Number of stillbirths in Sub-Saharan Africa
Sub-Saharan Africa: Number of stillbirths was 948,078 in 2023. ▬ Flat
Number of stillbirths in Sub-Saharan Africa, 2000–2023
Source: Estimates developed by the UN Inter-agency Group for Child Mortality Estimation (UNICEF, WHO, World Bank, UN DESA Population Division) at www.childmortality.org.
Analysis
In 2023, number of stillbirths in Sub-Saharan Africa stood at 948,078. That is the highest value across all 24 years on record.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 0.4% on the previous year and up 0.7% over ten years.
Over the whole period, number of stillbirths in Sub-Saharan Africa peaked at 948,078 in 2023 and was at its lowest, 910,958, in 2007.
That places Sub-Saharan Africa 7th out of 41 groups with data for 2023, putting it in the top quarter.
Number of stillbirths in Sub-Saharan Africa, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2000 | 928,481 | — |
| 2001 | 925,268 | -0.3% |
| 2002 | 918,724 | -0.7% |
| 2003 | 913,680 | -0.5% |
| 2004 | 911,580 | -0.2% |
| 2005 | 912,702 | +0.1% |
| 2006 | 911,569 | -0.1% |
| 2007 | 910,958 | -0.1% |
| 2008 | 914,152 | +0.4% |
| 2009 | 917,501 | +0.4% |
| 2010 | 924,168 | +0.7% |
| 2011 | 933,333 | +1.0% |
| 2012 | 938,923 | +0.6% |
| 2013 | 941,051 | +0.2% |
| 2014 | 943,893 | +0.3% |
| 2015 | 940,511 | -0.4% |
| 2016 | 934,909 | -0.6% |
| 2017 | 932,919 | -0.2% |
| 2018 | 931,164 | -0.2% |
| 2019 | 930,758 | -0.0% |
| 2020 | 932,703 | +0.2% |
| 2021 | 939,384 | +0.7% |
| 2022 | 944,019 | +0.5% |
| 2023 | 948,078 | +0.4% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 916,462 | 910,958 | 928,481 | 10 |
| 2010s | 935,163 | 924,168 | 943,893 | 10 |
| 2020s | 941,046 | 932,703 | 948,078 | 4 |
Countries ranked near Sub-Saharan Africa
- 4 Ethiopia 125,714 compare
- 5 Democratic Republic of Congo 116,021 compare
- 6 Bangladesh 72,567 compare
- 7 Tanzania 46,196 compare
- 8 Afghanistan 42,352 compare
- 9 China 41,750 compare
- 10 Indonesia 37,644 compare
More health data for Sub-Saharan Africa
- Population ages 0-14, total, per capita 0.4038 units per person (2025)
- Population ages 15-64, female, per capita 0.2837 units per person (2025)
- Population ages 15-64, female, per unit of GDP 0.0002 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Population ages 65 and above, male, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Population ages 15-64, female, annual growth rate 2.96 % change on previous year (2025)
- Population ages 65 and above, male, per capita 0.0142 units per person (2025)
- Population, male, per capita 0.4985 units per person (2025)
- Population, male, per unit of GDP 0.0003 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Population ages 15-64, male, annual growth rate 3.04 % change on previous year (2025)
- Population, male, annual growth rate 2.47 % change on previous year (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is number of stillbirths in Sub-Saharan Africa?
- Number of stillbirths in Sub-Saharan Africa was 948,078 in 2023, according to Estimates developed by the UN Inter-agency Group for Child Mortality Estimation (UNICEF, WHO, World Bank, UN DESA Population Division) at www.childmortality.org.
- What is the highest number of stillbirths recorded in Sub-Saharan Africa?
- The highest recorded value was 948,078 in 2023.
- What is the lowest number of stillbirths recorded in Sub-Saharan Africa?
- The lowest recorded value was 910,958 in 2007.
- How does Sub-Saharan Africa rank for number of stillbirths?
- Sub-Saharan Africa ranks 7th out of 41 groups with data for 2023.
- Is number of stillbirths rising or falling in Sub-Saharan Africa?
- Over the last ten years it is up 0.7%. The long-run trend across the full record is flat.
- Where does this Sub-Saharan Africa data come from?
- The figures come from Estimates developed by the UN Inter-agency Group for Child Mortality Estimation (UNICEF, WHO, World Bank, UN DESA Population Division) at www.childmortality.org, published as part of Number of stillbirths. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Number of fetal deaths at 28 weeks or more of gestation