Under-five mortality rate in Saudi Arabia
Saudi Arabia: Under-five mortality rate was 5.96 in 2024. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2024)
5.96
Change on year
down 3.6%
World rank
18th
of 20 countries
All-time high
159.42
in 1972
All-time low
5.96
in 2024
Years of data
53
1972–2024
Under-five mortality rate in Saudi Arabia, 1972–2024
Source: UNICEF.
Analysis
Saudi Arabia recorded 5.96 for under-five mortality rate in 2024. That is the lowest value across all 53 years on record.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 3.6% on the previous year and down 37.6% over ten years.
Over the whole period, under-five mortality rate in Saudi Arabia peaked at 159.42 in 1972 and was at its lowest, 5.96, in 2024.
Saudi Arabia ranks 18th of 20 countries on this measure, in the bottom quarter.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Under-five mortality rate in Saudi Arabia, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1972 | 159.42 | — |
| 1973 | 148.89 | -6.6% |
| 1974 | 139.2 | -6.5% |
| 1975 | 130.39 | -6.3% |
| 1976 | 122.03 | -6.4% |
| 1977 | 113.99 | -6.6% |
| 1978 | 106.62 | -6.5% |
| 1979 | 99.61 | -6.6% |
| 1980 | 93.05 | -6.6% |
| 1981 | 86.82 | -6.7% |
| 1982 | 80.87 | -6.9% |
| 1983 | 75.24 | -7.0% |
| 1984 | 69.97 | -7.0% |
| 1985 | 64.97 | -7.2% |
| 1986 | 60.33 | -7.1% |
| 1987 | 55.88 | -7.4% |
| 1988 | 51.69 | -7.5% |
| 1989 | 47.74 | -7.6% |
| 1990 | 44.12 | -7.6% |
| 1991 | 40.8 | -7.5% |
| 1992 | 37.77 | -7.4% |
| 1993 | 35.05 | -7.2% |
| 1994 | 32.59 | -7.0% |
| 1995 | 30.34 | -6.9% |
| 1996 | 28.3 | -6.7% |
| 1997 | 26.47 | -6.5% |
| 1998 | 24.79 | -6.4% |
| 1999 | 23.28 | -6.1% |
| 2000 | 21.9 | -5.9% |
| 2001 | 20.62 | -5.8% |
| 2002 | 19.44 | -5.7% |
| 2003 | 18.36 | -5.6% |
| 2004 | 17.32 | -5.7% |
| 2005 | 16.34 | -5.7% |
| 2006 | 15.42 | -5.6% |
| 2007 | 14.54 | -5.7% |
| 2008 | 13.7 | -5.8% |
| 2009 | 12.9 | -5.9% |
| 2010 | 12.14 | -5.8% |
| 2011 | 11.44 | -5.8% |
| 2012 | 10.76 | -5.9% |
| 2013 | 10.14 | -5.8% |
| 2014 | 9.55 | -5.8% |
| 2015 | 9.01 | -5.7% |
| 2016 | 8.5 | -5.6% |
| 2017 | 8.04 | -5.5% |
| 2018 | 7.61 | -5.3% |
| 2019 | 7.25 | -4.8% |
| 2020 | 6.94 | -4.3% |
| 2021 | 6.66 | -3.9% |
| 2022 | 6.42 | -3.7% |
| 2023 | 6.18 | -3.7% |
| 2024 | 5.96 | -3.6% |
Saudi Arabia compared with similar countries
- Saudi Arabia's 5.96 is below the median for Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan, which is 12.94, 46% of the median. (19 countries reporting)
- Saudi Arabia's 5.96 is below the median for high income countries, which is 7.03, 85% of the median. (6 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 127.52 | 99.61 | 159.42 | 8 |
| 1980s | 68.66 | 47.74 | 93.05 | 10 |
| 1990s | 32.35 | 23.28 | 44.12 | 10 |
| 2000s | 17.05 | 12.9 | 21.9 | 10 |
| 2010s | 9.44 | 7.25 | 12.14 | 10 |
| 2020s | 6.43 | 5.96 | 6.94 | 5 |
Countries ranked near Saudi Arabia
More health data for Saudi Arabia
- Un projection of annual infant deaths, annual growth rate -0.8373 % change on previous year (2100)
- Heat deaths vs projected death rates, annual growth rate 0.3736 % change on previous year (2090)
- Estimated changes in temperature-related death rates compared to projected death rates 483.6 deaths per 1,000 people (2090)
- Number of infants who die before age 1 829 deaths (2100)
- Neonatal tetanus - number of reported cases, gaps filled 1 (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, female, annual growth rate 5.31 % change on previous year (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, female, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, female, per capita 0.0384 units per person (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, male, annual growth rate 5.38 % change on previous year (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, male, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is under-five mortality rate in Saudi Arabia?
- Under-five mortality rate in Saudi Arabia was 5.96 in 2024, according to UNICEF.
- What is the highest under-five mortality rate recorded in Saudi Arabia?
- The highest recorded value was 159.42 in 1972.
- What is the lowest under-five mortality rate recorded in Saudi Arabia?
- The lowest recorded value was 5.96 in 2024.
- How does Saudi Arabia rank for under-five mortality rate?
- Saudi Arabia ranks 18th out of 20 countries with data for 2024.
- Is under-five mortality rate rising or falling in Saudi Arabia?
- Over the last ten years it is down 37.6%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Saudi Arabia data come from?
- The figures come from UNICEF, published as part of Under-five mortality rate. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 53 observations, free to reuse under UNICEF Terms of Use (attribution required).