Stillbirth rate in Sub-Saharan Africa
Sub-Saharan Africa: Stillbirth rate was 22.2 per 1,000 total births in 2023. ▼ Falling
Stillbirth rate 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. Measured in per 1,000 total births.
Analysis
In 2023, stillbirth rate in Sub-Saharan Africa stood at 22.2 per 1,000 total births. That is the lowest value across all 24 years on record.
That represents a change of down 0.9% on the previous year and down 11.2% over ten years.
Over the whole period, stillbirth rate in Sub-Saharan Africa peaked at 31.5 per 1,000 total births in 2000 and was at its lowest, 22.2 per 1,000 total births, in 2023.
Sub-Saharan Africa ranks 4th of 41 groups on this measure, in the top 10%.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 24 years of available data.
Stillbirth rate in Sub-Saharan Africa, year by year
| Year | per 1,000 total births | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2000 | 31.5 per 1,000 total births | — |
| 2001 | 30.7 per 1,000 total births | -2.5% |
| 2002 | 29.9 per 1,000 total births | -2.6% |
| 2003 | 29.1 per 1,000 total births | -2.7% |
| 2004 | 28.4 per 1,000 total births | -2.4% |
| 2005 | 27.8 per 1,000 total births | -2.1% |
| 2006 | 27.2 per 1,000 total births | -2.2% |
| 2007 | 26.7 per 1,000 total births | -1.8% |
| 2008 | 26.2 per 1,000 total births | -1.9% |
| 2009 | 25.8 per 1,000 total births | -1.5% |
| 2010 | 25.6 per 1,000 total births | -0.8% |
| 2011 | 25.4 per 1,000 total births | -0.8% |
| 2012 | 25.2 per 1,000 total births | -0.8% |
| 2013 | 25 per 1,000 total births | -0.8% |
| 2014 | 24.7 per 1,000 total births | -1.2% |
| 2015 | 24.3 per 1,000 total births | -1.6% |
| 2016 | 23.9 per 1,000 total births | -1.6% |
| 2017 | 23.6 per 1,000 total births | -1.3% |
| 2018 | 23.3 per 1,000 total births | -1.3% |
| 2019 | 23 per 1,000 total births | -1.3% |
| 2020 | 22.8 per 1,000 total births | -0.9% |
| 2021 | 22.6 per 1,000 total births | -0.9% |
| 2022 | 22.4 per 1,000 total births | -0.9% |
| 2023 | 22.2 per 1,000 total births | -0.9% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 28.33 per 1,000 total births | 25.8 per 1,000 total births | 31.5 per 1,000 total births | 10 |
| 2010s | 24.4 per 1,000 total births | 23 per 1,000 total births | 25.6 per 1,000 total births | 10 |
| 2020s | 22.5 per 1,000 total births | 22.2 per 1,000 total births | 22.8 per 1,000 total births | 4 |
Countries ranked near Sub-Saharan Africa
- 1 Somalia 34.9 per 1,000 total births compare
- 2 Central African Republic 32.3 per 1,000 total births compare
- 3 Djibouti 29.7 per 1,000 total births compare
- 3 Ethiopia 29.7 per 1,000 total births compare
- 5 Guinea-Bissau 29.1 per 1,000 total births compare
- 6 Chad 28.4 per 1,000 total births compare
- 7 Afghanistan 28 per 1,000 total births 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, male, annual growth rate 2.47 % change on previous year (2025)
- Population, male, per unit of GDP 0.0003 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Population ages 65 and above, male, per capita 0.0142 units per person (2025)
- Population ages 15-64, male, annual growth rate 3.04 % change on previous year (2025)
- Population ages 0-14, total, per unit of GDP 0.0002 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is stillbirth rate in Sub-Saharan Africa?
- Stillbirth rate in Sub-Saharan Africa was 22.2 per 1,000 total births 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 stillbirth rate recorded in Sub-Saharan Africa?
- The highest recorded value was 31.5 per 1,000 total births in 2000.
- What is the lowest stillbirth rate recorded in Sub-Saharan Africa?
- The lowest recorded value was 22.2 per 1,000 total births in 2023.
- How does Sub-Saharan Africa rank for stillbirth rate?
- Sub-Saharan Africa ranks 4th out of 41 groups with data for 2023.
- Is stillbirth rate rising or falling in Sub-Saharan Africa?
- Over the last ten years it is down 11.2%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- 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 Stillbirth rate (per 1,000 total births). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Stillbirth rate is the number of fetal deaths at 28 weeks or more of gestation per 1,000 total births. Total birth is the sum of stillbirths (as just defined) and live births.