Infant deaths in Sub-Saharan Africa
Sub-Saharan Africa: Infant deaths was 1.89 million in 2024. ▼ Falling
Latest (2024)
1.89 million
Change on year
down 0.8%
Rank
2nd
of 21 groups
All-time high
2.40 million
in 2000
All-time low
1.89 million
in 2020
Years of data
25
2000–2024
Infant deaths in Sub-Saharan Africa, 2000–2024
Source: United Nations Statistics Division, SDG Global Database.
Analysis
In 2024, infant deaths in Sub-Saharan Africa stood at 1.89 million.
The figure is down 0.8% on the previous year and down 3.2% over ten years.
Over the whole period, infant deaths in Sub-Saharan Africa peaked at 2.40 million in 2000 and was at its lowest, 1.89 million, in 2020.
Sub-Saharan Africa ranks 2nd 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.
Infant deaths in Sub-Saharan Africa, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2000 | 2.40 million | — |
| 2001 | 2.39 million | -0.2% |
| 2002 | 2.33 million | -2.6% |
| 2003 | 2.29 million | -1.8% |
| 2004 | 2.25 million | -1.8% |
| 2005 | 2.17 million | -3.5% |
| 2006 | 2.13 million | -1.6% |
| 2007 | 2.09 million | -1.8% |
| 2008 | 2.06 million | -1.5% |
| 2009 | 2.07 million | +0.2% |
| 2010 | 2.02 million | -2.2% |
| 2011 | 2.06 million | +1.8% |
| 2012 | 1.97 million | -4.1% |
| 2013 | 1.94 million | -1.5% |
| 2014 | 1.96 million | +0.6% |
| 2015 | 1.95 million | -0.3% |
| 2016 | 1.94 million | -0.4% |
| 2017 | 1.95 million | +0.3% |
| 2018 | 1.90 million | -2.4% |
| 2019 | 1.90 million | -0.1% |
| 2020 | 1.89 million | -0.6% |
| 2021 | 1.94 million | +3.0% |
| 2022 | 1.99 million | +2.4% |
| 2023 | 1.91 million | -4.1% |
| 2024 | 1.89 million | -0.8% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 2.22 million | 2.06 million | 2.40 million | 10 |
| 2010s | 1.96 million | 1.90 million | 2.06 million | 10 |
| 2020s | 1.93 million | 1.89 million | 1.99 million | 5 |
Countries ranked near Sub-Saharan Africa
More development goals data for Sub-Saharan Africa
- Red List Index 0.8101 index (2025)
- Number of refugees per 100,000 population, by country of origin 616 per 100,000 people (2025)
- Manufacturing value added per capita 165.83 constant US$ (2025)
- Number of transboundary breeds 366 (2025)
- Number of transboundary breeds (not extinct) 355 (2025)
- Number of transboundary breeds with unknown risk status 232 (2025)
- Number of local breeds with unknown risk status 658 (2025)
- Number of local breeds (not extinct) 794 (2025)
- Number of local breeds kept in the country 817 (2025)
- Neonatal deaths 1.08 million (2024)
Frequently asked questions
- What is infant deaths in Sub-Saharan Africa?
- Infant deaths in Sub-Saharan Africa was 1.89 million in 2024, according to United Nations Statistics Division, SDG Global Database.
- What is the highest infant deaths recorded in Sub-Saharan Africa?
- The highest recorded value was 2.40 million in 2000.
- What is the lowest infant deaths recorded in Sub-Saharan Africa?
- The lowest recorded value was 1.89 million in 2020.
- How does Sub-Saharan Africa rank for infant deaths?
- Sub-Saharan Africa ranks 2nd out of 21 groups with data for 2024.
- Is infant deaths rising or falling in Sub-Saharan Africa?
- Over the last ten years it is down 3.2%. 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 Infant deaths (number). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 25 observations, free to reuse under UN SDG Global Database (open, attribution requested).