In 2023, the infant mortality rate in Brazil remained nearly unchanged at around 12.5 deaths per 1,000 live births. Yet 2023 saw the lowest infant mortality rate in Brazil with 12.5 deaths per 1,000 live births. The infant mortality rate is the number of newborns who do not survive past the first 12 months of life. This is generally expressed as a value per 1,000 live births, and also includes neonatal mortality (deaths within the first 28 days of life).Find more statistics on other topics about Brazil with key insights such as death rate, total life expectancy at birth, and crude birth rate.

UNICEF's country profile for Brazil, including under-five mortality rates, child health, education and sanitation data.

Historical chart and dataset showing Brazil infant mortality rate by year from 1950 to 2025.

Over the past 65 years, Brazil's infant mortality rate has fallen from 136 deaths per thousand live births in 1955, to less than one tenth of this level in 2020. In 1955, this meant that almost fourteen percent of all newborns were not expected to make it to their first birthday, whereas this number is just 1.3 percent today. The driving forces behind this decrease is improved access to medical care (particularly vaccination) as well as improved sanitation, quality of life and education.

Brazil Infant Mortality Rate: per 1000 Population: Southeast: Rio de Janeiro data was reported at 11.900 % in 2015. This records a decrease from the previous number of 12.300 % for 2014. Brazil Infant Mortality Rate: per 1000 Population: Southeast: Rio de Janeiro data is updated yearly, averaging 14.500 % from Sep 2004 (Median) to 2015, with 11 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 17.300 % in 2004 and a record low of 11.900 % in 2015. Brazil Infant Mortality Rate: per 1000 Population: Southeast: Rio de Janeiro data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by Brazilian Institute of Geography and Statistics. The data is categorized under Brazil Premium Database’s Socio and Demographic – Table BR.GAE005: Infant Mortality Rate. Information relating to the year 2011 will be updated by the source (IBGE) until July 2013.

Brazil Infant Mortality Rate: per 1000 Population: Northeast: Bahia data was reported at 18.100 % in 2015. This records a decrease from the previous number of 18.900 % for 2014. Brazil Infant Mortality Rate: per 1000 Population: Northeast: Bahia data is updated yearly, averaging 24.400 % from Sep 2004 (Median) to 2015, with 11 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 32.500 % in 2004 and a record low of 18.100 % in 2015. Brazil Infant Mortality Rate: per 1000 Population: Northeast: Bahia data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by Brazilian Institute of Geography and Statistics. The data is categorized under Brazil Premium Database’s Socio and Demographic – Table BR.GAE005: Infant Mortality Rate. Information relating to the year 2011 will be updated by the source (IBGE) until July 2013.

Forecast: Infant Mortality Rate in Brazil 2022 - 2026 Discover more data with ReportLinker!

Forecast: Female Infant Mortality Rate in Brazil 2022 - 2026 Discover more data with ReportLinker!

Mortality rate, infant (per 1,000 live births) in Brazil was reported at 12.5 % in 2023, according to the World Bank collection of development indicators, compiled from officially recognized sources. Brazil - Mortality rate, infant (per 1,000 live births) - actual values, historical data, forecasts and projections were sourced from the World Bank on July of 2025.

In 2023, the infant mortality rate per every 1,000 newborns in Brazil was estimated at approximately 12.46. Between 1934 and 2023, the figure dropped by around 169.51, though the decline followed an uneven course rather than a steady trajectory.

Forecast: Infant Mortality in Brazil 2023 - 2027 Discover more data with ReportLinker!

Infant Mortality Rate: per 1000 Population: Northeast: Ceará data was reported at 15.100 % in 2015. This records a decrease from the previous number of 15.800 % for 2014. Infant Mortality Rate: per 1000 Population: Northeast: Ceará data is updated yearly, averaging 20.900 % from Sep 2004 (Median) to 2015, with 11 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 28.900 % in 2004 and a record low of 15.100 % in 2015. Infant Mortality Rate: per 1000 Population: Northeast: Ceará data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by Brazilian Institute of Geography and Statistics. The data is categorized under Brazil Premium Database’s Socio and Demographic – Table BR.GAE005: Infant Mortality Rate. Information relating to the year 2011 will be updated by the source (IBGE) until July 2013.

The child mortality rate of Brazil, for children under the age of five years, was 417 deaths per thousand births in the year 1900. This meant that approximately 42 percent of all children did not make it to their fifth birthday. This number has continuously decreased until today, dropping at its fastest rate between 1930 and 1955,when it then fell to less than half the rate in 1900. Today, the child mortality rate in Brazil is 15 deaths per thousand births; pre-natal education, medical advancements and improved access to medical care are the driving forces behind these changes.

Forecast: Total Infant Mortality Rates in Brazil 2024 - 2028 Discover more data with ReportLinker!

Brazil Infant Mortality Rate: per 1000 Population: Northeast: Paraíba data was reported at 17.000 % in 2015. This records a decrease from the previous number of 18.000 % for 2014. Brazil Infant Mortality Rate: per 1000 Population: Northeast: Paraíba data is updated yearly, averaging 24.400 % from Sep 2004 (Median) to 2015, with 11 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 34.900 % in 2004 and a record low of 17.000 % in 2015. Brazil Infant Mortality Rate: per 1000 Population: Northeast: Paraíba data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by Brazilian Institute of Geography and Statistics. The data is categorized under Brazil Premium Database’s Socio and Demographic – Table BR.GAE005: Infant Mortality Rate. Information relating to the year 2011 will be updated by the source (IBGE) until July 2013.

Forecast: Male Infant Mortality Rate in Brazil 2022 - 2026 Discover more data with ReportLinker!

Primary health care has been recognized as a critical strategy for improving population health in developing countries. This paper investigates the effect of primary care physicians on the infant mortality rate in Brazil using a dynamic panel data approach. This method accounts for the endogeneity problem and the persistence of infant mortality over time. The empirical analysis uses an eight-year panel of municipalities between 2005 and 2012. The results indicate that primary care physician supply contributed to the decline of infant mortality in Brazil. An increase of one primary care physician per 10,000 population was associated with 7.08 fewer infant deaths per 10,000 live births. This suggests that, in addition to other determinants, primary care physicians can play an important role in accounting for the reduction of infant mortality rates.

Brazil Infant Mortality Rate: per 1000 Population: Northeast: Maranhão data was reported at 22.400 % in 2015. This records a decrease from the previous number of 23.500 % for 2014. Brazil Infant Mortality Rate: per 1000 Population: Northeast: Maranhão data is updated yearly, averaging 30.600 % from Sep 2004 (Median) to 2015, with 11 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 40.400 % in 2004 and a record low of 22.400 % in 2015. Brazil Infant Mortality Rate: per 1000 Population: Northeast: Maranhão data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by Brazilian Institute of Geography and Statistics. The data is categorized under Brazil Premium Database’s Socio and Demographic – Table BR.GAE005: Infant Mortality Rate. Information relating to the year 2011 will be updated by the source (IBGE) until July 2013.

Mortality rate, infant, male (per 1,000 live births) in Brazil was reported at 13.8 % in 2023, according to the World Bank collection of development indicators, compiled from officially recognized sources. Brazil - Mortality rate, infant, male (per 1,000 live births) - actual values, historical data, forecasts and projections were sourced from the World Bank on June of 2025.

Brazil Infant Mortality Rate: per 1000 Population: North: Acre data was reported at 17.600 % in 2015. This records a decrease from the previous number of 18.400 % for 2014. Brazil Infant Mortality Rate: per 1000 Population: North: Acre data is updated yearly, averaging 23.200 % from Sep 2004 (Median) to 2015, with 11 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 30.400 % in 2004 and a record low of 17.600 % in 2015. Brazil Infant Mortality Rate: per 1000 Population: North: Acre data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by Brazilian Institute of Geography and Statistics. The data is categorized under Brazil Premium Database’s Socio and Demographic – Table BR.GAE005: Infant Mortality Rate. Information relating to the year 2011 will be updated by the source (IBGE) until July 2013.