Neonatal mortality rate in Sub-Saharan Africa
Sub-Saharan Africa: Neonatal mortality rate was 26.55 in 2024. ▼ Falling
Neonatal mortality rate in Sub-Saharan Africa, 1990–2024
Source: UNICEF.
Analysis
In 2024, neonatal mortality rate in Sub-Saharan Africa stood at 26.55. That is the lowest value across all 35 years on record.
That represents a change of down 1.4% on the previous year and down 9.9% over ten years.
Over the whole period, neonatal mortality rate in Sub-Saharan Africa peaked at 44.85 in 1990 and was at its lowest, 26.55, in 2024.
Sub-Saharan Africa ranks 2nd of 33 groups on this measure, in the top 10%.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 35 years of available data.
Neonatal mortality rate in Sub-Saharan Africa, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1990 | 44.85 | — |
| 1991 | 44.41 | -1.0% |
| 1992 | 44.05 | -0.8% |
| 1993 | 43.65 | -0.9% |
| 1994 | 43.29 | -0.8% |
| 1995 | 42.67 | -1.4% |
| 1996 | 42.22 | -1.1% |
| 1997 | 41.6 | -1.5% |
| 1998 | 40.87 | -1.8% |
| 1999 | 39.92 | -2.3% |
| 2000 | 39.01 | -2.3% |
| 2001 | 38.07 | -2.4% |
| 2002 | 37.08 | -2.6% |
| 2003 | 36.12 | -2.6% |
| 2004 | 35.23 | -2.5% |
| 2005 | 34.38 | -2.4% |
| 2006 | 33.63 | -2.2% |
| 2007 | 32.97 | -2.0% |
| 2008 | 32.32 | -2.0% |
| 2009 | 31.79 | -1.6% |
| 2010 | 31.22 | -1.8% |
| 2011 | 30.75 | -1.5% |
| 2012 | 30.21 | -1.7% |
| 2013 | 29.79 | -1.4% |
| 2014 | 29.48 | -1.1% |
| 2015 | 29.18 | -1.0% |
| 2016 | 28.91 | -0.9% |
| 2017 | 28.64 | -0.9% |
| 2018 | 28.32 | -1.1% |
| 2019 | 28.06 | -0.9% |
| 2020 | 27.78 | -1.0% |
| 2021 | 27.56 | -0.8% |
| 2022 | 27.31 | -0.9% |
| 2023 | 26.93 | -1.4% |
| 2024 | 26.55 | -1.4% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 42.75 | 39.92 | 44.85 | 10 |
| 2000s | 35.06 | 31.79 | 39.01 | 10 |
| 2010s | 29.46 | 28.06 | 31.22 | 10 |
| 2020s | 27.23 | 26.55 | 27.78 | 5 |
Countries ranked near Sub-Saharan Africa
More health data for Sub-Saharan Africa
- Population ages 0-14, total, per capita 0.4038 units per person (2025)
- Population ages 15-64, total, annual growth rate 3 % change on previous year (2025)
- Population ages 15-64, male, per capita 0.2801 units per person (2025)
- Population ages 15-64, male, per unit of GDP 0.0002 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Population ages 15-64, male, annual growth rate 3.04 % change on previous year (2025)
- Population ages 15-64, female, per capita 0.2837 units per person (2025)
- Population ages 15-64, female, per unit of GDP 0.0002 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Population ages 15-64, female, annual growth rate 2.96 % change on previous year (2025)
- Population ages 0-14, male, annual growth rate 1.63 % change on previous year (2025)
- Population ages 0-14, male, per unit of GDP 0.0001 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is neonatal mortality rate in Sub-Saharan Africa?
- Neonatal mortality rate in Sub-Saharan Africa was 26.55 in 2024, according to UNICEF.
- What is the highest neonatal mortality rate recorded in Sub-Saharan Africa?
- The highest recorded value was 44.85 in 1990.
- What is the lowest neonatal mortality rate recorded in Sub-Saharan Africa?
- The lowest recorded value was 26.55 in 2024.
- How does Sub-Saharan Africa rank for neonatal mortality rate?
- Sub-Saharan Africa ranks 2nd out of 33 groups with data for 2024.
- Is neonatal mortality rate rising or falling in Sub-Saharan Africa?
- Over the last ten years it is down 9.9%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this Sub-Saharan Africa data come from?
- The figures come from UNICEF, published as part of Neonatal mortality rate (UN IGME estimate, 2024). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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