Number of child deaths in South Sudan
South Sudan: Number of child deaths was 31,993 deaths in 2024. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2024)
31,993 deaths
Change on year
up 3.8%
World rank
34th
of 199 countries
All-time high
260,974 deaths
in 1988
All-time low
29,443 deaths
in 2019
Years of data
66
1959–2024
Number of child deaths in South Sudan, 1959–2024
Source: United Nations Inter-agency Group for Child Mortality Estimation (2025) – processed by Our World in Data. Measured in deaths.
Analysis
South Sudan recorded 31,993 deaths for number of child deaths in 2024.
The figure is up 3.8% on the previous year and down 58.9% over ten years.
Over the whole period, number of child deaths in South Sudan peaked at 260,974 deaths in 1988 and was at its lowest, 29,443 deaths, in 2019.
That places South Sudan 34th out of 199 countries with data for 2024, putting it in the top quarter.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Number of child deaths in South Sudan, year by year
| Year | deaths | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1959 | 50,376 deaths | — |
| 1960 | 51,044 deaths | +1.3% |
| 1961 | 51,687 deaths | +1.3% |
| 1962 | 52,315 deaths | +1.2% |
| 1963 | 60,682 deaths | +16.0% |
| 1964 | 53,149 deaths | -12.4% |
| 1965 | 53,995 deaths | +1.6% |
| 1966 | 69,080 deaths | +27.9% |
| 1967 | 68,991 deaths | -0.1% |
| 1968 | 69,226 deaths | +0.3% |
| 1969 | 71,471 deaths | +3.2% |
| 1970 | 71,682 deaths | +0.3% |
| 1971 | 55,420 deaths | -22.7% |
| 1972 | 56,642 deaths | +2.2% |
| 1973 | 57,641 deaths | +1.8% |
| 1974 | 58,417 deaths | +1.3% |
| 1975 | 59,172 deaths | +1.3% |
| 1976 | 59,793 deaths | +1.0% |
| 1977 | 60,284 deaths | +0.8% |
| 1978 | 60,664 deaths | +0.6% |
| 1979 | 61,058 deaths | +0.6% |
| 1980 | 61,501 deaths | +0.7% |
| 1981 | 61,938 deaths | +0.7% |
| 1982 | 62,379 deaths | +0.7% |
| 1983 | 62,802 deaths | +0.7% |
| 1984 | 63,064 deaths | +0.4% |
| 1985 | 63,192 deaths | +0.2% |
| 1986 | 63,328 deaths | +0.2% |
| 1987 | 89,499 deaths | +41.3% |
| 1988 | 260,974 deaths | +191.6% |
| 1989 | 66,027 deaths | -74.7% |
| 1990 | 68,007 deaths | +3.0% |
| 1991 | 68,445 deaths | +0.6% |
| 1992 | 81,785 deaths | +19.5% |
| 1993 | 83,068 deaths | +1.6% |
| 1994 | 56,842 deaths | -31.6% |
| 1995 | 69,664 deaths | +22.6% |
| 1996 | 69,188 deaths | -0.7% |
| 1997 | 68,165 deaths | -1.5% |
| 1998 | 128,686 deaths | +88.8% |
| 1999 | 51,064 deaths | -60.3% |
| 2000 | 50,608 deaths | -0.9% |
| 2001 | 49,571 deaths | -2.0% |
| 2002 | 48,487 deaths | -2.2% |
| 2003 | 47,360 deaths | -2.3% |
| 2004 | 45,980 deaths | -2.9% |
| 2005 | 44,630 deaths | -2.9% |
| 2006 | 43,401 deaths | -2.8% |
| 2007 | 42,330 deaths | -2.5% |
| 2008 | 41,474 deaths | -2.0% |
| 2009 | 40,662 deaths | -2.0% |
| 2010 | 39,833 deaths | -2.0% |
| 2011 | 39,506 deaths | -0.8% |
| 2012 | 39,703 deaths | +0.5% |
| 2013 | 40,027 deaths | +0.8% |
| 2014 | 77,847 deaths | +94.5% |
| 2015 | 101,828 deaths | +30.8% |
| 2016 | 111,256 deaths | +9.3% |
| 2017 | 111,928 deaths | +0.6% |
| 2018 | 42,974 deaths | -61.6% |
| 2019 | 29,443 deaths | -31.5% |
| 2020 | 29,897 deaths | +1.5% |
| 2021 | 30,309 deaths | +1.4% |
| 2022 | 30,484 deaths | +0.6% |
| 2023 | 30,807 deaths | +1.1% |
| 2024 | 31,993 deaths | +3.8% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1950s | 50,376 deaths | 50,376 deaths | 50,376 deaths | 1 |
| 1960s | 60,164 deaths | 51,044 deaths | 71,471 deaths | 10 |
| 1970s | 60,077 deaths | 55,420 deaths | 71,682 deaths | 10 |
| 1980s | 85,470 deaths | 61,501 deaths | 260,974 deaths | 10 |
| 1990s | 74,491 deaths | 51,064 deaths | 128,686 deaths | 10 |
| 2000s | 45,450 deaths | 40,662 deaths | 50,608 deaths | 10 |
| 2010s | 63,434 deaths | 29,443 deaths | 111,928 deaths | 10 |
| 2020s | 30,698 deaths | 29,897 deaths | 31,993 deaths | 5 |
Countries ranked near South Sudan
More health data for South Sudan
- Un projection of annual infant deaths, annual growth rate -1.47 % change on previous year (2100)
- Heat deaths vs projected death rates, annual growth rate 0.665 % change on previous year (2090)
- Estimated changes in temperature-related death rates compared to projected death rates 1,347 deaths per 1,000 people (2090)
- Number of infants who die before age 1 12,029 deaths (2100)
- Deaths in armed conflicts by region 123 deaths (2026)
- Deaths in armed conflicts based on where they occurred 123 deaths (2026)
- Population ages 65-69, female, annual growth rate 4.98 % change on previous year (2025)
- Population ages 80 and above, female, annual growth rate 5.51 % change on previous year (2025)
- Population ages 65-69, male, per capita 0.0061 units per person (2025)
- Population ages 65-69, male, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2015)
Frequently asked questions
- What is number of child deaths in South Sudan?
- Number of child deaths in South Sudan was 31,993 deaths in 2024, according to United Nations Inter-agency Group for Child Mortality Estimation (2025) – processed by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest number of child deaths recorded in South Sudan?
- The highest recorded value was 260,974 deaths in 1988.
- What is the lowest number of child deaths recorded in South Sudan?
- The lowest recorded value was 29,443 deaths in 2019.
- How does South Sudan rank for number of child deaths?
- South Sudan ranks 34th out of 199 countries with data for 2024.
- Is number of child deaths rising or falling in South Sudan?
- Over the last ten years it is down 58.9%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this South Sudan 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 Number of child deaths. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Estimated number of deaths of children aged under 5 .