Infant mortality rate (UN IGME estimate, 2024) in India
India: Infant mortality rate was 23.35 in 2024. ▼ Falling
Latest (2024)
23.35
Change on year
down 4.6%
World rank
61st
of 201 countries
All-time high
166.67
in 1953
All-time low
23.35
in 2024
Years of data
72
1953–2024
Infant mortality rate in India, 1953–2024
Source: UNICEF.
Analysis
The most recent figure for infant mortality rate in India is 23.35, measured in 2024. That is the lowest value across all 72 years on record.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 4.6% on the previous year and down 38.9% over ten years.
Over the whole period, infant mortality rate in India peaked at 166.67 in 1953 and was at its lowest, 23.35, in 2024.
That places India 61st out of 201 countries with data for 2024, putting it in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 72 years of available data.
Infant mortality rate in India, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1953 | 166.67 | — |
| 1954 | 164.25 | -1.5% |
| 1955 | 161.7 | -1.6% |
| 1956 | 159.26 | -1.5% |
| 1957 | 156.91 | -1.5% |
| 1958 | 154.64 | -1.4% |
| 1959 | 152.45 | -1.4% |
| 1960 | 150.38 | -1.4% |
| 1961 | 148.43 | -1.3% |
| 1962 | 146.62 | -1.2% |
| 1963 | 144.97 | -1.1% |
| 1964 | 143.47 | -1.0% |
| 1965 | 141.96 | -1.1% |
| 1966 | 140.53 | -1.0% |
| 1967 | 139.21 | -0.9% |
| 1968 | 137.91 | -0.9% |
| 1969 | 136.39 | -1.1% |
| 1970 | 134.82 | -1.1% |
| 1971 | 133.15 | -1.2% |
| 1972 | 131.24 | -1.4% |
| 1973 | 129.04 | -1.7% |
| 1974 | 126.7 | -1.8% |
| 1975 | 124 | -2.1% |
| 1976 | 121.08 | -2.3% |
| 1977 | 117.94 | -2.6% |
| 1978 | 114.67 | -2.8% |
| 1979 | 111.38 | -2.9% |
| 1980 | 108.21 | -2.8% |
| 1981 | 105.2 | -2.8% |
| 1982 | 102.41 | -2.7% |
| 1983 | 99.83 | -2.5% |
| 1984 | 97.46 | -2.4% |
| 1985 | 95.16 | -2.4% |
| 1986 | 92.97 | -2.3% |
| 1987 | 90.76 | -2.4% |
| 1988 | 88.57 | -2.4% |
| 1989 | 86.44 | -2.4% |
| 1990 | 84.4 | -2.4% |
| 1991 | 82.49 | -2.3% |
| 1992 | 80.69 | -2.2% |
| 1993 | 78.98 | -2.1% |
| 1994 | 77.32 | -2.1% |
| 1995 | 75.62 | -2.2% |
| 1996 | 73.87 | -2.3% |
| 1997 | 72.06 | -2.5% |
| 1998 | 70.19 | -2.6% |
| 1999 | 68.27 | -2.7% |
| 2000 | 66.31 | -2.9% |
| 2001 | 64.32 | -3.0% |
| 2002 | 62.35 | -3.1% |
| 2003 | 60.4 | -3.1% |
| 2004 | 58.46 | -3.2% |
| 2005 | 56.52 | -3.3% |
| 2006 | 54.54 | -3.5% |
| 2007 | 52.53 | -3.7% |
| 2008 | 50.47 | -3.9% |
| 2009 | 48.39 | -4.1% |
| 2010 | 46.29 | -4.3% |
| 2011 | 44.21 | -4.5% |
| 2012 | 42.16 | -4.6% |
| 2013 | 40.14 | -4.8% |
| 2014 | 38.2 | -4.8% |
| 2015 | 36.33 | -4.9% |
| 2016 | 34.55 | -4.9% |
| 2017 | 32.87 | -4.9% |
| 2018 | 31.28 | -4.9% |
| 2019 | 29.76 | -4.8% |
| 2020 | 28.33 | -4.8% |
| 2021 | 26.96 | -4.8% |
| 2022 | 25.68 | -4.8% |
| 2023 | 24.47 | -4.7% |
| 2024 | 23.35 | -4.6% |
India compared with similar countries
- India's 23.35 is below the median for lower middle income countries, which is 28.71, 81% of the median. (47 countries reporting)
- India's 23.35 is above the median for South Asia, which is 17.96, 1.3× the median. (6 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1950s | 159.41 | 152.45 | 166.67 | 7 |
| 1960s | 142.99 | 136.39 | 150.38 | 10 |
| 1970s | 124.4 | 111.38 | 134.82 | 10 |
| 1980s | 96.7 | 86.44 | 108.21 | 10 |
| 1990s | 76.39 | 68.27 | 84.4 | 10 |
| 2000s | 57.43 | 48.39 | 66.31 | 10 |
| 2010s | 37.58 | 29.76 | 46.29 | 10 |
| 2020s | 25.76 | 23.35 | 28.33 | 5 |
Countries ranked near India
- 58 South Africa 24.21 compare
- 59 Fiji 23.52 compare
- 60 Tajikistan 23.48 compare
- 62 Guyana 23.24 compare
- 63 Marshall Islands 22.68 compare
- 64 Nepal 22.24 compare
More health data for India
- Un projection of annual infant deaths, annual growth rate -2.12 % change on previous year (2100)
- Heat deaths vs projected death rates, annual growth rate 0.4372 % change on previous year (2090)
- Estimated changes in temperature-related death rates compared to projected death rates 1,332 deaths per 1,000 people (2090)
- Number of infants who die before age 1 44,822 deaths (2100)
- Neonatal tetanus - number of reported cases, gaps filled 38 (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, female, annual growth rate -0.3809 % 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 0.0372 units per person (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, male, annual growth rate -0.5922 % 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 India?
- Infant mortality rate in India was 23.35 in 2024, according to UNICEF.
- What is the highest infant mortality rate recorded in India?
- The highest recorded value was 166.67 in 1953.
- What is the lowest infant mortality rate recorded in India?
- The lowest recorded value was 23.35 in 2024.
- How does India rank for infant mortality rate?
- India ranks 61st out of 201 countries with data for 2024.
- Is infant mortality rate rising or falling in India?
- Over the last ten years it is down 38.9%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this India 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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