Under-five deaths in Sub-Saharan Africa
Sub-Saharan Africa: Under-five deaths was 2.83 million in 2024. ▼ Falling
Under-five deaths in Sub-Saharan Africa, 2000–2024
Source: United Nations Statistics Division, SDG Global Database.
Analysis
Sub-Saharan Africa recorded 2.83 million for under-five deaths in 2024. That is the lowest value across all 25 years on record.
The figure is down 1.4% on the previous year and down 7.3% over ten years.
Over the whole period, under-five deaths in Sub-Saharan Africa peaked at 3.98 million in 2000 and was at its lowest, 2.83 million, in 2024.
That places Sub-Saharan Africa 2nd out of 21 groups with data for 2024, putting it in the top 10%.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 25 years of available data.
Under-five deaths in Sub-Saharan Africa, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2000 | 3.98 million | — |
| 2001 | 3.96 million | -0.5% |
| 2002 | 3.84 million | -3.1% |
| 2003 | 3.76 million | -2.1% |
| 2004 | 3.68 million | -2.1% |
| 2005 | 3.53 million | -4.1% |
| 2006 | 3.45 million | -2.2% |
| 2007 | 3.37 million | -2.2% |
| 2008 | 3.30 million | -2.1% |
| 2009 | 3.32 million | +0.5% |
| 2010 | 3.20 million | -3.7% |
| 2011 | 3.26 million | +1.9% |
| 2012 | 3.09 million | -5.1% |
| 2013 | 3.03 million | -1.9% |
| 2014 | 3.05 million | +0.6% |
| 2015 | 3.04 million | -0.6% |
| 2016 | 3.02 million | -0.5% |
| 2017 | 3.03 million | +0.3% |
| 2018 | 2.93 million | -3.3% |
| 2019 | 2.93 million | -0.1% |
| 2020 | 2.88 million | -1.4% |
| 2021 | 2.97 million | +3.0% |
| 2022 | 3.06 million | +3.0% |
| 2023 | 2.87 million | -6.1% |
| 2024 | 2.83 million | -1.4% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 3.62 million | 3.30 million | 3.98 million | 10 |
| 2010s | 3.06 million | 2.93 million | 3.26 million | 10 |
| 2020s | 2.92 million | 2.83 million | 3.06 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)
- Infant deaths 1.89 million (2024)
Frequently asked questions
- What is under-five deaths in Sub-Saharan Africa?
- Under-five deaths in Sub-Saharan Africa was 2.83 million in 2024, according to United Nations Statistics Division, SDG Global Database.
- What is the highest under-five deaths recorded in Sub-Saharan Africa?
- The highest recorded value was 3.98 million in 2000.
- What is the lowest under-five deaths recorded in Sub-Saharan Africa?
- The lowest recorded value was 2.83 million in 2024.
- How does Sub-Saharan Africa rank for under-five deaths?
- Sub-Saharan Africa ranks 2nd out of 21 groups with data for 2024.
- Is under-five deaths rising or falling in Sub-Saharan Africa?
- Over the last ten years it is down 7.3%. 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 Under-five 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).