In 2021, Sierra Leone had the highest infant mortality rate per 1,000 live births in Africa (78.30), followed by Central African Republic (75.40), and then Somalia (71.10). Libya had the lowest infant mortality rate per 1,000 live births (9.20) in Africa in 2021.
The top 3 african countries with high female infant mortality rate in 2021 were: Sierra Leone (71.70), Central African Republic (67.90), and Somalia (65.10). Similarly, the top 3 african countries with high male infant mortality rate in 2021 were: Sierra Leone (84.40), Central African Republic (82.60), and Nigeria (76.70).
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".
The charts and table below show the total, male, and female infant mortality rate of African countries in 2021.
See also: Neonatal Mortality Rate for African Countries in 2021.
| Country | Total | Male | Female |
|---|---|---|---|
| Algeria | 19.20 | 20.70 | 17.50 |
| Angola | 47.20 | 52.20 | 41.70 |
| Benin | 55.20 | 60.70 | 49.40 |
| Botswana | 28.30 | 31.10 | 25.40 |
| Burkina Faso | 51.80 | 56.40 | 46.80 |
| Burundi | 37.60 | 41.70 | 33.40 |
| Cape Verde | 11.70 | 12.80 | 10.60 |
| Cameroon | 47.00 | 51.80 | 41.90 |
| Republic of Congo | 32.00 | 35.30 | 28.60 |
| Ivory Coast | 55.90 | 62.60 | 48.70 |
| Democratic Republic of the Congo | 62.40 | 68.20 | 56.20 |
| Djibouti | 45.90 | 49.80 | 41.50 |
| Central African Republic | 75.40 | 82.60 | 67.90 |
| Chad | 66.00 | 72.30 | 59.40 |
| Egypt | 16.20 | 17.40 | 15.00 |
| Equatorial Guinea | 57.20 | 62.60 | 51.40 |
| Eritrea | 28.90 | 32.80 | 24.80 |
| Eswatini | 41.50 | 45.80 | 36.90 |
| Ethiopia | 34.30 | 39.10 | 29.10 |
| Gabon | 29.40 | 32.80 | 25.70 |
| Gambia | 34.00 | 38.10 | 29.60 |
| Ghana | 32.60 | 36.10 | 28.80 |
| Guinea | 63.80 | 70.80 | 56.50 |
| Guinea-Bissau | 50.00 | 55.30 | 44.20 |
| Kenya | 28.00 | 30.70 | 25.10 |
| Lesotho | 57.00 | 62.60 | 50.90 |
| Liberia | 56.70 | 62.10 | 51.10 |
| Libya | 9.20 | 10.20 | 8.20 |
| Madagascar | 45.30 | 49.90 | 40.50 |
| Malawi | 31.20 | 34.90 | 27.30 |
| Mali | 61.60 | 66.70 | 56.30 |
| Mauritania | 32.20 | 35.60 | 28.70 |
| Mauritius | 15.30 | 16.90 | 13.60 |
| Morocco | 15.40 | 17.00 | 13.80 |
| Mozambique | 51.00 | 54.80 | 47.00 |
| Zambia | 40.20 | 43.80 | 36.30 |
| Zimbabwe | 35.70 | 39.60 | 31.60 |
| Tanzania | 34.10 | 37.10 | 31.00 |
| Uganda | 31.20 | 34.40 | 27.70 |
| Tunisia | 14.00 | 15.30 | 12.70 |
| Togo | 43.40 | 47.60 | 38.90 |
| Sudan | 38.90 | 43.30 | 34.30 |
| Somalia | 71.10 | 76.40 | 65.10 |
| South Africa | 26.40 | 28.40 | 24.40 |
| South Sudan | 63.80 | 68.90 | 58.50 |
| Sierra Leone | 78.30 | 84.40 | 71.70 |
| Senegal | 29.10 | 32.60 | 25.50 |
| Rwanda | 29.70 | 32.50 | 26.70 |
| Niger | 59.50 | 64.00 | 54.80 |
| Nigeria | 70.60 | 76.70 | 64.10 |
| Namibia | 29.40 | 32.30 | 26.30 |
| Comoros | 39.30 | 41.70 | 36.70 |
| Sao Tome and Principe | 12.10 | 13.50 | 10.70 |
| Seychelles | 12.00 | 12.90 | 11.00 |
Infant Mortality Rate of African Countries
Use the links below to find the historical infant mortality rate per 1,000 live births for each African country.