Under-five mortality rate, by sex (deaths per 1,000 live births) in Sub-Saharan Africa

Sub-Saharan Africa: Under-five mortality rate, by sex (deaths per 1,000 live births) was 71.57 per 1,000 live births in 2024. ▼ Falling

Latest (2024)
71.57 per 1,000 live births
Change on year
down 2.7%
Rank
1st
of 21 groups
All-time high
152.38 per 1,000 live births
in 2000
All-time low
71.57 per 1,000 live births
in 2024
Years of data
25
2000–2024

Under-five mortality rate, by sex in Sub-Saharan Africa, 2000–2024

0501001502000201220242000: 152.4 per 1,000 live births2001: 148.2 per 1,000 live births2002: 140.6 per 1,000 live births2003: 134.6 per 1,000 live births2004: 128.7 per 1,000 live births2005: 120.6 per 1,000 live births2006: 115.2 per 1,000 live births2007: 110.3 per 1,000 live births2008: 105.5 per 1,000 live births2009: 103.8 per 1,000 live births2010: 98.1 per 1,000 live births2011: 98.1 per 1,000 live births2012: 91.5 per 1,000 live births2013: 88.4 per 1,000 live births2014: 87.6 per 1,000 live births2015: 85.8 per 1,000 live births2016: 84.3 per 1,000 live births2017: 83.4 per 1,000 live births2018: 79.8 per 1,000 live births2019: 78.8 per 1,000 live births2020: 76.8 per 1,000 live births2021: 78.1 per 1,000 live births2022: 79.4 per 1,000 live births2023: 73.6 per 1,000 live births2024: 71.6 per 1,000 live births

Source: United Nations Statistics Division, SDG Global Database. Measured in per 1,000 live births.

Analysis

Sub-Saharan Africa recorded 71.57 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.

That represents a change of down 2.7% on the previous year and down 18.3% over ten years.

Over the whole period, under-five mortality rate, by sex in Sub-Saharan Africa peaked at 152.38 per 1,000 live births in 2000 and was at its lowest, 71.57 per 1,000 live births, in 2024.

Sub-Saharan Africa ranks 1st of 21 groups on this measure, in the top 10%.

The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 25 years of available data.

Under-five mortality rate, by sex (deaths per 1,000 live births) in Sub-Saharan Africa, year by year

Annual values for Under-five mortality rate, by sex (deaths per 1,000 live births) in Sub-Saharan Africa, 2000 to 2024.
Year per 1,000 live births Change
2000 152.38 per 1,000 live births —
2001 148.21 per 1,000 live births -2.7%
2002 140.63 per 1,000 live births -5.1%
2003 134.62 per 1,000 live births -4.3%
2004 128.71 per 1,000 live births -4.4%
2005 120.6 per 1,000 live births -6.3%
2006 115.23 per 1,000 live births -4.5%
2007 110.25 per 1,000 live births -4.3%
2008 105.49 per 1,000 live births -4.3%
2009 103.82 per 1,000 live births -1.6%
2010 98.12 per 1,000 live births -5.5%
2011 98.1 per 1,000 live births -0.0%
2012 91.54 per 1,000 live births -6.7%
2013 88.39 per 1,000 live births -3.4%
2014 87.58 per 1,000 live births -0.9%
2015 85.82 per 1,000 live births -2.0%
2016 84.26 per 1,000 live births -1.8%
2017 83.44 per 1,000 live births -1.0%
2018 79.82 per 1,000 live births -4.3%
2019 78.85 per 1,000 live births -1.2%
2020 76.8 per 1,000 live births -2.6%
2021 78.08 per 1,000 live births +1.7%
2022 79.4 per 1,000 live births +1.7%
2023 73.59 per 1,000 live births -7.3%
2024 71.57 per 1,000 live births -2.7%

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
2000s 125.99 per 1,000 live births 103.82 per 1,000 live births 152.38 per 1,000 live births 10
2010s 87.59 per 1,000 live births 78.85 per 1,000 live births 98.12 per 1,000 live births 10
2020s 75.89 per 1,000 live births 71.57 per 1,000 live births 79.4 per 1,000 live births 5

Countries ranked near Sub-Saharan Africa

  1. 1 Nigeria 115.65 per 1,000 live births compare
  2. 2 Niger 110.72 per 1,000 live births compare
  3. 3 Somalia 101.07 per 1,000 live births compare
  4. 4 Chad 97.26 per 1,000 live births compare

See the full ranking of 234 places →

More health data for Sub-Saharan Africa

All data for Sub-Saharan Africa →

Frequently asked questions

What is under-five mortality rate, by sex in Sub-Saharan Africa?
Under-five mortality rate, by sex in Sub-Saharan Africa was 71.57 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 Sub-Saharan Africa?
The highest recorded value was 152.38 per 1,000 live births in 2000.
What is the lowest under-five mortality rate, by sex recorded in Sub-Saharan Africa?
The lowest recorded value was 71.57 per 1,000 live births in 2024.
How does Sub-Saharan Africa rank for under-five mortality rate, by sex?
Sub-Saharan Africa ranks 1st out of 21 groups with data for 2024.
Is under-five mortality rate, by sex rising or falling in Sub-Saharan Africa?
Over the last ten years it is down 18.3%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
Where does this Sub-Saharan Africa 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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Under-five mortality rate, by sex in Sub-Saharan Africa. Statizoid, drawing on United Nations Statistics Division, SDG Global Database. Retrieved 11 November 2026, from https://health.statizoid.com/stat/under-five-mortality-rate-by-sex-deaths-per-1-000-live-births/sub-saharan-africa/

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About this data

Indicator
Under-five mortality rate, by sex (deaths per 1,000 live births)
Unit
per 1,000 live births
Source
United Nations Statistics Division, SDG Global Database
Licence
UN SDG Global Database (open, attribution requested)
Coverage
234 places, 5,850 data points, 2000–2024
Last refreshed