Under-five mortality rate (UN IGME estimate, 2024) in Zambia
Zambia: Under-five mortality rate was 48.37 in 2024. ▼ Falling
Latest (2024)
48.37
Change on year
down 1.6%
World rank
32nd
of 201 countries
All-time high
237.55
in 1952
All-time low
48.37
in 2024
Years of data
73
1952–2024
Under-five mortality rate in Zambia, 1952–2024
Source: UNICEF.
Analysis
Zambia recorded 48.37 for under-five mortality rate in 2024. That is the lowest value across all 73 years on record.
That represents a change of down 1.6% on the previous year and down 22.7% over ten years.
Over the whole period, under-five mortality rate in Zambia peaked at 237.55 in 1952 and was at its lowest, 48.37, in 2024.
Zambia ranks 32nd of 201 countries on this measure, in the top quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 73 years of available data.
Under-five mortality rate in Zambia, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1952 | 237.55 | — |
| 1953 | 233.8 | -1.6% |
| 1954 | 229.2 | -2.0% |
| 1955 | 225.2 | -1.7% |
| 1956 | 221.07 | -1.8% |
| 1957 | 216.93 | -1.9% |
| 1958 | 213.05 | -1.8% |
| 1959 | 209.01 | -1.9% |
| 1960 | 205.04 | -1.9% |
| 1961 | 201.28 | -1.8% |
| 1962 | 197.84 | -1.7% |
| 1963 | 194.76 | -1.6% |
| 1964 | 192.21 | -1.3% |
| 1965 | 190.32 | -1.0% |
| 1966 | 188.85 | -0.8% |
| 1967 | 187.8 | -0.6% |
| 1968 | 186.28 | -0.8% |
| 1969 | 183.88 | -1.3% |
| 1970 | 180.18 | -2.0% |
| 1971 | 175.41 | -2.6% |
| 1972 | 169.97 | -3.1% |
| 1973 | 164.65 | -3.1% |
| 1974 | 159.82 | -2.9% |
| 1975 | 156.21 | -2.3% |
| 1976 | 154.01 | -1.4% |
| 1977 | 153.52 | -0.3% |
| 1978 | 153.88 | +0.2% |
| 1979 | 154.33 | +0.3% |
| 1980 | 154.95 | +0.4% |
| 1981 | 155.59 | +0.4% |
| 1982 | 156.83 | +0.8% |
| 1983 | 158.99 | +1.4% |
| 1984 | 162.1 | +2.0% |
| 1985 | 165.76 | +2.3% |
| 1986 | 169.8 | +2.4% |
| 1987 | 173.68 | +2.3% |
| 1988 | 176.89 | +1.8% |
| 1989 | 179.36 | +1.4% |
| 1990 | 180.65 | +0.7% |
| 1991 | 180.87 | +0.1% |
| 1992 | 180.24 | -0.3% |
| 1993 | 178.5 | -1.0% |
| 1994 | 175.78 | -1.5% |
| 1995 | 172.21 | -2.0% |
| 1996 | 168.68 | -2.0% |
| 1997 | 165.57 | -1.8% |
| 1998 | 162.45 | -1.9% |
| 1999 | 158.05 | -2.7% |
| 2000 | 151.76 | -4.0% |
| 2001 | 143.19 | -5.6% |
| 2002 | 132.85 | -7.2% |
| 2003 | 122.09 | -8.1% |
| 2004 | 111.71 | -8.5% |
| 2005 | 102.66 | -8.1% |
| 2006 | 94.77 | -7.7% |
| 2007 | 89.07 | -6.0% |
| 2008 | 84.23 | -5.4% |
| 2009 | 78.42 | -6.9% |
| 2010 | 74.33 | -5.2% |
| 2011 | 71.84 | -3.4% |
| 2012 | 69.22 | -3.7% |
| 2013 | 65.98 | -4.7% |
| 2014 | 62.58 | -5.2% |
| 2015 | 60.16 | -3.9% |
| 2016 | 57.14 | -5.0% |
| 2017 | 55.15 | -3.5% |
| 2018 | 54.68 | -0.9% |
| 2019 | 53.48 | -2.2% |
| 2020 | 52.47 | -1.9% |
| 2021 | 50.35 | -4.0% |
| 2022 | 49.48 | -1.7% |
| 2023 | 49.13 | -0.7% |
| 2024 | 48.37 | -1.6% |
Zambia compared with similar countries
- Zambia's 48.37 is above the median for lower middle income countries, which is 36.93, 1.3× the median. (47 countries reporting)
- Zambia's 48.37 is below the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 48.89, 99% of the median. (48 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1950s | 223.22 | 209.01 | 237.55 | 8 |
| 1960s | 192.83 | 183.88 | 205.04 | 10 |
| 1970s | 162.2 | 153.52 | 180.18 | 10 |
| 1980s | 165.39 | 154.95 | 179.36 | 10 |
| 1990s | 172.3 | 158.05 | 180.87 | 10 |
| 2000s | 111.08 | 78.42 | 151.76 | 10 |
| 2010s | 62.46 | 53.48 | 74.33 | 10 |
| 2020s | 49.96 | 48.37 | 52.47 | 5 |
Countries ranked near Zambia
More health data for Zambia
- Un projection of annual infant deaths, annual growth rate -1.09 % change on previous year (2100)
- Heat deaths vs projected death rates, annual growth rate 0.7971 % change on previous year (2090)
- Estimated changes in temperature-related death rates compared to projected death rates 809.3 deaths per 1,000 people (2090)
- Number of infants who die before age 1 8,894 deaths (2100)
- Neonatal tetanus - number of reported cases, gaps filled 2 (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, female, annual growth rate 1.68 % 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 0.0743 units per person (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, male, annual growth rate 1.69 % 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 Zambia?
- Under-five mortality rate in Zambia was 48.37 in 2024, according to UNICEF.
- What is the highest under-five mortality rate recorded in Zambia?
- The highest recorded value was 237.55 in 1952.
- What is the lowest under-five mortality rate recorded in Zambia?
- The lowest recorded value was 48.37 in 2024.
- How does Zambia rank for under-five mortality rate?
- Zambia ranks 32nd out of 201 countries with data for 2024.
- Is under-five mortality rate rising or falling in Zambia?
- Over the last ten years it is down 22.7%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this Zambia 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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