Infant mortality rates (Our World) in Sierra Leone
Sierra Leone: Infant mortality rates (Our World) was 7.16 in 2023. ▼ Falling
Latest (2023)
7.16
Change on year
down 3.1%
World rank
1st
of 236 countries
All-time high
22.2
in 1950
All-time low
7.16
in 2023
Years of data
74
1950–2023
Infant mortality rates in Sierra Leone, 1950–2023
Source: Our World in Data.
Analysis
In 2023, infant mortality rates in Sierra Leone stood at 7.16. That is the lowest value across all 74 years on record.
The figure is down 3.1% on the previous year and down 27.6% over ten years.
Over the whole period, infant mortality rates in Sierra Leone peaked at 22.2 in 1950 and was at its lowest, 7.16, in 2023.
Sierra Leone ranks 1st of 236 countries on this measure, in the top 10%.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 74 years of available data.
Infant mortality rates (Our World) in Sierra Leone, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1950 | 22.2 | — |
| 1951 | 22.04 | -0.7% |
| 1952 | 21.88 | -0.7% |
| 1953 | 21.72 | -0.7% |
| 1954 | 21.55 | -0.8% |
| 1955 | 21.38 | -0.8% |
| 1956 | 21.21 | -0.8% |
| 1957 | 21.04 | -0.8% |
| 1958 | 20.86 | -0.8% |
| 1959 | 20.68 | -0.9% |
| 1960 | 20.49 | -0.9% |
| 1961 | 20.3 | -0.9% |
| 1962 | 20.11 | -1.0% |
| 1963 | 19.91 | -1.0% |
| 1964 | 19.71 | -1.0% |
| 1965 | 19.51 | -1.0% |
| 1966 | 19.32 | -1.0% |
| 1967 | 19.12 | -1.0% |
| 1968 | 18.92 | -1.0% |
| 1969 | 18.73 | -1.0% |
| 1970 | 18.55 | -1.0% |
| 1971 | 18.36 | -1.0% |
| 1972 | 18.18 | -1.0% |
| 1973 | 18 | -1.0% |
| 1974 | 17.82 | -1.0% |
| 1975 | 17.65 | -1.0% |
| 1976 | 17.49 | -0.9% |
| 1977 | 17.32 | -0.9% |
| 1978 | 17.17 | -0.9% |
| 1979 | 17.01 | -0.9% |
| 1980 | 16.87 | -0.9% |
| 1981 | 16.73 | -0.8% |
| 1982 | 16.59 | -0.8% |
| 1983 | 16.46 | -0.8% |
| 1984 | 16.35 | -0.7% |
| 1985 | 16.24 | -0.6% |
| 1986 | 16.15 | -0.6% |
| 1987 | 16.01 | -0.9% |
| 1988 | 15.91 | -0.6% |
| 1989 | 15.81 | -0.6% |
| 1990 | 15.71 | -0.6% |
| 1991 | 15.67 | -0.3% |
| 1992 | 15.51 | -1.0% |
| 1993 | 15.41 | -0.7% |
| 1994 | 15.39 | -0.1% |
| 1995 | 15.28 | -0.7% |
| 1996 | 15.03 | -1.6% |
| 1997 | 14.85 | -1.2% |
| 1998 | 14.76 | -0.6% |
| 1999 | 14.39 | -2.5% |
| 2000 | 14.19 | -1.4% |
| 2001 | 13.9 | -2.0% |
| 2002 | 13.64 | -1.9% |
| 2003 | 13.35 | -2.1% |
| 2004 | 13.06 | -2.2% |
| 2005 | 12.74 | -2.4% |
| 2006 | 12.41 | -2.6% |
| 2007 | 12.06 | -2.8% |
| 2008 | 11.69 | -3.0% |
| 2009 | 11.34 | -3.0% |
| 2010 | 10.95 | -3.4% |
| 2011 | 10.59 | -3.3% |
| 2012 | 10.24 | -3.3% |
| 2013 | 9.89 | -3.4% |
| 2014 | 9.63 | -2.6% |
| 2015 | 9.31 | -3.4% |
| 2016 | 8.95 | -3.9% |
| 2017 | 8.7 | -2.8% |
| 2018 | 8.39 | -3.5% |
| 2019 | 8.13 | -3.1% |
| 2020 | 7.88 | -3.1% |
| 2021 | 7.63 | -3.1% |
| 2022 | 7.39 | -3.1% |
| 2023 | 7.16 | -3.1% |
Sierra Leone compared with similar countries
- Sierra Leone's 7.16 is above the median for low income countries, which is 4.5, 1.6× the median. (25 countries reporting)
- Sierra Leone's 7.16 is above the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 3.74, 1.9× the median. (48 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1950s | 21.45 | 20.68 | 22.2 | 10 |
| 1960s | 19.61 | 18.73 | 20.49 | 10 |
| 1970s | 17.75 | 17.01 | 18.55 | 10 |
| 1980s | 16.31 | 15.81 | 16.87 | 10 |
| 1990s | 15.2 | 14.39 | 15.71 | 10 |
| 2000s | 12.84 | 11.34 | 14.19 | 10 |
| 2010s | 9.48 | 8.13 | 10.95 | 10 |
| 2020s | 7.52 | 7.16 | 7.88 | 4 |
Countries ranked near Sierra Leone
More health data for Sierra Leone
- Un projection of annual infant deaths, annual growth rate -2.34 % change on previous year (2100)
- Heat deaths vs projected death rates, annual growth rate 0.773 % change on previous year (2090)
- Un projection of annual infant deaths 4,209 (2100)
- Neonatal tetanus - number of reported cases, gaps filled 38 (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, female, annual growth rate 0.6447 % change on previous year (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, female, per unit of GDP 0.0001 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, female, per capita 0.0663 units per person (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, male, annual growth rate 0.6611 % change on previous year (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, male, per unit of GDP 0.0001 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, male, per capita 0.0676 units per person (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is infant mortality rates in Sierra Leone?
- Infant mortality rates in Sierra Leone was 7.16 in 2023, according to Our World in Data.
- What is the highest infant mortality rates recorded in Sierra Leone?
- The highest recorded value was 22.2 in 1950.
- What is the lowest infant mortality rates recorded in Sierra Leone?
- The lowest recorded value was 7.16 in 2023.
- How does Sierra Leone rank for infant mortality rates?
- Sierra Leone ranks 1st out of 236 countries with data for 2023.
- Is infant mortality rates rising or falling in Sierra Leone?
- Over the last ten years it is down 27.6%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this Sierra Leone 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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