Infant mortality rates (Our World) in Australia
Australia: Infant mortality rates (Our World) was 0.3191 in 2023. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2023)
0.3191
Change on year
down 12.4%
World rank
204th
of 236 countries
All-time high
2.51
in 1951
All-time low
0.3055
in 2016
Years of data
74
1950–2023
Infant mortality rates in Australia, 1950–2023
Source: Our World in Data.
Analysis
In 2023, infant mortality rates in Australia stood at 0.3191.
The figure is down 12.4% on the previous year and down 12.6% over ten years.
Over the whole period, infant mortality rates in Australia peaked at 2.51 in 1951 and was at its lowest, 0.3055, in 2016.
That places Australia 204th out of 236 countries with data for 2023, putting it in the bottom quarter.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Infant mortality rates (Our World) in Australia, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1950 | 2.49 | — |
| 1951 | 2.51 | +1.1% |
| 1952 | 2.41 | -4.0% |
| 1953 | 2.33 | -3.5% |
| 1954 | 2.23 | -4.3% |
| 1955 | 2.21 | -0.8% |
| 1956 | 2.18 | -1.5% |
| 1957 | 2.18 | -0.1% |
| 1958 | 2.06 | -5.5% |
| 1959 | 2.16 | +4.8% |
| 1960 | 2.01 | -6.9% |
| 1961 | 1.98 | -1.3% |
| 1962 | 2.03 | +2.2% |
| 1963 | 1.95 | -3.7% |
| 1964 | 1.87 | -4.4% |
| 1965 | 1.85 | -0.7% |
| 1966 | 1.82 | -2.0% |
| 1967 | 1.8 | -0.8% |
| 1968 | 1.8 | +0.0% |
| 1969 | 1.85 | +2.3% |
| 1970 | 1.86 | +0.5% |
| 1971 | 1.78 | -4.3% |
| 1972 | 1.66 | -6.6% |
| 1973 | 1.57 | -5.2% |
| 1974 | 1.58 | +0.3% |
| 1975 | 1.38 | -12.2% |
| 1976 | 1.36 | -2.0% |
| 1977 | 1.24 | -8.8% |
| 1978 | 1.22 | -1.6% |
| 1979 | 1.11 | -8.9% |
| 1980 | 1.06 | -4.4% |
| 1981 | 1.04 | -2.1% |
| 1982 | 1.01 | -2.7% |
| 1983 | 0.9671 | -4.3% |
| 1984 | 0.9433 | -2.5% |
| 1985 | 0.9838 | +4.3% |
| 1986 | 0.8829 | -10.3% |
| 1987 | 0.8962 | +1.5% |
| 1988 | 0.8205 | -8.4% |
| 1989 | 0.8486 | +3.4% |
| 1990 | 0.7917 | -6.7% |
| 1991 | 0.6861 | -13.3% |
| 1992 | 0.6905 | +0.6% |
| 1993 | 0.6032 | -12.6% |
| 1994 | 0.5951 | -1.3% |
| 1995 | 0.5657 | -4.9% |
| 1996 | 0.5725 | +1.2% |
| 1997 | 0.5508 | -3.8% |
| 1998 | 0.5024 | -8.8% |
| 1999 | 0.5683 | +13.1% |
| 2000 | 0.5089 | -10.5% |
| 2001 | 0.5116 | +0.5% |
| 2002 | 0.4996 | -2.3% |
| 2003 | 0.4835 | -3.2% |
| 2004 | 0.4699 | -2.8% |
| 2005 | 0.5078 | +8.1% |
| 2006 | 0.4796 | -5.6% |
| 2007 | 0.4273 | -10.9% |
| 2008 | 0.4252 | -0.5% |
| 2009 | 0.4132 | -2.8% |
| 2010 | 0.4093 | -0.9% |
| 2011 | 0.3783 | -7.6% |
| 2012 | 0.3335 | -11.8% |
| 2013 | 0.3652 | +9.5% |
| 2014 | 0.3397 | -7.0% |
| 2015 | 0.3124 | -8.0% |
| 2016 | 0.3055 | -2.2% |
| 2017 | 0.3352 | +9.7% |
| 2018 | 0.3138 | -6.4% |
| 2019 | 0.3236 | +3.1% |
| 2020 | 0.3081 | -4.8% |
| 2021 | 0.3369 | +9.3% |
| 2022 | 0.3643 | +8.1% |
| 2023 | 0.3191 | -12.4% |
Australia compared with similar countries
- Australia's 0.3191 is below the median for high income countries, which is 0.4445, 72% of the median. (85 countries reporting)
- Australia's 0.3191 is below the median for East Asia & Pacific, which is 1.31, 24% of the median. (37 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1950s | 2.28 | 2.06 | 2.51 | 10 |
| 1960s | 1.9 | 1.8 | 2.03 | 10 |
| 1970s | 1.47 | 1.11 | 1.86 | 10 |
| 1980s | 0.9452 | 0.8205 | 1.06 | 10 |
| 1990s | 0.6126 | 0.5024 | 0.7917 | 10 |
| 2000s | 0.4727 | 0.4132 | 0.5116 | 10 |
| 2010s | 0.3417 | 0.3055 | 0.4093 | 10 |
| 2020s | 0.3321 | 0.3081 | 0.3643 | 4 |
Countries ranked near Australia
More health data for Australia
- Un projection of annual infant deaths, annual growth rate -1.83 % change on previous year (2100)
- Heat deaths vs projected death rates, annual growth rate -0.9072 % change on previous year (2090)
- Un projection of annual infant deaths 215 (2100)
- Neonatal tetanus - number of reported cases, gaps filled 0 (2021)
- Population ages 00-04, female, annual growth rate 1.45 % 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 0.0279 units per person (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, male, annual growth rate 1.35 % 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 0.0295 units per person (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is infant mortality rates in Australia?
- Infant mortality rates in Australia was 0.3191 in 2023, according to Our World in Data.
- What is the highest infant mortality rates recorded in Australia?
- The highest recorded value was 2.51 in 1951.
- What is the lowest infant mortality rates recorded in Australia?
- The lowest recorded value was 0.3055 in 2016.
- How does Australia rank for infant mortality rates?
- Australia ranks 204th out of 236 countries with data for 2023.
- Is infant mortality rates rising or falling in Australia?
- Over the last ten years it is down 12.6%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Australia data come from?
- The figures come from Our World in Data, published as part of Infant mortality rates. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
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