Infant mortality rates (Our World) in South Sudan
South Sudan: Infant mortality rates (Our World) was 6.38 in 2023. ▼ Falling
Latest (2023)
6.38
Change on year
down 0.2%
World rank
8th
of 236 countries
All-time high
42.38
in 1988
All-time low
6.38
in 2020
Years of data
74
1950–2023
Infant mortality rates in South Sudan, 1950–2023
Source: Our World in Data.
Analysis
In 2023, infant mortality rates in South Sudan stood at 6.38.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 0.2% on the previous year and down 3.5% over ten years.
Over the whole period, infant mortality rates in South Sudan peaked at 42.38 in 1988 and was at its lowest, 6.38, in 2020.
That places South Sudan 8th 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.
Infant mortality rates (Our World) in South Sudan, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1950 | 23.59 | — |
| 1951 | 23.28 | -1.3% |
| 1952 | 22.97 | -1.3% |
| 1953 | 22.68 | -1.2% |
| 1954 | 22.43 | -1.1% |
| 1955 | 22.2 | -1.0% |
| 1956 | 22.09 | -0.5% |
| 1957 | 21.97 | -0.5% |
| 1958 | 22.07 | +0.4% |
| 1959 | 21.9 | -0.8% |
| 1960 | 21.73 | -0.8% |
| 1961 | 21.57 | -0.8% |
| 1962 | 21.39 | -0.8% |
| 1963 | 22.09 | +3.3% |
| 1964 | 20.9 | -5.4% |
| 1965 | 21.69 | +3.8% |
| 1966 | 22.52 | +3.8% |
| 1967 | 22.31 | -0.9% |
| 1968 | 22.09 | -1.0% |
| 1969 | 22.18 | +0.4% |
| 1970 | 21.95 | -1.0% |
| 1971 | 20.2 | -8.0% |
| 1972 | 19.96 | -1.2% |
| 1973 | 18.72 | -6.2% |
| 1974 | 18.5 | -1.2% |
| 1975 | 18.28 | -1.2% |
| 1976 | 18.07 | -1.2% |
| 1977 | 17.84 | -1.3% |
| 1978 | 17.63 | -1.2% |
| 1979 | 17.42 | -1.2% |
| 1980 | 17.21 | -1.2% |
| 1981 | 17.01 | -1.2% |
| 1982 | 16.8 | -1.2% |
| 1983 | 16.88 | +0.5% |
| 1984 | 16.88 | +0.0% |
| 1985 | 16.62 | -1.5% |
| 1986 | 16.36 | -1.6% |
| 1987 | 17.46 | +6.7% |
| 1988 | 42.38 | +142.8% |
| 1989 | 15.99 | -62.3% |
| 1990 | 15.69 | -1.9% |
| 1991 | 15.36 | -2.1% |
| 1992 | 15.93 | +3.7% |
| 1993 | 15.57 | -2.3% |
| 1994 | 13.38 | -14.1% |
| 1995 | 13.85 | +3.6% |
| 1996 | 13.48 | -2.7% |
| 1997 | 13 | -3.5% |
| 1998 | 21.01 | +61.6% |
| 1999 | 11.52 | -45.2% |
| 2000 | 10.95 | -5.0% |
| 2001 | 10.5 | -4.1% |
| 2002 | 10.06 | -4.2% |
| 2003 | 9.53 | -5.3% |
| 2004 | 9.13 | -4.2% |
| 2005 | 8.71 | -4.7% |
| 2006 | 8.35 | -4.0% |
| 2007 | 8 | -4.3% |
| 2008 | 7.64 | -4.5% |
| 2009 | 7.36 | -3.7% |
| 2010 | 7.11 | -3.4% |
| 2011 | 6.91 | -2.7% |
| 2012 | 6.72 | -2.8% |
| 2013 | 6.62 | -1.5% |
| 2014 | 10.66 | +61.1% |
| 2015 | 13.45 | +26.1% |
| 2016 | 14.86 | +10.5% |
| 2017 | 15.65 | +5.3% |
| 2018 | 8.43 | -46.2% |
| 2019 | 6.39 | -24.2% |
| 2020 | 6.38 | -0.1% |
| 2021 | 6.39 | +0.1% |
| 2022 | 6.39 | +0.1% |
| 2023 | 6.38 | -0.2% |
South Sudan compared with similar countries
- South Sudan's 6.38 is above the median for low income countries, which is 4.5, 1.4× the median. (25 countries reporting)
- South Sudan's 6.38 is above the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 3.74, 1.7× the median. (48 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Infant mortality rates (Our World) in South Sudan changed far more than this series normally does. A large move can be a real event or a change in how the figure was measured — the source note below says who published it.
| Year | Change | From | To |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1988 | +142.8% | 17.46 | 42.38 |
| 1998 | +61.6% | 13 | 21.01 |
| 2014 | +61.1% | 6.62 | 10.66 |
| 1989 | -62.3% | 42.38 | 15.99 |
| 2018 | -46.2% | 15.65 | 8.43 |
| 1999 | -45.2% | 21.01 | 11.52 |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1950s | 22.52 | 21.9 | 23.59 | 10 |
| 1960s | 21.85 | 20.9 | 22.52 | 10 |
| 1970s | 18.85 | 17.42 | 21.95 | 10 |
| 1980s | 19.36 | 15.99 | 42.38 | 10 |
| 1990s | 14.88 | 11.52 | 21.01 | 10 |
| 2000s | 9.02 | 7.36 | 10.95 | 10 |
| 2010s | 9.68 | 6.39 | 15.65 | 10 |
| 2020s | 6.39 | 6.38 | 6.39 | 4 |
Countries ranked near South Sudan
More health data for South Sudan
- Un projection of annual infant deaths, annual growth rate -1.47 % change on previous year (2100)
- Heat deaths vs projected death rates, annual growth rate 0.665 % change on previous year (2090)
- Un projection of annual infant deaths 12,029 (2100)
- Neonatal tetanus - number of reported cases, gaps filled 57 (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, female, annual growth rate 1.93 % change on previous year (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, female, per unit of GDP 0.0001 units per US$ of GDP (2015)
- Population ages 00-04, female, per capita 0.0637 units per person (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, male, annual growth rate 1.92 % change on previous year (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, male, per unit of GDP 0.0001 units per US$ of GDP (2015)
- Population ages 00-04, male, per capita 0.0654 units per person (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is infant mortality rates in South Sudan?
- Infant mortality rates in South Sudan was 6.38 in 2023, according to Our World in Data.
- What is the highest infant mortality rates recorded in South Sudan?
- The highest recorded value was 42.38 in 1988.
- What is the lowest infant mortality rates recorded in South Sudan?
- The lowest recorded value was 6.38 in 2020.
- How does South Sudan rank for infant mortality rates?
- South Sudan ranks 8th out of 236 countries with data for 2023.
- Is infant mortality rates rising or falling in South Sudan?
- Over the last ten years it is down 3.5%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this South Sudan 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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