Infant mortality rate in Sub-Saharan Africa
Sub-Saharan Africa: Infant mortality rate was 47.28 in 2024. ▼ Falling
Infant mortality rate in Sub-Saharan Africa, 1990–2024
Source: UNICEF.
Analysis
In 2024, infant mortality rate in Sub-Saharan Africa stood at 47.28. That is the lowest value across all 35 years on record.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 2.3% on the previous year and down 14.6% over ten years.
Over the whole period, infant mortality rate in Sub-Saharan Africa peaked at 103.68 in 1991 and was at its lowest, 47.28, in 2024.
That places Sub-Saharan Africa 2nd out of 33 groups with data for 2024, putting it in the top 10%.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 35 years of available data.
Infant mortality rate in Sub-Saharan Africa, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1990 | 102.82 | — |
| 1991 | 103.68 | +0.8% |
| 1992 | 103.12 | -0.5% |
| 1993 | 102.29 | -0.8% |
| 1994 | 100.88 | -1.4% |
| 1995 | 98.36 | -2.5% |
| 1996 | 99.25 | +0.9% |
| 1997 | 97.47 | -1.8% |
| 1998 | 96.13 | -1.4% |
| 1999 | 92.44 | -3.8% |
| 2000 | 89.66 | -3.0% |
| 2001 | 87.41 | -2.5% |
| 2002 | 83.31 | -4.7% |
| 2003 | 80.04 | -3.9% |
| 2004 | 76.81 | -4.0% |
| 2005 | 72.34 | -5.8% |
| 2006 | 69.49 | -3.9% |
| 2007 | 66.85 | -3.8% |
| 2008 | 64.4 | -3.7% |
| 2009 | 63.27 | -1.8% |
| 2010 | 60.81 | -3.9% |
| 2011 | 60.83 | +0.0% |
| 2012 | 57.44 | -5.6% |
| 2013 | 55.79 | -2.9% |
| 2014 | 55.35 | -0.8% |
| 2015 | 54.48 | -1.6% |
| 2016 | 53.72 | -1.4% |
| 2017 | 53.24 | -0.9% |
| 2018 | 51.38 | -3.5% |
| 2019 | 50.77 | -1.2% |
| 2020 | 49.89 | -1.7% |
| 2021 | 50.75 | +1.7% |
| 2022 | 51.21 | +0.9% |
| 2023 | 48.41 | -5.5% |
| 2024 | 47.28 | -2.3% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 99.64 | 92.44 | 103.68 | 10 |
| 2000s | 75.36 | 63.27 | 89.66 | 10 |
| 2010s | 55.38 | 50.77 | 60.83 | 10 |
| 2020s | 49.51 | 47.28 | 51.21 | 5 |
Countries ranked near Sub-Saharan Africa
More health data for Sub-Saharan Africa
- Population ages 0-14, total, per capita 0.4038 units per person (2025)
- Population ages 15-64, total, annual growth rate 3 % change on previous year (2025)
- Population ages 15-64, male, per capita 0.2801 units per person (2025)
- Population ages 15-64, male, per unit of GDP 0.0002 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Population ages 15-64, male, annual growth rate 3.04 % change on previous year (2025)
- Population ages 15-64, female, per capita 0.2837 units per person (2025)
- Population ages 15-64, female, per unit of GDP 0.0002 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Population ages 15-64, female, annual growth rate 2.96 % change on previous year (2025)
- Population ages 0-14, male, annual growth rate 1.63 % change on previous year (2025)
- Population ages 0-14, male, per unit of GDP 0.0001 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is infant mortality rate in Sub-Saharan Africa?
- Infant mortality rate in Sub-Saharan Africa was 47.28 in 2024, according to UNICEF.
- What is the highest infant mortality rate recorded in Sub-Saharan Africa?
- The highest recorded value was 103.68 in 1991.
- What is the lowest infant mortality rate recorded in Sub-Saharan Africa?
- The lowest recorded value was 47.28 in 2024.
- How does Sub-Saharan Africa rank for infant mortality rate?
- Sub-Saharan Africa ranks 2nd out of 33 groups with data for 2024.
- Is infant mortality rate rising or falling in Sub-Saharan Africa?
- Over the last ten years it is down 14.6%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this Sub-Saharan Africa 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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