Infant mortality rates (Our World) in Papua New Guinea
Papua New Guinea: Infant mortality rates (Our World) was 3.21 in 2023. ▼ Falling
Latest (2023)
3.21
Change on year
down 3.1%
World rank
37th
of 236 countries
All-time high
17.02
in 1951
All-time low
3.21
in 2023
Years of data
74
1950–2023
Infant mortality rates in Papua New Guinea, 1950–2023
Source: Our World in Data.
Analysis
The most recent figure for infant mortality rates in Papua New Guinea is 3.21, measured in 2023. That is the lowest value across all 74 years on record.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 3.1% on the previous year and down 24.9% over ten years.
Over the whole period, infant mortality rates in Papua New Guinea peaked at 17.02 in 1951 and was at its lowest, 3.21, in 2023.
Papua New Guinea ranks 37th of 236 countries on this measure, in the top quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 74 years of available data.
Infant mortality rates (Our World) in Papua New Guinea, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1950 | 16.53 | — |
| 1951 | 17.02 | +2.9% |
| 1952 | 15.81 | -7.1% |
| 1953 | 15.46 | -2.2% |
| 1954 | 15.11 | -2.2% |
| 1955 | 14.77 | -2.2% |
| 1956 | 14.44 | -2.2% |
| 1957 | 14.11 | -2.3% |
| 1958 | 13.78 | -2.3% |
| 1959 | 13.45 | -2.4% |
| 1960 | 13.13 | -2.4% |
| 1961 | 12.8 | -2.5% |
| 1962 | 12.53 | -2.1% |
| 1963 | 12.16 | -3.0% |
| 1964 | 11.84 | -2.6% |
| 1965 | 11.53 | -2.6% |
| 1966 | 11.22 | -2.7% |
| 1967 | 10.92 | -2.7% |
| 1968 | 10.62 | -2.7% |
| 1969 | 10.33 | -2.7% |
| 1970 | 10.05 | -2.7% |
| 1971 | 9.78 | -2.7% |
| 1972 | 9.51 | -2.8% |
| 1973 | 9.25 | -2.7% |
| 1974 | 9.01 | -2.7% |
| 1975 | 8.77 | -2.6% |
| 1976 | 8.55 | -2.5% |
| 1977 | 8.34 | -2.5% |
| 1978 | 8.13 | -2.4% |
| 1979 | 7.95 | -2.3% |
| 1980 | 7.76 | -2.3% |
| 1981 | 7.59 | -2.2% |
| 1982 | 7.43 | -2.1% |
| 1983 | 7.3 | -1.8% |
| 1984 | 7.14 | -2.2% |
| 1985 | 7 | -1.9% |
| 1986 | 6.88 | -1.8% |
| 1987 | 6.75 | -1.8% |
| 1988 | 6.64 | -1.7% |
| 1989 | 6.52 | -1.8% |
| 1990 | 6.42 | -1.7% |
| 1991 | 6.32 | -1.4% |
| 1992 | 6.21 | -1.8% |
| 1993 | 6.11 | -1.5% |
| 1994 | 6.01 | -1.6% |
| 1995 | 5.92 | -1.5% |
| 1996 | 5.84 | -1.4% |
| 1997 | 5.76 | -1.4% |
| 1998 | 5.79 | +0.6% |
| 1999 | 5.59 | -3.5% |
| 2000 | 5.5 | -1.5% |
| 2001 | 5.42 | -1.5% |
| 2002 | 5.34 | -1.5% |
| 2003 | 5.25 | -1.8% |
| 2004 | 5.16 | -1.7% |
| 2005 | 5.07 | -1.8% |
| 2006 | 4.97 | -1.8% |
| 2007 | 4.89 | -1.8% |
| 2008 | 4.78 | -2.2% |
| 2009 | 4.68 | -2.0% |
| 2010 | 4.58 | -2.1% |
| 2011 | 4.48 | -2.3% |
| 2012 | 4.38 | -2.1% |
| 2013 | 4.28 | -2.4% |
| 2014 | 4.18 | -2.4% |
| 2015 | 4.08 | -2.4% |
| 2016 | 3.97 | -2.6% |
| 2017 | 3.86 | -2.7% |
| 2018 | 3.76 | -2.7% |
| 2019 | 3.65 | -3.0% |
| 2020 | 3.54 | -3.0% |
| 2021 | 3.43 | -3.2% |
| 2022 | 3.32 | -3.2% |
| 2023 | 3.21 | -3.1% |
Papua New Guinea compared with similar countries
- Papua New Guinea's 3.21 is above the median for lower middle income countries, which is 2.97, 1.1× the median. (47 countries reporting)
- Papua New Guinea's 3.21 is above the median for East Asia & Pacific, which is 1.31, 2.5× the median. (37 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1950s | 15.05 | 13.45 | 17.02 | 10 |
| 1960s | 11.71 | 10.33 | 13.13 | 10 |
| 1970s | 8.93 | 7.95 | 10.05 | 10 |
| 1980s | 7.1 | 6.52 | 7.76 | 10 |
| 1990s | 6 | 5.59 | 6.42 | 10 |
| 2000s | 5.11 | 4.68 | 5.5 | 10 |
| 2010s | 4.12 | 3.65 | 4.58 | 10 |
| 2020s | 3.38 | 3.21 | 3.54 | 4 |
Countries ranked near Papua New Guinea
More health data for Papua New Guinea
- Un projection of annual infant deaths, annual growth rate -1.77 % change on previous year (2100)
- Heat deaths vs projected death rates, annual growth rate 0.3741 % change on previous year (2090)
- Un projection of annual infant deaths 2,501 (2100)
- Neonatal tetanus - number of reported cases, gaps filled 2 (2023)
- Population ages 00-04, female, annual growth rate 0.27 % 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 0.0555 units per person (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, male, annual growth rate 0.2621 % 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 0.0594 units per person (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is infant mortality rates in Papua New Guinea?
- Infant mortality rates in Papua New Guinea was 3.21 in 2023, according to Our World in Data.
- What is the highest infant mortality rates recorded in Papua New Guinea?
- The highest recorded value was 17.02 in 1951.
- What is the lowest infant mortality rates recorded in Papua New Guinea?
- The lowest recorded value was 3.21 in 2023.
- How does Papua New Guinea rank for infant mortality rates?
- Papua New Guinea ranks 37th out of 236 countries with data for 2023.
- Is infant mortality rates rising or falling in Papua New Guinea?
- Over the last ten years it is down 24.9%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this Papua New Guinea 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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