Infant Mortality Rate (Per 1,000 Live Births) for African Countries in 1961

Created on April 7, 2021.

Updated on May 15, 2023.

In 1961, Sierra Leone had the highest infant mortality rate per 1,000 live births in Africa (217.30), followed by Liberia (210.10), and then Ivory Coast (207.90). Mauritius had the lowest infant mortality rate per 1,000 live births (67.90) in Africa in 1961.

The top 3 african countries with high female infant mortality rate in 1961 were: Sierra Leone (202.40), Egypt (201.30), and Guinea (194.40). Similarly, the top 3 african countries with high male infant mortality rate in 1961 were: Sierra Leone (231.30), Liberia (226.90), and Ivory Coast (226.60).

The World Bank defines infant mortality rate as "the number of infants dying before reaching one year of age, per 1,000 live births in a given year".

Country	Total	Male	Female
Algeria	145.70	151.20	139.90
Benin	180.90	193.60	167.60
Botswana	110.30	119.00	101.20
Burkina Faso	155.30	165.70	144.00
Cape Verde	121.70	130.00	112.90
Cameroon	161.40	171.10	151.10
Republic of Congo	111.60	119.80	102.90
Ivory Coast	207.90	226.60	187.80
Central African Republic	160.60	169.80	151.30
Egypt	206.10	210.60	201.30
Eswatini	137.90	148.20	127.10
Gambia	150.30	161.40	138.20
Ghana	122.40	130.90	113.50
Guinea	207.90	220.70	194.40
Kenya	113.20	119.10	107.10
Lesotho	138.70	146.70	130.20
Liberia	210.10	226.90	192.60
Libya	154.20	163.20	144.80
Mauritania	127.50	136.60	117.90
Mauritius	67.90	74.50	61.00
Morocco	143.80	154.20	132.70
Zambia	119.40	126.20	112.30
Zimbabwe	90.60	99.50	81.30
Tanzania	141.90	149.40	133.90
Uganda	129.40	138.20	120.30
Togo	153.00	166.00	139.30
Sudan	105.30	113.00	97.30
Sierra Leone	217.30	231.30	202.40
Senegal	128.20	136.20	119.90
Rwanda	127.80	136.50	118.70
Seychelles	74.00	78.30	69.40

Infant Mortality Rate of African Countries