Mortality rate, infant (per 1,000 live births) (UNESCO Institute) in Zimbabwe
Zimbabwe: Mortality rate, infant (per 1,000 live births) (UNESCO Institute) was 40.6 per 1,000 live births in 2023. ▼ Falling
Latest (2023)
40.6 per 1,000 live births
Change on year
down 3.8%
World rank
25th
of 195 countries
All-time high
73.9 per 1,000 live births
in 1979
All-time low
40.6 per 1,000 live births
in 2023
Years of data
54
1970–2023
Mortality rate, infant in Zimbabwe, 1970–2023
Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics. Measured in per 1,000 live births.
Analysis
The most recent figure for mortality rate, infant in Zimbabwe is 40.6 per 1,000 live births, measured in 2023. That is the lowest value across all 54 years on record.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 3.8% on the previous year and down 28.8% over ten years.
Over the whole period, mortality rate, infant in Zimbabwe peaked at 73.9 per 1,000 live births in 1979 and was at its lowest, 40.6 per 1,000 live births, in 2023.
Zimbabwe ranks 25th of 195 countries on this measure, in the top quarter.
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 Zimbabwe, year by year
| Year | per 1,000 live births | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1970 | 67.1 per 1,000 live births | — |
| 1971 | 67.2 per 1,000 live births | +0.1% |
| 1972 | 67.6 per 1,000 live births | +0.6% |
| 1973 | 68.2 per 1,000 live births | +0.9% |
| 1974 | 69 per 1,000 live births | +1.2% |
| 1975 | 70.1 per 1,000 live births | +1.6% |
| 1976 | 71.3 per 1,000 live births | +1.7% |
| 1977 | 72.6 per 1,000 live births | +1.8% |
| 1978 | 73.5 per 1,000 live births | +1.2% |
| 1979 | 73.9 per 1,000 live births | +0.5% |
| 1980 | 73.6 per 1,000 live births | -0.4% |
| 1981 | 72.2 per 1,000 live births | -1.9% |
| 1982 | 69.6 per 1,000 live births | -3.6% |
| 1983 | 66.5 per 1,000 live births | -4.5% |
| 1984 | 63 per 1,000 live births | -5.3% |
| 1985 | 59.8 per 1,000 live births | -5.1% |
| 1986 | 56.9 per 1,000 live births | -4.8% |
| 1987 | 54.8 per 1,000 live births | -3.7% |
| 1988 | 53.5 per 1,000 live births | -2.4% |
| 1989 | 53 per 1,000 live births | -0.9% |
| 1990 | 52.8 per 1,000 live births | -0.4% |
| 1991 | 52.9 per 1,000 live births | +0.2% |
| 1992 | 53.5 per 1,000 live births | +1.1% |
| 1993 | 54.7 per 1,000 live births | +2.2% |
| 1994 | 56.2 per 1,000 live births | +2.7% |
| 1995 | 57.9 per 1,000 live births | +3.0% |
| 1996 | 58.6 per 1,000 live births | +1.2% |
| 1997 | 58.5 per 1,000 live births | -0.2% |
| 1998 | 58.3 per 1,000 live births | -0.3% |
| 1999 | 58.4 per 1,000 live births | +0.2% |
| 2000 | 59.3 per 1,000 live births | +1.5% |
| 2001 | 61.1 per 1,000 live births | +3.0% |
| 2002 | 58.3 per 1,000 live births | -4.6% |
| 2003 | 61 per 1,000 live births | +4.6% |
| 2004 | 64.2 per 1,000 live births | +5.2% |
| 2005 | 66.6 per 1,000 live births | +3.7% |
| 2006 | 69.5 per 1,000 live births | +4.4% |
| 2007 | 71.5 per 1,000 live births | +2.9% |
| 2008 | 71.7 per 1,000 live births | +0.3% |
| 2009 | 70.7 per 1,000 live births | -1.4% |
| 2010 | 67.6 per 1,000 live births | -4.4% |
| 2011 | 64.7 per 1,000 live births | -4.3% |
| 2012 | 59.9 per 1,000 live births | -7.4% |
| 2013 | 57 per 1,000 live births | -4.8% |
| 2014 | 54.3 per 1,000 live births | -4.7% |
| 2015 | 52.8 per 1,000 live births | -2.8% |
| 2016 | 50.8 per 1,000 live births | -3.8% |
| 2017 | 49.2 per 1,000 live births | -3.1% |
| 2018 | 47.4 per 1,000 live births | -3.7% |
| 2019 | 46 per 1,000 live births | -3.0% |
| 2020 | 44.9 per 1,000 live births | -2.4% |
| 2021 | 43.6 per 1,000 live births | -2.9% |
| 2022 | 42.2 per 1,000 live births | -3.2% |
| 2023 | 40.6 per 1,000 live births | -3.8% |
Zimbabwe compared with similar countries
- Zimbabwe's 40.6 per 1,000 live births is above the median for lower middle income countries, which is 30.2 per 1,000 live births, 1.3× the median. (47 countries reporting)
- Zimbabwe's 40.6 per 1,000 live births is above the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 38.35 per 1,000 live births, 1.1× the median. (48 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 70.05 per 1,000 live births | 67.1 per 1,000 live births | 73.9 per 1,000 live births | 10 |
| 1980s | 62.29 per 1,000 live births | 53 per 1,000 live births | 73.6 per 1,000 live births | 10 |
| 1990s | 56.18 per 1,000 live births | 52.8 per 1,000 live births | 58.6 per 1,000 live births | 10 |
| 2000s | 65.39 per 1,000 live births | 58.3 per 1,000 live births | 71.7 per 1,000 live births | 10 |
| 2010s | 54.97 per 1,000 live births | 46 per 1,000 live births | 67.6 per 1,000 live births | 10 |
| 2020s | 42.83 per 1,000 live births | 40.6 per 1,000 live births | 44.9 per 1,000 live births | 4 |
Countries ranked near Zimbabwe
More population data for Zimbabwe
- Population regions with projections, annual growth rate 0.1887 % change on previous year (2100)
- Urban and rural population 2050, annual growth rate -0.0209 % change on previous year (2050)
- Population long run with projections, annual growth rate 0.1887 % change on previous year (2100)
- Un population 2024 vs 2022, annual growth rate 0.0944 % change on previous year (2100)
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 05 - Demographic estimates 26,439 Persons (2050)
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 03 - Annual population 1.94 Percent per annum (2030)
- Projected population under age 5, annual growth rate -0.5219 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population growth rate 0.188 (2100)
- Population density 96.07 (2100)
- Projected population under age 5 2.49 million (2100)
Frequently asked questions
- What is mortality rate, infant in Zimbabwe?
- Mortality rate, infant in Zimbabwe was 40.6 per 1,000 live births in 2023, according to UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
- What is the highest mortality rate, infant recorded in Zimbabwe?
- The highest recorded value was 73.9 per 1,000 live births in 1979.
- What is the lowest mortality rate, infant recorded in Zimbabwe?
- The lowest recorded value was 40.6 per 1,000 live births in 2023.
- How does Zimbabwe rank for mortality rate, infant?
- Zimbabwe ranks 25th out of 195 countries with data for 2023.
- Is mortality rate, infant rising or falling in Zimbabwe?
- Over the last ten years it is down 28.8%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this Zimbabwe 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