Neonatal mortality rate (deaths per 1,000 live births) in Zambia
Zambia: Neonatal mortality rate (deaths per 1,000 live births) was 21.44 per 1,000 live births in 2024. ▼ Falling
Latest (2024)
21.44 per 1,000 live births
Change on year
down 0.5%
World rank
39th
of 213 countries
All-time high
32.97 per 1,000 live births
in 2000
All-time low
21.44 per 1,000 live births
in 2024
Years of data
25
2000–2024
Neonatal mortality rate in Zambia, 2000–2024
Source: United Nations Statistics Division, SDG Global Database. Measured in per 1,000 live births.
Analysis
The most recent figure for neonatal mortality rate in Zambia is 21.44 per 1,000 live births, measured in 2024. That is the lowest value across all 25 years on record.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 0.5% on the previous year and down 9.4% over ten years.
Over the whole period, neonatal mortality rate in Zambia peaked at 32.97 per 1,000 live births in 2000 and was at its lowest, 21.44 per 1,000 live births, in 2024.
Zambia ranks 39th of 213 countries on this measure, in the top quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 25 years of available data.
Neonatal mortality rate (deaths per 1,000 live births) in Zambia, year by year
| Year | per 1,000 live births | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2000 | 32.97 per 1,000 live births | — |
| 2001 | 32.14 per 1,000 live births | -2.5% |
| 2002 | 30.97 per 1,000 live births | -3.7% |
| 2003 | 29.6 per 1,000 live births | -4.4% |
| 2004 | 28.34 per 1,000 live births | -4.3% |
| 2005 | 27.24 per 1,000 live births | -3.9% |
| 2006 | 26.41 per 1,000 live births | -3.1% |
| 2007 | 25.81 per 1,000 live births | -2.2% |
| 2008 | 25.42 per 1,000 live births | -1.5% |
| 2009 | 25.1 per 1,000 live births | -1.3% |
| 2010 | 24.8 per 1,000 live births | -1.2% |
| 2011 | 24.53 per 1,000 live births | -1.1% |
| 2012 | 24.25 per 1,000 live births | -1.2% |
| 2013 | 23.94 per 1,000 live births | -1.2% |
| 2014 | 23.68 per 1,000 live births | -1.1% |
| 2015 | 23.39 per 1,000 live births | -1.2% |
| 2016 | 23.09 per 1,000 live births | -1.3% |
| 2017 | 22.74 per 1,000 live births | -1.5% |
| 2018 | 22.4 per 1,000 live births | -1.5% |
| 2019 | 22.1 per 1,000 live births | -1.3% |
| 2020 | 21.85 per 1,000 live births | -1.1% |
| 2021 | 21.69 per 1,000 live births | -0.7% |
| 2022 | 21.63 per 1,000 live births | -0.3% |
| 2023 | 21.55 per 1,000 live births | -0.4% |
| 2024 | 21.44 per 1,000 live births | -0.5% |
Zambia compared with similar countries
- Zambia's 21.44 per 1,000 live births is above the median for lower middle income countries, which is 19.6 per 1,000 live births, 1.1× the median. (43 countries reporting)
- Zambia's 21.44 per 1,000 live births is below the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 23.6 per 1,000 live births, 91% of the median. (45 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 28.4 per 1,000 live births | 25.1 per 1,000 live births | 32.97 per 1,000 live births | 10 |
| 2010s | 23.49 per 1,000 live births | 22.1 per 1,000 live births | 24.8 per 1,000 live births | 10 |
| 2020s | 21.63 per 1,000 live births | 21.44 per 1,000 live births | 21.85 per 1,000 live births | 5 |
Countries ranked near Zambia
- 36 Kiribati 21.71 per 1,000 live births compare
- 37 Timor-Leste 21.61 per 1,000 live births compare
- 37 East Timor 21.61 per 1,000 live births compare
- 40 Namibia 21.38 per 1,000 live births compare
- 41 Uganda 21.34 per 1,000 live births compare
- 42 Dominican Republic 21.24 per 1,000 live births compare
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 neonatal mortality rate in Zambia?
- Neonatal mortality rate in Zambia was 21.44 per 1,000 live births in 2024, according to United Nations Statistics Division, SDG Global Database.
- What is the highest neonatal mortality rate recorded in Zambia?
- The highest recorded value was 32.97 per 1,000 live births in 2000.
- What is the lowest neonatal mortality rate recorded in Zambia?
- The lowest recorded value was 21.44 per 1,000 live births in 2024.
- How does Zambia rank for neonatal mortality rate?
- Zambia ranks 39th out of 213 countries with data for 2024.
- Is neonatal mortality rate rising or falling in Zambia?
- Over the last ten years it is down 9.4%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this Zambia data come from?
- The figures come from United Nations Statistics Division, SDG Global Database, published as part of Neonatal mortality rate (deaths per 1,000 live births). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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