Child mortality rate in Botswana
Botswana: Child mortality rate was 3.33 deaths per 100 live births in 2024. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2024)
3.33 deaths per 100 live births
Change on year
down 3.6%
World rank
55th
of 199 countries
All-time high
20.14 deaths per 100 live births
in 1954
All-time low
3.33 deaths per 100 live births
in 2024
Years of data
71
1954–2024
Child mortality rate in Botswana, 1954–2024
Source: United Nations Inter-agency Group for Child Mortality Estimation (2025) – processed by Our World in Data. Measured in deaths per 100 live births.
Analysis
In 2024, child mortality rate in Botswana stood at 3.33 deaths per 100 live births. That is the lowest value across all 71 years on record.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 3.6% on the previous year and down 32.0% over ten years.
Over the whole period, child mortality rate in Botswana peaked at 20.14 deaths per 100 live births in 1954 and was at its lowest, 3.33 deaths per 100 live births, in 2024.
That places Botswana 55th out of 199 countries with data for 2024, putting it in the middle of the range.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Child mortality rate in Botswana, year by year
| Year | deaths per 100 live births | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1954 | 20.14 deaths per 100 live births | — |
| 1955 | 19.52 deaths per 100 live births | -3.1% |
| 1956 | 18.89 deaths per 100 live births | -3.2% |
| 1957 | 18.34 deaths per 100 live births | -2.9% |
| 1958 | 17.83 deaths per 100 live births | -2.8% |
| 1959 | 17.28 deaths per 100 live births | -3.1% |
| 1960 | 16.78 deaths per 100 live births | -2.9% |
| 1961 | 16.27 deaths per 100 live births | -3.0% |
| 1962 | 15.82 deaths per 100 live births | -2.7% |
| 1963 | 15.39 deaths per 100 live births | -2.8% |
| 1964 | 14.95 deaths per 100 live births | -2.8% |
| 1965 | 14.55 deaths per 100 live births | -2.7% |
| 1966 | 14.19 deaths per 100 live births | -2.5% |
| 1967 | 13.81 deaths per 100 live births | -2.7% |
| 1968 | 13.39 deaths per 100 live births | -3.0% |
| 1969 | 12.97 deaths per 100 live births | -3.2% |
| 1970 | 12.53 deaths per 100 live births | -3.4% |
| 1971 | 12.07 deaths per 100 live births | -3.7% |
| 1972 | 11.59 deaths per 100 live births | -3.9% |
| 1973 | 11.11 deaths per 100 live births | -4.2% |
| 1974 | 10.58 deaths per 100 live births | -4.7% |
| 1975 | 10.04 deaths per 100 live births | -5.1% |
| 1976 | 9.48 deaths per 100 live births | -5.6% |
| 1977 | 8.89 deaths per 100 live births | -6.2% |
| 1978 | 8.33 deaths per 100 live births | -6.3% |
| 1979 | 7.81 deaths per 100 live births | -6.3% |
| 1980 | 7.33 deaths per 100 live births | -6.1% |
| 1981 | 6.9 deaths per 100 live births | -5.8% |
| 1982 | 6.52 deaths per 100 live births | -5.6% |
| 1983 | 6.19 deaths per 100 live births | -5.0% |
| 1984 | 5.91 deaths per 100 live births | -4.5% |
| 1985 | 5.66 deaths per 100 live births | -4.3% |
| 1986 | 5.42 deaths per 100 live births | -4.3% |
| 1987 | 5.21 deaths per 100 live births | -3.8% |
| 1988 | 5.07 deaths per 100 live births | -2.7% |
| 1989 | 5.05 deaths per 100 live births | -0.4% |
| 1990 | 5.15 deaths per 100 live births | +1.9% |
| 1991 | 5.36 deaths per 100 live births | +4.2% |
| 1992 | 5.71 deaths per 100 live births | +6.5% |
| 1993 | 6.15 deaths per 100 live births | +7.6% |
| 1994 | 6.62 deaths per 100 live births | +7.8% |
| 1995 | 6.64 deaths per 100 live births | +0.2% |
| 1996 | 7.04 deaths per 100 live births | +6.0% |
| 1997 | 7.34 deaths per 100 live births | +4.4% |
| 1998 | 7.54 deaths per 100 live births | +2.7% |
| 1999 | 7.85 deaths per 100 live births | +4.1% |
| 2000 | 7.98 deaths per 100 live births | +1.7% |
| 2001 | 7.93 deaths per 100 live births | -0.7% |
| 2002 | 7.79 deaths per 100 live births | -1.8% |
| 2003 | 7.67 deaths per 100 live births | -1.5% |
| 2004 | 7.57 deaths per 100 live births | -1.4% |
| 2005 | 7.08 deaths per 100 live births | -6.4% |
| 2006 | 6.6 deaths per 100 live births | -6.8% |
| 2007 | 6.43 deaths per 100 live births | -2.5% |
| 2008 | 6.37 deaths per 100 live births | -0.9% |
| 2009 | 6.06 deaths per 100 live births | -4.9% |
| 2010 | 5.84 deaths per 100 live births | -3.6% |
| 2011 | 5.88 deaths per 100 live births | +0.7% |
| 2012 | 5.39 deaths per 100 live births | -8.4% |
| 2013 | 5.03 deaths per 100 live births | -6.6% |
| 2014 | 4.9 deaths per 100 live births | -2.7% |
| 2015 | 4.67 deaths per 100 live births | -4.6% |
| 2016 | 4.51 deaths per 100 live births | -3.4% |
| 2017 | 4.21 deaths per 100 live births | -6.7% |
| 2018 | 4.12 deaths per 100 live births | -2.3% |
| 2019 | 4 deaths per 100 live births | -2.9% |
| 2020 | 3.89 deaths per 100 live births | -2.7% |
| 2021 | 3.71 deaths per 100 live births | -4.7% |
| 2022 | 3.57 deaths per 100 live births | -3.8% |
| 2023 | 3.46 deaths per 100 live births | -3.1% |
| 2024 | 3.33 deaths per 100 live births | -3.6% |
Botswana compared with similar countries
- Botswana's 3.33 deaths per 100 live births is above the median for upper middle income countries, which is 1.3 deaths per 100 live births, 2.6× the median. (58 countries reporting)
- Botswana's 3.33 deaths per 100 live births is below the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 4.89 deaths per 100 live births, 68% of the median. (48 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1950s | 18.67 deaths per 100 live births | 17.28 deaths per 100 live births | 20.14 deaths per 100 live births | 6 |
| 1960s | 14.81 deaths per 100 live births | 12.97 deaths per 100 live births | 16.78 deaths per 100 live births | 10 |
| 1970s | 10.24 deaths per 100 live births | 7.81 deaths per 100 live births | 12.53 deaths per 100 live births | 10 |
| 1980s | 5.93 deaths per 100 live births | 5.05 deaths per 100 live births | 7.33 deaths per 100 live births | 10 |
| 1990s | 6.54 deaths per 100 live births | 5.15 deaths per 100 live births | 7.85 deaths per 100 live births | 10 |
| 2000s | 7.15 deaths per 100 live births | 6.06 deaths per 100 live births | 7.98 deaths per 100 live births | 10 |
| 2010s | 4.86 deaths per 100 live births | 4 deaths per 100 live births | 5.88 deaths per 100 live births | 10 |
| 2020s | 3.59 deaths per 100 live births | 3.33 deaths per 100 live births | 3.89 deaths per 100 live births | 5 |
Countries ranked near Botswana
- 52 Dominica 3.57 deaths per 100 live births compare
- 53 South Africa 3.51 deaths per 100 live births compare
- 54 Eritrea 3.43 deaths per 100 live births compare
- 56 Gabon 3.26 deaths per 100 live births compare
- 57 Dominican Republic 3.06 deaths per 100 live births compare
- 58 Bangladesh 3.05 deaths per 100 live births compare
More health data for Botswana
- Un projection of annual infant deaths, annual growth rate -1.75 % change on previous year (2100)
- Heat deaths vs projected death rates, annual growth rate 0.2265 % change on previous year (2090)
- Estimated changes in temperature-related death rates compared to projected death rates 1,150 deaths per 1,000 people (2090)
- Number of infants who die before age 1 281 deaths (2100)
- Neonatal tetanus - number of reported cases, gaps filled 0 (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, female, annual growth rate 0.6484 % change on previous year (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, female, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, female, per capita 0.0579 units per person (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, male, annual growth rate 0.9109 % change on previous year (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, male, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is child mortality rate in Botswana?
- Child mortality rate in Botswana was 3.33 deaths per 100 live births in 2024, according to United Nations Inter-agency Group for Child Mortality Estimation (2025) – processed by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest child mortality rate recorded in Botswana?
- The highest recorded value was 20.14 deaths per 100 live births in 1954.
- What is the lowest child mortality rate recorded in Botswana?
- The lowest recorded value was 3.33 deaths per 100 live births in 2024.
- How does Botswana rank for child mortality rate?
- Botswana ranks 55th out of 199 countries with data for 2024.
- Is child mortality rate rising or falling in Botswana?
- Over the last ten years it is down 32.0%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Botswana data come from?
- The figures come from United Nations Inter-agency Group for Child Mortality Estimation (2025) – processed by Our World in Data, published as part of Child mortality rate. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Estimated number of deaths of children aged under five years, per 100 live births .