%
2023 38.71 -6.9%
2024 37.3 -3.6%

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
1990s 96.74 86.7 102.98 10
2000s 69.21 55.68 83.74 10
2010s 47.7 40.66 55.78 10
2020s 39.81 37.3 41.55 5

Countries ranked near Eastern and Southern Africa

  1. 3 Niger 65.62 compare
  2. 4 Somalia 65.4 compare
  3. 5 Liberia 63.25 compare
  4. 6 Zimbabwe 62.44 compare
  5. 7 Guinea 59.82 compare
  6. 8 Central African Republic 58.83 compare
  7. 9 Congo, Democratic Republic of the 56.42 compare

See the full ranking of 235 places →

More health data for Eastern and Southern Africa

All data for Eastern and Southern Africa →

Frequently asked questions

What is infant mortality rate in Eastern and Southern Africa?
Infant mortality rate in Eastern and Southern Africa was 37.3 in 2024, according to UNICEF.
What is the highest infant mortality rate recorded in Eastern and Southern Africa?
The highest recorded value was 102.98 in 1991.
What is the lowest infant mortality rate recorded in Eastern and Southern Africa?
The lowest recorded value was 37.3 in 2024.
How does Eastern and Southern Africa rank for infant mortality rate?
Eastern and Southern Africa ranks 6th out of 33 groups with data for 2024.
Is infant mortality rate rising or falling in Eastern and Southern Africa?
Over the last ten years it is down 21.7%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
Where does this Eastern and Southern Africa 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.

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Infant mortality rate in Eastern and Southern Africa. Statizoid, drawing on UNICEF. Retrieved 08 September 2026, from https://health.statizoid.com/stat/infant-mortality-rate-un-igme-estimate-2024/eastern-and-southern-africa/

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About this data

Indicator
Infant mortality rate (UN IGME estimate, 2024)
Source
UNICEF
Licence
UNICEF Terms of Use (attribution required)
Coverage
235 places, 14,450 data points, 1931–2024
Last refreshed