Infant Mortality Rate: Bangladesh

Analysis# Bangladesh Infant Mortality Rate Bangladesh recorded 24.4 infant deaths per 1,000 births in 2024, representing a dramatic 86.3% decline since 1960. The nation's peak of 204.9 deaths per 1,000 births in 1971 reflects the turbulent conditions during independence, while the current rate marks near-convergence with the all-time low of 24.4 achieved in 2022. Over six decades, Bangladesh has transformed its infant mortality outcomes through sustained public health improvements and healthcare access expansion. The most significant progress occurred between 1971 and 2015, when the rate fell from 204.9 to 29.8 per 1,000 births. Since 2015, improvements have plateaued, with annual declines of less than 1 death per 1,000 births. The rate has stabilized at 24.4 since 2022, suggesting Bangladesh may be approaching the limits of current intervention effectiveness. Continued reductions will likely require targeted investments in maternal and neonatal care infrastructure.