In 2023, the infant mortality rate in deaths per 1,000 live births in Afghanistan stood at 50.4. Between 1960 and 2023, the figure dropped by 200.8, though the decline followed an uneven course rather than a steady trajectory.

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

Graph and download economic data for Infant Mortality Rate for the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan (SPDYNIMRTINAFG) from 1960 to 2023 about Afghanistan, mortality, infant, and rate.

The child mortality rate in Afghanistan (for children under the age of five) was around 475 deaths per 1000 births during the course of 19th century. Given as a percentage, this means that 47.5% of children born would not make it to their 5th birthday. After 1950, the child morality rate dropped significantly due to considerable medical advancements, falling to 68 deaths per thousand in 2020. Despite this considerable decline in recent decades, Afghanistan still has one of the highest child mortality rates in the world. Afghanistan's infant mortality rate (among those aged below one year) in 2020 is 52 deaths per thousand births, meaning that the majority of child deaths occur during infancy.

This statistic shows the 20 countries* with the highest infant mortality rate in 2024. An estimated 101.3 infants per 1,000 live births died in the first year of life in Afghanistan in 2024. Infant and child mortality Infant mortality usually refers to the death of children younger than one year. Child mortality, which is often used synonymously with infant mortality, is the death of children younger than five. Among the main causes are pneumonia, diarrhea – which causes dehydration – and infections in newborns, with malnutrition also posing a severe problem. As can be seen above, most countries with a high infant mortality rate are developing countries or emerging countries, most of which are located in Africa. Good health care and hygiene are crucial in reducing child mortality; among the countries with the lowest infant mortality rate are exclusively developed countries, whose inhabitants usually have access to clean water and comprehensive health care. Access to vaccinations, antibiotics and a balanced nutrition also help reducing child mortality in these regions. In some countries, infants are killed if they turn out to be of a certain gender. India, for example, is known as a country where a lot of girls are aborted or killed right after birth, as they are considered to be too expensive for poorer families, who traditionally have to pay a costly dowry on the girl’s wedding day. Interestingly, the global mortality rate among boys is higher than that for girls, which could be due to the fact that more male infants are actually born than female ones. Other theories include a stronger immune system in girls, or more premature births among boys.

Between 1955 and 2020, Afghanistan's infant mortality rate (for children under the age of one year old) dropped consistently and almost linearly. In 1955 the infant mortality rate totaled 276 deaths per thousand live births, which meant that over one quarter of all babies born did not make it to their first birthday. Today, Afghanistan's infant mortality rate is 56 deaths per thousand births, which is roughly one fifth the total seventy years ago. Despite this significant progress, Afghanistan still has one of the highest infant mortality rates in the world, and the highest of any non-African nation.

Historical dataset showing Afghanistan infant mortality rate by year from 1950 to 2025.

Afghanistan Mortality Rate: Infant: per 1000 Live Births data was reported at 50.400 Ratio in 2023. This records a decrease from the previous number of 52.000 Ratio for 2022. Afghanistan Mortality Rate: Infant: per 1000 Live Births data is updated yearly, averaging 138.000 Ratio from Dec 1960 (Median) to 2023, with 64 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 251.200 Ratio in 1960 and a record low of 50.400 Ratio in 2023. Afghanistan Mortality Rate: Infant: per 1000 Live Births data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by World Bank. The data is categorized under Global Database’s Afghanistan – Table AF.World Bank.WDI: Social: Health Statistics. Infant mortality rate is the number of infants dying before reaching one year of age, per 1,000 live births in a given year.;Estimates developed by the UN Inter-agency Group for Child Mortality Estimation (UNICEF, WHO, World Bank, UN DESA Population Division) at www.childmortality.org.;Weighted average;Given that data on the incidence and prevalence of diseases are frequently unavailable, mortality rates are often used to identify vulnerable populations. Moreover, they are among the indicators most frequently used to compare socioeconomic development across countries. Under-five mortality rates are higher for boys than for girls in countries in which parental gender preferences are insignificant. Under-five mortality captures the effect of gender discrimination better than infant mortality does, as malnutrition and medical interventions have more significant impacts to this age group. Where female under-five mortality is higher, girls are likely to have less access to resources than boys. Aggregate data for LIC, UMC, LMC, HIC are computed based on the groupings for the World Bank fiscal year in which the data was released by the UN Inter-agency Group for Child Mortality Estimation.

Mortality rate, infant (per 1,000 live births) in Afghanistan was reported at 50.4 % in 2023, according to the World Bank collection of development indicators, compiled from officially recognized sources. Afghanistan - Mortality rate, infant (per 1,000 live births) - actual values, historical data, forecasts and projections were sourced from the World Bank on August of 2025.

Afghanistan Mortality Rate: Under-5: Male: per 1000 Live Births data was reported at 59.200 Ratio in 2023. This records a decrease from the previous number of 61.100 Ratio for 2022. Afghanistan Mortality Rate: Under-5: Male: per 1000 Live Births data is updated yearly, averaging 175.850 Ratio from Dec 1960 (Median) to 2023, with 64 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 360.500 Ratio in 1960 and a record low of 59.200 Ratio in 2023. Afghanistan Mortality Rate: Under-5: Male: per 1000 Live Births data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by World Bank. The data is categorized under Global Database’s Afghanistan – Table AF.World Bank.WDI: Social: Health Statistics. Under-five mortality rate, male is the probability per 1,000 that a newborn male baby will die before reaching age five, if subject to male age-specific mortality rates of the specified year.;Estimates developed by the UN Inter-agency Group for Child Mortality Estimation (UNICEF, WHO, World Bank, UN DESA Population Division) at www.childmortality.org.;Weighted average;Given that data on the incidence and prevalence of diseases are frequently unavailable, mortality rates are often used to identify vulnerable populations. Moreover, they are among the indicators most frequently used to compare socioeconomic development across countries. Under-five mortality rates are higher for boys than for girls in countries in which parental gender preferences are insignificant. Under-five mortality captures the effect of gender discrimination better than infant mortality does, as malnutrition and medical interventions have more significant impacts to this age group. Where female under-five mortality is higher, girls are likely to have less access to resources than boys. Aggregate data for LIC, UMC, LMC, HIC are computed based on the groupings for the World Bank fiscal year in which the data was released by the UN Inter-agency Group for Child Mortality Estimation. This is a sex-disaggregated indicator for Sustainable Development Goal 3.2.1 [https://unstats.un.org/sdgs/metadata/].

Mortality rate, infant, male (per 1,000 live births) in Afghanistan was reported at 53.8 % in 2023, according to the World Bank collection of development indicators, compiled from officially recognized sources. Afghanistan - Mortality rate, infant, male (per 1,000 live births) - actual values, historical data, forecasts and projections were sourced from the World Bank on August of 2025.

Time series data for the statistic Infant_Mortality_Rate_Per_1000_Live_Births and country Afghanistan. Indicator Definition:Infant mortality rate is the number of infants dying before reaching one year of age, per 1,000 live births in a given year.The statistic "Infant Mortality Rate Per 1000 Live Births" stands at 50.40 per mille as of 12/31/2023, the lowest value at least since 12/31/1961, the period currently displayed. Regarding the One-Year-Change of the series, the current value constitutes a decrease of -1.60 percentage points compared to the value the year prior.The 1 year change in percentage points is -1.60.The 3 year change in percentage points is -4.90.The 5 year change in percentage points is -8.20.The 10 year change in percentage points is -18.30.The Serie's long term average value is 147.14 per mille. It's latest available value, on 12/31/2023, is 96.74 percentage points lower, compared to it's long term average value.The Serie's change in percentage points from it's minimum value, on 12/31/2023, to it's latest available value, on 12/31/2023, is +0.0.The Serie's change in percentage points from it's maximum value, on 12/31/1960, to it's latest available value, on 12/31/2023, is -200.80.

Afghanistan Mortality Rate: Under-5: per 1000 Live Births data was reported at 55.500 Ratio in 2023. This records a decrease from the previous number of 57.400 Ratio for 2022. Afghanistan Mortality Rate: Under-5: per 1000 Live Births data is updated yearly, averaging 171.450 Ratio from Dec 1960 (Median) to 2023, with 64 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 353.200 Ratio in 1960 and a record low of 55.500 Ratio in 2023. Afghanistan Mortality Rate: Under-5: per 1000 Live Births data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by World Bank. The data is categorized under Global Database’s Afghanistan – Table AF.World Bank.WDI: Social: Health Statistics. Under-five mortality rate is the probability per 1,000 that a newborn baby will die before reaching age five, if subject to age-specific mortality rates of the specified year.;Estimates developed by the UN Inter-agency Group for Child Mortality Estimation (UNICEF, WHO, World Bank, UN DESA Population Division) at www.childmortality.org.;Weighted average;Given that data on the incidence and prevalence of diseases are frequently unavailable, mortality rates are often used to identify vulnerable populations. Moreover, they are among the indicators most frequently used to compare socioeconomic development across countries. Under-five mortality rates are higher for boys than for girls in countries in which parental gender preferences are insignificant. Under-five mortality captures the effect of gender discrimination better than infant mortality does, as malnutrition and medical interventions have more significant impacts to this age group. Where female under-five mortality is higher, girls are likely to have less access to resources than boys. Aggregate data for LIC, UMC, LMC, HIC are computed based on the groupings for the World Bank fiscal year in which the data was released by the UN Inter-agency Group for Child Mortality Estimation. This is the Sustainable Development Goal indicator 3.2.1[https://unstats.un.org/sdgs/metadata/].

Mortality rate, infant, female (per 1,000 live births) in Afghanistan was reported at 46.7 % in 2023, according to the World Bank collection of development indicators, compiled from officially recognized sources. Afghanistan - Mortality rate, infant, female (per 1,000 live births) - actual values, historical data, forecasts and projections were sourced from the World Bank on July of 2025.

This statistic shows the 20 countries * with the lowest infant mortality rate in 2024. An estimated 1.5 out of 1,000 live births died in the first year of life in Slovenia and Singapore in 2024. Infant mortality Infant mortality rates are often used as an indicator of the health and well-being of a nation. Monaco, Iceland, and Japan are among the top three countries with the lowest infant mortality rates with around 2 infant deaths per 1,000 infants within their first year of life. Generally, the countries with the lowest infant mortality also have some of the highest average life expectancy figures. Additionally, the countries with the highest density of physicians and doctors also generally report low infant mortality. Yet, many different factors contribute to differing rates, including the overall income of a country, health spending per capita, a mother’s level of education, environmental conditions, and medical infrastructure, to name a few. This creates a lot of variation concerning the level of childbirth and infant care around the world. The countries with the highest rates of infant mortality include Afghanistan, Mali, and Somalia. These countries experience around 100 infant deaths per 1,000 infants in their first year of life. While the reasons for high rates of infant mortality are numerous, the leading causes of death for children under the year five around the world are Pneumonia, Diarrhea, and Prematurity.

In 2022, the state of Mississippi had the highest infant mortality rate in the United States, with around 9.11 deaths per 1,000 live births. Infant mortality is the death of an infant before the age of one. The countries with the lowest infant mortality rates worldwide are Slovenia, Singapore, and Iceland. The countries with the highest infant mortality rates include Afghanistan, Somalia, and the Central African Republic. Causes of infant mortality Rates and causes of infant mortality are different depending on the country and region. However, the leading causes of neonatal deaths include preterm birth complications, intrapartum-related events, and sepsis. The leading causes of death among children aged 1 to 59 months are pneumonia, diarrhea, and injury. In the United States The infant mortality rate in the United States has decreased over the past few decades, reaching a low of 5.4 deaths per 1,000 live births in 2021. The most common causes of infant death in the United States are congenital malformations, low birth weight, and sudden infant death syndrome. In 2022, congenital malformations accounted for around 108 infant deaths per 100,000 live births.

Number of infant deaths in Afghanistan was reported at 73191 deaths in 2023, according to the World Bank collection of development indicators, compiled from officially recognized sources. Afghanistan - Number of infant deaths - actual values, historical data, forecasts and projections were sourced from the World Bank on August of 2025.

58.0 (deaths per 1,000 live births) in 2020. Under-five mortality rate is the probability per 1,000 that a newborn baby will die before reaching age five, if subject to current age-specific mortality rates.

Afghanistan Number of Death: Infant data was reported at 73,191.000 Person in 2023. This records a decrease from the previous number of 75,133.000 Person for 2022. Afghanistan Number of Death: Infant data is updated yearly, averaging 106,789.500 Person from Dec 1960 (Median) to 2023, with 64 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 131,491.000 Person in 1978 and a record low of 73,191.000 Person in 2023. Afghanistan Number of Death: Infant data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by World Bank. The data is categorized under Global Database’s Afghanistan – Table AF.World Bank.WDI: Social: Health Statistics. Number of infants dying before reaching one year of age.;Estimates developed by the UN Inter-agency Group for Child Mortality Estimation (UNICEF, WHO, World Bank, UN DESA Population Division) at www.childmortality.org.;Sum;Aggregate data for LIC, UMC, LMC, HIC are computed based on the groupings for the World Bank fiscal year in which the data was released by the UN Inter-agency Group for Child Mortality Estimation.

In 2022, the infant mortality rate in the United States was 5.4 out of every 1,000 live births. This is a significant decrease from 1960, when infant mortality was at around 26 deaths out of every 1,000 live births. What is infant mortality? The infant mortality rate is the number of deaths of babies under the age of one per 1,000 live births. There are many causes for infant mortality, which include birth defects, low birth weight, pregnancy complications, and sudden infant death syndrome. In order to decrease the high rates of infant mortality, there needs to be an increase in education and medicine so babies and mothers can receive the proper treatment needed. Maternal mortality is also related to infant mortality. If mothers can attend more prenatal visits and have more access to healthcare facilities, maternal mortality can decrease, and babies have a better chance of surviving in their first year. Worldwide infant mortality rates Infant mortality rates vary worldwide; however, some areas are more affected than others. Afghanistan suffered from the highest infant mortality rate in 2024, and the following 19 countries all came from Africa, with the exception of Pakistan. On the other hand, Slovenia had the lowest infant mortality rate that year. High infant mortality rates can be attributed to lack of sanitation, technological advancements, and proper natal care. In the United States, Massachusetts had the lowest infant mortality rate, while Mississippi had the highest in 2022. Overall, the number of neonatal and post neonatal deaths in the United States has been steadily decreasing since 1995.