Infant mortality rates (Our World) in New Zealand
New Zealand: Infant mortality rates (Our World) was 0.4342 in 2023. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2023)
0.4342
Change on year
down 7.8%
World rank
189th
of 236 countries
All-time high
2.89
in 1952
All-time low
0.3532
in 2016
Years of data
74
1950–2023
Infant mortality rates in New Zealand, 1950–2023
Source: Our World in Data.
Analysis
In 2023, infant mortality rates in New Zealand stood at 0.4342.
The figure is down 7.8% on the previous year and up 1.0% over ten years.
Over the whole period, infant mortality rates in New Zealand peaked at 2.89 in 1952 and was at its lowest, 0.3532, in 2016.
That places New Zealand 189th 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 New Zealand, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1950 | 2.77 | — |
| 1951 | 2.75 | -0.7% |
| 1952 | 2.89 | +4.8% |
| 1953 | 2.56 | -11.3% |
| 1954 | 2.44 | -4.8% |
| 1955 | 2.48 | +1.9% |
| 1956 | 2.33 | -6.1% |
| 1957 | 2.45 | +5.1% |
| 1958 | 2.37 | -3.2% |
| 1959 | 2.41 | +1.6% |
| 1960 | 2.27 | -5.8% |
| 1961 | 2.33 | +2.7% |
| 1962 | 2.06 | -11.8% |
| 1963 | 1.96 | -4.7% |
| 1964 | 1.88 | -4.2% |
| 1965 | 1.9 | +1.3% |
| 1966 | 1.76 | -7.7% |
| 1967 | 1.81 | +3.0% |
| 1968 | 1.89 | +4.3% |
| 1969 | 1.7 | -9.9% |
| 1970 | 1.66 | -2.2% |
| 1971 | 1.69 | +1.8% |
| 1972 | 1.57 | -7.4% |
| 1973 | 1.59 | +1.2% |
| 1974 | 1.54 | -3.1% |
| 1975 | 1.57 | +2.3% |
| 1976 | 1.38 | -12.2% |
| 1977 | 1.42 | +2.8% |
| 1978 | 1.33 | -6.2% |
| 1979 | 1.26 | -5.1% |
| 1980 | 1.27 | +0.9% |
| 1981 | 1.15 | -10.0% |
| 1982 | 1.18 | +2.6% |
| 1983 | 1.25 | +6.6% |
| 1984 | 1.17 | -6.6% |
| 1985 | 1.09 | -7.3% |
| 1986 | 1.13 | +4.0% |
| 1987 | 1.02 | -9.5% |
| 1988 | 1.1 | +7.3% |
| 1989 | 1.04 | -5.4% |
| 1990 | 0.8507 | -18.0% |
| 1991 | 0.8063 | -5.2% |
| 1992 | 0.7113 | -11.8% |
| 1993 | 0.7161 | +0.7% |
| 1994 | 0.6918 | -3.4% |
| 1995 | 0.6564 | -5.1% |
| 1996 | 0.7089 | +8.0% |
| 1997 | 0.6587 | -7.1% |
| 1998 | 0.5282 | -19.8% |
| 1999 | 0.5672 | +7.4% |
| 2000 | 0.6143 | +8.3% |
| 2001 | 0.534 | -13.1% |
| 2002 | 0.5392 | +1.0% |
| 2003 | 0.4952 | -8.2% |
| 2004 | 0.5611 | +13.3% |
| 2005 | 0.5224 | -6.9% |
| 2006 | 0.5155 | -1.3% |
| 2007 | 0.5053 | -2.0% |
| 2008 | 0.4612 | -8.7% |
| 2009 | 0.481 | +4.3% |
| 2010 | 0.5039 | +4.8% |
| 2011 | 0.4563 | -9.4% |
| 2012 | 0.4169 | -8.6% |
| 2013 | 0.4301 | +3.2% |
| 2014 | 0.5575 | +29.6% |
| 2015 | 0.4244 | -23.9% |
| 2016 | 0.3532 | -16.8% |
| 2017 | 0.3846 | +8.9% |
| 2018 | 0.3645 | -5.2% |
| 2019 | 0.4507 | +23.6% |
| 2020 | 0.3762 | -16.5% |
| 2021 | 0.4583 | +21.8% |
| 2022 | 0.471 | +2.8% |
| 2023 | 0.4342 | -7.8% |
New Zealand compared with similar countries
- New Zealand's 0.4342 is below the median for high income countries, which is 0.4445, 98% of the median. (85 countries reporting)
- New Zealand's 0.4342 is below the median for East Asia & Pacific, which is 1.31, 33% of the median. (37 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1950s | 2.55 | 2.33 | 2.89 | 10 |
| 1960s | 1.96 | 1.7 | 2.33 | 10 |
| 1970s | 1.5 | 1.26 | 1.69 | 10 |
| 1980s | 1.14 | 1.02 | 1.27 | 10 |
| 1990s | 0.6896 | 0.5282 | 0.8507 | 10 |
| 2000s | 0.5229 | 0.4612 | 0.6143 | 10 |
| 2010s | 0.4342 | 0.3532 | 0.5575 | 10 |
| 2020s | 0.4349 | 0.3762 | 0.471 | 4 |
Countries ranked near New Zealand
More health data for New Zealand
- Un projection of annual infant deaths, annual growth rate -2.94 % change on previous year (2100)
- Heat deaths vs projected death rates, annual growth rate -0.4815 % change on previous year (2090)
- Un projection of annual infant deaths 33 (2100)
- Neonatal tetanus - number of reported cases, gaps filled 0 (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, female, annual growth rate -0.1187 % 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 0.0277 units per person (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, male, annual growth rate 0.018 % 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 0.0291 units per person (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is infant mortality rates in New Zealand?
- Infant mortality rates in New Zealand was 0.4342 in 2023, according to Our World in Data.
- What is the highest infant mortality rates recorded in New Zealand?
- The highest recorded value was 2.89 in 1952.
- What is the lowest infant mortality rates recorded in New Zealand?
- The lowest recorded value was 0.3532 in 2016.
- How does New Zealand rank for infant mortality rates?
- New Zealand ranks 189th out of 236 countries with data for 2023.
- Is infant mortality rates rising or falling in New Zealand?
- Over the last ten years it is up 1.0%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this New Zealand 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.
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