Infant Mortality Rate: Zimbabwe

Analysis# Zimbabwe Infant Mortality Rate Zimbabwe's infant mortality rate stood at 62.4 per 1,000 births in 2024, representing a 21.3% decline since 1960 when the rate peaked at 79.3. The country achieved its lowest recorded rate of 53.5 per 1,000 births in 1991, demonstrating that substantial progress is possible. Current levels remain elevated compared to this historical low, placing Zimbabwe among countries with higher childhood mortality risk. A sharp reversal began around 2015. From 2015 to 2017, the rate held steady near 54 per 1,000 births, but deteriorated significantly starting in 2018. The upward trajectory accelerated in subsequent years—rising from 54.4 in 2018 to 62.4 in 2024. This seven-year climb of nearly eight points per 1,000 births indicates mounting health system pressures or socioeconomic challenges affecting child survival outcomes.