Neonatal mortality rate (per 1000 live births) in Australia
Australia: Neonatal mortality rate was 2.28 in 2024. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2024)
2.28
Change on year
down 1.5%
World rank
172nd
of 200 countries
All-time high
12.91
in 1968
All-time low
2.28
in 2024
Years of data
57
1968–2024
Neonatal mortality rate in Australia, 1968–2024
Source: World Health Organization, Global Health Observatory.
Analysis
The most recent figure for neonatal mortality rate in Australia is 2.28, measured in 2024. That is the lowest value across all 57 years on record.
That represents a change of down 1.5% on the previous year and down 4.5% over ten years.
Over the whole period, neonatal mortality rate in Australia peaked at 12.91 in 1968 and was at its lowest, 2.28, in 2024.
That places Australia 172nd out of 200 countries with data for 2024, 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 | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1968 | 12.91 | — |
| 1969 | 12.79 | -0.9% |
| 1970 | 12.62 | -1.3% |
| 1971 | 12.39 | -1.9% |
| 1972 | 12.07 | -2.6% |
| 1973 | 11.65 | -3.5% |
| 1974 | 11.09 | -4.8% |
| 1975 | 10.4 | -6.2% |
| 1976 | 9.63 | -7.4% |
| 1977 | 8.87 | -7.9% |
| 1978 | 8.16 | -7.9% |
| 1979 | 7.56 | -7.4% |
| 1980 | 7.06 | -6.6% |
| 1981 | 6.67 | -5.6% |
| 1982 | 6.36 | -4.6% |
| 1983 | 6.12 | -3.8% |
| 1984 | 5.91 | -3.4% |
| 1985 | 5.71 | -3.4% |
| 1986 | 5.51 | -3.6% |
| 1987 | 5.29 | -3.9% |
| 1988 | 5.07 | -4.2% |
| 1989 | 4.85 | -4.4% |
| 1990 | 4.64 | -4.4% |
| 1991 | 4.44 | -4.3% |
| 1992 | 4.24 | -4.5% |
| 1993 | 4.05 | -4.5% |
| 1994 | 3.88 | -4.2% |
| 1995 | 3.75 | -3.4% |
| 1996 | 3.66 | -2.5% |
| 1997 | 3.6 | -1.5% |
| 1998 | 3.57 | -0.8% |
| 1999 | 3.55 | -0.6% |
| 2000 | 3.52 | -0.8% |
| 2001 | 3.48 | -1.1% |
| 2002 | 3.44 | -1.3% |
| 2003 | 3.39 | -1.4% |
| 2004 | 3.33 | -1.6% |
| 2005 | 3.27 | -1.9% |
| 2006 | 3.2 | -2.2% |
| 2007 | 3.11 | -2.8% |
| 2008 | 3 | -3.4% |
| 2009 | 2.88 | -3.9% |
| 2010 | 2.76 | -4.5% |
| 2011 | 2.63 | -4.5% |
| 2012 | 2.52 | -4.1% |
| 2013 | 2.44 | -3.3% |
| 2014 | 2.38 | -2.3% |
| 2015 | 2.35 | -1.4% |
| 2016 | 2.34 | -0.5% |
| 2017 | 2.34 | +0.0% |
| 2018 | 2.35 | +0.4% |
| 2019 | 2.36 | +0.4% |
| 2020 | 2.36 | +0.1% |
| 2021 | 2.35 | -0.4% |
| 2022 | 2.34 | -0.7% |
| 2023 | 2.31 | -1.1% |
| 2024 | 2.28 | -1.5% |
Australia compared with similar countries
- Australia's 2.28 is below the median for high income countries, which is 2.62, 87% of the median. (65 countries reporting)
- Australia's 2.28 is below the median for East Asia & Pacific, which is 8.77, 26% of the median. (30 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 12.85 | 12.79 | 12.91 | 2 |
| 1970s | 10.44 | 7.56 | 12.62 | 10 |
| 1980s | 5.86 | 4.85 | 7.06 | 10 |
| 1990s | 3.94 | 3.55 | 4.64 | 10 |
| 2000s | 3.26 | 2.88 | 3.52 | 10 |
| 2010s | 2.45 | 2.34 | 2.76 | 10 |
| 2020s | 2.33 | 2.28 | 2.36 | 5 |
Countries ranked near Australia
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 2.28 in 2024, according to World Health Organization, Global Health Observatory.
- What is the highest neonatal mortality rate recorded in Australia?
- The highest recorded value was 12.91 in 1968.
- What is the lowest neonatal mortality rate recorded in Australia?
- The lowest recorded value was 2.28 in 2024.
- How does Australia rank for neonatal mortality rate?
- Australia ranks 172nd out of 200 countries with data for 2024.
- Is neonatal mortality rate rising or falling in Australia?
- Over the last ten years it is down 4.5%. 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, published as part of Neonatal mortality rate (per 1000 live births). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 57 observations, free to reuse under CC BY-NC-SA 3.0 IGO (WHO).