Infant mortality (Our World) in Zambia
Zambia: Infant mortality (Our World) was 3.46 in 2024. ▼ Falling
Latest (2024)
3.46
Change on year
down 1.2%
World rank
35th
of 199 countries
All-time high
10.98
in 1952
All-time low
3.46
in 2024
Years of data
73
1952–2024
Infant mortality in Zambia, 1952–2024
Source: Our World in Data.
Analysis
The most recent figure for infant mortality in Zambia is 3.46, measured in 2024. That is the lowest value across all 73 years on record.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 1.2% on the previous year and down 19.5% over ten years.
Over the whole period, infant mortality in Zambia peaked at 10.98 in 1952 and was at its lowest, 3.46, in 2024.
That places Zambia 35th out of 199 countries with data for 2024, putting it in the top quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 73 years of available data.
Infant mortality (Our World) in Zambia, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1952 | 10.98 | — |
| 1953 | 10.87 | -1.0% |
| 1954 | 10.72 | -1.4% |
| 1955 | 10.6 | -1.1% |
| 1956 | 10.47 | -1.2% |
| 1957 | 10.34 | -1.2% |
| 1958 | 10.21 | -1.2% |
| 1959 | 10.08 | -1.3% |
| 1960 | 9.94 | -1.4% |
| 1961 | 9.81 | -1.3% |
| 1962 | 9.69 | -1.2% |
| 1963 | 9.6 | -1.0% |
| 1964 | 9.53 | -0.8% |
| 1965 | 9.48 | -0.4% |
| 1966 | 9.46 | -0.3% |
| 1967 | 9.46 | -0.0% |
| 1968 | 9.42 | -0.4% |
| 1969 | 9.35 | -0.8% |
| 1970 | 9.2 | -1.6% |
| 1971 | 9 | -2.2% |
| 1972 | 8.76 | -2.7% |
| 1973 | 8.53 | -2.7% |
| 1974 | 8.31 | -2.5% |
| 1975 | 8.17 | -1.8% |
| 1976 | 8.09 | -0.9% |
| 1977 | 8.11 | +0.2% |
| 1978 | 8.16 | +0.7% |
| 1979 | 8.23 | +0.8% |
| 1980 | 8.32 | +1.0% |
| 1981 | 8.41 | +1.1% |
| 1982 | 8.52 | +1.4% |
| 1983 | 8.7 | +2.1% |
| 1984 | 8.93 | +2.7% |
| 1985 | 9.2 | +3.0% |
| 1986 | 9.49 | +3.1% |
| 1987 | 9.75 | +2.8% |
| 1988 | 9.97 | +2.3% |
| 1989 | 10.14 | +1.7% |
| 1990 | 10.23 | +0.8% |
| 1991 | 10.26 | +0.3% |
| 1992 | 10.24 | -0.2% |
| 1993 | 10.15 | -0.8% |
| 1994 | 10.03 | -1.2% |
| 1995 | 9.85 | -1.7% |
| 1996 | 9.69 | -1.7% |
| 1997 | 9.56 | -1.3% |
| 1998 | 9.45 | -1.2% |
| 1999 | 9.25 | -2.1% |
| 2000 | 8.93 | -3.5% |
| 2001 | 8.46 | -5.3% |
| 2002 | 7.87 | -7.0% |
| 2003 | 7.23 | -8.1% |
| 2004 | 6.58 | -9.0% |
| 2005 | 6.02 | -8.5% |
| 2006 | 5.64 | -6.4% |
| 2007 | 5.43 | -3.6% |
| 2008 | 5.21 | -4.2% |
| 2009 | 5.02 | -3.6% |
| 2010 | 4.86 | -3.1% |
| 2011 | 4.74 | -2.6% |
| 2012 | 4.61 | -2.7% |
| 2013 | 4.45 | -3.5% |
| 2014 | 4.3 | -3.3% |
| 2015 | 4.24 | -1.4% |
| 2016 | 4.06 | -4.2% |
| 2017 | 3.88 | -4.5% |
| 2018 | 3.77 | -2.8% |
| 2019 | 3.61 | -4.3% |
| 2020 | 3.57 | -1.0% |
| 2021 | 3.56 | -0.3% |
| 2022 | 3.54 | -0.7% |
| 2023 | 3.5 | -1.1% |
| 2024 | 3.46 | -1.2% |
Zambia compared with similar countries
- Zambia's 3.46 is above the median for lower middle income countries, which is 2.87, 1.2× the median. (47 countries reporting)
- Zambia's 3.46 is below the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 3.72, 93% of the median. (48 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1950s | 10.53 | 10.08 | 10.98 | 8 |
| 1960s | 9.58 | 9.35 | 9.94 | 10 |
| 1970s | 8.46 | 8.09 | 9.2 | 10 |
| 1980s | 9.14 | 8.32 | 10.14 | 10 |
| 1990s | 9.87 | 9.25 | 10.26 | 10 |
| 2000s | 6.64 | 5.02 | 8.93 | 10 |
| 2010s | 4.25 | 3.61 | 4.86 | 10 |
| 2020s | 3.53 | 3.46 | 3.57 | 5 |
Countries ranked near Zambia
More health data for Zambia
- Un projection of annual infant deaths, annual growth rate -1.09 % change on previous year (2100)
- Heat deaths vs projected death rates, annual growth rate 0.7971 % change on previous year (2090)
- Un projection of annual infant deaths 8,894 (2100)
- Neonatal tetanus - number of reported cases, gaps filled 2 (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, female, annual growth rate 1.68 % change on previous year (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, female, per unit of GDP 0.0001 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, female, per capita 0.0743 units per person (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, male, annual growth rate 1.69 % change on previous year (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, male, per unit of GDP 0.0001 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, male, per capita 0.0744 units per person (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is infant mortality in Zambia?
- Infant mortality in Zambia was 3.46 in 2024, according to Our World in Data.
- What is the highest infant mortality recorded in Zambia?
- The highest recorded value was 10.98 in 1952.
- What is the lowest infant mortality recorded in Zambia?
- The lowest recorded value was 3.46 in 2024.
- How does Zambia rank for infant mortality?
- Zambia ranks 35th out of 199 countries with data for 2024.
- Is infant mortality rising or falling in Zambia?
- Over the last ten years it is down 19.5%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this Zambia 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
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