Number of neonatal deaths by region in Ghana
Ghana: Number of neonatal deaths by region was 16,118 in 2024. ▼ Falling
Number of neonatal deaths by region in Ghana, 1966–2024
Source: UN Inter-agency Group for Child Mortality Estimation (UNICEF, WHO, UN Population Division), via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data.
Analysis
The most recent figure for number of neonatal deaths by region in Ghana is 16,118, measured in 2024. That is the lowest value across all 59 years on record.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 2.9% on the previous year and down 27.6% over ten years.
Over the whole period, number of neonatal deaths by region in Ghana peaked at 27,970 in 1984 and was at its lowest, 16,118, in 2024.
That places Ghana 31st out of 195 countries with data for 2024, putting it in the top quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 59 years of available data.
Number of neonatal deaths by region in Ghana, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1966 | 23,476 | — |
| 1967 | 23,986 | +2.2% |
| 1968 | 24,455 | +2.0% |
| 1969 | 25,092 | +2.6% |
| 1970 | 25,520 | +1.7% |
| 1971 | 25,833 | +1.2% |
| 1972 | 25,991 | +0.6% |
| 1973 | 26,089 | +0.4% |
| 1974 | 26,096 | +0.0% |
| 1975 | 26,044 | -0.2% |
| 1976 | 25,978 | -0.3% |
| 1977 | 26,096 | +0.5% |
| 1978 | 26,323 | +0.9% |
| 1979 | 26,730 | +1.5% |
| 1980 | 27,215 | +1.8% |
| 1981 | 27,505 | +1.1% |
| 1982 | 27,646 | +0.5% |
| 1983 | 27,827 | +0.7% |
| 1984 | 27,970 | +0.5% |
| 1985 | 27,759 | -0.8% |
| 1986 | 27,532 | -0.8% |
| 1987 | 27,214 | -1.2% |
| 1988 | 26,734 | -1.8% |
| 1989 | 26,358 | -1.4% |
| 1990 | 26,172 | -0.7% |
| 1991 | 25,947 | -0.9% |
| 1992 | 25,706 | -0.9% |
| 1993 | 25,514 | -0.7% |
| 1994 | 25,111 | -1.6% |
| 1995 | 24,814 | -1.2% |
| 1996 | 24,381 | -1.7% |
| 1997 | 24,340 | -0.2% |
| 1998 | 24,336 | -0.0% |
| 1999 | 24,467 | +0.5% |
| 2000 | 24,768 | +1.2% |
| 2001 | 24,701 | -0.3% |
| 2002 | 24,592 | -0.4% |
| 2003 | 24,481 | -0.5% |
| 2004 | 24,376 | -0.4% |
| 2005 | 24,736 | +1.5% |
| 2006 | 24,661 | -0.3% |
| 2007 | 24,432 | -0.9% |
| 2008 | 24,281 | -0.6% |
| 2009 | 24,189 | -0.4% |
| 2010 | 24,134 | -0.2% |
| 2011 | 23,908 | -0.9% |
| 2012 | 23,533 | -1.6% |
| 2013 | 23,036 | -2.1% |
| 2014 | 22,275 | -3.3% |
| 2015 | 21,694 | -2.6% |
| 2016 | 20,763 | -4.3% |
| 2017 | 19,623 | -5.5% |
| 2018 | 18,942 | -3.5% |
| 2019 | 18,325 | -3.3% |
| 2020 | 17,796 | -2.9% |
| 2021 | 17,349 | -2.5% |
| 2022 | 16,930 | -2.4% |
| 2023 | 16,603 | -1.9% |
| 2024 | 16,118 | -2.9% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 24,252 | 23,476 | 25,092 | 4 |
| 1970s | 26,070 | 25,520 | 26,730 | 10 |
| 1980s | 27,376 | 26,358 | 27,970 | 10 |
| 1990s | 25,079 | 24,336 | 26,172 | 10 |
| 2000s | 24,522 | 24,189 | 24,768 | 10 |
| 2010s | 21,623 | 18,325 | 24,134 | 10 |
| 2020s | 16,959 | 16,118 | 17,796 | 5 |
Countries ranked near Ghana
More health data for Ghana
- Un projection of annual infant deaths, annual growth rate -1.37 % change on previous year (2100)
- Heat deaths vs projected death rates, annual growth rate 0.6224 % change on previous year (2090)
- Estimated changes in temperature-related death rates compared to projected death rates 986.1 deaths per 1,000 people (2090)
- Number of infants who die before age 1 8,361 deaths (2100)
- Population ages 50-54, male, annual growth rate 2.86 % change on previous year (2025)
- Population ages 50-54, male, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Population ages 50-54, male, per capita 0.0186 units per person (2025)
- Population ages 55-59, female, annual growth rate 3.35 % change on previous year (2025)
- Population ages 55-59, female, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Population ages 55-59, female, per capita 0.0162 units per person (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is number of neonatal deaths by region in Ghana?
- Number of neonatal deaths by region in Ghana was 16,118 in 2024, according to UN Inter-agency Group for Child Mortality Estimation (UNICEF, WHO, UN Population Division), via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest number of neonatal deaths by region recorded in Ghana?
- The highest recorded value was 27,970 in 1984.
- What is the lowest number of neonatal deaths by region recorded in Ghana?
- The lowest recorded value was 16,118 in 2024.
- How does Ghana rank for number of neonatal deaths by region?
- Ghana ranks 31st out of 195 countries with data for 2024.
- Is number of neonatal deaths by region rising or falling in Ghana?
- Over the last ten years it is down 27.6%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this Ghana data come from?
- The figures come from UN Inter-agency Group for Child Mortality Estimation (UNICEF, WHO, UN Population Division), via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data, published as part of Number of neonatal deaths by region. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
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About this data
The estimated number of neonates – babies under 28 days old – who die each year.