Infant mortality rate in Malawi
Malawi: Infant mortality rate was 37.96 in 2024. ▼ Falling
Latest (2024)
37.96
Change on year
down 1.1%
World rank
29th
of 201 countries
All-time high
165.86
in 1969
All-time low
37.96
in 2024
Years of data
64
1961–2024
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% |
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)
- Heat deaths vs projected death rates 856.3 (2090)
- Un projection of annual infant deaths 6,399 (2100)
- Population ages 65 and above, total, annual growth rate 2.69 % change on previous year (2025)
- Population ages 65 and above, total, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Population ages 65 and above, total, per capita 0.0259 units per person (2025)
- Population, female, annual growth rate 2.56 % change on previous year (2025)
- Population, female, per unit of GDP 0.0008 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Population, female, per capita 0.5119 units per person (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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