Number of under-five deaths in South Sudan
South Sudan: Number of under-five deaths was 31,993 in 2024. ◆ Volatile
Number of under-five deaths in South Sudan, 1960–2024
Source: UN Inter-agency Group for Child Mortality Estimation, UN Children's Fund (UNICEF).
Analysis
South Sudan recorded 31,993 for number of under-five 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 under-five deaths in South Sudan peaked at 260,974 in 1988 and was at its lowest, 29,443, in 2019.
South Sudan ranks 34th of 197 countries on this measure, in the top quarter.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Number of under-five deaths in South Sudan, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1960 | 51,044 | — |
| 1961 | 51,687 | +1.3% |
| 1962 | 52,315 | +1.2% |
| 1963 | 60,682 | +16.0% |
| 1964 | 53,149 | -12.4% |
| 1965 | 53,995 | +1.6% |
| 1966 | 69,080 | +27.9% |
| 1967 | 68,991 | -0.1% |
| 1968 | 69,226 | +0.3% |
| 1969 | 71,471 | +3.2% |
| 1970 | 71,682 | +0.3% |
| 1971 | 55,420 | -22.7% |
| 1972 | 56,642 | +2.2% |
| 1973 | 57,641 | +1.8% |
| 1974 | 58,417 | +1.3% |
| 1975 | 59,172 | +1.3% |
| 1976 | 59,793 | +1.0% |
| 1977 | 60,284 | +0.8% |
| 1978 | 60,664 | +0.6% |
| 1979 | 61,058 | +0.6% |
| 1980 | 61,501 | +0.7% |
| 1981 | 61,938 | +0.7% |
| 1982 | 62,379 | +0.7% |
| 1983 | 62,802 | +0.7% |
| 1984 | 63,064 | +0.4% |
| 1985 | 63,192 | +0.2% |
| 1986 | 63,328 | +0.2% |
| 1987 | 89,499 | +41.3% |
| 1988 | 260,974 | +191.6% |
| 1989 | 66,027 | -74.7% |
| 1990 | 68,007 | +3.0% |
| 1991 | 68,445 | +0.6% |
| 1992 | 81,785 | +19.5% |
| 1993 | 83,068 | +1.6% |
| 1994 | 56,842 | -31.6% |
| 1995 | 69,664 | +22.6% |
| 1996 | 69,188 | -0.7% |
| 1997 | 68,165 | -1.5% |
| 1998 | 128,686 | +88.8% |
| 1999 | 51,064 | -60.3% |
| 2000 | 50,608 | -0.9% |
| 2001 | 49,571 | -2.0% |
| 2002 | 48,487 | -2.2% |
| 2003 | 47,360 | -2.3% |
| 2004 | 45,980 | -2.9% |
| 2005 | 44,630 | -2.9% |
| 2006 | 43,401 | -2.8% |
| 2007 | 42,330 | -2.5% |
| 2008 | 41,474 | -2.0% |
| 2009 | 40,662 | -2.0% |
| 2010 | 39,833 | -2.0% |
| 2011 | 39,506 | -0.8% |
| 2012 | 39,703 | +0.5% |
| 2013 | 40,027 | +0.8% |
| 2014 | 77,847 | +94.5% |
| 2015 | 101,828 | +30.8% |
| 2016 | 111,256 | +9.3% |
| 2017 | 111,928 | +0.6% |
| 2018 | 42,974 | -61.6% |
| 2019 | 29,443 | -31.5% |
| 2020 | 29,897 | +1.5% |
| 2021 | 30,309 | +1.4% |
| 2022 | 30,484 | +0.6% |
| 2023 | 30,807 | +1.1% |
| 2024 | 31,993 | +3.8% |
South Sudan compared with similar countries
- South Sudan's 31,993 is below the median for low income countries, which is 52,477, 61% of the median. (25 countries reporting)
- South Sudan's 31,993 is above the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 31,761, 1.0× the median. (48 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Number of under-five deaths in South Sudan changed far more than this series normally does. A large move can be a real event or a change in how the figure was measured — the source note below says who published it.
| Year | Change | From | To |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1988 | +191.6% | 89,499 | 260,974 |
| 2014 | +94.5% | 40,027 | 77,847 |
| 1998 | +88.8% | 68,165 | 128,686 |
| 1989 | -74.7% | 260,974 | 66,027 |
| 2018 | -61.6% | 111,928 | 42,974 |
| 1999 | -60.3% | 128,686 | 51,064 |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 60,164 | 51,044 | 71,471 | 10 |
| 1970s | 60,077 | 55,420 | 71,682 | 10 |
| 1980s | 85,470 | 61,501 | 260,974 | 10 |
| 1990s | 74,491 | 51,064 | 128,686 | 10 |
| 2000s | 45,450 | 40,662 | 50,608 | 10 |
| 2010s | 63,434 | 29,443 | 111,928 | 10 |
| 2020s | 30,698 | 29,897 | 31,993 | 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)
- Un projection of annual infant deaths 12,029 (2100)
- Neonatal tetanus - number of reported cases, gaps filled 57 (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, female, annual growth rate 1.93 % change on previous year (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, female, per unit of GDP 0.0001 units per US$ of GDP (2015)
- Population ages 00-04, female, per capita 0.0637 units per person (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, male, annual growth rate 1.92 % change on previous year (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, male, per unit of GDP 0.0001 units per US$ of GDP (2015)
- Population ages 00-04, male, per capita 0.0654 units per person (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is number of under-five deaths in South Sudan?
- Number of under-five deaths in South Sudan was 31,993 in 2024, according to UN Inter-agency Group for Child Mortality Estimation, UN Children's Fund (UNICEF).
- What is the highest number of under-five deaths recorded in South Sudan?
- The highest recorded value was 260,974 in 1988.
- What is the lowest number of under-five deaths recorded in South Sudan?
- The lowest recorded value was 29,443 in 2019.
- How does South Sudan rank for number of under-five deaths?
- South Sudan ranks 34th out of 197 countries with data for 2024.
- Is number of under-five 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 UN Inter-agency Group for Child Mortality Estimation, UN Children's Fund (UNICEF), published as part of Number of under-five deaths. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Number of children dying before reaching age five.