Infant mortality rate (UN IGME estimate, 2024) in Malawi
Malawi: Infant mortality rate was 37.96 in 2024. ▼ Falling
Infant mortality rate in Malawi, 1961–2024
Source: UNICEF.
Analysis
In 2024, infant mortality rate in Malawi stood at 37.96. That is the lowest value across all 64 years on record.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 1.1% on the previous year and down 7.6% over ten years.
Over the whole period, infant mortality rate in Malawi peaked at 165.86 in 1969 and was at its lowest, 37.96, in 2024.
That places Malawi 29th out of 201 countries with data for 2024, putting it in the top quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 64 years of available data.
Infant mortality rate in Malawi, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1961 | 163.82 | — |
| 1962 | 164.14 | +0.2% |
| 1963 | 164.54 | +0.2% |
| 1964 | 164.69 | +0.1% |
| 1965 | 165.21 | +0.3% |
| 1966 | 165.39 | +0.1% |
| 1967 | 165.68 | +0.2% |
| 1968 | 165.73 | +0.0% |
| 1969 | 165.86 | +0.1% |
| 1970 | 165.12 | -0.5% |
| 1971 | 163.64 | -0.9% |
| 1972 | 161.45 | -1.3% |
| 1973 | 158.7 | -1.7% |
| 1974 | 155.44 | -2.1% |
| 1975 | 151.81 | -2.3% |
| 1976 | 148.08 | -2.5% |
| 1977 | 144.21 | -2.6% |
| 1978 | 140.09 | -2.9% |
| 1979 | 135.96 | -2.9% |
| 1980 | 132.52 | -2.5% |
| 1981 | 130.01 | -1.9% |
| 1982 | 128.93 | -0.8% |
| 1983 | 129.51 | +0.4% |
| 1984 | 131.69 | +1.7% |
| 1985 | 134.57 | +2.2% |
| 1986 | 137.06 | +1.9% |
| 1987 | 138.34 | +0.9% |
| 1988 | 138.37 | +0.0% |
| 1989 | 136.74 | -1.2% |
| 1990 | 134.01 | -2.0% |
| 1991 | 130.48 | -2.6% |
| 1992 | 126.41 | -3.1% |
| 1993 | 122.57 | -3.0% |
| 1994 | 119.09 | -2.8% |
| 1995 | 115.83 | -2.7% |
| 1996 | 113.62 | -1.9% |
| 1997 | 111.65 | -1.7% |
| 1998 | 108.95 | -2.4% |
| 1999 | 104.52 | -4.1% |
| 2000 | 98.92 | -5.4% |
| 2001 | 138.5 | +40.0% |
| 2002 | 83.83 | -39.5% |
| 2003 | 76.43 | -8.8% |
| 2004 | 70.1 | -8.3% |
| 2005 | 65.15 | -7.1% |
| 2006 | 61.57 | -5.5% |
| 2007 | 59.07 | -4.1% |
| 2008 | 56.02 | -5.2% |
| 2009 | 53.69 | -4.2% |
| 2010 | 51.53 | -4.0% |
| 2011 | 48.01 | -6.8% |
| 2012 | 45.15 | -6.0% |
| 2013 | 42.63 | -5.6% |
| 2014 | 41.1 | -3.6% |
| 2015 | 39.74 | -3.3% |
| 2016 | 39.11 | -1.6% |
| 2017 | 38.51 | -1.5% |
| 2018 | 38 | -1.3% |
| 2019 | 38.31 | +0.8% |
| 2020 | 38.2 | -0.3% |
| 2021 | 38.34 | +0.4% |
| 2022 | 38.62 | +0.7% |
| 2023 | 38.37 | -0.6% |
| 2024 | 37.96 | -1.1% |
Malawi compared with similar countries
- Malawi's 37.96 is below the median for low income countries, which is 42.97, 88% of the median. (25 countries reporting)
- Malawi's 37.96 is above the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 37.19, 1.0× the median. (48 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Infant mortality rate in Malawi changed far more than this series normally does. A large move can be a real event or a change in how the figure was measured — the source note below says who published it.
| Year | Change | From | To |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2001 | +40.0% | 98.92 | 138.5 |
| 2002 | -39.5% | 138.5 | 83.83 |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 165.01 | 163.82 | 165.86 | 9 |
| 1970s | 152.45 | 135.96 | 165.12 | 10 |
| 1980s | 133.78 | 128.93 | 138.37 | 10 |
| 1990s | 118.71 | 104.52 | 134.01 | 10 |
| 2000s | 76.33 | 53.69 | 138.5 | 10 |
| 2010s | 42.21 | 38 | 51.53 | 10 |
| 2020s | 38.3 | 37.96 | 38.62 | 5 |
Countries ranked near Malawi
More health data for Malawi
- Un projection of annual infant deaths, annual growth rate -0.8368 % change on previous year (2100)
- Heat deaths vs projected death rates, annual growth rate 0.9312 % change on previous year (2090)
- Estimated changes in temperature-related death rates compared to projected death rates 856.3 deaths per 1,000 people (2090)
- Number of infants who die before age 1 6,399 deaths (2100)
- Neonatal tetanus - number of reported cases, gaps filled 2 (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, female, annual growth rate 1.61 % change on previous year (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, female, per unit of GDP 0.0001 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, female, per capita 0.0714 units per person (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, male, annual growth rate 1.63 % change on previous year (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, male, per unit of GDP 0.0001 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is infant mortality rate in Malawi?
- Infant mortality rate in Malawi was 37.96 in 2024, according to UNICEF.
- What is the highest infant mortality rate recorded in Malawi?
- The highest recorded value was 165.86 in 1969.
- What is the lowest infant mortality rate recorded in Malawi?
- The lowest recorded value was 37.96 in 2024.
- How does Malawi rank for infant mortality rate?
- Malawi ranks 29th out of 201 countries with data for 2024.
- Is infant mortality rate rising or falling in Malawi?
- Over the last ten years it is down 7.6%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this Malawi 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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