Stillbirth rate in Sub-Saharan Africa
Sub-Saharan Africa: Stillbirth rate was 22.2 in 2023. ▼ Falling
Stillbirth rate in Sub-Saharan Africa, 2000–2023
Source: UNICEF.
Analysis
The most recent figure for stillbirth rate in Sub-Saharan Africa is 22.2, measured in 2023. That is the lowest value across all 24 years on record.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 1.0% on the previous year and down 11.1% over ten years.
Over the whole period, stillbirth rate in Sub-Saharan Africa peaked at 31.48 in 2000 and was at its lowest, 22.2, in 2023.
That places Sub-Saharan Africa 3rd out of 33 groups with data for 2023, putting it 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 | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2000 | 31.48 | — |
| 2001 | 30.72 | -2.4% |
| 2002 | 29.91 | -2.6% |
| 2003 | 29.13 | -2.6% |
| 2004 | 28.42 | -2.4% |
| 2005 | 27.8 | -2.2% |
| 2006 | 27.19 | -2.2% |
| 2007 | 26.67 | -1.9% |
| 2008 | 26.18 | -1.8% |
| 2009 | 25.83 | -1.3% |
| 2010 | 25.56 | -1.0% |
| 2011 | 25.4 | -0.6% |
| 2012 | 25.21 | -0.7% |
| 2013 | 24.96 | -1.0% |
| 2014 | 24.68 | -1.1% |
| 2015 | 24.33 | -1.4% |
| 2016 | 23.94 | -1.6% |
| 2017 | 23.62 | -1.4% |
| 2018 | 23.29 | -1.4% |
| 2019 | 23.02 | -1.2% |
| 2020 | 22.82 | -0.9% |
| 2021 | 22.62 | -0.8% |
| 2022 | 22.42 | -0.9% |
| 2023 | 22.2 | -1.0% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 28.33 | 25.83 | 31.48 | 10 |
| 2010s | 24.4 | 23.02 | 25.56 | 10 |
| 2020s | 22.51 | 22.2 | 22.82 | 4 |
Countries ranked near Sub-Saharan Africa
More health data for Sub-Saharan Africa
- Population ages 15-64, male, annual growth rate 3.04 % change on previous year (2025)
- Population ages 15-64, total, per capita 0.5639 units per person (2025)
- Population ages 15-64, total, per unit of GDP 0.0003 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Population ages 15-64, total, annual growth rate 3 % change on previous year (2025)
- Population ages 15-64, male, per capita 0.2801 units per person (2025)
- Population ages 15-64, male, per unit of GDP 0.0002 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 ages 0-14, total, per capita 0.4038 units per person (2025)
- Population ages 65 and above, female, annual growth rate 3.74 % change on previous year (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is stillbirth rate in Sub-Saharan Africa?
- Stillbirth rate in Sub-Saharan Africa was 22.2 in 2023, according to UNICEF.
- What is the highest stillbirth rate recorded in Sub-Saharan Africa?
- The highest recorded value was 31.48 in 2000.
- What is the lowest stillbirth rate recorded in Sub-Saharan Africa?
- The lowest recorded value was 22.2 in 2023.
- How does Sub-Saharan Africa rank for stillbirth rate?
- Sub-Saharan Africa ranks 3rd out of 33 groups with data for 2023.
- Is stillbirth rate rising or falling in Sub-Saharan Africa?
- Over the last ten years it is down 11.1%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this Sub-Saharan Africa data come from?
- The figures come from UNICEF, published as part of Stillbirth rate (UN IGME estimate, 2024). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 24 observations, free to reuse under UNICEF Terms of Use (attribution required).