Under-five mortality rate (UN IGME estimate, 2024) in Malawi
Malawi: Under-five mortality rate was 48.78 in 2024. ◆ Volatile
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% |
Malawi compared with similar countries
- Malawi's 48.78 is below the median for low income countries, which is 61.6, 79% of the median. (25 countries reporting)
- Malawi's 48.78 is below the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 48.89, 100% of the median. (48 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Under-five mortality rate 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 | 238.99 |
| 2002 | -40.1% | 238.99 | 143.24 |
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)
- Estimated changes in temperature-related death rates compared to projected death rates 856.3 deaths per 1,000 people (2090)
- Number of infants who die before age 1 6,399 deaths (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)
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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