Number of deaths in children aged <5 years, by cause in Africa (WHO region)
Africa (WHO region): Number of deaths in children aged <5 years, by cause was 358,703 in 2021. ▬ Flat
Latest (2021)
358,703
Change on year
down 0.2%
Rank
2nd
of 7 groups
All-time high
360,000
in 2018
All-time low
348,214
in 2005
Years of data
22
2000–2021
Number of deaths in children aged <5 years, by cause in Africa (WHO region), 2000–2021
Source: World Health Organization, Global Health Observatory.
Analysis
In 2021, number of deaths in children aged <5 years, by cause in Africa (WHO region) stood at 358,703.
The figure is down 0.2% on the previous year and up 1.1% over ten years.
Over the whole period, number of deaths in children aged <5 years, by cause in Africa (WHO region) peaked at 360,000 in 2018 and was at its lowest, 348,214, in 2005.
Number of deaths in children aged <5 years, by cause in Africa (WHO region), year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2000 | 355,253 | — |
| 2001 | 353,161 | -0.6% |
| 2002 | 351,008 | -0.6% |
| 2003 | 349,530 | -0.4% |
| 2004 | 348,689 | -0.2% |
| 2005 | 348,214 | -0.1% |
| 2006 | 349,371 | +0.3% |
| 2007 | 348,627 | -0.2% |
| 2008 | 348,249 | -0.1% |
| 2009 | 350,169 | +0.6% |
| 2010 | 352,666 | +0.7% |
| 2011 | 354,953 | +0.6% |
| 2012 | 355,877 | +0.3% |
| 2013 | 356,470 | +0.2% |
| 2014 | 357,132 | +0.2% |
| 2015 | 357,031 | -0.0% |
| 2016 | 357,770 | +0.2% |
| 2017 | 358,100 | +0.1% |
| 2018 | 360,000 | +0.5% |
| 2019 | 359,264 | -0.2% |
| 2020 | 359,458 | +0.1% |
| 2021 | 358,703 | -0.2% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 350,227 | 348,214 | 355,253 | 10 |
| 2010s | 356,926 | 352,666 | 360,000 | 10 |
| 2020s | 359,080 | 358,703 | 359,458 | 2 |
Countries ranked near Africa (WHO region)
More health data for Africa (WHO region)
- Neonatal tetanus - number of reported cases, gaps filled 1,654 (2025)
- Measles - number of reported cases, gaps filled 179,400 (2025)
- Diphtheria - number of reported cases, gaps filled 20,261 (2025)
- Total tetanus - number of reported cases, gaps filled 20,578 (2025)
- Pertussis - number of reported cases, gaps filled 12,202 (2025)
- Number of under-five deaths, annual growth rate -1.43 % change on previous year (2024)
- Number of neonatal deaths, annual growth rate -0.0365 % change on previous year (2024)
- Number of infant deaths, annual growth rate -0.8695 % change on previous year (2024)
- Measles - number of reported cases, annual growth rate -8.02 % change on previous year (2025)
- Pertussis - number of reported cases, annual growth rate 160.28 % change on previous year (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is number of deaths in children aged <5 years, by cause in Africa (WHO region)?
- Number of deaths in children aged <5 years, by cause in Africa (WHO region) was 358,703 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 Africa (WHO region)?
- The highest recorded value was 360,000 in 2018.
- What is the lowest number of deaths in children aged <5 years, by cause recorded in Africa (WHO region)?
- The lowest recorded value was 348,214 in 2005.
- How does Africa (WHO region) rank for number of deaths in children aged <5 years, by cause?
- Africa (WHO region) ranks 2nd out of 7 groups with data for 2021.
- Is number of deaths in children aged <5 years, by cause rising or falling in Africa (WHO region)?
- Over the last ten years it is up 1.1%. The long-run trend across the full record is flat.
- Where does this Africa (WHO region) 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.
Download this data
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