Infant mortality rate (UN IGME estimate, 2024) in Kenya
Kenya: Infant mortality rate was 34.15 in 2024. ▼ Falling
Latest (2024)
34.15
Change on year
down 1.6%
World rank
37th
of 201 countries
All-time high
161.82
in 1953
All-time low
34.15
in 2024
Years of data
72
1953–2024
Infant mortality rate in Kenya, 1953–2024
Source: UNICEF.
Analysis
In 2024, infant mortality rate in Kenya stood at 34.15. That is the lowest value across all 72 years on record.
That represents a change of down 1.6% on the previous year and down 14.7% over ten years.
Over the whole period, infant mortality rate in Kenya peaked at 161.82 in 1953 and was at its lowest, 34.15, in 2024.
Kenya ranks 37th of 201 countries on this measure, in the top quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 72 years of available data.
Infant mortality rate in Kenya, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1953 | 161.82 | — |
| 1954 | 152.85 | -5.5% |
| 1955 | 144.75 | -5.3% |
| 1956 | 137.08 | -5.3% |
| 1957 | 130.06 | -5.1% |
| 1958 | 123.68 | -4.9% |
| 1959 | 117.87 | -4.7% |
| 1960 | 112.67 | -4.4% |
| 1961 | 108.12 | -4.0% |
| 1962 | 104.14 | -3.7% |
| 1963 | 100.75 | -3.3% |
| 1964 | 97.94 | -2.8% |
| 1965 | 95.74 | -2.3% |
| 1966 | 93.96 | -1.9% |
| 1967 | 92.36 | -1.7% |
| 1968 | 90.79 | -1.7% |
| 1969 | 89.21 | -1.7% |
| 1970 | 87.62 | -1.8% |
| 1971 | 86 | -1.9% |
| 1972 | 84.34 | -1.9% |
| 1973 | 82.55 | -2.1% |
| 1974 | 80.62 | -2.3% |
| 1975 | 78.68 | -2.4% |
| 1976 | 76.64 | -2.6% |
| 1977 | 74.59 | -2.7% |
| 1978 | 72.52 | -2.8% |
| 1979 | 70.53 | -2.8% |
| 1980 | 68.76 | -2.5% |
| 1981 | 67.08 | -2.4% |
| 1982 | 65.66 | -2.1% |
| 1983 | 64.41 | -1.9% |
| 1984 | 63.48 | -1.4% |
| 1985 | 62.97 | -0.8% |
| 1986 | 62.9 | -0.1% |
| 1987 | 63.34 | +0.7% |
| 1988 | 64.35 | +1.6% |
| 1989 | 65.8 | +2.3% |
| 1990 | 67.47 | +2.5% |
| 1991 | 69.07 | +2.4% |
| 1992 | 70.39 | +1.9% |
| 1993 | 71.16 | +1.1% |
| 1994 | 71.26 | +0.1% |
| 1995 | 70.87 | -0.5% |
| 1996 | 70.17 | -1.0% |
| 1997 | 69.15 | -1.5% |
| 1998 | 67.74 | -2.0% |
| 1999 | 66.01 | -2.6% |
| 2000 | 63.73 | -3.4% |
| 2001 | 61.16 | -4.0% |
| 2002 | 58.35 | -4.6% |
| 2003 | 55.51 | -4.9% |
| 2004 | 52.63 | -5.2% |
| 2005 | 49.53 | -5.9% |
| 2006 | 47.02 | -5.1% |
| 2007 | 45.01 | -4.3% |
| 2008 | 42.59 | -5.4% |
| 2009 | 42.1 | -1.2% |
| 2010 | 41.5 | -1.4% |
| 2011 | 40.99 | -1.2% |
| 2012 | 41.13 | +0.3% |
| 2013 | 40.69 | -1.1% |
| 2014 | 40.01 | -1.7% |
| 2015 | 38.94 | -2.7% |
| 2016 | 38.44 | -1.3% |
| 2017 | 38.24 | -0.5% |
| 2018 | 37.48 | -2.0% |
| 2019 | 36.95 | -1.4% |
| 2020 | 36.54 | -1.1% |
| 2021 | 36.04 | -1.4% |
| 2022 | 35.48 | -1.6% |
| 2023 | 34.7 | -2.2% |
| 2024 | 34.15 | -1.6% |
Kenya compared with similar countries
- Kenya's 34.15 is above the median for lower middle income countries, which is 28.71, 1.2× the median. (47 countries reporting)
- Kenya's 34.15 is below the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 37.19, 92% of the median. (48 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1950s | 138.3 | 117.87 | 161.82 | 7 |
| 1960s | 98.57 | 89.21 | 112.67 | 10 |
| 1970s | 79.41 | 70.53 | 87.62 | 10 |
| 1980s | 64.87 | 62.9 | 68.76 | 10 |
| 1990s | 69.33 | 66.01 | 71.26 | 10 |
| 2000s | 51.76 | 42.1 | 63.73 | 10 |
| 2010s | 39.44 | 36.95 | 41.5 | 10 |
| 2020s | 35.38 | 34.15 | 36.54 | 5 |
Countries ranked near Kenya
More health data for Kenya
- Un projection of annual infant deaths, annual growth rate -1.44 % change on previous year (2100)
- Heat deaths vs projected death rates, annual growth rate 0.6026 % change on previous year (2090)
- Estimated changes in temperature-related death rates compared to projected death rates 1,119 deaths per 1,000 people (2090)
- Number of infants who die before age 1 16,059 deaths (2100)
- Neonatal tetanus - number of reported cases, gaps filled 89 (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, female, annual growth rate 1.28 % 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 0.0621 units per person (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, male, annual growth rate 1.28 % 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 Kenya?
- Infant mortality rate in Kenya was 34.15 in 2024, according to UNICEF.
- What is the highest infant mortality rate recorded in Kenya?
- The highest recorded value was 161.82 in 1953.
- What is the lowest infant mortality rate recorded in Kenya?
- The lowest recorded value was 34.15 in 2024.
- How does Kenya rank for infant mortality rate?
- Kenya ranks 37th out of 201 countries with data for 2024.
- Is infant mortality rate rising or falling in Kenya?
- Over the last ten years it is down 14.7%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this Kenya 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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