South Sudan — Infant mortality
Infant Mortality Rate for South Sudan, 1960–2024.
Infant mortality for South Sudan was 71.9 in 2024, according to the latest World Bank data. The series covers 65 years, from 1960 to 2024. The highest recorded value was 484.0 in 1988. The lowest was 71.9 in 2019 (about 1.0× the low point). Across that span the compound annual growth rate works out to -1.55% per year.
South Sudan ranks 1 of 196 economies on this measure (1 = highest), putting it in the top 1%. The median for Sub-Saharan Africa is 38.0, so South Sudan sits above it. It peaked in 1988 and has fallen 85% since. Over the last decade (2014–2024) the figure moved down 39%. Within Sub-Saharan Africa it ranks 1 of 48 economies; Nigeria (69.8) is just below it. Its sharpest one-year move was up 183% in 1988. That is 31% below this series' own ten-year average.
Data highlights
From its 1960 level: doubled by 1988.
World ranking. Climbed: 7th of 130 in 1960 → 3rd of 155 in 1970 → 5th of 179 in 1980 → 3rd of 196 in 1990 → 3rd of 196 in 2000 → 6th of 196 in 2010 → 3rd of 196 in 2020 → 1st of 196 in 2024.
Key figures
Full history — 1960 to 2024
| Year | per 1,000 live births | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 71.9 | +0.0% |
| 2023 | 71.9 | +0.0% |
| 2022 | 71.9 | +0.0% |
| 2021 | 71.9 | +0.0% |
| 2020 | 71.9 | +0.0% |
| 2019 | 71.9 | -22.6% |
| 2018 | 92.9 | -48.8% |
| 2017 | 181.5 | +6.9% |
| 2016 | 169.8 | +12.2% |
| 2015 | 151.3 | +28.0% |
| 2014 | 118.2 | +63.7% |
| 2013 | 72.2 | -1.4% |
| 2012 | 73.2 | -2.8% |
| 2011 | 75.3 | -3.7% |
| 2010 | 78.2 | -4.0% |
| 2009 | 81.5 | -4.1% |
| 2008 | 85 | -4.1% |
| 2007 | 88.6 | -4.0% |
| 2006 | 92.3 | -4.1% |
| 2005 | 96.2 | -4.0% |
| 2004 | 100.2 | -4.1% |
| 2003 | 104.5 | -4.1% |
| 2002 | 109 | -4.0% |
| 2001 | 113.6 | -3.9% |
| 2000 | 118.2 | -3.4% |
| 1999 | 122.4 | -48.7% |
| 1998 | 238.8 | +70.2% |
| 1997 | 140.3 | -2.4% |
| 1996 | 143.7 | -2.1% |
| 1995 | 146.8 | +6.0% |
| 1994 | 138.5 | -15.2% |
| 1993 | 163.4 | -1.3% |
| 1992 | 165.5 | +6.2% |
| 1991 | 155.8 | -1.0% |
| 1990 | 157.4 | -0.7% |
| 1989 | 158.5 | -67.3% |
| 1988 | 484 | +182.7% |
| 1987 | 171.2 | +14.5% |
| 1986 | 149.5 | -0.7% |
| 1985 | 150.6 | -0.8% |
| 1984 | 151.8 | -0.7% |
| 1983 | 152.9 | -0.7% |
| 1982 | 154 | -0.8% |
| 1981 | 155.2 | -0.9% |
| 1980 | 156.6 | -0.8% |
| 1979 | 157.9 | -1.1% |
| 1978 | 159.7 | -1.1% |
| 1977 | 161.5 | -1.0% |
| 1976 | 163.1 | -1.0% |
| 1975 | 164.8 | -1.1% |
| 1974 | 166.6 | -1.1% |
| 1973 | 168.5 | -1.1% |
| 1972 | 170.3 | -1.2% |
| 1971 | 172.3 | -17.3% |
| 1970 | 208.4 | -1.0% |
| 1969 | 210.6 | +0.8% |
| 1968 | 209 | -1.0% |
| 1967 | 211.2 | -1.1% |
| 1966 | 213.5 | +15.2% |
| 1965 | 185.4 | -1.1% |
| 1964 | 187.5 | -9.4% |
| 1963 | 207 | +8.2% |
| 1962 | 191.4 | -1.2% |
| 1961 | 193.7 | -1.1% |
| 1960 | 195.9 | — |
Frequently asked questions
What was South Sudan’s Infant mortality in 1961?
193.7 (1961). The full year-by-year table above lists every published year, most recent first.
Are South Sudan’s Infant mortality figures nominal or inflation-adjusted?
They are exactly as the World Bank publishes them — per 1,000 live births — with no inflation restatement and no PPP conversion. Years the source does not report are omitted rather than interpolated.
Is South Sudan’s Infant mortality growing or shrinking?
Between 1960 and 2024 the series was shrinking overall: -63.3% in total — about 1.6% a year compounded.
Where does this data come from?
World Bank Open Data (CC BY-4.0), indicator SP.DYN.IMRT.IN. Values are reproduced as published; this page only computes summary statistics such as change, CAGR and extremes.
What are the most recent published figures?
The last five published years: 2024: 71.9; 2023: 71.9; 2022: 71.9; 2021: 71.9; 2020: 71.9. Earlier years are in the full-history table below.
Related data
SP.DYN.IMRT.IN — Infant Mortality Rate. Data licensed under CC BY 4.0. Values are reproduced as published; this page computes the summary statistics (change, CAGR, extremes) from the underlying annual series. View the original dataset on data.worldbank.org.