Neonatal mortality rate in Australia
Australia: Neonatal mortality rate was 0.2311 Deaths per 1000 live births in 2023. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2023)
0.2311 Deaths per 1000 live births
Change on year
down 1.1%
World rank
168th
of 199 countries
All-time high
1.29 Deaths per 1000 live births
in 1968
All-time low
0.2311 Deaths per 1000 live births
in 2023
Years of data
56
1968–2023
Neonatal mortality rate in Australia, 1968–2023
Source: World Health Organization – Global Health Observatory (2026) – with minor processing by Our World in Data. Measured in Deaths per 1000 live births.
Analysis
The most recent figure for neonatal mortality rate in Australia is 0.2311 Deaths per 1000 live births, measured in 2023. That is the lowest value across all 56 years on record.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 1.1% on the previous year and down 5.2% over ten years.
Over the whole period, neonatal mortality rate in Australia peaked at 1.29 Deaths per 1000 live births in 1968 and was at its lowest, 0.2311 Deaths per 1000 live births, in 2023.
That places Australia 168th out of 199 countries with data for 2023, putting it in the bottom quarter.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Neonatal mortality rate in Australia, year by year
| Year | Deaths per 1000 live births | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1968 | 1.29 Deaths per 1000 live births | — |
| 1969 | 1.28 Deaths per 1000 live births | -0.9% |
| 1970 | 1.26 Deaths per 1000 live births | -1.3% |
| 1971 | 1.24 Deaths per 1000 live births | -1.8% |
| 1972 | 1.21 Deaths per 1000 live births | -2.6% |
| 1973 | 1.16 Deaths per 1000 live births | -3.5% |
| 1974 | 1.11 Deaths per 1000 live births | -4.8% |
| 1975 | 1.04 Deaths per 1000 live births | -6.2% |
| 1976 | 0.963 Deaths per 1000 live births | -7.4% |
| 1977 | 0.8867 Deaths per 1000 live births | -7.9% |
| 1978 | 0.8164 Deaths per 1000 live births | -7.9% |
| 1979 | 0.7555 Deaths per 1000 live births | -7.4% |
| 1980 | 0.7059 Deaths per 1000 live births | -6.6% |
| 1981 | 0.667 Deaths per 1000 live births | -5.5% |
| 1982 | 0.6364 Deaths per 1000 live births | -4.6% |
| 1983 | 0.6121 Deaths per 1000 live births | -3.8% |
| 1984 | 0.5912 Deaths per 1000 live births | -3.4% |
| 1985 | 0.5711 Deaths per 1000 live births | -3.4% |
| 1986 | 0.5504 Deaths per 1000 live births | -3.6% |
| 1987 | 0.5291 Deaths per 1000 live births | -3.9% |
| 1988 | 0.507 Deaths per 1000 live births | -4.2% |
| 1989 | 0.485 Deaths per 1000 live births | -4.3% |
| 1990 | 0.4637 Deaths per 1000 live births | -4.4% |
| 1991 | 0.4435 Deaths per 1000 live births | -4.4% |
| 1992 | 0.4235 Deaths per 1000 live births | -4.5% |
| 1993 | 0.4042 Deaths per 1000 live births | -4.5% |
| 1994 | 0.3875 Deaths per 1000 live births | -4.1% |
| 1995 | 0.3744 Deaths per 1000 live births | -3.4% |
| 1996 | 0.3653 Deaths per 1000 live births | -2.4% |
| 1997 | 0.3596 Deaths per 1000 live births | -1.6% |
| 1998 | 0.3566 Deaths per 1000 live births | -0.8% |
| 1999 | 0.3546 Deaths per 1000 live births | -0.6% |
| 2000 | 0.3518 Deaths per 1000 live births | -0.8% |
| 2001 | 0.348 Deaths per 1000 live births | -1.1% |
| 2002 | 0.3435 Deaths per 1000 live births | -1.3% |
| 2003 | 0.3387 Deaths per 1000 live births | -1.4% |
| 2004 | 0.3333 Deaths per 1000 live births | -1.6% |
| 2005 | 0.3271 Deaths per 1000 live births | -1.9% |
| 2006 | 0.3198 Deaths per 1000 live births | -2.2% |
| 2007 | 0.311 Deaths per 1000 live births | -2.7% |
| 2008 | 0.3005 Deaths per 1000 live births | -3.4% |
| 2009 | 0.2886 Deaths per 1000 live births | -3.9% |
| 2010 | 0.2757 Deaths per 1000 live births | -4.5% |
| 2011 | 0.2631 Deaths per 1000 live births | -4.6% |
| 2012 | 0.2522 Deaths per 1000 live births | -4.1% |
| 2013 | 0.244 Deaths per 1000 live births | -3.3% |
| 2014 | 0.2382 Deaths per 1000 live births | -2.4% |
| 2015 | 0.2349 Deaths per 1000 live births | -1.4% |
| 2016 | 0.2337 Deaths per 1000 live births | -0.5% |
| 2017 | 0.2338 Deaths per 1000 live births | +0.1% |
| 2018 | 0.2347 Deaths per 1000 live births | +0.4% |
| 2019 | 0.2357 Deaths per 1000 live births | +0.4% |
| 2020 | 0.236 Deaths per 1000 live births | +0.1% |
| 2021 | 0.2353 Deaths per 1000 live births | -0.3% |
| 2022 | 0.2337 Deaths per 1000 live births | -0.7% |
| 2023 | 0.2311 Deaths per 1000 live births | -1.1% |
Australia compared with similar countries
- Australia's 0.2311 Deaths per 1000 live births is below the median for high income countries, which is 0.259 Deaths per 1000 live births, 89% of the median. (65 countries reporting)
- Australia's 0.2311 Deaths per 1000 live births is below the median for East Asia & Pacific, which is 0.8881 Deaths per 1000 live births, 26% of the median. (30 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 1.28 Deaths per 1000 live births | 1.28 Deaths per 1000 live births | 1.29 Deaths per 1000 live births | 2 |
| 1970s | 1.04 Deaths per 1000 live births | 0.7555 Deaths per 1000 live births | 1.26 Deaths per 1000 live births | 10 |
| 1980s | 0.5855 Deaths per 1000 live births | 0.485 Deaths per 1000 live births | 0.7059 Deaths per 1000 live births | 10 |
| 1990s | 0.3933 Deaths per 1000 live births | 0.3546 Deaths per 1000 live births | 0.4637 Deaths per 1000 live births | 10 |
| 2000s | 0.3262 Deaths per 1000 live births | 0.2886 Deaths per 1000 live births | 0.3518 Deaths per 1000 live births | 10 |
| 2010s | 0.2446 Deaths per 1000 live births | 0.2337 Deaths per 1000 live births | 0.2757 Deaths per 1000 live births | 10 |
| 2020s | 0.234 Deaths per 1000 live births | 0.2311 Deaths per 1000 live births | 0.236 Deaths per 1000 live births | 4 |
Countries ranked near Australia
- 165 Ireland 0.2525 Deaths per 1000 live births compare
- 166 United Arab Emirates 0.2484 Deaths per 1000 live births compare
- 167 Poland 0.2358 Deaths per 1000 live births compare
- 169 Germany 0.2282 Deaths per 1000 live births compare
- 170 Greece 0.2267 Deaths per 1000 live births compare
- 171 Hungary 0.211 Deaths per 1000 live births compare
More health data for Australia
- Un projection of annual infant deaths, annual growth rate -1.83 % change on previous year (2100)
- Heat deaths vs projected death rates, annual growth rate -0.9072 % change on previous year (2090)
- Estimated changes in temperature-related death rates compared to projected death rates 906.6 deaths per 1,000 people (2090)
- Number of infants who die before age 1 215 deaths (2100)
- Neonatal tetanus - number of reported cases, gaps filled 0 (2021)
- Population ages 00-04, female, annual growth rate 1.45 % 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 0.0279 units per person (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, male, annual growth rate 1.35 % 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 neonatal mortality rate in Australia?
- Neonatal mortality rate in Australia was 0.2311 Deaths per 1000 live births in 2023, according to World Health Organization – Global Health Observatory (2026) – with minor processing by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest neonatal mortality rate recorded in Australia?
- The highest recorded value was 1.29 Deaths per 1000 live births in 1968.
- What is the lowest neonatal mortality rate recorded in Australia?
- The lowest recorded value was 0.2311 Deaths per 1000 live births in 2023.
- How does Australia rank for neonatal mortality rate?
- Australia ranks 168th out of 199 countries with data for 2023.
- Is neonatal mortality rate rising or falling in Australia?
- Over the last ten years it is down 5.2%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Australia data come from?
- The figures come from World Health Organization – Global Health Observatory (2026) – with minor processing by Our World in Data, published as part of Neonatal mortality rate. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
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About this data
The share of newborns who die before reaching 28 days of age.