Infant mortality (Our World) in Botswana
Botswana: Infant mortality (Our World) was 3.21 in 2024. ▼ Falling
Latest (2024)
3.21
Change on year
down 3.6%
World rank
43rd
of 199 countries
All-time high
13.44
in 1954
All-time low
3.21
in 2024
Years of data
71
1954–2024
Infant mortality in Botswana, 1954–2024
Source: Our World in Data.
Analysis
The most recent figure for infant mortality in Botswana is 3.21, measured in 2024. That is the lowest value across all 71 years on record.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 3.6% on the previous year and down 30.5% over ten years.
Over the whole period, infant mortality in Botswana peaked at 13.44 in 1954 and was at its lowest, 3.21, in 2024.
That places Botswana 43rd out of 199 countries with data for 2024, putting it in the top quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 71 years of available data.
Infant mortality (Our World) in Botswana, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1954 | 13.44 | — |
| 1955 | 13.14 | -2.2% |
| 1956 | 12.83 | -2.4% |
| 1957 | 12.57 | -2.0% |
| 1958 | 12.33 | -1.9% |
| 1959 | 12.05 | -2.3% |
| 1960 | 11.8 | -2.1% |
| 1961 | 11.54 | -2.2% |
| 1962 | 11.31 | -1.9% |
| 1963 | 11.09 | -2.0% |
| 1964 | 10.86 | -2.1% |
| 1965 | 10.65 | -1.9% |
| 1966 | 10.46 | -1.8% |
| 1967 | 10.26 | -2.0% |
| 1968 | 10.02 | -2.3% |
| 1969 | 9.78 | -2.4% |
| 1970 | 9.52 | -2.6% |
| 1971 | 9.23 | -3.0% |
| 1972 | 8.94 | -3.2% |
| 1973 | 8.63 | -3.5% |
| 1974 | 8.29 | -4.0% |
| 1975 | 7.92 | -4.4% |
| 1976 | 7.54 | -4.8% |
| 1977 | 7.12 | -5.5% |
| 1978 | 6.73 | -5.6% |
| 1979 | 6.35 | -5.6% |
| 1980 | 6 | -5.5% |
| 1981 | 5.69 | -5.2% |
| 1982 | 5.4 | -5.0% |
| 1983 | 5.16 | -4.5% |
| 1984 | 4.95 | -4.1% |
| 1985 | 4.75 | -4.1% |
| 1986 | 4.54 | -4.5% |
| 1987 | 4.34 | -4.4% |
| 1988 | 4.16 | -4.0% |
| 1989 | 4.05 | -2.7% |
| 1990 | 4 | -1.4% |
| 1991 | 3.98 | -0.4% |
| 1992 | 4.05 | +1.6% |
| 1993 | 4.12 | +1.9% |
| 1994 | 4.2 | +1.9% |
| 1995 | 4.06 | -3.4% |
| 1996 | 4.07 | +0.2% |
| 1997 | 4.04 | -0.6% |
| 1998 | 3.98 | -1.6% |
| 1999 | 3.99 | +0.3% |
| 2000 | 3.94 | -1.2% |
| 2001 | 3.9 | -1.0% |
| 2002 | 3.97 | +1.6% |
| 2003 | 4.14 | +4.5% |
| 2004 | 4.4 | +6.1% |
| 2005 | 4.36 | -0.8% |
| 2006 | 4.58 | +5.0% |
| 2007 | 5.03 | +9.9% |
| 2008 | 5.28 | +5.0% |
| 2009 | 5.25 | -0.6% |
| 2010 | 5.33 | +1.5% |
| 2011 | 5.43 | +2.0% |
| 2012 | 4.95 | -8.9% |
| 2013 | 4.7 | -5.0% |
| 2014 | 4.62 | -1.7% |
| 2015 | 4.42 | -4.4% |
| 2016 | 4.28 | -3.0% |
| 2017 | 4 | -6.6% |
| 2018 | 3.87 | -3.4% |
| 2019 | 3.74 | -3.2% |
| 2020 | 3.65 | -2.4% |
| 2021 | 3.54 | -3.2% |
| 2022 | 3.43 | -3.0% |
| 2023 | 3.33 | -2.9% |
| 2024 | 3.21 | -3.6% |
Botswana compared with similar countries
- Botswana's 3.21 is above the median for upper middle income countries, which is 1.16, 2.8× the median. (58 countries reporting)
- Botswana's 3.21 is below the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 3.72, 86% of the median. (48 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1950s | 12.73 | 12.05 | 13.44 | 6 |
| 1960s | 10.78 | 9.78 | 11.8 | 10 |
| 1970s | 8.03 | 6.35 | 9.52 | 10 |
| 1980s | 4.9 | 4.05 | 6 | 10 |
| 1990s | 4.05 | 3.98 | 4.2 | 10 |
| 2000s | 4.49 | 3.9 | 5.28 | 10 |
| 2010s | 4.53 | 3.74 | 5.43 | 10 |
| 2020s | 3.43 | 3.21 | 3.65 | 5 |
Countries ranked near Botswana
More health data for Botswana
- Un projection of annual infant deaths, annual growth rate -1.75 % change on previous year (2100)
- Heat deaths vs projected death rates, annual growth rate 0.2265 % change on previous year (2090)
- Un projection of annual infant deaths 281 (2100)
- Neonatal tetanus - number of reported cases, gaps filled 0 (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, female, annual growth rate 0.6484 % 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 0.0579 units per person (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, male, annual growth rate 0.9109 % 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 0.0591 units per person (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is infant mortality in Botswana?
- Infant mortality in Botswana was 3.21 in 2024, according to Our World in Data.
- What is the highest infant mortality recorded in Botswana?
- The highest recorded value was 13.44 in 1954.
- What is the lowest infant mortality recorded in Botswana?
- The lowest recorded value was 3.21 in 2024.
- How does Botswana rank for infant mortality?
- Botswana ranks 43rd out of 199 countries with data for 2024.
- Is infant mortality rising or falling in Botswana?
- Over the last ten years it is down 30.5%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this Botswana data come from?
- The figures come from Our World in Data, published as part of Infant mortality. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 71 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data).