Infant mortality rate in Tonga
Tonga: Infant mortality rate was 0.9% in 2023. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2023)
0.9%
Change on year
down 3.2%
World rank
135th
of 236 countries
All-time high
11.6%
in 1950
All-time low
0.9%
in 2023
Years of data
74
1950–2023
Infant mortality rate in Tonga, 1950–2023
Source: UN, World Population Prospects (2024) – processed by Our World in Data. Measured in % of infants.
Analysis
The most recent figure for infant mortality rate in Tonga is 0.9%, measured in 2023. That is the lowest value across all 74 years on record.
That represents a change of down 3.2% on the previous year and down 16.1% over ten years.
Over the whole period, infant mortality rate in Tonga peaked at 11.6% in 1950 and was at its lowest, 0.9%, in 2023.
That places Tonga 135th out of 236 countries with data for 2023, putting it in the middle of the range.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Infant mortality rate in Tonga, year by year
| Year | % of infants | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1950 | 11.6% | — |
| 1951 | 10.9% | -6.0% |
| 1952 | 10.3% | -6.2% |
| 1953 | 9.6% | -6.3% |
| 1954 | 9.0% | -6.4% |
| 1955 | 8.4% | -6.3% |
| 1956 | 7.9% | -6.0% |
| 1957 | 7.5% | -5.7% |
| 1958 | 7.1% | -5.1% |
| 1959 | 6.8% | -4.6% |
| 1960 | 6.5% | -4.3% |
| 1961 | 6.2% | -4.0% |
| 1962 | 5.9% | -4.3% |
| 1963 | 5.7% | -4.3% |
| 1964 | 5.4% | -4.5% |
| 1965 | 5.2% | -4.7% |
| 1966 | 4.9% | -4.9% |
| 1967 | 4.7% | -5.1% |
| 1968 | 4.4% | -5.3% |
| 1969 | 4.2% | -5.6% |
| 1970 | 3.9% | -5.8% |
| 1971 | 3.7% | -6.0% |
| 1972 | 3.5% | -5.9% |
| 1973 | 3.3% | -5.3% |
| 1974 | 3.1% | -5.5% |
| 1975 | 3.0% | -4.6% |
| 1976 | 2.9% | -4.0% |
| 1977 | 2.7% | -3.6% |
| 1978 | 2.6% | -3.6% |
| 1979 | 2.6% | -3.4% |
| 1980 | 2.5% | -3.3% |
| 1981 | 2.4% | -3.3% |
| 1982 | 2.3% | -1.9% |
| 1983 | 2.3% | -4.0% |
| 1984 | 2.2% | -2.7% |
| 1985 | 2.1% | -2.7% |
| 1986 | 2.1% | -2.7% |
| 1987 | 2.0% | -2.8% |
| 1988 | 2.0% | -2.9% |
| 1989 | 1.9% | -3.0% |
| 1990 | 1.8% | -2.8% |
| 1991 | 1.8% | -3.3% |
| 1992 | 1.7% | -3.0% |
| 1993 | 1.7% | -2.9% |
| 1994 | 1.6% | -2.8% |
| 1995 | 1.6% | -2.6% |
| 1996 | 1.6% | -2.5% |
| 1997 | 1.5% | -2.4% |
| 1998 | 1.5% | -2.4% |
| 1999 | 1.4% | -2.4% |
| 2000 | 1.4% | -2.4% |
| 2001 | 1.4% | -2.1% |
| 2002 | 1.3% | -2.9% |
| 2003 | 1.3% | -2.6% |
| 2004 | 1.3% | -2.5% |
| 2005 | 1.2% | -2.5% |
| 2006 | 1.2% | -2.4% |
| 2007 | 1.2% | -2.3% |
| 2008 | 1.2% | -2.1% |
| 2009 | 1.2% | +0.0% |
| 2010 | 1.1% | -3.6% |
| 2011 | 1.1% | -1.6% |
| 2012 | 1.1% | -1.5% |
| 2013 | 1.1% | -1.4% |
| 2014 | 1.1% | -0.9% |
| 2015 | 1.0% | -1.6% |
| 2016 | 1.0% | -1.3% |
| 2017 | 1.0% | -1.5% |
| 2018 | 1.0% | -1.6% |
| 2019 | 1.0% | -1.8% |
| 2020 | 1.0% | -2.0% |
| 2021 | 0.9% | -2.2% |
| 2022 | 0.9% | -1.2% |
| 2023 | 0.9% | -3.2% |
Tonga compared with similar countries
- Tonga's 0.9% is below the median for upper middle income countries, which is 1.2%, 76% of the median. (58 countries reporting)
- Tonga's 0.9% is below the median for East Asia & Pacific, which is 1.3%, 68% of the median. (37 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1950s | 8.9% | 6.8% | 11.6% | 10 |
| 1960s | 5.3% | 4.2% | 6.5% | 10 |
| 1970s | 3.1% | 2.6% | 3.9% | 10 |
| 1980s | 2.2% | 1.9% | 2.5% | 10 |
| 1990s | 1.6% | 1.4% | 1.8% | 10 |
| 2000s | 1.3% | 1.2% | 1.4% | 10 |
| 2010s | 1.0% | 1.0% | 1.1% | 10 |
| 2020s | 0.9% | 0.9% | 1.0% | 4 |
Countries ranked near Tonga
More health data for Tonga
- Un projection of annual infant deaths, annual growth rate -33.33 % change on previous year (2100)
- Heat deaths vs projected death rates, annual growth rate 2.33 % change on previous year (2090)
- Estimated changes in temperature-related death rates compared to projected death rates 834.5 deaths per 1,000 people (2090)
- Number of infants who die before age 1 2 deaths (2100)
- Neonatal tetanus - number of reported cases, gaps filled 0 (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, female, annual growth rate -1.42 % 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 0.0535 units per person (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, male, annual growth rate -1.36 % change on previous year (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, male, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is infant mortality rate in Tonga?
- Infant mortality rate in Tonga was 0.9% in 2023, according to UN, World Population Prospects (2024) – processed by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest infant mortality rate recorded in Tonga?
- The highest recorded value was 11.6% in 1950.
- What is the lowest infant mortality rate recorded in Tonga?
- The lowest recorded value was 0.9% in 2023.
- How does Tonga rank for infant mortality rate?
- Tonga ranks 135th out of 236 countries with data for 2023.
- Is infant mortality rate rising or falling in Tonga?
- Over the last ten years it is down 16.1%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Tonga 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
Share of newborns who die before reaching the age of one.