Under-five mortality rate, by sex (deaths per 1,000 live births) in Malawi
Malawi: Under-five mortality rate, by sex (deaths per 1,000 live births) was 48.78 per 1,000 live births in 2024. ◆ Volatile
Under-five mortality rate, by sex in Malawi, 2000–2024
Source: United Nations Statistics Division, SDG Global Database. Measured in per 1,000 live births.
Analysis
Malawi recorded 48.78 per 1,000 live births for under-five mortality rate, by sex in 2024. That is the lowest value across all 25 years on record.
The figure is down 1.7% on the previous year and down 18.7% over ten years.
Over the whole period, under-five mortality rate, by sex in Malawi peaked at 238.99 per 1,000 live births in 2001 and was at its lowest, 48.78 per 1,000 live births, in 2024.
That places Malawi 31st out of 213 countries with data for 2024, putting it in the top quarter.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Under-five mortality rate, by sex (deaths per 1,000 live births) in Malawi, year by year
| Year | per 1,000 live births | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2000 | 170.98 per 1,000 live births | — |
| 2001 | 238.99 per 1,000 live births | +39.8% |
| 2002 | 143.24 per 1,000 live births | -40.1% |
| 2003 | 130.01 per 1,000 live births | -9.2% |
| 2004 | 118.75 per 1,000 live births | -8.7% |
| 2005 | 109.69 per 1,000 live births | -7.6% |
| 2006 | 102.73 per 1,000 live births | -6.3% |
| 2007 | 96.9 per 1,000 live births | -5.7% |
| 2008 | 91.05 per 1,000 live births | -6.0% |
| 2009 | 85.35 per 1,000 live births | -6.3% |
| 2010 | 80.13 per 1,000 live births | -6.1% |
| 2011 | 74.02 per 1,000 live births | -7.6% |
| 2012 | 67.88 per 1,000 live births | -8.3% |
| 2013 | 62.86 per 1,000 live births | -7.4% |
| 2014 | 60.03 per 1,000 live births | -4.5% |
| 2015 | 57.39 per 1,000 live births | -4.4% |
| 2016 | 55.83 per 1,000 live births | -2.7% |
| 2017 | 53.8 per 1,000 live births | -3.6% |
| 2018 | 52.03 per 1,000 live births | -3.3% |
| 2019 | 51.29 per 1,000 live births | -1.4% |
| 2020 | 50.42 per 1,000 live births | -1.7% |
| 2021 | 49.98 per 1,000 live births | -0.9% |
| 2022 | 50.09 per 1,000 live births | +0.2% |
| 2023 | 49.63 per 1,000 live births | -0.9% |
| 2024 | 48.78 per 1,000 live births | -1.7% |
Malawi compared with similar countries
- Malawi's 48.78 per 1,000 live births is below the median for low income countries, which is 61.6 per 1,000 live births, 79% of the median. (23 countries reporting)
- Malawi's 48.78 per 1,000 live births is below the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 49 per 1,000 live births, 100% of the median. (45 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Under-five mortality rate, by sex (deaths per 1,000 live births) in Malawi 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2001 | +39.8% | 170.98 per 1,000 live births | 238.99 per 1,000 live births |
| 2002 | -40.1% | 238.99 per 1,000 live births | 143.24 per 1,000 live births |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 128.77 per 1,000 live births | 85.35 per 1,000 live births | 238.99 per 1,000 live births | 10 |
| 2010s | 61.53 per 1,000 live births | 51.29 per 1,000 live births | 80.13 per 1,000 live births | 10 |
| 2020s | 49.78 per 1,000 live births | 48.78 per 1,000 live births | 50.42 per 1,000 live births | 5 |
Countries ranked near Malawi
- 28 Haiti 52.75 per 1,000 live births compare
- 29 Angola 49 per 1,000 live births compare
- 30 Djibouti 48.86 per 1,000 live births compare
- 32 Uganda 48.71 per 1,000 live births compare
- 33 Zambia 48.37 per 1,000 live births compare
- 34 Timor-Leste 47.62 per 1,000 live births compare
- 34 East Timor 47.62 per 1,000 live births compare
More health data for Malawi
- Un projection of annual infant deaths, annual growth rate -0.8368 % change on previous year (2100)
- Heat deaths vs projected death rates, annual growth rate 0.9312 % change on previous year (2090)
- Un projection of annual infant deaths 6,399 (2100)
- Neonatal tetanus - number of reported cases, gaps filled 2 (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, female, annual growth rate 1.61 % change on previous year (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, female, per unit of GDP 0.0001 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, female, per capita 0.0714 units per person (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, male, annual growth rate 1.63 % change on previous year (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, male, per unit of GDP 0.0001 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, male, per capita 0.0718 units per person (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is under-five mortality rate, by sex in Malawi?
- Under-five mortality rate, by sex in Malawi was 48.78 per 1,000 live births in 2024, according to United Nations Statistics Division, SDG Global Database.
- What is the highest under-five mortality rate, by sex recorded in Malawi?
- The highest recorded value was 238.99 per 1,000 live births in 2001.
- What is the lowest under-five mortality rate, by sex recorded in Malawi?
- The lowest recorded value was 48.78 per 1,000 live births in 2024.
- How does Malawi rank for under-five mortality rate, by sex?
- Malawi ranks 31st out of 213 countries with data for 2024.
- Is under-five mortality rate, by sex rising or falling in Malawi?
- Over the last ten years it is down 18.7%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Malawi data come from?
- The figures come from United Nations Statistics Division, SDG Global Database, published as part of Under-five mortality rate, by sex (deaths per 1,000 live births). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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