Infant mortality rate by sex in Saudi Arabia
Saudi Arabia: Infant mortality rate by sex was 0.4414 deaths per 100 live births in 2024. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2024)
0.4414 deaths per 100 live births
Change on year
down 3.7%
World rank
151st
of 199 countries
All-time high
14.18 deaths per 100 live births
in 1972
All-time low
0.4414 deaths per 100 live births
in 2024
Years of data
53
1972–2024
Infant mortality rate by sex in Saudi Arabia, 1972–2024
Source: United Nations Inter-agency Group for Child Mortality Estimation (2025) – processed by Our World in Data. Measured in deaths per 100 live births.
Analysis
The most recent figure for infant mortality rate by sex in Saudi Arabia is 0.4414 deaths per 100 live births, measured in 2024. That is the lowest value across all 53 years on record.
The figure is down 3.7% on the previous year and down 40.1% over ten years.
Over the whole period, infant mortality rate by sex in Saudi Arabia peaked at 14.18 deaths per 100 live births in 1972 and was at its lowest, 0.4414 deaths per 100 live births, in 2024.
Saudi Arabia ranks 151st of 199 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 by sex in Saudi Arabia, year by year
| Year | deaths per 100 live births | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1972 | 14.18 deaths per 100 live births | — |
| 1973 | 13.23 deaths per 100 live births | -6.7% |
| 1974 | 12.36 deaths per 100 live births | -6.5% |
| 1975 | 11.54 deaths per 100 live births | -6.6% |
| 1976 | 10.76 deaths per 100 live births | -6.7% |
| 1977 | 10.03 deaths per 100 live births | -6.8% |
| 1978 | 9.35 deaths per 100 live births | -6.8% |
| 1979 | 8.71 deaths per 100 live births | -6.8% |
| 1980 | 8.11 deaths per 100 live births | -6.9% |
| 1981 | 7.54 deaths per 100 live births | -7.0% |
| 1982 | 7.01 deaths per 100 live births | -6.9% |
| 1983 | 6.5 deaths per 100 live births | -7.3% |
| 1984 | 6.03 deaths per 100 live births | -7.3% |
| 1985 | 5.58 deaths per 100 live births | -7.4% |
| 1986 | 5.17 deaths per 100 live births | -7.4% |
| 1987 | 4.79 deaths per 100 live births | -7.4% |
| 1988 | 4.42 deaths per 100 live births | -7.7% |
| 1989 | 4.07 deaths per 100 live births | -7.9% |
| 1990 | 3.76 deaths per 100 live births | -7.7% |
| 1991 | 3.47 deaths per 100 live births | -7.7% |
| 1992 | 3.2 deaths per 100 live births | -7.7% |
| 1993 | 2.96 deaths per 100 live births | -7.4% |
| 1994 | 2.75 deaths per 100 live births | -7.2% |
| 1995 | 2.56 deaths per 100 live births | -7.0% |
| 1996 | 2.38 deaths per 100 live births | -6.8% |
| 1997 | 2.22 deaths per 100 live births | -6.8% |
| 1998 | 2.08 deaths per 100 live births | -6.4% |
| 1999 | 1.95 deaths per 100 live births | -6.2% |
| 2000 | 1.83 deaths per 100 live births | -6.1% |
| 2001 | 1.72 deaths per 100 live births | -5.9% |
| 2002 | 1.62 deaths per 100 live births | -6.0% |
| 2003 | 1.53 deaths per 100 live births | -5.8% |
| 2004 | 1.44 deaths per 100 live births | -5.9% |
| 2005 | 1.35 deaths per 100 live births | -6.1% |
| 2006 | 1.27 deaths per 100 live births | -6.2% |
| 2007 | 1.19 deaths per 100 live births | -6.3% |
| 2008 | 1.11 deaths per 100 live births | -6.3% |
| 2009 | 1.04 deaths per 100 live births | -6.5% |
| 2010 | 0.9711 deaths per 100 live births | -6.5% |
| 2011 | 0.9047 deaths per 100 live births | -6.8% |
| 2012 | 0.8448 deaths per 100 live births | -6.6% |
| 2013 | 0.7904 deaths per 100 live births | -6.4% |
| 2014 | 0.7369 deaths per 100 live births | -6.8% |
| 2015 | 0.6906 deaths per 100 live births | -6.3% |
| 2016 | 0.6443 deaths per 100 live births | -6.7% |
| 2017 | 0.6062 deaths per 100 live births | -5.9% |
| 2018 | 0.5705 deaths per 100 live births | -5.9% |
| 2019 | 0.54 deaths per 100 live births | -5.3% |
| 2020 | 0.5172 deaths per 100 live births | -4.2% |
| 2021 | 0.4957 deaths per 100 live births | -4.2% |
| 2022 | 0.4758 deaths per 100 live births | -4.0% |
| 2023 | 0.4582 deaths per 100 live births | -3.7% |
| 2024 | 0.4414 deaths per 100 live births | -3.7% |
Saudi Arabia compared with similar countries
- Saudi Arabia's 0.4414 deaths per 100 live births is above the median for high income countries, which is 0.3234 deaths per 100 live births, 1.4× the median. (65 countries reporting)
- Saudi Arabia's 0.4414 deaths per 100 live births is below the median for Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan, which is 1.08 deaths per 100 live births, 41% of the median. (23 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 11.27 deaths per 100 live births | 8.71 deaths per 100 live births | 14.18 deaths per 100 live births | 8 |
| 1980s | 5.92 deaths per 100 live births | 4.07 deaths per 100 live births | 8.11 deaths per 100 live births | 10 |
| 1990s | 2.73 deaths per 100 live births | 1.95 deaths per 100 live births | 3.76 deaths per 100 live births | 10 |
| 2000s | 1.41 deaths per 100 live births | 1.04 deaths per 100 live births | 1.83 deaths per 100 live births | 10 |
| 2010s | 0.7299 deaths per 100 live births | 0.54 deaths per 100 live births | 0.9711 deaths per 100 live births | 10 |
| 2020s | 0.4777 deaths per 100 live births | 0.4414 deaths per 100 live births | 0.5172 deaths per 100 live births | 5 |
Countries ranked near Saudi Arabia
- 148 Slovak Republic 0.4719 deaths per 100 live births compare
- 149 Sri Lanka 0.4591 deaths per 100 live births compare
- 150 Qatar 0.4561 deaths per 100 live births compare
- 152 Malta 0.4367 deaths per 100 live births compare
- 153 Maldives 0.4339 deaths per 100 live births compare
- 154 Canada 0.4322 deaths per 100 live births compare
More health data for Saudi Arabia
- Un projection of annual infant deaths, annual growth rate -0.8373 % change on previous year (2100)
- Heat deaths vs projected death rates, annual growth rate 0.3736 % change on previous year (2090)
- Number of infants who die before age 1 829 deaths (2100)
- Neonatal tetanus - number of reported cases, gaps filled 1 (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, female, annual growth rate 5.31 % 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 0.0384 units per person (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, male, annual growth rate 5.38 % 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 0.0401 units per person (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is infant mortality rate by sex in Saudi Arabia?
- Infant mortality rate by sex in Saudi Arabia was 0.4414 deaths per 100 live births in 2024, according to United Nations Inter-agency Group for Child Mortality Estimation (2025) – processed by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest infant mortality rate by sex recorded in Saudi Arabia?
- The highest recorded value was 14.18 deaths per 100 live births in 1972.
- What is the lowest infant mortality rate by sex recorded in Saudi Arabia?
- The lowest recorded value was 0.4414 deaths per 100 live births in 2024.
- How does Saudi Arabia rank for infant mortality rate by sex?
- Saudi Arabia ranks 151st out of 199 countries with data for 2024.
- Is infant mortality rate by sex rising or falling in Saudi Arabia?
- Over the last ten years it is down 40.1%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Saudi Arabia data come from?
- The figures come from United Nations Inter-agency Group for Child Mortality Estimation (2025) – processed by Our World in Data, published as part of Infant mortality rate by sex. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Estimated number of deaths of female children aged under one year, per 100 live births .