Number of deaths in children aged <5 years, by cause in Afghanistan
Afghanistan: Number of deaths in children aged <5 years, by cause was 18,687 in 2021. ▬ Flat
Latest (2021)
18,687
Change on year
up 1.1%
World rank
8th
of 193 countries
All-time high
19,471
in 2015
All-time low
17,721
in 2008
Years of data
22
2000–2021
Number of deaths in children aged <5 years, by cause in Afghanistan, 2000–2021
Source: World Health Organization, Global Health Observatory.
Analysis
In 2021, number of deaths in children aged <5 years, by cause in Afghanistan stood at 18,687.
That represents a change of up 1.1% on the previous year and up 3.5% over ten years.
Over the whole period, number of deaths in children aged <5 years, by cause in Afghanistan peaked at 19,471 in 2015 and was at its lowest, 17,721, in 2008.
That places Afghanistan 8th out of 193 countries with data for 2021, putting it in the top 10%.
Number of deaths in children aged <5 years, by cause in Afghanistan, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2000 | 19,333 | — |
| 2001 | 18,791 | -2.8% |
| 2002 | 17,751 | -5.5% |
| 2003 | 18,422 | +3.8% |
| 2004 | 18,959 | +2.9% |
| 2005 | 18,498 | -2.4% |
| 2006 | 18,276 | -1.2% |
| 2007 | 18,557 | +1.5% |
| 2008 | 17,721 | -4.5% |
| 2009 | 17,853 | +0.7% |
| 2010 | 17,882 | +0.2% |
| 2011 | 18,054 | +1.0% |
| 2012 | 18,840 | +4.4% |
| 2013 | 19,092 | +1.3% |
| 2014 | 18,822 | -1.4% |
| 2015 | 19,471 | +3.4% |
| 2016 | 18,913 | -2.9% |
| 2017 | 18,772 | -0.7% |
| 2018 | 17,953 | -4.4% |
| 2019 | 18,520 | +3.2% |
| 2020 | 18,489 | -0.2% |
| 2021 | 18,687 | +1.1% |
Afghanistan compared with similar countries
- Afghanistan's 18,687 is above the median for low income countries, which is 8,122, 2.3× the median. (25 countries reporting)
- Afghanistan's 18,687 is above the median for Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan, which is 865.78, 21.6× the median. (22 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 18,416 | 17,721 | 19,333 | 10 |
| 2010s | 18,632 | 17,882 | 19,471 | 10 |
| 2020s | 18,588 | 18,489 | 18,687 | 2 |
Countries ranked near Afghanistan
- 5 Ethiopia 37,456 compare
- 6 Indonesia 21,818 compare
- 7 Bangladesh 19,710 compare
- 9 Sudan 16,712 compare
- 10 Mozambique 15,903 compare
- 11 Tanzania, United Republic of 15,886 compare
More health data for Afghanistan
- Un projection of annual infant deaths, annual growth rate -1.45 % change on previous year (2100)
- Heat deaths vs projected death rates, annual growth rate 1.03 % change on previous year (2090)
- Estimated changes in temperature-related death rates compared to projected death rates 812.4 deaths per 1,000 people (2090)
- Number of infants who die before age 1 14,735 deaths (2100)
- Neonatal tetanus - number of reported cases, gaps filled 19 (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, female, annual growth rate 1.78 % change on previous year (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, female, per unit of GDP 0.0002 units per US$ of GDP (2024)
- Population ages 00-04, female, per capita 0.077 units per person (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, male, annual growth rate 1.75 % change on previous year (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, male, per unit of GDP 0.0002 units per US$ of GDP (2024)
Frequently asked questions
- What is number of deaths in children aged <5 years, by cause in Afghanistan?
- Number of deaths in children aged <5 years, by cause in Afghanistan was 18,687 in 2021, according to World Health Organization, Global Health Observatory.
- What is the highest number of deaths in children aged <5 years, by cause recorded in Afghanistan?
- The highest recorded value was 19,471 in 2015.
- What is the lowest number of deaths in children aged <5 years, by cause recorded in Afghanistan?
- The lowest recorded value was 17,721 in 2008.
- How does Afghanistan rank for number of deaths in children aged <5 years, by cause?
- Afghanistan ranks 8th out of 193 countries with data for 2021.
- Is number of deaths in children aged <5 years, by cause rising or falling in Afghanistan?
- Over the last ten years it is up 3.5%. The long-run trend across the full record is flat.
- Where does this Afghanistan data come from?
- The figures come from World Health Organization, Global Health Observatory, published as part of Number of deaths in children aged <5 years, by cause. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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