Nigeria halved under-5 mortality from 325.2 to 107.2 per 1,000 live births from 1960 to 2022

Ghana's under-5 mortality rate at 42.3 deaths per 1,000 live births, still higher than the SDG target of 25 deaths per 1,000 live births.
Cape Verde achieved the most dramatic reduction in under-5 mortality rates, cutting its rate by over 93%, from 174.8 in 1960 to 12.3 in 2022, the lowest in West Africa.
Sierra Leone had the highest under-5 mortality rate in 1960, at 390.1 deaths per 1,000 live births, marking it as one of the most challenging places for child survival in the region at the time.
Liberia experienced a troubling increase in under-5 mortality rates during the 1980s, peaking at 263.8 in 1990, a period marked by civil war and economic instability.

In the 1960s, nations like Sierra Leone, Mali, and Burkina Faso faced staggering mortality rates exceeding 300 deaths per 1,000 live births, reflecting widespread challenges in healthcare, nutrition, and sanitation. However, sustained efforts in public health, disease prevention, and economic development have led to dramatic improvements. Cape Verde stands out as a regional success story, reducing its under-5 mortality rate by over 93% to just 12.3 by 2022, the lowest in West Africa. Countries like Ghana, Senegal, and The Gambia have also seen consistent declines, with rates dropping below 50 in some cases. Despite this progress, disparities remain, as nations such as Niger and Sierra Leone continue to grapple with high rates. This underscores the need for continued investment in healthcare, poverty reduction, and child welfare programs to ensure every child in West Africa has the chance to survive and thrive.

Source:

World Bank

<div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://intelpoint.co/insights/nigeria-halved-under-5-mortality-from-325-2-to-107-2-per-1000-live-births-from-1960-to-2022/" title="Nigeria halved under-5 mortality from 325.2 to 107.2 per 1,000 live births from 1960 to 2022"><img src="https://intelpoint.co/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/Under-5-Mortality-WA.gif" style="width: 80%; height: auto; max-width:960px;-ms-interpolation-mode: bicubic; margin: 0 auto; display: block;" alt="Chart: Nigeria halved under-5 mortality from 325.2 to 107.2 per 1,000 live births from 1960 to 2022"/></a><br><span>Find more insights at <a href="https://intelpoint.co/insights?utm_source=Insight%20Embed&utm_medium=HTML&utm_campaign=Nigeria+halved+under-5+mortality+from+325.2+to+107.2+per+1%2C000+live+births+from+1960+to+2022" target="_blank" style="color: #4f9acc; text-decoration: none;">Intelpoint</a>.</span></div>Copied to clipboard!

Period:

1960-2022

HTML code to embed chart

Want a bespoke report?

Reach out

Related Insights

Africa’s share of unregistered children is nearly double that of South Asia and over four times the rest of the world combined

56% (91 million) of unregistered children live in Africa, more than the rest of the world combined.
South Asia follows with 32%, while the rest of the world accounts for just 12%.
Africa’s share of unregistered children is nearly double that of South Asia and over four times that of the rest of the world.
This disparity underscores the urgent need for improved civil registration systems in high-impact regions.

Nigeria ranks 7th in the world for child displacement due to conflict

As of December 2023, 28.6 million internally displaced people affected by conflict were under the age of 18, accounting for 38% of the global IDP population. Conflict-ravaged Sudan has the most internally displaced children globally, with 4.25 million under the age of 18. DR Congo and Syria follow with 3.57 million and 2.65 million displaced children, respectively. Nigeria's 1.65 million displaced children make it the 7th highest globally for child displacement due to conflict.

Africa and Asia most affected by lack of drinking water in children's schools

A recent UNICEF report shows that 293m children worldwide did not have drinking water in their schools in 2023. Six African and four Asian countries make up the top ten, with Ethiopia and Nigeria occupying first and second positions, respectively, with 33.2m and 29m children. The top five countries account for 42% of the total affected population.

Nine of the top ten countries with the highest rate of female child marriage are African

Nine of the top ten countries with the highest rates of female child marriage are in Africa. Niger leads the list, with 76% of women aged 20 to 24 married or in union before 18. Bangladesh is the only non-African country in the top ten, with a rate of 51%.