Infant mortality rate in Vanuatu
Vanuatu: Infant mortality rate was 1.5% in 2023. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2023)
1.5%
Change on year
down 2.6%
World rank
86th
of 236 countries
All-time high
13.3%
in 1951
All-time low
1.5%
in 2023
Years of data
74
1950–2023
Infant mortality rate in Vanuatu, 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 Vanuatu is 1.5%, measured in 2023. That is the lowest value across all 74 years on record.
That represents a change of down 2.6% on the previous year and down 19.1% over ten years.
Over the whole period, infant mortality rate in Vanuatu peaked at 13.3% in 1951 and was at its lowest, 1.5%, in 2023.
Vanuatu ranks 86th of 236 countries on this measure, 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 Vanuatu, year by year
| Year | % of infants | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1950 | 13.0% | — |
| 1951 | 13.3% | +2.4% |
| 1952 | 12.4% | -6.8% |
| 1953 | 12.2% | -2.2% |
| 1954 | 11.9% | -2.2% |
| 1955 | 11.6% | -2.1% |
| 1956 | 11.4% | -2.0% |
| 1957 | 11.2% | -2.0% |
| 1958 | 11.0% | -2.0% |
| 1959 | 10.7% | -2.1% |
| 1960 | 10.5% | -2.2% |
| 1961 | 10.2% | -2.4% |
| 1962 | 10.0% | -2.5% |
| 1963 | 9.7% | -2.7% |
| 1964 | 9.4% | -2.9% |
| 1965 | 9.1% | -3.0% |
| 1966 | 8.9% | -3.1% |
| 1967 | 8.6% | -3.2% |
| 1968 | 8.3% | -3.3% |
| 1969 | 8.0% | -3.4% |
| 1970 | 7.7% | -3.5% |
| 1971 | 7.5% | -3.6% |
| 1972 | 7.2% | -3.4% |
| 1973 | 6.9% | -3.9% |
| 1974 | 6.7% | -3.7% |
| 1975 | 6.4% | -3.8% |
| 1976 | 6.2% | -3.9% |
| 1977 | 5.9% | -4.1% |
| 1978 | 5.7% | -4.3% |
| 1979 | 5.4% | -4.6% |
| 1980 | 5.1% | -4.9% |
| 1981 | 4.9% | -5.2% |
| 1982 | 4.6% | -5.4% |
| 1983 | 4.3% | -5.6% |
| 1984 | 4.1% | -5.7% |
| 1985 | 3.9% | -5.1% |
| 1986 | 3.7% | -6.1% |
| 1987 | 3.6% | -1.8% |
| 1988 | 3.3% | -8.2% |
| 1989 | 3.2% | -3.9% |
| 1990 | 3.0% | -4.8% |
| 1991 | 2.9% | -3.7% |
| 1992 | 2.8% | -3.2% |
| 1993 | 2.7% | -2.8% |
| 1994 | 2.7% | -2.9% |
| 1995 | 2.6% | -2.3% |
| 1996 | 2.5% | -2.0% |
| 1997 | 2.5% | -1.8% |
| 1998 | 2.5% | -1.6% |
| 1999 | 2.5% | +1.8% |
| 2000 | 2.4% | -4.6% |
| 2001 | 2.4% | -1.1% |
| 2002 | 2.3% | -1.4% |
| 2003 | 2.3% | -1.3% |
| 2004 | 2.3% | -1.2% |
| 2005 | 2.2% | -1.7% |
| 2006 | 2.2% | -1.8% |
| 2007 | 2.1% | -2.2% |
| 2008 | 2.1% | -2.5% |
| 2009 | 2.0% | -2.7% |
| 2010 | 2.0% | -2.8% |
| 2011 | 1.9% | -2.8% |
| 2012 | 1.9% | -2.6% |
| 2013 | 1.8% | -2.3% |
| 2014 | 1.8% | -1.1% |
| 2015 | 1.8% | -1.9% |
| 2016 | 1.7% | -2.6% |
| 2017 | 1.7% | -1.7% |
| 2018 | 1.7% | -1.9% |
| 2019 | 1.6% | -2.0% |
| 2020 | 1.6% | -2.0% |
| 2021 | 1.6% | -2.6% |
| 2022 | 1.5% | -2.5% |
| 2023 | 1.5% | -2.6% |
Vanuatu compared with similar countries
- Vanuatu's 1.5% is below the median for lower middle income countries, which is 3.0%, 50% of the median. (47 countries reporting)
- Vanuatu's 1.5% is above the median for East Asia & Pacific, which is 1.3%, 1.1× the median. (37 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1950s | 11.9% | 10.7% | 13.3% | 10 |
| 1960s | 9.3% | 8.0% | 10.5% | 10 |
| 1970s | 6.6% | 5.4% | 7.7% | 10 |
| 1980s | 4.1% | 3.2% | 5.1% | 10 |
| 1990s | 2.7% | 2.5% | 3.0% | 10 |
| 2000s | 2.2% | 2.0% | 2.4% | 10 |
| 2010s | 1.8% | 1.6% | 2.0% | 10 |
| 2020s | 1.5% | 1.5% | 1.6% | 4 |
Countries ranked near Vanuatu
- 83 Venezuela 1.6% compare
- 84 Vietnam 1.5% compare
- 85 Azerbaijan 1.5% compare
- 87 Egypt 1.5% compare
- 88 North Korea 1.5% compare
- 89 Solomon Islands 1.5% compare
More health data for Vanuatu
- Un projection of annual infant deaths, annual growth rate -2.22 % change on previous year (2100)
- Heat deaths vs projected death rates, annual growth rate 0.8846 % change on previous year (2090)
- Estimated changes in temperature-related death rates compared to projected death rates 695.7 deaths per 1,000 people (2090)
- Number of infants who die before age 1 44 deaths (2100)
- Neonatal tetanus - number of reported cases, gaps filled 0 (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, female, annual growth rate 0.3888 % 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 0.0639 units per person (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, male, annual growth rate 0.395 % 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 Vanuatu?
- Infant mortality rate in Vanuatu was 1.5% in 2023, according to UN, World Population Prospects (2024) – processed by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest infant mortality rate recorded in Vanuatu?
- The highest recorded value was 13.3% in 1951.
- What is the lowest infant mortality rate recorded in Vanuatu?
- The lowest recorded value was 1.5% in 2023.
- How does Vanuatu rank for infant mortality rate?
- Vanuatu ranks 86th out of 236 countries with data for 2023.
- Is infant mortality rate rising or falling in Vanuatu?
- Over the last ten years it is down 19.1%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Vanuatu 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.