Neonatal mortality rate in Democratic Republic of Congo
Democratic Republic of Congo: Neonatal mortality rate was 2.53 Deaths per 1000 live births in 2023. ▼ Falling
Neonatal mortality rate in Democratic Republic of Congo, 1984–2023
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 Democratic Republic of Congo is 2.53 Deaths per 1000 live births, measured in 2023. That is the lowest value across all 40 years on record.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 2.2% on the previous year and down 16.9% over ten years.
Over the whole period, neonatal mortality rate in Democratic Republic of Congo peaked at 4.41 Deaths per 1000 live births in 1984 and was at its lowest, 2.53 Deaths per 1000 live births, in 2023.
That places Democratic Republic of Congo 23rd out of 199 countries with data for 2023, putting it in the top quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 40 years of available data.
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1980s | 4.31 Deaths per 1000 live births | 4.2 Deaths per 1000 live births | 4.41 Deaths per 1000 live births | 6 |
| 1990s | 4.01 Deaths per 1000 live births | 3.87 Deaths per 1000 live births | 4.16 Deaths per 1000 live births | 10 |
| 2000s | 3.6 Deaths per 1000 live births | 3.3 Deaths per 1000 live births | 3.83 Deaths per 1000 live births | 10 |
| 2010s | 2.98 Deaths per 1000 live births | 2.74 Deaths per 1000 live births | 3.23 Deaths per 1000 live births | 10 |
| 2020s | 2.61 Deaths per 1000 live births | 2.53 Deaths per 1000 live births | 2.69 Deaths per 1000 live births | 4 |
Countries ranked near Democratic Republic of Congo
- 20 Equatorial Guinea 2.72 Deaths per 1000 live births compare
- 21 Angola 2.56 Deaths per 1000 live births compare
- 22 Mozambique 2.54 Deaths per 1000 live births compare
- 24 Cameroon 2.52 Deaths per 1000 live births compare
- 25 Sudan 2.48 Deaths per 1000 live births compare
- 26 Burkina Faso 2.45 Deaths per 1000 live births compare
More health data for Democratic Republic of Congo
- Estimated changes in temperature-related death rates compared to projected death rates 821.4 deaths per 1,000 people (2090)
- Number of infants who die before age 1 133,650 deaths (2100)
- Deaths in armed conflicts based on where they occurred 528 deaths (2026)
- Deaths in armed conflicts by region 528 deaths (2026)
- Age population, age 25, male, interpolated 873,860 (2025)
- Age population, age 25, female, interpolated 884,406 (2025)
- Age population, age 24, male, interpolated 907,255 (2025)
- Age population, age 24, female, interpolated 917,495 (2025)
- Age population, age 23, male, interpolated 937,176 (2025)
- Age population, age 23, female, interpolated 946,859 (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is neonatal mortality rate in Democratic Republic of Congo?
- Neonatal mortality rate in Democratic Republic of Congo was 2.53 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 Democratic Republic of Congo?
- The highest recorded value was 4.41 Deaths per 1000 live births in 1984.
- What is the lowest neonatal mortality rate recorded in Democratic Republic of Congo?
- The lowest recorded value was 2.53 Deaths per 1000 live births in 2023.
- How does Democratic Republic of Congo rank for neonatal mortality rate?
- Democratic Republic of Congo ranks 23rd out of 199 countries with data for 2023.
- Is neonatal mortality rate rising or falling in Democratic Republic of Congo?
- Over the last ten years it is down 16.9%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this Democratic Republic of Congo 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.
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About this data
The share of newborns who die before reaching 28 days of age.