Neonatal mortality rate (United Nations) in Australia
Australia: Neonatal mortality rate (United Nations) was 0.2276 deaths per 100 live births in 2024. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2024)
0.2276 deaths per 100 live births
Change on year
down 1.5%
World rank
171st
of 199 countries
All-time high
1.29 deaths per 100 live births
in 1968
All-time low
0.2276 deaths per 100 live births
in 2024
Years of data
57
1968–2024
Neonatal mortality rate in Australia, 1968–2024
Source: United Nations Inter-agency Group for Child Mortality Estimation (2025) – processed by Our World in Data. Measured in deaths per 100 live births.
Analysis
In 2024, neonatal mortality rate in Australia stood at 0.2276 deaths per 100 live births. That is the lowest value across all 57 years on record.
Compared with earlier readings it is 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 1.29 deaths per 100 live births in 1968 and was at its lowest, 0.2276 deaths per 100 live births, in 2024.
Australia ranks 171st of 199 countries on this measure, in the bottom quarter.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Neonatal mortality rate (United Nations) in Australia, year by year
| Year | deaths per 100 live births | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1968 | 1.29 deaths per 100 live births | — |
| 1969 | 1.28 deaths per 100 live births | -0.9% |
| 1970 | 1.26 deaths per 100 live births | -1.3% |
| 1971 | 1.24 deaths per 100 live births | -1.9% |
| 1972 | 1.21 deaths per 100 live births | -2.6% |
| 1973 | 1.16 deaths per 100 live births | -3.5% |
| 1974 | 1.11 deaths per 100 live births | -4.8% |
| 1975 | 1.04 deaths per 100 live births | -6.2% |
| 1976 | 0.9631 deaths per 100 live births | -7.4% |
| 1977 | 0.8867 deaths per 100 live births | -7.9% |
| 1978 | 0.8164 deaths per 100 live births | -7.9% |
| 1979 | 0.7556 deaths per 100 live births | -7.4% |
| 1980 | 0.7061 deaths per 100 live births | -6.6% |
| 1981 | 0.6669 deaths per 100 live births | -5.6% |
| 1982 | 0.6363 deaths per 100 live births | -4.6% |
| 1983 | 0.6122 deaths per 100 live births | -3.8% |
| 1984 | 0.5913 deaths per 100 live births | -3.4% |
| 1985 | 0.5714 deaths per 100 live births | -3.4% |
| 1986 | 0.5509 deaths per 100 live births | -3.6% |
| 1987 | 0.5293 deaths per 100 live births | -3.9% |
| 1988 | 0.507 deaths per 100 live births | -4.2% |
| 1989 | 0.4849 deaths per 100 live births | -4.4% |
| 1990 | 0.4637 deaths per 100 live births | -4.4% |
| 1991 | 0.4437 deaths per 100 live births | -4.3% |
| 1992 | 0.4238 deaths per 100 live births | -4.5% |
| 1993 | 0.4046 deaths per 100 live births | -4.5% |
| 1994 | 0.3878 deaths per 100 live births | -4.2% |
| 1995 | 0.3747 deaths per 100 live births | -3.4% |
| 1996 | 0.3656 deaths per 100 live births | -2.5% |
| 1997 | 0.3599 deaths per 100 live births | -1.5% |
| 1998 | 0.3569 deaths per 100 live births | -0.8% |
| 1999 | 0.3548 deaths per 100 live births | -0.6% |
| 2000 | 0.352 deaths per 100 live births | -0.8% |
| 2001 | 0.3482 deaths per 100 live births | -1.1% |
| 2002 | 0.3437 deaths per 100 live births | -1.3% |
| 2003 | 0.3387 deaths per 100 live births | -1.4% |
| 2004 | 0.3332 deaths per 100 live births | -1.6% |
| 2005 | 0.327 deaths per 100 live births | -1.9% |
| 2006 | 0.3197 deaths per 100 live births | -2.2% |
| 2007 | 0.3109 deaths per 100 live births | -2.8% |
| 2008 | 0.3003 deaths per 100 live births | -3.4% |
| 2009 | 0.2885 deaths per 100 live births | -3.9% |
| 2010 | 0.2756 deaths per 100 live births | -4.5% |
| 2011 | 0.2631 deaths per 100 live births | -4.5% |
| 2012 | 0.2524 deaths per 100 live births | -4.1% |
| 2013 | 0.2442 deaths per 100 live births | -3.3% |
| 2014 | 0.2385 deaths per 100 live births | -2.3% |
| 2015 | 0.2351 deaths per 100 live births | -1.4% |
| 2016 | 0.2339 deaths per 100 live births | -0.5% |
| 2017 | 0.234 deaths per 100 live births | +0.0% |
| 2018 | 0.2349 deaths per 100 live births | +0.4% |
| 2019 | 0.2359 deaths per 100 live births | +0.4% |
| 2020 | 0.2361 deaths per 100 live births | +0.1% |
| 2021 | 0.2353 deaths per 100 live births | -0.4% |
| 2022 | 0.2336 deaths per 100 live births | -0.7% |
| 2023 | 0.2311 deaths per 100 live births | -1.1% |
| 2024 | 0.2276 deaths per 100 live births | -1.5% |
Australia compared with similar countries
- Australia's 0.2276 deaths per 100 live births is below the median for high income countries, which is 0.2623 deaths per 100 live births, 87% of the median. (65 countries reporting)
- Australia's 0.2276 deaths per 100 live births is below the median for East Asia & Pacific, which is 0.8767 deaths per 100 live births, 26% of the median. (30 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 1.28 deaths per 100 live births | 1.28 deaths per 100 live births | 1.29 deaths per 100 live births | 2 |
| 1970s | 1.04 deaths per 100 live births | 0.7556 deaths per 100 live births | 1.26 deaths per 100 live births | 10 |
| 1980s | 0.5856 deaths per 100 live births | 0.4849 deaths per 100 live births | 0.7061 deaths per 100 live births | 10 |
| 1990s | 0.3935 deaths per 100 live births | 0.3548 deaths per 100 live births | 0.4637 deaths per 100 live births | 10 |
| 2000s | 0.3262 deaths per 100 live births | 0.2885 deaths per 100 live births | 0.352 deaths per 100 live births | 10 |
| 2010s | 0.2447 deaths per 100 live births | 0.2339 deaths per 100 live births | 0.2756 deaths per 100 live births | 10 |
| 2020s | 0.2327 deaths per 100 live births | 0.2276 deaths per 100 live births | 0.2361 deaths per 100 live births | 5 |
Countries ranked near Australia
- 168 Turks and Caicos Islands 0.2419 deaths per 100 live births compare
- 169 United Arab Emirates 0.2361 deaths per 100 live births compare
- 170 Germany 0.2296 deaths per 100 live births compare
- 172 Belgium 0.222 deaths per 100 live births compare
- 173 Austria 0.2181 deaths per 100 live births compare
- 174 Greece 0.2175 deaths per 100 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)
- 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)
- Population ages 00-04, male, per capita 0.0295 units per person (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is neonatal mortality rate in Australia?
- Neonatal mortality rate in Australia was 0.2276 deaths per 100 live births in 2024, according to United Nations Inter-agency Group for Child Mortality Estimation (2025) – processed by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest neonatal mortality rate recorded in Australia?
- The highest recorded value was 1.29 deaths per 100 live births in 1968.
- What is the lowest neonatal mortality rate recorded in Australia?
- The lowest recorded value was 0.2276 deaths per 100 live births in 2024.
- How does Australia rank for neonatal mortality rate?
- Australia ranks 171st out of 199 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 United Nations Inter-agency Group for Child Mortality Estimation (2025) – processed 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
Estimated number of deaths of children aged less than 28 days, per 100 live births .