Infant mortality rate (UN IGME estimate, 2024) in New Zealand
New Zealand: Infant mortality rate (UN IGME estimate, 2024) was 4.02 in 2024. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2024)
4.02
Change on year
down 2.2%
World rank
163rd
of 201 countries
All-time high
28.96
in 1949
All-time low
4.02
in 2024
Years of data
76
1949–2024
Infant mortality rate in New Zealand, 1949–2024
Source: UNICEF.
Analysis
In 2024, infant mortality rate in New Zealand stood at 4.02. That is the lowest value across all 76 years on record.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 2.2% on the previous year and down 16.4% over ten years.
Over the whole period, infant mortality rate in New Zealand peaked at 28.96 in 1949 and was at its lowest, 4.02, in 2024.
New Zealand ranks 163rd of 201 countries on this measure, in the bottom quarter.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Infant mortality rate (UN IGME estimate, 2024) in New Zealand, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1949 | 28.96 | — |
| 1950 | 28.4 | -2.0% |
| 1951 | 27.8 | -2.1% |
| 1952 | 27.17 | -2.3% |
| 1953 | 26.5 | -2.5% |
| 1954 | 25.83 | -2.5% |
| 1955 | 25.24 | -2.3% |
| 1956 | 24.74 | -2.0% |
| 1957 | 24.27 | -1.9% |
| 1958 | 23.79 | -2.0% |
| 1959 | 23.23 | -2.4% |
| 1960 | 22.55 | -2.9% |
| 1961 | 21.75 | -3.5% |
| 1962 | 20.91 | -3.8% |
| 1963 | 20.11 | -3.8% |
| 1964 | 19.4 | -3.5% |
| 1965 | 18.8 | -3.1% |
| 1966 | 18.32 | -2.5% |
| 1967 | 17.94 | -2.1% |
| 1968 | 17.59 | -1.9% |
| 1969 | 17.26 | -1.9% |
| 1970 | 16.92 | -1.9% |
| 1971 | 16.57 | -2.1% |
| 1972 | 16.19 | -2.3% |
| 1973 | 15.81 | -2.4% |
| 1974 | 15.4 | -2.6% |
| 1975 | 14.96 | -2.9% |
| 1976 | 14.5 | -3.1% |
| 1977 | 14.04 | -3.2% |
| 1978 | 13.59 | -3.2% |
| 1979 | 13.17 | -3.1% |
| 1980 | 12.8 | -2.8% |
| 1981 | 12.47 | -2.6% |
| 1982 | 12.18 | -2.4% |
| 1983 | 11.89 | -2.3% |
| 1984 | 11.61 | -2.4% |
| 1985 | 11.31 | -2.6% |
| 1986 | 10.97 | -3.0% |
| 1987 | 10.58 | -3.5% |
| 1988 | 10.13 | -4.2% |
| 1989 | 9.65 | -4.8% |
| 1990 | 9.14 | -5.2% |
| 1991 | 8.65 | -5.4% |
| 1992 | 8.2 | -5.2% |
| 1993 | 7.8 | -4.9% |
| 1994 | 7.46 | -4.4% |
| 1995 | 7.15 | -4.1% |
| 1996 | 6.88 | -3.9% |
| 1997 | 6.63 | -3.5% |
| 1998 | 6.41 | -3.3% |
| 1999 | 6.22 | -3.0% |
| 2000 | 6.05 | -2.7% |
| 2001 | 5.91 | -2.4% |
| 2002 | 5.77 | -2.2% |
| 2003 | 5.65 | -2.1% |
| 2004 | 5.55 | -1.9% |
| 2005 | 5.46 | -1.6% |
| 2006 | 5.39 | -1.3% |
| 2007 | 5.32 | -1.1% |
| 2008 | 5.27 | -1.0% |
| 2009 | 5.22 | -1.0% |
| 2010 | 5.15 | -1.2% |
| 2011 | 5.08 | -1.4% |
| 2012 | 5 | -1.7% |
| 2013 | 4.9 | -1.8% |
| 2014 | 4.81 | -1.9% |
| 2015 | 4.71 | -2.0% |
| 2016 | 4.62 | -1.9% |
| 2017 | 4.54 | -1.8% |
| 2018 | 4.46 | -1.7% |
| 2019 | 4.39 | -1.5% |
| 2020 | 4.33 | -1.5% |
| 2021 | 4.26 | -1.5% |
| 2022 | 4.19 | -1.7% |
| 2023 | 4.11 | -1.9% |
| 2024 | 4.02 | -2.2% |
New Zealand compared with similar countries
- New Zealand's 4.02 is above the median for high income countries, which is 3.61, 1.1× the median. (65 countries reporting)
- New Zealand's 4.02 is below the median for East Asia & Pacific, which is 13.87, 29% of the median. (30 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1940s | 28.96 | 28.96 | 28.96 | 1 |
| 1950s | 25.7 | 23.23 | 28.4 | 10 |
| 1960s | 19.46 | 17.26 | 22.55 | 10 |
| 1970s | 15.12 | 13.17 | 16.92 | 10 |
| 1980s | 11.36 | 9.65 | 12.8 | 10 |
| 1990s | 7.46 | 6.22 | 9.14 | 10 |
| 2000s | 5.56 | 5.22 | 6.05 | 10 |
| 2010s | 4.77 | 4.39 | 5.15 | 10 |
| 2020s | 4.18 | 4.02 | 4.33 | 5 |
Countries ranked near New Zealand
More health data for New Zealand
- Un projection of annual infant deaths, annual growth rate -2.94 % change on previous year (2100)
- Heat deaths vs projected death rates, annual growth rate -0.4815 % change on previous year (2090)
- Un projection of annual infant deaths 33 (2100)
- Neonatal tetanus - number of reported cases, gaps filled 0 (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, female, annual growth rate -0.1187 % 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 0.0277 units per person (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, male, annual growth rate 0.018 % change on previous year (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, male, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, male, per capita 0.0291 units per person (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is infant mortality rate in New Zealand?
- Infant mortality rate in New Zealand was 4.02 in 2024, according to UNICEF.
- What is the highest infant mortality rate recorded in New Zealand?
- The highest recorded value was 28.96 in 1949.
- What is the lowest infant mortality rate recorded in New Zealand?
- The lowest recorded value was 4.02 in 2024.
- How does New Zealand rank for infant mortality rate?
- New Zealand ranks 163rd out of 201 countries with data for 2024.
- Is infant mortality rate rising or falling in New Zealand?
- Over the last ten years it is down 16.4%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this New Zealand 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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