Infant mortality rate in Democratic Republic of Congo
Democratic Republic of Congo: Infant mortality rate was 4.9% in 2023. ▼ Falling
Infant mortality rate in Democratic Republic of Congo, 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 Democratic Republic of Congo stood at 4.9%. That is the lowest value across all 74 years on record.
The figure is down 2.4% on the previous year and down 25.0% over ten years.
Over the whole period, infant mortality rate in Democratic Republic of Congo peaked at 18.1% in 1950 and was at its lowest, 4.9%, in 2023.
That places Democratic Republic of Congo 18th out of 236 countries with data for 2023, putting it in the top 10%.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 74 years of available data.
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1950s | 17.1% | 16.2% | 18.1% | 10 |
| 1960s | 15.3% | 14.3% | 16.0% | 10 |
| 1970s | 13.3% | 12.7% | 14.1% | 10 |
| 1980s | 11.9% | 11.3% | 12.5% | 10 |
| 1990s | 10.6% | 9.9% | 11.1% | 10 |
| 2000s | 8.6% | 7.5% | 9.7% | 10 |
| 2010s | 6.3% | 5.5% | 7.2% | 10 |
| 2020s | 5.1% | 4.9% | 5.4% | 4 |
Countries ranked near Democratic Republic of Congo
- 15 Cote d'Ivoire 5.2% compare
- 16 Mozambique 5.0% compare
- 17 Pakistan 4.9% compare
- 19 Guinea-Bissau 4.9% compare
- 20 Angola 4.9% compare
- 21 Cameroon 4.7% compare
More health data for Democratic Republic of Congo
- Estimated changes in temperature-related death rates compared to projected death rates 821.4 deaths per 1,000 people (2090)
- Number of infants who die before age 1 133,650 deaths (2100)
- Deaths in armed conflicts based on where they occurred 528 deaths (2026)
- Deaths in armed conflicts by region 528 deaths (2026)
- Age population, age 25, male, interpolated 873,860 (2025)
- Age population, age 25, female, interpolated 884,406 (2025)
- Age population, age 24, male, interpolated 907,255 (2025)
- Age population, age 24, female, interpolated 917,495 (2025)
- Age population, age 23, male, interpolated 937,176 (2025)
- Age population, age 23, female, interpolated 946,859 (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is infant mortality rate in Democratic Republic of Congo?
- Infant mortality rate in Democratic Republic of Congo was 4.9% in 2023, according to UN, World Population Prospects (2024) – processed by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest infant mortality rate recorded in Democratic Republic of Congo?
- The highest recorded value was 18.1% in 1950.
- What is the lowest infant mortality rate recorded in Democratic Republic of Congo?
- The lowest recorded value was 4.9% in 2023.
- How does Democratic Republic of Congo rank for infant mortality rate?
- Democratic Republic of Congo ranks 18th out of 236 countries with data for 2023.
- Is infant mortality rate rising or falling in Democratic Republic of Congo?
- Over the last ten years it is down 25.0%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this Democratic Republic of Congo 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
The share of newborns who die before reaching the age of one.