Under-five mortality rate in Malawi
Malawi: Under-five mortality rate was 48.78 in 2024. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2024)
48.78
Change on year
down 1.7%
World rank
30th
of 201 countries
All-time high
358.47
in 1961
All-time low
48.78
in 2024
Years of data
64
1961–2024
Under-five mortality rate in Malawi, 1961–2024
Source: UNICEF.
Analysis
Malawi recorded 48.78 for under-five mortality rate in 2024. That is the lowest value across all 64 years on record.
That represents a change of down 1.7% on the previous year and down 18.7% over ten years.
Over the whole period, under-five mortality rate in Malawi peaked at 358.47 in 1961 and was at its lowest, 48.78, in 2024.
That places Malawi 30th out of 201 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 in Malawi, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1961 | 358.47 | — |
| 1962 | 356.86 | -0.4% |
| 1963 | 355.28 | -0.4% |
| 1964 | 353.49 | -0.5% |
| 1965 | 352.4 | -0.3% |
| 1966 | 350.63 | -0.5% |
| 1967 | 349.02 | -0.5% |
| 1968 | 347.03 | -0.6% |
| 1969 | 345.11 | -0.6% |
| 1970 | 341.71 | -1.0% |
| 1971 | 336.59 | -1.5% |
| 1972 | 330.07 | -1.9% |
| 1973 | 322.42 | -2.3% |
| 1974 | 313.71 | -2.7% |
| 1975 | 304.45 | -3.0% |
| 1976 | 294.98 | -3.1% |
| 1977 | 285.26 | -3.3% |
| 1978 | 275.33 | -3.5% |
| 1979 | 265.42 | -3.6% |
| 1980 | 256.9 | -3.2% |
| 1981 | 250.17 | -2.6% |
| 1982 | 246.2 | -1.6% |
| 1983 | 245.46 | -0.3% |
| 1984 | 247.7 | +0.9% |
| 1985 | 251.2 | +1.4% |
| 1986 | 254.01 | +1.1% |
| 1987 | 254.71 | +0.3% |
| 1988 | 253.24 | -0.6% |
| 1989 | 249.28 | -1.6% |
| 1990 | 243.48 | -2.3% |
| 1991 | 236.5 | -2.9% |
| 1992 | 228.75 | -3.3% |
| 1993 | 221.48 | -3.2% |
| 1994 | 214.71 | -3.1% |
| 1995 | 207.73 | -3.2% |
| 1996 | 202.56 | -2.5% |
| 1997 | 197.53 | -2.5% |
| 1998 | 191.17 | -3.2% |
| 1999 | 182.29 | -4.6% |
| 2000 | 170.98 | -6.2% |
| 2001 | 238.99 | +39.8% |
| 2002 | 143.24 | -40.1% |
| 2003 | 130.01 | -9.2% |
| 2004 | 118.75 | -8.7% |
| 2005 | 109.69 | -7.6% |
| 2006 | 102.73 | -6.3% |
| 2007 | 96.9 | -5.7% |
| 2008 | 91.05 | -6.0% |
| 2009 | 85.35 | -6.3% |
| 2010 | 80.13 | -6.1% |
| 2011 | 74.02 | -7.6% |
| 2012 | 67.88 | -8.3% |
| 2013 | 62.86 | -7.4% |
| 2014 | 60.03 | -4.5% |
| 2015 | 57.39 | -4.4% |
| 2016 | 55.83 | -2.7% |
| 2017 | 53.8 | -3.6% |
| 2018 | 52.03 | -3.3% |
| 2019 | 51.29 | -1.4% |
| 2020 | 50.42 | -1.7% |
| 2021 | 49.98 | -0.9% |
| 2022 | 50.09 | +0.2% |
| 2023 | 49.63 | -0.9% |
| 2024 | 48.78 | -1.7% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 352.03 | 345.11 | 358.47 | 9 |
| 1970s | 307 | 265.42 | 341.71 | 10 |
| 1980s | 250.89 | 245.46 | 256.9 | 10 |
| 1990s | 212.62 | 182.29 | 243.48 | 10 |
| 2000s | 128.77 | 85.35 | 238.99 | 10 |
| 2010s | 61.53 | 51.29 | 80.13 | 10 |
| 2020s | 49.78 | 48.78 | 50.42 | 5 |
Countries ranked near Malawi
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)
- Heat deaths vs projected death rates 856.3 (2090)
- Un projection of annual infant deaths 6,399 (2100)
- Population ages 65 and above, total, annual growth rate 2.69 % change on previous year (2025)
- Population ages 65 and above, total, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Population ages 65 and above, total, per capita 0.0259 units per person (2025)
- Population, female, annual growth rate 2.56 % change on previous year (2025)
- Population, female, per unit of GDP 0.0008 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Population, female, per capita 0.5119 units per person (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is under-five mortality rate in Malawi?
- Under-five mortality rate in Malawi was 48.78 in 2024, according to UNICEF.
- What is the highest under-five mortality rate recorded in Malawi?
- The highest recorded value was 358.47 in 1961.
- What is the lowest under-five mortality rate recorded in Malawi?
- The lowest recorded value was 48.78 in 2024.
- How does Malawi rank for under-five mortality rate?
- Malawi ranks 30th out of 201 countries with data for 2024.
- Is under-five mortality rate 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 UNICEF, published as part of Under-five mortality rate (UN IGME estimate, 2024). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
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