Infant mortality ranking 1980 — the top 20 economies
The twenty largest economies by Infant Mortality Rate in 1980, ranked by the exact World Bank figures. The leader: Afghanistan (189.6). A total of 179 economies reported a value that year.
The leader, Afghanistan, stood at 189.6. The twentieth economy, Pakistan, reported 127.4 — a 1.5× spread inside the top 20 alone. Of 179 economies reporting that year, these twenty are the ones usually quoted.
| # | Country | per 1,000 live births (1980) |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Afghanistan | 189.6 |
| 2 | Guinea | 160.7 |
| 3 | Liberia | 157.5 |
| 4 | Mali | 156.8 |
| 5 | South Sudan | 156.6 |
| 6 | Mozambique | 154.4 |
| 7 | Yemen | 151.6 |
| 8 | Ethiopia | 147.3 |
| 9 | Nepal | 145.1 |
| 10 | Bhutan | 141.5 |
| 11 | Niger | 141.3 |
| 12 | Sierra Leone | 140.9 |
| 13 | Madagascar | 138.1 |
| 14 | Bangladesh | 133.2 |
| 15 | Malawi | 132.5 |
| 16 | Laos | 131.5 |
| 17 | Chad | 130.8 |
| 18 | Haiti | 130.8 |
| 19 | Uganda | 127.7 |
| 20 | Pakistan | 127.4 |
Where are they now?
The top five of 1980 and their rank in the latest published year:
| Country | Rank in 1980 | Rank today |
|---|---|---|
| Afghanistan | #12 | #13 |
| Guinea | #6 | #7 |
| Liberia | #4 | #5 |
| Mali | #14 | #16 |
| South Sudan | #1 | #1 |
Other years
Frequently asked questions
Which country had the largest Infant mortality in 1980?
Afghanistan, with 189.6 (per 1,000 live births).
How many countries are included?
179 economies reported a value for SP.DYN.IMRT.IN in 1980. Coverage widens over time — earlier years include fewer reporting economies.