Infant mortality (Our World) in Papua New Guinea
Papua New Guinea: Infant mortality (Our World) was 3.13 in 2024. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2024)
3.13
Change on year
down 2.8%
World rank
44th
of 199 countries
All-time high
19.98
in 1948
All-time low
3.13
in 2024
Years of data
77
1948–2024
Infant mortality in Papua New Guinea, 1948–2024
Source: Our World in Data.
Analysis
The most recent figure for infant mortality in Papua New Guinea is 3.13, measured in 2024. That is the lowest value across all 77 years on record.
That represents a change of down 2.8% on the previous year and down 24.8% over ten years.
Over the whole period, infant mortality in Papua New Guinea peaked at 19.98 in 1948 and was at its lowest, 3.13, in 2024.
That places Papua New Guinea 44th out of 199 countries with data for 2024, putting it in the top quarter.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Infant mortality (Our World) in Papua New Guinea, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1948 | 19.98 | — |
| 1949 | 19.48 | -2.5% |
| 1950 | 18.99 | -2.5% |
| 1951 | 19.58 | +3.1% |
| 1952 | 18.04 | -7.9% |
| 1953 | 17.6 | -2.5% |
| 1954 | 17.15 | -2.5% |
| 1955 | 16.72 | -2.5% |
| 1956 | 16.29 | -2.5% |
| 1957 | 15.88 | -2.5% |
| 1958 | 15.46 | -2.6% |
| 1959 | 15.06 | -2.6% |
| 1960 | 14.65 | -2.7% |
| 1961 | 14.24 | -2.8% |
| 1962 | 13.82 | -2.9% |
| 1963 | 13.41 | -3.0% |
| 1964 | 13 | -3.0% |
| 1965 | 12.6 | -3.1% |
| 1966 | 12.21 | -3.1% |
| 1967 | 11.82 | -3.2% |
| 1968 | 11.45 | -3.1% |
| 1969 | 11.08 | -3.3% |
| 1970 | 10.72 | -3.2% |
| 1971 | 10.38 | -3.2% |
| 1972 | 10.05 | -3.1% |
| 1973 | 9.73 | -3.2% |
| 1974 | 9.44 | -3.0% |
| 1975 | 9.15 | -3.0% |
| 1976 | 8.89 | -2.9% |
| 1977 | 8.64 | -2.8% |
| 1978 | 8.4 | -2.7% |
| 1979 | 8.19 | -2.6% |
| 1980 | 8 | -2.4% |
| 1981 | 7.8 | -2.4% |
| 1982 | 7.63 | -2.3% |
| 1983 | 7.46 | -2.2% |
| 1984 | 7.31 | -2.0% |
| 1985 | 7.17 | -1.9% |
| 1986 | 7.03 | -1.9% |
| 1987 | 6.91 | -1.7% |
| 1988 | 6.79 | -1.7% |
| 1989 | 6.68 | -1.7% |
| 1990 | 6.56 | -1.7% |
| 1991 | 6.45 | -1.8% |
| 1992 | 6.34 | -1.7% |
| 1993 | 6.23 | -1.6% |
| 1994 | 6.13 | -1.6% |
| 1995 | 6.04 | -1.5% |
| 1996 | 5.95 | -1.4% |
| 1997 | 6.43 | +8.1% |
| 1998 | 5.78 | -10.1% |
| 1999 | 5.7 | -1.4% |
| 2000 | 5.62 | -1.4% |
| 2001 | 5.54 | -1.5% |
| 2002 | 5.45 | -1.7% |
| 2003 | 5.36 | -1.6% |
| 2004 | 5.26 | -1.8% |
| 2005 | 5.16 | -2.0% |
| 2006 | 5.06 | -2.0% |
| 2007 | 4.95 | -2.1% |
| 2008 | 4.84 | -2.3% |
| 2009 | 4.72 | -2.4% |
| 2010 | 4.61 | -2.4% |
| 2011 | 4.49 | -2.5% |
| 2012 | 4.38 | -2.6% |
| 2013 | 4.27 | -2.5% |
| 2014 | 4.16 | -2.6% |
| 2015 | 4.36 | +4.8% |
| 2016 | 3.94 | -9.6% |
| 2017 | 3.83 | -2.9% |
| 2018 | 3.73 | -2.7% |
| 2019 | 3.62 | -2.8% |
| 2020 | 3.52 | -2.9% |
| 2021 | 3.41 | -3.0% |
| 2022 | 3.31 | -3.0% |
| 2023 | 3.22 | -2.8% |
| 2024 | 3.13 | -2.8% |
Papua New Guinea compared with similar countries
- Papua New Guinea's 3.13 is above the median for lower middle income countries, which is 2.87, 1.1× the median. (47 countries reporting)
- Papua New Guinea's 3.13 is above the median for East Asia & Pacific, which is 1.39, 2.3× the median. (30 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1940s | 19.73 | 19.48 | 19.98 | 2 |
| 1950s | 17.08 | 15.06 | 19.58 | 10 |
| 1960s | 12.83 | 11.08 | 14.65 | 10 |
| 1970s | 9.36 | 8.19 | 10.72 | 10 |
| 1980s | 7.28 | 6.68 | 8 | 10 |
| 1990s | 6.16 | 5.7 | 6.56 | 10 |
| 2000s | 5.19 | 4.72 | 5.62 | 10 |
| 2010s | 4.14 | 3.62 | 4.61 | 10 |
| 2020s | 3.32 | 3.13 | 3.52 | 5 |
Countries ranked near Papua New Guinea
More health data for Papua New Guinea
- Un projection of annual infant deaths, annual growth rate -1.77 % change on previous year (2100)
- Heat deaths vs projected death rates, annual growth rate 0.3741 % change on previous year (2090)
- Un projection of annual infant deaths 2,501 (2100)
- Neonatal tetanus - number of reported cases, gaps filled 2 (2023)
- Population ages 00-04, female, annual growth rate 0.27 % 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 0.0555 units per person (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, male, annual growth rate 0.2621 % 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 0.0594 units per person (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is infant mortality in Papua New Guinea?
- Infant mortality in Papua New Guinea was 3.13 in 2024, according to Our World in Data.
- What is the highest infant mortality recorded in Papua New Guinea?
- The highest recorded value was 19.98 in 1948.
- What is the lowest infant mortality recorded in Papua New Guinea?
- The lowest recorded value was 3.13 in 2024.
- How does Papua New Guinea rank for infant mortality?
- Papua New Guinea ranks 44th out of 199 countries with data for 2024.
- Is infant mortality rising or falling in Papua New Guinea?
- Over the last ten years it is down 24.8%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Papua New Guinea 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.
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