Neonatal mortality rate (UN IGME estimate, 2024) in Zambia
Zambia: Neonatal mortality rate (UN IGME estimate, 2024) was 21.44 in 2024. ▼ Falling
Latest (2024)
21.44
Change on year
down 0.5%
World rank
37th
of 201 countries
All-time high
36.23
in 1969
All-time low
21.44
in 2024
Years of data
56
1969–2024
Neonatal mortality rate in Zambia, 1969–2024
Source: UNICEF.
Analysis
The most recent figure for neonatal mortality rate in Zambia is 21.44, measured in 2024. That is the lowest value across all 56 years on record.
That represents a change of 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 36.23 in 1969 and was at its lowest, 21.44, in 2024.
Zambia ranks 37th of 201 countries on this measure, in the top quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 56 years of available data.
Neonatal mortality rate (UN IGME estimate, 2024) in Zambia, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1969 | 36.23 | — |
| 1970 | 35.88 | -1.0% |
| 1971 | 35.46 | -1.2% |
| 1972 | 35.01 | -1.3% |
| 1973 | 34.55 | -1.3% |
| 1974 | 34.18 | -1.1% |
| 1975 | 33.93 | -0.8% |
| 1976 | 33.83 | -0.3% |
| 1977 | 33.89 | +0.2% |
| 1978 | 34.07 | +0.5% |
| 1979 | 34.23 | +0.5% |
| 1980 | 34.39 | +0.5% |
| 1981 | 34.55 | +0.5% |
| 1982 | 34.77 | +0.6% |
| 1983 | 35.05 | +0.8% |
| 1984 | 35.31 | +0.8% |
| 1985 | 35.57 | +0.7% |
| 1986 | 35.77 | +0.6% |
| 1987 | 35.86 | +0.2% |
| 1988 | 35.92 | +0.2% |
| 1989 | 35.8 | -0.3% |
| 1990 | 35.46 | -0.9% |
| 1991 | 34.95 | -1.5% |
| 1992 | 34.41 | -1.5% |
| 1993 | 34.1 | -0.9% |
| 1994 | 33.94 | -0.5% |
| 1995 | 33.84 | -0.3% |
| 1996 | 33.85 | +0.0% |
| 1997 | 33.89 | +0.1% |
| 1998 | 33.85 | -0.1% |
| 1999 | 33.56 | -0.9% |
| 2000 | 32.97 | -1.7% |
| 2001 | 32.14 | -2.5% |
| 2002 | 30.97 | -3.7% |
| 2003 | 29.6 | -4.4% |
| 2004 | 28.34 | -4.3% |
| 2005 | 27.24 | -3.9% |
| 2006 | 26.41 | -3.1% |
| 2007 | 25.81 | -2.2% |
| 2008 | 25.42 | -1.5% |
| 2009 | 25.1 | -1.3% |
| 2010 | 24.8 | -1.2% |
| 2011 | 24.53 | -1.1% |
| 2012 | 24.25 | -1.2% |
| 2013 | 23.94 | -1.2% |
| 2014 | 23.68 | -1.1% |
| 2015 | 23.39 | -1.2% |
| 2016 | 23.09 | -1.3% |
| 2017 | 22.74 | -1.5% |
| 2018 | 22.4 | -1.5% |
| 2019 | 22.1 | -1.3% |
| 2020 | 21.85 | -1.1% |
| 2021 | 21.69 | -0.7% |
| 2022 | 21.63 | -0.3% |
| 2023 | 21.55 | -0.4% |
| 2024 | 21.44 | -0.5% |
Zambia compared with similar countries
- Zambia's 21.44 is above the median for lower middle income countries, which is 18.12, 1.2× the median. (47 countries reporting)
- Zambia's 21.44 is below the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 23.33, 92% of the median. (48 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 36.23 | 36.23 | 36.23 | 1 |
| 1970s | 34.5 | 33.83 | 35.88 | 10 |
| 1980s | 35.3 | 34.39 | 35.92 | 10 |
| 1990s | 34.18 | 33.56 | 35.46 | 10 |
| 2000s | 28.4 | 25.1 | 32.97 | 10 |
| 2010s | 23.49 | 22.1 | 24.8 | 10 |
| 2020s | 21.63 | 21.44 | 21.85 | 5 |
Countries ranked near Zambia
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)
- Estimated changes in temperature-related death rates compared to projected death rates 809.3 deaths per 1,000 people (2090)
- Number of infants who die before age 1 8,894 deaths (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)
Frequently asked questions
- What is neonatal mortality rate in Zambia?
- Neonatal mortality rate in Zambia was 21.44 in 2024, according to UNICEF.
- What is the highest neonatal mortality rate recorded in Zambia?
- The highest recorded value was 36.23 in 1969.
- What is the lowest neonatal mortality rate recorded in Zambia?
- The lowest recorded value was 21.44 in 2024.
- How does Zambia rank for neonatal mortality rate?
- Zambia ranks 37th out of 201 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 UNICEF, published as part of Neonatal mortality rate (UN IGME estimate, 2024). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
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