Mortality rate, infant (per 1,000 live births) (UNESCO Institute) in Malawi
Malawi: Mortality rate, infant (per 1,000 live births) (UNESCO Institute) was 29.4 per 1,000 live births in 2023. ▼ Falling
Latest (2023)
29.4 per 1,000 live births
Change on year
down 3.6%
World rank
50th
of 195 countries
All-time high
164.8 per 1,000 live births
in 1970
All-time low
29.4 per 1,000 live births
in 2023
Years of data
54
1970–2023
Mortality rate, infant in Malawi, 1970–2023
Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics. Measured in per 1,000 live births.
Analysis
The most recent figure for mortality rate, infant in Malawi is 29.4 per 1,000 live births, measured in 2023. That is the lowest value across all 54 years on record.
That represents a change of down 3.6% on the previous year and down 32.6% over ten years.
Over the whole period, mortality rate, infant in Malawi peaked at 164.8 per 1,000 live births in 1970 and was at its lowest, 29.4 per 1,000 live births, in 2023.
That places Malawi 50th out of 195 countries with data for 2023, putting it in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 54 years of available data.
Mortality rate, infant (per 1,000 live births) (UNESCO Institute) in Malawi, year by year
| Year | per 1,000 live births | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1970 | 164.8 per 1,000 live births | — |
| 1971 | 163.5 per 1,000 live births | -0.8% |
| 1972 | 161.3 per 1,000 live births | -1.3% |
| 1973 | 158.4 per 1,000 live births | -1.8% |
| 1974 | 155.2 per 1,000 live births | -2.0% |
| 1975 | 151.6 per 1,000 live births | -2.3% |
| 1976 | 148 per 1,000 live births | -2.4% |
| 1977 | 144.2 per 1,000 live births | -2.6% |
| 1978 | 139.8 per 1,000 live births | -3.1% |
| 1979 | 135.4 per 1,000 live births | -3.1% |
| 1980 | 131.7 per 1,000 live births | -2.7% |
| 1981 | 128.9 per 1,000 live births | -2.1% |
| 1982 | 127.8 per 1,000 live births | -0.9% |
| 1983 | 128.8 per 1,000 live births | +0.8% |
| 1984 | 131.3 per 1,000 live births | +1.9% |
| 1985 | 134.2 per 1,000 live births | +2.2% |
| 1986 | 136.7 per 1,000 live births | +1.9% |
| 1987 | 138 per 1,000 live births | +1.0% |
| 1988 | 137.8 per 1,000 live births | -0.1% |
| 1989 | 136 per 1,000 live births | -1.3% |
| 1990 | 133.1 per 1,000 live births | -2.1% |
| 1991 | 129.5 per 1,000 live births | -2.7% |
| 1992 | 125.5 per 1,000 live births | -3.1% |
| 1993 | 121.6 per 1,000 live births | -3.1% |
| 1994 | 118.2 per 1,000 live births | -2.8% |
| 1995 | 115.1 per 1,000 live births | -2.6% |
| 1996 | 113.2 per 1,000 live births | -1.7% |
| 1997 | 111.4 per 1,000 live births | -1.6% |
| 1998 | 109.1 per 1,000 live births | -2.1% |
| 1999 | 105.5 per 1,000 live births | -3.3% |
| 2000 | 100.2 per 1,000 live births | -5.0% |
| 2001 | 93.1 per 1,000 live births | -7.1% |
| 2002 | 85.1 per 1,000 live births | -8.6% |
| 2003 | 77.2 per 1,000 live births | -9.3% |
| 2004 | 70.2 per 1,000 live births | -9.1% |
| 2005 | 65.1 per 1,000 live births | -7.3% |
| 2006 | 61.9 per 1,000 live births | -4.9% |
| 2007 | 59.9 per 1,000 live births | -3.2% |
| 2008 | 57.3 per 1,000 live births | -4.3% |
| 2009 | 55.5 per 1,000 live births | -3.1% |
| 2010 | 53.6 per 1,000 live births | -3.4% |
| 2011 | 49.9 per 1,000 live births | -6.9% |
| 2012 | 46.6 per 1,000 live births | -6.6% |
| 2013 | 43.6 per 1,000 live births | -6.4% |
| 2014 | 41.4 per 1,000 live births | -5.0% |
| 2015 | 39.3 per 1,000 live births | -5.1% |
| 2016 | 37.6 per 1,000 live births | -4.3% |
| 2017 | 36.1 per 1,000 live births | -4.0% |
| 2018 | 34.5 per 1,000 live births | -4.4% |
| 2019 | 33.6 per 1,000 live births | -2.6% |
| 2020 | 32.3 per 1,000 live births | -3.9% |
| 2021 | 31.4 per 1,000 live births | -2.8% |
| 2022 | 30.5 per 1,000 live births | -2.9% |
| 2023 | 29.4 per 1,000 live births | -3.6% |
Malawi compared with similar countries
- Malawi's 29.4 per 1,000 live births is below the median for low income countries, which is 44.2 per 1,000 live births, 67% of the median. (25 countries reporting)
- Malawi's 29.4 per 1,000 live births is below the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 38.35 per 1,000 live births, 77% of the median. (48 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 152.22 per 1,000 live births | 135.4 per 1,000 live births | 164.8 per 1,000 live births | 10 |
| 1980s | 133.12 per 1,000 live births | 127.8 per 1,000 live births | 138 per 1,000 live births | 10 |
| 1990s | 118.22 per 1,000 live births | 105.5 per 1,000 live births | 133.1 per 1,000 live births | 10 |
| 2000s | 72.55 per 1,000 live births | 55.5 per 1,000 live births | 100.2 per 1,000 live births | 10 |
| 2010s | 41.62 per 1,000 live births | 33.6 per 1,000 live births | 53.6 per 1,000 live births | 10 |
| 2020s | 30.9 per 1,000 live births | 29.4 per 1,000 live births | 32.3 per 1,000 live births | 4 |
Countries ranked near Malawi
- 47 Rwanda 30.5 per 1,000 live births compare
- 48 Senegal 30.2 per 1,000 live births compare
- 49 Tanzania 29.9 per 1,000 live births compare
- 51 Dominican Republic 28.4 per 1,000 live births compare
- 52 Ghana 28.2 per 1,000 live births compare
- 53 Congo 27.6 per 1,000 live births compare
- 53 Uganda 27.6 per 1,000 live births compare
More population data for Malawi
- Population regions with projections, annual growth rate 0.4293 % change on previous year (2100)
- Urban and rural population 2050, annual growth rate 0.1183 % change on previous year (2050)
- Population long run with projections, annual growth rate 0.4293 % change on previous year (2100)
- Un population 2024 vs 2022, annual growth rate 0.3622 % change on previous year (2100)
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 05 - Demographic estimates 37,159 Persons (2050)
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 03 - Annual population 2.45 Percent per annum (2030)
- Projected population under age 5, annual growth rate -0.2289 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population growth rate 0.423 (2100)
- Population density 627.29 (2100)
- Projected population under age 5 3.85 million (2100)
Frequently asked questions
- What is mortality rate, infant in Malawi?
- Mortality rate, infant in Malawi was 29.4 per 1,000 live births in 2023, according to UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
- What is the highest mortality rate, infant recorded in Malawi?
- The highest recorded value was 164.8 per 1,000 live births in 1970.
- What is the lowest mortality rate, infant recorded in Malawi?
- The lowest recorded value was 29.4 per 1,000 live births in 2023.
- How does Malawi rank for mortality rate, infant?
- Malawi ranks 50th out of 195 countries with data for 2023.
- Is mortality rate, infant rising or falling in Malawi?
- Over the last ten years it is down 32.6%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this Malawi data come from?
- The figures come from UNESCO Institute for Statistics, published as part of Mortality rate, infant (per 1,000 live births). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
February 2026 Data Release