In this detailed article, we will discuss 20 countries with the highest rates of infant mortality and the causes of such alarming numbers of deaths. If you want to skip the details, read 8 Countries with Highest Rates of Infant Mortality.
Countries with the highest rates of infant mortality do not employ sufficient measures to make treatment of preventable infant death causes accessible, owing to their limited resources and awareness. According to UNICEF, 5 million children, out of which 2.3 million were infants, died in 2021, which serves as a reminder to designate more resources to limit preventable deaths in infants and children.
The first 28 days of a child's life, named the neonatal period, are the days when an infant is the most vulnerable because they have the highest risk of catching infectious diseases, i.e., malaria. The global average of infant mortality (in the first month after birth) was 18 deaths per 1,000 live births in 2021, which came down from 37 deaths in 1990.
If we talk about child mortality rate by region, Sub-Saharan Africa has the highest infant mortality rate in the world (averaging at 27 deaths per 1000 live births), closely followed by Central and Southern Asia, where the average infant mortality rate is 23 deaths per 1,000 births. Out of average 6,700 infant deaths per day, 36% happen in Sub-Saharan Africa, mainly Mozambique, Mali, Angola, and Benin, among others.
UNICEF stats say that a child born in Sub-Saharan Africa is 10 times more likely to die in the neonatal period than one born in high-income countries. Likewise, infant mortality is 9 times more likely in South Asia than in more developed regions of the world. These stats build a correlation between the investment made to provide infants with safe conditions and how exposed they are to fatal risks.
Speaking of low-income countries with the highest rates of infant mortality, we have already covered 30 Poorest Countries in Africa. Give this insightful piece a read to know what might be cause of such poor health facilities in Sub-Saharan Africa.
What Countries Have The Highest Infant Mortality Rate?
As of current, Afghanistan has the highest child mortality rate by country, with 103.06 deaths per 1000 live births. Such saddening stats stem from the lack of sufficient childcare resources and birth practices with limited medical intervention.
According to the International Journal of Scientific Research & Technology, poor nutrition is the biggest cause of Afghanistan topping the list of countries with the highest rates of infant mortality. Approximately 55% of children under 12 face mental and physical incapabilities because of poor diet in Afghanistan, mainly because of hostile security situations and political unrest that limit the economy's growth.
Consequently, women that grow up with nutrition deficiencies give birth to babies with poor health and physical defects. The same is the case with African countries where poverty and limited health awareness put birthing mothers at risk of dying or losing their infants, as per the WHO Regional Office for Africa.
Which Country Has The Highest Under 5 Mortality Rate?
While the global infant mortality rate is 26 deaths per 1000 births, the under-five mortality (children dying before they reach 5 years of age) is 38 per 1,000 live births. According to UNICEF, there has been substantial progress in child survival in the past 30 years, as 1 in 26 children died in 2021, compared to 1 in 11 in 1990.
Currently, Niger has the highest under-5 mortality rate by country, reaching 115.15 deaths per 1000 births, which is almost three times higher than the global average. Closely trailing Niger are Nigeria and Chad, with an under-five death rate of 110.82 and 107.07, respectively.
Companies Working For Better Child Health
Providing children with a healthy life in countries with the highest rates of infant mortality requires multi-dimensional changes like making childbirth medical facilities accessible to all, educating mothers about nutrition deficiencies, and ensuring the ever-rising poverty doesn't impact infant health.
The most crucial company working in the infant health sector is Abbott Laboratories (NYSE:ABT), which is working to improve health challenges for children worldwide. As part of its mission in pediatric health, Abbott Laboratories (NYSE:ABT) is working to develop nutrition that helps children thrive and grow. Abbott Laboratories (NYSE:ABT) is also creating the world's smallest heart devices and aiming to eliminate finger sticks for glucose readings to improve the pediatric health sector.
Some big names, like Johnson & Johnson (NYSE:JNJ), are also investing in childcare. In 2014, Johnson & Johnson (NYSE:JNJ) committed $30 million to improve newborn health and increase newborn survival until 2020. This commitment supported programs in 20 countries with high newborn mortality rates, including Nigeria and Ethiopia. Johnson & Johnson (NYSE:JNJ) and Save the Children have also partnered to provide lifesaving services like newborn resuscitation to around 1 million children worldwide.
Another notable name working in improving the quality of life for children in countries with the highest rates of infant mortality is The Procter & Gamble Company (NYSE:PG), which created Pampers Mobile Clinic Program to provide free basic healthcare and products to mothers and their babies. This program, started by The Procter & Gamble Company (NYSE:PG), reached around 2 million mothers in Kenya, Uganda, Nigeria, and Pakistan to make them aware of the risks associated with neglecting their health. The Procter & Gamble Company (NYSE:PG) has a current market cap of $351.825 billion and is one of the biggest consumer goods companies.
Causes Of Infant Mortality
According to the Centers for Diseases Control and Prevention (CDC), around 20,000 infants died within the first year of their life in the United States in 2020, which is considerably lower than countries with the highest rates of infant mortality. Diving deep, the main causes of this stark statistic are birth anomalies, and associated low birth weight, among other things.
Birth defects constitute the primary cause of infant deaths, which include conditions that occur in utero, like cardiac and neural tube defects to chromosomal abnormalities. These causes of infant mortality are often beyond the control of medical interventions.
Likewise, preterm birth and associated low birth weight can put child mortality rate on an upward scale. Infants born before 37 weeks of gestational age often grapple with complications like underdeveloped organs and compromised immune function, which renders them susceptible to a host of health issues and increases the probability of neonatal death.
Sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS), also known as cot death or crib death, is a mysterious and unexplained cause that can result in the sudden demise of an otherwise healthy infant. The exact causes of SIDS can vary, but the hypotheses revolve around combinations of genetic, environmental, and physiological factors.
Moreover, maternal complications during pregnancy, like preeclampsia, gestational diabetes, and infections, result in stillbirth, premature delivery, or neonatal death. Post-neonatally, causes of mortality shift towards communicable diseases like pneumonia, diarrhea, and malaria. Malnutrition exacerbates these conditions and reduces the infant's ability to fight off infections.
Which OECD Country Has The Highest Infant Mortality Rate?
The OECD countries, owing to their high standards of medical goods and nutrition standards, have the lowest infant mortality rates. Most OECD nations' infant mortality rates ranged between 2.5 and 5 deaths per 1,000 live births, with 4.1 being the average.
Currently, Colombia has the highest child mortality rate by country in OECD, reaching 16.8 deaths per 1000 live births. Closely following Colombia is Mexico, whose neonatal death rate is 12.9 deaths per 1,000 births.
The luckiest OECD countries in this regard are Iceland, Estonia, Finland, Japan, and Norway, where the infant mortality rate is even lower than 2.5.
20 Countries with Highest Rates of Infant Mortality
20 Countries with Highest Rates of Infant Mortality
Our Methodology
We ranked countries with the highest rates of infant mortality according to their average number of infant deaths per 1,000 live births. Our data sources for these deaths and causes of infant mortality were UNICEF, WHO, CDC, The World Bank, and CIA's World Factbook, among others.
Based on our findings, here are the 20 countries with the highest rates of infant mortality:
20. Burkina Faso
Infant Deaths Per 1000 Live Births: 48.17
Burkina Faso grapples with a high infant mortality rate, partly due to poor healthcare infrastructure and limited access to essential services. Disease prevalence, like malaria, coupled with malnutrition, also worsens the situation. Also, as over 40% of the country's population lives below the poverty line, inadequate healthcare personnel, low-quality services, and limited health awareness contribute to persistent challenges.
19. Guinea
Infant Deaths Per 1000 Live Births: 48.32
According to recent data, the infant mortality rate is alarmingly high in Guinea, reaching 48.32 deaths per 1,000 births. The country has such a high neonatal death rate due to 43.7% of the people living in extreme poverty, with malnutrition and prevalence of infectious diseases. The lack of comprehensive policies to improve the health sector further aggravates the situation.
18. Mauritania
Infant Deaths Per 1000 Live Births: 49.95
Mauritania is one of the least populated countries in Africa but still struggles with high infant death rates. Poor sanitation, lack of clean water, and malnutrition are the major causes driving child deaths in the country. Poor maternal health, characterized by insufficient prenatal care, also heightens the risk of children dying within the first 28 days of their lives.
17. Pakistan
Infant Deaths Per 1000 Live Births: 52.73
In Pakistan, overcrowded urban areas and rural regions with minimal healthcare accessibility result in high infant death rates. The country's weak health infrastructure and lack of skilled health professionals pose serious threats to the growing population. Given that Pakistan is the 5th most populated country in the world, such loopholes in the healthcare system can result in a high death toll if left unattended.
16. Cote d'Ivoire
Infant Deaths Per 1000 Live Births: 54.04
Infant mortality remains a significant challenge in Cote d'Ivoire, largely attributable to substandard healthcare. As a big percentage of the country's population is poor, they lack the resources to get reliable health facilities. Therefore, efforts towards bolstering the healthcare system, like improved neonatal care and preventive measures for common diseases, are essential.
15. Benin
Infant Deaths Per 1000 Live Births: 54.33
Benin has struggled with a high infant mortality rate for a long time, and its current neonatal death rate is 54.33. Although basic healthcare standards in the country are improving, uneven distribution of these resources, especially in rural areas, makes this challenge harder to overcome.
14. Nigeria
Infant Deaths Per 1000 Live Births: 55.17
Infant mortality in Nigeria is 55.17 due to high malnutrition rates, limited access to clean water, and insufficient immunization coverage. Also, the limited availability of trained healthcare professionals and insufficient prenatal and postnatal care underlines Nigeria's healthcare shortcomings.
13. Comoros
Infant Deaths Per 1000 Live Births: 56.01
In Comoros, high infant mortality rates pose a pressing issue and reflect the fragile healthcare system. The archipelago faces significant health challenges due to limited resources and shortness of high-quality prenatal and neonatal care. The country's geography further compounds these issues by hampering transportation, thereby hindering timely medical assistance.
12. Angola
Infant Deaths Per 1000 Live Births: 57.2
Angola continues to face high infant mortality rates stemming from suboptimal healthcare services and pervasive poverty. While the government has committed to improving healthcare infrastructure, the task still requires more investment to improve the country's livability.
11. Mali
Infant Deaths Per 1000 Live Births: 58.99
Mali, one of the poorest countries in Africa, has a high infant mortality rate. Like other countries with the highest rates of infant mortality rate, poor sanitation and limited access to clean water worsen health conditions in Mali. Intensive national and international efforts are needed to improve these conditions to foster a healthier future for Mali's children.
10. Democratic Republic Of Congo
Infant Deaths Per 1000 Live Births: 59.12
Infant mortality in the Democratic Republic of Congo remains alarmingly high, with 59.12 deaths per 1,000 live births. Persistent political conflicts that impact budget allocation in the country and widespread poverty further hinder healthcare delivery. Thus, addressing healthcare inadequacies and social disparities is critical for reducing Congo's infant mortality rate.
9. Mozambique
Infant Deaths Per 1000 Live Births: 59.77
With around 61% of people in Mozambique living below the poverty line, it's no wonder that the country's infant mortality rate is 59.77. Owing to limited means, malnutrition mostly impacts the mothers' health, and then the deficiencies transfer to infants, resulting in high infant death rates.
