Infant mortality rate in Australia
Australia: Infant mortality rate was 0.3% in 2023. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2023)
0.3%
Change on year
down 12.4%
World rank
204th
of 236 countries
All-time high
2.5%
in 1951
All-time low
0.3%
in 2016
Years of data
74
1950–2023
Infant mortality rate in Australia, 1950–2023
Source: UN, World Population Prospects (2024) – processed by Our World in Data. Measured in % of infants.
Analysis
In 2023, infant mortality rate in Australia stood at 0.3%.
The figure is down 12.4% on the previous year and down 12.6% over ten years.
Over the whole period, infant mortality rate in Australia peaked at 2.5% in 1951 and was at its lowest, 0.3%, 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 rate in Australia, year by year
| Year | % of infants | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1950 | 2.5% | — |
| 1951 | 2.5% | +1.1% |
| 1952 | 2.4% | -4.0% |
| 1953 | 2.3% | -3.5% |
| 1954 | 2.2% | -4.3% |
| 1955 | 2.2% | -0.8% |
| 1956 | 2.2% | -1.5% |
| 1957 | 2.2% | -0.1% |
| 1958 | 2.1% | -5.5% |
| 1959 | 2.2% | +4.8% |
| 1960 | 2.0% | -6.9% |
| 1961 | 2.0% | -1.3% |
| 1962 | 2.0% | +2.2% |
| 1963 | 2.0% | -3.7% |
| 1964 | 1.9% | -4.4% |
| 1965 | 1.9% | -0.7% |
| 1966 | 1.8% | -2.0% |
| 1967 | 1.8% | -0.8% |
| 1968 | 1.8% | +0.0% |
| 1969 | 1.8% | +2.3% |
| 1970 | 1.9% | +0.5% |
| 1971 | 1.8% | -4.3% |
| 1972 | 1.7% | -6.6% |
| 1973 | 1.6% | -5.2% |
| 1974 | 1.6% | +0.3% |
| 1975 | 1.4% | -12.2% |
| 1976 | 1.4% | -2.0% |
| 1977 | 1.2% | -8.8% |
| 1978 | 1.2% | -1.6% |
| 1979 | 1.1% | -8.9% |
| 1980 | 1.1% | -4.4% |
| 1981 | 1.0% | -2.1% |
| 1982 | 1.0% | -2.7% |
| 1983 | 1.0% | -4.3% |
| 1984 | 0.9% | -2.5% |
| 1985 | 1.0% | +4.3% |
| 1986 | 0.9% | -10.3% |
| 1987 | 0.9% | +1.5% |
| 1988 | 0.8% | -8.4% |
| 1989 | 0.8% | +3.4% |
| 1990 | 0.8% | -6.7% |
| 1991 | 0.7% | -13.3% |
| 1992 | 0.7% | +0.6% |
| 1993 | 0.6% | -12.6% |
| 1994 | 0.6% | -1.3% |
| 1995 | 0.6% | -4.9% |
| 1996 | 0.6% | +1.2% |
| 1997 | 0.6% | -3.8% |
| 1998 | 0.5% | -8.8% |
| 1999 | 0.6% | +13.1% |
| 2000 | 0.5% | -10.5% |
| 2001 | 0.5% | +0.5% |
| 2002 | 0.5% | -2.3% |
| 2003 | 0.5% | -3.2% |
| 2004 | 0.5% | -2.8% |
| 2005 | 0.5% | +8.1% |
| 2006 | 0.5% | -5.6% |
| 2007 | 0.4% | -10.9% |
| 2008 | 0.4% | -0.5% |
| 2009 | 0.4% | -2.8% |
| 2010 | 0.4% | -0.9% |
| 2011 | 0.4% | -7.6% |
| 2012 | 0.3% | -11.8% |
| 2013 | 0.4% | +9.5% |
| 2014 | 0.3% | -7.0% |
| 2015 | 0.3% | -8.0% |
| 2016 | 0.3% | -2.2% |
| 2017 | 0.3% | +9.7% |
| 2018 | 0.3% | -6.4% |
| 2019 | 0.3% | +3.1% |
| 2020 | 0.3% | -4.8% |
| 2021 | 0.3% | +9.3% |
| 2022 | 0.4% | +8.1% |
| 2023 | 0.3% | -12.4% |
Australia compared with similar countries
- Australia's 0.3% is below the median for high income countries, which is 0.4%, 72% of the median. (85 countries reporting)
- Australia's 0.3% is below the median for East Asia & Pacific, which is 1.3%, 24% of the median. (37 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1950s | 2.3% | 2.1% | 2.5% | 10 |
| 1960s | 1.9% | 1.8% | 2.0% | 10 |
| 1970s | 1.5% | 1.1% | 1.9% | 10 |
| 1980s | 0.9% | 0.8% | 1.1% | 10 |
| 1990s | 0.6% | 0.5% | 0.8% | 10 |
| 2000s | 0.5% | 0.4% | 0.5% | 10 |
| 2010s | 0.3% | 0.3% | 0.4% | 10 |
| 2020s | 0.3% | 0.3% | 0.4% | 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)
- Estimated changes in temperature-related death rates compared to projected death rates 906.6 deaths per 1,000 people (2090)
- Number of infants who die before age 1 215 deaths (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)
Frequently asked questions
- What is infant mortality rate in Australia?
- Infant mortality rate in Australia was 0.3% in 2023, according to UN, World Population Prospects (2024) – processed by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest infant mortality rate recorded in Australia?
- The highest recorded value was 2.5% in 1951.
- What is the lowest infant mortality rate recorded in Australia?
- The lowest recorded value was 0.3% in 2016.
- How does Australia rank for infant mortality rate?
- Australia ranks 204th out of 236 countries with data for 2023.
- Is infant mortality rate 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 UN, World Population Prospects (2024) – processed by Our World in Data, published as part of Infant mortality rate. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Share of newborns who die before reaching the age of one.