Under-five deaths in South Asia
South Asia: Under-five deaths was 1.20 million in 2024. ▼ Falling
Latest (2024)
1.20 million
Change on year
down 3.9%
Rank
8th
of 33 groups
All-time high
5.81 million
in 1980
All-time low
1.20 million
in 2024
Years of data
45
1980–2024
Under-five deaths in South Asia, 1980–2024
Source: UNICEF.
Analysis
South Asia recorded 1.20 million for under-five deaths in 2024. That is the lowest value across all 45 years on record.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 3.9% on the previous year and down 38.6% over ten years.
Over the whole period, under-five deaths in South Asia peaked at 5.81 million in 1980 and was at its lowest, 1.20 million, in 2024.
That places South Asia 8th out of 33 groups with data for 2024, putting it in the top quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 45 years of available data.
Under-five deaths in South Asia, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1980 | 5.81 million | — |
| 1981 | 5.76 million | -0.9% |
| 1982 | 5.73 million | -0.6% |
| 1983 | 5.66 million | -1.2% |
| 1984 | 5.62 million | -0.6% |
| 1985 | 5.55 million | -1.3% |
| 1986 | 5.45 million | -1.8% |
| 1987 | 5.36 million | -1.7% |
| 1988 | 5.22 million | -2.6% |
| 1989 | 5.11 million | -2.1% |
| 1990 | 4.99 million | -2.3% |
| 1991 | 4.86 million | -2.5% |
| 1992 | 4.74 million | -2.5% |
| 1993 | 4.62 million | -2.6% |
| 1994 | 4.51 million | -2.5% |
| 1995 | 4.39 million | -2.6% |
| 1996 | 4.26 million | -2.9% |
| 1997 | 4.13 million | -3.0% |
| 1998 | 4.00 million | -3.2% |
| 1999 | 3.87 million | -3.2% |
| 2000 | 3.75 million | -3.1% |
| 2001 | 3.63 million | -3.2% |
| 2002 | 3.49 million | -3.8% |
| 2003 | 3.34 million | -4.2% |
| 2004 | 3.20 million | -4.2% |
| 2005 | 3.05 million | -4.9% |
| 2006 | 2.90 million | -4.8% |
| 2007 | 2.77 million | -4.6% |
| 2008 | 2.65 million | -4.4% |
| 2009 | 2.54 million | -4.0% |
| 2010 | 2.42 million | -4.6% |
| 2011 | 2.31 million | -4.9% |
| 2012 | 2.19 million | -5.0% |
| 2013 | 2.08 million | -5.3% |
| 2014 | 1.95 million | -6.1% |
| 2015 | 1.84 million | -5.7% |
| 2016 | 1.75 million | -4.8% |
| 2017 | 1.65 million | -5.5% |
| 2018 | 1.57 million | -5.1% |
| 2019 | 1.50 million | -4.7% |
| 2020 | 1.42 million | -5.2% |
| 2021 | 1.35 million | -4.8% |
| 2022 | 1.30 million | -4.0% |
| 2023 | 1.25 million | -3.9% |
| 2024 | 1.20 million | -3.9% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1980s | 5.53 million | 5.11 million | 5.81 million | 10 |
| 1990s | 4.44 million | 3.87 million | 4.99 million | 10 |
| 2000s | 3.13 million | 2.54 million | 3.75 million | 10 |
| 2010s | 1.93 million | 1.50 million | 2.42 million | 10 |
| 2020s | 1.30 million | 1.20 million | 1.42 million | 5 |
Countries ranked near South Asia
More health data for South Asia
- Population ages 65 and above, male, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Population ages 15-64, male, per unit of GDP 0.0001 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Population ages 15-64, total, annual growth rate 1.17 % change on previous year (2025)
- Population ages 15-64, total, per unit of GDP 0.0003 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Population ages 15-64, total, per capita 0.6806 units per person (2025)
- Population ages 65 and above, female, annual growth rate 3.93 % change on previous year (2025)
- Population ages 65 and above, female, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Population ages 65 and above, female, per capita 0.0385 units per person (2025)
- Population ages 65 and above, male, annual growth rate 4.15 % change on previous year (2025)
- Population, female, per unit of GDP 0.0002 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is under-five deaths in South Asia?
- Under-five deaths in South Asia was 1.20 million in 2024, according to UNICEF.
- What is the highest under-five deaths recorded in South Asia?
- The highest recorded value was 5.81 million in 1980.
- What is the lowest under-five deaths recorded in South Asia?
- The lowest recorded value was 1.20 million in 2024.
- How does South Asia rank for under-five deaths?
- South Asia ranks 8th out of 33 groups with data for 2024.
- Is under-five deaths rising or falling in South Asia?
- Over the last ten years it is down 38.6%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this South Asia data come from?
- The figures come from UNICEF, published as part of Under-five deaths (UN IGME estimate, 2024). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 45 observations, free to reuse under UNICEF Terms of Use (attribution required).